Beauty and the Unexpected Beast

Dinner

Draco didn't talk much the rest of the time I took care of him. It was beginning to grow light outside so we didn't go to sleep. Instead I stayed with him helping him around the house and cooking us breakfast and lunch. Cookie returned after we finished eating lunch. She was very upset when she saw me doing the dishes. I decided not tell her about Draco's injury, afraid she might go over board and command Draco to stay in bed all day, which he had refused when I told him to.

I wondered to myself if Draco would listen if Cookie commanded him to do something. Their relation was complicated to me, but I was glad Draco took care of Cookie. I had yet to find where she stayed but I didn't think I had even seen half of the Manor.

"What are you thinking about Granger?" Draco asks, catching me off guard. We had left the dinning room after Cookie made us leaveand had now reached the library, I had absent mindedly reached for a new book off the shelves and taken a seat in my usual spot. I hadn't started reading, instead I was staring at the row of books in front of me.

Embarrassed, I duck my head, and look down at my book as I replied. "How big your Manor is and how I don't think I've seen very much of it."

"Yeah..." Draco says. I look up to see he was still watching me. "I don't think I've even been in every room in the Manor. It was really lonely when it was just Cookie and I." He looked away from me when he realizes what he had admitted.

I laugh and he looks back at me glaring at me, but I ignored it. "Draco Malfoy are you admitting to enjoying my presence?" I tease.

He rolls his eyes and says. "No, what I said was I was glad I was no longer alone, if it was the She-Weasley here I would be fine too. Plus I'm sure she wouldn't be as nosy and annoying as you are." I smirk and turn away telling him he was the one who started the conversation.

I looked at the book I had randomly grabbed and saw it was Hogwarts a History. Not in the mood to reread it for the seventh time, I got up and walk around the bottom floor of the library to look for another book. I was out of Malfoy's sight for a few minutes when I saw him approaching me, a frown playing on his lips.

"Did I really make you that upset Hermione? Because trust me, I'd rather have you here than that Gracie girl." Draco said as he stopped in front of me, leaning against the row of books I was about to look at.

"It's Ginny Malfoy. And for your information, you do not agitate me nearly as much as you want to, or think you do." I said tonelessly. "Now will you please move your fat head so I can get the book I wanted?"

"Fat?" Draco said, shocked and feigning distress. "I think you have me mistaken for Goyle or someone much uglier than I." He stood straight, but didn't move away, instead he leaned closer, to where his breath brushed against my face. I suck in a breath, frozen in place. "Haven't you heard Hermione? I'm immensely handsome, hot even. You can't tell me I'm less attractive than your precious Ron." I would have nodded my head or stayed transfixed by Draco's eyes, if he would have said boyfriend or would have said muggle, but the mention of Ron shocks me out of my daze, and I take a step back eyeing Draco with fright.

"Ron? I told you I was dating the muggle you saw." I lie, focusing on the words coming out of my mouth to cool down myself and rid the blush I could feel on my cheeks.

"Please, I'm not an idiot Granger, I already figured out that was Pothead at your little camp. I knew the moment we left." Draco stated.

"But... then.. what?" I said, stunned.

"I didn't try to go back because I was sure you would follow if I didn't get you to sign the contract. By then I figured Potter would have fled. Besides... Never mind." He turns and walks back the way he came, heading back for the couch.