How exactly did Hermione Granger end up in Draco Malfoy’s lap? It wasn't when he gave her a timid frown instead of a cocky smirk, it wasn’t when he didn't say anything rude to the professors during their classes, but it started when he helped her pick up the books she dropped in the library in her rush to get her favorite table. Draco timidly picked up the books for Hermione, offering them to her with a small hint of a smile.
“In a rush Granger?” he spoke in a hushed tone, to not disturb Madam Pince who was extra prickly about her library since the war almost destroyed it. “You do know the knowledge in these books don't run away right?” he jibed. Hermione let out a small huff and rolled her eyes not wanting to even acknowledge the small poke at her.
She instead said, “The knowledge may not run away, but my table might be taken by some overzealous 5th-year Ravenclaws who want to claim my favorite table as their own, and I can't let that happen!” At this proclamation, she spun around and beckoned Draco to follow her with a jerk of her head. Slightly confused, and still holding half of her books he followed her to the table in the corner, mostly hidden from others by a large jutting stone wall, and sat right next to a large window. She dropped into her chair and stared at Draco who just stared back at her, secretly confused about her kindness towards him. Although she helped get him off of the hook for Azkaban he still expected her to hold animosity towards him.
After an uncomfortable amount of time staring at each other Hermione finally broke the silence by asking if she could have her books so she could start her paper (even though it was not due for another 3 weeks). Draco quickly put down the books, and as if he was spooked by her words he abruptly turned around and swiftly walked away, lacking his stylistic swagger. This was the first time that Hermione had started to realize that maybe Draco Malfoy was not the piece of shit daddy's boy that he used to be, but I guess a war will do that to you.
…
A grumble of disapproval came from the class when they learned that they were going to be paired up by their new potions teacher instead of getting to pick their partners for the day. The new teacher was a brilliant young American with no regard for the basic “rules” of the houses of Hogwarts, deciding instead to employ the “stick” method she had learned while in primary school.
“Each of these sticks has one of your names on them, I will pick 2 at a time and the person you are chosen with will be your partner!” professor Mickin exclaimed in a naive excitement. While most of the 7th and 8th years had started to overcome some of the animosity left over from the war, cross-house friendships and partnerships were still rare. As the students got paired off, Hermione dutifully opened her options book to re-read the instructions for her potion. Hermione jumped as she heard a thump of books hitting her desk next to the cauldron in the middle of the table.
“Hello Granger,” greeted Malfoy “I’m assuming that you will be taking the lead in this endeavor?” Hermione stared at him in slight bewilderment and then cleared her throat.
“I always take charge as I am arguably the best in the class at almost everything I do,” Hermione stated haughtily, with the confidence of a girl who had never known any different.
Draco simply rolled his eyes and groaned lightly under his breath and then muttered “Never mind the fact that I have been second to you in every single class so far”. Before Hermione could refute this statement, he amended it saying “With maybe the exception of ‘Care of Magical Creatures’ but that was simply because I was an arse to Hagrid,” Hermione just stared at Draco like he had grown a second (and quite possibly third) head. He refused to fall behind due to her shock at his statement so he told her he was going to get their ingredients and went to the cupboard.
While he grabbed the ingredients, Hermione realized that this version of Draco was quite likable, and maybe she should get to know the student second in the ranks a little better. She rationed to herself that this was only because she needed better study buddies than Ron and Harry, and not that Draco was funny and admittedly slightly charming.
Their potion came out perfect just as Hermione expected it to, and they were done with time to spare. Draco took out his transfiguration book and started reading intensely. When Hermione looked over at the book she noticed that he was also working ahead, this only solidified her choice to approach him about studying with her, he was studious and he was following the same pace as her (both of them exactly two and a half weeks ahead in their transfiguration reading). It was hard to study with the often semi-witless Harry and duller-than-a-spoon Ron but even harder when they were 3 weeks behind her.
Draco turned his head to look at her and he said “Is my beautiful face distracting you, Granger? You have been staring through my head for the past 5 minutes,”
This made Hermione blush a bright red and splutter out “I was…your face is not beautiful…going to ask you if you would want to study sometime together?” and then she mumbled “You are second in the class after all, and you seem to be studying ahead like I am”
At this Draco let out a small incredulous laugh. “I will not argue about the beauty of my face with you, however, I will be making fun of you for watching me so much that you know how far ahead in my classes I am,” Hermione somehow got redder and then jumped up and left as Professor Mickin had dismissed class at that exact moment and Hermione was not about to stay and get made fun of. As she left she thought that perhaps Draco was still a stuck-up piece of crap.
