Mudblood Fever and Lingerie

Crass Comments and Comprehension

Hermione took her usual place in potions next to Harry and Ron, opening her book, and tuning out the babbling of the unstarted class.

“‘Poisonous Plants and Animals of South America’?” Ron’s voice interrupted her, barely a paragraph later. “Planning a trip soon, Hermione?” He sounded bewildered at her choice of text.

“No, but that doesn’t mean the book isn’t interesting.” She said, looking up at him with a pitying look. A movement at the front of the class caught her eye, an she glanced away from Ron’s puzzled face to see Malfoy smirking back at her. He’d heard, and knew that she was reading the book he’d suggested. She looked away, finding Ron’s face no more comforting, and tried to continue reading.

“I’ll never understand her.” Ron muttered to Harry, making Hermione’s heart twinge painfully. She’d thought for a while that maybe he had understood her, that he’d appreciated her for her mind. Lavender had proved her wrong.

She glared into the book, not seeing the words, and instead, fighting back sudden tears pricking at her eyes. She glanced toward the front of the class, daring to peek at the most recent subject of her dreams. She doubted he’d ever treat her better than Ron, but at least she’d expect it from him. His cruel statements never cut half as deep as Ron’s thoughtless comments. She caught his grey gaze, and thought of second year, when Ron had defended her after Malfoy called her a mudblood for the first time. At least Ron wasn’t bigoted, or feel she was lesser, and disgusting. Her dreams of him were realistic, even before their first time. Her dreams involving Malfoy were unhealthy, and beyond impossible.

The pale grey eyes that turned toward the now-speaking professor had never looked at her kindly. Malfoy would never be more than a sick fantasy.

She set herself to making her potion, ignoring both her friends, and her insane crush. She could ignore at least one of them forever.

“Forget your brush at home, Granger?” Draco teased as they left the dungeon after class. She hadn’t even looked at him all class, seeming in a foul mood.

“Shove off, Malfoy.” Potter defended her as she kept walking, ignoring his insult entirely.

“Just wondering if she actually brushes her hair. I bet Weasel’s fingers get tangled in it when he tries snogging her. Not that it would matter, since he probably doesn’t know what else to do with them.”

“Ron and I are not snogging each other.” She’d turned around at that. She sounded defensive, and looked angry.

“I know what to do with my hands!” Weasley shouted, clenching them into fists, and glaring at Draco menacingly.

“Yes, very good for you, Weasley,” Draco sneered sarcastically, thinking of how he could throw another jab at Granger. “But have you ever had a witch beg you not to stop? Or have they all just wanted something better?” He narrowed his eyes at Weasley, wondering if Granger would recognize his words. Weasley had lunged for him, wand outstretched, only for his two friends to grab him, and pull him away.

“He’s trying to provoke you,” Granger said, yanking at one arm, even though her eyes were locked on Draco’s. “Just ignore him.”

“Not here, Ron!” Potter was saying, knowing Slughorn could come out of his classroom at any moment.

“That’s not even the best insult I’ve got!” Malfoy called after the trio retreating up the stairs. “Don’t you want to see how much better it gets?” He let his words linger in the air a few moments, before turning to head to his own common room, wondering just when Granger would decide she’d had enough.

Harry and Hermione dragged Ron up the stairs, the task becoming easier as they reached the top, Ron settling into more of a grumbling mood than a fighting one. Hermione kept her eyes off Ron and Harry, not wanting them to see the horror on her face.

He somehow knew about her dream, and was taunting her with it. Her face burned with embarrassment as she wondered how long he’d known about it. Was there a spell to see other people’s dreams? She parted ways with Ron and Harry as the two headed for the common room. She needed to do some research.
 

A/N: This chapter is pretty short, so for a Valentine's Day special, I'll be uploading two chapters today. But not together. :P The next one will be up in less that twelve hours.

Pinster: Thank you so much for the review!! I definitely understand about the synopsis. I couldn't find a good way to sum up how this story goes without spoiling it. The tags also feel inadequate to me, but I'm not sure how to tag "Long as hell with lots of sexual tension" or "Basically a romance novel, with familiar characters, and lots of smut." Hahaha.