Chapter Text
“Roses are a bit pedestrian, don’t you think Granger?” he asked, walking into her classroom.
She smirked, “So it worked then?”
“If by ‘it’ you mean making all of my sixth year Hufflepuffs swoon at the fact that I have a ‘secret’ admirer, then go into a frenzy about who it could be, while my Ravenclaws all desperately tried to figure out how the magic worked, then yes, ‘it’ worked. I’ve officially lost control of that class for at least a week.”
Draco knew that she was asking about the new charm she had invented. She had been able to get his grading ink pot to swirl into roses when he said her name, impressive magic. But he wouldn’t let her win that easily.
“I more so meant that my gift worked. I’m impressed you lasted two weeks before saying ‘Professor Granger’ in your classroom.”
He smiled, their banter hadn’t let up over the holidays despite not seeing each other much at all.
“Why would I need to talk about Transfiguration, let alone the professor of the subject, in Defense Against the Dark Arts?” Oh how he had missed riling her up.
“You know perfectly well that there are many uses for transfiguration-”
Draco couldn’t help but laugh. She had transitioned into full encyclopedia mode due to lack of acknowledgement of how clever she was.
“Your spell work was very clever. I normally don’t use any of my colleagues' names in class. But I happened to because one of our brilliant Ravenclaws asked a question based on one of your assignments.”
“Stephens is basically a genius, but she needs to settle down a little.”
He laughed, “Reminds me quite a lot of this witch I went to school with…”
Hermione’s face lit up and she laughed as well. “I have it on good authority that the witch in question is much more relaxed now.”
“Yes, but that witch is also a swot, and like every good pureblood knows the meanings behind flowers. Are you proposing a shift in our…relationship, Granger? More romance, perhaps?”
Draco was nervous. Although he loved their casual agreement that allowed him to pull her into alcoves and bend her over his desk, he was starting to catch feelings. They had taken hold, much like a doxy infection.
“I was sort of hoping you wouldn’t notice because you were so impressed with my magic,” she said studying her shoes.
“Although I was very impressed, I was more excited about getting to officially take you on a date. I’m going to romance the pants off you Granger.”
She blushed, “I think it’s a little late for that.”
“Maybe, but now we can wine and dine, and have tea with Mother, and go on holiday together. The possibilities are endless.”
Draco circled his hand with a flourish, conjuring one perfect red rose to hand her across the desk.
She grinned mischievously, taking the rose from him and asked, “So where should I put my pants?”