Chapter: More Than Thunder & Lighting
A/N: Everyone is just loving this story, from what I can tell from the reviews. It makes me so happy that people are reviewing and asking for updates. Again it's a tough chapter so prepare yourself, or don't read. By the way it's November in the story now…
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter because then I could move to England lol…
Draco Malfoy was sitting at his desk in his office. It was quite late. His grey eyes were bloodshot from the lack sleep. It has been two months since Hermione Granger moved in. He has only seen her twice. The Minister has called upon them three times already to do those bloody photo shoots. Draco had to refuse all of them Granger locked herself in her room. He would leave food for her at different periods of the day. For two weeks it was untouched.
Draco only kept bringing food because he didn't want to be accused of starving her. Other than that he left her alone. If she wanted to starve fine. Well now she ate. But still remained in her room. What she did in there all he could only imagine.
They were no near becoming acquaintances, friends was a less like probability. Draco listened to the rainstorm that started hours ago.
Deciding that his working will be there for him in the morning he went up. Getting in the lift he unbuttoned his crisp blue shirt.
He walked to Hermione's room. Saw that she ate all her food this time. 'Good she ate.' Draco waved his wand and made the dirty plates disappear. He was about to turn when he heard whimpers and moan. It came from behind her door. Then a loud crack of thunder came and there was a squeal.
'Ha Ha Granger is afraid of thunder and lighting' He laughed and continued on his way to his room. Draco's room was the largest one in the house. Roughly the same layout as Hermione's but the walls were a muted silver. His bed had black ribbed headboard and was the size of three kings together. It was covered in Slytherin green linens and comforter.
Walked into his bathroom and stared at his appearances. He was 22 and had bags the size of galleons. They were a dark purplish, usually he uses a concealment charm on them. Work has kept him very busy and he matured a lot since Hogwarts.
Draco was an old looking 22 year old. That made him feel just peachy.
Quickly jumping in the shower his thoughts ran straight to Hermione. He was actually worried. Shock! He thought it would be fun because they could fight like old times.
'Be at each other's throats at least. Plus being locked in a room by yourself is bound to make anyone crazy… Why in the name of Merlin's pants does she wear dark baggy clothes. I'm sure she has a good body underneath there. She should be wearing blues, pinks , green, red, yellow almost any other color. I need her to be herself again. Our chances of being coming friends are a promising as Potter becoming the next Dark Lord.'
Getting out and drying off he slipped on black silk pj bottoms. Going out to his bed he stretched his defined torso. Slipping into bed under the covers.
BOOM! CRACK!
The thunder resounded off the Manor's walls. Draco was nodding off to sleep when he heard a knock.
"Yes?" He answered
"Malfoy, I'm sorry but I was wondering if I could sleep by you I don't want to be alone. On second thought I'll go, sorry to bother you." Hermione said
Draco thought she sounded genuinely scared.
"No, it's fine come in."
Hermione walked in and came in on the other side of Draco. He slid over to make the room while she laid down. Then there were more loud cracks of thunder right after each other. Hermione laid there whimpering and shaking.
Draco heard her and knew he wouldn't sleep unless he got her to calm down. He turned to face her on his side. "Granger, get over here." Draco lifted one of his arms so she could fit. She was a little hesitant and then shot into to his arms when there was flash of lighting.
Draco encased her with his large formed arms Then he felt it. Her bones were so clearly defined under his long fingers. She was shaking and crying at the same time. Draco knew something was wrong in Hermione Granger's world. This was definitely more than thunder and lighting.
DM&HG
Hermione woke up to the smell of sandalwood wafting into her nose. There was something soft draped around her waist, underneath her arms. She looked about the room. It didn't look like her room which she has studied in the last two months. The walls were silver. The covers were green. She saw a green Quidditch uniform in a showcase. The letters spelling Malfoy. She was in Draco Malfoy's bedroom…no in his bed!!
