"Hey, Granger"
"Malfoy I'm concentrating."
"Yes I can see that, considering you haven't noticed that your bench is on fire."
"What?!"
Hermione frantically began to smother the small blaze that had previously been her pile of carefully weighed ingredients for her potion. Ron tried to help, but all that happened was he set his own robes on fire too. Eventually Harry set everything straight with a jet of water from his wand, "Sorry Hermione."
The water had taken care of the fire, but it had also drenched her and her potion, so that her meticulously crafted draught was now a steaming soup of nothing. "It doesn't matter," she sighed but they all knew she was lying.
Professor Slughorn squeezed over and tutted, "Not quite your usual standard today, Miss Granger. Is everything alright? No one burnt?"
"No Professor, just my sleeve," Ron held up his arm and revealed a hole in his robes.
Hermione pushed her hair from her face, accidently wiping soot across her nose as she did so. "I'm just- it's… it's just not my morning Professor. I'll clean this up."
"Well better luck next lesson," he mused and began to exclaim over Harry's perfect potion.
Hermione was not in the best mood after class, especially when Ron and Harry caught up to her and began to talk Quiddich. When they noticed her silence they prodded, "What's wrong Hermione? You've been distant all day."
"I just didn't sleep very well last night."
"Well I won't tonight," Ron said nervously, turning a faint shade of green.
"You're overthinking this," Harry encouraged him, "You're a great Keeper, you just need to believe in yourself."
"You're coming tomorrow right Hermione?" Ron asked.
She smiled, "Of course I am."
"Going to cheer on McLaggen?" a sneering voice asked and the three of them turned to see Draco smirking at them.
Harry put an arm around Hermione's shoulder and steered her up the stairs towards the Entrance Hall, "What's his problem?"
Hermione heaved a sigh, "I really have no idea."
Ron was frowning, "What did he mean by you would be cheering on McLaggen?"
"Again, I don't know how Malfoy's mind works, so stop asking!" she snapped then felt immediately bad. "Look, I'm sorry, I'm just really tired. I have a free period after break, so I'm going to head back to the Common Room."
"Not the library?" Ron joked.
Hermione glanced over her shoulder and saw Draco heading up the main staircase, "No. No I don't think I'll be going to the library today."
Draco arrived at his Charms class late and grumpy. He had spent his break in the bathrooms splashing water over his face and trying to get a grip. He didn't know why he'd been cruel to Hermione… well he did, but he didn't want to believe the answer. He couldn't actually be jealous, not of McLaggen, and certainly not of Weasley. What was he thinking?
He ran a hand through his hair and tried to focus on Professor Flitwick's lecture. The hour dragged so slowly he thought perhaps time had actually frozen, and when finally the bell rang and he was faced with a free period he debated whether or not to head for the Room of Requirement or go the library.
It was foolish, she wouldn't even be there, she would have a class. Still, ten minutes later he was sitting at her table, his school work spread in front of him and an unsettling feeling in his stomach. This couldn't be happening to him. His life, his family's lives, depended on him pleasing his Master. He couldn't be developing feelings for someone, especially not Hermione Granger.
Several Hufflepuffs at the next table jumped when Draco let out a loud groan and dropped his head into his open textbook on the table. What was he going to do?
A little short and sweet chapter to tide over until I finish the next one which is a bit longer. Would really love some feedback so if you have anything you're loving or hating, any random errand thoughts, or ideas of the kind of things you'd like to see in following chapters then please leave a review!
-H