Repeat After Me

Chapter 4- Pay Attention- Part 1

Chapter 4- Pay Attention- Part 1

Friday October 29th, 1999 07:20am

Sprawled out on his stomach, Draco let out a loud painful groan as he lifted his head off his pillow. Glancing over at the end table, he readjusted himself and picked up the clock. Releasing another grumble, he discarded the device on the floor as he dropped his head back down in disappointment.

"Draco!" Theo bellowed from the entryway "Draco, are you up yet? Pansy wants us all to walk down to breakfast together!"

'Here we go...just go with the flow, Draco. Learn everything you can and make sure you watch Brown at all costs! Also punch Weasley if you get the chance; that bastard needs to be taught a lesson.'

"I'm coming!" he answered. "And yes, I know Pansy wants to go over costumes. I'll be down in a minute, so tell her to quit nagging."

"Oh...Perfect! I'll be sure to let her know."

Following his normal routine, Draco stood up and got ready for the day. Shrugging his shoulders, he sucked in a deep breath and prepared himself mentally before walking away from the mirror and opened the door.

"Draco!" Pansy called out. "Took you long enough, we were beginning to think you died up there."

"Nope, perfectly fine."

He went to take a step down the stairs when he remembered Hermione was about to run into him. Knowing full well he should try and avoid being rammed by her for the third time, he for some reason didn't want to move. Right on cue, Hermione emerged from her bedroom and without looking up, bumped right into him.

She almost dropped her books, but Draco reached out and caught one that escaped her grasp. Handing it back to her, she glanced up at him with a perplexed expression as she slowly took the book from his hand.

"Uh...Thank...you?" she said speculatively with a raised brow.

"Whatever Granger, just watch where you're going next time."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean t-"

Draco held up a hand as he studied the smooth skin around her face. For the first time, he noticed the light freckles cascading across one cheek, over the bridge of her nose, and coming to rest on the other. He had never noticed the tiny details of her features before or the small golden flecks floating carefree in her dark brown eyes, but he couldn't help but think of how beautiful they were up close.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked interrupting his thoughts. "You're staring at me...very oddly."

"I'm fine...just...be more careful."

Hermione opened her mouth to reply but Draco quickly turned away and made his way down the stairs. Sitting on the couch he sucked in a breath and prepared for what was about to happen next.

"Oh, enough with the self-loathing" Pansy stated as she cuddled up next to Blaise. "It's two days until Halloween and tonight is the Ball. Would it kill you to at least act happier?"

'And here...we...go.'

Draco sat quietly through the same conversation he had experienced the first day trying to pay attention to every little detail; though he was quickly growing bored and agitated with the people who were trying to help him not too long ago, talking about him like he wasn't even there. His eyes also seemed all to willingly to drift to the brunette bookworm sitting alone at the desk ahead of him, delicately writing notes on a scroll of parchment.

'Do I like her? No, of course not. If you did you wouldn't be questioning it right now. So why can't I look away from her?'

"Bullocks" Theo stated in disgust.