(no subject)
Title: Five Seasons
Author: pencil gal
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Draco/Hermione
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,471 words
Summary: The changing relationship of Draco and Hermione over the course of five seasons and five years.
A/N: Written for pips_n_chiaw as part of the last round at dmhgficexchange (Ring in the New Year with Draco and Hermione).
Part One
Five Seasons
Whenever I see you,
I'll swallow my pride
and bite my tongue
Pretend I'm okay with it all
Act like there's nothing wrong
- Cry, Kelly Clarkson
Autumn, 1999
*
September
Draco glanced down at Astoria and linked fingers with her as they walked along Diagon Alley. The blonde witch smiled up at him, but it quickly dropped as they accidentally bumped into a couple in front of them.
Draco scowled as he immediately recognised the man's flaming hair. “Watch where you're going Weasel,” he drawled, slipping back into old habits.
“I could say the same to you ferret,” Weasley snarled back at him.
An elbow jabbed him in the ribs. “Be nice,” hissed Astoria. Draco pouted, rubbing the sore spot on his side but didn't protest. He could see Weasley receiving the same treatment from Granger.
Granger suddenly flashed him a bright smile. “Hello Malfoy,” she said pleasantly. She glanced towards Astoria expectantly.
Astoria nudged him again. “Draco, aren't you going to introduce us?”
He rolled his eyes but did as she asked. “Astoria, this is Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley,” he stated through gritted teeth. “Granger, Weasley, my girlfriend Astoria Greengrass.”
Weasley snorted but Granger at least had enough manners to maintain her polite smile. “Lovely to meet you,” said Granger.
“Likewise,” Astoria replied with a matching smile. “I've always wanted to meet the Golden Trio, and now I've met two in one go.”
Draco noticed that Granger's expression tightened slightly but otherwise she didn't react to the nickname. “Greengrass?” Granger queried. “Daphne's sister?”
Astoria nodded.
“Hermione can we go already?” whined Weasley.
Draco sneered. He'd never understood how Weasley could possibly call himself a Pureblood, he was such a pathetic excuse for a man.
Granger rolled her eyes. “Sorry about Ron,” she apologised to Astoria. “He gets a bit tetchy when he's hungry. I should probably get him home.” She nodded to Draco. “Bye Malfoy.”
The two Gryffindors stepped past Draco and Astoria and began to move away. Draco could still hear bits and pieces of their conversation though.
“What were you doing apologising to them Hermione?” said Weasley. “They're Slytherins, they don't deserve it.”
“When are you going to realise Ronald, that we're not in Hogwarts anymore?” Granger retorted. “Houses don't make any difference out here in the real world.”
Draco slung an arm over Astoria's shoulder and was about to walk away but the next comment made his back stiffen. “Malfoy didn't even thank you, the ungrateful sod,” Weasley stated angrily.
“He doesn't need to,” was Granger's quiet reply.
Before he realised what he was doing, Draco had moved away from Astoria. He caught up to the Gryffindorks and grabbed Granger's wrist. “Granger, wait.”
She turned to him with a surprised look on her face. “Malfoy?”
“Thanks,” he murmured. “For, you know.”
Her wrist felt tiny encased in his larger hand as he waited for her reply. Granger's lips tilted up in a half-smile.
“You're welcome.”
*
October
Draco smirked as Granger walked into his room at St. Mungo's, wearing a Healer's robe and carrying his chart. This little accident couldn't have turned out better if he'd planned it. “So, Mr. Malfoy,” she said. “What can we do for you today?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Malfoy? That's very formal.”
Granger sent him an annoyed glance. “It's called professional bedside manner.” She pulled out her wand and began to scan his body. She frowned as she passed her wand along his left leg. Granger crossed her arms and looked down on him in disbelief. “Malfoy, you have a broken leg. That's it. Couldn't you have just fixed yourself up at home and not wasted my time?”
He smiled innocently. “Astoria worries. She wanted to make sure that everything was tip-top.”
