On the Differences Between Soulmates and Lifemates
disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters therein belong to J.K. Rowling and are borrowed by the author. Any other, original characters belong to the author. Don't take them they'll run away and come back home to me.
Chapter 9: Detention with Malfoy and Granger
Hermione was groggy after waking from her nap, and could have slept longer. She washed her face in the prefects' bathroom and laughed at herself. She had just separated from Ron, and now she was going to give him a chance to win her back.
"You are full of contradictions, aren't you, 'Mione, girl?" Hermione asked her reflection as she brushed her hair out of her eyes. She had been applying a straightening tonic to it ever since fourth year, when she had first used it for the Yule Ball. Daydreaming, Hermione wondered if Hogwart's would ever host another formal before she left the school. Like any other girl, Hermione enjoyed dressing up, so long as she didn't have to do it all the time.
"Ah, but who would you go with?" Hermione said offhandedly. She thought about Ron, but she knew what it would lead to. Neville would think more of it, and Luna would be hurt. Harry would undoubtedly go with Ginny. And Draco would run off any other prospective suitors, but probably wouldn't go with her himself.
Hermione pushed all those thoughts out of her mind as she realized how late it was, and that she would soon be late to her detention with Snape. Part of her wished that he was still the Potions master, so that all he could do would be make her and Draco clean cauldrons and bottles. Now that he taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, there was no telling what Snape would make them do. Hermione shoved her feet into her shoes, threw her robes over her shoulders and ran out the door and down to Snape's new classroom.
Hermione arrived at the classroom at the same time Draco did, but he didn't acknowledge her presence other than to open the door for her. He didn't speak to her, and Hermione could swear his eyes were red from crying. She opened her mouth to say something, but Snape called them into the room before she could manage anything.
"Granger, Malfoy, get in here. I've things to do, so I need to explain your tasks and then I need to leave. Come in and shut the door," Snape hissed. He motioned them in, and Draco closed the door behind them.
Draco was silent, but Hermione opened her mouth. "What are we doing tonight, Professor? Will you be back, or are we to lock up and leave when we are finished?"
"Someone has broken into the cabinet where I had all of the dueling licenses. I don't think that any of the licenses are gone, but I need you two to go through these piles of licenses and organize them alphabetically by class period and year. Check each license against each class roster, and make a list of any licenses that seem to be missing. We can't start the main core curriculum until all these licenses are found and accounted for. I am trusting you two to keep this to yourselves. There are no other students I would entrust this task to. It should go without saying that you are not to speak of this to anyone else," Snape said, looking both students in the eye.
"Of course, Professor. Would you like us to make any discreet inquiries among the school body?" Hermione offered.
"We understand, sir. We'll keep this to ourselves, and we'll help you get to the bottom of this," Draco said, his first words since outside the classroom.
"Very well. This may take a few nights. I apologize, but this is why you two have detention. I couldn't think of another way to do this that wouldn't arouse suspicion. Work on this for three hours, then you may leave. I must go now, I have a meeting with McGonagall and Dumbledore to discuss the situation. I'll see you tomorrow at the same time," Snape said as he turned on his heel and left.
Hermione looked at the immense piles of licenses and class rosters on Snape's desk and two tables he had laid out so they could have space to work. They would have to work for two and a half hours, then use the last half-hour to clean up and put things away so that the event would be kept under wraps.
First, Hermione lit all the torches, candles, and lamps in the room, to give them enough light to work easily. Then, she picked up the class rosters and set them on different desks, so they would be easier to collate. As Snape was the only Defense Against the Dark Arts available a Hogwart's due to the significantly shorter life expectancy and sanity expectancy rate that went along with the position he had virtually ever student in the school in his classes. The classes were huge: there were literally hundreds of students and licenses that Hermione and Draco would have to sort through.
Finally, Hermione turned with a smile to Draco. "Where should we get started? Should we try to divide the work, or should we work together, you know, two sets of eyes are better than one, right?" she tried to laugh, but Draco's signature smirk was nowhere to be seen; instead, he wore a dark scowl that Hermione knew was directed at her and not their task. "What?"
"Nothing. I'm just surprised that you can even stand. You must be quite tired; it was a long afternoon," Draco said icily.
"Well, it was nasty out there, but you were the one playing. You did quite well. Did you hear me cheering you on?" Hermione said, not understanding what was wrong.
"Of course I heard you cheer me on. But I didn't get the standing ovation Weasley did, did I? Or should I call it a horizontal ovation?" Draco hissed, grabbing Hermione's wrists.
"Let go of me! What are you talking about?" Hermione said, pulling away from Draco, trying to break his grip on her wrists. She wriggled and pulled, but his grip was like iron.
