I woke up the next morning with the sun shining in my eyes, almost blinding and I was extremely warm, to almost a sweating point. I tried to move, but found it almost impossible to move around, all I could move was my hands. I opened my eyes in a panic and found someone's arms wrapped tightly around my waist, almost like they never wanted to let go. I rub my eyes and shift my weight around to face the stranger, only to find it to be Draco Malfoy. What? What is he doing here? Everything from the night before comes back all at once hitting me like a lightening bolt. I, Hermione Jean Granger did the unthinkable with Draco Malfoy, it really happened. Well hell, can't say I didn't have fun, but Draco? He moves around in his sleep and grips me tighter, if I don't wake him up soon I may not be able to breathe any more! I slowly maneuver turning around to face him, and his cold blue eyes are open.
"Morning, Granger," he says in a not harsh voice, but soothing in a way. He leans up to place his lips on my forehead and kisses it.
"Draco…" I start with a hesitation.
"Yes?" He looks at me with a questioning look on his face, and massages my leg for comfort.
"I just don't understand this whole thing, are we something? Is there an us? Understand where I'm coming from, you: Draco Malfoy the boy who was a git to me pretty much my whole life at Hogwarts until now, why now?" I turn to face him again with demanding eyes, I need to know answers it's just the kind of person I am.
"That's the thing, I just don't know Granger. Maybe I've just decided to step up and be a man. I always had feelings for you, even if it didn't seem, even when I called you a mud blood, call me a git that was just me. But I've changed I promise you now, I was just some jerk who wanted his father's approval and love so I would act stupid to you around my friends because I couldn't let them know."
"Sure, I understand…we were enemies, but what are we now? What am I to you? Some little new play thing for you?" I can't help but feel the fresh, hot tears slide down my cheek, he wipes them away one by one, but I just cry harder.
"Granger, look at me don't ever doubt anything. You mean everything to me, now I don't even care what my friends think. I don't care what your friends will think, I don't care what my stupid father things or Lord Voldemort even! No one can separate us, this bond we have! You're strong, and I can be strong too, the both of us together create a very strong bond that no one can penetrate!" He puts his arm around me again and pulls me in for a tight embrace. "Granger, you're mine now, I just want you to know that is how I feel for you." I look out the window again, and the sun is hidden by dark rain cloud. Draco's sleeve on his arm is rolled up a bit and I notice a dark symbol that looks vaguely familiar. Upon closer inspection I realise it is indeed a Dark Mark. Draco has become a Death Eater.
"Draco…why didn't you tell me? That…" The words are barely forming in my throat and the tears start again, I can't say anything nothing is coming from my mouth but choked out words.
"Granger? Calm down. What do you mean?" His face drops and I can feel his heart beat quicken.
"Was everything you just told me a lie? Is this a Death Eater trick? Was this Voldemort's big scheme for you? To screw me over? I knew I probably shouldn't have doubted Harry when he suspected you of becoming a death eater. But I just couldn't imagine, what had happened with us yesterday morning, and after everything, I just couldn't force myself to believe." He listens to me intently, and waits till he can say something. I try to get up to run from him, but he grabs me. His hold is stronger than mine.
"Granger…" he pauses and I hear him start to sob, it's quiet-to himself, but I can hear it in his voice. I face him again. "It wasn't my choice, it was under my will. If I hadn't become a …Death Eater, Voldemort would have killed me. This is me we are talking about, die or become the thing you hate most? I wasn't ready to end my life; I had to…let you know how I felt before I died. I wanted to know if you would return the feelings I have. I'm so selfish I'm sorry, but selfishness is a Malfoy thing." I break out of his hold and slap him across the face. He sits up, "I deserved that I suppose, and just like I deserved the last hit you gave me a couple of years ago. God, I was such a git back than, and a spoiled brat at that." I couldn't help but laugh quietly to myself as he was admitting he wrong and I was right. I would have never thought my ears to hear Draco Malfoy admitting he was wrong for anything. "What? Why are you laughing at me?"
