Chapter 4: Dreamwise
Chapter 4: Dreamwise
For the past couple of days, Hermione hadn't seen much of Draco. She figured he was purposefully isolating himself and only going out to attend classes while the rest of his time was spent either moping around his room or working on mending the cabinet in the Room of Requirement. She caught glimpses of him in the Great Hall and during their very few shared classes but it was impossible to approach him. She needed to find a way of getting close to Malfoy without raising too much suspicion and she had to do it quickly because time was passing fast and she was no closer to preventing any tragedies than Day 1 of her return.
Deep in thought, she barely noticed her Herbology class resuming and it took a gentle nudge from Parvati for Hermione to snap out of her daze and take off her protective gloves. She gave a thankful nod to Parvati and gathered her things in haste. This time, she attended the class alone; Ron had Quidditch affairs while Harry was probably once again being summoned by Dumbledore. This year was their Headmaster's final year and it was only natural for him to impart final knowledge to Harry, especially since Hermione had always been under the impression that Dumbledore always knew his days would be numbered.
She was about to take a right to the next corridor when she heard Professor McGonagall's voice directed at a certain someone.
"Severus, if you would give me a moment," the older witch stopped Snape in his tracks. "We need to talk about Mr. Malfoy."
At the sound of that, Hermione pressed herself against the wall, interest visibly peaked.
"Is that necessary?" Snape inquired in his usual monotone voice. Others might have not picked up on it but Hermione sensed there was a drop of irritation in his tone, as if he was predicting what McGonagall intended to say.
"It is," she pressed, keen eyes fixing the other professor with austerity. "Mr. Malfoy has been performing poorly in Transfiguration Class. This is a very serious concern, especially now, with the O.W.L. exams approaching."
"Have you considered changing…teaching methods, Minerva?" Snape challenged, hoping to disarm McGonagall. He should have known better.
"My teaching methods are not the issue, Severus," the witch said, addressing the offense. "The boy is falling behind in every subject. He is distracted, irresponsible and if he continues in this manner, I'm afraid he'll fail."
"This year is challenging for him. He has special circumstances," Snape offered.
Both he and Hermione knew what those "special circumstances" were and while it made sense to them why Draco could care less about his classes and grades, Professor McGonagall was not in on the grand scheme. She was right to be worried about her students and in her current position, her responsibility resided in ensuring everyone at Hogwarts was pledging at least minimal effort.
"And what are those circumstances?" She asked, eyebrows rising in question.
"I do not have time to discuss them with you, Minerva," Hermione heard Snape sigh exasperated. "What do you suggest we do about Mr. Malfoy?"
Professor McGonagall hurried to answer.
"I suggest a tutor."
"A…tutor?"
"Yes, a fellow student who can help him study and perhaps, aid him in regaining his motivation. I find that method to be extremely successful," the woman assured.
Snape remained silent but continued to inspect her, which gave Minerva the confidence to continue with her proposal.
"Of course, I'll leave the tutor choice to your better judgment, Severus."
"Professors!" Hermione made her presence known from behind the wall, jumping at the opportunity. "I couldn't help but hear that you are looking for a tutor. I'd like to volunteer my time."
It was a gamble, Hermione knew that better than anyone. Simultaneously, it was the perfect chance for her to get closer to Malfoy without any other suspicious reasons involved. This way, she could be in the same room with him willingly and he would have no other choice but stay there with her. Through her tutoring, she could get to know Draco better, civilly interact with him and, if Hermione played her cards right, she could even make him open up to her about what she knew was torturing him inside.
"Ms. Granger, you're a Gryffindor, I doubt it falls within your responsibilities. I'm sure we were both thinking of someone from the same house," McGonagall clarified, a bit taken aback by Hermione's peculiar request and looking to Snape for mutual understanding.
"Categorically," Snape agreed, unable to take his gaze off Hermione. He was probably perplexed as well, wondering what on earth possessed the virtuous Hermione Granger to offer herself as tribute.
"I would ask you to please reconsider," Hermione said, not ready to give up on the matter. "I have impeccable grades, I am good at teaching others and I also have a flexible schedule. The fact that I am a Gryffindor might even be an advantage; it may encourage friendly competition, increase motivation or at least instigate house pride. I see no reason to be refused."
"Ms. Granger, you do realize that you will be tutoring Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked, as if trying to remind the young witch of her past altercations with him.
"Yes, I am aware. But as we all know, there is palpable tension between our houses as of late and I believe this will help calm some spirits. Personally, I have nothing against tutoring Malfoy."
