Magnetic Attraction

Chapter 1: Loathing so strong

Hermione had once again spent her lunch break in the library, preparing for class. As head girl, she needed to be in control of her grades, that was if she wanted to keep her position. Just the idea of the look on Malfoy's face if she ever got sacked was just too frightening. So she curled up in an alcove and did research on the Charge Switching spell.

The Charge Switching spell was fascinating, and Hermione was able to ignore the rumbling of her stomach with ease. When cast on a pair of magnets, it would reverse their charges, so they would become attracted to each other, or visa versa. It would come up on the NEWTS, she was sure of it, so she reviewed the material repeatedly. They had gone over the concept in Charms the previous day and today they would use it for the first time. She had to be sure she could perform it properly. Not once had she ever met a spell she couldn't do, but this altered the elemental substance of the magnets themselves, and would be much more challenging. What would Malfoy say if she couldn't do it? Stupid ferret would laugh his ass off, and then do it perfectly just to spite her. Oh how she loathed him. Why did he have to be head boy?

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Reluctantly Hermione slid the textbook into her bag and exited the library. She tried to wrestle her hair into a half suitable ponytail, but the frizzy mess wouldn't comply, and she ended up with just a narled elastic band, and very matted hair. What was that straightening spell Lavender used? Hermione drifted off into thought and didn't notice Peeves was following her, carrying a gigantic glass vase. Not one student had the guts to pull the head girl out of her thoughts to warn her of the impending threat that floated above her, mainly because the poltergeist would get his revenge later on.

She turned a corner to enter a short cut hidden behind a tapestry, which would bring her up several stories, when the spirit dropped it. There was no one in the hidden stairway to help her get the large thing off her.

"Peeves, I swear one day I will bloody kill you!" she wailed, but he was long gone, off to celebrate his victory. Feebly, she pounded on the glass, but it didn't break. "Hello? Anybody? Can somebody help me?" The class bell rung. She was late for charms. "Oh bloody fuck!" She pulled out her wand and yelled, "Reducto!" The glass shattered and fell in a circle around her feet. She continued cursing as she ran up the steps and bolted to her lesson.

When she entered the classroom, all eyes turned to her. Hermione Granger wasn't late to class often. It was like the sighting of Lockhart with a frown.

"Sorry I'm late Professor. I got into a run in with Peeves on my way here," she told Professor Flitwick calmly. He nodded placidly.

"No trouble, Ms. Granger. Take a seat." She turned to face Harry and Ron, but Lavender was in her seat. Masking her dismay, she turned to see the only empty seat was next to Malfoy, who was picking at his nails, his blond hair falling across his eyes. Ron and Harry sent her apologetic smiles, but she ignored them as she sat down next to the smirking devil, who ignored her as well. Great, just great. Harry and Ron had forgotten to save her a seat again. Wonderful. The trio was more of a duo these days. Puberty had lead the boys to band together while Hermione sat off to the side. As she spent afternoons in the library, they went on double dates with Ginny and Lavender, whom Ron had gotten back together with. They had forgotten about her a lot lately. Flitwick resumed his lecture but Hermione couldn't concentrate. Malfoy, who found it entertaining to watch her face wrinkle as she thought, noticed. He could see the worry lines crowding her forehead, just as he could see the tension in her posture, and the loneliness in her eyes. He lowered a scrap of parchment onto his knee so no one could notice and jotted down something, before folding the paper into a square. He flicked it into her lap.

It jolted her out of her trance and stared down at it fearfully. Great, now the ferret was trying to talk with her. With a second glance around to see no one was watching, she unfurled the note and skimmed it.