avisoppugno (avisoppugno) wrote,
@ 2011-08-03 23:29:00

They had run into each other exactly four times since their break-up, and neither Hermione nor Ron were getting any more comfortable with inevitable situation. This time was the fifth. Having been in the lift first, Ron fell back towards the corner of the lift and stood straight and stiff, eyes fixated on the cauldron-shaped stain on the floor; Hermione's chin was higher than usual, and she tried her best to look at ease, although she did not pull it off well. Another passenger on the lift, a small wizard who Hermione did not recognize, sniffed through his nose as though he may have a cold, but Hermione imagined he was sniffing out the story between Famous Potter's two best mates. Not a word was shared in the lift, and it felt entirely unnatural for both Gryffindors, but neither were willing to break the silence. Each was innocent, the other was guilty, and both would find a way to win Harry over to their side and become his One True Friend. Hermione was brighter than Ron, that was sure, and so she would triumph this battle.

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ferretking
2011-08-05 12:39 am UTC (link)

Wednesday was the day that Draco hated most of all. It meant pointless meetings that he would have to sit through with the other Heads of Departments with no promise of a break or even a snack. Wednesday was the day created by Hell itself, placed strategically in the middle of the week, with two miserable days to follow until the weekend. Draco wasn't even a Head - he was an assistant. Although, that also meant that he was next in line, so soon enough, these meetings might actually mean something to him. However, now was too soon, so for now, it was best to just drift off during meetings.

On this particular Wednesday, Draco felt particularly shackled in his meeting. He yearned to go outside, to sit in the sun instead of this artificial rain in the window. When the meeting was finally, finally over, he took off quickly, going to the lift to finish the rest of his duties so that he could quit for the rest of the day. As he waited for the lift to come, Draco drummed his fingers against his pockets impatiently. When it finally showed, the first thing he noticed was exactly who was on the lift. Ron Weasley meant nothing to him - he didn't even deserve a mere glimpse - but Hermione Granger saved him from a permanent suite in Azkaban. He didn't have to like her, but he most certainly owed it to her to be cordial.

Looking between the two, Draco knew that it was awkward between Weasley and Granger. Smirking, he realized that distracting Granger from that awful redhead may have been a good thing at the moment. "Granger," he greeted pleasantly, stepping onto the lift, between the two of them.

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avisoppugno
2011-08-05 12:45 am UTC (link)

Unlike her years at Hogwarts, Hermione no longer cared about the comings or goings of Malfoy. As they both worked at the Ministry, she couldn't help it if she ran into him and she had matured enough to not let his presence effect her daily life: in fact, his cordial attitude was a nice reminder that they were in a new life post-war.

"Mister Malfoy," she nodded towards him, and at the next stop, Ron pushed past her to exit with a humph and a dirty glare towards the former Slytherin. Embarrassed by her old friend (and ex-boyfriend)'s performance, Hermione shifted awkwardly in the lift and sighed.

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ferretking
2011-08-05 12:48 am UTC (link)

Raising an eyebrow at Weasley's grand exit, he murmured, "Smooth." After all, old habits never died. He couldn't not say anything terrible about a Weasley. However, the comment was much tamer than his comments at Hogwarts, so that was something to be commended for. "And how are you on this fine day?" he asked her politely, looking up at the floor levels listed on the wall of the lift.

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	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 12:50 am UTC (link)
	Hermione reached up and scratched the top of her head then dragged her fingers down through her thick hair. "Well enough," she answered him, although she did not move to look at him. "Yourself?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferretking 2011-08-05 12:52 am UTC (link)
	"Just wonderful," he answered pleasantly, which was true. Now that he was out of his meeting, life wasn't terrible. Besides, with Granger next to him, he always felt a little jolt of hilarity. She was just so hostile, all the time, and he couldn't help but find it a bit endearing. "And how is your ex-boyfriend?" Draco asked, his lips quirking the slightest bit. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 12:54 am UTC (link)
	It was just so unnecessary! Ignore him, she told herself, as she did so many times at Hogwarts, and staying icy, Hermione continued to look forward and not answer. Why'd he have to go and ruin a perfectly innocent conversation with that? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferretking 2011-08-05 12:56 am UTC (link)
	He looked at her finally, raising his eyebrows expectantly. "You know, often when someone asks a question, the other person answers. And if they do not, it is considered rude." Draco couldn't help the smirk from spreading across his face. Not this time. It was just too good. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 01:05 am UTC (link)
	"It is only rude," Hermione replied with a tone that sounded much like McGonagall during a serious lecture, "if the question itself was not lined with traces of hurtful sarcasm. I refuse to entertain your idea of appropriate conversation." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferretking 2011-08-05 01:08 am UTC (link)
	"What if it was a genuine question?" he asked innocently, though the smirk on his face suggested otherwise. "Hermione, I am only looking out for your interests. I just wanted to know how he was and why he so vehemently went out of the lift like that." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 01:09 am UTC (link)
	Her laugh was more of a sarcastic release of air. "Thank you for what I'm sure is genuine concern." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferretking 2011-08-05 01:11 am UTC (link)
	"You're very welcome," he told her, as if he had just done her the greatest favor of them all. "When are you finished working?" Draco asked imposingly, simply assuming that she would be free afterwards. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 01:14 am UTC (link)
	"Whenever my work is finished," she answered back hotly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferretking 2011-08-05 01:15 am UTC (link)
	"And when will that be?" he asked, pressing her for details. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 01:17 am UTC (link)
	Hermione turned her head and looked at him. "It will be whenever it will be. Why, need me to save someone else from Azkaban?" She winced. That was unnecessary. "Sorry." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ferretking
2011-08-05 01:20 am UTC (link)

At her comment, Draco couldn't help it: he burst out into laughter, loving this awful side of her when it wasn't entirely at his expense. While she had acted hostile towards him before and it was unfavorable, somehow, this time it was laughable. Maybe he just couldn't take her ridiculous comments seriously anymore. "No, but I was hoping that you might be able to save me from meetings. I'm sure that you want to get out of a few, yourself."

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	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 01:24 am UTC (link)
	He was clearly drunk, that much was obvious. "I would never skip a meeting," she told him as she looked him up and down, wondering who this Malfoy was and why he was being almost nice. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferretking 2011-08-05 01:26 am UTC (link)
	"Of course you wouldn't. You're too good for that, aren't you?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. She was way too good for that. Hermione Granger would never skip a meeting, simply because she was afraid of breaking the rules. Just once, Draco wanted to see her break a rule - just to see if the earth would collapse. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 01:27 am UTC (link)
	"It's not about being too good," Hermione explained, "it's about doing good. The house-elves aren't going to free themselves." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferretking 2011-08-05 01:28 am UTC (link)
	Draco smirked again at her mention of house-elves. Oh, she was so predictable. "And how, might I ask, will that do any good at all? Enlighten me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 01:30 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, you're just useless!" She faced forward again in the lift and crossed her arms over her body. He was infuriating, in a different way than Ron, but it got her just as angry and riled. It annoyed her most that someone like Malfoy could get her emotions running. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferretking 2011-08-05 01:32 am UTC (link)
	"It's a valid question! Why won't you answer it?" he asked, crossing his arms in satisfaction. He liked to see her all riled up. He didn't quite know why, but seeing her all bothered by something he said to her made him feel successful. He'd managed to get under her skin, once again. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2011-08-05 09:03 pm UTC (link)
	"Because you don't actually care." Hermione tightened her crossed arms and started to tap her foot with impatience at the slow lift. Wasn't this thing magic?! (Reply to this)(Parent)

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