Chapter Four: Ash House
In a dark AU, High Warden Draco Malfoy is trapped in an Order safehouse, and Hermione Granger is the one stuck guarding him.
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âIâve been meaning to ask you,â he continued, conversationally, âwhen I found you, you were carrying a book. It seemed as though you went to great lengths to obtain it. What was it?â
Hermione couldnât believe his arrogance. And she couldnât help it as a smart response came to her lips.
âHogwarts, a History.â She smiled sarcastically. âI can bring it to you if you like.â She floated out last nightâs tray. Malfoy tracked it as it passed.
His eyes glimmered like instead of mocking him sheâd done something delightful.
âIâve already read that one, actually.â
Hermione doubted that very much.
âOh, really? What was your favoriteââ
âChapter Sixteen, The Depths and Dangers of the Black Lake.â he said, flatly.
Hermione watched him. His face turned smug. So he had actually read it. It made her wonder if Malfoy⌠enjoyed reading. No, that couldnât be right.
âI read it before I turned eleven. I wanted to know everything I could about Hogwarts before I attended. And of course, a dark tale of a couple foolhardy Slytherins getting dragged into the abyss was enough to catch a young boyâs attention.â
âI hated that part,â Hermione said, an absent smile forming on her lips. It had detailed how three first-years went missing in the underwater caverns, their wands found washed up on the shoreline weeks later. She remembered worrying about standing too close to the edge of the wooden boats when they first crossed.
âWhatâs your favorite part?â he asked, a slight challenge in his deep voice. âThat is, assuming youâve read it.â
She rolled her eyes at his obvious attempt to provoke her. However, she did have a weakness for the book.
âOh, I couldnât pick a favorite part. The whole book is a treasure. Well, except maybe the bit about the drowned first years.â She glanced at him warily.
âOh, come on, a centuries-old lake monster isn't even a little exciting?â he teased with a playful little grin. It was annoyingly contagious.
Hermione felt a slight blush forming as he looked at her under his lashes.
Oh, god. She felt suddenly nauseous. This was how bad her loneliness had gotten. She was mistaking the escape attempts of her captive as genuine flirting. Her smile dropped. Malfoy noticed.
She cleared her throat. This would not happen again. â
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