"Never thought I'd get the pleasure to hear something was your fault." I say with a chuckle as he looks at me appalled. Then his face changes into a devilish grin.
"Not the only thing you took pleasure in." He winks and laughs as I get the turn to have the appalled look on my face.
"Merlin Draco! It's about time to go into the Great Hall for breakfast! We must part ways, because we sit at different tables, but I will catch you later tonight if the first years don't keep me too late."
Granger leaves before I get any more words in, I smile again when a brilliant plan comes in my head. She sure got out of here in a hurry; she will cast a spell for her clothes and hair. I look down at my left forearm and frown. I hope she really understood, I really dread this thing. I hate Voldemort and the rest of the death eaters. I pull on a pair of black suit pants, and a green turtleneck sweater also my Slytherin robes. I head downstairs into the Great Hall, look at the Slytherin table and see Pansy and Blaise sitting there. Perfect Then I look over to the Gryffindor table and see Hermione sitting around Potty, Ron and something other gits. Even better I smile and head towards to her. She doesn't notice me but I see Potter and Weaslebee look at me suspiciously. I squeeze in beside Hermione, and she jumps, startled.
"Malfoy, what are you doing here? Go away, no one likes you."
"Really? That's not what Granger said in bed last night." Hermione's cheeks turn a bright red colour and she avoids locking eyes with me. I grab her hand, and she locks fingers with mine.
"Malfoy, why would you stoop that low? We all know you don't like Hermione, you hate her."
"Hmm, you're wrong actually, I just don't like you two." I rest my head on Hermione's shoulder and laugh to myself. She will get me back later, I'm sure. I look over to see Pansy watching suspiciously with jealousy raging in her eyes, and Blaise looking concerned. I'm sure the whole school will know soon enough, I'm not sorry Granger. I look down at her, and she looks away. Potter looks at me with rage as well as Weaslebee. I can't help but laugh to myself. "What's wrong Weaslebee? I wasn't interrupting anything was I?" He continues to glare at me, but I don't feel angered or hurt by him. Hermione uneasily grips my hand, and she exhales and decided to ignore what is going on, ignores everyone's thoughts and bad opinions. I mean she is with the 'baddest boy in Slytherin.' "Well then I suppose I should get going, I feel the bad energy flowing from this table, but I don't regret my decision to come over here. See you later love." I say as I kiss Hermione's cheek and prepare to face my own house members.
Harry, Ron and I were discussing the classes we all had when suddenly the atmosphere and mood changed. They stopped talking and looked at someone who was behind me. I figured out who it was when they sat next to me, placing a hand on my nervous one under the table. I wasn't going to easily tell Ron and Harry nor was I ready to, so I guess Draco sitting by me was a good thing to boost me. I will surely thank him later, I honestly would have never told Harry and Ron unless something came up. Draco tries to make conversation with them, but even I could tell they didn't want to. I only hoped they wouldn't hate me or question my motives, but I know they will. One can only hope.
"So Granger, you and I have Advanced Potions with that new but old kook Professor Slughorn?"
"Draco, not everyone is an old kook." I look at him disapprovingly and he shrugs, "You know I have the class with you, why even ask?"
"One likes to make sure, dear." Harry and Ron look over furious because they both have two free periods this morning, which means they would probably do everything to get into Potions with me. Draco dismisses himself, kisses me on the cheek, and heads over to his table most likely expecting the worse. As soon as he is out of earshot Harry and Ron rapidly fire questions at me.
"Hermione when did this happen?"
"Is this the reason why you kept disappearing? To go snog Malfoy? Hermione, how long has this been going on for? He is our enemy, how could you?" Ron rolls up the sleeves of his sweater like he's ready to put up a fight with Draco. "Explains why I thought the marks on your neck looked familiar though, always used to see them on that whore Pansy Parkinson." I look down, and angrily curl my firsts into tight, clenched balls.
