Chapter 16
Chapter 16:
While going back to the manor to retrieve the invaluable vial of phoenix tears had put a damper on his spirits, coming back to his quarters and class really filled Draco with a sense of relief and dare he think it, happiness? He hadn’t realized the toll his self-imposed isolation had caused. There was so much fulfillment from teaching his young enamored students or finding new ways to annoy the castle ghosts. Draco was finding his strike at Hogwarts to everyone's shock, including himself. After once again carrying out the cover affair of dropping the vial on Granger's desk, his path didn’t cross her for a month. He spent that month trying to figure out what her next payment would be. There is only so much left in the Malfoy Manor that he can loot to give her. He had to think outside the box, but he was sure inspiration would hit eventually.
Every day Draco found himself walking by the hall where the room of requirement entrance was, and every day he forced himself to keep walking, taking away all the feelings and all the curiosity that burned within him. But today, was different, as he approached the usually abandoned hall he heard footsteps ahead of him. Doing his best to remain quiet he walked slowly to see who was head. To his surprise it was none other than Granger, holding a small bad of what looked like lunch and standing there facing the very wall he was headed toward, he watched as the door to the room appeared and watched as she reached for the door, before he can stop himself he fired of a spell to shut the door and divert her hand, quick as an asp Hermione faced him wand pointed straight in his direction the glow of a green hex ready to fire.
“Who is there? Come out from behind that column” she said in such an authoritative tone that in an act of betrayal his body moved to reveal itself.
Her gasp was so loud it was nearly a scream, he only lowered her wand a fraction.
“What’s your deal Malfoy, what was that for?”
“Sorry, I just saw you were going to open the door and I..” before he could finish his thought she interjected
“and what of it?”
“what do you mean what of it? Don’t you remember the last time that door was closed?”
“Malfoy, of course I do. I closed it myself just yesterday?” she answered with her head titled and looking perplexed at his inane questioning of such a common task.
It dawned on Draco that this wasn’t the first time she’d been here, and that room wasn’t still full of fiendfire and the heat began to pool in his face. He was mortified. He could say nothing as his brain caught up the events of just now.
Hermione narrowed her eyes and looked at him, really studied him, and within a few seconds her brain made the only possible conclusion and now the heat was pooling in her cheeks.
“oh…I didn’t realize” was all she could spit out..
“yeah me neither” was Draco’s quiet response
“The castle is fully repaired, including that room, though I’m sure not all that was lost was restored.” She said solemnly.
“Not everything can be restored.” Replied a thoughtful Draco.
“I thought I was going to have to duel you Malfoy, though I can’t say I disliked the thought,” she said to lighten the mood
“You can’t possibly think you’d stand a chance, Granger” he replied with a coy smile
At the Granger looked indignant, how dare he challenge her superiority, “I’ll have you know I’m an excellent dualist and I faced far worse than you.” She turned her chin at him
“oh I’m sure you have, but you haven’t faced me” Draco wasn’t being cocky, he was being honest, there was no one to match him for skill on this continent, he made sure of it, he had to make sure of it. Not that he would ever use it for bad or to harm her, but he didn’t want to undersell himself.
“I see time hasn’t changed you much, arrogant as ever, Malfoy”
“I see time hasn’t changed you much, charming as ever, Granger”
“well if that is all, I would like to eat my lunch in you please.” She spared him no other thought as she reached for the door under Draco’s watchful eye, stepped into a room that he couldn’t glimpse was watched the door disappear behind her.
Draco stood in the silence a moment longer than necessary before leaving. He wondered if he’d be able to see her again tomorrow at the same time here, it seemed her habit. But why did he want to?