Draco Malfoy's First Love

Chapter Six: The Project

The end of first term was approaching, and with Christmas on the way, mostof the students had nothing else on their minds. But Hermione did. She hadfinished her part of the Potions project far before anyone else in her gradedid. Unfortunately, she hadn't spoken to Malfoy since the bathroom incident.She had no idea how far along he was with his half. So Hermione decided thatshe would have to talk to him soon, and the perfect time was on the nextHogsmeade trip. With Christmas holidays a week away, everyone took advantageof the trip to buy Christmas presents for their family and friends. Malfoywould be easy to corner in Honeydukes, and no one would pay attention tothem, which was good for her sake.

As Hermione entered Honeyduke's with Harry, Ron, and Ginny, she separated from the three and made her way over to where a group of Slytherins were standing.Sure enough, Draco Malfoy was in the middle of them, arm draped around PansyParkinson. Hermione made eye contact with Malfoy from the corner of the roomand he immediately dislodged himself from Pansy. He excused himself and walkedto the corner where Hermione stood. "You called, oh great one?" he said sarcastically.

"Shut it, Malfoy," she snapped, "I want to know if you've finished your part of the project yet."

"Let's go somewhere where we can talk." He suggested Three Broomsticks. Hermione agreed but thought it strange he would go to such a public place.

They sat down in a booth in the far corner of the pub, and Madame Rosmerta brought them two butterbeers, with a very surprised look on her face.

Draco looked at Hermione quietly as he sipped his butterbeer. God, shewas so beautiful! He just wanted to stare into those eyes forever. Unfortunately,at that moment, she exclaimed, "Malfoy, what the hell are you staring at?Have another rude comment to throw at me, do you?

"Damn her," he thought, "Why won't she see me as more than the boy who used to torment her." Maybe that's because you still do torment her, dum dum. Said a voice in the back of his head. "Well," he said aloud, "I haven'tquite finished the report, but I will be done soon. Just let me..."

"That's it, Malfoy, I've had it with you. I'm outta here!" With that, Hermioneleft the table and walked out onto the streets of Hogsmeade. It was gettingdark and it had started to snow. Hermione wished she had brought her cloak."ERGGH!" she thought, "That Draco Malfoy is nothing more than an arrogant,self-centered, procrastinating son of a..."

Her thought was rudely interrupted by a cold wind blowing down her neck. She shivered as she continued down Main Street towards the entrance to the Hogwarts grounds. Suddenly she felt a cloak draped over her back by two strong hands. Hermione turned around to face Malfoy. "Here," he said, "it's cold out."

"Thanks," she whispered in surprise. She was so close to his warm body that she felt she didn't even need the cloak.

"You're welcome," he said. Hermione looked up to find his face an inch away from hers. "What was he doing?" she thought.

Should I kiss her? Draco thought to himself. What would she do?

Unfortunately, Malfoy waited an instant to long and Hermione turned and started up to the Hogwarts grounds, still clutching Malfoy's cloak around her tightly. Malfoy smiled as she did this; that's two she owed him.

Chapter Seven: The Classroom Meeting

Hermione woke up the next morning to find Ginny standing over her. Hermione tried to sit up, but felt dizzy and was pushed gently back down by Ginny.

"You caught a cold last night down in Hogsmeade," Ginny explained. "Here, Madame Pomfrey gave me this Pepperup Potion to give to you."

Hermione gratefully took the brew and swallowed it. A few minutes later she felt good enough to sit up, though steam was still pouring from her ears. Ginny giggled, "So where did you go yesterday after Honeydukes?" she asked.

" Oh I went and got some butterbeer," said Hermione vaguely, "Then I went back up to the castle because I wasn't wearing a cloak."

