Love's Horrid Fruit

Hermione

After being absolutely humiliated in potions, I was determined not to let anything else bring me down for the rest of the day. Not even Draco Malfoy. My next class was Charms with Ravenclaw. I much preferred the classes paired with Ravenclaw. It provided a challenge that I was more than welcome to accept. Everyone knows that Ravenclaws are clever. Padma Patil, Parvati Patil, and I all had a secret challenge to see who can get the better grade. Currently we’re tied with the highest grade in the class.

Professor Flitwick was a master of giving pop quizzes. This was about our Charms book. We were supposed to read the opening 30 pages, and judging by the groans given by the Gryffindors, not many thought he was going to quiz us.

The next class was Ancient Runes, followed by Arithmancy, History of Magic, and then Defense Against the Dark Arts. I had a feeling this class was going to be absolutely dreadful. Not only was it taught by Snape, but it was paired with Slytherin. Thankfully today we were just taking down notes and not trying to disarm anyone.

“Alright, that’s it for this class,” said Snape, “But be prepared to start disarming each other using the review spell expelliarmus tomorrow. I will tell you your pairs now.” He walked through the isles pointing at students. Parvati was pared with Pansy, Neville was paired with Blaise Zambini, Harry was paired with Crabbe, Ron was paired with Daphne Greengrass, and I was paired with “Draco Malfoy. Now, be ready tomorrow.” I grabbed my bag and walked out with Harry and Ron, Neville joining us.

“Daphne Greengrass,” said Ron, “Blimey! I’m the only bloke paired with a girl.”

“Look at it this way,” I said, “At least you know how to disarm someone.”

“But she’s a girl!”

“Didn’t stop you last year.”

“Yeah, but that’s different.”

I scowled and smacked Ron’s arm intending to inflict pain.

“Ready to fail tomorrow, mudblood?” The sound of Malfoy’s voice caused us to turn around. Several students stared wide eyed at his casual use of the dirty word.

No pun intended.

Malfoy and his gang stopped a few feet away, students parting around us, some slowing, hoping to see a fight.

“Don’t you have hall ways to watch,” I asked.

“Don’t you have a potion to improve?”

I frowned, “From what I hear yours was the worst of all. How does it feel getting beaten by a muggle born?”

Malfoy pulled out his wand, everyone around us gasping; we held our ground. None of us drew our wands. If a teacher came by it would look more menacing than it was.

“Watch yourself, pest…. No disgrace to the wizarding world can out do a pure blood.”

“Sorry to bust your ego, but pure blood means nothing.”

He glared, “It means everything.”

“What’s going on here,” asked the shrill voice of Professor McGonagall, “Mr. Malfoy, lower your wand immediately!”

Malfoy took a moment, but finally lowered his wand.

“As a prefect I’m sure you’re well aware of the rules of Hogwarts. Five points will be taken from Slytherin, and a warning goes out to you. Any more activity like this and your badge will be revoked. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Professor,” Malfoy looked like he was anything but human. Being told what to do by a “blood traitor” must be embarrassing.

I personally enjoyed it when McGonagall yelled at Malfoy.

“Off you go then, everyone.” McGonagall shooed everyone away, Malfoy and his gang almost as hesitant as we were to turn our backs on each other.

Ron and I monitored the halls for an hour, me enforcing several rules, before we started in on our homework. I set myself up in a corner of the library in the section about pre-historic wizardry. No one used this section so I was able to take up an entire table. I was able to get through most of my home work before I was interrupted by a ghastly giggle.

Looking up, I saw Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson moving through the isles. They picked a table one isle over, but I could still see them through the book shelves. My insides tightened as I watched him kiss her, his hands cupping her bottom, holding her close to him. His roes were off and his shirt untucked. My mind imagined what it would be like to have him hold me like that, to kiss me like that.

As I watched, Pansy moved her mouth down Draco’s neck and he turned his head, his eyes landing on me. A playful smirk tugged on his lips and I looked away, focusing on packing my scrolls and parchment. Stopping my bottle of ink, I put everything in my bag and stood, blushing so much my entire upper body was hot. I walked away, hurrying back to the Gryffindor common room.

