A/N: So, this is it, the final chapter. I'm quite sad. Well, I hope you'll review and enjoy this lots. Thank you EVERYONE who have read and reviewed my story. You are all very much appreciated. Thank you all for your time. I wish you luck in your own stories. You are all wonderful. THANKS!
Chapter 9
Draco awoke to the soft morning sun leaking through the curtains. Stretching his arms above his head, he began smiling. Today the plan would go into action, the cogs were turning and nothing would get into the system. Draco pushed himself out of bed with a small leap and began to change out of his pyjamas. Casting a brief look at the time, he realised that it was quarter to six.
"Oops." He smiled. Oh well, no harm in being well prepared.
Once in his robes, he ruffled up his hair, making it stick up before flattening it slightly and pushing a few stray strands out of his eyes. Much better. Heading for the common room, he ran back over his plan for the millionth time, checking there were no loopholes. Once he was satisfied he landed on the couch and looked around the softly lit room, the slight chill in the air making him feel more awake. He twiddled his thumbs for a bit before concluding that it was too boring in there. He rose once more and headed out of the portrait hole. A morning walk would be good. Draco wandered through the school and out towards the lake. Why wouldn't time go faster? He ended up skimming pebbles across the surface of the black water, while the sun rose from the horizon and made the water shimmer with gold. Draco was itching to talk to Hermione, but he still had to wait until second lesson to get to her. First, he had to endure History of Magic. Draco sighed heavily, plonked himself on the ground and started drawing in the damp dirt with the edge of a sharp stone. The cold black earth shuffled away from the curling line he drew. Draco sighed again. Damn, why was there nothing interesting to do at six o'clock in the morning? He should have stayed in bed longer.
* * *
Hermione rolled over onto her front in an attempt to block out the sunlight which was blinding her dark-adapted eyes. Birds began tweeting noisily on the window sill. Bed sheets crumpled noisily. Trees rustled noisily in the wind. She groaned as her alarm joined in the morning chorus. Maybe this was a signal that she should get up now because it was going to be a very good day....or maybe it was just nature taking it out on her for the morning. Either way, Hermione mumbled all the way out of bed. Both feet landed on the floor and she wobbled on her way up. She felt strangely grumpy this morning, because the next thing she did was go and bang loudly on the window, making the birds fly away in fright. Grappling her hair together, she tied it in a loose ponytail and changed into her robes. Once finished, she had to restrain herself from flopping back on her bed in a sleepy heap. A messy bed complete with soft duvet was almost too tempting. Managing to drag herself from the room and the sight of the cosy, sleeping, figures in the other beds, she got herself to the Great Hall for breakfast, she needed energy food. As her eyes drifted over the Slytherin table, her energy food was forgotten, what she needed, right now, was Draco Malfoy. He provided her with enough energy in himself. The first smile of the morning lifted the corners of her mouth as her eyes met with his. Shame she didn't feel as gorgeous as he looked this morning. Completely absorbed in his face, she didn't notice that the Gryffindor table was coming exceedingly close until she tripped over the edge of the bench and stumbled forward, only just saving herself from meeting cold hard floor. Recovering as quickly as physically possible, a growing pink glow growing in her cheeks, she looked up in time to see Draco doubled up over his breakfast laughing to himself. Hermione couldn't help but smile herself as she resumed her path to her seat. She scooped an oversized pile of scrambled eggs onto her plate before she realised what she was doing.
"Concentrate you fool," she thought before piling half of it back into the pot. Her cheeks burned. Draco was probably still watching, watching her embarrass herself, laughing into his sleeve. Hermione kept her head down as she cleared the plate and munched a piece of toast. What. An. Idiot. Is this what it feels like to be in love? You lose your bearings, your sense of direction, every ounce of sensibility? How ridiculously......amazing. Twenty minutes later, she rose from her seat and wandered in the direction of Arithmancy, giving Draco a shy smile before disappearing out of view.
* * *
Draco smirked as Hermione disappeared out the door; he must look good to be able to have distracted her enough to make her trip over a bench. He wouldn't let that go easily. It was just too funny. He finished off his bacon and stood, smiling again as he saw Pansy sat with Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle between them. The gravy incident must have scarred her for life. He sniggered as he left for first lesson, hoping it would pass by quickly so he could get to Potions and begin the real part of his plan.
