A/N: For the record, this WAS NOT what I expected to happen while I was typing this. Today, I have a TWO HOUR Study Hall, in which I hope to get up not only this, but a new chapter of NNN, Who's That Lady, AND Maybe even another random Potion induced Daydream. I don't know if this one is a daydream yet, though. I don't think so. Maybe it's just an AU? But… ANOTHER SONG FIC! :D! If Draco seems out of Character, just remember that they've been on this retreat for about a week before this happened.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Wizarding World, they belong to JKR, even though Draco tells me he belongs to NO ONE, and Voldemort thinks he owns everyone else. The songs belong to their appointed writers and/or singers including (in this order): Eminem and Rihanna, Incubus, Three Doors Down, Darren Criss, Darren Criss again, Three Days Grace, Three Days Grace again, and Jesse McCartney.
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
That's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
That's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie.
"Hermione…" His voice filled her eyes with tears. He angled himself quickly before sitting up and off of Lavender Brown.
"I… I was just wondering if you had a pen that I could borrow." She murmured. Hermione looked down at the dresser next to the door of the hotel room and grabbed a pen that was lying on top. "Thanks." She said, tone completely devoid of emotion. She turned away, and closed the door behind her. She stood in the hallway, tears threatening to fall out of her eyes. Ron and Lavender… she was devastated… but the worst thing was she'd seen it coming.
She composed herself and walked to the elevator at the end of the hallway, pressing the button. When Dumbledore had said that they'd be going on a spiritual retreat, Hermione had expected the worst, but having everyone in their year at the spirit oasis, in Egypt, wasn't as bad as she'd thought it would be. Until today, that is. Now she was shattered. Now she could barely breathe.
The Oasis was in the middle of the Egyptian Desert, an actual oasis, spruced up by management and magic, with a hot spring, a regular spring, a sauna, and a spa. It was the perfect getaway, but she couldn't get away from Ron and Lavender. Not now, at least if they'd been back at Hogwarts she could at least pretend he wasn't there. Not now.
When the Elevator door opened, Hermione rushed in, not really noticing who was in there until the doors slid shut.
"Howdy there, Granger." Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Sex God, was the sole other passenger of the elevator. He was wearing an open red plaid flannel over a white wife beater, slightly baggy jeans and skater type shoes. An acoustic guitar was slung over his back.
"Malfoy." She answered her voice monotone. "You play guitar?"
"Not professionally." He said with an easy smile as the elevator dinged at each floor. Gryffindors were on the sixth floor, Slytherins were on the seventh. "But I was asked to play at the bonfire. I have to practice, so I was looking for somewhere quiet and private."
"Why don't you practice in your room?" She asked. If the Spiritual Oasis had affected anyone, it was Draco Malfoy. He'd been almost nice to everyone there, even when Harry and… Ron… had made fun of him; he just smiled and laughed with them. He seemed…. Lighter somehow.
"Blaise and Pansy are in there, and I like to practice in silence and solitude…"
"Oh." Her eyes drifted to the ground as her mind returned to Ron's hotel room. Her mood; which she realized had lifted slightly at Malfoy's presence, sunk low once again.
"Are you alright?" Malfoy asked quietly, sounding concerned.
"I'm fine." She lied, flashing him a quick and sincere looking smile. When she looked at the ground again, she let the smile slid off her face.
"How would you like to help me find a place to practice?" Malfoy's voice was surprisingly gentle, and inviting. "I'll play you a song, if you find me a place."
Hermione didn't know what to say. She searched her mind for a reason not to, but only found that she didn't want to be alone. She could easily find a new person to hang out with, another sixth year, but with Harry off playing Quidditch and Ron… previously engaged… she really had no one else.
"I'll help you, Malfoy" She said. "But I get to pick the song."
"Alright Granger!" Malfoy laughed as the elevator dinged at the lobby. "But if we'll be working together, you call me Draco. It's my name, and I'm proud of it."
"Alright… Draco." Hermione said, testing the name on her tongue.
"Alright… Hermione." Draco smiled and led her into the lobby. It was empty, save for the flirty girl behind the desk, her head in a book. Draco held the door for her when they went outside.
For most of the day, they wandered around the resort, near the sauna, around the hot spring, and up the mini cliff and manmade waterfall. They sat on top of the waterfall, which was only about ten feet off the ground, and was empty, but not silent. The rushing water was pretty loud, and they abandoned that place. They wandered to the golf course, which was quiet, but not empty. Then they went around to the regular spring, which was full of other Hogwarts sixth years; that called to them and waved. Draco and Hermione waved but didn't come over. By sunset, they had wandered all over the resort, and had found nothing. Hermione hadn't seen it as a total loss though, because they had talked the entire time. She'd found that when she focused on Draco, on their task, she didn't think of Ron and Lavender.
"I think we've been sentenced to a wild goose chase." She told Draco, as they walked back into the hotel. "I don't think we can find any place empty and quiet."
"We haven't checked the hotel yet, not all the rooms. Maybe there's somewhere in here… We have a few hours before dinner…" He glanced at her as they stood in the center of the lobby, his eyes showing a rare vulnerability. "Unless you want to go back to your room and make me look alone, if you think it really is a wild goose chase."
