Severed
Chapter 4:
Tension
A/N – thank you to Dramionefanfiction for putting my link out there, on tumblr, & to longlooksandstolenglances for offering to make a trailer! Looking forward to that! (my Tumblr is .com) and I am proud to say I have reached 600 hits! I deserve some love for updating so soon, the chapter was originally supposed to be out Monday, considering Chapter 3 was out earlier.
Draco's eyes widened in suprise at Hermione's bluntness. Before he could think about what he was doing, he flew off the couch and pinned Hermione back into the nearest wall, placing his hands on either side of her face; their faces inches apart. Draco flicked his tongue. He intended to see what she would do. He looked at her face as he pressed his body into hers. Her face was framed by her curls.
Draco looked her up and down. Slowly.
"Kicking me out already Granger?" Draco murmured, in a husky voice, inhaling her raspberry scent that surrounded them. Draco knew how to be seductive when he wanted to. After all, that was how Pansy fell for him. He leaned in closer.
He could see her resolve wavering, he looked at her face, then her neck, past her chest, moving down.
Hermione stuttered as Draco's eyes moved back towards her face, pressing in closer, so their lips were barely an inch apart. She suddently found herself incapable of forming coherent thoughts.
She didn't want this. It was Draco Malfoy. She kept telling herself this, but she didn't believe it. He's just trying to intimidate me she told herself, feeling her resolve wavering.
She could feel her body closing in on him, pressed together, fitting into each other.
Draco glanced at her eyes. Light brown, and vulnerable. He didn't want her falling for him when he wouldn't – couldn't return it. He leaned off of the wall, and strode towards the door without a second glance. "Night Granger." he muttered.
Hermione shuddered when the door closed. Too close. He had been too close. She could still feel his body against hers. The curves of her waist fitting next to his hips,as if they were made for each other. His husky seductive voice, the platinum blonde hair that she desperately wanted to run her fingers through. His cold gray eyes probing her. Fingering the Gryffindor patch seemed all too real to her.
She was a Gryffindor; he was Slytherin.
She was a muggle-born; he was a pure-blood.
It couldn't work. She was sure he was playing with her mind, he would never be attracted to her, a muggle-born. They had always despised each other, it couldn't be possible.
And she couldn't be attracted to him. No matter how many times she told herself this, she couldn't believe it. She knew she had to. It was the hormones. Yes, that was it. They were both 16, and tense. Nothing unusual.
Hermione drifted off towards her bedroom, pausing to take in the elegant room. The walls were a light lavender, and the bed was huge, topped with red velvet sheets, and fluffy red pillows. The lamp cast dark shadows all around the room.
A pine bookshelf stood at the end of the room, with a single desk next to it. Hermione smiled to herself, she would never be bored in this room. She imagined herself seated, and reading for hours. She walked towards the bookshelf and ran her hand through the spines off the books. She shivered with pleasure, along with some classics, there were some new books there.
Plush chairs and rugs were in the corners, and a poster of Hermione's favorite band, The Three Sisters was above the desk.
Hermione walked all around the room, pausing to touch the silky bed, and the plush pink chairs.
Hermione sat down on the bed, and sighed in contentment. She began to undress, settling her robes on the hook next to the door. Tomorrow, she would have her first day of classes. Excitement cursed through her as she thought of this. Tomorrow, she would be envied by all as she proudly displayed her prefect badge.
Hermione distinctly heard the sound of water running next door. Reality dawned on her, like ice water chilling her body. Draco was going to be living right next door.
Draco lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He loved his room, it felt warm, like a fire; his house colors were incorporated in every spot. He ran his hands through his hair, still damp from his shower.
Granger. Her scent was on him. Everywhere. It was all over her house, it was in his hair, it was in his face.
But he didn't mind as much as he thought he would.
He knew he should. What would his family think?
Draco sniggered at the answer, he knew his mother would not care, she'd probably be proud of him going against his father's word, Merlin knows how much she resents him. It was his father who was prejudiced against muggle-borns. His father was not here anymore, so that wasn't an issue.
