Draco was walking through the corridors by himself which was an unusual occurrence. Usually he was flanked by at least two other people, the more the better it made him look powerful and everyone feared him. It was almost curfew and he only passed a few stragglers. Everyone of them walking quickly with their heads down praying they made it to their common room before curfew hit. Such scaredy-cats they were he couldn't help but think. Did they honestly believe that if they were a minute late something was going to jump out of the walls and swallow them up?
As the minutes ticked by Draco ran into less and less people. That's why he was surprised when he rounded the corner and saw the goody-two-shoed Granger strolling towards him. Her eyes flicked to his face and just as quickly they were back to their original position.
"Hey Granger," Draco said.
She nodded her head in recognition. It was a cold greeting, one that you'd give somebody that you knew but were trying to avoid.
"We need to talk."
"About what?" she managed to say.
Draco reached out and grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him so he didn't have to yell, "That's better," he said. He was trusting his instincts here and his instincts were telling him to go for it. It was now or never.
He opened his mouth to begin talking to her but instantly swallowed his words. The look that she had in her eyes was different. Usually she was tense around him, her eyes had betrayed her this time. They were a lighter, more golden shade of brown. Impulsively his shook his head, why was he even thinking that, he was going crazy? Eye colours didn't change, or did they?
"I was just going to remind you to make sure you have that easy for Defense done. You seemed a bit side tracked in class today when he assigned it," at the last moment he had chickened out and went with the safety net, talking about school. Well really what else did they have in common?
A brief look of confusion flashed across her face and then it was promptly followed by a panicked expression, "What essay?" of course she hadn't heard, she'd been to busy trying to not see Ron and Lavender sitting side by side a few seats away. Also how did anyone expect her to concentrate with having the desk mate that she had?
Draco proceeded to tell her about their homework, all the while trying to hide his shock about how Granger had missed an assignment. It would have almost been worth it to not tell her and see her face tomorrow when she realized that she'd lost out on easy marks.
He finished his explanation and then there was an awkward silence. Neither of them knowing what to say.
"Well then," Hermione said breaking the silence.
"Yeah," Draco agreed.
"I guess I should get going," she sidestepped around him but stopped after only two steps and turned to face Draco again, "Thanks," she said kindly.
Draco's confidence soared, that one word had been laden with so much appreciation instead of it's usual hate.
"Hey no problem, any time."
Hermione nodded once and then set off at a quick pace. It took a second for it to hit him but when it did it hit him hard. Gryffindor Tower was in the opposite direction. What was Granger up to, wandering around-with a quick check of his watch-after curfew?
What Draco didn't know was that she was trying to run into him in hopes that something would come of it.
"Hey Granger," Draco called.
She stopped once again and slowly twisted just her head this time to see what he wanted.
"Gryffindor Tower's that way," he pointed her in the right direction.
A smile played on her lips and then it grew. It took all of his strengths to restrain himself from jumping up and down, wow a heart felted thanks and a smile all in a matter of minutes.
"The kitchens," she replied simply.
And he got a truthful reply from her. If this kept up he'd be through with her in a fortnight.
"Really?" he asked puzzled, "You know how to get in?" he'd always wondered how you got into the Hogwart's kitchens and where it was for that matter.
"Of course I know," she replied, "You don't?"
xxx.:.x.:.xxx
When Malfoy said he didn't know where the kitchen was she was stunned, she had always thought that if anybody other than the Weasley's, her and Harry knew it would Malfoy.
"Come on," she said offhandedly, she didn't know what influenced her decision but she knew it was the right one to make.
A smile danced across his face and he walked up beside her and they set off through the maze of corridors and staircases that would take them to the kitchens. They passed dozens of portraits along the way and the majority of the occupants glared at them. Whether it was for the civilly between two people from feuding houses or the fact that they were out after curfew, or both Draco and Hermione didn't know.
"Well here we are," Hermione exclaimed.
Malfoy looked blankly at the painting of the bowl of fruit and then looked to Hermione for conformation, "You're telling me that all the years that I've passed this painting I've been walking by the kitchens?"
"Yup, but may I ask what were you doing down here in the Hufflepuff neck of the woods?" there really wasn't a point to asking that question. She knew what his answer would be. She resolved that all she wanted to see was his reaction.
Malfoy smirked and said, "Think it through Granger," changing the subject he said, "So what's the password?"
"There isn't one," she replied simply.
"Oh no," he moaned, "You're not telling me that I have to do a jig or strip to my boxers to get in. I'm telling you if anybody's stripping it's you Granger."
"Haha very funny. You'd like that wouldn't you?" she went out on a limb again and asked the question.
Malfoy didn't say anything for a moment but then replied cockily, "Yeah who wouldn't?"
Hermione murmured something so quietly that the only reason he knew she said anything was because he saw her lips move. Maybe that wasn't the best thing to say. He hoped he hadn't taken one step forward tonight but then consequently fell two steps back. That was very likely how this was going to turn out.
"So what you do is tickle the pear."
"I beg your pardon?" he thought he heard her say you had to tickle the pear.
"Like this."
