An Honest Face – Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own it, I'm not making any money from it… you get it. So read on! :D
~oOo~
He was already waiting there in the corridor when Hermione arrived. By now she was utterly sick and tired of all this guesswork; she wanted answers. She strode over to him and – after checking to make sure they were alone – said venomously, "I'll keep it simple for your puny intelligence, Malfoy." She spat his name out with as much distaste as she could muster. "What. The. Fuck?"
"Now, now, Granger," he tutted, still smiling as he took a step towards her. "No need for that. I don't like foul-mouthed girls, you know."
"I'll make a point of cussing more often if it'll keep you away, you foul, slimy git! Now answer me. I want to know what you're up to, and I want to know now." Time to end this folly.
He remained cold and aloof, maintaining his icy demeanour as always. "Didn't I make myself clear enough last time?" he drawled. "And here I was, thinking that you were supposed to be the smartest witch in the year."
Hermione's heart beat faster in her chest when he mentioned their previous encounter. Why should I be panicking? she berated herself. I'm not scared of Malfoy. She rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to speak – in hindsight a bad idea.
Malfoy took the opportunity to step swiftly closer and lean in. Hermione, experiencing a brief moment of déjà vu, saw what was coming and fumbled for her wand, but to her dismay he was quicker, jinxing her arms fast to her sides with a quick, "Petrificus torsus!"
Shit. She took a step back, looking for a means of escape, but her back thudded against the wall – she was trapped. So, this is why I get worried when I'm alone with Malfoy.
Wide brown eyes met stormy grey, and then he kissed her. One of his hands rose to her face, the other going to her arse as his lips played over hers and he pressed her into the wall. His tongue slid inside her mouth and she was helpless to stop him; at the same time a hundred conflicting thoughts screamed their way through her mind:
Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!
Oh, déjà vu, much?
How do I get him off me!
FUCK!
Why is he doing this?
This really is very different from kissing Ron...
What on earth is he doing with his tongue!
Fuck!
Is not being able to make him stop really such a bad thing?
I did not just think that.
WHY THE FUCK IS DRACO MALFOY KISSING ME!
It couldn't have gone on for much more than ten seconds – though it felt more like half a century to Hermione – before she came somewhat to her senses and did about the only thing she could do.
She bit him.
He exclaimed something in pain and jerked away from her. Then all the air went out of him as she kneed him in the groin and made a break for it. Her arms still stuck absurdly to her sides, she raced away from him, for the seconds time leaving him crumpled on the floor.
Half an hour later, after she'd freed her arms and washed her mouth out, she – quite suddenly, it seemed – found herself ten minutes late for History of Magic. She sprinted though the castle at top speed, screeching to a halt in front of Professor Binns' classroom and slipping in behind her desk, panting. Miraculously, no-one noticed as Professor Binns had already managed to drone the whole class into a zombie-like stupor. She shook her head; it appeared that it really was only her that paid any attention in History of Magic.
She noted dimly that her stomach was telling her she'd missed lunch, but this was overshadowed by the urge to scream and go hide under the nearest available rock before her thoughts and whatever other madness caught up with her. Planting her elbows on the table in front of her and covering her face with her hands, she tried to suppress said urge as best she could whilst also trying to forget everything that had happened between her and Malfoy.
Needless to say, she failed miserably at the latter.
Hermione's mind reeled. She simply couldn't think of a logical reason for Malfoy to suddenly take such an abrupt interest in her, or even any interest in her at all... Apart from some unknown plan of his or some controlling outside force having put a curse on him – but that got her exactly nowhere. Without further information she simply couldn't make anything fit. Apart from his unnatural actions, he hadn't been acting cursed – he hadn't been looking blank or sporting any other signs of a powerful spell at work.
It was just so frustrating! She simply had no clue at all... and what was she going to do the next time he tried something? Run away? Hex him? Neither of those had really worked so far, but what else could she do?
Suddenly she became aware of people moving around her. She looked up and realised the bell had rung and class was over – and she hadn't written a thing. Standing up and picking up her bag, she made a decision. Each of the incidents had happened when they were alone together... so it stood to reason that if he was never again alone with her, there would be no more of them.
A determined expression on her face, Hermione strode out of the classroom to join Harry and Ron in Transfiguration.
~oOo~
Author's note: Okay, I realise I've been away on hiatus inexcusably long, and that this isn't the extremely interesting chapter you were expecting to make up for it... but the next one will be a LOT more interesting, I promise you that... (insert appropriate evil cackle here). Please review! :)