Thenext two days made Hermione feel like there wasn't a rebellion and war growing everyday in the world outside the forest, to which they had gotten to the outskirts to. The pair of wizards had decided to spend a final night in the Forest of Dean before making their way to the manor and were sat by the fire together as they had done the previous night, sharing their Hogwarts experiences through the lens of Gryffindors and Slytherins. Draco was reciting a story from his second year about Crabbe and Goyle eating so much food on Christmas that they had to spend the next three days in the hospital ward that left Hermione in fits of laughter until she looked at the time on the small, faded watch on her wrist. The young Slytherin turned to the witch next to him when her laughter died out, he'd never known himself to make someone genuinely laugh to the point that he found himself smiling too.
"What is it Granger? One minute you're smiling like the Cheshire cat and the next you're as sullen as Crabbe and Goyle in the hospital ward after their Christmas feast" He nudged her slightly with his shoulder and gained a small smile off the Gryffindor.
"I'm sorry it's just, today is Fleur Delacour and Bill Weasley's wedding and they'll be having their first dance around about now... I'd been so excited for their wedding; it was the only good thing that seemed to be happening. That and it was Harry's birthday, it was going to be a joint celebration."
"I mean the Specky Orphan's practically invincible, I'm sure he'll have other birthdays; he's nearly died every year at Hogwarts and yet... alas." Draco laughed before the witch beside him rolled her eyes as she often did when he mentioned his cruel yet clever nicknames for her friends. "Granger, I told you the other day you should've gone home to the pack of Gingernuts."
"And I told you Malfoy, I'm seeing this through for Dumbledore, you're stuck with me" she returned the blonde's nudge to dissipate the atmosphere that had built around the wizards. Her efforts were returned with a soft smile before Malfoy sighed and got to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked as she watched Draco walk over to her bag and throw it back to her where it landed with a soft thud at her feet.
"I don't know what it's called because I've never cared before but I'm sure in there somewhere Granger you have the muggle device that plays that awful music"
"A radio? I haven't got one of those actually but my parents gave me a similar device called an iPod, why do you want it?" Hermione asked as she rummaged around in her bag to find the small pink device, she'd been given on her sixth birthday.
"An iwhat? Whatever it doesn't matter," Malfoy started with his signature smirk as he strolled back over to his companion, "as upset as I am that the Weasel's are going to be continuing repopulating their bloodline of gingers, it's only fair that you don't get to miss out on their celebrations."
Hermione looked up at the blonde wizard as she stopped just before her feet, confusion melted onto her face – a rare sight that Draco relished in seeing.
"Malfoy what do you mean? I- "
"Just play a song Granger and make it a good one" Draco said as he leant down and held out his hand with a sarcastic, dramatic air, his smirk still etched onto his face.
Hermione smiled and looked quickly through her bag, pulling out two items and handed one to the wizard before her. He looked at it dumbfoundedly,
"You're giving me my wand back?"
"I trust you." The witch smiled and looked back down to her iPod, searching through songs until she came to the track she was looking for and pressed play before reaching up to take Draco's hand.
{Song playing: Don't give up on me by Andy Grammer}
"It seems you have better taste than I thought Granger" Malfoy laughed as his arms circled Hermione's waist and her arms looped around his neck simultaneously.
"You seem to doubt me in many things Malfoy" she challenged as the pair moved in time to the music, "at least you're a better dancer than Viktor Krum."
Hermione noted that whenever she mentioned another boy that she had or was close to a muscle in Malfoy's jaw twitched and his grip on her tightened possessively as they danced.
"He should stick to the quidditch pitch then" Draco smirked as the song continued to drift throughout the trees into the nights sky, "but I must say Granger, I was shocked that you didn't turn up with Weaslbee despite his hideous dress robes, or Spectacles despite his... well it being Potter." Hermione snorted and rolled her eyes at the sarcastic attitude of the Slytherin she'd come to know and somewhat love the past few days.
"Well, we can't all look as lovely as you Malfoy and as for RON and HARRY" she paused, she'd never explained her feelings, or lack thereof towards her missing thirds of the Golden Trio. "The thing is Malfoy, Ron and Harry mean the same to me as all the Weasley's, as Neville, Luna, sometimes Seamus and Dean – they're my friends and my family but I have no feelings for either of them that extend past that. It's not like you with Pansy or half the student body"
Hermione Granger had always prided herself on being able to obtain knowledge she wanted by diverting the way in which she asked for it however, to Draco Malfoy her hidden intentions were clearer than a rememberall when you hadn't forgotten anything.
"Subtle Granger, subtle" Draco laughed as the pair continued to dance to the rhythm of the song, its words floating between the few spare gaps between them both. "If you must know I've never had feelings for Pansy and she didn't for me, we were both lonely and it was convenient for us both but I ended whatever that was as soon as I took the mark." He spun Hermione out jokingly but pulled her back even closer than she had been before, "so are we going to keep talking about my ex or can we talk about something a little more interesting?"
Hermione smiled up at the blonde wizard attached to her and stretched up on her tiptoes to level her face with him the best she could,
"What do you want to talk about then?" she whispered tauntingly as the music died out around them. Hermione turned back to the source of the music to play another song but Draco caught her chin and pulled her back to face him and smirked
"I'd rather we didn't talk at all Granger" he snarled as his lips crashed against her own and he guided them backward towards the tent.
YOU ARE READING
Serpent in the Lion's Den
Fanfiction"I've brought you here to ask you a rather difficult favour Miss Granger; on the night of the 30th of this month I need you to come here at midnight and if need be" Dumbledore paused and looked pleadingly at the witch, "I require you to apparate Mr...
