Temptation Pour Deux 02

Temptation Pour Deux

by Annie Adrienne

Chapter 2
A Hint of What's to Come

“Hermione, how much Grog root were we supposed to put in again?” a very confused Ron Weasley asked his

friend, holding the severed plants up and squinting at them. She glared, snatching them from him and chopping off a

good-sized bit, dropping it in to his cauldron without a word. He stared at her, dead shocked for moment, before

coughing nervously.

“Mione… are you all right?”

“Fine.” She muttered, shooting a glare in Malfoy’s direction. He seemed not to notice, busy snickering at Lavender’s

smoking cauldron with Pansy Parkinson.

“Has that snot-nosed little Slytherin been bothering you?” he asked, following her line of sight. “I’d love a good excuse

to hex him again, been a while…”

“Oh Ron, would you give it a rest?” she exclaimed, a bit too loudly. She flushed bright red as the rest of the class

turned to stare at them, before going back to their own cauldrons. Snape narrowed his eyes in their direction, but was

a bit busy helping Lavender and Pavrati’s keep their jellylegs antidote under control.

“Give what a rest?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.

“Your daily pissing match with Draco. It’s getting old.” She replied.

“Oh, he’s Draco now, is he?” he shot back, his eyes growing cold. Hermione knew him too well, though- she could

detect the hint of pain in them, as well. “Whose side are you on, exactly?”

“I’m sorry, Ron, and you know that’s a ridiculous question. It’s just childish, juvenile- you’re older than that.” She

said with a sigh, taking and measuring out some black powder for his cauldron by way of an apology. “I’ve just been

having a strange week, all right?”

“It’s fine.” He said, his eyes growing weary now. “With Voldemort gaining power, it hasn’t been much fun for any of

us. You can tell the teachers don’t have their hearts in it anymore, and Harry-” he stopped short, glancing back at the

Slytherins, who had stopped talking, presumably to listen in on their conversation.

“Tell me later.” She whispered, glaring at Malfoy. He smirked at her when Ron had turned back to his now bubbling

cauldron, mouthing the words ‘twelve o’clock’ with a particularly sadistic grin. Turning back around to hide the flush

that was creeping over her cheeks, she looked at the clock, realizing it was only five minutes to twelve.

She knew she’d be there, even if deep inside her mind she was trying to convince herself to go to lunch with Ron and

Harry and forget the whole matter. But Draco Malfoy was a mystery to her, especially with his recent behavior- and

she never could resist a challenge.