He heard screaming, painful screaming. He jolted up out of his bed, his eyes searching frantically for his wand; feeling it on the bedside table he grabbed it and ran out of the room and into the one opposite.
Hermione was shouting now the same word over and over 'NO!'. Her arms being thrown in all shapes as she thrashed in the bed, her sweat made the pyjama's she had on stick to her skin. Her duvet was half on the floor as she punched at thin air and kicked invisible objects as though throwing a tantrum.
"Oh Merlin. Granger wake up! Granger!" Draco shouted running into the room at quite the scene. Pinning her arms down, yet her legs kept kicking. Groaning he climbed on top of her, pinning her legs to the bed with his. "For the love of...Granger wake up!" He shouted once more.
Her screaming stopped and she started to breathe heavily as she woke up. Her eyes shot open at the person holding her down. She gasped in disbelief that it was Malfoy, his own breathing slowed to a steady pace as he looked at her once more curious to what she was dreaming of...correction what nightmare she was having. He knew it was something to do with the previous day.
"Malfoy?" She croaked, a tear slid down the side of her face.
"You were screaming. Woke me up." He said bluntly as he quickly climbed off of her, clutching his wand and rolling it in his hand. A habit he picked up over the years.
"So you pinned me to the bed?" She exclaimed, sitting up and reaching for her own wand when she realised he still had it.
"You almost knocked me out what was I supposed to do? Let you have your tantrum and not let me sleep?" He half shouted back. He ran his fingers through his messy bed hair and figured best to check what time it was, ignoring what smart comment Hermione would come off with, he raced downstairs and into the living room.
5am. He groaned, he'd be getting up in an hour to leave. He sighed and sat down on the sofa that Hermione previously occupied. Debating in his head to go back to sleep or to just stay up for the hour and relax.
Meanwhile, upstairs Hermione was left gob-smacked as he left abruptly. She went into the bathroom at the top of the stairs and was shocked at her reflection. Her eyes were bloodshot red and puffy, her hair a wild mess of sweat and tangles and her pyjama top clung to her in a way she'd rather not let Malfoy see. Noticing he was still downstairs and it was beginning to get light out, she went into her room and grabbed the pile of black clothing he had left her yesterday and her bag before heading back into the bathroom.
Locking the door she decided to have a bath to both ease her muscles and relax her. Finding some of her favourite soap she had been using while on the run, she squirted some of the bottle into the hot bath. The room soon was engulfed with the lavender and orange scent.
Peeling her sticky clothes off and dumping them on the floor to be washed, she climbed into the bubbling bath. She let out a sigh as the hot water immediately began to loosen her body up. After a moment she shut off the water and was left to the silence. She thought to if she were in the Burrow, there would always be noise of the Weasley's running around; loud bangs and crashes from the twins room. She smiled at the thought, a sad smile.
Downstairs Draco had moved into the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee and start on his breakfast. While the kettle was boiling, he grabbed a packet of ready made pancakes and ripped the plastic off. Still quite annoyed at his wasted hour of sleep. He thought of what she would do while he was gone today as he make his coffee and spread butter on his pancakes.
'Escape? No the wards up are too strong even for Granger. Burn the house down and stand outside grinning? Not her style.' His thoughts went on to every scenario. He knew if she died or escaped, he'd be next to be slaughtered after his Muggle studies teacher. The dark lord wanted her for leverage on Potter, a way to draw him in. Making her murder innocents as a death eater was a sick bonus.
He sat himself at the kitchen table, eating his breakfast quietly when he heard a door upstairs unlock and footsteps across the landing. After a while the footsteps were heard again, coming down the stairs.
"Sorry to wake you." Hermione said quietly, as appalled at the situation as she was, she owed him an apology. She'd kill him with kindness, be the bigger person she told herself.
He turned to her and saw she was dressed in the clothes he bought her. A pair of black denim trousers and a black button-up shirt; she'd rolled the sleeves up to her elbows. Not very lady-like but he hardly thought she'd wear a black dress like Bellatrix, nor did he have time to get her black robes so muggle clothes would have to do.
"See the clothes fit you." He stated, sipping his coffee as she sat down across from him.
"Er..yes." She answered, thinking of how he knew her sizes. A guess probably she told herself. She looked at him and felt extremely uncomfortable and awkward. Draco Malfoy, a boy she loathed dressed in his green and grey pyjamas, his blond hair messy and sticking out in all directions, having his breakfast in front of her. What has her life came to?
