Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and it is a pity :/
"He's so hot" Hermione heard Parvati said and Lavender giggled.
Hermione couldn't resist herself from rolling her eyes. Why do all the girls have to act like a fan girl to every decent looking boy.
"Why is everyone looking at the new guy like he's some new creature Hagrid introduced us to?" Ron asked in an annoyed tone.
"You mean every girl?" Harry asked teasingly. "I smell jealousy, Ron"
"Oh please why will I be jealous of him?"
"Shut up you both, professor's coming" Hermione hushed both her friends when she heard Professor Lupin was on his way.
"Morning, students" Professor Lupin greeted the class which was enthusiastically returned.
"Today in DADA class we'll learn about boggarts. Now boggarts, as I have already taught you earlier, are shape-shifting non-living being which takes the form of the observer's worst fear"
Hermione didn't have a good feeling about this.
"Now do you all remember how to turn your boggart into something funny? Yes. By saying the spell 'ridikulus'. Now the boggart is in this wardrobe"
Draco glanced towards the wardrobe professor was referring to.
"Now who wants to test the boggart first?"
Everyone started looking at each other. Suddenly a hand shot up.
"May I, sir?"
"Yes, please"
Mathew smiled at the consent and walked towards the wardrobe.
"You are the new student, aren't you?" Lupin enquired.
"Yes, sir. Mathew Jones"
"Brilliant. Welcome to Hogwarts and as I can see you are a Gryffindor. Go ahead, my boy"
Mathew smiled and nodded at his words and took out his wand from inside his robe. He raised it in his hands. For a brief moment he glanced back at Hermione and found she was watching him.
Draco looked like he was about to commit a murder and everyone knew who would be the victim.
The wardrobe opened, a strong wind blew and the boggart turned into dementor.
"Ridikulus"
The dementor turned into a balloon. Mathew smiled at his success.
Everyone clapped tom applause him.
"Now, Mr. Malfoy care to join us?" Professor asked looking at Draco.
Draco looked at the professor when his name was called. He was not interested in that boggart lesson at all but since his reputation was already ruined, he was not able to do anything except stepping towards the wardrobe.
On his way, Draco glanced towards Hermione, and found out she was looking at him as well.
Hermione felt something in her stomach when they both looked at each other at the same time. It was very brief but the tension was strong. Hermione noticed Draco looked paler than usual. She bit on her bottom lip. Maybe he was scared of the outcome of the boggart?
Without thinking twice, Hermione spoke, "Sir may I come forward as well? I would like to perform the spell after Malfoy"
Draco turned to look at her. He knew her. He knew she was not doing it because "she wanted to perform the spell after him".
"Yes sure, Miss Granger" Lupin answered with a smile.
Theo looked like he was enjoying the best show of his life. And Pansy looked like she was going to burst into tears again.
Draco watched as Hermione walked towards him. His heart started beating fast. He was not at all familiar with this feeling.
Hermione came and stood beside Draco and gave him a small smile which he returned at the same moment.
"You can start, Mr. Malfoy" Lupin signaled.
Draco took out his wand and raised it. The wardrobe opened, the wind blew again and the boggart took the form of no other than Draco's worst nightmare. His father. Lucius Malfoy.
Everyone became dead silent at that. Even professor Lupin.
Hermione looked at Draco and saw his hands were trembling.
"Malfoy, say the spell!" Hermione whispered in his directions.
Draco came out of his trance at Hermione's voice, "Ri...Ridikulus"
The boggart turned into a hat. Draco heaved a sigh of relief as his father's figure disappeared. Draco didn't have very amazing memories with his father and he was certainly not a fan of him. He knew it from the beginning that the boggart would transform itself into his father.
"Well done, Mr. Malfoy" The professor smiled at Draco. His voice seemed loud as no one in the room was laughing or even speaking.
Draco looked at the professor and nodded and then his glance fell on Hermione. She gave a short nod in acknowledgement with a small smile directed towards him. Draco couldn't think what to do at the very moment because this was not something he was used to. Not every day Hermione Granger smiled at him so he just nodded back in response. Theo on the other hand rolled his eyes at his friend's dry behavior.
"Now Miss Granger if you please" Lupin gestured towards Hermione to step towards the wardrobe.
Hermione blinked once. Twice. Well she actually didn't want to do this and she had just volunteered because of Draco. Why? She had no idea. Maybe because she thought it would help him. How? She had absolutely no clue.
But now here she was and there was no going back. She took a short breath, nodded and walked towards the wardrobe. Draco backed a few steps and she went and stood exactly where he was standing.
Hermione looked over her shoulder. She couldn't comprehend why Draco was still standing there. He could just go back and join everyone else as his turn was over.
She turned back with confusion but decided to focus on the task instead.
The wardrobe started shaking vigorously as the fog started coming out. Slowly, it started taking the shape of a human figure.
