Chapter Two: Smirk

Hermione was enjoying the peacefulness of the kitchens and the calming warmth of her camomile tea. She thanked Dobby for his hospitality and welcomed his company. The elf was rambling on and on about a new shop in Hogsmeade that sold socks and other knitted items and she was content to nod her head in all of the right places as she got lost in her own thoughts instead.

All of these thoughts centered around Ronald Weasley and what to do about the situation he put her in by kissing her roommate in the common room. It put Hermione in a very uncomfortable position.

She could ignore his existence. She could ignore that anything had happened at all. She could sit with Ginny and Luna at the other end of the Gryffindor table and pretend she couldn't see Lavender sitting in her normal spot. She could find a new table to sit at in classes to avoid both boys. Maybe, with Dean and Seamus? They had a tendency to get distracted or blow things up, but it was an option. Running away was an option.

She could get revenge. She could find another guy to wave in his face to show that she didn't actually like him in the first place. She could make him jealous. She could buy a beautiful, form-flattering dress to wear to Slughorn's party on the arm of someone more attractive and more intelligent.

She could do the mature thing and actually talk to him about it. She could apologize for making him feel like she wasn't confident in his Quidditch abilities. She could come right out and tell him that she has romantic feelings for him. She could tell him that he could do much better than Lavender; She could kiss him.

She sat and she sipped and she thought.

The mature part of her knew that talking to him was the best, most responsible choice. But if Ron was acting childish, why shouldn't she?

If he was going to date Lavender just to spite her, why shouldn't she do the same?

No, she couldn't! Hermione Granger had too clean of a record being nice to tarnish it over one stupid, brainless, frustrating, untalented, ungrateful, ridiculous, rude, freckle-faced boy!

Avoiding the situation would be the best choice anyway. Ginny and Luna would keep her busy. They'd be studying for their O.W.L. exams and might want her help. Ginny's would be going to Slughorn's holiday party with Dean, maybe he would be willing to convince Seamus to take her as friends. They could go dress shopping next–

"Did they banish the swotty bookworm from the tower so they could enjoy a real party for once?" She was shaken from her thoughts by a cool voice she unfortunately recognized.

"Young Master Malfoy! What is you needing?" Dobby chimed, rushing over to greet the boy.

"Hello Dobby, just a coffee please," Malfoy responded politely.

Words quickly found the witch after that exchange. Her brown eyes moved questioningly from Malfoy in front of her and the elf trotting around the kitchen as he prepared the Slytherin's drink. "Dobby, I thought you no longer served the Malfoy family. They treated you atrociously."

Was that a smirk on Malfoy's face? How repulsive, as always.

"Dobby is no longer a Malfoy elf, miss, but I is happy to serve Young Master Malfoy. Young Master apologized, you see. He comes and sits with me sometimes and he even says 'thank you,'" sang the elf.

Well, that was a surprise.

Draco sat down across from the witch at the large table. The Slytherin agreed, "Yes, my father was more of the 'rule by fear' type, but it isn't quite my style."

"Right, you've probably had enough of that terrifying dictator business, haven't you Malfoy?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Hermione was mentally kicking herself for the bold comment she'd made before his surname had properly left her lips. She wasn't accusing him of being a Death Eater, per se. She was rather tired of all of Harry and Ron's talk on that particular matter, actually. But it was common knowledge who Lucius Malfoy followed and she would guess that the blonde sitting across from her had held company with Voldemort a time or two. Still, her comment might have been overboard.

Malfoy inhaled sharply as the temperature dropped to an icy chill. "I recommend you don't go nosing around in business that doesn't concern you, Granger. You'll get yourself hurt," the blonde retorted.

"Is that a threat, Malfoy?" Her voice came out more confident than she'd expected it to considering her heart was racing, but that was a good thing in the present company. Gryffindor Rule Number 1: Never let your guard down in front of a Snake.

The fierceness of his glare softened a bit, but she wasn't sure why. "No, not a threat, Granger, merely a warning." He leaned back in his chair, allowing the air of aristocracy, superiority, and confidence that usually surrounded him to return. "You do know that muggleborns are a target, don't you? It wouldn't be wise to involve yourself in dangerous affairs unnecessarily."

