Author alert - Thanks for those of you who reviewed! I really appreciate you guys doing that for me. It's so weird writing stuff like this after finishing the series. I hope it doesn't throw you guys off too much. Things are slowly heated up. I'm sorry if things seemed rushed in this chapter. I'm actually anxious to get it out of the way so I can get to the more intense stuff. Well, here you go!
Case of Mistaken Identity
*************************************************************************************
Weeks passed without another fearful encounter. Hermione seemed more on edge as the time went by instead of relaxing. It was like she was waiting for the mysterious blonde to pop out of nowhere. Well, he had every other time so it wasn't nearly as irrational as it seemed. Of course, they saw each other. Potions seemed to come as easily to him as it did to her and both shared Advanced Potions with Snape in the professor's gloomy dungeon. But Harry and Ron somehow managed to join the class, a late exception thanks to Dumbledore. Somehow, this didn't ease the brunette's nerves. Not at all.
"You alright, Hermione?" Harry stared into her eyes questioningly. He wasn't use to her being continuously jumping, and much less use to her secrecy. It was unlike her to hide her emotions, especially from him. Even Ron had noticed the sudden lack of rude snogging and began to wonder whether the two were secretly fighting. "You've been jumpy for weeks. What's wrong?"
Hermione had to think quickly. "Mom is sick," she quickly lied. "I got an owl from dad a while ago." Shrugging her shoulders, she pretended to relax as though falsely confessing put her at ease. "I guess I'm just nervous about another owl showing up saying something worse." It seemed to appease Ron, who shrugged and reluctantly turned his attention back to Snape's lecture. Guilt brewed in the bit of Hermione's stomach. Had she always been so good at lying? Looking apologetically into her boyfriend's eyes, she batted her eyelashes in an innocently seductive manner. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was afraid you'd worry over me."
Harry seemed reluctant to buy it. "You could have told me," he accused sounding rather hurt. Didn't she know him well enough to trust him? "I was worried without you telling me. I was beginning to think you weren't interested in me anymore." The sincerity on his face only worsened the guilt. Hermione waited till Snape's back was turned before kissing Harry's cheek. It seemed to cheer him up as he smiled back at her. To Hermione's gratitude, Snape snapped at them both for their lack of attention which gave her the rest of the lesson to think quietly about her lie.
In the back of the room, Draco watched with bitter amusement. He had kept a close eye on the mud blood and found her nerve racking behavior immensely amusing. Unlike Potter, he knew the real reason she was acting like that. Though he was too far to hear her excuse, Draco could only imagine the bogus lie she fed him. He knew the girl wouldn't be honest, not about what was really bothering her. But he found it unsettling the way his emotions suddenly turned into jealousy when Granger kissed Potter. Anger swelled within and he had the sudden urge to blast Dumbledore's favorite student across the room. "Damn spell," he muttered. It was his favorite excuse to these newly developed emotions. He knew that these feelings weren't really his own. Not really. There was no way he wanted Granger in any other form but dead. He would have to remember to confront her soon about it. The longer he waited, the stronger the spell became.
Lunch was a painful time for the both love-spelled teens. Hermione had to sit with her face away from the Slytherin table to avoid staring at Draco. In reverse, Draco positioned himself everyday to face the Gryffindor table as though he dared her to look. Ron and Harry were in a serious discussion about quidditch. "For the last time, Ron, I you're going to have to try out again. I make everyone fight for their position," Harry grumbled. It was time to pick teams again and Ron feared for his position as keeper. His sister, Ginny, had threatened to dethrone him all summer. Despite her size, she was an incredible keeper. Of course, she seemed to play all the positions with expertise but taking Ron head on seemed to thrill her and Ron took it quite seriously. "If Ginny ends up the better, then I have no choice. It's for the good of the team."
"Taken down by my own flesh," the red haired teen grumbled back. "She's going to humiliate me in front of everyone and you're in on it!" He suddenly looked up and noticed something rather peculiar. "Oy, Malfoy's staring over here," he said aloud. That caught both Harry and Hermione's attention. Harry quickly lifted his head to see as Hermione froze in place over her plate. "Wonder what that ugly git wants?"
