Chapter 7: Progress
The next few days past quickly. Hermione had lots of essays to write and books to read, more than usual, which made it easier to forget about her problems she had. She met up with Malfoy less than before, because she had no time and simply because they had no common room to hide either. Sometimes they went to the Room of Requirement, but it cost them too much expenditure and they were too anxious about being caught since there were always some people on the seventh floor.
Despite her busy schedule, Hermione saw Ronald more often, Harry didn't plan on leaving Hogwarts for the next weeks and wanted to spend a lot of time with both of them.
Hermione was in the Gryffindor common room writing her Arithmancy essay. She usually preferred to work and study either in the library or in her own head common room, but it was uncommonly silent and calm in the Gryffindor tower. Last Friday evening many Hogwarts students left the castle to visit Beauxbatons – Professor McGonagall expanded the amount of exchange pupils since more had applied than she had expected, besides the program should make the young wizards and witches more joyful and not the opposite so she couldn't reject almost everyone.
Another reason why Harry was clinging to her and Ron: Ginny was in Beauxbatons. Hermione hadn't seen anyone that excited for a long time when McGonagall read her name one dinner. Luna however didn't make it on the list, therefore Hermione promised the platinum blond witch to spend time with her.
"Hey 'Mione, what are you doing?" she heard a familiar voice behind her. Within some seconds she found two arms wrapped around her from behind and Ronald leaning his head on her shoulder.
"Ron...!" She gasped. "Um, writing my essays." She was surprised. They were on slightly better terms, but Ron still didn't show up without Harry, ever.
"And what are you doing here? Where's Harry?" Hermione asked, she didn't try to hide her confusion. Ron walked around the sofa and sat beside her.
"I don't know, I think he has a meeting with McGonagall about his future plans or something," he explained passively as he laid his arms around her shoulder.
Hermione didn't know how to react to his... sudden change of interaction. She decided to put her essay and books on the table in front of her and bring them away from her knees and away from Ron since she knew he was clumsy and the sheets would be crumpled easily around him.
She looked at his freckled face thoughtfully, at his – she found – lovely blue eyes, trying to read his ulterior motive out of them.
He didn't notice her obvious stare or maybe he only pretended to not notice it, but simply continued with his actions of change and brushed a strand of her curly hair out of her face like he had used to do. Hermione hadn't been that confused for a long time and her brows were knitted in a rather perplexed frown. she was about to protest, but then Ron suddenly gave her a kiss, two three on her cheek (wet, like they had used to be) and wandered with his lips to her mouth.
Hermione's mind couldn't think clear – but her heart felt joy and happiness, her frown disappeared in a sudden to a soft expression.
"I've missed you, 'Mione," he whispered between his smooches. Who thought that three words that weren't "I love you" could make a person that happy.
Hermione leaned into his soft and loving kiss, her heart felt alive, felt the oxygen rich blood flow through it with every touch of Ron's lips. Nearly drowning in her blissful feelings, she remembered that she had to take the opportunity and use the techniques she had learned.
Her tongue inserted his mouth as she placed a hand on his nape, their kiss was probably the most enthusiastic kiss she had ever shared with him and she hoped he enjoyed it as much as she did.
After their lips finally separated, both gasping for air, Ron had an expression on his face like he had had back in sixth year after he had eaten Harry's chocolates spiked with some love potion.
"Wow...! Hermione... That was amazing!" he stated with his mouth open almost drooling. Hermione was relieved about his reaction, she was truly happy and couldn't believe that her plan she had made with her unstable emotions worked.
"I... I'm just glad we're finally together again," she sighed with a sincere smile on her lips.
Ron cupped her cheeks with his hands and started to kiss her again. This time more aggressively, more willing. Hermione's nerves whirled and rushed around, a tingling feeling aroused in her stomach. She felt sincerely content, but then she slowly thought about her whole situation.
She didn't want to snog with him and be with him like before without having a proper conversation and not knowing clearly what his problem had been or was. Ron had ignored her for several weeks and she wanted to have an explanation from him. Also, she knew (or secretly she hoped) her kissing couldn't quite be the only reason why he hadn't talked to her for a month.