Both Snape and McGonagall exchanged knowing looks, understanding all too well what Hermione insinuated. Perhaps the solution would not be so far-fetched, she could see it into the female professor's expression that she was open to the idea. Snape, however, still looked doubtful. Truth be told, the last thing Draco needed was a Gryffindor spy looming over him, especially if that student turned out to be the astute Hermione Granger. However, refusing so vehemently would also put Draco on the spot.
"My intentions are pure, Professor," Hermione reassured Snape, summoning the sincerest of expressions. She could sense Snape mulling it over in his head, trying to read beyond Hermione's apparent motives and pluck out her true purpose. She knew she put him in a very difficult position, one it was getting harder to defend as a double agent, protecting both Hogwarts and Harry yet keeping Voldemort's skepticism at bay. His better nature won eventually and pulling his robe away, delivered the reply Hermione waited for:
"Very well, I will let Draco know," he said distastefully, taking his leave swiftly, leaving no other chance for the two women to intervene.
To her left, McGonagall regarded Hermione once more.
"Are you sure about this, Miss Granger? I wouldn't think less of you if you changed your mind."
"I'm positive, Professor."
"Alright then," McGonagall nodded. "I'll send the necessary details sometime today."
"Thank you, Professor."
OOO
Back in the Gryffindor Common Room, Ron and Ginny were bickering about nonsense while Harry was, once again, nose-deep in Snape's book. Ever since he acquired it, he had been obsessed. There were spells, recipes and curses at Harry's disposal and it was difficult to resist. If only he'd known who the book belonged to, maybe he wouldn't be inspecting it that closely anymore. Hermione was itching to tell him, deter him from ever picking it up again but she knew it was not the right time, and on top of that, she would also need to provide some explanations.
"You should leave that book alone, Harry. I don't think it's safe playing around with it," she said, placing her schoolbag on the floor. She took a seat next to Ginny, ignoring Ron's uncomfortable stare.
"Says the person who plans on being best mates with Malfoy," Ron challenged much to her dismay. He always knew how to point out facts in the most unflattering of ways.
"What does he mean by that?" Ginny asked confused, head now turned to face Hermione.
"Oh, she didn't tell you?" Ron questioned innocently. "Hermione here wants to get closer to Malfoy and find out what rich boy is secretly scheming with Voldemort and Daddy dearest."
"Hermione, you can't be serious!" Ginny accused, her eyes wide in disbelief. "That is dangerous," she emphasized as if she was revealing new information.
Of course it was dangerous, it was insane but she needed to do it. She owed it to everyone to try and change the course of things and any one of them would have done exactly the same. Truthfully, she wouldn't have seen Ron hurrying up to befriend Draco but this was something she could do and would do.
"Not if I'm careful," Hermione said in reply to Ginny's statement. The redheaded witch didn't look convinced in the slightest and glanced at Harry, hoping for some moral support.
"Which is why I'm also careful," Harry said, finally closing the book. "I'm just gathering information and I promise not to use any of the spells I come across in it."
Liar, Hermione thought to herself, remembering how in her past, Harry used Sectumsempra on Draco, leaving him in a severe condition. If it hadn't been for Snape interfering, Draco would have died and regardless of how determined Harry was to defeat Voldemort, murdering Draco would have made him carry a horrible guilt for the rest of his days.
Right as she was about to confront Harry again, Parvati Patil entered the Common Room and upon spotting Hermione made a beeline for her.
"Hermione, Professor McGonagall told me to hand you this," she said and presented Hermione with a piece of paper which she immediately took.
She recognized McGonagall's unmistakable writing, registering a time and a day. It seemed her first tutoring lesson with Draco would be tomorrow, after class, in the western wing of the library.
"What's that?" Ron asked, trying to peer over her shoulder.
"Nothing, just reading references," Hermione dismissed him and folding the paper, she stuffed it quickly into one of her pockets. The last thing she needed was for her friends to add yet another reason to her persecution list.
OOO
Hermione's heart was drumming echos against her ribcage, causing her to take deep breaths as she tried to make her way to the library. It was her first tutoring class with Draco Malfoy and she felt as nervous as a girl going on a first date. She felt nauseous at the comparison, mentally berating her mind for going in that direction. This was an incursion into enemy territory, not a romantic escapade. Especially when her opponent was Draco and now, more than ever, she had to be prepared. Prepared to earn his trust. Be on guard. Read him like a book and play him like a fiddle. Yet, the second she spotted him seated at a far-end table, arms crossed over his chest and head positioned toward the windows, Hermione realized how much her perception of him had changed in the past days.