"Ronald, I would watch your language if I were you. And if you guys were my friends and really loved me for who I was you would just learn to deal with what I do or who I do in my life. I'm still the same old, your friend Hermione Granger. Now if you will excuse me I actually have a class to be getting to." I grab my books and run out of the Great Hall. For now until class officially starts I head off to the girl's bathroom where Moaning Myrtle resides. She got killed in the bathroom many years ago, and it's best not to mess with her. When I walked in she wasn't around, but probably crying some where about her sad life she had, I head to an empty stall and lock myself in there. I silently cry to myself and hear foot steps walking around in the bathroom with me. I try to stay completely quiet as tears rolls down my cheek, but the stranger approaches my stall where I tried to stay hidden. "Harry or Ron, please go away until you apologize properly."
"Granger, please come out." My heart thuds in my chest, and I unlock the door to reveal Draco standing there. "I'm sorry, if I had caused troubles with you."
"Don't worry about it; they had to find out some how. I wanted to thank you, actually for doing that." I look up at him timidly, unlike myself. That's what Draco Malfoy does make me feel like someone else and still myself.
"Granger, come here." I walk over to his outstretched arms and let it all out, he comforts me and I cry harder.
"The thing is…I knew they would treat it this harshly, but I had hoped they would be different…because they are my best friends."
"I know, love. My friends were enraged, but honestly I didn't care because you're all that matters to me now. You understand that?" He pulls my chin up so I can meet his eyes; I nod, lean up on my toes and kiss him. He pulls me tighter to him and I smile with his lips on mine. "Come on now; let's get to class before we're late." I grab his hand and run from the bathroom before anyone notices we left at the same time wouldn't want them to expect anything.
"Tell me later what happened with you and your friends though, or something." He nods and smiles, taking lead now in a half run to Advanced Potions with Professor Slughorn; I was excited for this class. We get in the class and our classmates stare us down, so I guess rumours are spreading quickly. The Slytherins stare in shock and move even further from the Gryffindors and the Gryffindors stare in shock at Draco and me clasping hands. We stand in the middle of the bunch and Slughorn smiles.
"Ah yes, we can start class now." He begins explaining about Amoretentia, and I smile. "Could any one tell me what Amoretentia is?" I raise my hand excitedly, "Ah yes, Miss Granger is it?"
"Amoretentia is the most powerful love potion in the world; it can cause a quite powerful infatuation or obsession with a person of your desire so they return any feelings you have for them. It smells differently to everyone and the scent is something that reminds the person of everything they are attracted to."
"Excellent, Miss Granger, you are alright Amoretentia cannot create love but a deep infatuation as you stated. I will let some of you have a smell, if you like but not for very long don't want anyone to go crazy." He slowly opens the boiling caldron and I take a step forward.
"For example to the scents I can smell Peppermint, green apples, and a manly or cologne scent." I take it in all I can and Slughorn quickly closes the lid of the caldron but I still smell the potion, but I realise its Draco I smell. I blush and look away from him. I see him grin with his smile he always uses. Slughorn goes to talk again, but Harry and Ron rush in the class.
"Sorry to interrupt Professor, but Professor Mcgonagall sent us here for classes considering the fact I had two free periods."
"Ah, Mr. Potter there is two books over there, grab them and come on over." Slughorn begins talking about what we are brewing today, I look over and Ron and Harry are fighting over a good book, in the end Harry ends up with the tattered book. Draco moves closer, and protectively places his arm around my back. Harry and Ron come over and Slughorn clears his throat.
"Anyways as I was saying, whoever can make the Draught of Living Death first, will win this bottle of Felix Felicis or Liquid Luck as some call it." I head on over to one of the work stations and Draco comes to the station next to mind and Harry and Ron behind us. "You may begin now," we open up to the page and Draco's books has some writing in it that says to do the opposite of what was in my book.
"Granger, you should just look at my book because it says different things than yours." I ignore him and go by the book, I must. I turn around to see what Ron and Harry are up to, Ron is having problems like me but Harry seems to be doing just fine like Draco. I sigh and run my fingers through my hair and cut the sopophorous beans with the dull edge of the knife as I had seen Draco doing it. Draco is about done and I cry out in frustration, but realise Draco may need Liquid Luck more than I do. I let him make his potion and continue following the instructions in the book Slughorn gave me while cautiously looking at Draco's. Slughorn comes over and sees that Draco is done.