But it didn't. If anything, it felt like years could have passed by as Professor Binns mumbled on about nothing much. The only productive thing Draco did all lesson was gouge holes out of the desk that were capable of holding quills. He couldn't even remember why he chose to continue History of Magic. The only thing he knew was that he regretted it more than anything. Despite this, when the signal was given that they could go, Draco packed slowly and didn't rush to get out. It was all part of the plan, Hermione, Potter and Weasel needed to be seated first before he could enter. He trundled through the corridors and down the staircases to the dungeons, clutching his trouser pocket to make sure it was there. The small package an average speckled brown owl had dropped off at breakfast. The package itself looked rather average itself, wrapped in brown parcel paper and tied with a piece of brown string. He hoped she would like it.
Looking round the corner, he could see the crowd of students still waiting outside, Hermione closest to the door. She was looking around the heads of the others surrounding her. Looking for him? It seemed likely. Draco smiled, but had to wait, so he stood round the corner until he heard Snape's unmistakable voice call them in. Once the door had been shut again for about a minute, he himself entered to find a few students still stood up. Perfect, he wouldn't look too ridiculous doing what he was about to do. And Weaslebee was positioned exactly where he wanted him. As well as there being a spare seat on Potter's right. It was playing out just perfectly. Draco strode up behind Ron and grabbed the neck of his robes, pulling him up and off his seat.
"OI!" growled Ron, "What do you think you're doing?"
Harry said exactly the same thing, but with his facial expression.
Draco replied to neither of them and took Ron's seat next to Hermione.
Hermione made sure Harry and Ron backed off before she turned to Draco. Ron scowled, taking the spare seat next to Harry. They started whispering between them.
"What's that git doing?" asked Ron angrily, "And why did Hermione say it was ok?"
"I don't know, but I'm not sure I like it," replied Harry.
"What are you doing?" Hermione whispered at Draco.
"Well, it appears I'm sitting next to you."
"Yeah, I got that, but why in front of everyone?"
"Meh, they'll get over it," he replied, a glint in his eye.
Even Snape looked shocked at the sudden rearrangement that had taken place, but he didn't mention it. Ron looked set up to glare at Draco for the rest of the lesson and Harry, well he just looked uncomfortable sat on the table next to Draco and Hermione's. Once Snape started the lesson on the calming draught, Draco wriggled further towards Hermione on his seat, leaning his head in to talk more privately.
"So, um, I needed to sit next to you, because I need to ask you something," he started.
"Ok..." Hermione replied slowly.
"What do you think, about becoming my girlfriend?" he asked with a smile, pushing the parcel across the desk with a finger.
Hermione bit her lip as she undid the string and peeled back the packaging, revealing a small dark green velvet box. She flipped it open to reveal a thin band of polished engraved silver with a tiny set of three emerald stones set in the metal. Thin curls weaved around the gems and around the rest of the ring.
"It's....gorgeous...." she whispered. Just as she was about to slip it over her finger, Hermione paused. "It's not cursed is it?" she joked.
Draco laughed quietly, so as not to provoke Snape's glare. "No, I promise."
"I thought I was s'posed to be the one buying you a ring to replace your other one?" Hermione said as she positioned the ring on her finger.
"Well you'll just have to go get me one soon," Draco smiled, "So what do you say? Be my girlfriend?"
"Of course, I love you," she whispered before placing a quick kiss to his cheek.
Unfortunately, this contact didn't go unmissed by Ron, who quickly relayed it to Harry. They both stared in shock.
"What the hell is she playing at?!" Ron tried to keep the volume of his voice down, but it still attracted Snape.
"Keep your voice down Mr. Weasley."
When he noticed Draco and Hermione, he didn't look best pleased. Whether it was because it was one of his favoured Slytherins interacting in such a way with the insufferable know-it-all or whether he just despised such a thing in his class, it was unclear. "I would appreciate it, Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy, if you could watch your proximity during my classes," he hissed. They separated, but Draco found it hard not to place his hand over hers. He temporarily distracted himself by apologizing to Snape, laying it on thick by following with, 'please continue your class.'
