Accidental Affection

10 - Choices

The next two days Draco found himself multiple times in front of the cell doors of Hermione's cell. A few times, Draco praised his luck, finding her sleeping. Not restfully or peacefully but resting none the same. Other times, she would peer out, looking at him questionably wordlessly asking about his presence, however, it was his home, she was his captive, she figured he had rights to wonder about his own home. Each time Draco would look at her, confused, sometimes a pained forced smile played upon his lips. If she hadn't known better, she would think his smile as taunting.

On the second night, Draco balanced two plates in his hands, making his way carefully to the doors where he slid a plate of salmon through the crack before sliding down to the stone floor, placing the second plate upon his lap.

Hermione didn't say anything, only stood, her right eyebrow arched high, questioning.

Draco hadn't thought it out, he had been home alone majority of the day, and he felt drawn to the strange woman in the cell. On a wild thought, he had decided to join Hermione for dinner in the cell. He suddenly felt uneasy, as he could feel Hermione's stare upon him, boring into his inner being. He wanted desperately to get up and dramatically run out, instead, he picked up his fork, piercing a spear of asparagus, bringing it to his lips.

Hermione watched as Draco began to eat, still perched on the floor, his back against the wall. She hadn't touched her food, instead, she stands, holding her plate, still confused as to what was happening.

Draco had hoped that she would stop watching him, instead, she stood there unwavering. He sighed, sitting down his fork on his plate and swallowed his bite before turning to Hermione, having to look up to look her in the eyes. "Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

"Eating?" he waves his hand over his plate, a look saying 'what do you think' written across his face.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean Malfoy. Why are you eating down here?"

Draco tilted his head back, until it softly patted against the wall, before sighing, it was inevitable that he would have to express his reasoning. He really should have thought this out. He took a deep breath. "I thought you'd like to have some dinner company, can't be fun eating down here all alone."

Hermione snorted smartly, "It's not fun down here with or without company, thanks."

"Look, honestly I just wanted to... I don't know, talk to you?"

Hermione raised her brow again questionably.

"I can't get what you said the other night out of my head. About things being worse than death."

"What are you getting at Malfoy?"

Draco sighed, "I don't know! It just struck me as... intriguing."

"Happy to oblige," Hermione retorted dryly.

"That's not what I meant," Draco studied his hands as if they hold the answers to his thoughts. "I have never met anyone like you before Hermione Granger. Your way of thinking is..." he shrugged, struggling with the words to express his thoughts, beginning to become frustrated, he had never been one to be unable to express his thoughts or feelings, yet here he sat, a bumbling fool in front of the strange witch. "I don't know, its... admirable...?" the last word blurted out as if questioning.

Hermione jutted out her prideful, stubborn jaw, as she would in school. "Well I am not trying to be admirable Malfoy, I am being honest."

Draco sighed, "I know. I admire that about you. I always have, to be honest." Draco's brow furrowed. "I always wanted to be as brave as you, but I'm Slytherin through and through. Manipulative and deceiving to get what I want."

"Look, not to burst your twisted bubble but I'm a prisoner, and I really have no desire to sit here having a friendly chit chat with my captor. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to enjoy my imprisonment in peace." Hermione crossed her arms, turning her back on the baffled blonde.

Draco sighed, "I didn't want to do it you know, kidnap you."

Hermione snorted, "Then why did you do it?"

"I had no choice..."

"Everyone has a choice Malfoy!" Hermione turns on him, her eyes blazing. "Don't give me that baby shit excuse! EVERYTHING comes with a choice."

Draco sneered, "You don't understand!"

"Understand what? Your moronic excuse to justify your poor decision to help you feel better about yourself? To help clear what little pathetic excuse of a conscience you may have?!"

Draco stood abruptly, a furious sneer hiding the pained uncertainly he battled within. "Eat, before it's too late," his hand waved toward the plate shaking in Hermione's hands. Grabbing his own plate, he turns to leave, grumbling as he walked down the stone hall.

She can't possibly understand, Draco fights within himself. His plate drops with a clang on the table, his appetite was suddenly gone. "That muggle-born witch doesn't know anything..." he glared deeply storming up to his room, his hand reaching for the doorknob before stopping in his tracks, deep down, he knew she was right. He did have a choice, obey, or death. Unlike Granger, there was nothing worse than death, and it was something he feared, right along with disappointing his father. Draco let out an angry growl, slamming the door behind him.

Hermione jumped slightly at the sound of the growl that echoed through the cell door. She sat down, her legs wobbling, unsure on how they kept her standing through that confrontation. Angering your kidnapper, might not be such a great idea, but now she really didn't care. She gripped the fork with a shaking hand, breaking off a piece of salmon, bringing it to her mouth, allowing it to melt on her tongue. Although salmon was one of her favorite dishes, and she was sure it was immaculately cooked, she had to force herself to swallow it. In her furious stupor, it had tasted as if she had put slugs into her mouth. She sat down the plate before crawling on the wooden bench.

I must get out of here, she thought to herself. Next time Malfoy comes in, I'll be ready with some type of plan. Regardless of what it is, I'll be ready.