Love on borrowed time (Dramione Story ) English /Eng

Chapter 13: Shared Lessons

The air in the classroom was thick with a bittersweet tension, and the sound of quills scratching on parchment echoed in the studious silence. It was one of those afternoons when the daylight seemed to languish, hesitating to penetrate the tall windows of the room. Hermione, as always, was sitting at the front, focused on her work. Yet, today, her usual concentration seemed to waver.

Sitting next to her was an unexpected but increasingly familiar presence: Draco Malfoy. Since their encounter in the Room of Requirement and the moments shared in the library, a strange yet undeniable dynamic had developed between them. They had been paired together for an Arithmancy assignment, a project requiring hours of complex calculations and intense discussions. Hermione had prepared to do all the work herself, but Draco had turned out to be a more involved partner than she had expected.

However, it wasn't just the assignment that was troubling her today. It was this new proximity, this silence that hung between them. While she methodically wrote her calculations on the parchment, she could feel his gaze on her. Not in the usual contemptuous or condescending way, but in a different manner, softer, almost curious.

Draco was leaning on his elbow, his sharp gray eyes fixed on Hermione with an intensity that made her shiver. He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to. His presence alone was enough to unsettle the atmosphere.

"You're going to burn a hole in my parchment if you keep looking at me like that," Hermione murmured without looking up from her work, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.

Draco blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before smiling in return, a rare and subtle smile. "Maybe I'm just fascinated by your method."

Hermione looked up, meeting his gaze with a glint of amusement. "Fascinated, really? Who would've thought Draco Malfoy would be interested in Granger's methodology?"

He raised an eyebrow, still with the nonchalance that defined him. "There's a first time for everything, right?"

They exchanged a look, and for a moment, the outside world seemed to fade away. The reality of Hogwarts, rival houses, friendships, and enmities all blurred, leaving only two young wizards, united by an unexpected moment of camaraderie. It was a strange feeling, the absence of hatred or competition. It was new, even disorienting.

Hermione forced herself to return to her parchment, but her heart was beating a little faster than before. She knew she couldn't afford to think too much about these moments, about this strange proximity building between them. She had to stay focused, keep a cool head.

Draco, on his side, wasn't any less troubled. Since their first meeting in the Room of Requirement, he had found himself spending more and more time with Granger. And what disturbed him the most was that he didn't mind. On the contrary, he looked forward to these moments. He found himself observing how she furrowed her brow while reading, or how she chewed on the end of her quill when she was concentrating. Insignificant details, but for some reason he couldn't quite understand, they intrigued him.

He leaned a bit closer to her, his eyes following her movements on the parchment. "You made a mistake here," he said softly, pointing at a calculation.

Hermione stopped abruptly, narrowing her eyes slightly as she checked her work. "You're right," she admitted reluctantly, correcting the error. "Thanks."

Draco nodded, satisfied. "See, I'm not just here to distract you."

"Maybe you're more useful than I thought," Hermione replied with a wry smile.

They continued working in silence, but this time, it was a less tense silence, more natural. There was no rivalry or distrust anymore, just a tacit collaboration, almost pleasant. And though neither of them would ever openly admit it, both of them appreciated these moments spent together, moments where they could simply be themselves, without the expectations or judgments of their respective houses.

Hermione turned her head to Draco, noticing that he was once again engrossed in his calculations, his face relaxed. He seemed less defensive, less tense than before. She briefly wondered what had caused him to change, to open up like this, even if it was in a very subtle way.

"Malfoy," she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

He looked up, surprised by her serious tone. "Yes?"

She hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "Why did you agree to work with me? I mean, we could have asked to change partners, and yet... you didn't."

Draco remained silent for a moment, thinking about his response. He could've given a simple answer, something superficial, but he felt Hermione deserved better than that. "Maybe I wanted to see what it was like not to be in constant conflict with you. It's exhausting, you know."

Hermione stared at him, surprised by this confession. It wasn't the answer she had expected, but she was touched by his sincerity. "Yeah, it is. But... I think it's worth trying something else."

A faint smile crossed Draco's lips. "Me too."

They returned to their work, but something had changed between them. A barrier had been crossed, a barrier made of prejudices and old grudges. And while their relationship was still fragile, it was clear that it was evolving. Their exchanges were softer, more honest, and though they weren't fully aware of it yet, the seeds of a friendship, or maybe something more, had been planted.

The class ended too quickly for their liking. Hermione packed her things carefully, her mind still muddled by this strange day. Draco slowly stood up, adjusting his green robes, before casting one last glance at Hermione.

"Until next time, Granger," he said softly, his gray eyes shining with a light she couldn't quite decipher.

Hermione nodded, responding with a sincere smile. "Until next time, Malfoy."

As he left the room, she couldn't help but wonder where this new dynamic would lead them. For the first time in a long time, she was looking forward to the next meeting, curious to see what the future had in store for them.

See you soon on chapter 14 ^^

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