Holed Up In The Library

Draco glanced upwards. It was her again. Why couldn't she just leave him be? She had to strut past him, her arms filled with books, every time he thought he had finally found a peaceful place to sit and read. Normal people weren't meant to spend weekends in the library! However, she wasn't normal was she? He, at least, wasn't driven there by the need to study but the need to escape Pansy, the insufferable leech intent on getting his attention.

There she went again, brown curls bouncing around her shoulders, cradling numerous potion books in the crook of her left arm. He would bet his new broomstick that they were the books that he needed himself. How very like her to get there first.

"Granger, would you mind leaving at least one useful potions book behind before you empty the entire library? You aren't the only one taking the class, however much that displeases you." Startled, she let the mounding pile of books in her clutches crash to the floor. No doubt she had thought that she was alone among the stacks and shelves at this late hour.

"I'll just take that thick volume on the top there". Smirking, he flicked his wand sending the large text towards his table, pulling it out of her grasp.

"That was mine, Malfoy. Hand it back."

"You really need to learn to share, Granger. Besides library books don't belong to you personally, no matter how much you borrow them. It's rather embarrassing how much time you spend in here really. No social life?" After a pause, he added "I didn't think so", smirking all the while. Hermione had flushed scarlet. "Run along now Granger. Potty will be waiting." Hermione almost ran from the room, muttering dark incoherent statements.

There was no doubt in his mind that her rambling was about him. Of course it was. He revelled in it. Since the start of term, he knew just what to say to push her. Sharing the Head's dormitory had been a set back at first but he had learnt to enjoy it by using every moment to upset her perfect little world. The Dark Lord was finished and she still acted like she was preparing for the next mission for that stupid Order. She needed to get a grip on reality. She had to stop burying her head in books and actually live a little.

Realising how hypocritical he was being at that moment, he began to angrily stuff the quills, parchment and texts that littered the wooden desk in front of him into his schoolbag. Since Pansy had become a parasite he had shunned company in favour of solitude in case his presence in public attracted her. It was easier to hide as an individual than as a group. This was how he had found himself taking cover in a dark corner of the library each evening after dinner. His grades had improved significantly; he was now tying with Granger in a few classes, he though smugly. His father would be proud when he heard that unexpected piece of news. It was about time she learned to be second best at something other than Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Reaching the doors, he decided he would return to his room, putting off a visit to the Slytherin common room for yet another night. His social standing would begin to suffer if he avoided his peers much longer but the nightmarish thought of Pansy Parkinson trying to drape her arms around him once more quickly rid him of any indecision. He smoothed his hair and set off in the direction of the Head's common room. He would choose his own wife. To hell with what the Parkinson family had been told prior to the War. He was a free man now and intended to remain so.