Much to his amazement she stretched her hand out and rubbed it along the pear in the painting. They stepped into the kitchen and Hermione couldn't help but stare at Malfoy's face. It was priceless the expression on it.
"It's not really much right? Your kitchen at home's probably twice this size," she said.
He didn't say anything but when he recovered his cool and ability to speak he replied with, "Yeah something like that."
They sat down on the nearest bench and gladly accepted two pieces of hot apple pie from an overly eager house elf. They dipped their forks into the dessert and mopped up the growing puddle of melted ice cream. They didn't speak as they savored the delightful taste of cinnamon and apples. After they'd mopped up everything off of their plates Hermione abruptly stood, "Well this has been interesting," she stumbled over her words. As much as she wanted to play it calm and cool her brain and mouth just didn't have that sort of connection. Apparently she was going to make a total ass out of herself, that's usually why she tried to avoid these situations.
"Yeah, interesting," he agreed.
"I've got to go," she spat it out in a rush. She grabbed the bag of goodies that the house elves had put together for her as they were eating and ran towards the door. Once she was safely out in the deserted corridor she let out her pent up breath. Wow, that seemed seriously like a date. They talked to each other and if it wasn't anything else they acted as if they were well friends.
She knew she wanted this to happen but was wanting something and picturing it in you head that much different than living it? She assumed so. The nagging voice in the back of her head, what she called her little voice of reason apparently took a short vacation in which time she managed to act as a normal teenage girl would act around the guy that she fancied. When that voice appeared again she'd panicked. She questioned her judgment and whether she was doing the right thing.
It didn't take her long to navigate the passages back to the common room. Once safely there she flopped down onto the coach beside Harry and Ginny but almost instantly leapt back up again. She remembered why she'd left in the first place. Both of them were working out their feelings for each other and she felt like a third wheel. Throwing the bag of treats onto her recently vacated spot she decided to head up to her dorm and work on the essay Malfoy told her about.
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked.
"Homework," Hermione replied briskly.
"I thought you said you were done?"
"I thought so too," Hermione grumbled. That had to be a first she complained about doing schoolwork.
"So you just remembered?" Ginny asked skeptically.
"No somebody reminded me," she shot Ginny a look that clearly said don't push it any further you know exactly who I'm talking about.
"What took you so long?" Harry asked.
"Malfoy," Hermione forced her voice to take on the angry tone that she usually used when talking about Malfoy. It was difficult, her head had finally begun to clear and she was ecstatic about how well the last half hour had gone.
"What'd he do?" Harry tried to jump to his feet but Ginny pushed him back down and silenced him with a look. It was if they were already an old married couple. It was about time they realized how perfect they were for each other.
"Nothing, it was strange. He just told me to make sure I had my Defense Essay done. It was almost as if he knew I'd forgotten to do it."
Ginny beamed from behind Harry's back, things were working out faster than she had anticipated.
"Well I'm going upstairs. Night," she waved to her two best friends and headed upstairs to do that dreaded essay.
She was halfway done her essay when Ginny walked into her dorm. Half of Hermione's dorm mates were in the process of getting ready for bed or reading while lying down. The rest were nowhere to be seen.
"Hey Hermione," Ginny sang, "Guess what?"
"Not now Ginny, I have to finish this because if I stop I'm not going to want to work on it again."
"Fine," Ginny huffed as she walked over to Hermione's trunk and began searching through it.
"Hermione," she whined again a few minutes later.
"Ginny not now."
Hermione's began scratching faster across the page and in half the time she finished her essay, "There what was it you wanted?" she wasn't happy with how the essay had turned out but then again she was never happy with her work and she still did exceptionally well on it. Hopefully this would be a repeat of that but with Snape marking it was very unlikely.
"You never told me you had anything like this," Ginny held up a red bra with matching panties. Hermione felt her face instantly go the colour of the lingerie that Ginny was waving around.
"Put those away," she hissed.
"Whatever," Ginny threw them back in Hermione's trunk but made sure they were on top, "but you're wearing them tomorrow."
"Ginny my blouse is white," Hermione moaned.
"So everyone else wear's a bright bra, I'm sick of you plain beige and white cotton ones."
"What did you want when you first came in here?" Hermione wanted to get this over with, she was tired and so were her dorm mates. She could tell because they were shooting her warning glances.
"Oh just to tell you that I'm the new girlfriend of…Harry Potter," she squealed.
"Really?!" to hell with the glares from the other girls. This was great news. The glares only intensified though they were being fired at a different person. It was no secret that every one of those girls had had a hope that they would be the one Harry Potter chose to have as his girlfriend.
"Well it's about time," Hermione said.
"You're telling me, I thought he was never going to get his act together," Ginny shook her head.
Hermione leaned in for a hug and Ginny giddy with excitement eagerly returned it. While their heads were beside each other Hermione whispered into Ginny's ear so only she could hear it, "Malfoy and I talked."
Now it was Ginny's turn to be surprised, "Like actually talked?"
"Well it was a conversation so yes with Malfoy that's actual talking."
"So that's what took you so long?"