Although she was very happy at the moment and she didn't want to ruin it, she needed an explanation, she needed a reason why she had been dejected, depressed and just not herself for a whole month.
Gently she pushed his chest with her feminine hands away and looked in his surprised face which made her hesitate quickly and made her think if she really wanted to risk her new found happiness so suddenly. But Hermione was an intelligent lady, she knew that if she would not ask him and learn about the problem, history might repeat itself and then this new found happiness wasn't real, but rather a temporary pseudo happiness.
Hermione didn't know how to start, she was still afraid of losing him once more and that within only some minutes having him back again.
Just as Ron wanted to place his lips anew on hers, she interrupted him.
"Ron… What actually was the matter? Why didn't you talk with me for so many weeks…" her eyes started to get wet when she thought about the night Ron had been so cold to her and leaving her in confusion, but she swallowed the sorrow down and remembered that it was over.
Ron nervously hawked, his expression turned from dreamy to anxious. Nonetheless he started to speak or rather started muttering.
"Erm, I'm sorry Hermione… But I don't know what happened. Maybe I was just nervous and everything and I was bloody embarrassed the next day… I couldn't look at you after that and… and that I blamed you made it only worse." he mumbled, his voice sounded worried and apologetic.
But Hermione was relieved and hugged him as respond. She hugged him tightly and he wrapped his arms around her as well, although he was quite dumbfounded by her reaction.
"You never have to be embarrassed about something in front of me, Ronald. I love you."
oOoOo
"Draco... Glad to see you," a blond haired young witch greeted him in the Three Broomsticks. She was, despite her worried expression, very pretty, and she wore a robe as noble as Draco's.
"Hello Daphne," he greeted her shortly as he sat down at the opposite end.
"How are you and Blaise? And how is Hogwarts?" She asked him hoping to hear something about her former housemates. Draco told her about Blaise's idea of house unity and how Hogwarts tried best being a bit more cheerful than usual.
"Tell me about Pansy." He said straight out—unlike her he didn't want to talk around the bush, it was his free Saturday afternoon and there were other things which had to be done.
"How was she able to contact me? And what am I supposed to do?" He asked her with a calm voice hiding his inner stress.
"Well, I have my connections in the Ministry, especially for a lady people will more likely turn a blind eye. Anyway, I found a former Hufflepuff student working as guard in Azkaban who was controlling the prisoners regularly. I befriended him, talked always about my poor friend unjustly imprisoned and voilà, he let me pass a letter to her and let her write back, of course."
She took a sip of her butterbeer Rosmertha had brought moments ago. Her Slytherin traits were unquestionable which made Draco smirk, but his expression turned quickly back to serious again as his former housemate continued to explain.
"Anyway," she sighed, "I didn't lie to the Hufflepuff guy when I told him how horrible Pansy had it. She really wants to get out, she even wanted to join the eighth year... Well, that's not the point. We should help her get out, particularly you should do something against her bad situation since you are the one who could escape the punishment and you have the power to help her, too."
Draco massaged his nose bridge to calm his nerves. He didn't know what he should do, he wanted to help his friend, but he was under constant observation by the Ministry, one wrong move that would make him look suspicious and he would be sent to Azkaban.
"Listen, Daphne. I don't know if I can help Pansy. You know many people weren't happy about the court ruling of my trial and they will use every opportunity they get to satisfy themselves. It's too risky to help someone getting out of that hell of a prison, especially when that person is held there for the same reasons I would have almost been locked up for." Draco grunted and gulped down his butterbeer.
"That person is our friend, Draco." she was upset and frowned disappointingly at him. "Can't you risk your arse for her?"
Draco started to get agitated, he could no longer fake his calmness. He was becoming rather livid. He pressed his fists hard together, his knuckles turned white, sallower as he already was,
"I would not only risk my arse. My father is in Azkaban and will probably never return. I am the only Malfoy heir, I have to take care of the manor, of the family businesses et cetera. And I can't leave my mother alone. As the heir I have too many responsibilities and a too huge future destined for me. And my family doesn't have the power they used to have."