"Ah, class! Mister Malfoy has appeared to be finished! Now to test it." I hear Harry groan and turn around to see him almost finished. Slughorn walks over and takes a fresh flower from a plant off his desk and walks back over to drop it in Draco's caldron. He pulls the flower out with a special spoon and the flower is completely dead. "Well down, Mr. Malfoy. Everyone give him a round of applause. He has certainly earned this Liquid luck, use it well Mr. Malfoy." He pats Draco on the back and a few people clap for him. We all clean up our caldrons and Draco smirks.
"So, Granger I heard what you smelled in the Amoretentia, and I realised it was something I was quite familiar with."
"Oh yeah? That's odd." I look away embarrassed and he slowly slips his hand up my skirt, unnoticed. "Draco…" I feel Harry and Ron glaring into the back of our heads, and I tremble. Draco leans closely to my ear.
"I know it was me you smelled in there, that's always good. Want to know what I smelled? I'm sure you already know that it was you." I shiver at his voice in my ear, and he strokes my chin. Harry clears his throat and Slughorn goes into the back for something. Draco moves farther up my leg, slowly, but stops.
"So Draco, how did you manage to brew your potion? How did you know what the book said was wrong?"
"Well you should know Potter; Slytherins do what they can to achieve their goals." He flashes a toothy grin, and turns back to me, whispering again. "Granger, better not hope I catch you alone especially now that I've got this liquid luck, don't worry I will only have a small drop for an hour or so." Slughorn comes back into the room, smiling. He approaches a few amount of us.
"Harry, and others I am hoping you will come to a small get together I'm having tonight, you're welcome to bring a friend." We nod our heads and I turn towards Draco.
"Draco?" He looks up at me with his pale blue eyes. "Will you go with me to Professor Slughorn's small get together later tonight?"
"What will you give me if I go?" I lean up to him and whisper in his ear,
"We could continue what we were doing last night, but I could spice things up a bit." He grins big and looks over at Harry and Ron. Who are still looking furiously over at us.
"Alright Granger I will go with you." I smile and we run off to the prefect dorms. We have two hours until Slughorn's party and I want to look amazing for Draco. I run into the bathroom that Draco and I both have to share and he pounds on the door. "Granger, you're not the only one who has to shower." I sigh and leave the door locked so he can open it with alohamora. I turn the shower on to hot which is the only way I can take a shower and step in. I don't hear Draco come in over the shower till he touches my waist. "Still looks the same to me as last night." I smile and he hugs me from behind and nibbles on my ear.
"Draco, we can't be in here for too long, Slughorn's party is in two hours."
"I know, love don't worry. We will even get there early, and we will both look so amazing together. I had my mother send something over, told her I was taking the most beautiful girl to a little party, she didn't question just sent it over." I blush and thank Draco. "No need to love. I will receive all the thanks I need from you." He leans in and kisses my neck seductively and I feel his hard knob ready for action. I grab it and he grunts in surprise. "Granger, damn." I stroke it and he comes in the shower, which is better. He picks me up, pushes me against the wall and does me on the spot. After awhile we both come and clean up, get out of the shower and go separate ways to change. "I put the dress on your bed by the way." I walk out of the bathroom with a towel on my head and around my body. I spy a beautiful long black box on my bed, the dress must be good if even the box is amazing. I pull on some green silk underwear I have and wear garters and black tights to top it off. Also I have a matching bra, I pull my hair from my towel and put a drying spell on it, and have it curled differently so I can put it up. I know this is just a small dinner party at Slughorn's room at Hogwarts, but why not look your best? I finally get to the dress and it is gorgeous. The dress is a little bit above my knees and its low neck so my chest peeks out a bit. I never really show off my body, I attempt to hide it in my robes. The colour is Emerald green of course, and has black lace stitching I pull on some black heels to top it off. I already did my make up, Draco comes out and I almost faint because he looks so dangerously hot.
"Draco, damn."