Hesitating to turn already knowing what she would find. She saw a round platinum blond head and thin rose colored lips. He actually looked quite adorable asleep.
'Wait! Malfoy adorable? Hermione you are in the serpents lair!! Have you forgotten who he is? Who his aunt is?' She ignored her thoughts.
He let her into his room last night, when she need someone. He could of yelled piss off but he didn't. She tried to get up but that only spurred him to hold her tighter. Hermione felt so content to lay there all day. It felt like someone cared for the first time. However he might find this awkward or realize it was a mistake. So she raised his limp arm and slid out. Draco lifted his head and turned away from her.
'He just looks so peaceful. Too bad he isn't always like this' She laughed on the inside. Tiptoeing out she did not see a grey eye follow her out.
Hermione quickly washed and dressed Deciding on some color today, it seemed appropriate. A yellow sweatshirt and very dark washed jeans. Going to the kitchen she made eggs with toast and bacon. She decided she starved long enough. She saw that today's edition of the Daily Prophet had been delivered. Hermione glanced through it while she ate for the first time.
DM&HG
Draco rubbed his eyes as he planted his feet on the plush grey carpet. He knew Hermione got up and left. He had actually been awake since dawn. He had been staring at her since then. She look so angelic when she finally calmed and slept. He wanted answers though.
Why was she thing. The way he felt her bones last night will haunt him for a while. He also saw she had dark circles under her eye. Her hair looked thinner too. Anyone who saw her would think she was tortured. Of course everyone would think it was him, even though he hasn't laid a hand on her until last night. A new thought came to him.
'If she is so thin, then why all the plates of the food I left her were empty?' Then Draco realized . He was dealing with Hermione Granger. She knows basically everything.
'The little witch vanished the food and all that time I thought she was eating!' Draco couldn't believe he missed that. Hermione hadn't been eating. Draco has never seen her eat . 'So she's starving herself but for what?' That was the rub.
DM&HG
Draco got up to put on some clothes. Throwing a burgundy tee shirt, dark wash jeans and black trainers. He went downstairs to kitchen to make breakfast and shove them down Hermione's throat.
Then he saw something completely unexpected. Hermione was eating! Real food! She so nonchalant about it, like she has always been eating.
Walking in he said "Nice to see you Granger"
"Good Morning Malfoy. Sorry I have been a terrible guest." She said sheepishly.
Draco poured himself coffee and leaned against the counter staring at her sitting at the island.
"I also want to say thank you. Thunder and lighting have always scared me."
She was lying to his face. She looked so uncomfortable right now.
"Well we all have our demons Granger. I'm glad you are eating though." He smirked.
Her eyes gave her away so easily. She didn't plan on him finding out on her vanishing act.
"Listen, Granger I want to apologize because it was quite unfair for me ask you to fake our friendship for our jobs. I really would like us to work together on this and form a true one. Obviously we will have to work extra hard due to our past. However that will make the end result that much sweeter. Now I know how I have treated you. I deeply regretful it now. I will not make excuses because the only one I can offer is that I was young therefore easily corrupted. I will not make excuses for my Aunt Bellatrix because she was pure evil and would never change if she was given the opportunity. I'm sorry she tortured you, watching it was probably closest thing to being as painful being put under the cruciatus. I had the pleasure of experiencing both. I just want us to be comfortable with each other. We can take as long as necessary" Draco was proud of himself. Now all he had to was wait for him to tell him what's up. In the meantime getting her healthy was goal number one.
Hermione eyed him carefully. He seemed to know something. Otherwise why reverse psychology? Did he forget she was a muggle-born? Of course that apology has motive. He may have comforted her last night but she won't trust him. Ron made sure she would have a hard time trusting anyone.
"Fine" Hermione said.
"Good"
Both looked around unsure of what to say until Hermione spoke.
"Malfoy how come you have tapestries depicting the Holy Crusades, it was a religious muggle war."
