To Brew A Scandal by stars_in_motion

Chapter 11

- NOT MY STORY!! ALL CREDITS TO @stars_in_motion ON A03!!

In her distraction, Malfoy's hand circled around her wrist and grabbed it.

"Granger—"

The bare touch alone sent Hermione's wand out in a flash, which she pressed threateningly into the bottom of his jaw. "You are a foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach, Draco Malfoy!"

Though her voice radiated with distinct retribution, Malfoy only looked down at the wand with great interest, appearing not to be remotely scared for his life at all.

"That is not vinewood."

The casualness of his statement confounded her. "What?"

"Your wand, it's not vinewood. What is it? Yew?"

The question threw her off. Here she was, implicitly threatening him, and he seemed far more interested in discussing the nature of the wood of her wand. "What would you know of it?"

"I know that is not your wand, Granger," Malfoy replied casually, as if they were discussing the various differences between a copper or pewter cauldron.

"Need I remind you I was a part of the war effort? Many things were lost over the years." She let her wand dig deeper into his skin. "My patience for men's stupidity included."

Still, her threat did not seem to faze him. With a wand at his throat, he didn't even flinch.

"Many stupid men would've done the same as I, though I only meant to guard your safety sincerely."

"Oh, I'm sure. Do you often find yourself following many women into dark, secluded areas to guard their virtue, your grace?"

That accusation clearly bothered him more than Hermione's clear threats did. There was a muscle in his jaw she watched tense, and the glimmer in his eye vanished.

"I resent your implication. I have no trust in women that throw themselves at me with the clear intent to land in bed with me, for I am in possession of a noble title and sufficient coin," Malfoy said tonelessly. "Unfortunately for both parties, the Malfoy's have rather distinct features. I have no wish to sire bastard children, and I would be a fool to place trust in a woman so willing to spread her legs."

The distasteful tone of his voice made Hermione bristle. She finally took a step backward, eager to create space between them during a lewd topic. "How very noble of you."

Malfoy shrugged, seeming indifferent. "I have not brought shame to any woman or myself. I hardly see a reason to celebrate it. It is only a matter of fact."

"You are dealing me quite a bit of shame with these papers, Malfoy." Hermione began to pace before him. "And I will have you know that I am not something meant to be collected. I will not be used by you as some social stepping stone, or something that need collecting, if only to cover up your own blood prejudice."

Malfoy was quiet for a long while before he spoke again, much more softly. "I never would've taken you for a person who would believe such a silly paper."

"Then tell me, what other purpose would you have to demand my time?"

"I already told you why. I wish to apologise to you."

It did not convince her in the slightest. "And I do not wish to hear it."

"There is no excuse for my behaviour towards you, in that bookshop." Malfoy continued on as if he hadn't heard her. "I used a vile slur against you so that I could avoid my parents' suspicion. I—"

"You treated me like I was less than the dirt on your shoe!" she shouted so suddenly that he flinched in shock. Gone was her patience with his excuses. "We were friends," Hermione said, softer this time. "Do you realise what that word meant to me? Or will you claim, not for the first time, that you were never suited for friendship in the first place?"