"You mean you weren't wearing that?" Ginny pointed to the black cloak foldedneatly atop her trunk. There was a large, silver snake at the fastener, justlike on all the Slytherin cloaks. Hermione gulped, "Oh that's been in thedorm for days," she hastily explained, "one of the other girls dropped itand I picked it up last night and folded it, you know I don't like things just lying around. Someone must be seeing a Slytherin."

"Ohhh," cried Ginny, "I wonder who it could be! Maybe Lavender, or Parvati!"

Hermione sat there as Ginny continued along this line of conversation fora while.

* * *

On Monday morning, Hermione dreaded potions more than usual. She came inearly and slipped Malfoy's cloak under his desk. Then she sat down and hopedMalfoy had done his share of the project that was due today. Everyone elsestarted to arrive, but no Malfoy. Finally he swaggered in and looked at Hermione.He smirked and held up a roll of parchment for her to see. He mouthed thewords, "You owe me again." She was appalled--how could she 'owe' him formaking him do his fare share of the work? "What an bloody jerk," she thought.

"Alright, class," said Snape's voice. It was just as greasy as his long, dark hair. "Today you will be presenting your projects, and then I will test you on making the potion from it. Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy," he said in his oily tone, "you first."

* * *

"I don't believe we got and 'A'!" Hermione squealed, "I guess that Malfoy really did his fair share!"

"Or maybe the slimy git just fudged it," replied Ron as he rubbed his nose,"Snape would give him full marks anyway." He was in a bad mood--he hadn'tdone so well with his project and Millicent Bulstrode ended up socking himin the nose.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry were just leaving Potions when Hermione's bag split and all her books, parchment, and ink spilled to the floor. "Oh," she cried, "I'll catch up. Meet you in the Great Hall for lunch."

Yes, thought Malfoy as he hurried up to catch her, that severing charm worked like, well, a charm. "Need some help?" he said aloud to Hermione.

"None from you, ferret boy," she snarled back as she picked up her favorite book (Hogwarts, a History of course) and frowned. It was covered in scarlet ink.

"Don't moan over a stupid book," said Malfoy. He snatched the book up fromher, took out his wand and said 'disinkeum.' The dripping ink on thebook vanished and he handed it back to Hermione. "That's three you owe me,Granger. But where, might I ask, have you trashed my cloak?"

"Don't be a prat, Malfoy, I stuck it under your desk in potions."

"I never saw it," said Malfoy innocently.

"I'll show you," Hermione huffed, and she started back towards Snape's dungeon. She entered the room with Malfoy at her heels and heard the door slam noisily behind them. She walked to Malfoy's desk and looked down--it wasn't there. "Well it was here a minute ago, Malfoy, I don't know where itcould..." she stopped talking as she turned around. There she saw the cloaksticking out of his bag. "Hey, what's the meaning of this..." She didn't havetime to finish her sentence as Malfoy drew nearer and stuck his mouth overhers. Hermione gasped, but Malfoy just slid his tongue into her mouth. Whatthe hell is this? She thought, why is Draco Malfoy kissingme? Soon her train of thought was lost, though, for Malfoy was a verygood kisser. He drew her closer and ran his fingers through her brown mane.Hermione stood there as she felt his hands caress her body and felt his tongueslither like a snake in her mouth.

Then she woke up from her semi-trance. She pulled away from Malfoy as fastas possible and screamed "How dare you, you pig!"

"You owed me, Granger, and I was just getting what I deserved," he said slyly.

"I'll give you what you deserve," she hissed and she slapped him as hard as she could across the face. A brilliant red mark appeared on his pale complexion.

"How dare you, you worthless mudb..." Malfoy stopped mid-sentence. His old sneer returned and he said in a mocking tone, "That was wrong of me. Pleaseforgive my behavior, Granger."

"Too late for that!" yelled Hermione, obviously missing the sarcasm in his words. Then she stomped up out of the room and fast as she could toward Gryffindor Tower.

Malfoy grinned as he touched the stinging mark upon his cheek. My my, she is a very passionate young woman, he thought to himself.