(A/N) Hi again! Thanks to everyone for your reviews, it really makes this whole story-writing worth while. I really value your support.
Here is another chapter, number 9. I hope it keeps you entertained and I'm sorry that it took so long to write. Please let me know if there is anything I could change or modify. Enjoy!
Warning: This chapter contains some violence, not too bad though.
This chapter is dedicated specifically to: Melanie Reed, Rachael Reid and Charlotte Westbrook. (You guys are the best!)
Chapter 9: Changes
Draco sat in the Head's Common Room, leaning lightly against one of the fireplace armchairs, his eyes shut in thought. His head was swimming, his body sore and aching from his father's brutal meeting earlier that day.
Draco had said that he loved Hermione, but now his confidence was starting to waver. Would he risk his family's name and his self-respect for this…this mud blood, as his father called her. Lucius had always guided Draco to do the 'proper' thing for himself. His father's attacks always made him feel sick and weak inside, so much so that he didn't know what to think anymore.
"Should I risk everything just for the sake of Granger? When it all started out as a harmless joke? Am I willing to kill my own reputation to make some mud blood happy?" Draco snarled to himself. He felt his mean, taunting ways flow back into him; he was so much like his father. He didn't feel like being the'nice' Draco anymore, he was a Slytherin and he shouldn't be dating a Gryffindor, let alone a mudblood!
The 'courage' that had so warmly seeped into his body before hand was slowly disappearing. Meaning that every second Draco felt himself drift further and further apart from Hermione, the source of his courage.
Rising slowly Draco headed for the oak bathroom door, slipping his shirt off slowly as he pushed open the door. Once inside the white tiled room Draco inspected his wounds in front of the large brass mirror. Heavy bruises dotted his upper arms and shoulders, making his skin sting in pain at the lightest touch. Drawing in a sharp breath, he ran his fingers over a large bruise that had formed underneath his left eye, it looked horrible.
Shaking his head in confusion Draco quietly undressed and slipped into the warm silky bath. He lay for a time, perhaps twenty minutes or more, just soaking and thinking.
What was he going to do? Just drop Hermione? He didn't know what to think. As he washed his hair with shampoo he thought that he should carry through with his original plan. Make her think he likes her and then break it off in front of everyone. A cruel smile played on his lips.
"Draco?" Hermione's timid voice was heard from the common room, "Are you in here?"
"Yes Granger I'm in the bathroom, just wait," he replied savagely. Hermione fell silent.
A few moments later Draco emerged from the bathroom, fully clothed.
"Oh my goodness," cried Hermione, rushing up to him, "What happened to your face?"
Hermione studied Draco deeply, reaching her hand out to touch his skin. Draco sharply pushed her hand away.
"It's nothing just drop it, I don't need your sympathy," Malfoy sneered, brushing passed her and sitting on the couch. Hermione was puzzled.
"Why is he acting like this? He's being really mean!" Hermione questioned herself.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Malfoy asked abruptly, putting his feet up on the table.
"This is my dormitory too in case you haven't noticed…" Hermione rolled her eyes at him. Draco sat there smirking. There was a moment's pause.
"Did your father do that to you?" Hermione asked in barely more than a whisper. She had taken a chance, she knew Draco hated the mention of his dad.
"What's it to you? You're just a filthy mudblood!" he snapped, running his fingers through his hair. He stood quickly and made his way towards Hermione. She shrank back, a little scared.
"What's gotten into you?" she asked, bumping into the wall behind her, her back pressing against the hard stone.
"I know what I want and I know how to get it. My father made everything clear for me today," Draco explained proudly, Hermione looked hurt.
"So that's it? I never meant anything to you?" Hermione shrieked, as Draco pushed his body lightly against hers, trapping her in the process. "I really loved you Draco,"
Her voice shook as she spoke. Draco grinned at this.
"Good, the Malfoy charm's worked a treat. All I have to do is play along and say I love her and all that shit. The problem is...i really do love her," Draco sternly told himself.
