The Right Choice

Chapter Four

Hermione returned to the common room to find Harry and Ron complaining of their detention, they had been forced to sort various potion ingredients until there was nothing left. Hermione was quick to remind them that they earned it, but had neglected to realize that she was still wearing Draco's coat until Harry pointed out that it was entirely too big on her.

Hermione had to think quickly, the boys would surely go berserk at the idea of Draco being anywhere near her. "Oh, it's my father's. I wear it when I want a reminder of him or my mother."

Both of them seemed to buy it, as they asked how the visit to the village went. Hermione went on to discuss tea with their friends and her shopping that needed to be done. Harry and Ron complained more about their detention, until Hermione found that she was exhausted and excused herself to bed. She hung the coat up by her bedside and fell asleep thinking of the smell of spice.

The next day, Draco made it a point to arrive early to potions, just as he knew Granger would. He stopped at her table.

"Granger, I'm going to need my coat back if you don't mind." he blandly requested.

"Oh! Of course, I'm sorry I was in a rush this morning. I will leave it on your desk in Arithmancy, that's the next lesson that we both have." she said politely, but not too much so.

Draco nodded and continued to his seat, but continued to sneak glances at her throughout the lesson. He didn't know why, but he wanted to talk to her again. He chalked it up to the fact that she had actually treated him as a person, rather than a chess piece like everyone else seemed to lately. The only other person in his life who had shown him affection was his mother, and he did miss her dearly. He supposed he was merely looking for that sort of presence, and it happened to be coming from Hermione.

He decided that he would ignore this little infatuation, if that's what it could even he called. Then he stopped thinking to himself when he realized he had referred to her as Hermione. Even if it had just been in his head, this was the deciding factor. She was becoming a real distraction, one that he could not allow if he was going to achieve his goal.

That afternoon, when he reached his desk in Artithmancy, he found his coat there. He looked to the front of the classroom and a head of curly brown hair was bobbing over a bag, the girl it was attached to was searching it for parchment and a quill. Draco did the same thing, noticing how similar the color of his quill was to Hermione's hair.

He shook the thought from his head, he had just reprimanded himself this morning regarding that issue. And yet she continued to flit in and out of his thoughts, so much so that he was only shaken out of his reverie by his name being called.

Apparently everyone had been told to choose partners and he had not been paying attention. He silently prayed that the last person was not her.

"Mister Malfoy, seeing as everyone else is already paired up, you can work with Miss Granger. Please, take a seat." the Professor said, gesturing to the empty seat next to Hermione, who was staring, open mouthed, at him.

Draco gathered his things and moved to the front of the classroom as the lesson began. They were to work through the assignment they were given, and hand it in on one piece of parchment. Hermione groaned and pulled out a piece and began copying from the board.

Draco smiled. "Come now, Granger. I'm not so bad to work with. At least I've got a brain, unlike your usual company."

At this remark, she became angry. "Are you implying that my friends aren't intelligent?"

"Not Potter and Weasel."

"Well, Harry seems to have bested you in Defense Against the Dark Arts." she said with a smirk.

"Potter, something's off about him. I find it hard to believe an ordinary infant can defeat You-Know-Who."

"Don't want to admit it, I see. Can we begin now? I'd like to finish today."

"Granger, this will take us at least two." Draco couldn't believe she wanted it done today.

"Well, I like to be ahead." Hermione scoffed.

Draco rolled his eyes and began to work with her. He just had to grit his teeth and bear it.

"I've got this one worked out, you can start on that one." she said. Draco didn't like being bossed around, but he had to admit that not doing anything tomorrow while everyone else finished the assignment did sound rather nice.

At that moment, their hands touched. Hermione immediately jerked hers away and timidly began working again. Draco left his for a moment, and the shook it off and got back to work. No distractions, that was what he would remind himself.

He set to work on his, meanwhile Granger was already on her second, finishing her third as he managed to solve just the one. He had no idea how someone could devote so much time to their studies and still manage to sleep well.

"You're going to drive yourself mad if you keep doing that to yourself." He mumbled without looking up.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to." She answered, also not stopping her work.

"You're entirely too intense with your school work. Loosen up a bit." He explained.

"I happen to enjoy learning, thank you." She said in an extremely smart tone. He didn't have to look up to know she was rolling her eyes.

"All I'm saying, Granger, is that you could stand to have a bit of fun."

"I'd hate to know what your idea of fun would be. Now, if you please, let's get this done. I have other assignments I'd like to do." She cut off the conversation just like that.

Draco found her to be both infuriating and interesting. Despite the fact that he had never been able to stand her and her smart ass attitude, it was sort of nice to have someone on the same intellectual level to work with.