(On Hiatus) "Always" (Dramione)

#3 Stop It

Hermione and Draco worked on their potion quickly, and actually somehow managed to cooperate. Well, Hermione was doing all the work, but at least Draco was reading the directions out loud to her - and wasn't doing anything to hinder her efforts.

Surely, they were the first group to finish. None of the other students even tried to be first. They were up against the "brightest witch of her age", paired up with the second in the school year, named Slytherin prince.

"We're finished, professor," Hermione told Snape.

Snape Grumbled and got out of his chair. Then he walked towards them quickly - making Hermione back up a little bit - and looked at their couldron.

Then Snape bent down, and smelled it. "This is correct. Well done, Draco. But surely I wouldn't have expected anything less. Since you're the first to be finished... Ten points to Slytherin!". Then Snape walked away back to his chair.

Hermione stayed silent, though she had to ball her hands into fists to keep herself from saying anything to the professor. This was surely unfair; she did do most of the work. But there was nothing she could do to change Snape's unfair ways. These Slytherins... They're all the same, She thought.

"Hey, at least you didn't fail, Granger! Well done!" Draco said in a mildly sarcastic tone, and smirked at her. Hermione thought that he was laughing at the unfairness directed at hee.

"Oh, just take those smart comments of yours and throw them at a boggart!"

Draco was taken aback. What Hermione just said was considered extremely rude in the Wizarding world. She usually never allowed herself to use such language. Either her goody-two-shoes morals were wearing off, or she was just really mad at him. In any case... his attempt at making her feel better certainly did not work. I don't know how to do this. I'm trying, ok? Draco thought.

"If you're done you may be dismissed," Snape announced.

Hermione packed up her stuff as quickly as she could, and walked out. Draco really took his time, then left the classroom.

To his surprise, Hermione was standing in the hallway leaning on a column, waiting for him. "Oh, didn't get enough of spending time with me yet, Granger?" he asked, sarcastically.

Hermione scowled, but then got right to the point. "What was that all about?"

"What was what all about?" he looked at her innocently.

"Don't play dumb, Malfoy. Whatever other things you may lack, you're not stupid".

"Why, I am quite flattered. Wait never mind... I don't care what you think, Granger".

"Answer my question". She gave him a deadly look.

"What? About us being partners? That wasn't my choice. You saw yourself, there was nobody else left, and I wasn't about to do all of the work myself".

"No, I'm talking about all the wolfsbane about us agreeing to be partners before class started, and being friends. I know you hate me Malfoy. So why did you say all that nonsense? What's your motive?"

Draco sighed. "Granger, what makes you think I hate you? And if that was some other friend of yours on that bench last week, after the quidditch game, then..." he paused. "Well, you can think what you want". With this he quickly stormed off.

Hermione was frozen in place, and stood wide-eyed looking after his receding figure. Was he serious? Did he seriously think they were friends?

Well, she couldn't deny that exactly twice now, he had helped her when Ron hurt her - and she had previously thought of Ron as her friend. Draco had saved her when nobody else would.