Chapter 35
Chapter 35:
Draco was instructed to meet Granger in her office 1 hour after the last class of the day. Draco made a point to arrive early. He tried to convince himself it was because he was punctual but the truth of the matter was lack of sleep. He couldn’t sleep at all. He is caught in an impossible situation, one where he finds himself playing detective with Granger to uncover a mystery of his own creation. He had no idea how he’d get out of this, what possible conclusion she could draw nor what possible explanation he could give for the generosity of his gifts. Worse still, with the little oversight regarding the Fairy Water, she would surely think he was up to no good. Too bad because he’d finally got the ancient tome he’d sent missives for a weeks ago and had the final 3 gifts ready to go. He was to be done with this whole business, and have his conscious and guilt cleared within the week had Granger now rang the alarm about the damn Fairy Water.
However, there were advantages to this new adventure, though Draco loathed to admit it this mystery-solving business would give him previously unattainable time and space with Granger. It’s not that he liked the woman or that he was frustrated by her. To him it was simply an exercise of making friends his age that weren’t Theo or Blaze or Pansy, all of whom he’d known since birth and served more as siblings than friends really. He needed friends. Draco watched for years the type of friend Granger was to Potter and Weasley. He doubted those two idiots would have faired half as well in school or half as well in their now widely known grand adventure during the war with our her. She was the brains, she was the organizer, she was the problem solver. There was a reason she bested him at school at every turn, there was a reason his younger self was both tormented by her existence and secretly in awe of her capacity.
Starting a friendship on a lie was bad business, Draco knew that much at least, but he also had no idea how to talk Granger down from the ledge she was on about Dark Ark. In all his wisdom he decided to indulge this manhunt until it was time to reveal all. He would have no choice but to present his final gifts in person at some point, but a deep part of him denied that, refusing to acknowledge how awkward that would be, he was great in all of things, and emotions was not one of them. He really would rather go to the Room of Requirement now and practice dueling using the Katana some more, but alas, he spotted Granger approaching the office. Why wasn’t she already inside? He was puzzled at her approach.
She looked as tired as he felt. Maybe this mystery did weigh on her a great deal more than her frantic pleasure yesterday led on.
“Granger,” he said in the way of a greeting when she approached closer.
“Malfoy, thanks for being on time.” This amused Draco, did she expect him to be tardy?
“Of course, professor”
The look she gave him was scathing, a lesser man would have cowered for back down, but not Draco, he stood taller and lifted his chin a bit, he meant it. Granger opened her mouth for what he was sure would be a smartass response, but she seemed to think better of it, closed her mouth and just led him into the office. What a disappointment.