Forbidden
XxX
Chapter 7
Hermione poked her spoon into the lightly gray porridge. Her eyes followed the pattern which was created by the spoon when she stirred it to make it colder. Hot steam got released from it into, and she followed it emptily into the air.
'' Hermione?''
Hermione didn't notice that Ron was speaking to her until he pushed her shoulder. '' Everything fine? Are you feeling ill again?'', he asked her apprehensive. Hermione released a breath into the porridge as she sought for an answer among her lies.
No. Actually I'm not. I'm panicking. I'm crushed, confused, ill, hurt, and a growing dilemma of thoughts is going around inside my head. I'm wandering around, being terrified of what will happen if someone finds out. Everything I have worked for, will fade into pieces! My moral, my logic, my reputation, my pride...
And yeah, if that isn't enough, I actually took the initiative to touch him yesterday. He kissed me right away. Yeah, just pressed me into the bed and kissed me. My reflex reacted back. I couldn't control myself. That was the biggest mistake of my life. Not sure how I survive with this all in my tiny brain, if you are interested. Oh, and of course the fact that my head won't stop hurting. The only thing remaining is a flu, and a pain in my arse. You know, just to make my life better. Nothing else, thanks.
'' Yeah. Sorry, I was away for some minutes,'' That was all Hermione replied. She gave Ron a watery look. '' I'm fine. Nothing to bother about.''
Ron nodded, getting back to his fried eggs. The fork got pinched into it, and with rapacious bites he ate it up, leaving some of the yellow yolk on his lips. The rest, he simply licked off by a quick movement of his tongue. Hermione returned to the empty staring into her porridge.
Merlin. Never before she felt such helpless as now. She couldn't deny what happened, neither could she beg her friends for help. There was a time when she had a problem and she could go to the sanctuary of the library for help. But most likely, there were no books in library named ''How to avoid a pompous Malfoy heir'', or '' What to do when a repellent Slytherin wimp, and a childhood enemy kisses you.
Merlin how he loved getting under her skin. And this time, he was actually succeeding, flipping her over on the side of disaster. Right now, her life could be summed up as a wrong mixed potion, giving more side effects than pleasant ones. Deathly if not used with caution.
Okay, Hermione, she told herself. From now on, you will do exactly what he told you to. Never talk to him, and avoid everything he throws into your way. Two and a half months left of school, Mione. Then you will split ways. You can make it. Don't let him treat you like a damn dog. He is not an innocent baby! Don't feel sympathy for him. Think about everything he has done to you, your friends and others, from day one until now.
Ignore him, like he never existed. Believe me, that will be the best for both of you.
With that problem somehow worked out, Hermione's mind returned to the biggest problem. What will happen if someone finds out? It was all ill enough when being secret, but it won't to handle if it gets out to public. Her logic told her Malfoy would never tell. It was as ill for him as for her if the public heard about this. They both agreed it to be a enormous mistake. But what if he finds a benefit in it all? What if he tells it to make her collapse completely? He knew how much she strove to get where she stands today. What if the tempting thought of spoiling it all for her reaches his God damn intelligent mind?
Hermione, you can't get that paranoid. Control your emotions, for God's sake. It's your last year. You are eighteen, not two. Get your mind in order, and keep calm. The logical part of her spoke again. Luckily for Hermione, it worked calming.
Not until now she discovered Ginny talking to her. Oh God, they will begin to suspect something. Focus, Hermione! '' Aren't you going to eat?''
Hermione stopped the stirring, noticing the porridge to be cold already. She sighed as she released the spoon. Her appetite was long gone. If it ever appeared. '' No. You can have it if you want. I think my eyes were hungrier than my stomach, to be honest.''
Ginny nodded kindly, reaching for Hermione's blade from the other side of the table. Hermione looked up from her blade to hand it over. When she lifted the eyes to take a look at the surroundings, she noticed something familiar behind Ginny's shoulder.