With that, the discussion ended. Daphne was stubborn and still didn't understand why Draco couldn't help Pansy, but she accepted the fact that he wouldn't. She was very upset and angry about it, though, and they both left the Three Broomsticks in quite a grim mood. Luckily he didn't have to spend time with her sister Astoria, she was in this Beauxbatons exchange project—her squealing in the Slytherin common room couldn't be ignored. Draco had found his interest in her, however, with many difficulties going on at the moment he didn't have enough nerves to be hearing her high-pitched voice.
oOoOo
Hermione waited in front of Hagrid's hut for class to begin. Thanks to her solved problems with Ron she was always punctual (even too early on schedule like her usual self) and of course, she had written her Arithmancy essay without any trouble. Now she was beaming, waiting for Hagrid to start the Care of Magical Creatures class.
Hermione looked through the crowd of students who were waiting as well. They were less than usual, a lot of people were missing. The reason was probably the Beauxbatons project.
"Hullo everyone," Hagrid started with a loud voice, the crowd's talks and conversations turned silent and the students turned their attention to the professor.
"So we're goin' ter observe an' experiment with Glumbum'les." Hagrid's excitement could be sensed... as always. "Anyone know whatta Glumbum'le is?" He asked the crowd with his sparkling, dark eyes.
"A Glumbumble is a grey, furry, flying insect that produces a Treacle. The Treacle is used as an antidote to the hysteria caused by eating Alihotsy leaves. However, it induces melancholy in those who consume it." Hermione recited perfectly as if she'd read her response out loud from a schoolbook.
Hagrid beamed proudly and walked with big steps to a table near his hut. The young wizards and witches followed him, some more curious than the others, as he continues his lesson.
"Correct Hermione, very good! Ten points ter Gryffindor! Now, yeh see tha'?" he picked up one of the jars that was placed on the table. There was a grey insect inside of it. "Tha's it, a Glumbum'le! Yeh gotta work with yer partner togeth'r an' get some Teacle from yer Glumbum'le. Tha's yer project fer the nex' four lessons. Be nice to yer Glumbum'le or else it won't give yeh Treacle."
"But Professor Hagrid, Ginny isn't here. Should I work alone? Luna asked him as the other students started to pick up a jar.
Hermione's partner was Neville in Care of Magical Creatures, but she found it wouldn't be a big deal if Luna worked with her, she was rather fond of magical creatures and wouldn't hinder Hermione.
"You can work with Neville and I." she suggested after thinking her idea through.
"My partner isn't here as well, Professor," a voice stated. It belonged to no other than Blaise Zabini.
"Tha's convenient, yeh two will work togeth'r then!" Hagrid pressed a jar in Zabini's hands with a big smile across his face. Hermione was startled by Hagrid's decision, but Luna didn't seem to care and walked with Blaise away.
"Did you know that Glumbumbles like the smell of butterbeer?" Luna asked her new partner in her usual dreamy voice.
Blaise responded with a laugh and shook his head.
"That's one bloody bizarre fact."
"My third stepfather was fond of insects like Glumbumbles though. When I was young I used to observe some and we also found one of the rarest insects." Blaise eyed Luna with a playful smile, knowing she would be curious what kind of creature he had found.
Hermione was confused by the Slytherins. Zabini used to call people like the Lovegoods and the Weasleys blood traitors and now he was almost flirting with Luna. Hermione knew that he was a playboy, though—he had once had a thing with Ginny after she had fought with Dean and had come late to the dinner of the Slug club. He had had always an eye on her and lastly after dinner he had pulled her away when Harry hadn't been around. Hermione didn't know though what had happened in detail—Ginny had been too embarrassed to tell her.
Hermione walked with Neville who already had a jar in his hands to their working spot and forgot about her suspicious thoughts about Blaise Zabini.
oOoOo
The October wind blew through Hermione's brown locks and made them messier than they usually were. It was fresh up in the Astronomy Tower, but it was beautiful as well. The view was phenomenal, especially on this hour it was just stunning and extraordinarily pretty.
It was sunset, the sky was colored in every red shade one could imagine. Almost every student was busy eating dinner in the Great Hall. Hermione, however, told Harry and Ron that she was busy; that she had homework to solve and essays to write. She felt truly guilty, really, because she was lying to them once again. Well, she had homework to do, of course, also essays to write, but she had done them already.