He hadn't noticed her yet, which gave her plenty of time to analyze him as she slowly approached. Draco was wearing a simple white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and donning his silk Slytherin tie. Afternoon light hit his face directly, which gave his grey eyes an almost translucent color while his skin radiated in pale gold and ethereal essence. He truly was a handsome young man and somewhere, in the chambers of her disciplined heart, Hermione had always known it. That cold and unbreakable Malfoy beauty would never go unnoticed, especially if you had eyes to see and soul to yearn. If his personality had been different or his attitude towards her slightly kinder, Hermione was certain she, too, would have fallen for him like the rest of the girls in school.
But then he noticed her approaching and turned that beautiful face towards her, and molded it into something sour and unbecoming of his earlier charm.
"This better not be what I think it is," Draco said, watching with dismay as the witch he loathed the most, dropped a stack of books loudly on his table.
"Sorry to disappoint but I'm going to be your tutor, Malfoy," Hermione said, hands resting on the books, heartbeat falling back into place. It was infinitely easier when he was mean to her. It was familiar and therefore lighter to bear. "I take it no one told you?"
"If they did, do you think I would still be here, waiting for you?" He spat.
Hermione took a seat opposite him, not at all avoiding his gaze. If anything, she was going head-on.
"It makes no difference to me. If you want to leave, go ahead. I'm sure Professor Snape will drag you right back here and I don't think a proud wizard such as yourself would allow himself the shame of such a commotion. You have standards to live up to, I'm sure," Hermione said, pointing out all of his weaknesses.
"Oh really?" He scoffed, leveling her from the top of her head, down to her fingertips. Hermione had no idea why but she suddenly felt unbearably naked.
"Really," she nodded. "And judging by your poor scholastic performance, I'd say we have a lot to catch up on. So, are you going to waste my time needlessly or are you actually going to spare me the drama and give this tutoring lesson a try?"
As prepared as Draco was, he still couldn't prevent a shadow of surprise from crossing his features, giving Hermione immense satisfaction for catching him off-guard with her retort, even if just a little. It seemed it wasn't only Hermione changing opinions, Draco too was seeing her in a different light. He eventually shook his head, smiling bitterly to no one in particular.
"What the hell is Snape thinking, pairing me up with you?"
"He's thinking I'm good at teaching and you're falling behind on studies. Stop trying to make a big deal out of this and focus on improving your grades."
"I don't care about my grades," Draco specified.
"That much is obvious," she said.
"You're so ignorant, Granger. You have no idea what's going to happen," he said, tilting his head at her, pitying her for her lack of details.
For a moment there, Hermione thought about challenging that statement but it wouldn't have made any real difference. At the end of the day, she didn't need to prove him anything and her initial mission was more important. She had to tame a beast.
"If it would cause me to lose sleep or agonize so much over it, then perhaps it's best I don't know. If I were you, I'd take this study opportunity to disengage myself from any consuming thoughts," she offered sincerely. She also picked up a book from the pile and placed it in front of him.
"And if I were you, I'd mind my own business," Draco returned coolly but proceeded to instinctively lean in and paste his gaze on the book Hermione had just presented him with, particularly on the cover.
"Now, we're starting off with History of Magic, more precisely the chapter about Jinx Dreamwise, the ancient rune reader and one of the wizards capable of predicting the future. Do you know what he's best remembered for?" She asked him.
"For being a prick," Draco delivered, leaning back into his chair, arms folded again in defense. Or was it disinterest?
"I'm serious, Malfoy," Hermione scolded, adopting her trademark studious expression. "In the year 1342, Dreamwise was able to predict the first wave of plague, commonly known as the Black Death, which would come later on as…"
"It's 1343," he interrupted her matter-of-factly.
"What?" Hermione frowned.
"The year in which he predicted the Black Death. It's 1343, not 1342."
Hermione looked dumbfounded. She pulled the book away from him and opened it to the chapter in question. It took her a few seconds to scan the pages and reach the line where the eronated year was highlighted in bold numbers. It was just like Draco had said: 1343.
"That's true. I can't believe I got the year wrong," she said, feeling disappointed in herself. And I can't believe you of all people got to rub it in my face, she thought. It had been years since she graduated Hogwarts so perhaps she needed to brush up on her history facts again. Still, she wouldn't give Draco the gratification, this lesson was about her tutoringhim not vice-versa.
"No matter. It also says here that he succeeded in predicting 4 more illnesses and deadly catastrophes throughout his life but decided to keep the information to himself as punishment for people disregarding his first prediction in the first place…" Hermione trailed off and then raised her eyes to meet Malfoy's amused ones.
