The Other Malfoy (Sequel To Clash)

On A Date

AN slight romance in this one... Hehe.

Harry POV

I stood staring at her. Oh jeez, now I was in for it. I glanced around desperately for help, but the class was mainly Gryffindors, so all I saw was a sea of passcaring faces. Oh come on! Talk about defying 'don't Jude a book by it's cover!' They didn't even know me. They were holding a grudge against me because of my house and my surname.

Except one. I spotted Hermione in amongst her house, mouthing something. 'The-main-property-is-cut healing,' I deciphered, then repeated it casually to the teacher. It was evidently right, because the bell rang and she just tutted and shooed the class back inside. Draco was all set to walk back with me, but I shook him off (how I don't remember;I had too many Firewhiskys that night and got a bit drunk) and ran to catch up with Hermione. She glanced at me when I crunched onto the grass beside her. Bizarrely, she aat down on the grass in front of an oak tree. I shrugged the curiosity away and sat down next to her. There was an awkward silence. She wasn't even looking at me. She was watching a giant squid wrestling with Lee Jordan, a Gryffindor kid with dreadlocks.

'Uh, thanks,' I stammered. She turned to look at me, her hair swinging as she did so. She looked confused, but only mildly. 'For what?' she asked. I cleared my throat. 'For, uh, giving me the answer,' I replied. I saw her lips form an unspoken 'oh' and she nodded, smiled and resumed watching the squid and Lee. I summoned all the courage I could muster, and hinted, 'Um, I hear there's a summer dance three nights away.'

She didn't even look round. Still watching the squid, she said vaguely, 'Mm-hm.'

'And, yeah, well, all the boys have to take partners,' I added.

She didn't react.

'And I was wondering if you would go with me,' I said in a rush.

She stared at me. 'Me?' she asked.

I nodded.

A tinge of pink crept into her cheeks and a smile lit her face. 'I-I'd love to,' she said, and ran off grinning. I smiled to myself as I walked to Transfiguration. Then my heart sank. What would Draco say when he found out I was going to a dance with a Mudblood Gryffindor?