QL, Wanderers, Beater 1, Round 5.

Theme: June: Dudley Dursley, Draco Malfoy, or Dobby

Prompts:

(word) striped

(colour) cream

Word Count: 1766

Betas: Dina

Draco Malfoy glared at the green and cream striped t-shirt his mother had bought. It was so common, so below him. The seventeen-year-old wasn't sure exactly what to do about it. His mother had changed after the war and he wasn't so sure that he liked her 'hippy lifestyle' as his father called it. Draco hadn't minded the changes too much until she started buying him clothes. She hadn't done that since he was thirteen and he honestly hated them all. However, he did love his mother and if he didn't wear it she'd be upset. She always knew how much he wore clothing when he returned, and his final retake year at Hogwarts was not going to be any different.

With a sigh, he reluctantly slipped it on before covering it instantly with a jumper and a robe. He even refused to admit to himself how warm and soft it was. It was actually a perfect t-shirt for the temperature outside.

Draco exited his dorm and headed through the Hogwarts Castle towards the grounds. He had agreed to meet Ginny Weasley of all people. There were many reasons he did not wish to meet up with her. One, it was misty and cold; two, he didn't really like her or her family; three, she wouldn't tell him why; and four, he was sure it was some sort of trap.

Nevertheless, he found himself exiting the castle and walking towards the designated meet-up spot. Draco pulled his robe a bit tighter before pretending as if the weather did not bother him. Mist was always strange to him, even as a boy; it felt as if it were raining but without the rain.

Even with the mist causing visual problems, Draco spotted the signature ginger hair. From what he could see, it was only her. He breathed out a sigh of relief. As he got closer he noticed she was wearing a cream and red striped jumper - he knew he hated his t-shirt for a reason! Not only did he already hate the colour cream - it was like a dirty white! - but it being striped was a poor person's design. Even the youngest disgusting Weasel was proving his point. He'll be having words with his mother and telling his father about what had occurred.

"You're early," Weasley commented with a smile. She obviously didn't understand how angry he was at his mother for her poor fashion sense.

"As are you," he replied simply. Draco stopped a few feet from her and looked around. "You wanted to meet?"

Weasley nodded. "I wanted to talk to you."

"In the middle of a field?" He raised his hands and looked around. "With this weather?"

"I didn't want us to be overheard."

Draco smirked. "If you are about to declare your love for me-"

"Ew. No." Weasley shook her head.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her reaction but was still trying to work out what they could possibly have to talk about.

She cleared her throat and indicated for them to take a walk. It seemed cardio would be included in this talk. "A lot has changed since the war. Everybody is different. Sometimes it's good - like you, you're not as much of a jerk. But sometimes it's…" she hesitated. "Less good."

"Less good?" he repeated. "Do you mean bad?"

"No!" the ginger replied quickly. "Just not healthy."

This conversation was already starting to bore him. "Your point?"

"Hermione has pulled away from everybody else. She's spending so much more time studying and less time socialising."

Draco had to laugh. Was Weasley seriously this stupid? "Granger always studied. She is the smartest witch of her age for a reason. The number of times I saw her in the library reading or doing homework straight after it was assigned during dinner was unbelievable - I honestly could not fathom how she was that dedicated sometimes and I used to study all the time. Just not as much as her. Now it's her NEWTs and future in front of her, I'm surprised she's ever not studying." He paused for a split second as he remembered what else she said. It was obvious that the younger girl expected Granger to be spending countless hours with her. "She's probably socialising less because her two best friends aren't here. You are not her best friend, you're firstly her friend's little sister, and secondly just a friend. Don't smother her. This is, in her opinion, the most important year for her… defeating The Dar-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was likely less crucial than being prepared for exams."

It was only after he'd finished talking did he realise the person he had been talking to was staring at him with her mouth agape.

"What?"

Weasley blinked a few times as she tugged at her jumper. It was wet, the cream and red looking soggy from the time exposed in this misty weather. She really should be wearing a cloak or at least a robe like he was. Even Draco was feeling the wetness sinking in and knew they should be heading back inside. There was no point of a drying spell until he was out of what was causing the problem.

"I didn't think about it that way," the girl finally admitted. "Wouldn't she be lonely?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Why don't you ask her? Instead of me. The person who couldn't give a crap."

