Hey, it's Tori here.
Before you read the next chapter, I'd just like to thank you all so much for taking the time to write reviews for my story. I never thought anybody would actually like my story!
Just so you know, I have the entire plot planned out in my head (trust me, it will be a surprise ending!), it's just hard to fill in the gaps sometimes.
If you have any ideas for the next chapters please let me know! Whether they be the smallest events, or something EPIC. Just remember, I'm kind of obsessive about keeping everybody in character as much as possible. ^^
About this chapter;
I know it may seem quite fast, and I am sorry. ):
But just remember, they have been at Grimmauld place for several months now.
Let the chapter ….BEGIN!
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A long, grey finger trailed eerily over my cheek. I tried to grab at the hand over my face, but, strangely, I couldn't move. I was paralysed.
My mind instantly went into panic mode, where was I?
What was happening to me?
I tried to scream, but nothing reached my ears except for a shrill, cold laugh, very nearby.
My heart raced , my ribs aching, head spinning.
Coward.
The hand belonging to somebody who I do not know crept down my neck, causing me to shiver, or I would have if I had been capable of it, down my left arm to just above my wrist, where it wrapped its slender fingers around my thin wrist and held tight.
I took a breath, scared of what would come next.
And then suddenly, blinding pain seared through my arm, through my torso, my neck, my legs, my head.
The binding curse lifted, and I reared my back, tried to pull away from my torturer, but his grasp was strong. I let out a bloodcurdling scream, and I heard laughter in return.
That same cruel laughter.
The pain settled for a mere millisecond, during which I was able to open my eyes and look at my arm.
A black, thin wand was pressing hard into my skin, where a black and green skull tattoo had formed, a slithering snake worming its way out of the mouth.
And the pain engulfed me again, my eyes forced shut with the searing pain as I heard that high laughter again, mixed with my own cries and a low voice.
Coward.
Coward
Co-
"Draco?" a meek, quiet voice whispered in Draco Malfoy's ear.
His eyes snapped open, the scene had changed.
He was lying in a bed that was too small for him, the sheets clinging to his bare chest, sticky with his sweat. There was a cold hand on his left wrist.
He gasped, yanking his arm away fearfully, before turning his eyes to the hand's owner.
It was Hermione.
She was kneeling at his bedside, want lit to illuminate the dark room, looking terrified.
"Draco, are you sick?" she asked, still whispering, but withdrawing her hand.
She was wearing pyjama pants, light green and strawberry pink stripes, and a matching singlet. Her hair was hanging around her pale face lifelessly.
Draco put two and two together, and realised it must be the early hours of the morning.
Although he had also realised he must be at Grimmauld Place, where it was safe, he quickly glanced around his shoulder at the bare wall behind him, looking for Voldemort ,and at the door, which was bolted shut.
He noticed this, and found his voice to say:
"I thought we bolted the door so Kreacher-"
"I used Alohomora, I heard you yelling from my room…" Hermione interrupted quietly, in contrast to his loud voice.
He watched her silently, his mouth slightly open.
She had surprised him, being there when he had awoken.
Usually, after these nightmares, this imagined hell inside his head, he was alone, and had to recover alone.
"T-thank you.." he whispered in return, and reached out to grab her hand, slipping his fingers in between hers, and pulled her closer.
Hermione sighed in relief, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders soothingly, resting her chin on his head.
"What happened?" she asked, sitting on the bed awkwardly, her arms still around Draco's torso.
Draco noticed her discomfort, and, with his hands either side of her waist, he pulled her over his lap carefully.
Hermione let out a small squeak in response to this, and slowly let him go, her chocolate brown eyes meeting his metallic silver ones.
"Draco?" she prompted, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm.
He waited a moment before answering, taking in the situation.
Hermione's legs were draped over his knees, his hands still holding her upright by the waist.
A small blush crept over Draco's visage, and he was instantly glad that it was dark.
He quickly removed his large hands and crossed his arms across his bare chest shyly, leaning his head back on the wall.
"I.. just had a nightmare…"
"What about?"
"………nothing."
"Please, you can tell me."
"No, it was just a silly dream, honestly."
"Draco, don't insult my intelligence, I heard you screaming."
He was stopped short, thinking hard.
He couldn't let her know the dreams he'd been having, or she'd think he was the same as precious Potter.
Except this was different.
He was a different kind of Chosen One…
A very reluctant one.
He had to find a way to… get her mind off it..
"I'm sorry I woke you up anyway. You should go back to bed, we have to go back to Hogwarts tomorrow." he reminded her, failing at hiding the dismay in his voice.
He didn't want her to go.
He didn't want to be alone again.
And to go back to sleep.
To return to the Dark Lord's clutches.
Although he couldn't see it, he knew she had the same face Professor McGonagall had when a student was blatantly lying to her.
"Look Malfoy," he scoffed at the reuse of his last name, "Either you tell me what the problem is, or I won't talk to you for a week." she threatened.
Draco winced, he didn't want that.
"Alright.." he begun, but a brilliant idea struck him.
He had thought about this for weeks, dreamt about it before the nightmares begun.
His old Slytherin streak returned, and he smirked in the dark.
Sitting up slowly, he grabbed Hermione's shoulder's and turned her towards him.
This close, in the small sliver of moonlight, he could see her.
Her eyes; smooth brown, long lashes. Her eyebrows perked up in confusion.
Her cheeks, pale with lack of sleep, but clear as ever.
But that wasn't what he was searching for.
Her lips; light pink and slightly open, and delicious-looking.
Draco leaned forward, rammed his lips to hers and then suddenly he was feeling as if he'd never felt, it was as though fireworks were going off in his head, surely he must be dying, because this felt as though he could never possibly survive.
The emotions!
Happy.
Angry.
Exultant.
Aroused.
Awed.
Fearful.
As all this was running through his head, something unexpected happened.
Hermione let out a small, surprised gasp, and kissed back.