She was waiting for Draco Malfoy and the Astronomy Tower was their new meeting point as long as Harry was in Hogwarts. It had surprised her that Malfoy himself actually had approached her once in the library to ask her about her tutoring lessons and had suggested to meet in the Astronomy Tower.
Of course, he had made sure that no other soul had been in sight and his usual smug attitude had been on. But Hermione didn't care a bit, because soon she didn't need that git any longer. Her relationship and her life were looking up and she is glad about it. Her last year was finally the most important year.
Suddenly she noticed a blonde man in the corner of her eyes. Draco silently arrived and stood beside her looking at the colorful, magical dusk.
"Isn't it beautiful... the sky..." Hermione stated with a delicate tone after a while of silence between them. She looked at his face, his fair skin seemed softer in this kind of light. His eyes weren't the color grey. They sparkled silver, and his hair was golden white. Draco Malfoy... he looked wonderfully peaceful and... handsome, breathtaking, more beautiful a human could be.
He turned his head to her and looked at her.
"Staring again, Granger?" He smirked and everything beautiful, handsome, and 'breathtaking' about him vanished in an instant.
Hermione didn't say anything which forced Draco to respond to her previous statement.
"Yes, the sky is beautiful," he agreed. "Nevertheless, it is just an illusion... a play of colors." Draco then sighed. His sigh almost sounded sad, or rather wistful. It let Hermione be wistful, it let her think about the person sitting next to him and how pity his view of the world was.
But before she could fall deeper into her thoughts about Draco, Hermione was awaken back to reality by the man's voice.
"Anyway, Granger. Let's get this over with." he had a dirty smirk on his lips and Hermione went from feeling sorry for him to being disgusted by him.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you!" She exclaimed as she suddenly remembered. "I met Ron yesterday!"
Draco's playful smirk turned into a repulsed expression. Hermione didn't let it bother her and continued excitingly.
"And we actually kissed and the mood was pretty good as well! He apologized for his past behavior towards me and I think everything's going back to normal again!"
"And yet you meet me to snog with me." Draco sneered. Hermione rolled her eyes at his comment, but in her mind she knew he was right – on the other hand, without her snogging sessions with him her relationship with Ron probably wouldn't had gotten better.
"Anyway, how long do you want to do this?" He then asked in a blasé tone.
"Until I feel safe with him... Maybe when we had our first time together?" She wondered.
It was still awkward for her to talk about her problems and about her sex life with Malfoy of all people, but it felt awfully good to boss him around, telling him when this whole thing was ready to be over – even if the topic to boss him around was rather weird.
"Alright," he smirked. He moved his whole body near to her, Hermione took it with surprise and leaned back, trying to make some space between her and Draco.
"You want to practice, don't you?" he whispered sensually as he moved himself nearer and nearer to her.
Hermione wasn't ready with his sudden changing actions and blushed as she let her body fall on the cold stone floor. Draco's body was only some inches above hers, his arms locked her up. His breath grew louder, almost hungrier with every inhale he made and broke the silence of the fresh evening. Yet Hermione caught herself holding her breath as she felt Draco's humid and warm exhale on her flushed skin. She shut her eyes, because his were too intense to look at when she suddenly felt warm, smooth lips brushing hers.
Her whole body heated up, electricity rushing through her skin. Draco gave her a tender kiss before licking her sweet upper lip sliding its way into her mouth. His lips tasted like sour green apples and his body smelled manly and familiar—Hermione started to love his musk, it sent her a tingling feeling over her skin and gave her goosebumps.
His kisses became rougher, more passionate, more aggressive. He couldn't hold himself back any longer. A feeling like lightning shot through his veins with every time he touched her. He felt this sensation of heat and lust between his legs, his blood shooting into his crotch until it was hard and swollen. His French kisses went wild as he got reckless. He wanted more, he couldn't control his actions any longer, he was driven by his demands of his body. His hand wandered from her neck down to her breast grabbing it, he wanted to feel her, he wanted to satisfy his lust, but it only grew as his cock became harder.
"Mal—Malfoy—stop," Hermione whimpered between his kisses, having a hard time breathing.
Draco then realized what he was doing and quickly jumped off of her. He frowned as he looked at her lying on the floor, her school uniform rumpled.
"Filthy Mudblood," he hissed and stormed off.
