Hello! Sorry I'm late again, been catching up on some much needed sleep, I'll try to do better in the future. Thanks again to all those who followed, favourited and reviewed, and to those who haven't, be sure to do so!
Hermione woke up the next morning when the sun was high and already shining through the bedroom window. She panicked briefly before remembering that it was a Saturday and that no classes awaited her, so she slowly got up, made sure Malfoy wasn't in the room, and got dressed. She then proceeded to walk out of the room, without bothering to fight her hair into something other than the mess it was at that moment, and was surprised to see the fair haired Slytherin sipping a cup of tea and reading on the sofa.
"Well you look absolutely stunning. Your morning face is quite sexy."
"Oh stop, I'm not in the mood to deal with your shit." She grunted in return. Malfoy let out a fake shocked gasp and brought his hand to his chest, but she simply ignored him and went to make herself some strong coffee.
After a few minutes, a smirk appeared on Malfoy's face.
"You know, you should be careful who you get undressed in front of. If we're going to live together, I can't have you stripping down right in front of me."
"What?" she asked, confused. She had no memory of ever stripping down in front of him.
"Last night. You came back and immediately got undressed, taking no notice that I was sitting there, three feet away." Seeing her distressed look, he continued. "Don't worry, I didn't watch or look or anything. I saw a bit, but I quickly looked away. I have no interest in seeing you undressed, Granger."
"Um, thanks?"
"No problem. I brought you breakfast. It's on the counter."
"Uh... thank you."
"I didn't do it for you, I was simply trying to put you off from killing me once you found out I saw that lovely black bra you had. Didn't know you were such a deadbeat in the morning."
She sighed, exasperated at his taunts. She thought he would at least make an effort to not start a feud now that they were living together. Of course, she was wrong. The only times she was wrong was when she was judging other people, as she had a tendency to hope for the best, or refuse to see the evil. She had done the same in sixth year when it came to Malfoy, why would anything be different now?
"Anyway, by that look of total despair you had on last night, am I to suppose the meeting didn't go well?"
"Why do you care?" she asked, suspicious.
"I care because I have to listen to you scream in your sleep."
"I'll be sure to put silencing charms around me. And for the record, it didn't go too badly, just got into a row with one of the Ravenclaw boys from the other night. That and I was obviously put first, to set the example. The Golden Girl is ready to share, so should you. It obviously isn't weakness, because she can never be weak! Prats."
Malfoy seemed surprised at her bitterness and sarcasm. Of course, Slytherins were the only ones who could be bitter, ppfft
"You had a row with one of the Ravenclaw kids?"
Ah. So that was why he was surprised.
"Yes. He was outraged that I still stopped them even after what happened in your Manor. I told him to shove his opinions. I can't believe that we were as annoying as that when we were his age. Obviously we didn't attack anyone, but I mean the moaning and wining."
"You don't have to defend me you know."
"No one else will. And we don't know a lot about each other but I'm pretty sure you know I'm the type to defend those who need it. You probably hate that. Goody two shoes, always sticking up for the weak. Honestly I hate it. Gets me into more trouble than it's worth."
"Then why'd you do it?"
"Don't know. I can't help it, I suppose."
She suddenly realised that she was moaning to Malfoy and blushed. She didn't need him to know anything about her. Not like that anyway. She quickly retired to the room, tied her hair up and left before he could say anything else, like how stupid it was to stick up for the weak, or how he didn't need her help. She didn't want him to know how selfish she was in thinking that she had already done enough and just couldn't be bothered anymore to be the Gryffindor she was supposed to be. But it was too it for that.
Draco was confused about what had just happened. Hermione Granger had just spoke to him honestly, as though she had forgotten who he was, what he had done. Most surprising, she had admitted that she hated this habit she had of being helpful and... just so Gryffindor. He tried to imagine Gryffindor's princess sticking up for him for the second time in less than a week, in front of many other students and a professor. Or doctor or whatever. Most of all, he was surprised she had spoken almost like a Slytherin. Swearing and insulting others behind their backs, though he grinned at how Gryffindor it had been for her to such spout her thoughts like that, not caring about who she was talking to.
He sighed, suddenly wishing she hadn't told anyone of what had happened at his house. Now everyone knew how much of a coward he had been, just standing there and watching his psychotic aunt laugh as she carved the word into Hermione's arm. Hermione, who he had never really liked, jealous of her intelligence and her loving, accepting family. He watched, as he had everyday and night since that event, as she writhed on the floor, screamed for help. He felt the floor shake as Weasley shook the prison doors underneath him. Hermione, who he had never liked, but never in a million years did he wish to see her hurt like that.
His breath sped up as he was thrown, once again, into the past, as he watched the cursed knife carve the word, that terrible word, into her skin. He was on the floor, shaking, eyes wide, his fists grabbing and pulling at his hair and rocking back and forth as e watched. He always watched...
