Letters
Author Note – This is my first Fanfiction, so please go easy on the criticism! Thank you and I hope you enjoy it :)
Disclaimer – I don't own Harry Potter (if I did, do you really think I'd put Ron with Hermione? I just don't get that pairing) – all rights go to J.K. Rowling.
The wind was cool on his alabaster skin, skimming over his prone form like the caress of a lover. Ironically, 'lover' was the one thing on Draco Malfoy's mind at that moment. Well, if by 'lover' you meant 'mate'.
"Drake, you've been out here for hours." A shadow fell over the lounging blonde, shielding the sunlight. "You can't still be thinking of her."
Draco didn't glance up – or down, rather – at his best friend from where he was studying the sky. A dozen clouds floated across it, looking as soft as silk...like Granger's skin.
The Malfoy heir groaned. "I can't stop thinking about her, Blaise. It's driving me crazy! All I can process is how her hair looks like a halo framing her angelic face; how her eyes are molten gold...it's killing me!"
Blaise Zabini studied his oldest friend. "You need to stop your moaning and do something about it, then. You only have a year, you know."
Draco sighed deeply and tore his eyes away from the damned cloud. "I know, Blaise. But even if I do try, she hates me! She'd never agree..."
"There are laws to act upon should she disagree." Blaise said reasonably. "Try to win her over and if that fails, you have something to fall back on. You have nothing to lose."
"No, just her love." Draco sat up miserably. "I can't take this. Women are supposed to be fawning over me! She should be! Why does my mate have to be the one person who won't?"
"The women who 'fawn over you' include Pansy, Drake." Blaise reminded him. "You really want someone like her?"
They both shuddered.
"You're right." Standing up, he gave his friend the trademark Malfoy smirk. "She'll be mine by the end of today if I turn up my charms. Thanks, Blaise."
"No problem." Blaise called to his friend's retreating back. He then looked up at the sky with his azure blue eyes. "Circe, why am I friends with him?"
"Hermione, Hermione!" The screeching voice made the bushy-haired girl cringe as the smaller girl barrelled her way down the crowded corridor.
Oh not Lavender again! Hermione thought to herself hopelessly. Why does she always want to talk about Ronald? It's sickening!
"Hermione!" Lavender grabbed Hermione's arm, swinging her around. "You'll never guess what happened earlier!"
"You're right; I can't." Hermione replied in carefully-hidden irritation. "What is it?"
"Won-Won proposed!" Lavender shrieked. The whole corridor turned abruptly to stare, and Hermione felt her cheeks blaze red.
Why did she have to announce that in front of everybody? She has no subtlety at all!
"That's brilliant, Lavender." Hermione faked a smile. "I'm so happy for you."
"I know!" Lavender linked arms with the unwilling bookworm and dragged her through the crowd of whispering students, towards the Gryffindor common room. "I can't believe it! I thought he was still in love with you at first, but I guess he's not, is he? He's moved on now. Speaking of which," she lowered her voice slightly, "have you?"
Hermione swallowed her anger, humiliation and pain. "Yes, of course."
It was a lie. Hermione was no sooner over the redhead than Grawp was a normal human being. It killed her to see him so enamoured with the giggly girl, but she guessed that that was what he liked.
After the War ended, many people started getting married and fulfilling their life dreams. Many people came back to Hogwarts for their Eighth Year, but even more dropped out – either because they couldn't stand to be back where so many bad memories had taken place, or because they wanted to make the most of their newfound freedom.
Harry was one of those drop-outs. He was a high-ranking Auror at the Ministry, capturing the escaped Death Eaters. His heroic tales were passed onto Hermione through his wife, Luna (that marriage surprised everyone), as she'd decided to stay behind and take her N.E.W.T.s.
Hermione was happy for the pair, but it just brought painful reality to her struggling love life. Or should she say 'non-existent' love life?
"...so then he knelt down on one knee and – Hermione, you're not listening!" Lavender jerked Hermione to a halt once again with an indignant expression.
The elder girl blinked before regaining her surroundings. They were outside the portrait for the Gryffindor common room. "I'm sorry, Lavender. I just spaced out there."
"You better have been thinking about hot guys." Lavender warned her.
Yes, I'm thinking about your future-husband. What do you think of that?
"I – uh-" Hermione sighed in resignation. "Yes. Of course I was."
As predicted, Lavender squealed and pestered her for answers until she finally feigned tiredness and ran up to her dormitory.
There, she just wallowed in misery about her NLOTC – No Love Or Tender Care.
Dear Hermione,
I have a problem that only you can fix. Do you like riddles? I suppose you do, because you're Hermione Granger, Smartest Girl of Her Age.
I admire that about you. I also admire your luscious locks, peachy skin –
"Damn this!" Draco threw the parchment against the wall where it joined the rapidly-growing pile of crumpled letters. "Why is it so damned hard?"
Blaise, lounging on the Malfoy's bed, smirked. "It's probably because you always used the One-Night-Only rule. Seduction is not your strong point."
"Says you," Draco snorted, reaching for another scroll of parchment. Blaise chuckled.
"They don't call me the Italian Stallion for nothing." He winked at the blonde, making the latter roll his eyes. Of course, Draco was also a heartthrob – but Blaise was right, he'd never had to try before.
"They didn't mean anything to me." Draco muttered to himself. "But she does. She means everything to me."
"Then say how you feel." Blaise said nonchalantly. "But not that sappy crap I have to write – Granger wouldn't fall for it anyway."
Draco laughed once under his breath. "You're right on that account, Zabini. I guess that's why I've kept you around all these years."
"Not to mention my gorgeous looks." The tanned young man struck a pose on the bed, causing Draco to grin and roll his eyes. "Admit it; you'd be lost without me."
"I'm still lost and you're right there." Draco pointed out. "Quit putting your make up on and help me."
"Make up?" Blaise was affronted. "I don't wear make up! My handsomeness is natural!"
Still, he made his way over to the blonde at the desk and pushed him out of the way, re-inking the quill in preparation to write.
Dear Hermione,
You are without doubt the most beautiful woman I have ever set eyes on. Your hair is a halo, framing your angelic face whilst your eyes glow like the purest amber. You mesmerise me, and I just cannot hold it in any longer.
Please accept this single rose as a token of my love for you – it doesn't hold a candle to my feelings, but it is a start, yes?
Love,
Your Secret Admirer
"What is that crap?" Draco shoved the Italian out of the way to read the elegant script.
"'That crap', as you so eloquently put it, is the way to capture Granger's heart." Blaise smirked and retook his place on the bed. "You're welcome."
"It's the sappiest thing I've ever read." Draco scanned it again, scowling. "And you just wrote what I said earlier!"
"I know," Blaise sighed deeply. "You just don't get it, Drake. Listen, just send the owl and let's go to dinner – I'm starving."
Reading over the letter once again, the blonde Slytherin sighed. "Alright, alright! Just this once, I'll trust your judgement. But if she hates it, I'm blaming you."
"You can't." Blaise responded with an impish grin. "After all, it is just what you said – with a little added extra."
A/N – So how did you like it? R&R and please tell me if I should carry on or drop the whole idea – I don't want to spend time on something no one enjoys.
Also, I don't really know what a beta does but lots of people seem to need them, so please can you tell me what one does? Thank you! :)