Granger was skeptical. “Uh-huh.” She drew her wand again in preparation to heal Draco's leg. Her left hand dropped to her side as she twirled her wand and Draco spotted something sparkling on her finger.
He raised an eyebrow. “Weasel finally popped the question, eh?”
“I'm surprised you didn't read about it in Witch Weekly,” Granger replied. “I heard Rita Skeeter wrote a double page spread about it.”
“I try to avoid Witch Weekly. I can only handle so many lies written by that Skeeter woman before I want to start poking my eyeballs out with a dull fork.”
Granger smiled mischievously. “You mean, you're not really gay and are simply dating Astoria to keep hidden your deep-seated love for Harry?” She smirked in amusement.
“Actually, the Gryffindork that I'm secretly in love with is you Granger.” Draco's smile was charming and completely fake as he teased the brightest witch of their generation.
She rolled her eyes. She had completed the spell while they had been speaking and so quickly ran another scan to make sure that the broken bone had been healed. She nodded to herself and jotted something down on the chart before glancing at Draco again. “Alright Malfoy, you're good to go. I'll send a nurse in with some things for you to sign and then you are free to go.”
Granger smiled politely, slipped her wand back into her robe, picked up his chart and walked towards the door.
“See you later, Granger,” Draco called out from the bed. He couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed when Granger's only response was to wave back over her shoulder as she disappeared through the door. Not that he would ever admit to that.
*
November
Hermione was enjoying a pleasant Sunday afternoon wandering around Flourish & Blotts. Ron had been called into work (apparently the Chudley Cannons had just employed a new Beater and the whole team had to be there for an emergency training session) and so Hermione had decided to spend some time by herself in her favourite place - surrounded by books.
Or at least it was an enjoyable afternoon until she heard raised voices coming from the back of the book shop. Hermione frowned and began to move towards the angry voices. She was going to give those people a piece of her mind. How dare they disturb this sanctuary?
As she got closer Hermione realised that one of the voices belonged to Malfoy. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion and she ducked behind the nearest bookshelf to listen, more curious now than annoyed. She peeked carefully around the corner and saw that Malfoy and his girlfriend were screaming their heads off at each other.
“You're in love with her aren't you?” shrieked Astoria. “Aren't you?”
“That's crazy Astoria, how could you think that?” Malfoy replied.
“Oh, I don't know Draco. First we run into her here in Diagon Alley and then she just happens to be your Healer at St. Mungo's? How convenient.”
“It was just a coincidence. Besides you were the one that forced me to go to St. Mungo's in the first place.”
“Stop lying to me! Just admit it Draco! You're in love with Hermione Granger. You love her more than me! Don't you?”
Hermione raised her eyebrows as she kept herself carefully hidden. Where on Earth had Astoria gotten that idea from? Hermione didn't think she'd heard anything stranger in her life. Malfoy in love with her? Yeah, right.
“I'm not in love with Granger,” protested Malfoy.
“You know what, I don't want to hear it Draco.” Astoria sounded as if she was on the brink of tears. “We're through. Don't try to contact me.” She spun on her heel and rushed past Hermione's hiding spot, tears running down her cheeks. Hermione stared at her retreating back.
“Hello, Granger,” said Malfoy in a hollow voice next to her ear. Hermione jumped and spun to look at him with wide eyes. “I suppose you heard all of that,” he continued.
“I don't know what you mean,” she stammered.
Malfoy shot a disbelieving look at her. “I don't care if you did. My girlfriend just dumped me after all. Maybe I'll go home and drink a bottle of Firewhiskey.”
Hermione wasn't quite sure if Malfoy was still talking directly to her or simply talking for the sake of talking so she didn't reply to his comment. “Where did Astoria get that idea about us?” she asked instead.
Malfoy shrugged. “Apparently Astoria is a lot more paranoid than I ever gave her credit for.”
Malfoy didn't say another word and simply walked off. Hermione stood there for another moment leaning against the bookshelf with her eyebrows raised. Well, that was interesting, she thought.