Snape glared but continued all the same. As Draco began to listen to the Professor and take notes, he could feel Ron and Harry's glare burning into the back of his skull. He looked up at the double act.
"I think you'll find that the Professor is at the front of the class, not in the back of my head," he told them before returning to his notes.
They both narrowed their eyes and clenched their jaw, trying so hard not throw a punch each at him. Ron began to write also, but managed to snap the nib of his quill with the amount of pressure he was placing on it.
"Bugger," he growled, grabbing another quill from his satchel.
Harry slowly returned to his work, fighting the temptation to pull out his wand and jinx Malfoy. What sick thing was going on, he had no idea, but he would find out soon enough.
* * *
Draco stepped out of the dark, dank potions class forty five minutes later, with Hermione close beside him. Harry and Ron were fighting their way through the crowd between them and their targets much to the distaste of the other students. Once out, they stopped Draco and Hermione in their tracks.
"So, what the hell was that?!" yelled Ron angrily, more towards Draco than Hermione, even though she had been the one to kiss Draco.
"Ron, calm down," Hermione replied, pushing Draco behind her before they got in a fight.
"YOU WANT ME TO CALM DOWN? THIS IS CALM! YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE HAPPENING IF I WAS MAD!" he shouted.
Harry began with a quieter approach. "Explain yourself, what's going on?"
"I think it's probably time we told y-"
"YES, IT IS! BLOODY WELL TIME," Ron cut her off.
"LET ME FINISH RONALD. Draco...is my boyfriend."
"WHAT?!" Ron spat, "SINCE WHEN?!"
"Since this lesson," Hermione replied calmly.
"HA...HAHA...YOU'RE HAVING A LAUGH RIGHT?!"
"Ron, calm down before you give yourself a brain haemorrhage." Harry warned as he saw Ron get redder and redder with the level of shouting he was doing. He himself was still taking it in; he would probably get mad later.
"Why Hermione? Why him?" Harry asked quietly.
"We've been through a lot recently; the events....brought us together," she replied. She was proud of Draco at the moment; he was being surprisingly quiet behind her. She took his hand and squeezed it gently. Draco nodded in agreement.
Harry thought, but he was distracted by the sight of Ron getting ready to erupt again. He grabbed his arm and left Draco and Hermione silently.
"That was...interesting," Draco spoke for the first time.
"Hmm, come on, lunch, I'm hungry," Hermione smiled softly as she nodded towards the stairs.
* * *
Draco and Hermione both had a free period last lesson, so they spent it down by the lake, in each other's arms.
"So who do you think cursed your ring?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know, and I don't care right now, but they'll get what's coming to them, no matter how long it takes." Draco seemed to have other things on his mind as he dismissed the issue.
"You still annoyed about Ron? He'll get over it eventually," Hermione said.
"Are you sure? He seemed pretty angry to me." Draco replied. He wasn't scared of Ron, just a bit wary that he might hang around them like a bad smell.
"Well, if not, it's his payback."
"For what exactly?" Draco asked.
"Um....well....I used to like him....you know, I don't know why, but he was going out with Lavender then, and it killed me. Every time I saw them together, I felt like I hated him."
"Well, that's a confession I never thought I'd hear...."
"Yeah, well, that was a time when I didn't realise how bad he actually treated me as a friend. But that's old stuff now, because I've got you."
"You certainly do," Draco smiled, placing a feather-light kiss on her forehead.
"I love you," Hermione whispered as she snuggled into the warmth of his chest, listening to his soft heart beat beneath.
"I love you too." He replied, stroking her head gently.
The sunset sprayed pretty colours over the expanse of sky and sent a light show dazzling over the soft waves. Nothing could be more perfect.
A/N: So that's it, the end, le finito. Please, please, please review. It's the final chapter so I'd really love to hear everyone's thoughts. Thank you so much, as if i haven't already made my thankfulness clear at the beginning of this chapter! :P
JUST A QUICK MESSAGE TO SAY THAT THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL TO POSSESSED IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. I HOPE YOU'LL ALL CHECK IN FOR IT. POSSESSED II: GHOSTS WILL RISE. SHOULD BEGIN PUBLISHING SOON. xoxox
