Inevitable Lovers

Chapter 5:

Come Sunday, Hermione rose early, in a bid to breakfast quickly in order to meticulously tidy the tower in time for Professor McGonagall's proposed inspection, as had been written on the letter she had received back on the Hogwarts Express. Hermione wanted to make a good impression, so, dragging a brush through her hair, she caught up her school satchel and fastened her robes, exiting the tower.

On arrival to the Great Hall, which was warm in spite of the chilly, leaden grey skies outside, Hermione spotted Ron eating his bacon and eggs alone at the Gryffindor table.

'Hello Ron,' she said brightly, sliding onto the bench and joining him in some coffee.

'Hi,' said Ron. 'Harry's gone to the Owlery to send a letter to Oliver Wood, something about Quidditch training. He woke me up, so thought I might as well come here early.' He yawned, as proof of how early indeed it was.

'Oh, all right. I've got tidy my whole dormitory today, Professor McGonagall's coming to inspect.'

'Is she?' said Ron grimly. 'Well make sure you don't do Malfoy's share, then she'll know he's a lazy git.' He gingerly helped himself to seconds of breakfast.

Is it me, or is everyone mentioning Draco Malfoy for absolutely no reason these days? Hermione silently wondered. Perhaps I've just noticed it...

'Oh, don't worry. He'll do his share all right,' she replied lightly.

'Okay.' Ron paused. 'You know, I don't like saying this, but I think Mum would've been proud if I'd...kind of...been made Head Boy,' he trailed off meekly.

'I know, it was really unfair,' assured Hermione, while inwardly deciding she wasn't complaining that he hadn't, much as she might berate herself for thinking it. 'It was all a matter of gold, I bet, you know how Lucius Malfoy's got the governors twisted around his little finger.' For some reason, she didn't want to bring his son into the matter.

'Yeah,' said Ron despondently. Then his face seemed to brighten a bit. 'Er - look, Hermione, I was wondering...well, y'know that the first Hogsmeade trip is next weekend?'

'Yes,' replied Hermione carefully.

'Well, would you want to go? With me, I mean? You can say no if you want,' he said hastily.

Hermione looked at his hopeful face, not wanting to disappoint. Oh, Ron, she thought.

'What about Harry though?'

'Er - he's going with Ginny,' said Ron.

'Well, in that case, yes, Ron, of course I'll go with you,' said Hermione, smiling. Well, I could hardly go with him anyway, she thought. As if he'd be seen with a Mudblood. I'll have a lovely time with Ron...it's just a shame I don't want to ravish him like a certain someone else...ahh! I can't believe I just thought that!

She finished her porridge. 'Okay then Ron, well I'd really better be going, you know. Tell Harry I'll see you all at lunchtime, or maybe sooner.'

''Course. Bye Hermione!' Ron grinned zealously.

Feeling a little relieved, she retreated back to her common room. Upon entrance, she looked around. House Elves did not, according to Hogwarts: A History, need to clean this tower every day in accordance with the individual houses, owing to the fact that there were only two people residing here at any one time, and that they were meant to be the most responsible students in the school. So the House Elves visited only once a fortnight.

That explained then, why there were still bits of crumpled parchment littering the floor near the hearth (courtesy of Malfoy), some sweet wrappers on the table (courtesy of Malfoy), and school textbooks piled on one of the chairs (admittedly, Hermione's). Added to this the floor was very dusty, and she guessed the upstairs rooms could be seen to too. Although she had been putting it off for a while, it was nevertheless against Hermione's morals to clear up Draco Malfoy's mess for him. Just as she was wondering whether she could possibly go up to his room, he clattered down the stairs into the common room. She gathered herself.

'Hello.'

He looked surprised, as if to wonder why she was even talking to him. 'Hi,' he said rather guardedly, then continued walking. Of course, he had completely forgotten about the inspection.

'I'm going to need you to help me clean up today,' said Hermione matter of factly.

'What?' Draco said, looking rather haughty, as he casually ran a hand through his gleaming blond hair.

'Well, Professor McGonagall's coming round to see the tower, and make sure we're coping with our roles,' she explained. 'I think we should make a good impression.'

'Well, why isn't Snape coming?' He felt the need to argue.

'Oh, well McGonagall is Deputy Headmistress, isn't she? I expect she has to be in charge of these things.'

'Okay then. I'll be back in a minute, I'm just going to have something to eat.'

He thought this was reasonable enough, but didn't quite meet her eyes. In the cold light of the day, he was seriously regretting opening up to her, if you could call it that, the previous night.

'Fine. See you.'

And with that, Draco departed. For about fifteen minutes Hermione polished the fireplace, swept the floor with flicks of her wand and arranged some of the furniture, until the portrait door opened again.