Merlin.
Draco Malfoy was looking straightly in her direction.
His bright eyes, studying her face piece by piece as if she was an experiment object on his table. The bright, straight hair falling down the curves of his handsome face, with his head supported by his hand right under his chin. He knocked the breath out of her. For how long have he been watching her? Merlin, what if somebody noticed?
Panicking filled her all over the body. He noticed how she was staring back, and his eyelids fell down looking on the dark, wooden table. He turned his head in an other direction to avoid any form for eye contact. Somewhere over to Pansy and Terrence.
'' Hermione? Earth calling!'' Ginny waved at her.
Hermione didn't notice Ginny to say her name. Not again. For how long have she been gone? Did anyone suspect anything?
Startled by Draco's stare, Hermione almost lost her blade with porridge down on the lightening candelabra, but the last second her hand found a way to balance it. Ginny quickly reacted, receiving it in her hands. She put the blade down on her previous and dirty one, wiping the small drop of porridge hanging on the periphery of the blade. She observed Hermione from the corners of her eyes.
'' You look pale.'', she commented.
Now the conversation got back Harry's attention as well, who just stopped staring down on Lavender's breasts under her red bra. It practically shined through her transparent scholar blouse. Hermione found it strange. How could girls act so cheap? She took a quick look down to assure her being buttoned fully up, remembering to be pressed by the time this morning.
'' Are you sure you are fine?'', Ron asked her again. His brows were snapped together in a suspicious way, as he looked over at her while she corrected the collar on her blouse.
Hermione gave them all a browned off look with annoyance. It was not their fault, but she couldn't keep it. She had too many demons to deal with right now to bother them with her false answers. '' Yes. I'm sure.''
She looked away from her awkwardly staring friends, and down the Gryffindor table. Neville, as usual, was yawning over his toast, reading the new edition of The Daily Prophet. In addition to him, she noticed Parvati, her Ravenclaw twin sister and Lavender chuckling about something. She could hear some phrases like ' snogging Millicent' and ' never do that'. Never too early for morning gossip, is it?, she thought with a smile on her lips.
Further down there she could see some first and second graders, engaged into a conversation of which Hermione had no energy or simply interest to understand. It was like using energy to listen to Ron while he stuffed his face with food. Easier said: No point.
Somebody poked her shoulder.
'' Are you coming with us?'', Ron asked her.
Hermione turned back to face him with an interrogative expression in her eyes. '' Where?''
Ron rolled his eyes, as he swung his feet to the other side of the bench, ready to leave. He made it look like the answer should be obvious for her, but really: it wasn't. Not for her mind, which was stuffed with all kind of skeletons. '' To the Defense against the Dark Art class, of course. It's Wednesday, 'Mione.''
He packed his books and parchments together, as he gave her a severely look. '' Of all the people, you should know that.''
.
After the class, Hermione raised quickly from her place in the front to meet her friends outside. Surprisingly, she almost began screaming in a desperate need to get out during this class. It wasn't that it was boring or exhausting. Snape had the ability to convey things in an interesting way, and make it easy to understand at the same time. It was just the giggling from the Slytherin's table from behind that made her desperate. To be more concrete: the small unobtrusively fact of that she wasn't aware of what or whom they were giggling, made her desperate. She couldn't turn around to check either. That would be to act like a curious little dog, running to its owner once being whistled at. It was pure punishment. She just hoped Malfoy didn't turn around his tongue and told everything around the circumstances yesterday. It would mean the end before the beginning.
She packed her parchments and books in a huff to gain the ability leaving quick. With Ron's behavior to dawdle, she knew this would be a big mission itself. She was just about to beg them hurry up and pack, but apparently the words didn't have their chance to get pronounced.
'' Granger.'' A familiar, deep voice of arrogance said from behind. She recognized it the same second. Today it sounded calm and composed. It made Hermione immediate suspicious. Right now, there was nothing about him which wouldn't.
