Conversation in the Library

Hermione Granger pulled a book off a shelf in the Library and casually flipped through it.

"How is this a good place to meet?" An annoyed voice asked quietly from a short distance away.

Hermione sighed and replaced the book, immediately pulling another one off and opening it. "Maybe you would like to come by the Gryffindor common room later and we can snuggle by the fireplace," deadpanned Hermione, without looking at the figure she was speaking to.

Draco Malfoy rolled his eyes. His back still to Hermione he replied, "Yes, how cozy that would be. Just you, me, and a thousand evil eyes upon us."

"I said Gryffindor common room, not Slytherin."

"Ha. Ha. Seeing as we're not allowed in each other's common rooms, perhaps the Astronomy Tower?" Draco asked, turning toward Hermione as he opened a book in front of his face. "I can only imagine what the Gryffindor common room looks like; probably decorated with fuzzy bunnies."

Hermione turned toward Draco, lowering her book. "Trust me, it's much better than that dungeon of a common room that Slytherin has."

Draco lowered his book. "You say that as if you had seen it."

Before Hermione could answer, Draco saw Harry approaching them and quickly made a warning face at Hermione and raised his book back over his face.

"Did you find that book on calming charms, Hermione?" Harry asked. "Ron and I could really use it."

"Um, yes, here," Hermione said, holding out the book in her hands to Harry.

Harry nodded. "Thanks," he said to Hermione, turning to make his way back to the tables. "Er...Hermione, this book is about cleaning charms."

"Oh! Sorry, Harry," Hermione said, flushing as she took the book from Harry's hands and pulled another book off the shelf. "This is the one you need," she said offering the book to Harry.

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said. Glancing sideways at Malfoy, Harry asked, "Is Malfoy bothering you, Hermione?"

"No," Hermione said with a dismissive wave at Malfoy. "He was just leaving."

"Goodbye then," Harry said crisply to Malfoy.

Draco lowered his book. "I have a right to use the Library, Potter," he sneered.

"Yes, of course," Hermione said, answering before Harry had a chance to. "But you might find the book easier to read if you put it right side up."

Draco glanced down at the book he was holding upside down and threw a dark glance at Hermione.

Harry chuckled. "I see you have everything under control, Hermione. I'll see you at dinner."

"Yes, see you then," Hermione said to the departing Harry.

"Might be easier to read if you put it right side up..." Draco mimicked Hermione's voice. "Bloody.."

Hermione's eyes darted quickly around the library and she held a finger up to her lips signaling Draco to be silent. "Wait a minute, then follow me," Hermione whispered before taking off.

Draco watched Hermione walk behind the Restricted Section and he carelessly shoved the book he was holding onto the shelf behind him. The book fell with a loud thump soon after Draco had walked away. Draco didn't notice as he had stopped at a table of Slytherins and was nonchalantly chatting to Pansy Parkinson.

He tried to escape from the table of Slytherins as quickly as he could without arising suspicion. After spending time with Hermione, Draco found that it was almost painful to carry on a conversation with Pansy, who seemed to talk about nothing but herself, but it was necessary to keep up appearances or he'd be in more trouble than a rabbit in a fox-infested forest. He threw a disdainful look at Harry and Ron as he walked past their table, but that was not an act on his part.

Hermione waited for Draco in a dark and dusty aisle in the back of the Library. "The History of Magic section," she said to Draco as he approached. "Not very many people come back here."

"Good," Draco replied moving in and pressing his lips firmly to Hermione's.

Hermione returned the kiss for a long moment, then gave Draco a slight push backwards, pulling back from him. "I didn't say no one ever comes back here," she whispered. "We still have to be careful."

Draco gave a disappointed sigh, his hand finding Hermione's waist and giving her small squeeze through her robes. "We need an invisibility cloak."

Hermione grinned at him. "And we would do what with that?" she teased.

"Pull it over ourselves and -" Draco paused to waggle his eyebrows at Hermione, "Get close to each other."

Hermione arched a brow at Draco. "Honestly, Draco, is that all you think about?"

Draco looked appalled. "No, I think about Quidditch and acquiring wealth as well."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him but grinned. She gave his cheek a quick peck and then laid her head on his shoulder. Draco kissed her forehead and pulled her hair, twirling it in his fingers.

"This is insanity, isn't it?" Hermione asked.

Draco didn't have to ask what she was speaking of. "Yes," he said with a slight sigh. "It is, but..." his voice trailed off and he kissed Hermione's cheek.

"But, what?" Hermione asked.

"It's a nice insanity and I don't want to stop."

Hermione swallowed. "Good," she said, then added, "But..."

Draco released Hermione with a sigh and leaned against the bookshelf. Not looking at her, he said, "But -- It's not like you're going to come home with me for the holidays. Have dinner with my parents, celebrate the New Year at the famous Malfoy Manor New Year Bash," Draco shook his head and sighed.

"Yes, I'm sure I'd be quite the thing there: a Mudblood in Malfoy Manor."

"Don't say that word."

"Mudblood?"

Draco turned to look at Hermione. "I...was wrong to call you that."

Hermione nodded, not refuting his statement.

"I stand by calling you a bushy-headed bookworm, though." Draco added with a wry grin.

Hermione chuckled softly. "Have your feelings really changed though, Draco?"

"About Muggles?"

"Yes, do you still hate Muggles?"

Draco sighed and looked down at the floor. "I never thought about not hating Muggles. I just...I just did it. I never thought about the logic of it or the reason for it. I just believed what I had been told. I'm not making excuses...I feel differently now."

"I know, Draco," Hermione said, kissing Draco's cheek lightly. "Your father --"

"I don't want to talk about him," Draco interrupted. "I can't. Not yet."

"Draco if this is --," Hermione started, but then she stopped, reconsidering. The day would come when the situation had to be discussed, when a stand would have to be taken, but today did not have to be that day. "I understand." She took his hand and held it warmly in hers, her fingers caressing his in a reassuring manner.

Draco met Hermione's eyes and stared for a moment before looking away. He tried to think of a reply, but he found his pride wouldn't let him speak.

"Speechless, Malfoy?" Hermione quipped. "I shall have to record this in my journal for posterity. 'September 30th, the day Draco Malfoy was rendered speechless by a Muggle.' I shall write it in green ink even."

Draco glared in mock anger at Hermione, relieved she had reverted to teasing him again.

"You are quite the witch sometimes, Granger."

Hermione grinned and squeezed his hand. She surveyed the aisle to see if it was clear and then pulled Draco to her, "Kiss your witch, Malfoy."

"You are so very bossy, Granger," Draco said with a smirk, "But, alas, I am under your spell."

Hermione rolled her eyes at his cliché, but leaned forward, tilting her face towards his. Their hands still clasped, Draco and Hermione began to kiss, softly at first, but gradually building up steam. After several minutes of snogging, their faces parted and they stood in silence, both breathing heavily.

The sound of footsteps nearby caused them to quickly part ways. "Yes, well, it's almost dinner time," Hermione said, still breathing hard. "Owl me later."

Draco nodded and turned, walking briskly away.

Hermione grinned at his departing figure, then shook her head, sighing softly. "A Slytherin, a Malfoy, son of Death Eaters," she sighed and scolded herself. "Hermione Granger, you're definitely not going to find the answers to this relationship in a book. But of course, that's what makes it interesting."

TBC