He watched, amused, as Granger ran about in a panic trying to find all her clothes so she could get back to the Great Hall in time for dinner, the dim light making her skin look ever paler than it actually was. He had obviously caught her at a weak moment; now she was berating herself out loud for what she had just allowed to happen.
He stretched himself smugly. Oh, but he was good.
"Have you seen my other sock?" Granger asked him.
"Not since I took it off," he answered, grinning at her discomfort.
"Malfoy, I need it."
"Why? If someone finds it I'm sure they'll send it back to you. It has got your name on, after all."
"And that's exactly why I need to find it!" she cried, searching under one of the benches for the tenth time. "What would someone think if they found it here?"
"Ashamed, Granger?" Draco asked, slowly standing up and starting to get dressed himself, though in a much more leisurely fashion.
Granger opened her mouth, then hesitated. She looked at him for the first time since she'd begun her frantic search. "Of course I'm ashamed," she said finally, quickly turning away again to search behind a pile of school broomsticks. "I can't believe I let myself be so stupid... and with you, of all people! Just because Harry and Ron... there was no reason!"
Draco sniggered, picking his robes off the floor. "Don't get your knickers in a twist."
Granger froze. Then she turned around and glared at him. "You know Malfoy, I really hate you."
Draco shrugged. "Feeling's mutual," he said, pulling on his robes.
"But..." Granger looked slightly confused, though it seemed the realization was starting to sink in. "But then... then why?" she asked, furiously blinking back a tear that had started to form in her left eye.
Draco grinned at her. "Why d'you think?"
Then, stepping into his shoes and stuffing his socks into his pockets, he slung his cloak over his shoulder and left, his smug smile resting on his face until well after he'd reached the Great Hall, where he joined the other Slytherins at their table.
Noticing his good mood, Pansy asked him why he looked so happy.
"Oh, no reason," he answered. He wasn't going to tell people, not yet. First he wanted to see Granger squirm under the glare of imaginary eyes.
Sure enough, when she entered the Hall a few minutes later the first thing she did was to glance at him furtively. He gave her a wide, friendly looking smile. She quickly averted her eyes and hurried over to join Potter and Weasley at the Gryffindor table.
Draco snickered.
He had the feeling this was going to be very amusing.