Manic Star

Chapter 3

Hermione was well alone in the library after an early dinner, catching up on a few misunderstood annotations since the common room proved noisy with Ron and Harry playing wizard's chess, a game she still thought of as barbaric.

"Let's see..." she muttered to herself. "The first successful Cruciatus was performed in the year 144 B.C in the south of Romania. So the first successful Imperius was done in 146 A.D...roughly two years after the first Cruciatus. This leaves Avada Kedavra, done last in the year of 147-"

"It's 148," a voice said.

Hermione spun around. Draco Malfoy.

"It's 148. Avada Kedavra was first done successfully in the year 148 A.D. The caster thought it was good luck to try his last spell on a year that totaled to 13 when added up " he said nonchalantly.

She was quiet for awhile. "Well...you sure know your Dark Arts History, don't you " she said tightly.

He shrugged. "Sure I do, It's not everyday someone has a hardbound set about the dark arts in a private library."

She shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "What do you want?"

"A 'thank you' would do good."

"Th-thank you," she said quickly. She continued scanning her notes as if he was never there. He stood for awhile and stared at her like he had never seen her before.

"Stop looking at me..." Hermione thought. She was getting quite conscious of it. Draco Malfoy took the word 'uncomfortable' to a whole new level. She could feel warmth creeping up her cheeks.

She heard a sound. A chair creaked. She pretended not to hear any of it. Draco Malfoy had just taken a seat adjacent to her. Her ears began to burn up.

"You can do this Malfoy," he prepped himself up. "Just take it easy, nothing like a Malfoy's charm." His palms were clammy. He slightly bowed his head down.

"So the three Unforgivable curses were finally given a name- oh my god, what is he doing here?!- concentrate Hermione! The three Unforgivable curses were given names almost 50 years after all three had been- damn it! Why the hell are you here?! Get away from me Draco Malfoy!" Her brain was screaming. She grit her teeth to force herself to concentrate. It wasn't working.

Hermione looked up the same time Draco looked up.

Her face burned, and she felt it.

"Are you humiliated with me around?" he suddenly asked.

She slowly looked up to him. "Humiliated? I'd prefer agitated." She looked at him with a slight frown, but her lips were quivering.

He gave a slight smile of victory. She was nothing but a plaything in his hands. He wanted it that way. Control over her was a good start.

Hermione watched his eyes. He thinks he's got me hands down....well I can play your game...

"I hope you've had your share of staring at me," Hermione said calmly.

"Staring at you? What for?" he raised an eyebrow, as if in mockery. "I know what's worth staring at, and it does not include you."

"I have no worth," she said slowly, seeing Draco smile. "I'm too priceless, even for the likes of you." Draco's smile vanished as she said that.

Draco glared at her. But his fierce stare softened, seeing her eyes looking at him in a distinctly innocent way. He cursed himself. Damn it! Things were not going well. Make some connection with her you bastard!

And Hermione was looking at him, thinking, well...so much for your ego!

He took a deep breath. What the hell do I say?! Hermione, you've been on my mind for quite some time now....or....Hermione, I think you're beautiful....or....you're driving me crazy!

"I- I'm sorry," he muttered.

Hermione blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I said I was sorry," his teeth were clenched by this time.

"For what? "

For acting like an ass. For liking you this much. For betraying the name I carry. "For being such a prick to you," he finally said.

"Wow, I never noticed you were such a prick. I always thought you were some misbegotten, abandoned ferret trying to gain attention form everyone else, " she said tartly.

"Don't push it, " he told her in a low tone.

"Don't push what? My luck? Or the fact that you're being a sad-ass son-of-a---" she stopped seeing a muscle in his jaw twitch.

She was silent for a few seconds. "Are you actually controlling your temper on me?" She smiled a little.

He nodded with effort. "Yes," he replied. You have no idea, he added as an afterthought to himself.

She nodded, seeing his gray eyes looking slightly disheartened.

"I'm surprised, " Hermione began. "Do you have any idea what you're doing to yourself?"

Draco looked away. He heard a shuffling of books and the sound of shoes clacking on the floor. He knew she had left.

She's right Draco, he thought. Do you have any idea what you're doing to yourself?

And that night, Draco Malfoy left the library empty-handed.