Chosen

Distant

The door banged open at the back of the green house and Hermione rolled her eyes as Draco Malfoy walked in, not caring he was 10 minutes late for herbology. She sneaked a look at him as he dumped his bag and moved to stand next to her. She had hoped to get a peek at his sculpted biceps but they were unusually covered by a long sleeved shirt that brushed over a bandage that concealed his forearm from view.

"What happened there?" She whispered, gesturing to his arm as Professor Sprout continued talking about some boring plant.

Draco looked at her with an eyebrow raised, "checking me out, Granger?"

"N-no. Of course not." She frowned, immediately looking away from him and tightening her grip on the books clutched to her chest.

"So what's with the sudden interest in my well-being?" Draco asked as he caught up with Hermione after class.

"I've never not been interested in your well-being, Malfoy." Hermione sighed as they walked into potions.

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow, "could've had me fooled."

She gave him a look as they dumped their books on a desk, being first to class, "just because I don't like you doesn't mean I wish you were dead."

He turned to her then, his arms crossed over his chest, the shirt pulling taught over his bulging muscles and Hermione struggled to keep her eyes trained on his face.

"Why do you hate me?" His eyes were serious, his sharp piercing eyes glaring straight through her, making her feel slightly uncomfortable. What was going on? This was Draco Malfoy. Why did he have such an effect on her?

"Do you really need to ask that?" She stumbled back as he moved forward, praying someone else to come in so she wouldn't do something she'd regret.

"Because I called you a mudblood?" She cringed as he said the word, bitter on his lips, "Hermione, I'm not like that anymore. I've changed." When his voice cracked she looked back up at him sharply.

"Prove it." She challenged, just as a group of students bustled in, Professor Slughorn quickly following. They settled into their seats and Hermione's breathing hitched as Ron walked in. She had forgotten he was in her class now. And that Draco had taken his seat beside her.

"Draco, that's where Ron sits." She prompted as Ron approached them.

"So?" She shot him a look, "hey, I'm not moving, I have a point to prove." He shuffled in his seat a grin stretching across his face.

Draco sat contently in Ron's chair, his arm occasionally brushing Hermione's as they scribbled down notes. She smelt of lavender as usual, and he thought of the last time he had been in that room. With the amortentia. The smell of lavender had overpowered his senses and as Hermione had explained its purpose, he understood completely. Hermione had spoken to him properly for the first time in years me if he had been the old him, he would've been a puddle of nerves. But since he got the mark, something had changed inside him. When he saw the picture of Hermione in the newspaper, something snapped. He felt detached, his feelings and emotions pushed under a hard shell that couldn't be broken. As he sat beside Hermione, he felt a fire burning beneath the surface of the shell, but it was nothing compared to how he used to feel. Everything seemed so far away, distant.

Okay I know this part was rlly short - sorry! I've just got a lot on right now with coursework due in and gcse mocks this week blah blah blah and struggling a bit with writers block for this part as I know what's gonna happen with Draco and the rest of the characters but it's just getting there that's the problem.

Anyways I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading!! Aghh so many reads and votes!! It's unreal!!! So yeah thank you so much I love you all!!
And please remember to vote and comment- I really appreciate it! Byezz xxxx