Hermione nodded and she too was grinning, all of her woes about Ron and Lavender were forgotten, "I showed him where the kitchen was and then we had some apple pie," she was so giddy as she talked about it quietly with Ginny her whole body was almost shaking with excitement. The dorm had filled up and all the girls were now straining their ears to hear what Hermione and Ginny were saying. They could see lips moving but what they didn't realize was Hermione had performed a silencing spell while giving Ginny a hug making it look like they were only whispering.
"So what do you think? Could something more come of this?" Ginny asked expectantly.
"Ginny you're the expert here. I've never so much as…" she trailed off, she'd never admitted it before now to anyone, "never even kissed anyone. How sad is that I'm sixteen and never been kissed?"
Ginny forced herself to keep her mouth closed, she was shocked but that would only make Hermione feel worse. How could she have never been kissed it was such an amazing experience. Poor Hermione to have to have that on her mind she must feel like such a loser. Girls in her year had lost their virginity and there Hermione was not only a virgin but completely innocent, "What about Krum you said that he was just physical?"
Hermione shook her head and then flopped backwards, her head narrowly missing the headboard instead landing with a soft thump on her plump pillow.
"I don't even know how," Hermione moaned, "so whenever I eventually do get my first kiss I'm going to seem like such a loser because they'll be expecting something more than someone that's has as much experience as an eleven year old."
Discussing this brought up very unpleasant memories for Ginny. Her first kiss had indeed been when she was eleven. She had been a first year and it happened to be at one of the times that she wasn't being possessed by Riddle. For all the experiences that had happened that year why did one of the most unpleasant ones have to be one of the few that she remembered? It was during an intense game of truth or dare between her fellow Gryffindor First Years. She'd chosen dare and what a mistake that was. After that she resolved that she would always chose truth. Nobody would know you were lying. That only worked though until her third year when it was discovered that there was actually a charm that could be used to make sure the rules were followed correctly. Until then they had apparently been playing the muggle game of Truth or Dare.
"Aww Hermione," Ginny gave her upset a friend a hug but it did little to comfort the now distraught Hermione.
"And then if something further happens with Malfoy what will he say when he find's out I've never been kissed?"
"You mean if you date him?"
She nodded glumly.
"Don't tell him, I'm sure you can't be that bad that he'll know outright."
"I doubt it, I bet I'm the worst kisser in the world."
No, Ginny thought that title would go to the person she'd been dared to kiss.
"He won't let me live it down," she moaned.
Ginny was glad Hermione was good a silencing spells. How she knew it was good was from the looks of the girl's faces around them. They were angry that they couldn't hear why Hermione was holding back her tears. Rumors were being formed in every one of their heads.
"Hermione so much of it comes naturally. It's an instinct, a reflex. One somebody kisses you just wait a minute, get in the rhythm of it and if it's the right person your body will just know how to do it."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
Hermione didn't look like she completely trusted Ginny but she wanted desperately to so she let the topic drop. There was better things to talk about, her lack of love life should not be relevant when Ginny had just been asked out by her soul mate.
"I can't believe you aren't bouncing off the walls," Hermione exclaimed, "You must be so excited."
"Hermione it really hasn't sunk in. Maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and be excited but right now it just seems like a dream."
"Wait until you walk into the Great Hall together, you'll need a bullet proof vest."
"A what vest?" Ginny asked, not knowing what a bullet was.
"Sorry muggle body armor," she dismissed it with a wave of her hand. Sometimes it was quite difficult differentiating what was in her head with what her wizard friends would understand. It was even worse talking with her few muggle friends or relatives because unlike with classifying something as muggle and the wizards understanding she couldn't simply brush off saying wand or broomstick or flying broomsticks, it just didn't work so well.
Ginny cringed when she thought about how mad some girls were going to be with her. She knew already that it was going to be like she had stolen their boyfriend even though Harry had probably never even known half of their names.
"I'm so happy for you Gin."
"I'm happy for myself," Ginny said, she was starting to get excited and she loved that feeling.
"Now we just have to hope for my happy ending."
"It will come girl, don't fret it. You don't want to be with the wrong person and regret it. I've done my fair share of that, it's not pretty. Well I'm exhausted. Goodnight. Have some sweet," she wiggled her eyebrows and Hermione stifled a giggle, Ginny did that so well, "dreams about your Slytherin boy."
"Right back at you."
As Hermione shimmied under the quilt she thought, Ginny said that the being with the wrong person wasn't good, but how was she supposed to know who the right one was? Didn't she have to make mistakes before she knew how to succeed?
xxx.:.x.:.xxx
a/n Sucky chapter I think. It didn't have the emotion in it that I wanted it to but then again when I sat down to right I had literally no idea what to put down. I knew where I wanted this story to go-that's a first for me I never plan out stories-but I just couldn't find a way to get it there. So I do apologize.
Anywho, please review. Thanks if you have. It's really good to wake up in the morning and see reviews in my inbox and when I return from work. I don't think it's an unreasonable request to ask for ask many reviews as I have people on story alert. Do you think so? Hint that's 10. Thanks again.