"You said that you two were separated. You said that you weren't together, and that you wouldn't be getting back together. You weren't going to sleep with him. But when I went to your rooms to collect you and escort you down here, to thank you for being at the game, when it was so abysmal out, you weren't there. You left your music player on, but you were in his rooms. I saw you leave his rooms and run for the prefects' bathroom. What game are you playing, Hermione?" Draco said sadly, rearranging his grip on Hermione's wrists, placing both of her wrists in one of his hands so he could reach into his robe.
"What are you doing, Draco? I wasn't doing anything with Ron! And what do you care? You and I aren't together! Please, just let me go, and we'll talk about this, but whatever you're reaching for, just think first," Hermione pleaded, and Draco's eyes softened.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Hermione. I wanted to show you what I was bringing you earlier. If I let you go, will you give me your hand?" Draco asked, and Hermione nodded, still anxious.
Draco pulled out the yellow roses, somewhat worse for the wear and slightly singed since he had partially burned them. He held Hermione's hand in one of his and held the roses out to her with the other. Hermione looked at Draco before she reached for the roses. When her hand started to close around the bouquet, Draco shifted it suddenly and nicked her hand with the thorns.
"Ow! Why'd you do that, Draco?" Hermione asked, bringing her hand up to her mouth to suck on the tiny wounds.
Draco pulled her wounded hand from her mouth to his own. He gently suckled at the wounds as he closed his eyes. Hermione felt a shiver begin in the pit of her stomach as he tongued the tiny tears in her skin. The bleeding ebbed, and Draco moved his tongue to Hermione's palm. He licked her palm and scraped his teeth along the fleshy pads before he placed a gentle kiss into her palm.
Draco dragged his gaze up to Hermione's, and the look in his eyes broke her heart. She slipped her hands from his and cradled his face in them, bringing his mouth down to hers. Her mouth was soft on his, and she opened her mouth and swiped her tongue over his lips, waiting for him to allow her entrance to his mouth. She pushed her way into his mouth, and sucked on his tongue, wrestling and nibbling until he was as breathless as she was.
Hermione pulled back from the kiss, and her lips were red and swollen. Draco's eyes were a stormy silver-grey, his lips were parted, and he was breathing heavily. Hermione blushed at the effect she was having on him.
"I hurt you because you hurt me, Hermione. But those pricks from the roses are nothing compared to how I felt earlier. Are you going to lie to me again, or will you tell me what's going on?" Draco said heavily.
"Fine. But then you have to tell me why this matters," Hermione said, and Draco nodded.
"I was in Ron's rooms because I had to help him get back after the game. He couldn't walk, and I had to levitate him there. We ate, talked, and feel asleep in front of the fire in his sitting room. That's all. Nothing happened," Hermione said, waiting for Draco to speak.
"What did you two talk about?" Draco asked.
"No. You first. Why do you care?"
"Because I care for you. I noticed you on the platform at the beginning of our first year, but when I found out about your birth status, you were off-limits. I cursed our origins, especially as you showed how intelligent you were, how brave and loyal; and now, you are so damn beautiful. To me, you are perfect. And you deserve to know that. Is Weasley ever going to realize how lucky he's been? Would he ever be able to give you what I can? He couldn't even get you on the back of his broom, because you couldn't trust him. But you know you can trust me," Draco said, reaching for Hermione's hand again. His face smiled, but in his heart he hated the lie: he wasn't telling her everything, and she'd find out sooner or later. "Now, what did you two discuss?"
"He wants to get back together. I told him that he would have to woo me all over again, and that the things that he used to get us together before won't work again. I'm supposed to meet him again tonight, after we finish our detention," Hermione said.
"No. You gave him the afternoon, I get this evening. The bastard's gone and turned this into a competition after I specifically told him not to!" Draco roared.
"What are you talking about? Ron said that you were the one who wanted to turn this into nothing more than a competition between the two of you," Hermione said suspiciously.
"Of course he said that. If you don't believe me, we'll wait for Snape, and he can give me veritaserum if you like," Draco offered as he paced the classroom.
"I believe you, Draco," Hermione said softly.
"Fine, then we'll just have to get out the damn veritaserum. I'll take it and you can ask me anything you like what? You believe me? Just like that? Why? Ron's been your friend for ages, and you were in love with him," Draco asked, rushing headlong into the conversation.
Hermione laughed. "I believe you because I know Ron. He can't stand the idea of you having something he sees as his own. I have to tell Ron that I won't see him tonight. I'm not settling down immediately. You and he and anyone else interested can try to woo me. Only my heart will tell."
"Fine. Let's get through this, and then I'll head to my rooms to get dinner ready while you freshen up and tell Ron where to go."
"I won't do that, Draco. But I will come have dinner with you tonight. Now let's get through this first batch before our time is up."
"Just one more kiss, to fortify me through this awful event?"
"No. Later, I promise."
Draco launched himself at Hermione, tackling her with a kiss. "Sorry, couldn't wait. But there's more where that came from."
