Count Your Blessings

Draco had changed. Every ounce of him was a different man. He had spent his entire summer under the watchful eye of his crazy Aunt Bellatrix. He hated her and her stupid cackling, obvious obsession with the Dark Lord, and her perchance to blow wind whenever no one was looking. He hated his summer but he appreciated it. He was no longer the sniveling child who relied on others. He could properly defend himself and knew hundreds of dark magic under his belt. What had happened to him was even a mystery to him.

He found himself staring at Granger, watching every move she made. She was one of the threats that most Death Eaters talked about. Many, old lecherous men, often spoke about how’d they’d be the one to break the girl. Draco knew that no matter how much any of them could try, Hermione Granger would never be broken. She was a fascination of his for weeks. Hearing about how she had become the youngest witch to receive Auror training by the ‘great’ Mad-Eye Moody. Blood Prophet wanted to send out pleasant stories to keep the population calm. A war was brewing and the first person to die would be Hermione Granger.

Pansy had always been a thorn in his side, and for once he was glad they didn’t have to share every outing together. She was positively the most hideous young girl at Hogwarts, and that was saying a lot. Her smashed face and stringy black hair was enough to turn any man’s stomach. Yet, she had one of the more pureblood families in the entire House, next to him of course. Their family didn’t just purge their family tree of squibs or muggle borns, they purged them as well. It was a well known fact but the Ministry was always slow with processing murders with it came to them. Far too much to deal with.

He had found himself doing his rounds with another Slytherin girl whose name escaped him. They crossed paths with Weasel and Granger, both seeming to have some haughty discussion. She was upset, clearly. Draco smirked and approached the duo, his ‘partner’ standing behind him.

“What’s this? Arguing about how many children you’re going to pop out? Is twenty not enough, Weasel?” His voice had changed. It sounded rougher, edgy even. He noticed that when he spoke, a few girls seemed to blush. It was odd but he didn’t mind.

“Stuff it, Malfoy.” Weasel snapped, standing protectively in front of Hermione. As if he could protect her if Draco really wanted to hurt her.

“For your information, Malfoy,” Hermione’s strong tone caught Weasel off guard, stupid prat.

She pushed in front of him and stared down Draco, “We were arguing about the point deduction because of the little incident your girlfriend caused on the Hogwarts Express.”

Why was she explaining? He didn’t want an explanation but then again maybe that was why. She knew he didn’t care and yet she still told him, to get under his skin. It worked every time but it didn’t work now.

“Pansy is not my girlfriend. And if I’m mistaken, you were the one who hexed her first.” He stepped forward and towered over Hermione. His cobalt eyes stared into her chocolate brown orbs, “Mudbloods have no business using magic. Maybe that’s why you’ve been deducted points.”

She looked offended but took no action. However, the Weasel did. He pulled his wand out and shouted at Draco, “Eat pig’s feet and die, Malfoy!”
He flicked his wand but Draco was faster. Pulling his own wand out, he cast a shielding charm and then shot a dirty little hex that would make Weasel’s eyebrows droop to his knees. Ron stumbled back and covered his face, shouting obscenities.

“First rule of hexing, Weasel. Don’t call out what you’re going to do,” he watched as Hermione spun around and grabbed onto Weasley’s hands, trying to pry them away from his face.

“Ronald, you need to move your hands before…” He let out a wail and hair spurted out from his fingers, growing over his face.

“That was a dirty trick, Malfoy.” Hermione growled at him, pulling her own wand. Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“What, you going to hex me too? Since when do you act before you think? If you took the time to use that mudblood brain of yours you’d know that what I did was an act of self-defense. Dumbledore will only see the truth in that.”

She glared at him, her eyes filled with venom. He could only smirk as she rushed back to Weasley and tried to help him to the hospital wing. He stumbled over the hair and nearly ate marble but Hermione was quick and helped keep him stable. They disappeared around the corner.

“Wow. That was so…” The other prefect smiled at him, “Bloody brilliant.”

Her face changed to a slight shade of pink. Draco shrugged and brushed past her. They finished their rounds in silence, although he thought he heard Weasley howl but then again the castle made weird noises at night.


At breakfast, Draco had received a letter from his father informing him about certain plans to remove Dumbledore from Headmaster’s chair. It was a long winding battle but it had to be done. He was just glad he wasn’t put in charge. He merely had to follow orders and get out of the way.

His mind, preoccupied with the future, was brought back to reality when Weasel announced that Granger had a secret admirer. He looked up quickly and stared at the red head. His eyebrows had receded but looked a little bushier than usual. Granger didn’t look too pleased with the announcement and went so far as to break her hand over Weasel’s head. Poetic justice.

He clenched his fists at the thought of Granger receiving special treatment from other students of the male persuasion. She wasn’t all that spectacular to begin with. Then again, it might have been Draco’s immense feelings of conflict and attraction for the mudblood that diluted his mind. He needed to stay away from Aunt Bellatrix she was turning his brain to mush with all of the mudblood talk.

Draco finished his breakfast and gathered his packages. “Going to class Draco?” Pansy’s annoying voice filled his ears.

He looked down to her, “Yeah.” And without another word left.

Potions with Snape wasn’t all that bad. Of course, he favored Draco over everyone else. But for the first time in years, he had finally beat Hermione at brewing a complicated spell. He attributed it to his brilliant mind but he also knew she was distracted because Weasel kept inquiring about that damn box.

He was like a dog in heat and Hermione didn’t feel too pleased with how things were turning out for her. Serves her right. After years of being a know-it-all she was defeated by Draco. It was a perfect day. Draco and his gang sauntered out of the dungeons, expecting to go out and enjoy the fine weather. He stopped when he heard more bickering and pushed Goyle and Crabbe in front of him.

“Ron! It’s nothing! I don’t know who it’s from. If you want to eat them then be my guest!” Hermione was agitated, standing by the dungeons with the box in her hand.

“I don’t want your bloody chocolate, ‘Mione.” Ron snapped back at her, pushing the box.”I want to know who gave it to you. It’s not Krum is it?”

“I don’t know who it’s from! Urgh! Why don’t you pay attention for once?” She threw her hand up into the air and stormed past him. Weasel wouldn’t let up.

“Hermione! I’m sorry. I’m just…I…” He was trying to apologize but the damage had been done. “I didn’t expect..I didn’t think that you’d…”

“What? That no one would ever send me chocolates?”

“No! It’s not that! I mean of course people would. You’re brilliant…”

Apparently having several brothers hadn’t helped Weasel when it came to getting a girl. He was possessive, jealous and expected things that ought not to be expected.

“Forget it. I’m going to the library. See you at dinner,” Hermione stuffed the box into her bag and stormed off.

Draco grinned as he passed Weasley. “Nice eyebrows, Weasel. Did you use the extra hair for a sweater?”

“Sodd off, Malfoy!”

He laughed, alongside Crabbe and Goyle, and disappeared outside. It was an interesting day and yet he still wondered who had given Granger candy. He forgot about it sooner or later and went about tormenting first years.