Chapter Seven
"Hermione"
Hermione couldn't reach the common room fast enough; once inside she dropped her cloak next to the hanger instead of her usual O.C.D kicking in and her placing it on the left second hook as always. She turned slowly to face the empty room, alone at last. Needing time to breathe a little Hermione decided to start a hot bath while she made her favorite tea.
"What a weird day." She thought. "And I haven't got a clue what Professor Dumbledore wanted to talk about."
She sipped the hot tea, waiting for the tub to fill. Still waiting she slipped out of her clothes and into her bathrobe. It was so soft against her pale porcelain skin, keeping her warm in the cold room. Just then she decided to put on a fire and retire for the night. She knew after her bath she wouldn't want to do anything but die in bed for the night.
"That should do it." She said to herself.
Hermione didn't like to use magic for every little thing; it took 10 minutes to get a good flame going the old fashion way, rather than 2 seconds with a wave of her wand. The wood crackled as the flames grew; the room became cozy within minutes.
"Ah, perfect." She said aloud.
Picking her tea up from the small side table next to the long love seat, she began sipping it again. The tub was nearly full, the bubbles almost over flowing. This night wasn't going too poorly as it seems after all; alone time was good once in a while. It makes you appreciate the ones whom are missing. As she placed her mug on the toilet seat she walked out of the bathroom and into her personal bedroom to grab her favorite book, the only one she could read over and over and over again. On her way back to the bathroom she had the strangest urge to look at the other personal room just across from hers. Draco's personal room; she rolled her eyes while grimacing at the door, though it was weird how he could just up and leave like he did even with all things considered.
"Whatever." She hissed continuing towards the bathroom.
The bath was heavenly, perfect temperature; she began to read, letting her hair drop out over the side of the tub. Dropping the large clip that had held it up in a bun to the floor; for the first time all day Hermione finally felt calm and comfortable. This bath was the best idea ever; she forgotten what it was like to just relax and enjoy herself. She was usually so busy worrying about assignments and tests; she never made time for a bath anymore. Well that was definitely going to change after tonight, no more quick unsatisfying showers. Hermione was enjoying herself so much that she'd lost track of time and was in the tub until all her digits where like prunes and the water was colder then room temperature.
"Darn, is that the time?" She asked herself looking at the rubber ducky shaped clock on the wall.
She placed the book on the toilet seat next to her now empty mug; reached for a towel she had placed by the sink and started drying herself off. That was a good two hour soak, it was 8pm now and her stomach was pretty angry with her for skimping on dinner. She wrapped herself in her toasty bathrobe and made her way to the kitchen, food was something she knew she would have to improvise on until tomorrow.
"Think now, what on earth could I make?" She questioned herself.
Bypassing the fridge entirely, knowing from her previous search before dinner that it was nothing but disappointment in there. She made her way to the junk food cupboard; there was always something to munch on in there.
"These will have to do, not exactly a balanced meal by any means but oh well." She talked to herself.
She pulled out a bag of Gingersnap cookies, smelling the bag as she made her way over to the plate cabinet. These were her favorite kind and they still smelled fresh. Putting a handful on the plate she knew she would eat as many as she pleased and put the rest into a zip lock bag for later consumption. Rinsing out the mug from her tea, Hermione figured it was clean enough to reuse for some milk to dip the cookies in. she'd finish two more chapters curled up on the love seat by the fire with her snack before wrapping it up for bed. She walked to the fridge and reached for the door.
"WHAT!?" panic filled her voice as it squeaked out.
It was full, there was barely enough food for a mouse the last time she'd opened it. She was sure of that; this was just not her day. There was butter beer, jelly cups, mini carrots, lettuce, a variety of lunch meats, cheese slices, juice boxes, fresh strawberries, and blueberries, eggs, green and red peppers, honey, watermelon, and a large cucumber and that was all seen at first glance. Slowly she reached for the freezer door opening it with one swift movement. Again it was packed, chicken strips, meatballs, pizza, two different ice cream flavors, juice cans, pork chops, shrimp, ground beef, corn, chicken wings, and bacon, again all seen just at first glance.
"What?" she breathed, staring into the fridge once again.
"Figures I'd come back to an empty kitchen." A voice broke through the silence.
Hermione let out a famous horror movie scream, before spinning around pressed back against the kitchen counter; reaching behind her for her wand.
"Relax mudblood, it's only me." Draco cooed as he walked out from the darkness near his room.
"Malfoy!?" Hermione panted.
Just then a whole new wave of fear flushed through her body. Was he back to stay? Where had he gone? What was he going to do to her now? Did he still want to ruin her life? So many questions flew around in her head she felt dizzy.
He walked across the room until he reached the tiled floor of the kitchen area; nothing but the dim flickering of a dying fire to light the room. They stared at each other in silence for a long moment before Hermione continued to secretly reach for her wand; it was right next to the plate of cookies she had out but it was difficult to reach unnoticed. Her heart pounded hard against her chest, she could hear it thudding in her ears. Why did he do this to her? It never happened before, and this wasn't the first time she'd faced him in all her years at Hogwarts. And why did he look so damn good to her now? The light hit his face in an indescribable manner, the way his eyes glinted, the shadowing on his face and body; he looked like a dark angel. He was beautiful, rather Hermione wanted to admit it or not.
"Did I scare you?" he asked still standing far from her.
"No." Hermione snapped back quickly.
"Really? So that scream was what? Just for dramatic effect or?" He teased her with a seductive crooked smile growing on his face with every word he spoke.
"Shut it, Malfoy." She snapped again, lowering her other hand from her chest where she had clutched her robe after screaming.
Still smiling he slowly walked towards Hermione; she tensed up with each step he took closer. About six steps away she had managed to get a hold of her wand without detection. She flung it forward, pointing it directly at him with a threatened stance.
"Take one more step and you're frozen for another 24 hours Malfoy." She hissed, her nose wrinkling from her intense scowl.
Shockingly he stopped, dead in his place. No snarky remark? No threatening movement? He just stared at her, with an unreadable expression; as usual. For a split second Hermione could have sworn he looked upset, something had just changed in him. Neither one of them moved an inch for a long moment, before Hermione took one step closer still armed with her wand pointed at his face.
"Look, I don't want to do anything we'll both regret here but don't underestimate me Malfoy. I'll use this without hesitation if you so much as lay a finger on me!" She shouted, with a hint of confusion in her slightly shaking voice.
"Hermione." He said in the sweetest most charming voice he could manage.
Stunned Hermione stood like a deer in headlights looking into his eyes; it felt like the twilight zone.
"He..he just used my name.. Without an insult after." She thought. "He's never used my name before. It's usually Granger, or mudblood, or some other insulting name he can think of."
Something was going on here, and Hermione was determined to find it out, he wasn't getting away without an explanation for this all or the apology that Hermione deserved.
"Can we talk?" He asked in the same alluring tone he had used to say her name for the first time.
Please R&R!
