Chapter 6: A Matter of Opinion
A/N: Thank you for the lovely reviews "takes a bow". They make me swell with pride. So without further adieu here's the chapter!
Disclaimer: I own the storyline…but not Harry Potter, Twilight or the Anne Rice novels.
Recap: But she heard her name being called and it sound like it was being grated and the silky way Malfoy would say it. Hermione turned her head and saw the blue eyes of one of her best friends.
Hermione turned her head back to Malfoy not registering who was in the "audience" and then she realized.
"Ron? Ron! Oh bloody hell!" Hermione reluctantly pulled away from Malfoy who was increasingly getting angry. 'Oh I can only imagine what Ron must be thinking'
"Hermione what in the name of Dumbledore's pants are you doing with ferret? Why is he
without a shirt and looked like he was about devour you? What is up with you letting him?" Ron said yelling.
"I…uh…well…um" Hermione's words were failing her. Words never did that for her….so why now?
"I'm waiting for an answer Hermione. It's a simple question." Ron was looking increasingly red. He was the reddest she had ever seen him, worse than he was about Krum.
"I don't know." Hermione always knows... 'That's a dumb response.'
"How do you not know? Hermione what is going on with you? First you didn't tell us Malfoy is Head Boy. You are coming out with foreign bruises. You dash off to Merlin knows where, probably to join Death Eater boy. You purposely sat with him today in Transfiguration. Now you and Malfoy look like you were going to shag out here on the grass"
"Excuse me we were not about to shag! If I have bruises I don't have to tell you where I got them, it's my body! I can sit with whom ever I want to Ronald! Besides you are one to talk about shagging in public, you look like you trying to suck the vile blonde cow in."
"Don't talk about Lav Lav like that! She twenty times the woman you could hope to be"
"I would rephrase that if I were you Weasley" Malfoy growled.
This was the first time he spoke since Ron arrived. Hermione looked at him and saw he was downright pissed. That made her wonder what Ron was feeling. Malfoy was even crouched low on the ground. He was ready to rip him to shreds. Hermione almost felt like telling Malfoy go ahead. 'Hear nothing, See nothing and Say nothing…right?'.
"What do you mean by that Ronald? If my aspirations where to suck someone's face off in public, then fine I would hope to be Lavender. If I wanted to keep my legs open for every Hogwarts boy to come in, then also sure. But the thing is I don't, I aspire to be better than that. Lavender couldn't be me; she wouldn't last those seven years I spent loving you from afar."
"You loved me?" Ron gave her an incredulous look
"I did love you. Not anymore. I'm done with you. I'm tired of being your doormat. Doing your homework and listening to you talk about Quidditch all in the hopes you notice me. That everything I did for you was because I loved you. Remember in the Room of Requirement where we kissed and I thought finally all my hard work is paid off! But then when we were here rebuilding you didn't say a damn word about it. Nothing, and so I figured it was a near death experience for you but figured since we survived you have time. I was going to wait for you to realize, I really had deluded myself into thinking you were going to ask me to be yours. You know that day where you wanted to talk to me? I thought again that was going to be the day. But instead you asked me advice on how to get a girl you fancied, so I rationalized you were using reverse psychology. Still I was holding on to that shred of hope. But that night when you came into the Great Hall with honeysuckle for Lavender, it ripped my heart out. Like you actually took it out and the stomped right on it in front of me. So no more Ronald Weasley you had your chances, I'm moving on. Malfoy?" Hermione held out her hand for him. As much as it might have been fun to see Ron made apart of the ground, she didn't want Malfoy punished for a good deed.
Malfoy took her hand and carried his shirt and sweater in his hand. But he still didn't let up with the slits. They started walking away Hermione but she began feeling something. Like something was going to happen.
Ron charged at Malfoy from behind but he was ready. Malfoy quickly let go of Hermione pushing her to the side. Malfoy allowed himself to head butted by Ron and therefore landing on the ground and making it shake. But he was on his feet in no time. Ron looked in surprise that Malfoy was so quick to get back up and didn't even look winded.
"I told you before Weasley, you never know if your opponent has an advantage." Malfoy bared his teeth but not his fangs.
Hermione looked on and just hoped Malfoy doesn't kill Ron. He could injure him but not kill him. Malfoy muttered a begrudging 'fine' to her.
Ron looked determined but he foolishly walked up to Malfoy and punched him. What he received was a broken hand. Malfoy just smirked as Ron looked in horror as his hand turned yellow and purple.
Then Malfoy said "I told you to rephrase." Punch and Ron Weasley was laid out cold on the grass.
Hermione went to Malfoy as they both stared at the red-headed idiot. "You didn't kill him did you?" She asked worriedly.
