Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Draco spent the first day back breaking up petty fights caused by none other than the Weasels. It seems that the pesky twin never gave up his inventions and the students found each nuscience device better than the last. This was not what he expected while preparing the post-break lesson plans.
A tension headache over took him as the last of the students fled the halls at the end of the day, and so he sat with his head in his palms contemplating his life choices and whether this working life was for him after all. His ancestors might not have been great people, but even a broken clock is correct twice a day.
Draco’s wallow in self-pity, for that’s what it was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching his door. Without looking up he said,
“Mr. Dunger if you are here to reclaim you prized position I’m afraid we have differing definitions of “permanent.”
When the younger Dunger brother didn’t respond with his ever-shrill voice, but instead a much more amused voice responded.
“You’ve been confiscating the eyebrow be-gone too?” mused Granger.
GRANGER. What was she doing here? Did she actually catch him that last time or was she here about the damn howlers again? Draco did not, repeat, DID NOT need this today. His tension headache all but forgotten he looked up to finally behold the bespectacled woman at this door.
“Grange?”
“Malfoy. How was your break?” she asked with what he swore the start of a blush on her check.
“You’ve come to ask about my break?” he blurted out in a tone so close to derision that he immediately regretted it.
“Always so charming are you Malfoy?”
“Wouldn’t be a Malfoy otherwise I suppose” he said a bit wistfully, he didn’t really mean to offend her still, and yet…
“My break was quite nice, thank you for asking Granger, I’m happy to report I was able to fly at full speed and not knock any witches out of the sky again.”
“Thrilled for you really, but do be mindful of that now since some witches are back again” Her tone was both sarcastic and menacing.
“Is that why you are here? To warn me about flying around the castle at night?”
“Must you always make assumptions and jump to conclusions or am I allowed to speak my reasons without interruption?” she was making not attempt at hiding her annoyance, rich for someone who elected to seek him out. Draco didn’t have one, the time, two, the energy, or three, the will do have a go at Granger today.
With a deep sigh he motioned for her to speak and at this Granger's demeanor changed. She stepped further into the classroom and closed the door behind her, and now Draco was fully intrigued on why she was here.
He eyes looked around the room in assessment? Judgment? Caution? He couldn’t tell.
But at least she began.
“I want you to know that I wouldn’t be here if I felt I had other choices. Before you refuse me, I want to list the reasons why I’m here. First, much to many people’s dismay you are one of the top experts in Dark Magic on this continent. Secondly, you teach at this school. Thirdly, I have reason to believe you might be willing to occasionally subvert some of the ground rules.”
At this last reason Draco was very alarmed she couldn’t possibly have known about his little innocent forays with Expansion spells in his rooms, could she? Or maybe she knew about the small, really minor, teenty tiny set of Dark artefacts he kept around. Could she? But Draco wasn’t born yesterday, he wasn’t going to incriminate himself by speaking, he’ll hear out through. So he merely nodded his head.
“I have to disclose something to you in which I require your particular expertise. You see I have a bit of a situation that requires a delicate approach, if however, you choose to help, I shall require you to swear an oath of secrecy.”
“Granger, I assure you I have no intention of swearing oaths to you, but if secrecy is what you want, that I can promise IF I decide I want to be involved in whatever “situation” you have”
“Malfoy, I know you, I cannot simply trust your promise. This could really hurt not only me and my research but possibly the school as a whole.”
Draco was irritated her tone, he got up from his desk at walked over to her, he didn’t mean to tower and look down at her, but such was how it was “You come to enlist by help and in doing so you elect to insult my honor?”
“I’m not insulting…..” she said hesitatingly as he loomed over her, he wouldn’t let her finish.
“and you do not know me, Granger. Running into me at our place of employment twice after over a decade does not mean you know me. You KNEW me, but you do no know me now.”
Draco felt that he defended himself admirably in the face of her assaults and insinuations, he can’t believe he thought about this woman in a favorable light at all these past week. This was who she was, a snob and a swot of the highest order. Insufferable really, even if her red nose indignation at at this tone was a bit adorable and he just came to notice how close he’d actually gotten to her, too close actually, he took a giant step back and rubbed the back of his head. Fuck, he didn’t mean be that much of an asshole.
Granger paled a little as he stepped back as if realizing fully what just happened, but she quickly schooled her features and made to leave.
“This was a mistake, I’m sorry to have bothered you.”
She was at the door when Draco’s year of softness caught up to him and he found himself speaking without explicit permission from his rational side,
“Wait, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be an asshole. How about you tell me what you need help with and we can flush out the terms later? I don’t wish any harm to befall the school….” he debated this next part but decided to say it anyway, “..or you.”
Granger seemed to be of two minds mid-step, he could tell she really did need his help but really thought better of it given what just transpired. She looked at him with a pinning look, that look he’s sure she perfected in her classroom when she wanted the students to know that she didn’t mess around.
“I mean it Malfoy, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t serious.”
“oh I believe, go on then and tell me what it is I can help you with”
“I need you to promise me secrecy even if choose to not help.” She wasn’t budging, but once again Draco’s softness reared it’s ugly head and he nodded.
“Fine, I’ll keep it quiet, I promise.” And to show her he meant it Draco extended a pinky finger, a gesture he learned from his time living with muggles.
Granger's expression went from confusion to realization and to his surprise she cracked a smile and approached him, grabbing hold of his pinky with hers, “Deal” she said. Draco didn’t at all think about how making her smile made him feel warm or fuzzy.