Author: pencil gal
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Draco/Hermione
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,471 words
Summary: The changing relationship of Draco and Hermione over the course of five seasons and five years.
A/N: Written for pips_n_chiaw as part of the last round at dmhgficexchange (Ring in the New Year with Draco and Hermione).
Part One
Five Seasons
Whenever I see you,
I'll swallow my pride
and bite my tongue
Pretend I'm okay with it all
Act like there's nothing wrong
- Cry, Kelly Clarkson
Autumn, 1999
*
September
Draco glanced down at Astoria and linked fingers with her as they walked along Diagon Alley. The blonde witch smiled up at him, but it quickly dropped as they accidentally bumped into a couple in front of them.
Draco scowled as he immediately recognised the man's flaming hair. “Watch where you're going Weasel,” he drawled, slipping back into old habits.
“I could say the same to you ferret,” Weasley snarled back at him.
An elbow jabbed him in the ribs. “Be nice,” hissed Astoria. Draco pouted, rubbing the sore spot on his side but didn't protest. He could see Weasley receiving the same treatment from Granger.
Granger suddenly flashed him a bright smile. “Hello Malfoy,” she said pleasantly. She glanced towards Astoria expectantly.
Astoria nudged him again. “Draco, aren't you going to introduce us?”
He rolled his eyes but did as she asked. “Astoria, this is Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley,” he stated through gritted teeth. “Granger, Weasley, my girlfriend Astoria Greengrass.”
Weasley snorted but Granger at least had enough manners to maintain her polite smile. “Lovely to meet you,” said Granger.
“Likewise,” Astoria replied with a matching smile. “I've always wanted to meet the Golden Trio, and now I've met two in one go.”
Draco noticed that Granger's expression tightened slightly but otherwise she didn't react to the nickname. “Greengrass?” Granger queried. “Daphne's sister?”
Astoria nodded.
“Hermione can we go already?” whined Weasley.
Draco sneered. He'd never understood how Weasley could possibly call himself a Pureblood, he was such a pathetic excuse for a man.
Granger rolled her eyes. “Sorry about Ron,” she apologised to Astoria. “He gets a bit tetchy when he's hungry. I should probably get him home.” She nodded to Draco. “Bye Malfoy.”
The two Gryffindors stepped past Draco and Astoria and began to move away. Draco could still hear bits and pieces of their conversation though.
“What were you doing apologising to them Hermione?” said Weasley. “They're Slytherins, they don't deserve it.”
“When are you going to realise Ronald, that we're not in Hogwarts anymore?” Granger retorted. “Houses don't make any difference out here in the real world.”
Draco slung an arm over Astoria's shoulder and was about to walk away but the next comment made his back stiffen. “Malfoy didn't even thank you, the ungrateful sod,” Weasley stated angrily.
“He doesn't need to,” was Granger's quiet reply.
Before he realised what he was doing, Draco had moved away from Astoria. He caught up to the Gryffindorks and grabbed Granger's wrist. “Granger, wait.”
She turned to him with a surprised look on her face. “Malfoy?”
“Thanks,” he murmured. “For, you know.”
Her wrist felt tiny encased in his larger hand as he waited for her reply. Granger's lips tilted up in a half-smile.
“You're welcome.”
*
October
Draco smirked as Granger walked into his room at St. Mungo's, wearing a Healer's robe and carrying his chart. This little accident couldn't have turned out better if he'd planned it. “So, Mr. Malfoy,” she said. “What can we do for you today?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Malfoy? That's very formal.”
Granger sent him an annoyed glance. “It's called professional bedside manner.” She pulled out her wand and began to scan his body. She frowned as she passed her wand along his left leg. Granger crossed her arms and looked down on him in disbelief. “Malfoy, you have a broken leg. That's it. Couldn't you have just fixed yourself up at home and not wasted my time?”
He smiled innocently. “Astoria worries. She wanted to make sure that everything was tip-top.”
Granger was skeptical. “Uh-huh.” She drew her wand again in preparation to heal Draco's leg. Her left hand dropped to her side as she twirled her wand and Draco spotted something sparkling on her finger.
He raised an eyebrow. “Weasel finally popped the question, eh?”
“I'm surprised you didn't read about it in Witch Weekly,” Granger replied. “I heard Rita Skeeter wrote a double page spread about it.”
“I try to avoid Witch Weekly. I can only handle so many lies written by that Skeeter woman before I want to start poking my eyeballs out with a dull fork.”
Granger smiled mischievously. “You mean, you're not really gay and are simply dating Astoria to keep hidden your deep-seated love for Harry?” She smirked in amusement.
“Actually, the Gryffindork that I'm secretly in love with is you Granger.” Draco's smile was charming and completely fake as he teased the brightest witch of their generation.
She rolled her eyes. She had completed the spell while they had been speaking and so quickly ran another scan to make sure that the broken bone had been healed. She nodded to herself and jotted something down on the chart before glancing at Draco again. “Alright Malfoy, you're good to go. I'll send a nurse in with some things for you to sign and then you are free to go.”
Granger smiled politely, slipped her wand back into her robe, picked up his chart and walked towards the door.
“See you later, Granger,” Draco called out from the bed. He couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed when Granger's only response was to wave back over her shoulder as she disappeared through the door. Not that he would ever admit to that.
*
November
Hermione was enjoying a pleasant Sunday afternoon wandering around Flourish & Blotts. Ron had been called into work (apparently the Chudley Cannons had just employed a new Beater and the whole team had to be there for an emergency training session) and so Hermione had decided to spend some time by herself in her favourite place - surrounded by books.
Or at least it was an enjoyable afternoon until she heard raised voices coming from the back of the book shop. Hermione frowned and began to move towards the angry voices. She was going to give those people a piece of her mind. How dare they disturb this sanctuary?
As she got closer Hermione realised that one of the voices belonged to Malfoy. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion and she ducked behind the nearest bookshelf to listen, more curious now than annoyed. She peeked carefully around the corner and saw that Malfoy and his girlfriend were screaming their heads off at each other.
“You're in love with her aren't you?” shrieked Astoria. “Aren't you?”
“That's crazy Astoria, how could you think that?” Malfoy replied.
“Oh, I don't know Draco. First we run into her here in Diagon Alley and then she just happens to be your Healer at St. Mungo's? How convenient.”
“It was just a coincidence. Besides you were the one that forced me to go to St. Mungo's in the first place.”
“Stop lying to me! Just admit it Draco! You're in love with Hermione Granger. You love her more than me! Don't you?”
Hermione raised her eyebrows as she kept herself carefully hidden. Where on Earth had Astoria gotten that idea from? Hermione didn't think she'd heard anything stranger in her life. Malfoy in love with her? Yeah, right.
“I'm not in love with Granger,” protested Malfoy.
“You know what, I don't want to hear it Draco.” Astoria sounded as if she was on the brink of tears. “We're through. Don't try to contact me.” She spun on her heel and rushed past Hermione's hiding spot, tears running down her cheeks. Hermione stared at her retreating back.
“Hello, Granger,” said Malfoy in a hollow voice next to her ear. Hermione jumped and spun to look at him with wide eyes. “I suppose you heard all of that,” he continued.
“I don't know what you mean,” she stammered.
Malfoy shot a disbelieving look at her. “I don't care if you did. My girlfriend just dumped me after all. Maybe I'll go home and drink a bottle of Firewhiskey.”
Hermione wasn't quite sure if Malfoy was still talking directly to her or simply talking for the sake of talking so she didn't reply to his comment. “Where did Astoria get that idea about us?” she asked instead.
Malfoy shrugged. “Apparently Astoria is a lot more paranoid than I ever gave her credit for.”
Malfoy didn't say another word and simply walked off. Hermione stood there for another moment leaning against the bookshelf with her eyebrows raised. Well, that was interesting, she thought.