Hermione lost her words out in the space, just standing there with her mouth half open, like a fool.
Obviously not quick enough, Hermione.
'' What do you want, Malfoy?'', Harry asked for her, studying Draco's appearance from top to toe. He pulled up his glasses with his index finger to get a better view.
Draco smirked. '' Oh, that's interesting. Didn't recall you to be Granger, Potter.''
Ron finally managed to pack up his things, and now stood among them as well. To Hermione's grief, he was just too late to avoid this contact. Some Slytherin's passed them, giving Draco some kindly smiles. Draco returned them with such a radiate charisma, that it was enviable. He gave a last smile, before taking a look back on Harry.
'' Malfoy, just shut up. Leave, and save us from your words of a moron.'', Ron said with fatigue.
Draco revealed a perfect row of white teeth. Hermione wished there was something in between them making him look disgusting and ugly, but that was obviously too much to propose. He was now smirking with all the teasing ability he got. It was absolutely flawless. It annoyed her that an arse like him could be just so perfect. The whole he annoyed her. His behavior was again back to the usual pompous Malfoy. There was definitely something strange going on. How could Malfoy change past one night?
Hermione assumed it to be because Malfoy wasn't a normal boy, or human being. Her theory was that he was something between an alien and a human. She didn't get didn't 'get' him at all. Through these days, she thought she had deciphered every of his personalities. For instance, that he was quite capable of being as vicious and cunning as they all assumed him to be. That was not a lie of instinct. And then there was that intelligence, and an arrogance that could be as charming as it was destructive and enviable. Together with his well developed sense of humour, she thought she had already summed up Malfoy in some sentences.
But no. It seemed like there was no end to how many surprises and impossibilities he could bring.
'' You know, Weasley, I will tell you this now as I got my chance. Your sister is one of the sexiest damn girls I have ever seen. Seriously. Shapes like a Goddess.'', Draco said in-matter-of-factly.
Ron went predictably red in the face, beginning to shake and shiver like boiling water. Hermione gathered the small tickling in her toes, telling her they should leave immediately.
'' I think -''
Ron waved her off, almost hitting her right in the middle of her face. It didn't seem like he noticed it himself, but Hermione was just quick enough taking a step back. Ron's hand fell down, and he took a step towards Malfoy, as he narrowed his eyes. Hermione stiffened. He obviously thought otherwise than she did.
'' If you say one more word about my sister,'' Ron said as he was pointing a finger shaking of anger towards Draco. '' I promise. I will smash everything of which the girls call 'sexiness' out of you.''
Draco seemed to be unimpressed, snapping his eyebrows in a deadpanned way. '' Sure. Go on, then.''
He took a challenging step towards Ron as well, tilting his head in a gracious manner. His eyes were calm and cool, awaiting him to attack.
Hermione always wondered if all of the boys in Slytherin had those genes of elegance, or if it was just her imagination. It was just that every time she studied a boy from Slytherin, they all had those beautiful shapes of walking, moving and talking. Well, of course, nobody topped Malfoy. That was just simply impossible.
In concentration of her thoughts, she noticed herself to stare oddly at Malfoy, and quickly removed him from the shield of her vision.
'' Another time, you scum.'', Ron replied, gritting his teeth. His hands were transformed into to two admonitory knots.
This was getting intense and unpleasant, Hermione decided by the feel inside her toes. Harry was holding Ron's over pressured, red hand back from knocking the life out of Draco, while Draco was as good as offering them all to put an end to him. He was kind of succeeding as always. Hermione almost gathered the wish of giving him a knock or two. Almost.
This was all just so solid, so well-planned, that Hermione gathered a suspicion of Malfoy planning this all the night. He knew just what to say in what time. Or maybe it was just the way he was. Finding the right words into the right times.
