Winning over house-elves was never going to show results overnight.
By comparison, what Draco cared about more right now was the suggestion Hermione had made earlier, about recruiting fresh blood from the other houses.
Naturally, Draco could see the advantages of that as well.
It was worth mentioning that, just a second ago, Dobby had disappeared from in front of Draco and Hermione. Maybe he had sensed the ambiguous atmosphere between them and tactfully taken his leave.
In any case.
Only after Dobby left did Draco lower his gaze back to Hermione in his arms...
"You want to start with someone you know?"
"Luna Lovegood? Or your good friend Ginny Weasley? Don't tell me it's that former Head Girl who's still at Hogwarts."
Hermione did not answer at once. She rolled her eyes at him in annoyance. "'Start with' sounds awful. It's called inviting them. Inviting them!"
She paused.
"The people you mentioned are all good choices. With their abilities, I'm sure they could help us a great deal."
"That's assuming they're willing to join us. I don't think you'll be able to persuade them that easily. And leaving the others aside, your friend really hates me."
"...That may not be true." Hermione muttered it under her breath for some reason.
"Did you say something just now?"
"If you didn't hear it, forget it!"
Draco looked baffled by Hermione's sudden flare of temper.
He genuinely had no idea what he had said wrong.
But while Draco looked blankly confused, the one whose expression turned strange was actually Hermione in his arms.
A second later, he understood why...
Hermione pressed down on the hand that had been getting increasingly improper, then tilted her head up and shot Draco a coquettish glare. "As far as I'm concerned, our organization has a very promising future, as long as you remain our Boss."
"Oh?"
"So as long as there are smart students in the other houses, and with the reputation you've built lately, I think the chances of persuading them to join us are actually pretty high."
Hermione had been showing more and more signs of thinking with her heart, especially whenever it involved Draco. She always ended up mixing too many personal feelings into anything related to him. But in this matter, what she said was indeed true.
After all, Draco's potential was obvious to anyone.
Seeing Hermione's little face practically glowing, Draco, who occasionally had a mean streak, could not help undercutting her a little...
"Your trust makes me very happy, but you seem to have forgotten one thing."
"What?"
"You seem to have forgotten that our fight with the Dark Lord still hasn't been decided. Until the war is over, these people won't place their bets so easily."
"....."
"More importantly, compared to me, Dumbledore is still their first choice, not the arrogant Malfoy family in their eyes. Isn't that right?"
As he spoke, Draco reached out, pinched Hermione's small pointed chin, and lifted it.
When Draco turned serious, he was devastatingly attractive.
Especially those aggressive gray eyes, and the warmth of his breath that seemed almost capable of setting her on fire. Hermione's head was spinning by now.
The moment made Hermione think of a certain familiar scene again.
Here we go again!?
Her reason was screaming at her to shove him away at once.
But for some reason, the instant she met those deep eyes, all the strength in her hands vanished, and the thought of resisting him disappeared with it.
What made Hermione even more furious was that she had actually closed her eyes in embarrassment, even putting on a posture of complete surrender…
Pale blond hair.
A handsome face and bright gray eyes.
Anyone could see that Draco had inherited all the best traits of the Malfoy family.
Especially that elegance that only a great family could cultivate, combined with Draco's own mature bearing. It made him the most dazzling person wherever he went.
Looks, temperament, background, strength.
Draco's existence was almost like that of a protagonist chosen by fate.
And with all of that on top of the already overwhelming affection she felt for him, Hermione having no power to resist when she was this close to Draco seemed almost inevitable...
Just as Hermione could not bring herself to push Draco away.
Draco also found it hard to ignore the Hermione in his arms, especially the soft feminine charm she was unintentionally giving off, which gradually made his breathing heavier.
In fact, the unfocused haze in Hermione's eyes, along with her faint little pants and that heart-catching sway as she breathed...
Hermione was so adorable, and so tempting to bully, that Draco, who had originally only meant to tease her a little, was starting to lose control of his own heartbeat.
Come to think of it.
From the beginning, Draco had never intended to do anything improper to Hermione.
And yet the way things had developed, along with Hermione's reaction, had both gone completely beyond his expectations.
Who could have guessed it would turn out like this...
"I mean... Hermione."
"Mm?"
That soft, sweet little sound from her throat made Draco's eyes redden slightly even though he had been trying to calm himself down.
Without any of the usual pride, with only softness and sweetness left, Hermione was someone no one could easily resist.
And while his heart stirred despite himself, Draco could not help grumbling inwardly.
Here we go again?
Lately, Draco had started to realize that he seemed less and less able to withstand this kind of temptation.
It had been the same last time.
Was it because he was already seventeen?
Just as he stared at those slightly trembling beautiful lashes and those faintly pursed lips, and was about to lose control and kiss her in the next second, a terrifying voice like a devil's suddenly rang out beside them.
"Ah!"
"Hehehe... care to explain what exactly you two are doing right now?"
Draco: ...
Hermione: ...
The person bold enough to interrupt Draco and Hermione was definitely not Goyle and Crabbe, who were currently huddled in the corner of the room with their backs turned to Draco, not daring to look over at all.
It was Miss Parkinson, whose whole body seemed to be giving off a faint black aura.
As for that.
Draco and Hermione, who had just been completely wrapped up in their own world, had not noticed Pansy approaching at all.
And that also explained why someone had only stepped in to stop them now.
Because Pansy had not been here until just a moment ago...