Hermione just wished it was not her.
When the boggart took the form of the person, everyone was aghast. There was not a single person there who didn't know who this was. And what she had done with everyone. With Hermione.
It was no one other than Bellatrix. Bellatrix Lestrange.
Hermione was stunned at her sight. She had already suspected that it would be her but still her mere sight brought shivers throughout her whole body. Her breath got caught in her throat. The mere sound of her voice brought goosebumps to her body.
It moved a few steps forward and laughed. Hermione knew this was fake but it felt so real. So much like her. So much like the real one.
Hermione closed her eyes and said to herself that none of it was real. Bellatrix id dead. But just the sound of her psychotic laughter was enough to bring all the flashbacks of the day at Malfoy Manor. To remind her of the scar she gave her.
Harry sensing Hermione's condition, stepped forward to help her but stopped in his tracks when he saw someone had already approached her to assist her. He narrowed his eyes at the person. Now this was quite surprising. It was Draco.
Draco was standing just behind Hermione. He leaned forward in such a way that his mouth was almost touching Hermione's ears.
He whispered in her ears, "Granger, it's not real. She is dead. She cannot harm you. No one can"
He put his right hand oh hers and raised her hand, holding the wand, towards the boggart.
Hermione's eyes flew open at his touch. She slightly turned her head to get him in view. She noticed that they were standing very close to each other. She could smell his cologne. Slowly, her gaze went to his lips which was just inches away from hers.
Before she could do anything stupid, the boggart gave another laughter and Hermione came back to reality. She had almost forgotten about the boggart.
"Say the word and let's get this over with" She heard Draco whispering.
His hands were still on hers with her wand raised. She finally gained all of our courage and said, "Ridikulus"
The boggart swirled again and took the form of a cat.
"Very good, Miss Granger. This class is over"
Just as the professor said those words, Draco removed his hands from hers and moved a few steps back. Hermione turned around completely to look at him directly. They stared each other for brief seconds before Hermione mouthed a 'thank you' to him. Draco gave her a short nod in response before walking out of the class. Theo followed behind.
Draco leaned on the corridor wall and started taking deep breaths. What was wrong with him?! What was he thinking holding her hand? Why did he help her? Why did she help him? 'It is all that stupid dare's fault!' He thought. 'I shouldn't have played that silly game in the first place!'
"You alright there?" Draco heard Theo's voice.
"Yeah" Draco replied without turning back. "I just need a few moments alone"
Theo was concerned about his friend. He wanted to push some questions about what happened in the class but decided not to instead, "Alright"
Theo was on his way back to the classroom since it was time to show Mathew around with Hermione.
He was thinking about Draco. And what had happened in the class. He knew what type of man Lucius Malfoy was.
He was lost in his thoughts when someone decided to just jump in front of him.
"Jesus Christ, Blaise" Theo exclaimed jumping back. "You bloody gave me a heart attack"
"Oh quit being an ass" Blaise said waving his hands in front of him. "I came to inform you that you are needed downstairs for Quidditch practice"
"Why now?"
"Apparently our game has been preponed"
"Oh. Did you tell Draco about this?"
Blaise stood there looking uneasy for a few seconds. Draco and Blaise hadn't talked since the fight in their dorm about the whole Granger-Pansy thing.
Finally Blaise spoke, "You go ahead. I'll inform him"
"You sure?" Theo raised an eyebrow.
"Did I stutter?"
"Alright then"
"There you are" Hermione leaped up from her seat at the sight of Theo.
"Miss me?" Theo grinned.
Hermione rolled her eyes at that, "Well let's go then?"
"Uhh…Granger we have got a bit of problem here" Theo started. "You see the Slytherins have their Quidditch practice right now and we just got informed about this. So I guess you'll have to go alone to show him around"
"Excellent" Hermione groaned in frustration.
"And that is Hagrid's hut" Hermione pointed towards it with a smile on her face.
"Hagrid?" Mathew asked clearly having no idea who he was.
"Our professor of 'Care of Magical Creatures'"
"Oh I see" He replied finally getting it.
"Well that's it then. This marks the end of our tour" Hermione declared clearly happy it was over. "Do you have any questions?"
"I do, actually"
"Oh, then go ahead with it"
"Well I just got informed about the ball taking place tomorrow and umm…I wanted to ask if you'll like it to attend with me?"
Hermione didn't see this coming. At all. Well it was kind of him to ask but she had wanted that this particular boy would ask him.
"Mathew...umm-"
"She is actually attending it with me, Jones" Came a voice.
Both Hermione and Mathew turned their heads in the direction from where the voice came. Hermione gave a short gasp.
Draco came and stood beside Hermione. He looked at Mathew and then at Hermione, "Aren't you, Hermione?"
