Shattered | Hermione x Draco

Unexpected

I slam my book on the table. "I can't believe that they will not excuse Harry, they must know this is a set up!" I let out in frustration.

Light gray eyes meet mine over a book. "Who would even set him up?" Draco asks in a whisper.

"I have no idea, but it is going to be bad. I have no idea what the first task will be. We have been reading books for days and every bit of information shows that every task was part of the Tournament is different. That makes it literally impossible to figure it out!" I sigh loudly.

"Potter probably will be fine anyway, he is the Chosen One after all," he snorts.

"Draco! It is not funny," I groan, letting my head fall onto the book.

The pressure is getting to me, it's been almost a week since Harry's name was selected by the Goblet. I have been keeping up with classes, homework and extra assignments. Besides that I have spent every minute with Malfoy, he is actually helping me. First we focused on laws that make it impossible for them to keep Harry in the Tournament, but to no avail. After that we started researching for the first of three tasks. Trying to find something that will help him. In our small breaks we chat and get to know each other.

"Draco?" he asks with a glint in his eyes.

I raise one eyebrow in a silent question. Realization dawns on me and I stare at him. I never called him that before! "I... " I begin but don't even know what to say. It is not a bad thing that I call him by his first name right? We spend a lot of time together, we talk, we even work on homework together, discuss classes together. I know his favorite color is dark green, not only because of Slytherin but he has grown up with it in the summer. The trees in the garden of Malfoy Manor have the deepest color of green. It reminds him of summers spent there and having fun with friends. He has a sweet tooth and loves apples, no surprises there.

"I like it when you say my name," he pauses for a moment and then adds. "Hermione."

I watch his mouth as he says my name, I see the tip of his tongue touch just behind his front teeth and emphasizes the 'e'. Nobody has ever said my name like that, with that much intensity behind it. His eyes seem like molten silver, burning into me. My mouth goes dry and I try to wet my lips but it doesn't really help. I can feel my heart thumping.

"I think I should read another book," I stumble over my words, cheeks blazing.

He just nods and watches me. I shove my chair back and quickly disappear behind a shelf. It is darker in the back of the library where we are sitting. I don't think there is any way he missed the flush on my face. Stupid hormones! He just said my name. But those eyes and that mouth. The way he pronounced it, so sharp and his voice. His voice, Merlin, his voice, that tone...just no words for it. God.. Merlin...Circe... May they all help me.

I am leaning against my head on a bookshelf, with my back to the aisle, trying to get my face to cool down. Even going as far to cast a cooling charm on my face.

"Are you alright?" Draco asks softly as he touches my shoulder.

A pleasurable shiver runs down my spine and I am getting even hotter. "No, yes, I don't know," I sigh and don't dare to turn around.

His hand tightens and he makes me turn, I keep my eyes cast down. The hand on my shoulder loosens and glides lightly up my neck. Every inch where he touches my shin, starts to burn. He stops under my chin, with light pressure he makes me lift my head and look at him. I swallow and meet his eyes.

"Stupid hormones," I whisper frustrated, as my cheeks start flaming again breaking through the cooling charm.

His eyes never leave me as he steps closer, still holding his fingers under my chin.