Work Text:
Something was wrong, very wrong with Draco Malfoy.
Ever since he was assigned to work under Hermione Granger, he caught himself behaving oddly. He even found himself trailing after her like a lost puppy. Worse, his heart pounded as she critiqued his work. He couldn’t help it as he found himself focusing on her rather than her words. Her hair had puffed up with the steam from brewing cauldrons, eyes brighter than diamonds as they cut into him. She ended up having to repeat herself which made her look like an angry kitten. Therefore, there was only one conclusion. Something was wrong. It was the only explanation. Perhaps, he should go to St. Mungo’s.
“Malfoy? Did you hear anything I said?” Hermione asked. She stepped closer to him, and put her hand on his forehead. “Go take a break, Malfoy, before you explode my lab. We can talk later when you’re feeling better.”
He shook his head, “I’ll be fine. I’ll just finish this potion and take a quick break.”
He saw her shake her head at him before drifting back to her office. Sighing, he finished stirring the potion, admiring the pearlescent sheen. It was a simply potion, so simple that sixth years brewed it, but it reminded him of when he first discovered the joys of potions. He liked the precision needed to properly brew a potion, but his main love was creating new potions and augmenting old ones.
The scent of new parchment, cinnamon, and cloves reached his nose. Something was definitely wrong, he thought. He was smelling Hermione Granger in his amorentia. He savored the scent as he bottled the potions before stepping outside for a breather. The cold air helped clear his head, reinvigorating him. He tucked the amorentia thought into the back of his head to process it later.
“Is everything alright, Malfoy?” Hermione asked upon him walking back into the lab, “you seem distracted today. You normally work on multiple batches of amorentia like a swot.”
“If anyone’s the swot, it’s you, Granger. How often do I find you asleep in your office with a report open on your desk?”
She laughed, and it was a siren’s song. It was as addicting as it was beautiful. “I suppose it takes one to know one since you’re here late enough to find me asleep.”
“I’ll be less of a swot if you do,” he said, extending his hand which she took as she agreed to the deal. Tingles lingered in his hands after she let go, and he flexed his hand at his side. “We should start by heading home early. Only swots stay until it’s dark.”
Hermione rolled her eyes, but gathered her bag nonetheless. Eyes widening, he followed suit. They walked through the hallway silently side-by-side. Peering down at her, he caught her looking at him, but chose not to say anything. When they parted, she gave him one last look before parting ways. Once he was home, he sent an owl to Blaise and Theo.
Only an hour after the owls left, his floo roared to life with emerald flames as Blaise walked through, followed by Theo a few minutes later. After the usual greetings and pouring of drinks, they all settled into the plush seats of his sitting room. A few minutes later, Blaise stared at him expectantly before rolling his eyes at a lack of response.
“So, why did you call us over in such a hurry?” Blaise asked.
Draco sighed, “I think I’m falling in love with Granger.”
Theo burst out in laughter as Blaise shook his head. “Took you long enough, mate!” Theo said through his laughter. “What made you realize you were falling in love?”
Draco took a swig of his firewhiskey before answering. As he answered, he thought back to his encounters. His behavior really was embarrassing. She could say jump, and he’d ask how high, or she’d tell him to follow and he’d be right behind her like a shadow. He was sure he would give her his entire vault if it would make her happy, but infuriatingly, she didn’t even care how many galleons he had.
He shrugged, “I’m fairly certain I’d jump in front of an avada for her.” Heat filled his cheeks as avoided his friends’ eyes. He adjusted his position to lounge lazily with his legs thrown over the side of his chair; it was a behavior his mother would have admonished him for. “I do whatever she asks of me, and I like it. I follow her all over her bloody lab. I even like when she critiques my work!”
Blaise reached over to clap him on the shoulder. “Sounds like you got it bad, Draco, but I’m glad you finally realized your feelings. It’s been so obvious you’ve been pining over her. It’s worse than our school days; you keep going on about her. It’s always ‘Granger this’ and ‘Granger that’ every time we met up!”