The tension in the air dropped dramatically as her laugh rang throughout the kitchens. It was half real, half hiding the nerves she still felt. "Oh, you act like you care."

"My mistake, Granger. I forgot Scarhead and Weasel-bee were the only ones allowed to care about you," he sarcastically replied.

Hermione's teacup crashed to the floor causing several elves to rush over to clean it up. Draco's choice to insult Ron took her by surprise and brought her fierce anger toward the redhead back to the surface.

And wait, had Malfoy implied that he cared about her on some level? That can't be right...

His voice was mocking. "Struck a nerve, have I?" That obnoxious, notorious smirk crossed his face as he looked down at her broken mess of camomile tea and porcelain. The insufferable prat.

"Just stay out of it, Malfoy," she snapped, beginning to rise from her seat. This was just not Hermione's night and she didn't need to continue sitting here with the poster boy for pompous prats.

No, no, no. She can't get up and start leaving now. I was just starting to enjoy this.

Getting a rise out of Granger would forever be one of his favorite things to do. She was the stress release he needed right now and he wasn't going to let her leave before a good argument even started. Besides, her reaction to his minor comment sparked his interest and left him curious. Why had his comment about the two Gryffindor sods startled her so much?

"Wait," he requested before offering his best almost-smile. Like Mona Lisa; confident but hiding something. "Don't let me chase you away."

She took a noticeable breath, motioning to Dobby for another cup of tea before settling back down comfortably.

Malfoy was staring directly at her, a rare look of confusion taking over his usually cold mask.

"I'm surprised you stayed," the blonde admitted as he leaned his head back into his hands.

Did his arrogant confidence ever falter? She'd have to squash that.

"You asked me to, didn't you?" Hermione retorted with a sigh, letting the chair consume her body even more. "Don't flatter yourself, Malfoy. Honestly, I just want to stay out of Gryffindor Tower long enough for… things… to die down."

A touch of apprehension crossed her features briefly. If Draco wasn't sitting directly across from her, he would have missed it.

She didn't give him time to inquire about it; she continued talking. "I could go for a walk about the castle, but it can be a little creepy at night, don't you think? Especially by myself. I always worry that I'll get lost after the portraits have gone to sleep. Everything looks different when they aren't correct in their frames. And a few of the corridors get quite drafty at night. I wasn't able to grab my cloak before I left so I'd probably get sick. It's the end of October but the weather has been so cold, it feels like–

"Do you ramble like this all the time?" He cut into her monologue.

She blushed at his comment. "Sorry, it's a nervous habit," Hermione confessed.

She made the perfect mistake. Draco mustered up his most calm, charming voice, "What has you so nervous, Granger? Is it the same thing that sent you from the Tower in a hurry?"

The witch kept her eyes on him as she moved a stray curl out of her face. He could see faint tear stains on both cheeks, but she composed herself well enough for the average observer. Draco, however, was better than average.

She sighed again. "Yes, I suppose. But I'm not sure that nervous is the correct word. I think I'm more upset, or indignant."

"Care to elaborate?"

The look on her face said a stern 'no,' but when had that ever kept the Malfoy Heir from trying?

"It seems you have nowhere to go for a while, and I have time to listen to the story of whatever's got your knickers in a twist."

"If you think I'm going to sit here and explain my problems to you of all people, you must be out of your mind," Hermione scoffed.

"Then how about a walk? The movement will be good to get your nervous energy out." He placed his coffee cup in the sink and moved toward the exit. "There's no way you can get lost or be in danger if I'm with you."

He smirked.

.

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A/N: Words cannot express how excited I am that the first chapter of Better Than Revenge was received so well! Seriously, every reader/favorite/comment has sent my heart smiling - THANK YOU! Again, many thanks to Rachelletwin2 for her kindness and support as Beta of this fic. Additional special thanks to gray-jedi-scavenger-rey, who has also been a Beta reader from the very beginning.

Disclaimer: All publically recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of J.K. Rowling.

Many thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this story, OxfordElise