Disclaimer: Aha! Antoine and Irina belong to me! But everything else belongs to someone else.
A/N: PASS 100! Yahoo! Thank you for the reviews! Thanks to everyone! And it was their first kiss... wow. So here we go. Have fun! Review at the end!
I'm sorry it took me so long to repost chapter 7, it was giving me difficulty, and it just refused to be rewritten…
Chapter 7: It's an Addiction and You're Hooked
Okay, this isn't so bad, he's actually pretty good. This is really nice.
"Hermione, we really should be getting back." he said when he had the chance.
"Hmm, just a little more." she answered, pulling him back into another kiss.
With a chuckle, he kissed her one more time before cutting her off. "Really. We need to get back."
Sighing she obliged, "Okay."
They began their way back to the house. Draco couldn't help but laugh to himself.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, nothing." he answered. "Just thinking about that kiss back there."
"What about it?"
Chuckling to himself again. "Who knew the Gryffindor princess would want more."
"I think there's more than a concealment charm on that garden." she responded.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I was overcome with the beauty of the garden and made a lapse in judgment."
Thinking to himself he said, "Why did you say yes?"
"I don't know." she answered truthfully. "6 years of past history told me not to, for a split second I wondered what life with you would be like."
"What do you mean?"
"Life with Harry and Ron has been-" she paused searching for just the right words. "Out of the ordinary. Those two are always getting into some kind of trouble and they always manage to drag me along into it."
"I don't know how I feel about that. They sound reckless." Draco added.
"They are not reckless! We can't control what happens to us! What decides to cause us trouble and some of that trouble has been your fault!" she snapped at him. "Like I said, 6 years of history."
He paused to think about it for a minute. "So am I going to have to deal with Weaslebee and Scarhead forever? I mean how close are all of you?"
She stopped, her face growing red. "They have names Malfoy! Harry and Ron are my best friends! They are not going anywhere, if you don't like it, then you find a way out of this ridiculous marriage! This isn't exactly what I had in mind for the rest of my life!"
"You really think this is going to be so bad?" he asked her.
"With you, yes!" and she stormed off ahead of him throwing his suit jacket on the ground in the process.
"Granger, you're going the wrong way, you're going to get lost!" he yelled, picking it up.
"What do you care? You'll be rid of me." she shot back.
"Take a left at the hedge and follow the path; it'll take you back to the terrace." He watched her stop and decide which way to take before taking a left.
Hermione reached the terrace, trying hard to hide the tears that threatened to fall. Climbing the steps to the balcony she saw Malfoy emerge from the hedges behind her. I'm not weak; I will not let him see that he can affect me this way. She thought quietly to herself before walking into the ballroom. They hadn't been gone long enough for dinner to be served. Making her way through the crowds she found Harry.
He looked at her once and noticed that something wasn't right. "Hermione what happened?" he whispered.
"Can I talk to you? Privately." she managed to choke out.
Nodding he answered, "Yeah."
They pushed their way out into the corridor and down the hall far enough that no one would be able to hear them. "Where did you two go? What happened?" he asked her.
She didn't answer right away, refusing to turn around to even look at him. "Hermione."
"We went for a walk. He showed me a garden that belonged to his parents." she paused, turning around so she was facing him. "He proposed Harry." Holding up her hand, she showed him the ring on her finger.
"Bloody Hell Hermione. That thing is huge." Harry said taken by surprise with the sudden information.
"It was his grandmothers."
"Is this what's bothering you?" he asked with concern.
"No."
"What is it Mione, you can always talk to me."
Sighing she began, "After he asked me to marry him, well… we kissed. I mean it wasn't all that bad. But on the walk back we kind of got into an argument, I guess." He waited for her to go on. "He asked me why a said yes. So I told him. Years of history told me no but I wondered for a split second. Life with you and Ron is different. It keeps me on my toes and I've grown accustom to it. I don't want my life to be dull."
"Hermione, you're marrying Draco Malfoy, I can guarantee you that your life isn't going to be dull and boring."
"I suppose not. He thinks you two are reckless."
"We aren't reckless, half of the problem has been because by him."
"That's what I said."
With a small smile, "Ron and I are not going anywhere. He won't be able to get rid of us so easily. He's going to have to live with this."
She smiled at him and whispered, "Thank you Harry."
"If you need anything, I'm here." he said. "Come on, we should get back."
"Harry, is Ron going to be okay?" Hermione asked heading back toward the ballroom
He stopped and said, "Ron is Ron, he'll get over it. You can try to talk to him about it."
"Can you?" she asked.
"I've tried Mione, he won't listen to me. But he might listen to you." Harry responded. "If you tried talking to him, he might come around faster."
She thought about it for a second, "Yeah, I can try. Why has no one told me?"
"We were hoping you two would come together on your own." he answered.
Nodding at his response she leaned against the wall. "Should we go back in?" he asked.
"You go ahead. I'll be there in a few minutes; I need some time alone to think."
He smiled at her nodding his head in understanding, "Okay. Don't stay out here to long. I don't trust this house or its residents."
She smiled and answered, "I won't."
He squeezed her hand in comfort before heading back to the ballroom.
Hermione stood in the corridor, thinking over everything that just happened. She looked down at her hand, and noticed the ring on her finger. "Ugh."
"Granger?"
