In the Eye of the Dragon

In The Eye of the Dragon
Chapter Three

Two weeks later, in early November, things started looking up for Draco. He’d gotten his first terms statements of marks, to which he found he’d been doing much better in most of his classes than he expected. He had a vague suspicion this was because he no longer had many friends, and he was left alone most of the time. This didn’t bother him anymore though. Crabbe and Goyle were a waste of time, and everyone else in Slytherin was so incredibly unevolved that Draco felt his sophistication, and IQ, dropping with every minute spent at the Slytherin common room. He now spent a great deal of his time in the library reading, both factual theory texts, and fictional stories from the wizard and muggle worlds. Most of the muggle stories were assignments for Muggle Studies, but he enjoyed them the same. In a way, they were much more magical and whimsical than the wizard stories. Most of the texts he read were magical theory, usually on astronomy or transfiguration, but he also read many muggle texts on astronomy, which he found fascinating, historical texts primarily based on the segregation of other cultures, or philosophical arguments.

The only problem with the library was that Hermione Granger spent as much time in there, if not more, than he did. She left him alone most of the time, but she was also as interested in muggle philosophy as he was. He was grateful for the time she came in by herself, because she ignored him almost all the time. Which was perfectly fine by him. For the first week. After that, he started wondering what was wrong with her. Which led him to an experiment.

“Watch where you’re going, you filthy Mudblood,” he said angrily as she walked into him, exactly how he set it up.

“Screw off, Malfoy. I have work to do, go bother someone else. Now, if you would excuse me so I don’t walk into you again, I can get on with my work.” Too dazed to say anything, Draco stepped back and watched, amazed, as Hermione rolled her eyes, shook her head, and walked past him without a backwards glance. That was not the Hermione he had known in years past. Usually at the mention of Mudblood, even last year, her eyes would well up and she wouldn’t say anything, just rush away. This new Hermione was definitely interesting.

The next day in Astronomy, Draco chose the spot next to Hermione, even though he was well on time for class.

“Hey, Hermione,” he said happily.

“I didn’t realize, Malfoy, that our relationship was on a first name basis.”

“So now we have a relationship? Hermione, I knew you worshipped me, but this is a bit much. I have to take things a bit slower.”

“What are you doing Malfoy? Did you fall into the lake or drink some of your potion from earlier?” She looked angry and exasperated.

“No, Hermione, I have decided that it’s worthless to try and argue with you. Seeing as my father ended up in Azkaban, and he hated Muggles, there’s not much incentive there for me to hate Muggles like as he did.” Draco said all of this with a breezy, lighthearted voice.

“That’s wonderful, Malfoy. Now leave me alone so I can get some work done.” She turned to start copying the notes left on the board from Professor Sinistra.

“See, that’s another thing I was thinking about too. Since you and I are destined for Head Boy and Girl next year, there’s not really much point trying to compete with each other. We both know we’re the top of the class, we’re miles ahead of everyone, so why should we waste our time and energy by doing our homework separately?”

“And what would that accomplish? I already do my assignments fine on time, on my own. What would I gain by ‘joining forces’ with a notorious Death Eater in training?”

“Well, for one, you’d have more time to read those philosophy texts. Believe me, Granger, you’re the only one who I can carry a conversation with who won’t stop me every five seconds to ask who Darwin is or what evolution is.” She looked at him suspiciously. Draco could almost see her mind working. “Besides, you might not know this, but the Head Boy and Girl get their own dormitories and common room, away from everyone else. Like it or not, we’re going to be in very close quarters next year, so we might as well learn to get along now.”

“And what makes me think I can trust you? How do I know you’re not just using me to get to Harry, or using me to raise your own marks? Or using me to get me to your father and your Lord?”

“First, I want nothing to do with my father. I read the reports on Nazi Germany and Mussolini’s Italy, and even pre-American Civil War and the Amistad and everything. Alienation does not accomplish anything. I don’t want to become my father. Secondly, I honestly do not care about what Saint Potter is doing. If I wanted to get him, it’s too easy. He’s everywhere in this school. Third, my marks are high enough. I know I’m going to be Head Boy, higher marks mean absolutely nothing, if anything, not beating you is even better because it spites my father. Last, I do not, and will not, support Voldemort. Not anymore. Is that good enough for you?” Hermione stared at him, an expression of intense thought on her face.

“Fine,” she said at last. “But if I even suspect your behaviour to be less-than-altruistic, you know perfectly well the knowledge of hexes and curses I have. You also know I would have no hesitation in using them.”

“Yes, yes, fine. I’m not all that stupid either, which you know just as well as I do.” They glared at each other for a while more, before Professor Sinistra tapped the board with more notes.

“So when do you want to meet?” Draco asked, not looking up from his notes.

“When the guys have Quidditch practice. It’s three times a week, at six o’clock. Is that good enough?”

“It’s perfect, seeing as how we practice on different days. Library?”

“Yeah. Somewhere not too obvious.”

“Naturally. I wouldn’t want to be caught in the presence of a Mudblood,” Draco said, only half-joking.

“And I don’t want to be caught in the presence of an arrogant little ferret,” she retorted fiercely. “Oh, and you will stop calling me Mudblood while we are together. I don’t care what you tell your gorilla friends, but I don’t want to hear it. If we’re going to work together for the next two years, you are going to show me some respect.”

Draco was taken aback. “Fine,” he replied. They worked the rest of the class in silence.

***

During the rest of their classes that day, Draco sat away from Hermione, but dropped her a small piece of parchment on the way to his desk in Transfiguration. She returned it when she went to her desk during Charms. Beneath his even printing, which asked “Do they have practice tonight?” was her elegant handwriting, “Yes... Library at six, back corner.” Draco looked over and saw her watching him. He nodded, and saw the corners of her mouth twitch in a smile before turning her attention to Professor Flitwick.

***

Hermione sat alone at dinner that night. Draco assumed Harry and Ron had already left for Quidditch practice. At five-thirty, he watched her get up and leave the Great Hall. He followed her with his eyes until the heavy doors had swung shut. He looked back down at his plate and realized he still had on his robes. He quickly finished eating and left, grabbing a bun before leaving the hall.

At six o’clock, Draco found Hermione sitting in the remote alcove they had agreed on, books already open around her.

“Granger,” he said in greeting as he sat down.

“Hello, Malfoy,” she replied, not unpleasantly. “What should we start working on? Snape assigned the paper, Sinistra wants those charts filled, Vector assigned the equations, but they’re not due until Wednesday.”

“Alright then, how about Sinistra’s charts, those usually aren’t that bad.”

They worked steadily for four hours without any interruptions. As Draco walked back to the common room, he realized that not only had their meeting been productive, it had also been somewhat enjoyable. At least, they were able to have a conversation without jumping at each others throats with insults. Draco smiled to himself at the thought, and gave the password to the statue that guarded the Slytherin door.