"You've changed Malfoy," she breathed, as he lowered his mouth to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he slid his hands up her side, giving her goose bumps. His kiss was so soft and so sweet that Hermione gave into him, trusting him completely. She moaned a little in the back of her throat, a noise of satisfaction as his tongue ran smoothly with hers.
"I know I have 'Mione," he whispered back, cupping her chin in his smooth, masculine hands. "And I love you," His heart stung as he said this for he knew his words were true, he did deeply love her. But he had a task to fulfil and he didn't want to back down. He had to break it off with her sooner or later, just to see her hurt, the way his father would want it.
Hermione ran her hands down his back softly, resting her head on his shoulders. He bent his head down a little a moment later and kissed her neck lightly, in a comforting way.
"I love you too Draco," Hermione replied, as he ran his fingers under her shirt and trailed them down her bare back. After a while of standing there together Hermione took Draco's hand and led him into the bedroom.
There she flopped down onto the bed, bringing the attractive blonde male with her. He rested lightly on his elbows, his silver-blue eyes staring deep into her chocolate brown ones. Then in an instant his shirt was off and the two were kissing again, deeper and affectionately. Draco traced her jaw line with his fingers as she ran her hand down his muscular chest. He pressed his lips to hers again, harder this time. Hermione only returned the kiss with more passion and emotion, her hands roaming his chest.
Her whole body ached with desire as he kissed her; he wanted more of him, more if his delightful kisses. She'd never felt this way with any other boy before, Draco was the most sensational by far.
"Draco," she moaned, as he lightly brushed his lips with hers. This sent a tingly feeling all through her body. "Draco I think we should do it,"
Malfoy looked a bit shocked but didn't back away. He nuzzled into her neck softly.
"Sure, if you want," he whispered in response. He swooped down upon her yet again, their passion intensifying as the two began to undress. Then it all became a swirling mess of intimacy and love between the two teenagers, something that would last in their memories forever…
Ron sat in the common room, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to complete a potions chart they had been set for homework. He didn't really understand it and it wasn't aided by many first year students running around the room, shrieking loudly.
"Will you shut up? I'm trying to work!" boomed Ron, as a rubber wand narrowly missed his face. The first years scuttled off in fright, looking back at the lanky red-head.
Ron had always been helped by Hermione whenever he had homework; she always used to check over things to see if they were correct. But now he found he couldn't understand anything without her intellectual responses. He missed her numerous piles of books, stacked high atop each other as he, Harry and her sat in the Gryffindor common room hour after hour trying to catch up with their studies. He missed her smiling face as she laughed at his jokes and plainly…he just missed her.
He'd hardly seen any of her lately; she was always cooped up in the Head's common room with Malfoy. What was so interesting about Ferret face? A tinge of jealously swept through him as he remembered her words about Draco.
"I think I'm falling in love with him Ron, I don't know what to do,"
But he and Hermione had shared a kiss so he was quite certain that Hermione had it in for him. Grinning, he set down his quill and relaxed into the chair. He would finish the homework later; right now he should go and visit Hermione.
Harry suddenly burst through the portrait hole, laughing and resting his arm on Padma's shoulder. The two were still seeing each other, much to Ron's disapproval. Parvati still wasn't speaking to him, but she often shot him glowering glances across the table at breakfast.
"Hey Ronni-kins," smiled Harry, coming over to join his friend after kissing Padma softly and biding her goodnight.
"Hi," he replied, standing up and stretching, "You have a good time?"
"Yeah, Padma's the cutest. We went to the Three Broomsticks and had dinner there. So romantic," sighed Harry, his eyes glazing over.
"Lover-boy, when you've quite finished we've actually got homework," Ron reminded him. Harry jerked back to reality.
"Great," he groaned, "Potions homework, my favourite!" Harry drew his chart closer and started to work out what to do.
"I can't understand any of this!" he snapped, a few minutes later. His green eyes sparkled in anger. "I don't have a clue what to do,"
"Neither do I, I was thinking of asking Hermione. Plus she still hasn't told me whether or not she wants to go out," winked Ron, stepping over his pile of books that lay stranded on the floor. Harry privately thought that Hermione wouldn't agree to dating Ron, he knew that she loved Malfoy.