"My father believed in a know your enemy approach. He made me learn muggle histories, literature and languages, so it could help me against muggles."
"And the picture of Elizabeth I in my office?"
"Oh that I got at an art auction. It's her original coronation portrait. No one knows about it."
"Oh"
Silence fell.
"Listen it is a beautiful fall day out. Lets go to Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade." Draco said.
Hermione was hesitant about going out. She had been laying in bed, listening to music for a month. Only getting up to vanish Draco's food and to take care of hygiene. Then again at least he was trying, well maybe. She regarded him carefully.
"Alright but now Diagon Alley. I'm thinking of a non-magical place."
Draco gave her a curious look as she led him outside.
"Granger I hate side-along apparition, so you better tell me where we are going."
"Malfoy relax. I am going to take you some place fun. Plus I want it to be a surprise. So hold on and trust me."
Draco rarely trusted anyone. However today he will break it just for a little while anyway. He wanted to know where Granger was taking him.
"Fine" He said. They were gone with a loud pop.
DM&HG
Draco opened his eyes and saw lots of colors. Actually tents, with things hanging from them.
There was a large round structure that seemed to go round and round.
"Granger where in the bloody hell are we?"
"The Canterbury Festival! They hold it every July and November. I only been to the summer ones. My parents would always bring me as a child.
"Oh. Well what do you do at a festival?"
"Well you play games and go on rides and eat lots of unhealthy junk until your stomach aches."
Draco looked repulsed "Why would I give myself a stomach ache. Is there something in the food?"
She laughed at his naiveté . "No, nothing is in the food. It's just fun to do because there is so much food to eat. Now come on." She dragged him over to ticket booth.
"The big roll of tickets, please" Hermione asked a little man at the booth.
" 6 pounds"
Hermione unrolled a few notes and handed them to the man. He gave her the tickets.
"Thanks"
"Ok Malfoy where would like to go?"
"What's that round thing that keeps going around and around?"
"Ferris Wheel. Do you want go there?"
"Yes" Draco said as he stared at the big wheel.
"Don't these people know I am a Malfoy? Malfoy's don't wait in line." Draco asked incredulously as the muggles ignored them.
"Malfoy they know nothing of our world. So you and me are nobody's here. As far they are concerned you are just a good looking tall guy."
"You think I am good looking?" Draco was smiling.
"Pfft. No, in your dreams Malfoy." Although her cheeks were tinged red.
"You do! You are blushing!!" Draco was looking very smug.
"Malfoy drop it, if you continue to act as child. I'll take you home."
"You take the fun out of everything. I was just taking the mickey out of you. For old times sake."
"I don't call the way you treated me at Hogwarts taking the mickey out of me."
"I said I was sorry. How long am I to be punish for it?"
"Forever. Oh look we are next"
The operator took their tickets and they picked a seat. They say down and began to move.
"Granger I really am sorry. I don't ruin this day"
"Don't worry Malfoy it's forgotten." Hermione was looking to her right, there was a beach. The sun shone so bright.
"Why are we stopping?" Draco asked with a little pitch in his voice.
"To let other riders off.
"Do you think we will be up here long?" He looked over the side and recoiled.
"Are you scared Malfoy? You were on the Quidditch team, how can you be afraid of heights?" She smirked.
Draco raised his nose to its aristocratic height. " Of course not Granger . Malfoy's are afraid of nothing. Plus on a broom I know what to do."
He seemed thoroughly relieved when it moved. She continue to look at the beach while they made the first cycle. The wind was blowing the hair lightly.
Draco stared at her she looked so beautiful, ethereal almost. 'She doesn't give herself enough credit.'
"So where would you like to go? Since it is your turn." Draco asked her.
"Um well there is a ride, it a roller coaster. It goes kind of fast and high."
"I'm game for it"
She gave him an appraising look. She got out as it was their turn.