"Relax, he probably just has a concussion. I didn't put all my weight and strength into the punch. Besides if I did I don't think his head would have been still attached to his body."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What do we do with him?"
"Leave him?"
"Malfoy…we are Heads technically we have to take care of him, even if you were the one who punched him."
"Hey do you think he would the same if the roles were reversed? Besides I was defending your honor. He compared you to Lavender Brown…that's an abomination. She is beneath dragon dung and you are like the Golden Snitch."
"I don't know what to say to that."
"I noticed"
"You know I would like some privacy about my thoughts and feelings."
"I'll try but it's too hard. I've been inside so long that it just comes to me, I don't even have to do anything. Plus it's easier for me to answer you, if I already know what you are thinking and feeling."
"We will discuss your mind feeling power later, right now we need to get this to the infirmary. Help me drag him."
"Granger, I can just carry him. It will be faster."
"Well put your shirt on."
"Why? You know you like looking." He smirked
"That's beside the point. It will look weird enough with us walking in together with an unconscious Ron. Lets not give ammunition to the gossip mills with you coming in shirtless and me a little ruffled."
"Fine."
Malfoy put his shirt on and threw Ron over his shoulder in one seamless movement. He threw his sweater to Hermione which she caught. She grabbed her books and they began walking back towards the castle.
DM/HG
Surprisingly the Entrance Hall was empty when they arrived. "Where is everyone ?" Hermione looked around.
"It's dinner." Malfoy responded
"Oh."
"You can go and sit with your friends if you want."
"No. Besides you need me for back-up story. The whole school knows how much you too hate each other."
"True. We could get there faster if I carried you."
"Oh Malfoy I think I rather walk. My ears hurt after the first time."
"Granger, don't wimp out on me now."
Hermione saw his grey eyes. He looked like a normal boy with those eyes. Of course she couldn't say no to them…
"You know you it's also unfair you have gorgeous grey eyes and you unleash them towards me to coax the answer you want."
"Hey I'm a Slytherin and Malfoy before vampire." Malfoy picked her up and began running toward the infirmary.
Before Hermione could even take another breath they were already there. Malfoy sat her down gently. She fixed her skirt and sweater, smoothing down her hair.
"Granger, you look fine."
"I don't want anyone getting ideas."
"They won't. Not if they understand you the way I do."
Hermione smiled and then pushed the large doors to Madame Pompfrey's inner sanctum.
They saw the nurse writing out something at her desk. She looked up in alarm as she saw the unconscious Ronald over Malfoy's shoulder.
"Lay him down here. What happened?" Madame Pompfrey had pointed to the nearest bed and began fussing.
"Well he has a broken hand…" Hermione didn't want to mention the punch.
"How? And how did he get unconscious?" The nurse was waving her wand over Ron.
"Me and Weasley got into a fight. He head butted, knocked me back. He tried punching me but his hand broke and then I punched him back. That's when he became unconscious" Malfoy said. Hermione smacked her head. She didn't want Malfoy to get into trouble, especially because of her.
"Ah, why were you and Mr. Weasley fighting?"
"Because of me" Hermione said sheepishly.
Madame Pompfrey raised her eyebrows but said nothing. Hermione swore she saw the woman smirking.
"Well he will be fine. I'll give him something for the concussion, it isn't bad. I've already set his hand. Of course he will need to stay over night." Pompfrey said.
"Well this won't be on our records right, McGonagall won't find out?"
"I'm afraid so. Everything needs to be documented. However the Headmistress can handle you as she sees fit. You can talk to her now." Pompfrey nodded to someone behind them.
Hermione turned around and inwardly groan. Malfoy grabbed her hand with his icy one and gave it a squeezed. 'When Ronald wakes up, I might slap him. This all his fault. All of it.'
Malfoy sniggered and Hermione glared at him. He sobered up quickly and fixed himself with a blank face. He looked like stone.
McGonagall walked up to them. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy what are you two doing here? Why is Mr.Weasley laying in a hospital bed?"
"Fancy meeting you here Headmistress. What are you doing here?" Malfoy asked.
"Getting some Pepper Up potion been feeling a little tickle in my throat. Now answer my question." McGonagall was looking stern.
"Malfoy and Ron got into a fight out by the lake. Ron head butted him and then tried punching Malfoy but got a broken hand. Malfoy then punched him and Ron became unconscious. We brought him straight here." Hermione said hurriedly.
"Why were you two fighting"
"He insulted Granger." Malfoy responded. He was serious and looked like he would take whatever the Headmistress was going to unleash on them. Hermione wished she was strong right now. Instead she was sick with worry she was going to loose her position, Malfoy was going to get punished and taken away from her. 'Definitely when Ronald wakes up I am going to beat him silly. Stupid prat and his stupid timing'
"Oh really Mr. Malfoy? You mean you didn't insult Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley was trying to defend her?" Then she finally saw their hand clasped hands. Her eyes went wide in disbelief
"Oh my! So you were defending her?"