"Kettle is already boiled, help yourself. You live here now." He said with no tone in his voice. As if reminding her of her imprisonment. She nodded and quietly got up to make her own breakfast. It was when she walked behind him, he smelt the lavender and oranges from her bath. Scrunching up his nose at the new smell he took a gulp of his coffee.
"Look I don't have my wand and I'll lose my mind all day if I'm staring at the décor." Hermione piped up, bringing her own breakfast to the table. He sat in silence for a moment in thought.
"I will give you your wand back…if at the end of the day I check it, prevent any hex spells or sneaky ones you know." He said finally coming to his conclusion. Remembering that the dark lord likes to check their wands the same.
"Fine. So when do I start to join the dark side then." She said sarcastically, biting into her toast.
"It will be small things first like interrogating people for information. In a month's time the dark lord wants to see you and you're progress." He said with a wicked smile.
"Interrogating another word for torturing?" She snorted, laughing at the idea of Hermione Granger ever stooping that low.
"You'll see. We'll practice first. Here." He announced. That evil smirk on his face she'd love to slap off. "Tonight when I come back."
"Brilliant a little heart to heart with Malfoy." She snapped back. Her eyes piercing into his.
"Like you don't love the idea." He said sarcastically suddenly standing up and setting his dishes in the sink and strutting up the stairs to get ready for the day.
Yet again, Hermione was left without getting a word in edge wise. She was furious, he was acting like he controlled her! She hated it. She hated him.
Ten minutes passed after Hermione finished her own breakfast, she just sat at the table staring into the distance her mind racing of plans, ideas and thoughts to escape. Draco returned dressed in crisp clean black robes, his white blond hair slicked back. The first thing that came to her mind was that she preferred his hair natural and messy...makes him look less horrible she told herself. Her cheeks warmed, did she just compliment him? In her head?
"5:45…looks like I'll be leaving. Here your wand. I've already placed ant-hex spells on it and the wards are impossible to get through without my help so seems like you're stuck here." He smirked, procuring the wand from inside his robes and handing it to her.
"Thanks. I guess." She grumbled, feeling the wand's energy flow through her again. It was comforting to her to have some sort of control back in her life.
"Clean the dishes while I'm gone yes? Dinner would be nice too" He instructed, grinning from ear to ear at Hermione's appalled face.
"You wish." Was all she replied, as he walked out the door and as soon as he passed the gate apparated away.
She spent the day, finishing her exploring of downstairs. She found another large bedroom at the back corner of the cottage including a shower room. The room in perfect condition, with a queen sized 4 poster bed with deep violet sheets and plush cushions. She thought it strange Malfoy hadn't stole this room away for himself, yet he chose to sleep a room across from her. She told herself not to think about it too much and went into the last room to the right of the house.
The door stood ajar, peeking in she found a potions room. A large black cauldron placed in the centre of the room on top of a small fireplace. Shelves stocked with every ingredient one could think of and a tall bookshelf most likely full of potion recipes and spell books. When she went to enter, a force blocked her path.
"Bloody wards in this house!" She cursed to herself. Standing back and sighing. There was one escape plan scored off of her list just as it had been added.
She turned to the patio doors beside her to get a good look at the back garden. It was large enough to have a small qudditch match. A group of large trees lined at the back towering over the house and shadowing the back of the garden. One tree she noticed at a small swing attached, she smiled at the thought of a child playing on it happily. Her smile dropped when she realised it was probably a young brat called Draco Malfoy.
Tired and bored she allowed herself to walk upstairs and into the study room. The large collection of books just waiting to be read practically calling her name. She breezed across the room scanning the titles and settled for an unknown one. 'A Guide to Advanced Occlumency.' Thinking the skill could come in handy in her situation she curled up on the scarlet sofa and began reading. Time drifted away as she was in her happy place..until 6pm anyway.
Okay I have some really good ideas for this plot! And some side-plots. So soon I'm going to skip days now that we know the schedule of both Hermione and Draco. I don't want to rush into anything...knowing me I probably will my patience is horrible.
Anyway I already know how they are going to kiss and when and why…. So stay tuned ;)
Leave a review of course.
P.S Foreshadowing….