Hermione came out of trance, "Yes. Yes I am"
"Oh, my apologies" Mathew said looking back and forth between the Gryffindor and Slytherin. "I didn't know about this"
"Well now you do" Draco said matter-of-factly.
"Right. Umm…I should get going. See you, Hermione" With that, Mathew turned and walked away.
When he was completely out of sight, Hermione turned towards Draco. "What was that?"
"A thank you will be appreciable" Draco said grinning.
"A thank you?" Hermione folded her hands on her chest.
"Well, I clearly saved you from him and did you a favor by asking you to the ball?"
"You did me a favor?" Hermione scoffed. "Please"
"Well not everyone gets the opportunity to go to the ball with the amazing Draco Malfoy"
"And why do you think I'm not going with someone else"
Draco hadn't thought about that…
"Well are you?" He asked hoping she denies that she is.
"No" She laughed.
Draco was relieved was an understatement, "Perfect"
"But why me, Malfoy?"
'Oh boy' He realized he was not sure of the answer himself. "Thought of trying something new"
Hermione laughed at that, "That's very Malfoy of you"
Draco smiled at that and Hermione noticed. It was a rarely he smiled.
Draco's smile vanished when he saw something large and round coming his way. His eyes widened as Hermione was in its way as well. Draco grabbed Hermione and threw themselves at the nearby wall. Hermione groaned when she hurt her back while colliding with the wall. Then they heard an explosion nearby.
"You should be in Azkaban, you death eater" They heard someone shout.
"You alright?" Draco asked Hermione.
Hermione nodded but kept staring at his face. She was pinned at the wall with Draco guarding her with both of his hands at her either sides. They were inches apart from each other. They were so close that Hermione could hear his heart pumping and Draco could smell Hermione's hair which smelled like almonds and vanilla.
"Who was that?" Hermione asked when she finally managed to.
"Some seventh years"
"You should inform headmistress!" Hermione said clearly concerned.
"No need of that, Granger" Draco said straightening himself because he was sure if he stayed that close to her for one more second, he would do something stupid.
"It could have hurt you! Are you hurt?" She asked touching his cheeks.
Draco felt a spark go throughout his whole body. He has been touched before but none felt like this.
"I'm alright, Granger" Draco said removing her hand gently. "Truly. And you should get going now. Meet you tomorrow"
As soon as he said that, he walked away because he was not capable of staying in her presence without doing something he would regret later.
Blaise went and sat down beside Theo on the couch. He watched Pansy talking with another girl in the dorm. Theo noticed Blaise watching her.
"Sup, mate?" Theo started.
Blaise came out of his fantasy at Theo's voice, "Sorry, what?"
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing" Blaise replied. "Who are you going the ball with?"
"Amanda" Theo said but continued at Blaise's raised eyebrow. "Seventh year"
"Oh"
"What about you?"
"Haven't asked anyone yet"
"Are you crazy? The ball's tomorrow and you haven't asked anyone yet?!"
"Nope" He replied still looking at Pansy.
Theo looked at Pansy and then at Blaise, "You like her, don't you?"
"What do you mean?" Blaise asked now looking at Theo.
"You know what I mean, Blaise" Theo said. "Just sitting here won't help, mate. You need to tell her"
"It's not that easy and she is still whipped over Draco"
"Then tell her she is wasting time on that wanker. And she deserves someone better. Someone like you"
"What are you on about, Theo?"
"This" Theo said and stood, "Oi Pansy, Blaise wants to talk to you"
"What the fuck, you in-" Blaise was cut off by Pansy.
"Yes, Blaise?" Pansy was standing in front of Blaise now.
'You can thank me later' Theo mouthed to Blaise with a wink.
"Pansy...I…I just wanted to ask if you will go to the ball with me?" Blaise asked.
Pansy smiled at that, "I'll love to" and hugged him.
Blaise looked at Theo who was smiling at them. Blaise smiled and hugged Pansy back.
Draco had just enter the dorm and spotted Theo. He went to him and noticed him smiling at something. He followed his gaze and saw Blaise and Pansy hugging.
"What did I miss?" Draco asked Theo.
"Wanker finally gained the courage to ask Pansy for the ball"
"For real?" Draco asked a bit shocked.
"Yeah" Theo said and turned to face Draco. "Anyways who are you going the ball with?"
"I'd rather not tell you" Draco said pouring himself a glass water.
"Yeah well it's not Granger for sure so I'm not even interested" Theo shrugged.
Draco smirked at that.
Theo narrowed his eyes at him. Then it dawned on him. "You fucking asked Granger?"
"I guess I did"
"And she said yes?" Theo asked still not believing his friend.
"I guess she did" Draco shrugged with a smile.
"Oh my fucking-" Before Theo could tell the whole world about this, Draco clapped his mouth shut.
AN: Next chapter is going to be mind blowing. Hopefully I'll post it soon. Do leave reviews to let me know how you feel about the story xd