"You were right. He really was a prick."
"And a selfish bastard," Draco added. "In Unspoken Truths of Great Wizards, the author clearly states that Dreamwise never shared his secrets of reading runes with anyone else since he thought of himself as superior. Apparently, he was not that great."
"I haven't read that book…" Hermione realized, wrecking her brain to remember if she even stumbled upon it in the future.
"Of course you haven't. You don't have my father's library," Draco said. "I was forced to read every volume, every page and hardcopy in the collection. Those standards you mentioned earlier, they have to be upholded somehow. At a certain point, I read them on my own, out of interest. Out of spite. Just to feel that I belong and I deserve."
His voice ran with a strange, distant tone, as if he was talking about someone else, from a distant past and innocent circumstances. As the only child to a pair of modest dentists, Hermione wondered if, in fact, she had been luckier for not having money in her life. Apparently, a good financial position also came with a heavy legacy of responsibilities, pride and anguish. She had never heard Draco talk about it before but then again, she and Draco had never been alone, vulnerable in conversation. She wondered what else he was comfortable sharing.
"Malfoy," Hermione began, "Professor McGonagall told me you gave your exam scroll back empty. Clearly, you knew all the answers, you just didn't want to finish the exam, did you? Why?"
"You tell me. You're the tutor," he said casually.
"You know, Malfoy, if there's something bothering you, you can talk to me about it," Hermione offered, trying to push her luck.
"Really?" He said, regarding her with a bit more transparency than usual. Even his voice lowered to a softer tempo, almost as if he had been waiting for someone to present him with that option for a very long time.
"Yes," she said, sounding hopeful. "We're not exactly on the best of terms but I'm a good listener. I may be even able to help."
"Well," Draco began, leaving his seat and slowly walking to Hermione's side, leaning in as he continued to whisper in her ear, broad shoulders towering over a curly mane of hair, "To tell you the truth, there is something I've been meaning to tell you."
As if in a trance, Hermione slowly inched her head in his direction, paralyzed by their sudden proximity. All she could focus on were his lips and their body heat, mingling together in a shameless ritual. After what seemed like a torturous long pause, Draco finally spoke:
"Granger, every second spent in your company makes my skin crawl with disgust."
It took a second for her to register what he had said to her but it was enough to break the spell. His expression turned cruel and he rose to his full height, having lost all traces of humanity. Draco was Draco again. And he was just as difficult as Hermione remembered.
"As if I would ever tell you anything," he revealed, hitting the stack of books on the table, causing them to fall in a Domino effect. He turned to leave, having spared all the patience he could muster for her when she did something unimaginable.
"Wait!" She called out and grabbed his arm on instinct. He turned to face her with almost violent speed.
"Are you out of your mind? Don't lay your hands on me!"
Aware of her brazenness, Hermione released him at once and took a step back, suddenly more afraid of herself than Draco Malfoy. She dared glance at him, taking in his indignant expression. If he expected an explanation from her, Hermione wouldn't give it, she currently doubted her own reasoning. She settled on voicing out something entirely different.
"Thursday afternoon is our next tutoring lesson. Same place, same hour. I'll be waiting for you, Draco."
He silently regarded her for a few moments, unable to decipher what was going on through her mind. Whatever it was, Draco was done guessing.
"Suit yourself."
Hermione watched him leave, sliding easily through the rows of study tables towards the exit and when he was out of her sight, she finally released a breath she had been holding tightly in her chest. With every occasion, she felt as if she was playing a perilous game, taunting a being more dragon than man. However, this time, Hermione felt she had made progress. This time, he didn't correct her for intimately using his first name.
OOOO
Author's note: Whew! End of Chapter 4, this was a fun one to write. I'm sure there are a few of you who wish the romance would kick in sooner but I'm trying to keep them in character as much as possible and also, exploring sides of them that the books never touched upon because it was not necessary to the plot. But my fanfiction is about Draco and Hermione so I'm taking my time with them and hopefully, the reward will be sweeter.:))
Thank you to all of you who followed me and like this story, and especially to those who leave comments and motivate me to write more. Big hugs! 3
uhmeuhh: I know, right? Those two would have been quite the duo if only J.K. would have gone in that direction. But let's face it, if she had made those two fall in love, the story would have gotten a lot more complicated and nobody would have cared about Harry anymore :)) And thank you so much for commenting again!
Lena2244: Well, this will also go in a spicy direction eventually *cough* but I also plan on working on their evolution and their feelings as they realize love is an ingredient they had never factored in their drama before :)) Thank you for leaving a comment, hope to see you here again.