"Probably nothing more than to figure out who we're picking for our team," Harry replied sourly. Draco was Slytherin's captain this year. It only intensified their already heated loathing for each other. "I wouldn't be surprised if daddy didn't buy the whole team new brooms again. Seems to be the only way he stays on the team." The two boys snickered and went on about their conversation. After a few moments, Harry noticed Hermione's uneasy breathing. "Hermione, you look sick. Do you need to go to the hospital wing?" His hand reached over and touched hers, noting how clammy it felt. This thumb lovingly rubbed her hand as he waited for an answer.
Mulling it over, Hermione decided she did need to leave, but not for the hospital wing. "I'm not feeling so good," she finally replied. "I'll go to the hospital wing. Maybe they have a pick me up or something." She stood and so did Harry but she waved him down. "No, I'll go alone. I'll probably head to my room afterwards anyways." Harry reluctantly sat down as he gave his girl a curious look. She began piling her books in her bag before Harry shook his head.
"Leave them. I'll take them upstairs for you," he told her. He was so generous. Again, Hermione could feel the guilt building up. "Feel better soon, okay? Love you." Hermione gave a weak smile back and walked off without replying. Turning his attention to Ron, Harry whispered, "That's unusual."
"What?" Ron seemed oblivious to Hermione's attitude.
Harry didn't answer immediately. He was lost in thought. "She," he began, "She always tells me she loves me before she leaves." Not that he was willing to admit it to his best friend, but her silence pained him. He knew it was ridiculous to be hurt over something so small but it didn't change the fact it did. "She's been a bit off lately."
Ron patted Harry on the back. Though he seemed uncaring, he actually thought a lot about his best friend's relationship. "Don't let it get to you. She said she wasn't feeling well, remember?" He had never known someone to love another the way Hermione loved Harry. He could see it in her eyes when they spoke. It was uncomfortable at first considering he had once harbored similar feelings for her. But Hermione had came to him first when she realized how she felt for Harry. In a gentlemanly attempt to prove to himself he cared for her, he let her go. Over time, those feelings went away and he could be truly happy for them. If Harry made her happy, then that was who she was meant to be with. "That crazy girl loves you more than you know. Don't let it get to you." With that, Harry shook off his doubts and continued about his day.
The library was quiet this time around. It was still early in the school year and not many students had taken it as their second home yet. Hermione, however, always felt that the continuous walls of books were her second home. It was safe there. Warm and peaceful. It was her means of escape. Sitting there amongst several large books, Hermione buried herself in random defensive spells. It seemed silly, but she wished there was a book on physical fighting. One to tell her how to throw a proper punch without threatening to break her hand. "Guess wizards aren't in much need for that sort of thing," she sighed to herself. What would happen if a wizard cast aside his wand and threw a nasty right hook in the middle of a dual? Probably wouldn't be able to come close enough, but it would still be exciting. "Hope it broke his jaw," she grumbled a little louder than she meant.
She suddenly felt someone standing over her. Hands gently caressed her shoulders and slid warmly down her arms and clasped over her hands. Hermione closed her eyes and leaned back against a hard yet warm chest. It was odd though. Harry was never the type to sneak up on her like this. She could feel his head next to hers, hot breath breathing into her ear in an intoxicating manner. Despite being different, she liked it. She could definitely get use to it. "It didn't break it, but it did sting," a familiar voice whispered into her eyes causing shock to run up her entire spine. Eyes suddenly open with fear, Hermione froze in place. Draco smiled at her reaction and pressed his lips gently against the girl's ear. "Potter never taught you how to throw a decent punch?"
Whipping her face around, Hermione found herself not even centimeter's from the teen's face. It took all her strength not to lean into him, to touch his pale lips with her own. Suddenly, the memory of his kiss caught up with her, causing her lips to part slightly and gasp. What was he wearing? His scent was so intoxicating that, for a moment, she was lost in it. Draco would have relished the girl's reaction had he not been so lost in it himself. She too smelled wonderful. Enticing. Delicious. It made him want to nuzzle her hair and lose himself in the aroma. Both their eyes were locked on the other's lips as if using every ounce of strength to fight off their physical urges. He broke the moment first, but only out of his frustration. "You wicked witch," he growled in the most seductive manner that Hermione all but forgot to take it offensively.