Hermione laughed. "Hey, maybe wild geese are my thing. Let's go." They took the stairs instead of the elevator, since they had made a mutual agreement that elevators were only good if you were going up and down many floors. On the first floor level, they found the kitchen full of house elves, who pointed them down the hallway to the ballroom.
The ballroom was a big empty room with golden and cream striped wallpaper and chairs stacked on one side and tables stacked on the other. It was empty, and blissfully quiet.
"Looks like we've found our wild goose." Draco stated, walking to the middle of the floor and pulling the guitar off his back. He sat cross-legged on the floor, pulling the guitar onto his lap. "I owe you a song." He said, playing a few strings and chords randomly, and moving his fingers with practiced e
"Hmm… how many songs do you know? Do you know Muggle songs?"
"Of course I know Muggle songs." He said, softly, his complete focus on the guitar. Hermione sat in front of him, crossing her legs and watching. As he strummed, he started to sing softly.
Sometimes when I'm alone I wonder
Is this a spell that I am under
Keeping me from seeing the real thing?
Recognizing the song, Hermione sang with him.
Love hurts
But sometimes it's a good hurt
And it feels like I'm alive
Draco stopped strumming, watching her. "You have a wonderful voice." He murmured.
"I love Incubus." Hermione said, with a small smile.
"Let's see how much Muggle music you know." He said. He started to strum a different pattern of chords and notes. Recognizing the song, Hermione began to sing.
I took a walk around the world to ease my troubled mind
I left my body lying somewhere in the sands of time
I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon
I feel there's nothing I can do
Yeahh
Hermione stopped singing. Draco started the second verse, smiling at her before looking back at the guitar. He began singing.
I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon
After all I knew it had to be something to do with you
I really don't mind what happens now and then
As long as you'll be my friend in the end
They started to sing together, smiling shyly at each other as they began the chorus.
If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman
If I'm alive and well will you be there a holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with my super human might
Kryptonite
Draco changed songs again, smiling secretively as he began to sing a song Hermione didn't recognize. She listened to his voice, transfixed by his voice and the lyrics.
Even though I was blind before
I realized there is so much more
And it was always deep down in the core of me
I know it now.
Even though it seems too much to take
There's a feeling I can't seem to shake
I feel like
I've been reading the signs cause I know that I'm
Coming Around.
Draco glanced at her, before returning his eyes to his guitar.
I thought I wanted someone perfect as can be
When all I needed was the one
Who was perfect for me
Hermione's heart rose. Draco's words had struck a chord in her. She looked at the ground, listening still.
Even though it used to seem so wrong
I've taken you for granted far too long
I'm falling right down into the denouement
And now I'm breaking ground
Even though we felt it from the start
It's only now we're beating with one heart
I feel like
I've been reading the signs cause I know that I'm
Coming around
Draco glanced up at her, and she held her hand out. "Your guitar." She said. "Let me hold it."
He handed it to her, automatically recognizing the easy way she held it, the way someone who's played for a long time. "You never told me you played." Draco said, as she began to strum.
"You never asked." She said. She began to play a song he recognized from a while ago. He hadn't listened to it in a while, and maybe he'd heard it once.
I've been alone.
Surrounded by darkness
I've seen how heartless
The world
Can be
I've seen you crying
You felt like it's hopeless
I'll always do my best
To make you see
Baby, you're not alone
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna bring us down
Cause nothing can keep me from loving you
And you know it's true
It's don't matter what I've come to be
Our love is all we need
To make it through
A single tear went down her cheek, but before he could comment or wipe it away, she began to play another song he didn't recognize.
I could be mean
I could be stupid
You know I could be just like you
Her anger surprised him, and he hoped that she wasn't thinking of him while she sang.
I could be weak.
I could be angry.
You know I could be just like you
You thought you were there to guide me
You were only in my way
You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you
She changed songs randomly, playing slower but angrier.
Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take
All the feelings that I get
But I still don't miss you yet
Every roommate kept awake
By every sigh and scream we make
All the feelings that I get
But I still don't miss you yet
Only when I think about it…
She strummed three times fast, her voice filled with almost tangible pain.
I
Hate
Everything about you
Why do I
Love you?
You
Hate
Everything about me
Why do I
Love you?
Draco's eyes grew wide. Who was she singing about? Was it him? That didn't make any sense, but she said Love…. Love. He wanted her to love him.
He gently took Hermione's hands and pulled the guitar off her, placing it gently on the ground.
"You are in pain." He said, pulling her into a hug. "I can feel it. You're in pain. What happened?"
"Nothing." She said quietly. Tears started to cascade down her face, and she whimpered. "Nothing's wrong." Knowing that she was lying, Draco pulled her onto his lap, and then held the guitar in front of her.
"Play with me." He whispered. They began to play a slow sad song, one without any lyrics, Draco's fingers over Hermione's. Then, with her scent hazing his brain, he changed the song, guiding her fingers. He sang it softly to her, his voice barely a whisper.