Even thought it would be interesting to see the next step in a spectacle of Malfoy, Hermione decided that it was time to put an end to it before something happened. She was the stalwart Head Girl, and had all the responsibility here, even thought Malfoy was the prefect of the Syltherins. He was not mature enough to stop, and her friends didn't seem to have that wish to stop. Just when she opened her mouth, she got interrupted again.
'' You know,'' Malfoy said as he began wandering around in the classroom. He interrupted on purpose, she thought while clenching her teeth together.
Gracious steps filled the echo inside the classroom. Hermione struggled for some seconds to keep him out of her vision perrifery, but without realizing it, she was back with her oddly staring. Her eyes followed his black polished shoes as they moved down to Snape's desk. Pure, accurate elegance got demonstrated to all of them. His fingers were lightly drumming into the pale skin on his muscular forearm.
'' I wonder what would have happened if I told you I could snog her. She is a sexy pureblood. Probably good in bed. Just what I need.'' He rolled swiftly on his heel to check Ron's reaction.
Hermione heard how Ron released a deep, enraged breath from the bottom of his lungs. A signal of insensitivity got released into the air, with Ron probably not even being aware of it.
Malfoy just started a war.
Ron laughed out a small laugh, pushing his foot willingly from the ground. He was ready to throw himself fully over Malfoy, with all the force he got under his Gryffindor robe. A hitch of fear stuck inside her. An enraged Ron was a dangerous Ron, but an enraged Malfoy was even worse. That she could tell from her small scenarios these days. Only now she wasn't sure. Was he going to kill Ron, or kiss him?
Hermione slapped herself, thinking of this sarcasm as an obvious thing not to think of. Especially not right now, in this situation. God curse her mind, which had its own will every time. When she thought about it, it tempted to make it happen, and then humiliate him in front of the whole school. Hermione slapped herself again. She even wished it was physically this time. Maybe she could tell Malfoy of this thought, and he would do the slapping for her.
The developing things woke her up to life again.
Everything happened so fast, that she couldn't even notice all the things buzzing in front of her eyes. Ron detached from Harry's grip, which was too light for this situation, and slid on the foot to get some speed. Before Hermione could utter a word, she was the witness of Ron being stumbled to the floor of the classroom. Draco's hand was placed around Ron's throat in a fierce grip, wiggling his head aside with confidence.
'' I told you once, Weasley, and I will tell you twice. Don't mess with the ones who are stronger. A good piece of advice.''
Hermione almost began laughing when he uttered that. It amazed her how his humor reflected even here, with rhyme in the sentence. But that was an multiple almost. She would never admit him to be funny in any ways. Not even with her head on the guillotine.
Harry was already on his way to rescue his friend from Malfoy, but it was unnecessary. He already released Ron, not as much as showing an attempt to give him severe injures. Hermione once again got knocked out, just glanced from Ron to Malfoy, and back to Ron again. How could he suddenly play so controlled? Impossible.
There were plenty of potions existing in the wizarding world, but Hermione couldn't recall anyone having such of abilities. He couldn't possibly just change into the previous controlled, arrogant Malfoy. Not just like this in a day. It would take time for a normal person, even if using puffing up potions. But then again, Hermione recalled her observations. He wasn't in the group called 'normal'.
Harry helped Ron back to his feet again, giving Draco a deathly glare from under his glasses. Draco rolled his eyes in return, beginning to walk around in the classroom again. Everyone seemed to know what to do, but Hermione on the other hand, wasn't sure how she was supposed to react. Scared, shocked, happy, angry or simply confused? The answer wasn't really useful. She was as good as glued into the floor, trying to recall everything that just happened in front of her eyes.
She was simply amazed by the transform of Malfoy, at the same time as confused about it. In addition to that, she wanted to give him a punch or two for trying to hurt Ron. And knock some sense into Ron's brain.
'' Let's go, Hermione. Malfoy obviously need a rehab.'', Ron said raspy as he stomped towards the exit. '' You're dangerous for our society, Malfoy! That's proven! Merlin! McGonagall and Dumbledore will love to hear about this!'', he shouted from the corridor in now something which sounded like vicious excitement.