Hermione groaned at the sound of his voice. I don't need this right now; I really don't want to deal with him. "Go away Malfoy. I don't want to talk or see you right now." she said.
"Granger, you have to come back to the ballroom." Malfoy said, walking toward her.
"No I don't have to."
"Look, if this is about what I said, then I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."
"Yes, you shouldn't have."
"Please, come back to the ballroom."
"No, I don't want to. I don't want to be anywhere near you."
"Why?"
"Why! Come on Malfoy! You know perfectly well why! You destroyed my life! From the moment we started school! You made my life hell and you made sure of that everyday! What makes it worse, now I have to marry you! I have to give up the life I love for you! I hate you Draco Malfoy, I hate the very idea of spending the rest of my bloody life with you!" she yelled at him, pretty sure everyone in the ballroom had heard her by now. Not that she actually cared. "The only reason I agreed to come here..."
Draco cut her off mid-sentence, forcing her to stop. His lips found hers before she could continue with her rant.
Hermione knew she should fight, but she didn't. When he pulled away, she stood looking after him with confusion. He was watching her, a small smirk on his face. She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it again. Finally, her words found her, "Why did you do that?"
"Why did you say yes if you hate me so much?" he asked quietly.
"I already told you." she answered.
"That doesn't tell me anything. Tell me the real reason why you said yes." he said, searching her face for answers.
She was about to answer when she was interrupted by Narcissa. "There you two are. You're wanted back in the ballroom. Come on…" she ushered the two of them toward the doors.
Hermione allowed Draco to take her hand and lead her back. After dinner was served, he led her around to meet various people. Some of whom weren't so thrilled with the match. The night went by faster afterwards and she was free to roam the ballroom and talk with her friends. A few times she was asked to dance and she obliged. She was repeatedly asked questions about the marriage and answered them the best she could. Trying hard to hide how she really felt; only few knew the truth.
Finally as the night came to a close, she was able to have some peace and quiet. Climbing the stairs to her room and crawling in bed exhausted. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
Malfoy lay in his room, thinking over the words Hermione had said the previous night, He rolled over onto his stomach, "She's right. I've destroyed her life. Almost made it a living hell. Taunting her at every moment." he stared at the bathroom door, the shower had been turned on. He groaned and flipped off his bed. "Draco, this is too much for you. You know you can only process so much." Looking around his room he realized he would no longer have a room of his own. "Great, first I lose my bathroom and now I lose my room." Walking to the door he yanked it open.
He wandered around for awhile, not sure where he was headed. That was until he found himself standing outside the library doors. Rolling his eyes he walked in. The spacious room was empty except for the small figure in the corner. "Do you spend ever minute of your life in a library?" he asked. When she didn't answer he made his way across the room. "Come on Granger. You have to talk to me sometime."
She continued to ignore him. He came to a stop behind her. An idea occurred to him. With a smile he bent down and whispered. "You know you can't resist me."
That triggered her attention. She spun around in her seat and glared at him. "Resist you! I despise you! I want nothing to do with you! You are a bug that needs to be squashed! A pest that needs to be caged! I don't want you Draco Malfoy!"
Draco raised an eyebrow, "You want me? Touching."
"That is not what I said." her chair moved away from her as she stood.
"You think you don't. But in reality you really, really do." he mocked.
"You keep thinking that. I have better things to do." she said closing her book and sent it back to its shelf.
"I will. Come on I'm Draco Malfoy, Sex God of Slytherin."
"Right, so you would think. But do you really know what the girls at school think of you?"
"Sure. He's rich, handsome, pretty good looking." he said a smirk crossing his features.
Hermione rolled her eyes and answered, "Wrong."
"You know it's true. Do you want to find out just how good I really am?" he asked wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"God no." she said pushing past him.
"Oh come on." he said grabbing hold of her wrist. "You know you do."
"That's not going to happen." she answered yanking her wrist out of his grip.
"That's okay. It's going to have to happen sooner or later." She stopped. A smile crossed his face, "That's right. As I recall, there needs to be an heir by 21."
"Yeah, 21. There is still time to deny you what you want." Hermione said.
"Not really."
"What do you mean?" she asked crossing her arms.
"I mean, I can't wait that long." he answered.
"Too bad because you'll have to. I'm not going to give you the satisfaction just so you can please your addiction."
"Who said it was an addiction?" he questioned.
"I'm not stupid Malfoy. Male's don't think with their brains."
"Says who?"
"It's logic. It's an addiction and your hooked." she said walking away from him.
"No it's and I am not hooked." Malfoy said following her.
"If you say so." she replied.
"Well, you could find out you know. If it is an addiction." He said blocking her way.
"No, thank you." She replied walking around him.
"That's alright. I'll be waiting here waiting." he said as she climbed the stairs.
"Well then, you'll be waiting for a very long time." she said over the railing before disappearing out the door.
He walked back to the chair she had been sitting in. With a huff he collapsed into it and stared into the fireplace unsure what to do. Curiously, he pulled out his wand and summoned the book she had just put away. As it came to rest in his lap, he glanced at the title before turning his head toward the door. Why would she be reading this one?
Here it is, Chapter 7. I hope it's alright it gave me quite the fight. Don't forget to READ, REVIEW and ENJOY! Mess531y
OH AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT MY PROFILE FOR HERMIONE'S ENGAGEMENT DRESS!
