Insidiousness

Chapter One

The howling wind billowed strongly, whipping her mahogany coloured hair against her cheek. It was surprisingly cold, considering that it was only August, and she clutched her Gryffindor scarf even closer as she ambled through the winding, cobbled streets of Diagon Alley.  She had had a small-okay, maybe not that small- argument at home about this- she insisted she was old enough to shop alone. Her parents thought otherwise. They’d finally consented to her demands, and here she was. It would have been nice to have her mum around for advice and suggestion, she mused ruefully, as she admired, yet again, the beautiful silk dress-robe in a deep cerulean shade in the display window of Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. It had a stunning, intricate pattern in silver on the neck and the sleeve, lending it a highly sophisticated, suave look.

       The price-tag proclaimed that it could be hers for seventy-nine Galleons, which, she had to admit, was pretty reasonable, but she was definitely having second thoughts about it. She didn’t need it, but at the same time, she knew she’d regret it if she didn’t buy it. Who would have thought two years ago, that Hermione Granger would be interested in something as trite and as incredibly prosaic as clothes? She wasn’t one who easily gave into whims, and definitely not sartorial ones, but she had to buy it. It was calling out to her, reaching out its hand, begging to be taken off the gilt clothes hanger...

Precisely twenty-eight minutes, and seven seconds later, she stepped out, carrying a shopping bag in her hand, a smile on her face, so ecstatic that she didn’t notice that she’d run into someone.

“Been shopping, Granger?” That voice was so horribly familiar, so irritatingly recognizable.

Draco Malfoy stood there, looking the least unperturbed by Hermione’s ramming into him, a calm yet sardonic smirk on his face that looked almost...amused. He was dressed from head to toe in black, except for a white wristwatch. The entire outfit looked so alarmingly contrasting, especially with his alabaster skin and white-blonde hair, that it looked almost deliberate. Knowing Malfoy, it probably was.

Hermione wanted so badly to snap, but she held her tongue from pouring a furious diatribe.

“Yes, Malfoy. And what about you?” she asked in as courteous a tone she could manage.

“None of your business, Granger,” he sneered, but startlingly enough, it was bereft of his trademark scorn and malice. “I’ve been extremely busy, carrying out my lawful duties as a minion for the Dark Lord.” He stated.

Hermione was taken aback with his candour, but her scepticism only lasted till he grinned. Of course, he was joking. He wouldn’t possibly admit that he was doing such a thing, least of all to her, one of the Golden Trio, one of Potter’s cronies.

“That’s, umm...intriguing.” she fudged, unable to come up with a better word.

“You bet, Granger. After all, what’s life without the pleasure of licking the boots of one of the greatest persons of all times?” he mused, the sarcasm evident in his voice. He inadvertently shoved his hands into his coat pocket, a picture of ease.

“Uh, yeah, I guess.” She replied, feeling foolish for her lame reply.

“Sheesh, preoccupied, much, Granger?”

“What? What makes you say that?”

“You’re not being particularly eloquent today, are you, Granger?” he noted. “And in class, you’re so damn loquacious, that we have a tough time shutting up your big mouth.”

“I don’t recall you and I being such buddies that you getting all pissed by me not responding to you, Malfoy.” She retorted.

He was laughing, clearly amused.