"Mhmm"
"Does she know?"
"Yes"
"Everything?"
"Not totally"
"Malfoy…"
"I'm working on it Headmistress."
"Wow, I definitely didn't see this coming. I didn't think this soon"
"Me either. But I can't live without her."
"Have you…?"
"Headmistress!?"
"Well Malfoy?"
"No…we are in the friends stage."
"Ok"
Hermione watched this conversation go on. They were practically finishing each other's sentences. "Ok can you guys let me in? I'm feeling left out but I know this concerns me too."
"Sorry Ms. Granger. Er Poppy could you wipe this incident from their records? They are excused for you know…" McGonagall gave a knowing look which Pompfrey just nodded and went back to her notes. "You two go up to the Heads dorms and have something to eat, dinner is over. Well Granger can eat. I will also excuse you for missing your classes today…but since you both have found each other does not give you the excuse to shirk from Head duties or your classes. Am I clear?"
"Crystal" Hermione said.
"Oh, I set up the first prefect meeting for this Saturday. It's right before dinner. I'll send over papers for you guys to go over for the meeting. You are dismissed." McGonagall then went to talk with Madame Pompfrey.
Hermione led the way out of the infirmary with Malfoy hot on her heels. As soon as they were out Hermione rounded on Malfoy. "What are you not telling me Malfoy?"
"Nothing"
"I'm not an idiot there is something. Does it have to deal with me and causing you pain?"
"Drop it Granger."
"Malfoy…if we are going to do this, then I need to know everything."
"I'll tell you later. Right now you need to go to the dorm and I have to go"
"Wait, why do you have to go?" Hermione looked at him questioningly.
"I have to go and hunt."
"Uh why? You have blood potions as a substitute."
"McGonagall in her own way told me that Slughorn doesn't have anymore blood potion brewed. He doesn't have enough of the ingredients and they will take a month to get them and make the amount I need. I drank the last of it this morning. I won't survive long and neither will the students if I go that long with out blood"
"Oh. Well can't you try human food? That other man did it" Hermione was trying hold on and hoping he wasn't considering humans…
"No I told you human food doesn't appeal the same way. Every mix is different."
"So you are going to do animal blood right?"
"No. That also doesn't appeal to me."
"Ok well you can't kill an innocent person for your meal."
"Why not? I have to survive somehow. I would only being killing two maybe three."
"But that doesn't mean that their lives don't matter. They have people who love them. Families! You can't just end their life."
"That's a matter of opinion."
"No it's not. It's immoral, unethical."
"Again a matter of opinion. Besides Granger I am a vampire. We don't have morals or ethics. We drink to survive. Our minds don't work the same way humans do"
"But you were human before. You could be again"
"Granger, I wasn't that great of a human anyway. Weasley was right about one thing, I'm still a Death Eater. So I'm not exactly the model of ethics." Malfoy raised his sleeve and Hermione saw the ugly Dark Mark on his beautiful skin. She didn't know how she managed to miss it during their little exploration early. He began walking away.
Hermione ran to catch up. She did only because he was walking at a normal pace and not his usual. "But Malfoy's its murder. Please don't go."
"Granger, it would be a mass murder if I don't go. I could kill everyone in this school if I don't go hunting now. That means your friends will be dead. Possibly you as well. That I can't risk because I wouldn't be able forgive myself"
"Wait why would you kill me? I thought your sexual appeal to my blood is what is stopping you?"
"When I hunt it's different. I won't be the same Malfoy you recognize now before you. I will be a monster, someone I don't want you to have to see. Because in retrospect that is what I am, a monster. You wouldn't want me. I wouldn't even be surprise if you stopped wanting me right now after this. I told you I have the heart to unspeakable things."
"You aren't a monster. You don't have to be that guy, you said you would be better for me, try."
Hermione acted quickly and kissed him full on the lips. Malfoy picked her up and hitched her legs around his hips. He carried her and she felt her back hit a wall. Hermione was pressed between stone and stone. She let him have entrance into her mouth figuring if she kissed him, then she could distract him from hunting for a little bit. It was like malleable stone. Cold malleable stone. But she was failing at distracting him because she was totally lost. She even forgot why she was suppose to be kissing him anyway.
Malfoy pulled his lips from hers. "Granger that was low and dirty on your end. But I have to, it's in my makeup. I'm a vampire it's what I do. I'll be back in time for the meeting." He put her down and took off.
Hermione took a second to regain her senses but was saddened as she realized he was going anyway.
A/N: Review please!