"Damn yourself, Granger. I hope this dinner party isn't too long, I don't know if I will be able to contain myself. Let's head down, then?" I nod my head, "Hold on." Inside the box is something well hidden, a simple drape cardigan. Draco puts it on for me. I smile and link arms with him and we descend the stairs to Slughorn's party. We walk in and Harry and a few others are there like Cormac, he is so creepy but I have Draco here with me tonight. Harry turns around and his mouth drops open.
"Oh welcome Hermione, I see you brought Draco Malfoy with you. I'm sorry there aren't any other Slytherins here, Mister Malfoy."
"Its fine, I will just be with Miss Granger here."
"Hmm, you can sit by Harry if you like Hermione." I nod and pace myself, but sit next to Harry. I turn to face Draco and make small talk with him till I feel a poke on my shoulder. I turn around to face Harry.
"Yes?"
"I just want to let you know, that I don't have a problem with you and er Malfoy, but Ron still does. I'm sorry, Hermione are we still good."
"Of course we are still good, Harry!" I hug him tightly, "I know it was mostly Ron this morning that didn't really accept it, and he said most of the hurtful things." Harry smiles uneasily.
"Sorry about that."
"Don't apologise for something you didn't do, if Ron is ever ready he will tell me." He nods and turns to converse with Professor Slughorn. I turn back to Draco who is staring off into space, so I look around the room to notice all of the seats are about filled about except for a few. I place my hand in Draco's and he looks at me. I rest my head on his shoulder and he pets my hair. All the seats but one fill up and it is time to start so Professor Slughorn flicks his wand to put food on the table that looks delicious. They make small talk, half an hour in Ginny Weasley comes rushing in with her head down.
"Sorry, I'm late." Harry stands up till she sits down, and he takes his seat own seat, embarrassed. As we're leaving Professor Slughorn stands up as well,
"Well this was fun, I will be having a Christmas Party I hope you all can make it, and you can bring a guest again. I suggest you do, honestly unless you like dancing alone." We smile and nod, Draco takes my hand and we run back upstairs to the Prefect Dormitory. He sets me on the counter in the little kitchen we have.
"Wait here," I wait for him for a few minutes and swing my legs against the counters. I close my eyes to waste some time and I am greeted by Draco's lips on mine. He picks me up, wedding style and carries me into his bedroom this time. "Keep your eyes closed, Granger." I close my eyes again, quickly he opens his bedroom door and sets me on what feels like a bed. "You can open them now." Before I open my eyes I smell the apple smell again, and the faint smell of his cologne is still left behind from a couple hours ago.
"Why is your bed better than mine?" My lips form into a pout and he smiles.
"Is that all you can say right now, Granger? That my bed is better? If you like you can sleep in here whenever you like." I smile and he crawls over top of me and kisses me, I get a fierce taste of peppermint when his lips reach mine. I switch positions and straddle him, moving my body with his and fiercely kissing him. He moves me back under him, funny how this turned into a wrestling match in a way. "Granger, we should probably get this nice dress off you. I'm sure my mother paid a lot for it, wouldn't want it to get ripped or ruined. He winks at me and unzips the back. "Damn Granger, you look hot wearing that dress and you look even hotter underneath." As he's pulling my dress off, his door bursts open, but I was already hiding in his closet.
"Mr. Malfoy, sorry to disturb you at such a time like this, but if you could collect Miss. Granger and yourself to do your prefect duties. A first year was spotted walking around, but disappeared.
"Certainly Professor." Draco pulls me from his closet. "Come, on Granger we can't be forgetting about our duties." He looks down slightly disappointed. "Anyways, how did you get to the closet so fast, it was almost like you disappeared."
"Uhm…" I feel the time turner that hangs around my neck, he snickers and grabs for it.
"So you did have this time tuner a couple of years ago thought it was just a rumour. So you were involved with saving that hippogriff? I look at him, fiercely. "It's alright Granger. I'm different now I won't go squeal on something so small like that." He takes one of my locks in between his two fingers then takes a hold of my chin to bring his lips to mine. "Come on then Granger, let's find that first year than come back here." I run off to my room to change quickly into something more appropriate.