Draco groaned and rubbed his hand over his face. Now that he recognized his feelings what was he to do? He couldn’t possibly ask her out. It wouldn’t be very proper for her to date a coworker. Besides, he wanted to court her properly, but she would she know the significance of his gestures? Downing his drink and straightening in his seat, he settled on a decision. Blaise and Theo grinned at this change.
The next day, he walked into the lab carrying a bouquet of red currants, green ferns, and red tulips. It was a simple bouquet but it was enough to get his feelings across, and hopefully she had some idea of flower language. Surely Weasley would’ve taught her back when the two had dated. Draco hesitated as he raised a hand to knock on her office door. The scent of her cinnamon and clove tea slipped out from behind the door. No wonder he had smelled it in his amorentia.
He took a deep breath, willing his racing heart to slow lest he somehow mess this up. His eyes closed as he focused on his breathing until his heart was close enough to a normal rhythm. He mentally chastised himself. Where was his Malfoy charm? He shouldn’t be this nervous. Before he could talk himself out of his plan, he knocked and walked in upon hearing her greeting. She was hard at work already, pouring over some report or journal article. Usually he would start talking, but he wanted her to look at him, needed her to look at him.
“Granger.” He hoped his voice didn’t sound as pleading as he thought it did.
“Sorry, Malfoy. What do you need—oh! What a beautiful bouquet!”
“I–it’s for you,” he said, offering it to her.
Hermione stood up to take the bouquet from him and lowered her nose to the flowers. He could see a faint dusting of pink across her cheeks with a hint of a smile. His choice of red currents was truly accurate. If he could keep a smile on her face he would, and a frown would surely kill him. He knew it now. He would do whatever he needed to do to stop a frown from appearing on her face. He knew that he would do whatever she asked of him.
“Hopeless love, declaration of love, and...my frown will kill you. Did I get that right?” she asked softly, looking back at him. Her warm, brown eyes drew him in, making him feel like he could drown in them if given the chance. When he nodded, she continued, “so is there something you’d like to ask me?”
His brain froze. “Ask you?” he managed to say.
Sighing, she turned around to transfigure her empty tea cup into a vase and placed the flowers in it. She crossed her arms as she stared him. He stared back, unsure of what to say. His mouth opened and closed a couple times but no words came out. Was he supposed to ask something? To be frank, he didn’t plan further than giving her the flowers and her probably returning them or setting them on fire.
“Really, Malfoy? Aren’t you supposed to be charismatic? You went to the effort of giving me this beautiful bouquet, and now you’re silent? Merlin, Malfoy. Do I really make you lose all your ability to charm a witch?”
“...Yes.”
She laughed as she stepped closer to him. The scent of her cinnamon and clove tea grew stronger, and she placed her hands on his shoulders. The heat of her skin sinking into him through his shirt. He stepped closer, and he watched as her eyes brightened. Still, he couldn’t find the words that he wanted to say. If he didn’t breathe life into the question, he wouldn’t have to face rejection.
She smiled up at him, “well in that case, would you like to get dinner tonight? We can be less swotty and leave when everyone else does.” She laughed at his overly eager response. “You know, it took you long enough. I thought it was pretty obvious that I fancy you and that you feel the same. Why else would I nitpick your reports so much and order you around so much?”
“I didn’t know, and I liked all that. How about we get lunch in a couple hours? Since I apparently missed so many signs, I’d rather not wait. I have a lot of time to make up for.”
“It’s a date,” she said. With a grin, she opened her hand and a red tulip flew into it. “I hope this makes you feel better.” She tucked it into the pocket of his shirt.
“It does, and for now I’ll leave you with this. After all, it wouldn’t be becoming of a Malfoy to not properly woo his witch.” Taking a step back, he brought her hand up his lips and placed a lingering kiss on her knuckles.
“Am I your witch?”
He smiled, “you will be, just as I’ll be your wizard.”