Fair and Tender Maidens

“Students, I will announce the finalists from yesterday in just a moment. But, I would like it known that you all did a wonderful job and the faculty and I are very proud to have such talented young people amongst us. Now, the finalists will compete on the first Saturday of April. While this seems like a lot of time, homework and studying for exams will begin to take up a lot of your time. I trust you to keep up with your studies.”

Hermione grimaced. If she made it, how would she be able to make sure she studied enough? What would happen if she didn’t give it 300%? She shuddered at the thought.

“It is my pleasure to announce that the finalists are: Padma Patil, Orla Quirke, Ernie MacMillan, Draco Malfoy, and Hermione Granger.”

Hermione smiled, as her friends and fellow Gryffindors cheered for her. Ron clapped her on the back and Harry gave her a sweet look and covered her hand with his.

Across the Hall, Draco was smirking and looking quite pleased with himself. Obviously, now, Hermione would notice him. Of course she would. She could only go so long before she would yet again be tortured by him. This he knew she knew. But, their next meet up, he hoped, would not involve torturing...Unless it was torturing Weasel...or Potter...Something like that.

******

Hermione saw him sitting at the bench, in the cold. Her vision was blurred by the hundreds of little snow flakes that were attaching themselves to her eyelashes. But even so, she could still see him in all his moody, brooding glory.

She cleared her throat and he looked up. “Hello,” she said softly, folding her arms across her chest. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Granger, your pathetic attempts at small talk disgust me.”

“I was not aware that I disgusted you.”

He stared up at her. She hugged herself tightly, her cheeks pink with the cold and snowflakes melting on her head. “You don’t; That’s the problem.”

She moved to sit next to him. He scooted over just enough to allow her some place to stick her bum. She looked around, admiring the scenery. “I was thinking....”

“That is something you seem to do often, but go on....”

“Yes, well, I was thinking that maybe we could...well....”

“Well, what, Granger?”

“I mean, we worked together, right? So, why don’t we, well, do that now.”

“...Meaning...?” he asked, waving his hands around in a pratly way.

“Don’t be dim, Malfoy, I want us back as a partnership. I want us to, well, win.”

He had been expecting a little bit more than “I want us to win.” Jeez, how hard was it get a little lovin’?

“So, we do this competition...And then what?”

She looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

His eyes widened and he leapt up. “You want to know what I mean, Granger? Well, let me tell you, I want more than to win a damn competition. That’s what I want.”

Her face was the epitome of cool and calm. “Really, Malfoy. What else do you want?”

“I want you, damn it.”

“I see.”

“I understand there is someone else, but if you give me a few days, that won’t be a problem.”

She looked down at her lap and fidgeted up a bit. She took a few calming breaths and said, “I...Oh!” and flung herself at him. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.

“Ack, Granger! What is this?”

“This is me showing affection, Malfoy.”

“Well, less squeezing, more kissing.”

She obliged with quick, brief kiss.

Her face was so red that all the snowflakes within a seven inch radius were melting.

“Shy?”

“Malfoy, must you ask?”

“First kiss?”

“Shut up.”

After Draco had kissed her once or twice, they decided to stop and plot out what they were going to for the next part of the competition. (In reality, Draco was beginning to get a little too warm. Hermione’s blushing was scary.)

“What are you thinking?” he asked, stroking her ink-stained fingers.

“Well, there is one from this movie that I saw a few years back. We could come up with a really great dance for it.”

“Tell me more,” he said, as he began to kiss her fingers.

“All right..”