A Lion And A Snake

“Oh, shut up!” Hermione raged, slamming her book down on the table. She glared at Malfoy sitting across from her. “Leave me alone.” She said through gritted teeth. He pushed back in his chair and stood up, smirking.
“For now… But we’re not finished.” He said, heading for the door. There was a quick scuffling of feet and Madam Pince appeared out of the nearest isle of book cases.
“Ms. Granger! You of all people should know-“
“-to respect the Library with silence and books with care. Yes, I know.” Hermione said, rolling her eyes and picking up the book from the table. “And sometimes,” She stood and thrust the book into Madam Pince’s hands. “You should know to keep your rather large nose out of other people’s business. I’m usually the only person in here and BOOKS DON’T HAVE FEELINGS.” She roared. Madam Pince looked frightened for a moment and left as quickly as she had appeared, mumbling under her breath. Feeling oddly liberated, Hermione strolled out of the library overturning several book stacks as she went.
“Hey, Hermione!” Someone called behind her. She turned and smiled as Ron approached her.
“Hey, how was practice then? Lovely day for flying.” She inquired as they walked together down the corridor.
“Oh yeah, it was brilliant. Same as usual though. How are your lovely books doing this fine day?” He asked teasingly. She frowned.
“They were good until Malfoy invited himself to sit with me. He’s such a prat, really.”
“Yeah, definitely better as a ferret.” He beamed, remembering that particular incident.
“Haha, yes.” She said smiling. Heading for the staircase leading to the Gryffindor commonroom she spotted a blonde haired figure disappear behind a door a ways down. She turned to Ron, “Ah, I forgot the book I need in the library. Silly me, I’ll see you later?”
“Er, sure. See you.” He said, a little taken a back. She smiled and headed off towards the library. After turning a corner at the end of the corridor she pressed her back against the wall and peeked back around the corner. Ron was out of sight. She quickly retraced her steps to the door she had seen Malfoy disappear into. She pressed her ear against the door and listened for voices. When there weren’t any she placed her hand on the knob and pushed the door open a crack. Looking around the room it was apparent that it wasn’t frequented by the layers of dust on all the surfaces. In a corner across the room Draco sat cross legged on a desk in front of a mirror. Next to him were several small bottles and he read from a small piece of paper. He picked up one of the small bottles and poured it into another, put the cap on and shook it. Still holding it he read again from the piece of paper. He gazed up into the mirror and saw Hermione. Her heart jumped a little, afraid he would be angry that she had barged in on him. He wasn’t, he was staring at her reflection very… Affectionately. Equally, Hermione was looking at Draco’s reflection but with a puzzled stare. He smiled and lifted the bottle to his head. He squeezed the contents of it along his hairline and rubbed it with his finger tips. He dropped his hand and admired himself in the mirror. The liquid had dried; leaving his hair a deep red in the places he had applied it. Hermione closed the door behind her and asked, “What are you doing, Malfoy?” He whipped around so fast that he slid right off the desk, bottles flying. “Oh…” She remarked. “I was sure you could see me in the mirror. Sorry.” She bent and peered down beneath the desks. “Are you ok?” She asked giggling. He popped up quickly and glared at her. She frowned, putting her hands on her hips, “What?”
“You had no right to come in here.” He said.
“You didn’t look so sad to see me when I first came in!”
“No,” He shook his head, “That was just – It wasn’t – The mirror is – Not really here… Ugh, never mind. You should leave, I’m busy, Granger.” He said turning back towards the mirror and picked up the strewn bottles.
“I can see that. What are you doing exactly?” She asked.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m dying my hair.” He replied.
“Uhm… Why?” She asked, stepping forward.
“No reason.” He shrugged. Hermione pushed herself up onto a desk and swung her legs over the side.
“I see, why red?”
“Why not red? Why are you still in here, you’re annoying.” He said, frustrated. He continued squeezing and rubbing the dye into his blonde hair.
“Because,” She glared at him through the mirror. “You’re an asshole and I don’t know why. You don’t always have to be mean to me, you know.” She said boldly. Malfoy shook the bottle and squeezed its last bit of liquid on his finger and colored both eyebrows. Finished, he admired his blood red hair in the mirror, running a hand through it. Hermione stopped to take it in too. “It’s kind of…” She cocked her head. “Attractive.”
“Well,” He began picking up the empty bottles. “You are one for red heads, Granger. It doesn’t matter what you think either way.” She glared at him and he turned away from the mirror and faced her.
“My name is Hermione.”
“And mine is Draco. Why are you here if I’m so mean to you?” He asked angrily.
“Why haven’t you forced me out?” She asked, standing from the desk.
“I told you to leave.”
“Oh, but you’re Draco Malfoy. You can make anyone leave if you really want them gone.” She said moving towards him.
“What are you saying?”
“That you don’t want me to leave.” She smiled. He looked at her, confused but fearful.
“What are you –“ He began and she slapped him hard across the face. His head turned away and he dropped the bottles.
“Too bad you’re a complete asshole, Malfoy. Attractive on the outside, repulsive on the inside.” She raged, looking at him in disgust. Hermione turned and abruptly stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

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“Can you please take that somewhere else? Honestly.” Hermione exasperated. She turned over in her bed and pressed a pillow on her head to quiet the lip smacking and heavy breathing coming from the bed on her left.
“Ok Hermione, fine.” A girl said, annoyed. Male and female voices giggled quietly. There was a ruffling of blankets and several footsteps. Then the door opened, shedding light onto the dorm floor, then closed again. She turned back over after the door had closed and pulled the pillow off her head, hugging it.
“Hermione?” Someone whispered.
“Yes?” She called back. She heard light footsteps shuffling across the floor to her bed. Someone pulled back Hermione’s bed curtain and slid onto her bed. She looked up at the girl who sat with her legs tucked to her chest. The girl smiled back at her weakly.
“Have you been ok, Hermione?” She asked. Hermione sat up and crossed her legs under the blankets.
“Yes.” She said, looking down. “Why do you ask?”
“Well,” The girl began, she too looked down. “You’ve been talking a lot in your sleep lately and getting in touchy moods and all. I assumed you were bothered by something…” She said looking hopeful.
“No, nothing I need to discuss. I’m fine, really.” She smiled half heartedly.
“Well, you were talking in your sleep and it seems like you really wanted to talk about him with someone so I thought…” She trailed off. Hermione froze.
“Him? What have I said, Lavender?” She asked eager now.
“Well,” She said nervously. “I mean you’ve only mentioned his name once or twice, but I mean –“
“Who?” Hermione interrupted sternly.
“Ron…” She said, sheepishly. Hermione breathed.
“Oh. Him, then.”
“Yes. Who else would it be?” She asked, curious. Hermione unfolded her legs and slid back under her covers.
“You should go back to your bed, Lavender. I’m very tired.” She said, closing her eyes. Lavender frowned but made no protest. She slipped through the bed curtain and shuffled away into the dark. Almost asleep, Hermione heard the door creek open slowly and she opened her eyes. There was light for a moment but the door shut again and she heard the girl she had dismissed earlier return. She climbed back into her bed and began snoring promptly. Hermione pulled the blankets tighter to her chin, ready herself, for sleep.

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