Chapter 8

Hermione was digging through her bag, cursing aloud about the damn stair and the stupid ass castle as she was late, once again, to advanced Herbology. When a portrait scolded her over her choice words, Hermione lifted a hand, not bothering to look at the painting, giving it the middle finger. As she continued walking away, Hermione knew that it was only a matter of time before the stupid watercolor would be off tattling on her.

It was as if the castle knew how much she hated it (honestly at this point she wouldn't put it past it) and was trying to stick it to her.

Between the damn detours she constantly had to take and the fucking head girl, she'd never had so many detentions in her life. They weren't even fucking productive detentions like the ones she'd oversaw at Ilvermorny. No, no, instead of having a student do their coursework first and then mindless activities to fill the time after, Hermione had found herself going into the Forbidden Forest to collect potions ingredients.

When she'd laughed, thinking it was a joke, because the fucking Headmaster had said it was out of bounds, she quickly realized that was a loose interpretation. For the last few weeks, instead of getting her work done, Hermione had been going into that fucking place. Collecting unicorn hair (that she had to fight a redcap for), finding some rare plant (that she had to evade a centaur camp to get to), and collect water from some puddle (that a fucking acromantula was drinking from).

She had half a mind to write Lily and see if she could get her best fucking friend and his daughter on a leash, but she didn't want to pull her stepmother into it. Her own mother had disregarded any of Hermione's calls her first and second year when the kids in her class had bullied her. Ultimately, it'd made Hermione realize that she couldn't rely on anyone but herself to fix her problems.

"Fifty points from Slytherin! Each!" Hermione stopped in her tracks, looking up towards an unused classroom (why there were so many was beyond her). Storming out was the older Malfoy twin, his head boy badge displayed proudly on his chest and his blue and bronze tie perfectly straight. "And you both have detention every Friday for the next month! Honestly, learn to control yourselves or I'll tell father! Putting an age line at the doorway is not enough discretion!"

His long blonde hair was down today, but it was tousled, as if he'd been running his fingers through it and pulling it at the roots. Not noticing her, Luc Malfoy strolled away from whoever he'd just been scolding and rounding a corner without a backwards glance.

Knowing who was most likely in that room, Hermione put her head down and began to turn around. Who needed to go to Herbology anyway? Neville would give her all the notes if she asked, and–

"Oi, Granger!" Hermione didn't stop when she heard her name being called, just kept walking, even quickening her pace a bit.

"Granger, hey, I'm talking to you!" She heard Theo yell again, but she knew who he was with and for whatever reason Draco Malfoy made her nervous. Well, that was a lie. He hadn't before his boyfriend kissed her, but now he did. She had seen the possessive way he handled Theo in public, and the fact that her lips had been on Theo's made Hermione not wanting to find out just what he was capable of when provoked.

She didn't make it much further before a hand on her arm stopped her progress. Looking up, Theo's blue eyes were again sparkling with mischief. Before she could say anything, he dipped his head, planting a kiss squarely on her mouth. When he pulled back, she must have looked like a fish out of water with her mouth gaping open, before she closed it, just for her jaw to fall open again.

A crunching sound came from behind the brunette standing over her, confirming that Theo's boyfriend had just seen him kissing someone else. Though as the clocks ticking and Draco's chewing were the only sounds filling the air, Hermione had to wonder how mad the Slytherin Malfoy was. Her brain seemed to have gone on a break, because a more rational person would be throwing up a Protego and running for it. She'd seen the hexes that they each threw at other students, mostly Theo doing it to El, but she knew Draco Malfoy was also a capable wizard.

"I think you broke her, Theodore," Draco drawled, throwing the granny smith in the air and vanishing it with a flick of his wand before it could hit the ground.

"Hm, I suppose I have," Theo said, studying her face. "Do you think we should take her to the infirmary?"

"No, I don't think so. She can come with us to meet up with Luna. I think a bit of devil's lettuce will fix her right up, plus Luna won't stop talking about her and I think she'd be excited if we brought her new friend with us for her to play with," Draco said, stepping forwards. Gripping her chin with his cool hand, he tilted her face back then side to side, "I see why you like her." He muttered before leaning in just as Theo had done moments before.

Though unlike Theo, their lips didn't meet. His breath, with the lingering scent of his tart apple still in the air, made Hermione tremble at his close proximity. The reaction only made Draco chuckle before he released her, standing back upright. "Yes, I most certainly see why you like this one."