'Been working hard?'

Hermione raised her eyebrows. 'Not hard enough to stop you from doing anything. Will you help me move the table, I think it should go over there.' She pointed to a space at a right angle to the fireplace.

'There? Are you sure that isn't too close to the stairs?' he objected.

'Okay, fine. The other side then?'

Draco nodded. Then pushing, dragging and puffing, they simultaneously moved the heavy wooden table to the desired space. Hermione knocked against Draco as they did, and she felt a shiver go up her spine. She felt a bit hesitant about speaking to him on normal terms, just in a friendly way, but then found she didn't have to worry.

'So, Granger,' said Draco leisurely, 'Looks like I was right about you Gryffindors always biting off more than you can chew.' There was a hint of amusement in his voice.

'What's that supposed to mean?' she asked curiously.

'I ran into those Creevey twits just now. They're obviously trying to follow in the footsteps of the Dream Team,' he smirked. 'I've never seen anything so pathetic.'

'What were they doing?' Hermione was rather distracted by this, and looked at him questionably.

'They let off some of those Fanged Frisbee things in the Entrance Hall right in front of me. Took about two seconds for me to take fifty points from Gryffindor.' He smirked slightly.

'Fifty? That was a bit harsh, wasn't it? Some people would say that's abusing your position!'

'Oh yeah, like you wouldn't take double that from Slytherin if you could!' he scoffed. They were standing facing each other by this time, and Hermione couldn't help but notice the way Draco's eyes lingered on her.

'Excuse me, but I am a fair person,' she said in a mock-dignified voice. 'And I think, as a punishment for being so horrible to people that are a lot younger than you, you should dust the wall brackets there - look at the state of them,' said Hermione. 'Besides, I've polished the fireplace-'

Draco sneered disdainfully. 'Do you really think I'm about to do Muggle cleaning?' He took out his wand, and waved it, muttering: 'Scourgify!' Pink soap bubbles appeared over the wall-brackets, and Hermione tutted.

'You idiot! That isn't dusting!'

'Whatever,' muttered Draco, a little abashed. He cast a drying charm, and Hermione nodded.

'Well - um, what about the upstairs?' Her bossiness had quite evaporated at the idea of entering his bedroom.

'Are sure that a lady such as yourself wants to see my dormitory?' he drawled, a smirk plastered on his face.

'Only to make sure it's not a complete war zone,' she replied coolly. In actual fact, Hermione wasn't sure McGonagall would actually bother about the upstairs, but Draco didn't need to know that.

'All right,' said Draco shortly, and led the way up the staircase. Hermione pocketed her wand, and followed him. There was something oddly endearing about watching him carry out her orders. I could get used to this, she thought, trying to keep her eyes off his arse as he mounted the stairs before her.

Draco pushed open the shiny mahogany door as they reached his bedroom. In the centre of the room was a large four-poster bed much like her own, except this had green velvet hangings, and she noticed, with a warm feeling, deep green silk sheets that were scattered all over the bed, along with four immensely fluffy white pillows. Other than this, the bedside table held an unlit candle-lamp with a base shaped like a serpent, with slightly sinister glittering silver eyes. Some clothes were on the floor, along with Draco's Slytherin tie. A large wardrobe stood in the corner.

'Hmm.'

'What?' asked Draco. Personally, he thought the room was quite tidy.

'Don't you ever make your bed?'

'What's the point? If I invite anyone up here, they're not going to notice what the bed looks like, if you get my drift,' he drawled.

Hermione blushed. 'And you want Professor McGonagall to know that, do you?' she said sharply, still not letting on that she probably wouldn't even see this room.

'I'll make the bed then,' Draco said resignedly, and began to straighten the covers. 'Well, don't just stand there!' he accused, and suddenly flung one of the large pillows at her. Hermione caught it, startled. Then a reckless daring took her. Draco seemed in an agreeable mood today. He would probably welcome a bit of fun...Suddenly, she hit him over the head with the pillow, causing him to look up. Hermione giggled, feeling most unlike her usual self.

'What do you think I am? A laundry basket, Draco Malfoy?'

'Excuse me?' Draco said, taken aback, his sleek hair thoroughly ruffled, 'no one hits Draco Malfoy and gets away with it!'

And with that, he seized another pillow and whacked her back. Hermione retaliated, bashing him in the stomach as she stepped around the bed so that they were on the same side. Repeatedly, they hit each other in a wild frenzy, laughing and red in the face for several minutes. Feathers began to escape out of the pillows and scattered in the air as Hermione caught Draco in the side.

'Oi!' he exclaimed. 'They're the finest swansdown, you know!'

'Oh Draco, shut up!' retorted Hermione, hitting him again. This time when he made to hit her back she jumped up actually onto the bad so she was standing above him. 'Come and get me,' she invited fluttering her eyelashes in a mock-flirty fashion.