…
Draco cautiously set his books down on the table next to Granger. He was unsure if she was still mad at him for his earlier jab at her. She didn't immediately hex him or tell him to go away so he figured maybe he was in the clear. She simply just ignored him until she got up and left an hour later. Draco was slightly confused but was set on studying with her again, after all, it had been her idea in the first place. Day by day Draco wore Granger down. They did not get paired in potions again, however, when he saw her in the library he would sit and study with her. Silently. And eventually, she broke. “Malfoy why do you insist on sitting with me to study? When I asked you to study you simply made fun of me!”
Now releasing his previous error, Draco said “I was just making a joke Granger. I was going to say yes to studying with you. Obviously.”
“Not obviously,” gritted out Hermione. “People usually just answer the question instead of making fun of one's observational habits,”
“I'm sorry Granger. I do want to study with you, I thought I was making that point but I will spell it out for you right now. Will you study with me? Like actually study, not just sit in silence?” Draco asked sincerely. This got a giggle out of Hermiones who agreed that yes, she would actually study with him.
…
After a couple of weeks of studying together Draco and Hermione had become friends, they had mostly ignored their past choosing to simply move on and work together to be the best students out there. The competition of being the students ranked number 1 and number 2 always kept them motivated to work harder. This afternoon they were working on their potion homework again, they had a 3-foot-long paper due on the magical properties of unicorn hair and what it can do when combined with angel’s trumpet, flubberworm mucous, and a potion ingredient of their choosing. Hermione was looking over her books vigorously while brainstorming what her 3rd ingredient would be when Draco walked to their table. He flopped down at the table and started to get all of his supplies out. This was when Hermione noticed the book he had and was going to use.
“Where did you get that book Malfoy?” she asked in an almost accusatory tone. “I was looking for it everywhere in the library!”
Draco grinned at her and said “Well you couldn't have found it, because I found it in my library, you know, the famous Malfoy Library,”
This made Hermione huff a frustrated sigh and under her breath, she said “Stupid Malfoy library, with their stupid pureblood riches, and their stupid books” Although this comment was made under her breath, Draco was close enough to hear the frustrated rambling she spat out.
“And to think I was going to offer to share the book with you!” Draco said in a fake haughty tone, with no real oomph behind it. “Now that you have insulted me and my library I don’t think I’m in a sharing mood anymore,” Hermione had gotten to know Darco well enough to know he was joking, however, she wanted to read the book now, and not when he felt like giving in and sharing it with her…….eventually. So she made a sneaky move and reached for it. However, Draco was faster due to his training as a seeker, so he snatched the book off of the table quickly and hoisted it into the air with his arm farthest away from Hermione. This however did not deter Hermione after growing up with Harry and the Weaslys so she got up on her knees in her chair and reached. Draco was substantially taller than Hermione and so she had to lean over him to try to reach the book. And when one leans too far, they are susceptible to falling. And fall Hermione did, she fell right into Draco’s lap. He was able to catch her to keep her from falling off of their chairs, however, this meant that in the tussle of falling and being caught, she ended up sitting in Draco's lap, arse centrally placed with her body perpendicular to his.
Hermione and Draco both sat there in shock, taking in the fact that she was, in fact, sitting in his lap when Draco started talking first “Now what did you have to do that for?” he joked, “if you wanted to sit in my lap all you had to do was ask,” This made Hermione giggle and lean in closer to Draco, both of them simultaneously realizing that this silly mistake may have been the perfect thing to happen to them at that moment. Before either of them knew it they were both leaning in closer and finally they kissed. It was a sweet kiss, a classic first kiss, with both want and a slight fear of rejection behind it. They parted, only for Hermione to place her hand on Draco's cheek and pull him back in for another kiss, this kiss was less timid, with more passion behind it. Draco was thrilled to be kissing Hermione and parted her lips with his tongue, slowly starting to explore her mouth. She responded to this by letting him in and exploring him as well, wanting to get to know him better (even if it was getting to know what he tasted like). Their kiss started slow but quickly picked up the pace. With tongues tangled together Draco's hands started to roam, grabbing Hermione more firmly around the waist and pulling her as close to him as possible in their position. When he was satisfied with their position he slowly pulled his mouth away from hers and started trailing it down her jaw. As Draco kissed, licked, and sucked on her neck Hermione moved a hand to his chest and her other hand to the back of his neck to pull him even closer. This got a quiet groan from Draco and he nibbled on the junction between her neck and her shoulder, eliciting a small sigh from Hermione. Hermione needed his mouth on hers again and pulled him up to her kissing him with a vigor much too inappropriate for the library table they were sitting at, no matter how hidden their spot was. As loud dull thud of someone dropping a book broke them apart, cheeks flushed, and both breathing hard. Draco gave Hermione a wicked grin and cheekily said “Remind me to bring more books from the manor’s library if that's what I get in return.”
And that was how Hermione Granger ended up in Draco Malfoys lap.