DM &HG
The walked to the roller coaster. It was called the Red Dragon. The care were a bright fiery red. The first car was the head of a dragon. There were streaks of yellow and orange on the face.
Draco looked at how high they went. He paled a bit as he really wasn't a heights person. Unless it was a broom, because there he knew what to do. But he would do it just to prove Granger wrong.
That line was the quickest so far. Nestled in their seats. Draco saw Hermione fiddling with something about her waist.
"Granger what are you doing?"
"Putting on a seatbelt. So I don't fall out."
"You won't"
"Yeah because I'm wearing a seatbelt. You put yours on too. They won't move until every rider is buckled.
Draco fumbled for his and it took him a couple of tries.
Then the cars were moving. It was going slow at first.
'Oh I could handle this' Draco thought
Though not to long it started to accelerate greatly.
Hermione was just laughing at the ride raising her hands in the air. Draco began to feel sick and look green. The loop de loops came. 'Oh NO!' The cars were upside down in minutes then right side up. They kept going like that four more times. When they got off Draco could barely walk. But he found the nearest trash bin and retched. He could hear Hermione in the background.
"I am sorry Malfoy. I didn't think you would get sick. Do you want to go home?"
When he heaved the last of it. He muttered a cleaning spell and spoke.
"No, even though I got sick it was fun. Let's just stick to the games on the ground for the rest of day."
"Sure. No problem." Hermione felt bad for him but found somewhat funny.
"How about that game over there?"
"Ok" They walked over and gave the ticket to the man.
"How do you play?" Draco asked.
"You try and make that gentleman fall in the tank and get to pick any prize."
"Sounds easy enough."
Draco took the three balls the guy hand him. The guy over at the tank began to heckle.
"Oooh look Blondie is going to try and knock me. I think this guy is a girl with a hair cut."
Draco threw the first and missed.
"Yup this guy is definitely a lass. Hey lass you could keep throwing but you will never get me.
Draco threw again and missed.
"Ahaha. Aye Lass you have one chance left maybe your friend could help you. Although two lasses couldn't get me" The man laughed a hearty laugh.
Hermione whispered in Draco's ear. "You can get that git. You are a Malfoy" Draco smiled at her.
With all his might he threw it. It hit the mark!!
Draco picked up Hermione and swung her around a few times. "Yes we did it!
"What prize do you want sir?"
"Uh that bear over there." The man handed it to him. Draco gave it to Hermione .
"For you Granger because you believed in me."
It was small brown bear that was soft to touch."
"Thank you Malfoy. Come on I'm buying us a treat. She walked up to cotton candy boot. "Two in green please"
"1 pound"
"Thank you"
She handed it to Draco who looked at it funny.
"What is this?"
"Cotton candy, it like is sugar was cotton. It's very sweet. Total festival staple."
Draco bit into it and immediately liked it. They began to walk along the booths. Stopping here and there to play games and more junk food.
DM&HG
"We should save these tickets. They never expire." Hermione said as they were walking near the entrance to the beach.
"Ok. How about we go on the beach. We can race."
"Alright"
They poised themselves at the plank leading on to the beach. Draco began to count. "On 1...2...3!!"
Hermione took off like a bullet. She waved the bear to torment him as he ran. But he caught up with her quickly. He tackled her to the sand.
"I still win Malfoy!!"
"We never set a boundary Granger. I just said let's race."
"Oh you! You just don't want to admit you lost to me."
"Well of course." He smiled at the way the moon rested on her face giving her a pearl tint.
"Ok you can get off Malfoy"
"No"
"No? Get off me!!"
"No!" He began tickling her all over. She laughed until she was in tears.
"Ok…Ok…Stop…Please…" Hermione was in tears.
Draco rolled off her and laid next to her.
"You know I am quite surprised." Draco said
"At what?" Hermione replied.
"That I was paired with you. I thought you and Weasley would have married and popped out a few runts by now."
"Oh. Well things change. People change."
