Out of Hand by relativelypositive
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or make any money from the use of J.K. Rowling's characters.
Chapter 7: It's Your Own Damn Fault
Granger stared at Draco, clearly surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Did you just send something to the Daily Prophet?"
"Of course! You told me it was the only way to cut off this supposed engagement…courtship…whatever."
"I was fucking with you!"
Draco cursed his choice of words as he felt his magic stir. Terror started coursing through his veins, making him desperate.
Granger must have felt something, because she started to freak out.
"What is that? What is that? Is that you? Did you do something? What did you do?"
"You need to stop that letter. If that gets published-"
"Of course it'll be published. I spent a lot of money to make sure my ad is put in a prominent position in tomorrow morning's edition."
Draco stared at Granger in horror.
"You need to stop it!"
"Why do I need to stop it?"
"My parents read the Daily Prophet!"
"So do mine! Isn't that the whole point?"
"Since when do you do what I tell you to do?"
"Since no one will tell me the rules of this game!"
"THIS IS NOT A GAME!" Draco thundered.
He felt a little guilty when Granger shied away from him.
"I have to go. I'm going to miss my train," Hermione quietly murmured.
"Are you going to stop the owl?"
"My parents won't have time to take me to Diagon Alley. They're going to teach me about these complicated customs."
"I need you to stop that owl. I'm not joking."
"As you pointed out, I don't take orders from you."
Draco didn't think Granger understood the desperate situation they were in. He knew she felt the surge of magic in her veins...
"Do you want to marry me?"
"Never!" The vehemence of her denial stung Draco a bit, but he didn't have time to think about it right now.
"Then stop that owl."
"No. Nothing bad will happen."
"You're wrong! Stop that owl!"
"No!"
"Then I'll make you!"
"How?" Granger challenged.
Draco didn't know, but he was desperate to make it happen.
Granger scoffed and shoved past him.
Draco followed her down to the Entrance Hall and was surprised that Dumbledore had gone. Outside the doors was a carriage already loaded with Granger's trunk.
Draco watched Granger climb onto the carriage and start towards the gates. She didn't even look back at him.
What was he going to do? If his parents found out about this…he couldn't let that happen.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hermione was sitting calmly in her compartment, scouring Hogwarts: A History for any mention of accidental betrothals, courtship ceremonies, or "relations" between the students. She'd read it a hundred times; she knew it wasn't there.
She felt a little better. Not being mentioned in her favorite book supported her theory that it was all nonsense.
This relations stuff was mind-blowing to Hermione.
In her mind she was calling them Relaaaaaaations. She knew it was her mind's way of keeping herself from panicking.
When Malfoy slid the door to her compartment open and flopped down across from her like she should have been expecting him, Hermione thought she'd scream. Maybe she should have expected this.
She silently fumed as she watched him clean his broom and stow it away, then grab his Arithmancy textbook from his bag and start to read.
"I don't know what you think you're doing, but this is not helping the situation."
Malfoy looked at her, but didn't reply.
When had he gotten so big? He had to be over six feet tall. His attempts to intimidate her (which she didn't want to admit sort of worked) wouldn't have been so effective if she hadn't felt dinky next to him.
She had felt a moment of fear in the Owlery, but it was caused more by surprise than by the feeling that Malfoy would hurt her.
He was a prejudiced bully, but he wasn't evil.
His father? Different story. Hermione knew he was a supporter of Voldemort. Lucius Malfoy was the reason she had written her ad for the Daily Prophet. She refused to become part of his family, even if she never saw him again. He scared her.
As she was writing, she kept thinking about how dangerous it would be to be engaged to Draco Malfoy. She needed to be absolutely sure that didn't happen.
When she became engaged, she wanted it to be to a wizard that she adored, and that adored her right back. Her future husband would be kind, intelligent, and conscientious.
In the back of her mind, the other attribute she really wanted was screaming to be included: someone physically passionate to make beautiful babies with. She wasn't proud that she wanted an attractive husband. She knew that wasn't what was really important.
She wanted it anyway.
Draco Malfoy was attractive. She caught herself before she could laugh out loud at that thought.
Less than 24 hours ago she had started this whole mess by joking with her friends and listing all the attractive traits Malfoy had. Hermione now realized they were all superficial.
He didn't have what she wanted.
"My parents will be at the station."
Malfoy arched an eyebrow.
"I assume you will be cordial."
Malfoy scoffed and she could tell he wanted to say something.
"If you aren't going to be nice I will not let you near my parents!"
Hermione could hear the note of panic in her voice and was ashamed of it. She knew showing weakness in front of Malfoy was a mistake.
Malfoy glowered at her but said nothing.
She tried a different angle.
"How are you going to stop the ad, Malfoy?"
His stare lightened, and she was positive he was trying not to smirk.
"Why aren't you talking?"
Silence.
"You were talking to me just fine in the Owlery!"
This was different than being ignored. It was worse! Malfoy was watching her with interest and obviously taking in her questions. He was just not answering her.
Well, if he wasn't going to talk to her then she'd take the opportunity to talk to him.
Clear the air, if you will.
"I'm sorry. This is all my fault."
Malfoy gave her a look that clearly said 'damn straight' and tried to hide another smirk.
"I'm trying to rectify my mistake. I assume you know what you're doing. I can't imagine that you're in this compartment with me because you want to be."
His smirk vanished and a more thoughtful expression took over his face.
Hermione wondered if she'd ever have this opportunity again. They were stuck on the train for another two hours or so. She could say everything to him that she'd always wanted to say.
"No offense, but you're kind of a douche."
Malfoy barked out a laugh before he could catch himself. Hermione felt oddly accomplished that she'd made him crack just a little.
"I do like you like this, though. If only you were always silent."
How much did she really want to say? She didn't have as much to get off her chest in regards to Malfoy as she thought she would. She always let his insults slide off because she felt he didn't know better. He had been brainwashed his whole life. She knew that.
She smiled a little as she realized what she wanted to say.
"My biggest problem with you is that you're intelligent."
Malfoy's eyes widened.
"You've always been right behind me in the class standings. That must kill you."
Malfoy seemed to take this in stride.
"You must know that my magic is just as powerful as yours."
No response.
"I know your family is all 'we're ancient and noble and we shit more magic in one day than Mudbloods will ever have,' but I feel that you, that are in all these classes with me, and Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Mandy Brocklehurst, and all the other Muggleborns, would notice that we are strong and intelligent, that we are brimming with magic!"
Hermione tried to reign herself in. She was getting emotional, and she had a lot more to say.
"I don't need you to like me. I haven't lost any sleep over it, and I doubt I ever will. It just really bothers me that I've proven to be better than you in many ways, and I've shown over and over that I'm a good person, and yet you see me as inferior. I guess maybe I think I've gained everyone's respect."
Hermione took a moment to gather her thoughts. She studied Malfoy to see if he was still paying attention to her. He was.
"You've been mean. You've bullied me. You've bullied my friends. If we were engaged…"
Malfoy interrupted her with violent arm flinging and shaking of his head.
If Hermione hadn't been so surprised by his sudden movement, she would have felt the zing of magic-the same zing she felt in the Owlery-and maybe it would have warned her in time.
A/N:
Thanks again to my reviewers: Chester99, Tar-Silmarien, KodeV, JadelynNB13, ASJS, anime-demon-child, TheVeganMonster, txbrntt20, werevampluvr, and sdrlana21.