Draco sighed to himself. While he didn't find her attractive, he had to admit... she wasn't hideous. She was still a mudblood. What would everyone think? Besides, he didn't even know if she had feelings for him. I probably don't even like her, just hormones Draco reassured himself. He had Pansy, but deep down he knew he did not care for her what-so-ever.
He glanced at the clock on the nightstand; 12:20.
He fell asleep, dreaming of raspberries.
Hermione awoke early the next morning, feeling her heart pounding as she thought of the day ahead. First day of classes!
She ran to the shower, humming to herself, using every sweet smelling product she owned.
She dressed in her best robes, and held up the purple prefect badge in front of her. She fingered the smooth letter P and pinned it on her robe.
Now to tackle her hair, often difficult since it had a mind of it's own.
Hermione brushed through her wet hair, and decided on blow-drying it instead of a drying spell. Her curls fell gently over her shoulders, Hermione smiled to herself.
Draco made his way to Transfiguration, excitement running through his veins.
The thought of showing off his Prefect badge made him giddy, and he sped up his pace. The thought of seeing Granger again after last night made him slow his pace down again.
Did he want to see her?
He had no idea how to answer this question. He wasn't particularly sure he wanted to, and he was sure he didn't want to think about last night.
He felt a hand on his back, and instantly knew it was Pansy.
"Draco... I heard you got your own room, since your a prefect now..." Pansy purred into his ear.
Draco grimaced, he wasn't in the mood for Pansy today. "Yes, but visitors are not welcome at the moment." Draco snapped, removing her hand.
Pansy froze, obviously shocked at his abruptness.
"Draco, what's going on? First you haven't called or owled me all summer, yesterday you were quite distant, and now this? Did I do something wrong, is there someone else?" At this, her eyes narrowed suspiciously, and she turned around, expecting to find the answer right in front of her.
Draco sighed, and turned to face Pansy. She was getting suspicious. He took a look at her uniforms. Under her robe was a white v-neck shirt, with the buttons undone, and a ridiculously short navy-blue skirt.
Draco placed a hand on her thigh, and said, with a forced smile, "nothing, I'm just tired. See you later?"
Pansy smiled back at him, and leaned in for a kiss.
Draco stiffened, and kissed her back, unwillingly.
Pansy fluttered past him into Transfiguration.
Draco made his way in. And saw Hermione Granger.
His breath caught in his throat, but he continued walking.
He could not let her see he was still thinking of last night.
He would not lead her on.
He sat in his seat, in front of her horizontally.
He could feel her eyes boring into his back.
Pansy took her seat on his left, and not-so-discreetly slipped her hand on his thigh, moving it up. Draco shifted, so that Granger could see it for herself.
He draped his hand across Pansy's back, smirking to himself.
If possible, the eyes on his back became harder. Like they were acid cutting into his skin, leaving permanent holes.
Hermione stiffened. Pansy Parkinson.
Draco had just shifted, exposing the arm Pansy was moving up his thigh.
Memories of last night rang in her mind, and Hermione blushed scarlet. What did she care? Hermione did not want him.
Draco draped his arm across Pansy's back.
Hermione's eyes became shrewd, her fingers twiching. She was dieing to hex Pansy, make her turn into the pug she resembled, alas it would give her feelings away.
Hermione could do better. She knew she was attractive, she had been told countless times by the boys in her grade. She could play Draco's game – and win.
Hermione turned onto her left, and saw Dean Thomas, the boy that liked her in 3rd year when she got her new haircut and rid herself of her awful bushy bangs.
She struck up a conversation, and pushed her stray curls under her ear, flirtatiously.
She, of course, did not fancy Dean.
She knew Draco did not fancy Parkinson.
"Dean, how was your summer?" Hermione asked, plastering a smile on her face.
Dean smiled at her, and launched into a description of his trip to Egypt, and his new owl, Matila.
Hermione kept the conversation going until Professor McGonogall walked in. She noticed Draco looked particularly stiff. Good.
The rest of the class was uneventful; they had been assigned an essay on how to transform cups into animals.
Her breath caught a couple of times as Draco stroked Pansy's back, but a small part of her wondered whether it was to make a point.
Hermione turned back to Dean, and continued the conversation, until class ended.
Hermione nearly gasped with relief as the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Hermione waved goodbye to Dean, and began to pick up her books.
