Chapter 3
Draco awoke the next morning to the sounds of a snoring Hufflepuff fifth year, a girl he plucked out of the waiting crowd for a night in his bed. He chose her right after Hermione departed from the library, leaving Draco bothered and frustrated. And what better way to take out one's frustration than meaningless sex?
Draco was used to this routine, giving a girl extra glances in a crowded place. Girls always found silly cliches like that romantic for some reason unbeknownst to him. After that brief introduction, it only took a few cheeky comments, a few carefully placed fingers brushing against a hip, and just like that, they were his.
He was growing tired of this cycle however, and so he left before the fifth year had woken, leaving her to find her own way out. He got dressed quickly, and walked out the door. He didn't remember her name, anyway.
Hermione hadn't slept a minute the night of the library incident. Lying awake in her room, alone except for Crookshanks, she tossed and turned, thinking of Draco and the feel of his arms around her, the smell of his spearmint toothpaste and old parchment wafting through the air. Having just come from Quidditch practice, he was still in his grass stained uniform, giving off a faint scent of summer that was intoxicating to her. That moment, pressed against the shelves with Draco's every muscle taut against her, kept Hermione from sleeping, instead dreaming of what that would feel like with less distance between them.
Now, exhausted and unfulfilled from last night's endeavors, Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, pushing her eggs around her plate.
"Hermione, are you alright? You've barely said a word." Harry inquired, looking at her expectantly.
"Yes, Harry, I'm fine," she lied. "Just a little stressed over school."
"Honefly Herfmoiney" Ron began with a mouth full of eggs and sausage. He swallowed it down noisily. "It's only the second day!"
"I didn't sleep as well as I normally do last night. I'm not used to not sharing a dorm with anyone."
"Oh, yes Hermione. We all feel so sorry for you! Prefects privileges are so difficult to deal with." Ginny joked from farther down the table.
Hermione genuinely laughed at Ginny's mockery along with the rest of her friends. She just hoped they would't see through her thinly veiled secret of last night's encounter with-
"Ugh," spewed Ron. "Look who it is. Didn't miss seeing his nasty face over the summer did we mates?"
At this Hermione looked up. The air around the Great Hall seemed to change. A dangerous brew of respect, contempt, fear and admiration seemed to waft over the students as strongly as the scent of the sausages. For finally, Draco Malfoy showed up to breakfast. He strode over to the Slytherin table and sat next to Pansy, who looked absolutely delighted. He draped an emerald-clad arm over her broad shoulders, and laughed loudly at something Blaise said. Slowly, the Hall eased back into normalcy, already over Draco's flamboyant appearance.
Hermione, however, only seemed to shove her eggs around even more.
"Echem," a familiar voice cleared, having risen from his chair in the midst of the commotion. "Good morning, my students. I hope all of you had a good night's sleep, for today is the official start of term. I am pleased to announce your new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Snape."
Harry angrily clenched his fists from across the table, and Hermione reflexively reached out to calm him. A smattering of short-lived applause greeted Professor Snape as he bowed and took his seat. Hermione had stopped paying attention, instead dividing her time between Harry and Ron's belligerent whispers over Snape's promotion, and Draco's sudden change in mood. He had gone from positively jovial to moody and anxious, having pushed Pansy away and running his hans through his overgrown hair.
Hermione, mortified over her reaction to his aggressive hand combing, didn't hear Dumbledore's cue for their introduction, something neither Hermione nor Draco were informed about. "Witches and Wizards, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy!"
Hermione nervously jumped from her seat, knocking over a plate and striding to the Professors Table. Draco arrived shortly after, having hid his anxiety in his arrogant stride.
"Students, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy are your two new two brightest pupils will lead you this year with pride, dignity, and loyalty. They will put your needs above their own, agree to honor the school's best interests, and conspire to raise each and every student to greatness. Do you so agree, Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger?" At this Dumbledore looked lovingly at them both, and Hermione felt a surge of emotion for the older Wizard. "I do," she said. "I do," followed Draco.
"Wonderful! I hope you all have a lovely first day, and let's have a round of applause for our two prefects!" The students cheered as Dumbledore requested a private meeting, and they followed him into the back room.
"Well, I suppose a congratulations is in order." Hermione beamed; Draco scowled. "As I'm sure you know by now, your rooms are connected. This will make it much easier for your nightly meetings to commence-" "WHAT?" roared Hermione. "Professor, are rooms are not connected!" "Actually, Granger," Draco drawled, "they are. I noticed last night."
Hermione realized she must have stormed right past it in her fury last night.
"Well, well what does that mean?" she stuttered.
Dumbledore sighed. "It means, Ms. Granger, that you and Mr. Malfoy must have a strong relationship in order to fulfill your roles as prefects. It is not an easy job, and you will need each other to lean on. The connected dorms are a way to help strengthen that bond, and to get rid of the inconvenience of having to search each other out for your nightly meetings." Hermione desperately searched his face for a sign that he was kidding, but Draco's smug sneer told her otherwise. "Hermione," he breathed, intoxicating her once more. "If spending an hour of your time with me every day is really that much of an inconvenience for you, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore could find a replacement."
"Now, Mr. Malfoy,"
"No." Hermione interrupted. "It will be fine." She glared menacingly at Draco, and he smirked back, loving the flustered look on her face.
"Splendid! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have toast and kippers waiting for me."
Dumbledore stepped out of the room, his cloak billowing just before the door snapped shut.
"Well, well, well. Granger and Malfoy. What a pair."
"Oh just shut it Malfoy." she snapped. "As long as we keep our distance from one another, this situation will be absolutely fine."
"Good Granger, I agree completely." He threw her off guard, making her stammer.
"You, you do?" He stepped closer to her, forcing her to take a step back and hitting her back against the cold stone wall.
"Yes Granger, I think if we both keep our distance, this will work fine. There's just one little problem." He leaned into her and whispered gently into her hair. "I don't want to."