Dramione and the Half Blood Prince.

6. The Slug Club

Herbology was horrific, in Draco's opinion, he'd had a permanent stigma against the subject since he got bitten by a mandrake root in second year. Unfortunately for him, he had got an 'Exceeds Expectations' in the subject, which was Malfoy talk for 'You're taking it for NEWT'. He also hated Herbology because Hermione didn't take it, the only person he knew and liked who took it was Pansy. Pansy was lovely when she wanted to be, but if she was in an overly good mood she would make your brain want to poor out your ears; and if she was in a bad mood, she'd likely transfigure you into a weed and proceed plant you if you said something she didn't like.

"Don't forget to write two pieces of parchment on the properties of gillyweed, I'm sure it doesn't need much researching as we all watched Mr potter use it, quite successfully I might add, in the second task in the Tri Wizard Tournament a couple of summers ago didn't we? Good! Off you go now!" Professor Sprout chittered away as Draco huffed under his breath and stormed out of the class room 'again with complimenting saint potter!?' he thought angrily; he could here Nevil start chatting away at a ferocious speed to the professor in the background.

As soon as Draco had left the room and turned a corner he could have sworn he heard a whisper... he stopped dead in his tracks, looking around.

"Draco!" he was sure this time. It was a murmur coming from behind one of the tapestries... everyone knew they kept wizard chess pieces behind the curtains...

"Draco!" it came again; he couldn't help it – curiosity got the better of him. He peered up and down the corridor making sure there was no one in sight and pulled the tapestry up slightly; before he knew it a long skinny arm had grabbed his tie and was pulling him behind the hanging.

"Hermione?" he whispered in relieved shock as she let go of his tie.

"Yeah" she looked up at him.

"What are you... why-"

"I came to check you were still coming to the slug club dinner tonight" she smiled, she had the most beautifully innocent smile; a smile that melted his heart and made his insides feel funny. She had no right, in his family's eyes, to make him feel like that... but this was Draco's body – and Hermione Granger had caught him off guard.

"Merlin, is that tonight?" he dipped his brows in a quizzical manner.

"Yeah, and you have to go... please?" she dropped her gaze to the floor in realisation of her pleading tone.

He reached out a hand without thinking to lift her chin so she was looking into his silvery eyes. "If you want me their Granger, I'll be there." His eyes were soft and his words heartfelt.

Draco felt his heart skip out of time and his stomach knot in a way that he had never known. He wished he had the courage to tell her how he felt, but she stood there – so perfectly vulnerable, asking for him... And that's all he ever wanted. He wanted to tell her that 'Every time I see you Granger, there is this feeling that gets deeper, more complete, more bewitching. There isn't a thing I wouldn't do to keep you safe. Don't ever think you have to ask for my affection because you don't, and you never did. The more time we spend together the more this feeling multiplies... I only wish you could ever feel the same way about me...'

"Draco?" Hermione questioned, they'd been staring at each other for a good thirty seconds.

"Hermione" he countered, a brief smile lurking on his lips as he dropped his hand to his side.

"You called me by my first name?" she grinned.

"I call you by your first name a lot now hu?" he dropped his gaze to the floor but she was having none of it. She placed her cold hands on either cheek and raised his head again, he flinched under her touch but she remained sure. His skin was soft and exceedingly pale, he made Hermione's hands look very tanned. His skin was flawless; not a freckle, spot or blemish in sight. He was equally as cold as Hermione was but she shivered slightly when he raised his hand to her left hip, in that moment anything could have happened – the world was perfect and everything in it fell into place without flaw or disruption... it was faultless.

"Excuse me!" They both jumped out of their skins as the suit of Armor started to pipe up, Hermione's heart pounded in her chest at the prospect of what had just unfurled.

"I will not have any of that nonsense in my bay and it will do you well to-" he started in a rich, nasal, British accent, just as every magical talking object did.

"Muffilato" Draco cast on him immediately, but the moment was gone. They resumed eye contact and Draco exhaled deeply, "common then" he grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze "Better get ready for the slug club dinner" he raised the left side of his mouth as she smiled ecstatically at him.

*

Slughorn's room was large, with ornate pillars falling from the ceiling that vaguely resembled stalactites. In the middle of the room stood a large, round, shiny black table in which dinner was perfectly laid out for his 'prise students'. Hermione sat down with Harry and Neville either side of her, Harry looked positively buzzing.

"Why are you so happy?" She whispered to him once they had comfortably settled themselves down.

"Nothing... Just... I'm a top student for once!" he gleamed at her.

"Only because of that stupid book" she huffed and stared at her hands which were knitted together on top of the table.

She looked over to the door and watched a familiar blond haired wizard enter and sit down directly opposite her, Blaze sat down next to him on his left side – directly opposite Harry.

"Argh," Harry whispered to Hermione "How did he get in?" Harry grimaced at the sight of Draco whereas Hermione felt herself flush.

"He has been second to top of the class since first year?" she countered.

Harry shot her an utterly perplexed look and let his mouth drop open slightly. He then proceeded to shut it, despite Hermione just standing up for Malfoy because he realised she was, in fact, right.

"Ah, that's everyone!" Professor Slughorn practically rubbed his hands in glee at the students who sat before him around the table. "Well do dig in!" he grinned holding his hands agape.

*

Hermione didn't think she had ever felt this self-conscious in her life! Directly opposite Draco Malfoy, anytime in the previous 5 years of her schooling she would have avoided eye contact and not cared what she looked like... but earlier that day he had gone to kiss her – and she'd gone to kiss him! She was terrified of him looking over and seeing some spaghetti dribbling down her chin and her sucking it up getting tomato sauce everywhere. Therefore, she had thought it wisest to cut the food first, which actually took an exceedingly long time. But whenever she looked at him, he was looking at her with a twinge fighting at his lips that on anyone else could have been a smile and something glinting in his eyes... she had no idea what it was – but whatever it was, she wanted it to stay there.

Draco couldn't help staring at her, she was so perfect - even when she ate. Most girls would have made a right mess trying to impress him; but that's what he liked about Hermione, that she didn't even have to try to make him feel the way he did about her. The question was, how did he feel? It was something that he had never felt before that was causing through his body, seeping through his every pour. But whatever it was he didn't want it to stop; because all that mattered when he could see her was that she was safe, and that she was his... only thing was - she wasn't.