It wasn't very persuasive. Hermione knew that was just some empty words, never being pronounced in front of anyone. What happened here, did never happen in public.
Malfoy cleaned his voice as he listened to Ron's declaration from outside, correcting his Slytherin tie from one side to another. His face was deadpanned. He moved his hand slowly over it to make it hang perfectly over his chest. When he was satisfied, Hermione was met by his lightly gaze the second time this morning. In return, he received a pinched look. It wasn't like he could make up for all the things he have done now. It was all lost from day one, and even further after the recent actions.
If she would remain controlled, maybe he would leave. Maybe he would even leave now, after receiving his daily pleasure of teasing innocent people. One could always hope.
'' Did you notice Weasley to stare at your breasts during the class?''
Hermione sighed. Guess he needed more to accomplish his doze.
She bit her inner lip to not throw herself over him like Ron did. Her goal was just keeping focused and controlled. It wasn't in her plans spending the rest of this year in the Hospital Wing. Neither to show her emotions.
'' No, I didn't. But it seem like you noticed such a thing.'' Hermione crossed her arms in front of her chest, observing him under her pinched gaze.
Her derision was lost on him. '' Yeah. I was just about to send an attractive smile to Lavender, when I noticed your boyfriend staring.''
He nodded his head a little towards Hermione's breasts. She straightened her arms to cover up more of them, feeling uncomfortable by his head movement. What was he playing at?
'' He is not my boyfriend. And frankly, its' not like it is any of your business, Malfoy.'' Hermione blinked her eyes to focus, and get back to the business. No need to lengthen this punishment, staying here with him in the same location, breathing the same air, interacting with him... Best to get things over and out, if this situation was inescapable anyway.
'' What do you want? You didn't stop me for nothing.'', Hermione said with bitterness in her voice.
To be honest, she didn't have the smallest clue of where he suddenly gathered the wish of talking. Just yesterday he told her to never speak to him again, and now he took the first step against his previous will by doing the opposite. The mind of Draco Malfoy was as confusing as Longbottom in potion classes. Not like that was any news to Hermione, and still. He just wouldn't stop surprising her.
Draco took some steps to Hermione. He didn't say anything. Not a word. He was thinking, which was frankly much worse. He gazed at her from underneath his frowning forehead, she could see. The light inside his eyes revealed him. His tongue quickly licked his dry lips to moist them, while he was figuring out what exactly to say. Her eyes rolled from the eyes, to his licking lips, and back to his eyes again.
'' I just want to settle some things up.'' He took a deep breath, while taking a multiple step against her.
Hermione leaned her body on the desk behind her, before she turned her golden-curled head back to face him again. She was listening to his explanation on things, hoping to get one for herself.
'' It have been... deviated. You know everything about it.'' He released a laugh from nowhere, while rubbing the back of his head. She just wished he wasn't that good looking while doing it. God damn, to much to beg for. Completely platinum flawless hair. How is that even possible? No, he must be an alien, Hermione decided with confidence.
Not even Harry got that spark. And Harry was of the good looking type ever since their third year. Every girl in Hogwarts realized that, being envious of the good relationship between Harry and Hermione. If it wasn't for him being Hermione's best friend, she would have fallen for him. The dark black hair, and the light green eyes were contrasted together with his light skin. Telling he wasn't handsome, would be to tell a big lie. And Hermione simply didn't lie.
'' I just want to assure you won't tell about what you heard in there. You know...'' His eyebrow lifted.
She rolled her eyes, while taking a look down on her shoe. Much better than watching him, the prince of perfection. '' About the Dark Mark, you mean?''
'' Oh, the mudblood remembered! Will wonders never cease?''
Hermione wasn't sure. Was that an insult, or simply a new way of Malfoy's teasing?
'' Never passing up the chance being an arse, do you Malfoy?'' She decided to answer in an equal way to his.
