Only You

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

"What's got your knickers in a twist Draco? Are you even paying attention?"

Jumping slightly, he looked back at Hermione. They were supposed to be studying, Hermione had even decided to use the Room of Requirement so that Draco wouldn't feel intimidated by other students. However, Draco was now so focused on not saying something mean or stupid, that he was completely unable to pay attention to the History lesson before him. He looked up into her expectant eyes and all he could manage was to stare blankly back.

"Look," huffed Hermione closing her book, "if this is about me missing last week, I'm sorry, I can't be-"

"It's not about last week. It's nothing really. So can we please just continue?" Draco hadn't meant to cut her off, and for a moment he saw an angry fire behind her eye, but it soon dissipated. She opened her book again before giving Draco a direct stare.

"Know that I am doing this to help you. I won't continue if you just plan to waste my time. I'm busy enough without a ferret to take care of."

Draco's ears turned pink. Usually, when someone called him a ferret it made him angry. However, when Hermione said it, he could tell it was to be more teasing than malicious. It made him happy, more happy than it should. All of his previous mood was easily taken over by a boyish giddy feeling.

"Ya- erm- alright then. Back to Elfric the Evil, I'm ready."

Hermione couldn't help but chuckle. "It's Elfric the Eager. You're thinking of Emeric the Evil."

"Erm, right. Elfric the Eager. Even better."

Again Hermione chuckled, and the beautiful sound alone made Draco determined to not miss a single word of the rest of the lesson. So what if Hermione was dating Ron? So what if the thought alone made him sick to his stomach. He had a full year with her to make her fall for him. Then he could hug her, kiss her, and love her. But for now, he would satisfy himself with making her laugh and listening to her sweet voice.

* * *

When Hermione had yawned for the fourth time within a couple of minutes, they agreed that it was time to pack up and go to bed. There was still a bit of time before curfew, but neither of them were really into the lesson anymore. While Hermione put away her books, Draco waited for her. When she realized she looked up at him, giving him a look that clearly asked, 'what are you doing?'.

"I'm waiting to walk you back to your dorm. It may not be past curfew yet, but it's still late, and Hogwarts has never been the safest place." Draco answered, trying his best to look bored and uninterested sitting on the edge of the table.

"That is only because Voldemort had been running some evil scheme every year to make it dangerous. You really don't need to walk me all the way to my dorm. Besides, you really aren't supposed to know where the Gryffindor dorms are."

Draco couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Remember I helped piece this place back together. I know where all the dorms are now. And besides, not everything bad in this place had to do with Voldemort. Peeves, for example, Peeves is dangerous."

"Peeves is a trouble-maker. There's a difference." Hermione had finished packing up and was walking towards the door. Draco followed her.

"Whatever" he shrugged, "he's still no good. Anyways, I haven't been able to ask you how school's been going for you. I would've before but I would hate to interrupt your lessons."

Hermione gave him a pointed look. However, there was a sparkle of amusement behind her eyes. "Draco Malfoy, you are not seriously asking me about school are you?"

"So what if I am?" She stopped to look at him, almost making him bump into her. He too stopped, his eyes flitting back and forth between her own. When he didn't indulge in her dramatics, she sighed and continued on through the hallways.

"My classes are going well, thank you for asking."

He turned coolly to face her. "The Hermione Granger's classes are only going well? I thought you worshiped school and everything about it. I certainly thought you'd be a little bit more excited to talk about it." His voice was cocky, but not in the same demeaning way it used to be. For some reason, the playfulness developing between them put Hermione at ease, as if she was talking to Harry, not Draco.

"Don't get me wrong, I love school. I love being able to fill my mind with as much information as possible. I even like people having to rely on me for answers." A small smile blessed her face before her words turned more wistful. "But, after being out there in the real world, finding out I can learn things out there too, I don't know, I can't tell where I want to be. School is great! It's structured and challenging, but it isn't stressful. It's almost like a break..."

She paused, light filling her eyes. Draco was very familiar with that light. A darker, more malicious version had often filled his father's eyes.

"But it's not enough." He finished for her, his voice laced with understanding. The light blazed brighter in Hermione's eyes as her gaze met his own. Draco couldn't help the tension that began to rise from him like an aura.

They continued to stare at each other, things being communicated between them that words could not say. The adventure of the past couple of years, the tragedy of the war, the fierce loyalty of friendships that were now unexpectedly altered with distance. Draco saw it all on her face. And she let him see it. He would not take this moment for granted, using it to intently study each of her features. Especially her dark brown eyes, which sucked his very soul into them like a dementor's kiss.

"I had hoped it would be." Hermione finally said, jarring Draco from his trance. The light began to fade, and with it, the tension. "I had hoped that I could be satisfied here, like I had been before. Of course, it's never been very easy for me. Harry and Ron attract trouble unlike anyone I've known before. And yet, in the time between, I had always been content to sit still and listen. I suppose I still could be, if I put my mind to it."

She paused again, as though she had decided to just now. Then, all of a sudden, the line between her eyebrows returned and she looked up, eyes searching Draco's, almost in desperation. Almost. "I'm not sure why I'm telling you this."

It was only a split second before a mask appeared in them, shutting out whatever Draco may have been able to see. "It's getting late. Curfew will begin shortly and we both should be getting back to our dorms. I'm afraid there's no more time for that 'walking me to my dorm' nonsense. And, as head girl, I must insist you follow the rules."

With a swish of her skirt, Hermione fled. She prayed silently that the dark hallways hid the blush that had begun to form on her cheeks. To be so vulnerable in front of Draco Malfoy was a mistake, and yet she hadn't been able to help herself. And he, the tormentor of her childhood, had stood there, listening quietly with feigned understanding. What could he possibly be up to?

* * *

Draco watched Hermione walk away until she had turned the corner. Only then did he make his way to the dorm. He smiled, thinking of the pink tinge that had begun to blossom on her soft cheeks.