Cold (Hermoine X Draco)

Chapter Five

HERMIONE POV

I can't fully explain why I went and stuck up for Malfoy. I suppose at the time, it just seemed like the right thing to do. I mean, if even Blaize Zabini can call Pansy a bitch, then even Malfoy deserves to be saved from her wrath. I don't regret it, honestly, though I have no doubt in my mind that when (not if, everyone gossips) Harry and Ron find out, they're going to give me hell for it. Ron would love to see Malfoy torn to shreds by his ex girlfriend. I am not that cruel.

I slide into my seat in the Arithmancy room, appreciating the fact that I didn't need a Time Turner to reach it for once, and take out my textbook in preparation for the class to start.

A shadow falls over my desk and I look up. Speak, or think, of the devil. Blaize Zabini.

"Hey, Granger, uh--"

"What?" I have no patience for people who can't even make a request.

"Look." he says in a hurry. "I don't know any other Slytherins in this class, and, uh, I may have drastically pissed off the Ravenclaws, so...doyoumindifIsitwithyou?"

"What was that?"

"Can I sit here?" he spits out from between clenched teeth. I look at the empty desk next to me and think. I don't know anyone here well enough to want to sit by them. Then, I shrug and tug my textbook over to the other side of my desk. "Sure."

He slides into the seat in relief, but has an awkward posture. I sigh. He hasn't been too bad to me, so I won't bite.

"So," I say, trying to break the ice, "I assume you heard that Pansy got dumped?"

Slytherin gossip. His territory. Making it easy on him, I hope. He doesn't react. I wait for his response, feeling like his awkwardness is infectious. If we're in these seats all term, he'd better warm up.

"Oh, uh, yeah." he says finally. "I heard you stuck up for Draco...which is why I thought I'd try sitting here. A Gryffindor who doesn't completely write off Slytherins, you know?"

"Yeah." I say. It's surprisingly easy to slip into conversation with him, honestly. I hear the whispers behind us and I know they're gossiping about our 'relationship' finally coming out into the open. I know as soon as Harry and Ron hear, they'll flip. So, in an attempt to salvage my reputation and friendship, I stand up and clear my throat.

"No offense, Zabini." I mutter and then address the room. "I'm not deaf, you know, I can hear you guys talking about us, and no, there is no us. He needed a spot to sit and we are making polite conversation. You're in seventh year, all of you, please be mature enough not to jump to conclusions and then share them."

I sit again. Zabini nudges me with his shoulder. "Nice."

"Oh, uh, thanks." I definitely wasn't expecting that reaction from him. In fact, I was worried he might be offended.

Class starts, but since we're not actively learning anything new at this stage, our professor passes out parchments and instructs us to complete them with our desk partners.

Zabini is surprisingly good at Arithmancy, so, by putting our heads together, the work is completed at least twenty minutes before class ends. We're also the first ones done. I cap my ink and swivel in my seat to face Zabini.

"So. How did you piss off the Ravenclaws?'

He had looked a bit scared for a moment, so upon hearing my question, he laughs in relief.

"There may have been an incident which involved some Weasley products hidden in some possessions while they were out at classes."

"The whole house?" I ask incredulously.