Hermione sat up and brought her knees to her chest. This was the first day hadn't really crossed her mind. His taunts didn't play like didn't play like broken record in her head.
Draco seemed oblivious in her mood change as he ploughed on.
"Yes they do. Ah well. I think I prefer you to anyone they would have set me up with if hadn't been available.
"Thanks. Lets go swimming." Hermione wanted the day to keep being fun. She would tell him of Ron another time. He deserve know, he has been really sweet.
"What? In the ocean?"
"Where else did you think I was talking about?"
"It's practically midnight and it's probably cold.
"So? That's what makes it adventurous." She already shed her jumper tank. She was shrugging off the jeans when Draco grabbed her.
"Are you barmy Granger?"
"Did you forget we can do magic?"
She wrestled her arm from him and ran into the midnight blue ocean.
"Malfoy it's quite warm, come in!" She called to him. Resigning himself he shed his clothing and ran to her.
"Oh wow it is warm." Draco said
"See!"
"Ok well now what do we do?"
"Swim, horseplay? Jeez Malfoy have you ever been to a beach or a pool?"
Draco gave her a pointed look before answering. "Granger, my father was Lucius Malfoy. Frivolities as child's play or festivals did not exist in my childhood. It wasn't much of one to begin with."
"Oh…sorry"
"It's alright."
They floated in silence not knowing what to say. Draco could see her already shivering. She had readjusted her bra when he saw it. A dark ribbed scar. It stretched from her underarm to about half-way of her right breast.
"Granger, what's what that?" Draco inquired
"What's what?" Hermione replied nervously.
"That scar." He pointed at it.
She became even more nervous and fidgety.
"It's nothing Malfoy. I got it from the war"
"No you didn't. You were one of the lucky one's who made it with just a scratch. Come off it and tell me."
"How do you know I came out with nothing?"
"Because I tailed you at the last major battle. I made sure no harm came to you during the war"
"What?! Are you the reason Greyback backed off? Bella's Avada? Your father's Crucio?"
"Yes I was there for all of them. So I know for a fact you did not get that scar from the war. Where did it come from? And while we are asking questions. Why do you starve yourself did you think I wouldn't find out? Why do you wear only black baggy clothes?"
Hermione turned from him. To her right the carnival was still going strong. The left was the moonlight. She felt the water move, he put his hand on her shoulder.
"Tell Me"
"No. You aren't responsible for me. I didn't ask for you to be my guardian angel during the war. I don't need to tell you anything. What I wear, how I ear is my choice. I don't need you to fight my battle. Plus is I have scars on my body I don't need to give back info on each one!"
Hermione ran to shore and tried to dress. She was shoving herself into her jeans when Draco caught up.
"I know you didn't ask me to be your saviour. Hell I thought I would be the last person to do so. But something told me you needed me. Not just anyone's help but myhelp. I felt that same feeling when I held you in my arms last night. You were skin and bones. You still are. I asked because I want to help. You need a friend. I want to bring back that fiesty ball buster Granger from Hogwarts. I want her back."
"She's dead Malfoy! Someone killed her a long time ago. You were too late to save her." Hermione dropped to her knees and started to sob.
Draco grabbed her by both arms. " No you are not going out like this. I will help you. Let me help you."
She laughed in his face because he thought he could actually bring old Hermione back. Get rid of the irrational, self-destructive one. Didn't he understand that cynical Hermione was here to stay?
Draco watched her. She had a wild-crazed look about her. He let go of her and she finished dressing. She walked away to somewhere. He decided to go home. ' She'll comeback soon' He watched her until she vanished with a pop. He dressed and picked up her bear. He will be waiting at home for her.
A/N: WOW!! I didn't expect that to happen when I wrote that out. Draco will explain more about why he protected her. Hermione will tell him about her issues but a something has to happen first. I forgot to mention that DH never happened…OOTP and HBP are loosely used here.
