Magnetic Attraction

Chapter 16: When you mess with Gryffindors

"You don't want to do this, Draco," Hermione said from across the boat. He scowled, wishing he could return to shore but having no means of doing so. Instead he settled for pulling at his collar, trying to ignore the eleven-year-old, bushy haired, buck-toothed girl staring up at him. But she was making it very hard. "If you love her, you should believe there's more to the story." Draco tried to think of something else, of Quidditch, but it wasn't working well. "The Hermione you know wouldn't ever cheat, would she? Especially if she loved you."

'Bludgers, catching the snitch, shoving Potter off his broom,' he thought to himself, watching the water ripple as raindrops spluttered the surface.

"You should apologize; I hope you know you acted like a right arse." The preteen seemed to be enjoying herself, and twirled a springy strand of hair around her finger, a habit she still had today. Draco ignored the quirk. "She was crying for at least an hour, and probably ran straight to Harry and Ron."

'Tossing the quaffle, flying, waving silver and green banners, yelling fan girls.'

"You probably deserved that ass-kicking; you really hurt her! Screw Malfoy honor and dignity, you love her and that's all that matters!" Unable to restrain himself any longer, Draco looked away from the shifting water toward the girl, glaring at her first year uniform. She crossed her stockinged legs, folding her skirt neatly beneath her knees.

"That's not all that matters, you immature little twerp, I need to represent my family! And dating that whore will not be doing so!" She blinked at him as she shrunk away, her doe eyes growing wide.

"She's not a whore, she had her reasons," she protested feebly, but he didn't listen.

"And furthermore, she's not even that special! She's not beautiful, she doesn't like Quidditch, she's a best friend of Potter and Weasley, and on top of that, she's a fucking mudblood! She goes against everything I believe in!" Hermione cringed, scooting dangerously backwards on the stern of the boat.

"You don't really think that," she whispered, rain dripping down her nose as he snarled at her. "Don't lie to yourself and don't lie to Hermione." He stood up, jostling the boat from side to side. She screamed in shock as she fell backwards, falling into the water with a small splash. Suddenly scared, he leaned over to try and see her, extending a hand to grab her, but she sank, feet first. She stared up at him, not even attempting to swim, and the disappointed look in those brown eyes chilled him to the bone.

He woke up feeling guilty, but the guilt was soon pushed out of his mind to be replaced by shock to find the seventeen-year-old Hermione Granger asleep on his chest. His head ached as he took in the dark infirmary around him. Her pressing down on his chest put weight on his smarting shoulder and struck with the memory of her kissing Weasley on her bed; he sneered and shoved her off the bed and onto the floor. She awoke with a thud and groaned as she sat up, rubbing at her eyes. He only regretted it for a second, but then she smiled and said as if nothing was wrong, "How are you feeling?"

Draco sneered before responding sarcastically, "Absolutely spiffing, Mudblood, how are you?"

She winced, reminding him of his dream Hermione, before standing up and saying, "Confused, actually, thanks for asking. Were you planning on telling me why you have turned into such a jerk anytime soon?" She crossed her arms and glared at him, looking unnaturally sexy. Who was she kidding, playing innocent? Honestly, what a liar. No one lied to a Malfoy.

"Don't play games with me, Granger, we both know what's going on." He rolled his eyes as he slid out of bed, only to have his leg ache and look down to discover he was sporting an ugly white Muggle cast. He sat back down as she looked doubtfully at him.