~

Later that night, Ron and I went about the castle, covering different parts. We passed the tapestry of the prancing unicorn and split ways. Ron went down stairs to monitor the first floor while I checked the seventh. I opened doors to class rooms and to broom cupboards, my search leading me back to the tapestry of the unicorn. Turning around I saw Barnabas the Barmy, then it hit me.

The unicorn was different because it wasn’t supposed to be there. Walking over, I looked behind the cloth and found a door. My heart raced.

Someone was using the Room of Requirements.

I can’t believe I didn’t realize this before!

Reaching for the handle, I turned it only to find it locked. Pulling out my wand I said, “Alohomora.” Nothing happened. Pointing my wand at the lock again and said, “Confringo,” I turned my face away as stone exploded. The lock was destroyed but the door held fast. Sighing I stood back, moving my wand to perform it again, when the door gave up and swung open. Walking forward, I opened it to find a large room done in black. Over to the side was a large fireplace with a roaring fire. On the other side was a large table covered in paper, manned by none other than Malfoy.

“What are you doing here, Granger,” he asked, standing up and walking around the desk to
me.

“I could ask you the same thing, Malfoy.”

He stopped in front of me, close enough to make me look up at him. He scowled at me, "I’m doing my homework.”

“Kind of suspicious, you doing it in here. How do I know you’re not lying?”

“Take a look for yourself.”

I watched him as I walked around him then to the desk. Looking down I found parchment filled with notes for his classes, some filled with answers from his text books. Turning back to him I asked, “Why are you doing your work in here? Don’t you have a common room you can use?”

“What’s it to you that I’m in here?” He crossed his arm and it was then that I noticed he wasn’t wearing his robes, only a white dress shirt; his usual vest no where to be seen. His shirt was untucked and draped itself over his black slacks. His Slytherin tie hung loosely around his neck and his shirt was unbuttoned a bit. His messy hair completed the outfit making him a more than welcome sight to my eyes.

But even then I asked, “Just seem weird. How do I know you’re not planning something?”

“You saw the papers.”

Taking out my wand I replied, “But if you’re lying-”

“Alright! I can’t study in the Slytherin common room because Pansy won’t leave me alone. I can’t study in the library because Madame Pince isn’t particularly fond of me, so this is the only place I could think of.”

I don’t know what came over me, but I believed him. Lowering my wand, I nodded, and went to the door, “I’m sorry I interrupted you.”

I was about to open the door when Malfoy’s arm shot out in front of me, holding the door closed, “I saw you in the library.”

I blushed, “I was working on my homework.”

“I saw you watching Pansy and me.”

“Well, you two were kind of hard to miss.”

He smiled, “You looked like you enjoyed what you saw.”

I didn’t respond, which was a bad idea.

The smiled widened, “So it’s true?”

“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about, Malfoy. You’re a pig, and how any girl can like you, I’ll never know.”

Malfoy moved forward, leaning down to put his face inches away from mine, “Would you like to see?”

My insides tightened painfully and I let out an involuntary sigh. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close to him. Under his shirt I could feel his muscular body, actually finding myself genuinely shocked at how toned he really was. I ached, wanting to touch the skin with my hands.

Looking up at him I was surprised at how close he was our faces literally an inch away. He smirk was gone; his entire face replaced by a look of want, then this scene seemed incredibly familiar. Together, we both leaned in and we kissed each other, fireworks bursting to life everywhere. His grip on me tightened, and I found my arms wrapped around his neck, holding him close to me.

Suddenly, we both seemed to come to our senses at the same time. I pushed myself away from him, my body screaming out in protest. Blushing, I turned away from him and ran out of the room. I made it half way down the hallway before I head him running after me.

“Granger, wait!” His voice carried down the hall, but it made me run faster.

Turning the corner, I ran to the Fat Lady, “Brussels Sprouts.” Swinging open, she shut just as the sound of Malfoy came. I leaned against the wall, gasping for breath, suddenly very weak. My mind was spinning, the walls moving so fast I was almost sick. Relying heavily on the wall, I managed to make my way to my dorm and into my bed with no disruptions.