Venom and Velvet

Headaches

20. Headaches

Draco woke up well-rested, albeit a little late; Potion for Dreamless Sleep was a miracle. He went down to breakfast but was surprised to find both Hermione and Ginny missing. He looked around for Shawn, but he was nowhere to be seen, either. Draco shrugged and sat at the table with Neville.

"Morning, Malfoy," Neville nodded.

"Longbottom."

"I'm actually glad you're here. I want to talk to you about something."

Draco wondered where this was going.

"Um... okay."

"Y- you see, Harry owled me. He thinks it's important that, since he and Ron aren't here..." Draco cocked an eyebrow. "That... that someone keeps an eye out for Hermione-"

"Hermione would punch you in the face if she heard you say that," Draco inserted. Neville ignored him, worried that if he stopped he'd lose his courage.

"-and I just want to let you know that-" he gulped. "I've got my eye on you, and- and if you step out of line or do anything to her-"

"She'll punch me in the face herself. Believe me, it wouldn't be the first time."

"-then I will personally see to it that you regret it."

Draco gave Neville an appraising look.

"Well, Longbottom, I had hoped that without Saint Potter here I wouldn't have to endure anything like this, but I appreciate your concern for Hermione. Trust me, I have no intentions of doing anything to hurt her, or any of you, ever again, and if I do I give you full permission to act upon whatever sadistic little idea pops into your head because I'll deserve it."

And with that, Draco grabbed an apple and left the Great Hall. His first class was Double Arithmancy, which was one of the only classes he didn't share with his girlfriend. It was strange to him to refer to her that way. The word seemed so trivial, he'd never liked it. Of course, he didn't like Arithmancy either so it was a double blow.

By the time he made it to Herbology, he flopped down in the chair next to Hermione with a headache. The numerology was simply too much for his brain that early in the morning.

"Ugh. I need a headache potion and a nap," he said.

Beside him, Hermione cringed at the sound of his voice, which instantly put Draco on edge.

"Are you okay, love?" He asked.

She nodded in response, leaving him unconvinced.

"Are you mad at me or something?"

She shook her head.

"Hermione. Why aren't you looking at me or speaking? You know, if you don't answer I'm just going to think you're upset with me about something and I'm going to spend the rest of the day fixating over anything I possibly could have done to upset you. Then, after the chat Neville had with me this morning, I'm probably going to get my ass jinxed off or something."

"Draco, please," Hermione shook her head again. "I'm not mad at you will you please just..." She picked her head up slightly leaving her eyes closed and held one finger to her lips. Then, she laid her head down on the table and waited for Professor Sprout to announce the start of class.