Weasley looked at him accusingly. "You care," she stated.

He shook his head. "Not really."

"You're Head Boy and she's Head Girl. You care!"

"Not about petty things like 'she's not giving me enough attention'." He scoffed at her expression. "It's true."

"You're making me sound needy."

Draco shrugged. There were thousands of insults going through his mind, some relevant to their conversation, but he doubted starting a fight with the ginger would do him any good. "Whatever. I'm going in."

She huffed but followed his lead and they walked back to the castle together.

"Next time you want to talk about your feelings, don't come to me. And if you do… don't ask to meet me outside in misty weather."

"Any more advice?"

"Yes. Striped jumpers are ridiculous."

Weasley glared at him before strutting off. It looked like she had decided to not insult him either. Their conversations would be a lot more boring. He would ensure to maintain it did not become a regular thing talking to her. She was too needy and annoying. Once again, he was left wondering why he agreed to meet with her to begin with.

Draco returned to his Heads' Common Room and saw Granger sprawled out with a bunch of books. "Your annoying ginger friend is worried you're studying too much."

"Ron?" she asked, confused, actually looking away from her books at him.

"Nah. The female one."

"Oh," she muttered as her eyes once again came glued to the pages of one of her books.

Instead of going straight to his dorm like he would usually do, he paused. "I thought you had completed your homework?"

Granger nodded. "I did. I'm just doing extra research."

"Annoying ginger was right… you are studying too much."

She glared at him - and she was getting better at them too. Granger spent half her time with him sending at least one glare his way. "There's no such thing as too much studying, Malfoy."

"Is there no such thing as no social life, too?" he retorted. "You meeting up with Potter and Weasley at Hogsmeade next weekend?"

Granger nodded and looked away from him.

"Good. That'll be good." He took another look at her before walking off.

Later that evening, Draco was just in his slacks, socks, and that cream and green striped t-shirt. He still hated it with a passion. Nothing anybody said would make him even consider liking the abomination that was this article of clothing. He glanced at the mirror in disgust before walking into the shared common room. It wasn't surprising to find Granger reading. At least she wasn't studying.

"What are you wearing?" she asked, her eyes falling off her page and over to him.

"Clothes," he replied rather snappily.

Granger chuckled. "I'm glad for that."

Draco looked at her suspiciously. "You're in a good mood."

His classmate closed her book and placed it on the table in front of her. It looked like they were going to have a conversation - this was why he should always remain in his dorm. "You made me start thinking earlier. I was studying a lot," she started. "Though, it is one of the most crucial years of my life. I should also make sure to have fun and acknowledge everybody around me. So, thank you."

"Trust me… I didn't do anything."

"It couldn't have been easy telling me my faults."

"It was. I could list more if you wanted?"

Granger smiled as if he were joking. However, something about her expression told him that she knew exactly what he was thinking. "Still, thanks."

"Don't mention it."

Draco turned away, his reason for coming down here completely gone from his mind. Unfortunately, Granger continued talking. "Can I ask you something?"

"Fine."

"What's with the striped t-shirt?"

Draco straightened his shoulders as he looked at her. "Is it so hard for you to believe that I have green and cream coloured clothes?"

She shook her head. "No. I figured you had green and cream clothes. It's just them being striped that stood out."

Draco scoffed. "I do not own cream coloured clothes. Why would I want to wear an off-white piece of clothing? It's never clean! It's either white or a normal colour. And no, the striped design is not my idea of 'fashion' either. Why couldn't mother just choose a colour? One single colour instead of two sharing the same t-shirt. I will never understand women and their choice of clothing."

Granger looked mildly amused. "Maybe she was testing you?"

"What?"

"It's clear you despise cream and stripes. Why would she buy you it?"

Draco began to glare at her. "If you're implying…"

"I'm just saying." She paused. "Wouldn't she know what you liked and disliked?"

Draco felt his blood boiling. Was his mother testing him? Or playing a joke on him? He pulled off the offending t-shirt. That's the last time he tried to do something nice for somebody he loves. He pulled out his wand and burnt the t-shirt.

Granger simply watched before picking up her book as if she hadn't just witnessed his meltdown.

He made a mental note to thank her later. Though, he doubted that he ever would.