Unfortunate Events

Event Two: Reptile Room

The next day:

With a groan, Hermione turned over for what was quite possibly the fiftieth time since she had lain down to sleep on the couch in Andromeda's living room.

"Stupid couch," she mumbled into her pillow, grimacing slightly at the wetness that met her cheek. Without opening her eyes, she lifted the backside of her mouth to wipe away the drool.

"Morning, Granger."

Hermione's eyes shot open, and she bolted straight up on the couch. After she had rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she narrowed them at the most unwelcome visitor.

"I take it you slept well." He held out a cup of coffee. As if that would make up for scaring her out of her wits last night and this morning.

"I always pictured you as an early bird. Guess I was wrong." Malfoy's smile was as bright as the morning sun and equally obnoxious to Hermione, who had suffered through a night of lumpy couch and cranky Teddy. Hermione snatched the cup of coffee and stood up, determined to get as far away from him as possible.

When the blanket fell away and her legs suddenly felt cold, Hermione remembered she had taken off her work pants before she had gone to bed. And as she was behind in doing her laundry, she was wearing one of her last clean pairs of underwear. It had been part of a set, a gag gift from Ginny, decorated with a certain sports theme.

Hermione screamed, hand tensing around her cup of coffee. "Malfoy, turn around!"

A gentleman would have listened. Draco Malfoy brought his long fingers up to his chin, deep in contemplation. "I thought you hated Quidditch."

"Stop looking at me!"

Throwing up his hands in surrender, Malfoy spun around. "You act as if I've never seen a golden snitch before."

"Certainly not while you played against Harry," she grumbled.

He looked over his shoulder, stupid smirk firmly set on his mouth "What was that?"

"Malfoy, so help me, if you turn around one more time, I will hex you to Antarctica. Now stop looking."

Once she was certain there were no reflective surfaces around, or any other possible way for Malfoy to see her, Hermione scooted toward the couch. Grabbing the nearest throw, she wrapped it around her waist like a towel.

Then she turned on him, poking him in the chest with her finger. "I haven't seen you in over a year, and now you show up to ruin my day not once, but twice. You better have a good reason for being here."

Draco pushed her hand to the side. "I told you I would be stopping by tomorrow. Someone has to make sure you didn't kill or maim my cousin."

"Your cousin?" she said incredulously. "Two years ago you wouldn't have even claimed you shared the same blood with him."

"What can I say? I'm a changed man."

Everyone deserved a second chance, but that didn't mean Hermione had to believe he had taken it. "Sure, Malfoy, and I'm a crumpled-horn snorkack."

He shrugged. "Well, whatever you are, may I suggest you get dressed?"

"No, you may not. As I was trying to tell you last night before you abandoned me, I left my bag at work. I don't have a spare change of clothes. Thanks to you."

Seemingly unimpressed by her angry words, Malfoy sat down on the couch. "Fine. I'll wait here while you get your bag."

Weighing the pros and cons, Hermione decided to take him up on his offer. Snatching her pants from the floor, she went to the bathroom, put them on, then flooed to her office.