They gotta lotta girls
Who know they got it going on
But nothing's ever a comparison to you
Now can't you see that you're the only one I really want
And everything I need
Is everything you do
Hermione relaxed slightly, and Draco took that as an encouragement and shifted closer. She relaxed against his chest, watching the guitar.
Any girl walk by, don't matter
Cause you're looking so much better
Don't ever need to get caught up in jealousy
She could be a super-model
Every magazine
The cover
She'll never, ever mean a thing to me…
He paused, and she whimpered, still playing the simple melody. He gently kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear.
She's no you
Oh no
You give me more than I could ever want
She's no you
Oh no
I'm satisfied with the one I got
Cause you're all the girl
That I've ever dreamed
She's only a picture on a magazine
She's no you
She's no you
Hermione twisted her neck and looked at Draco, her eyes alight with vulnerability. "Do you mean it?" she whispered. "Do you really mean it?"
"Of course." Draco said softly. "Hermione, you have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?"
They stared at each other, both of them just realizing how close to each other they were. Hermione didn't know what would have happened next, only that she really really wanted to kiss Draco Malfoy. It didn't matter that they were enemies, in different houses, or that they were complete opposites. All that mattered was that he was there, and no one else was.
Then, Ron Weasley burst into the ballroom.
"Hermione!" he yelled. He paused at the scene in front of him, Draco, Hermione, the guitar, with no space in between the three. "Malfoy!" The corner of Draco's mouth twitched, liking the sound of that way more than he would admit. Hermione Malfoy.
"Ron?" asked Hermione, sounding completely shattered. She shifted the guitar off of herself and stood, handing the guitar to Draco. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm breaking up this… this…" Ron's ears were bright red. "Whatever the hell this is! I'm stopping it! You're coming with me!" He reached out to grab her arm, but with a move that surprised all three of them, Hermione dodged.
"That's not what I meant." Hermione said, forcing herself to sound calm. This only seemed to make Ron angrier. "I meant, what brings you down here?"
Ron's demeanor changed. It became softer, and more wary. "I've been looking all over for you since this morning." Hermione's pain became tangible to Draco. He could see her tense; see her want to break down. "I wanted to apologize and to explain…"
"Explain what?" Hermione choked out. "You don't have to explain anything. We're only friends. I have no say on who you go out with, and what you do… to them…"
Draco put down his guitar and came up behind Hermione, wrapping his arms around her waist. Ron's eyes widened at their casual contact, and apparently fully expected her to pull away. "Would you like me to walk you to your room?" he whispered into her ear. "We can keep practicing there, if you want."
"I'd love that." She said quietly. Draco doubled back, and grabbed his guitar, pulling it onto his back.
They had already reached the stairs at the end of the hallway when Ron burst out of the ballroom and stood at the elevator, pressing the button a bunch of times. Draco pressed softly on the small of Hermione's back and they began up the stairs. Instead of walking into the lobby and taking the elevator from there; they trekked up to the sixth floor to avoid Ron. Draco held Hermione back and peeked into the hallway.
"He's waiting outside your door." Draco informed her. Hermione blanched. Draco glanced at her, and then slowly slid the door close. "Come on then." He took her hand and led her up another flight of stairs. Hermione didn't realize where they were going until she saw him peek through the door of the seventh floor.
"Wait, what are we doing here?" Hermione asked as Draco led her into the abandoned hallway.
"You obviously can't handle talking to Weasley right now, so you'll be staying with me." Draco patted himself down before pulling a key card out of his jeans pocket. He slid it into the slot and the lock clicked. He peeked his head in. "The coast is clear."
Hermione followed him into his room in a sort of daze. "What about the bonfire you practiced so hard for?" she asked him, sitting on his bed. "Aren't you gonna go play your guitar there?"
"I think your problems are a little more important than a stupid bonfire." Draco said, walking to the dresser. Hermione was glad he was facing away from her, because she was blushing like a mad man. She fought to control herself, and was completely composed when he turned back around with a pair of basketball shorts and a grey t-shirt. "The bathroom is over there." He nodded to a door on the side of the room next to the bed. "Do whatever you need to do." He handed her the clothes and turned away, lounging on the in suite couch and flipping through TV channels.
"You don't have to do this you know." Hermione said, moving off the bed.
"Relax, Mione." Draco said. "I'll sleep on the floor. You can stay here until it all blows over." Draco finally decided on a channel that had people running obstacle courses with an announcer speaking in rapid Japanese. There were words at the bottom. "I love this show." Draco murmured.
"I'll stay on one condition." Hermione said, standing at the bathroom door. Draco grunted. "You have to go to the bonfire. I'm not going to hinder your vacation. Alright? Because now that we're friends, I have to think of what's best for you." Hermione shut up when she realized she was about to start babbling.
Draco looked back at her from the couch. "I'll go to the bonfire." He promised. "No go get in the shower. Friends or not, you stink." He smiled to show her he was joking. Hermione smiled back and walked into the bathroom. She didn't start the water until she heard the outer door close.
A/N: PLEASE REVIEW~! I really liked how this story turned out. You know? But if you're too lazy to review, which I TOTALLY understand, just Favorite or Follow, cuz that shows up on my Traffic too! ^^ Alrighty then, hope you guys enjoyed it~!
~A/V