Fear overtook her, but not the way it had the weeks before. Was it fear? Or anticipation? "What do you want from me?" It was all she could muster. Every word left her leaning closer if it were even possible. Her eyes were still solidly locked on Draco's lips as though waiting for him to just kiss her. She wanted it so much. More than anything she could think of. Nothing mattered at that moment. Not his past. Not his family nor their hatred for her kind. Any tension between them besides their attraction to the other was of no concern. Not now.
Again, it was Draco who broke the trance. Her question suddenly brought him back to his original purpose. The reason he came to confront her. Though he had planned to toy with her emotions longer, he could no longer ignore the double edged sword it held. The longer he played her game, the more infatuated he became with her. Being so close now, wanting her the way he did…he knew it must end now. "I want you to take this hex off of me." It came out as an angry desperation. As though he were in pain by being so close. "I want you to release me from this bloody spell before I lose my mind." His eyes tightened slightly from the words. It was like watching an addict tell his dealer to take away his drugs.
The confusion brought Hermione out of the trance. What in the world was he talking about? What trance? Was it some weird confession of his feelings? Her head was swimming with translations, all more bizarre than the first. Suddenly, she felt dizzy. And then anger swept her. How dare he do this! What gave him the balls to sneak up on her and act this way. Hermione shook her head vigorously before abruptly standing out. "You're out of your mind," she replied nastily before stalking away. It took all she had in her to not look back. Draco let her go without bothering to watch. He only stood there in his anger and confusion.
His eyes slowly darted to the corners as a million thoughts tried to process in his head. It was hard to ignore the one most dangerous thought that kept racing through his mind. It was the one tied closely to his physical desires. The thought that urged him to follow her. The thought that wanted to press the girl firmly against him, his hands searching her body like a blind man learning to read. He wanted her mouth on his and so many other places that he couldn't stand it! "No," he half pleaded with himself. What was happening to him? Why was he acting like this? Suddenly Hermione's spell seemed more than a cruel joke. It was seriously endangering him. This spell was life threatening. "No more games, Granger," he growled to himself. "This ends here." Whether she liked it or not, she would remove this hex, and then he would truly make her pay.
Back in the common room, Harry waited. Her watched as Neville and Dean played a game of snaps before his eyes locked with Hermione's as she walked in. "There you are!" Harry jumped up and nearly ran to her, his arms holding gently onto her elbows. "I was worried. I sent Lavender and Ginny to call you from your room but they said you weren't there." His eyes searched hers desperately for answers. "Where were you?"
Great. More guilt. "I was in the library," she finally told him. Nothing harmful about that. "It was too stuffy in my room so I decided to get some air." Honest enough. Everyone knew Hermione's favorite sanctuary. Harry relaxed instantly and apologized for not thinking of it earlier. Ron scoffed in the background.
"Only you'd go to the library for fresh air, Hermione," he noted playfully. Neville had lost and Ron had claimed the next game with Dean. But something caught his attention. "Did Malfoy get to you? He said he was headed there for some reason." It was an innocent question but Hermione froze at the name. It took her a moment to answer. She had to come up with something. Quick! Why wasn't her brain working?! Ron looked up from his spot when she didn't replay. "He didn't do nothing to you, did he?" How was it that Ron could always read her like that? They had known each other as long as Harry. And even though he seemed more aloof than her boyfriend, a part of him always seem to know what was going on with her, though he often pretended to not notice. "Hermione?"
"Oh, I saw him," she answered, her voice too high to sound casual. "Yes, he and Goyle were up there bothering people and what not." She waved her hand like it was no big deal before walking with Harry to the sofas. He sat first and pulled her into his lap. A common position for them though Hermione seemed uncomfortable as she shifted into the seat next to him instead. To make up for her irregular seating, she laid her head against Harry's shoulders which seemed to sedate him. "Rather of a nuisance, really. But that's Malfoy for you."
Something about her words puzzled the two boys as they exchanged awkward glances. Harry shifted his head slightly to look down at her. "Goyle?" It came out sounding odd. Hermione shook her head to confirm but began to feel nervous. Had she slipped up? Harry looked at Ron again with a weird look. "Wasn't he and Crabbe stalking the lower corridor?" Ron confirmed with a slight nod, pretending to focus on his game rather than the conversation.