Draco joined her, and they continued to shout and laugh until Draco caught Hermione's foot and they both toppled over fell across the bed.

Hermione still had a half smile on her flushed face. Draco was lying flat on his back, hands up to signal surrender. She half sat up, supporting herself on her hands. She leaned down a bit closer to Draco below her. He said nothing, and their eyes locked intensely. Her heart hammering madly, she leaned closer still, and shut her eyes, hardly believing this was real...when suddenly:

'Granger, what the fuck do you think you're doing!?' Draco exclaimed, scrambling away from Hermione off the bed in a very ungraceful manner. He stood up, regained his composure and sneered at her.

Hermione froze, her face stricken, and then, without a second thought, she leapt off the bed and fled the room. Blood rushed to her face as her feet instinctively took her back down the stairs and out of the common room. She wouldn't let herself think - because she knew if she did, the tears would come immediately. Instead, she sought refuge in the one place she knew she wouldn't be disturbed - the library. She walked quickly down the corridors, managing not to see anyone she knew.

Hermione walked right up to a wooden table in a secluded corner of the vast library. There were several dusty books piled on it already, left unnoticed by Madam Pince, no doubt. So it was here, then, that Hermione sat down and buried her head in her arms on the table and let the tears of humiliation and self-anger fall. She cried almost silently, not wanting anyone to disturb her. The books, luckily, provided a clever ruse from innocent library-browsers.

After a couple of minutes, the tears stopped, and Hermione blushed once more as she painfully recalled the scene in her head. What on earth's the matter with me? she questioned herself furiously. If only I could turn the clock back ten minutes, oh why did I even think that it would possibly work? I hate him! I really do! As if he could be anything but a pig-headed idiot, like he's always been! Damn! I shouldn't have even got involved. Well if he thinks I'm going to be some sort of shrinking violet around him now, he's got another thought coming! I'll just pretend nothing happened, and forget that I ever saw him as anything other than a stupid, stuck-up prat. There! And with this thought, Hermione wiped her eyes on the back of her sleeve, fighting the urge to let a sob escape, and picked up one of the thick books in front of her. She immersed herself in reading all about the magical theories of Ancient Runes, which happened to be the subject of the book.

When she was sure she had calmed down enough, Hermione left the library. She glanced at her watch. It was almost lunchtime, and Professor McGonagall wasn't due to inspect until after that. Hope the stupid git gets into trouble anyway, she thought bitterly, as she made her way to the nearest girls' lavatory to collect some tissue to dry her eyes. She also splashed her face with cold water, dried it, and looked in the cracked mirror above. Her eyes were a bit red, but other than that, she thought she was presentable. And with that, she set off for the Gryffindor common room, a warm sense of comfort inside her at the thought of seeing Harry and Ron.

***

It was only after eating lunch with Harry and Ron that Hermione retreated unwillingly back to her own tower, wanting to see Professor McGonagall quickly and get it over with. She arrived there with a minute to spare. The common room was still spick and span, and Draco Malfoy was standing with his back to her when she entered, staring into the fire. Before the silence became painful, there was a knock at the portrait door, and Professor McGonagall climbed in. Draco turned around at this.

'Good day, Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger,' she greeted them. 'I trust you know how important your roles are as Head Boy and Head Girl. Which is why I am here, to answer any questions you have and check how you are coping. I am aware of the fact that this year is extremely difficult with your NEWTs approaching, but I believe Professor Dumbledore has made a wise decision in choosing you two.' She paused, looking at them expectantly.

'Yes, Professor,' said Hermione eagerly. 'I feel privileged to have this responsibility. But, I did want to ask whether we have to ask permission before giving detentions to younger students, or taking House Points. I didn't want to get into trouble for doing that.'

'Well, Miss Granger, we trust your judgement, so unless you are unsure yourself, that would be appropriate. I might add that I am very pleased that this tower is so tidy, you seem to be doing a fine job. There is no need to discuss anything else from the looks of it; so just come and see me if you have anything else to ask. Is that all right, Mr Malfoy?' she asked, as Draco had not yet spoken.

'Yes, Professor, everything's fine,' he replied smoothly. And with that, Professor McGonagall bade them "good afternoon" and returned to her office.

Hermione did not wish to stay with Malfoy another minute, so she hastily left also, and spent the rest of a rather fine afternoon in the Gryffindor Tower. It was raining hard outside so Harry and Ron stayed in to play Exploding Snap for a while, and then the three of them turned to the worst part of the pile of homework that had received that week. All in all, the events of the morning had been pushed to the back of Hermione's mind, and she was determined not to let Draco Malfoy think he had anything on her after that.