As she made for the door, Pansy – with her arm around Draco – put a hand out, knocking her books over.
Hermione's blood boiled with rage. She looked at Draco as Pansy shook with laughter. Draco looked... was annoyed the right word?
It didn't feel like it. He simply looked angry with Pansy, and before she had time to bend down and pick them up, he had stalked them in his arms, and handed them to her.
Hermione blinked a few times in suprise, and soon recovered.
"Thank you." she murmured.
Draco glanced at Pansy, who was fuming a feet away.
"It's nothing." He said, grabbing Pansy's arm, and turning away.
Hermione blushed scarlet, and headed to the library.
As soon as they were out of Transfiguration, Pansy whirled, staring at Draco.
"What was that? You should have let the mudblood pick them up by herself! Stomped on them for good measure! That's what I would have expected from a pure-blood, from you. But no, you didn't do that! WHY?"
Draco frowned in surprise, he didn't think of it as a big deal, he couldn't stand to see Pansy treat her that way, and his blood boiled.
"It was rude, I just picked them up for her... it didn't mean anything!" Draco snarled at her.
Pansy regarded him for a moment, but said nothing.
Draco remembered he had a free period, kissed Pansy good bye (she frowned as he did so) and headed towards the library to get a start on his essay for Potions.
He opened the think wooden door, and walked in.
The smell of books hit him, along with ink.
The library looked empty, as it usually did. He suddenly noticed a head full of curls sitting at a table, quill in hand. Hermione Granger.
He hesitantly walked towards the bookshelves, and made his way to the one next to her table, looking for a potion's book.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw a flurry of blonde hair.
Hermione froze for a moment, but kept writing, focusing on the potions essay at hand.
Draco moved closer, slowly, before seating himself across from her, and beginning his essay.
Hermione looked up, startled, and gazed at him for a moment. He was holding Advanced Potionmaking – year 6 and scribbling notes down on his roll of parchment.
He was biting his lip, and speeding over the words on the book, shadows casting on his eyes.
Hermione turned back to her parchment, and began writing, a thin smile playing on her lips.
Draco glanced over when he was sure Hermione wasn't looking, noticing she was playing with one of her curls, a sure sign she was thinking about something.
Hermione bit down on her lower lip, and her brow scrunched as she pondered the information in front of her. She was aware Draco was staring at her, with a peculiar expression.
"You should organize the main ideas first, it should help, seeing as it's more factual." Draco supplied, keeping his gaze on her.
Hermione's head snapped up as though she'd forgotten he was there. She looked back down to her parchment, and a look of understanding stole her features.
"Thank you, that helps." she murmured.
Draco glanced at her, a smirk playing on the corner of his lips.
"Suprised Granger? I know you were baffled when I was appointed male prefect."
Hermione blushed slightly, yes she had been very baffled. "To be fair, you've never shown any signs of intelligence to me." She murmured, blushing scarlet.
Draco laughed, surprising himself. "A lot of people think that, when in reality, I have the second best grades in the class, aside from you. I've even had most of my essays done for months now." He said the last part quietly, running his fingers through his hair.
Hermione was pleased he actually laughed, and again, she had the desire to run her fingers through his hair.
"Really? I apoligize. You seemed awfully stupid in 3rd year." Hermione joked, putting her quill down.
Draco smirked at her. "When you punched me in the face?" He retorted sarcastically.
Hermione laughed, she'd forgotten that. Although, she had laughed for days at the look of his face. "You deserved it." she said knowingly, pointing her index finger at him.
Draco smiled, not opposed. In reality, he had.
He felt something just then... he wasn't sure what the word for it was... admiration? She punched him in 3rd year like it was the easiest thing in the world, like he was filth. It made her feel strong, and it made him respect her, although he'd never admit it.
Draco gave her a smile. "Yeah... I did." He murmured.
Hermione looked startled for a moment, but smiled.
Draco Malfoy just apoligized to me.
Hermione's insides warmed like a fire was roasting them, and her spine tingled.
Draco smiled to himself as he continued to work on his essay, unaware of Hermione's gaze.
Hermione knew, right then, that she was falling hard.