Hermione caught her mistake. She sat up and ran her fingers nervously through her hair. "What? Are we keeping tabs on them all of a sudden?" She asked defensively. Her brain was scrambling to cover up but her words came out too quickly. "What does it matter who I saw with Malfoy, anyways? It's really none of your business." Both Ron and Harry stopped to stare at her with troubled looks. Now she'd done it! She didn't mean to give them reason to question her. But there was no going back now. She'd have to pretend to be upset with them.
"We didn't mean it like that," Ron replied in a shocked tone. "I mean, it's not like we really care or anything. Just sounded a bit odd." He returned to his game with Dean but not before shooting her another wary look like she'd lost her marbles. "Didn't mean to get you all riled up or anything."
But Harry was more persistent. He took her by the shoulders to look at her. "Hermione, what's gotten into you?" She couldn't look into his deep green eyes. The sincere concern was more than she could handle. She immediately turned away from his gaze, but it didn't little to waver Harry. He grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look at him. "Hermione, don't look away from me. Please! What's wrong?" He attempted to smile through his frustration but it only looked painful. "Please, help me out before I lose my mind."
Lose his mind? Lose his mind?! Hermione had had it! What? Was she suddenly his mind's keeper? Was it her responsibility to make sure that his insanity remain in check? How dare this blonde haired monster throw that at her? What made this pale Slytherin think he could talk to her like that?! She stood up immediately and pointed an accusing finger at Harry. "I'm fucking sick of your mouth, Draco!"
And it was all out. Hermione's eyes widen with realization. Suddenly Draco's image vanish before her eyes and there stood a stunned Harry Potter. There were so many emotions on his face. Confusion. Irritation. Pain. His lips began to move but no words were able to escape. It took him a moment, his face trying to find a way to appropriately express what he was feeling. "What did you call me?" The silence was thick enough to choke. Even Dean had suddenly been pulled into the argument, having heard this very distasteful name of Malfoy.
All eyes were on Hermione now. No one moved; if it could be helped, no one would have breathed. The guilty brunette stood as the center of everyone's attention and all she could do was wish she were elsewhere. She wanted to run far away and never looked back. Move she begged her feet. Move! But it was not her feet that stomped away. Her attention was suddenly drawn to the absence of one person. Harry Potter had left the room. It didn't long before the awkward moment scared away poor Dean as well who quietly excused himself. Only Ron dared to stay, his eyes locked on one of his best friends as he stared at her in horror. But Hermione did not turn to him. Eyes tightly shut as though to block out reality, Hermione remained extremely still. Her fist were clenched so tightly that her nails began to cut into her palm, but she couldn't feel it. She wanted to run to him. To run into his open arms for comfort and forgiveness. At that moment, the only thing Hermione Granger wanted was to be held by Draco Malfoy.
"Hermione." A familiar timid voice broke through her concentration. Warm hands clasped over her shoulders from behind. Ron called her name again, his voice soft in an attempt to soothe her. Slowly, Hermione turned to look at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Are you falling for Draco Malfoy?" It wasn't harsh. It lacked the acidity that she knew she deserved. For the first time in what seemed like ages, here was someone who did not expect something from her. She stared into the eyes of her almost brother and finally fell apart. Curling into his chest and sobbing shamelessly, Hermione finally gave into her frustration. And like the gentleman he was, Ron Weasely let her.
Usually when someone realized that they had feelings for someone, it was a joyous moment. When Hermione first felt affection towards Harry, she was flustered with emotions. It usually left her feeling naturally high. Now, confronted by her growing feelings for the man she silently vowed to hate, the brunette could do nothing but cry. There were no joyous feelings. No butterflies in her stomach. Just a gaping hole that kept digging deeper within her heart. "I didn't mean to," she sobbed occasionally into her best friend's chest. "Oh, Ron, I'm so sorry!" What she was sorry, she wasn't sure. Sorry for hurting Harry? Sorry for lying to everyone, including herself? Life was going to drastically change within the walls of Hogwarts. Everyone knew it. Harry, who paced angrily in his room. Ron who held of crying girl in the common room. Even Draco, who at that moment, sat holding his face upon his bed wondering why a worthless girl was all he could think about. It felt as if tomorrow was not allowed to exist in fear of what would happen. But, much to each of their dismay, the morning still came.
*************************************************************************************
Author's Note - So please review for me and let me know what you think! Things are going to start getting a little more in your face from here on in. Hope you'll stick around to read. See ya!