Draco smirked maliciously. '' Of course not. That is what I strive for.''
A moment of silence filled the atmosphere.
'' Only on one condition.'', she said after getting some time to think. She found an advantage for her in what he requested. She needed a warranty. A prove that the sticky, disgusting fact about them never got snapped out by Malfoy's cruel mouth.
'' And?''
'' You won't tell a living soul about what happened between me and you.'', she replied cool.
With the expression on his face, she realized she might have well told him that there were a lot of books in the library.
'' Granger, dear old Granger. Do you really believe I would possibly tell anyone about what happened in there? Wouldn't it be a better option for you to claim a chocolate frog instead? Or maybe a lollipop?'' He gave her a narrowed eye look with something which sounded like sarcasm.
Hermione made a frustrated tone. '' I just need a warranty. With your need to find a benefit in everything, it wouldn't surprise me if it all appeared on the front page of The Daily Prophet a beautiful morning in the future.''
Draco sighed, as he rolled his eyes into the back of his head. Hermione gathered a suspicion they wouldn't come back after this, getting stuck somewhere on their way. On one hand, it would make her happy. Then he wouldn't longer be some damn perfect, and she wouldn't longer be in need to tell herself he looked so damn handsome every time he appeared in front of her eyes.
Hopefully anyway.
'' You are either paranoid, or just really, really dumb. Luckily for you, I don't see you as a dumb person like Pansy or Goyle, for instance, so I assume it to be the paranoid part.'', Malfoy said in a speculative tone.
Finally he showed one of the characteristics which Hermione could actually somehow come along with. It was not the Arrogant Arse Malfoy Prat as usual. This was the ' the golden student'. Yes, believe it or not, he was on the top five students, laying ten points over Parvati, and just two points below Hermione herself. Surprisingly, she had never seen him holding a book. Not once. It shocked her, at the same time as it impressed her. It was again back to the theory of him being an alien. There was no doubt, collecting the facts.
Hermione snorted. This thing about her not being dumb was probably one of the nicest things he had told her during her lifetime here on the Earth. Thank God he didn't comment her bloodline somewhere in there. She imagined him saying something like: You are a mudblood, therefore you are paranoid. Something completely meaningless, which he made sound beautiful and logic just by the way he spoke. He could get far as a businessman with a such ability to talk, she thought silently.
Nevertheless, she continued with her bitterness, now resting her hands on her hips.
'' You don't know me, Malfoy.''
He shrugged his shoulders. '' I know you enough to tell you that you are befouling the most annoying personality that can ever befoul a person. And enough to tell you that since the day you stuck your tongue far down into my throat, you have been a pain in my arse.''
Hermione snorted twice, stomping her foot on the floor. Now this was insulting. He went all from somehow polite, back to a complete moron. And how could she possibly be a pain in his arse when she didn't even touch it? Ugh, how he disgusted her. More and more for each day passing. How she wanted to smack the life out of that face...
'' You loathsome, evil little excuse for a wizard! I thought we just agreed to never mention that again!'' She turned her face around, not able to hide her disgust anymore.
Malfoy smirked sardonic. '' You are welcome.''
It took Hermione much effort and strength before she won over her reluctance of not turning her damned head around on Malfoy. She should have never done that. His pose had changed, and Hermione wasn't sure if Malfoy was aware of it or not. But in this pose, he looked just simply sexy. Every straight, normal girl would have agreed, sickling over him with hearts in the eyes.
His face looked half way up on the wall with the eyes reflecting the surroundings, while his hand...
Cursed Merlin.
His hand was resting on his upper thigh, while the tips of his long fingers were placed just above the delta of his pure black pants. Her eyes strayed down there on their own accord, staring right over there. Right there.
Well, it seem like the wing can't be avoided, Hermione thought with horror and despair.
Well worked, Malfoy. You have finally made me lose my plot, and the rest of my morals.
Chapter comments:
