CHAPTER SIX

He thought about that kiss all night hating himself. He ran through all the possible scenarios in his head. What was she going to do? Who was she going to tell? How long would it be until the rumors got back to him?

He felt ashamed but accomplished. He got what he wanted, just not the right reaction. He didn't regret it but he wished he hadn't done it. Not then anyway.

He lied awake until the sun was up. He didn't want to get up and he never wanted to see her again. He decided to skip classes again and go to the library late that night. What were a couple more missing assignments? He already had a thousand of them.

He told his mates he was sick and stared at the wall all day. Thinking about nothing. Thinking about everything.

It was around 7 pm when he gained enough courage to go to the library. He couldn't just not go. Snape had been watching him like a hawk after classes making sure he went every day. He just hoped that she had already come and gone that night.

Alas, he was alone. He had the whole place to himself. He could finally focus. He wanted to get as much done as possible before he was kicked out.

Hours passed and he got about five assignments done before he took a break. He felt rather proud of himself which was something he was starting to feel more often. He relaxed and closed his eyes. He was almost completely asleep and didn't hear the footsteps approach him.

Hermione cleared her throat trying to get him to wake up without having to touch him. The sound startled him so much he almost fell back in his chair. The sight of her made his heart sink to his gut. Why was she here?

"Forget something?" he managed to break the silence.

"Actually, I was looking for you. I was just talking to Professor McGonagall. She said you have been falling behind again." she raised an eyebrow at him.

He was confused. He thought she was making this up. He had been doing his assignments without her fine. Then, he realized he hadn't been turning them in. He was so disappointed in himself.

"She promised me the head girl next year if I helped you raise your grade by at least two letters by the end of the year. I'm sorry if you don't think that's practical but I couldn't refuse the offer."

He felt bad. He knew that because of him there probably wouldn't be a next year. For either of them. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he weighed out his options. If he said no, he would save her from getting her hopes up. But he wanted to say yes. She was the best distraction he had had all year. She put him at ease even if she didn't feel the same way. He nodded at her. It was the only thing he could think to do. She sat down and opened up her books.

"You know Draco if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were starting to like me." she gave him a sweet smile.

Draco scoffed at her. "Don't make me laugh, Granger." He looked down as he felt himself start to blush. Why was he being so obvious?

I mean after what happened in the hallwa-" he cut her off mid-sentence. "That was nothing," he said it like a reflex. "I didn't know what I was thinking."

"I didn't say I didn't like it." She smiled at him again. Was she flirting with him? Hermione Granger. The girl he bullied for the last five years. The girl who was best friends with his arch-enemy. He shook his head and grabbed his quill to start writing.

"What happened to your hand? I noticed it a couple of days ago. It doesn't look like it's getting any better. Have you been to the hospital for that?" she interrogated him like a worried mother.

"Just an accident." he brushed it off hoping she would too. She didn't. She reached across the table and grabbed his hand. It was sore to the touch but he didn't care.

"I can fix it for you." She insisted as she pulled out her wand to perform a healing spell. "Episkey." He cringed as the skin around his wound started healing itself. For a healing spell, it was quite painful. She responded to his reaction. "You know the only real way to cure pain is to add a little more," she spoke like a poet. "Everything new distracts from the old." He thought she was absolutely right.

Once the spell had done what it had intended they were just left holding hands. He quickly pulled away, stretching his hand. "Thanks." he said. She looked pleased with herself. "Just something I've used a million times on Harry. It's the most important one I know." He was amazed by her and her intelligence. He needed to remember that one.