This disgusted him, as Malfoy had always been their worst enemy. It felt like Hermione was betraying them. She hardly spent anytime with them anymore.
"I'll be back in a while," Ron laughed, reaching the door.
"Ok, hope it goes well," replied Harry, packing his potions homework away. "I'm going to bed anyway. See you in the morning,"
"Bye," Ron disappeared through the portrait hole and hurried along the passageway. He'd probably get into trouble if he was caught out this late so he hurried his pace. Reaching the stairway he jumped them three at a time. As he rounded the corner to the Head's common room his mind was racing.
"Will she say yes? What if she declines? It's all so confusing," Ron whined. He was surprised to find that the Portrait door was wide open. He entered cautiously, swinging the door shut quietly as he did so. There was no one in sight, he checked, looking around the common room. On the table lay a book, belonging to Malfoy. Ron picked it up and opened it slowly.
"…She loves me and I love her. Hermione and I are just meant to be together. Not that it means much to my father. He attacked me today, in the Room of Requirements or some place like that. Bruises take a long time to heal. He said if I disgrace the family name, I am no son to him. I must break it off with Hermione, as my father wishes me to. I know how much it will hurt us, but I promised to do it to begin with. I never planned for her to fall for me. It was all a joke…" Ron read, his mouth hanging open in horror. A noise from the bedroom caught his attention and he placed the book back down on the table.
Slowly he crept towards Hermione's bedroom, he could hear her giggle, something was pleasing her. Pushing open the door he saw…
Hermione and Draco! What the hell were they doing in bed together? Had they…they couldn't possibly have…slept together?
"HERMIONE!" bellowed Ron from the doorway, "What the hell are you doing?"
Malfoy and Hermione sat, shocked and staring at the pale faced Ron who was staring at them. Hermione paled several shades, but Draco's eyes turned steely.
"R-ron what are you doing here?" she muttered slowly, drawing the sheet around her chest and huddling closer to Draco.
"I-I just came to see you…but...what are you doing? Did you sleep with him?" he spat, running his fingers through his hair. Hermione stayed silent, Draco's anger was building.
"Yes Weasel she did! If you have a problem with that please let us know. Otherwise beat it!" he hissed, gesturing for Ron to leave.
"B-but Hermione…"
"Just wait out there Ron; I'll be there in a minute." Hermione urged quietly. Ron swung the bedroom door shut, shaking with rage. Hermione had just slept with his worst enemy of all time! What was going on? She had kissed him for god sake; he didn't expect her to move on so quickly! His whole body was on fire, his heart broken in two.
Back inside the bedroom Hermione dressed quickly, pulling on her jeans and top.
"Shit, shit shit!" she yelled to herself, "I hadn't planned on Ron springing us! And everything was going so well!"
"What's going on Hermione," Draco's voice was icy as he spoke, "Why is Weasel acting like that?"
"Don't know," she lied. She knew perfectly well why he was upset. She had kissed him and Ron had said he loved her. She wouldn't tell Malfoy that though.
"You better not be lying to me Granger," Draco felt anger and betrayal flood through him. His old self was certainly gaining new strength, he felt stronger and violent.
"I'm not, trust me." Hermione assured him shakily, Draco was staring to scare her. She left the room, Draco dressing as she slid into the Common Room. Ron was staring at her in disbelief, tapping his foot impatiently on the ground.
"Let me explain…" she started.
"No! Let me explain! I told you I liked you, we shared a moment Hermione. You don't answer me when I ask you out and then when I come to visit you to seek your response I find you in bed with Draco Malfoy, our worst enemy! How could you?" he yelled, his face turning a heavy shade of scarlet.
"You little bitch!" Hermione spun on the spot and found Draco standing behind her, his face pale and his eyes glinting. "You kissed him?"
"Wait, Draco I…" Hermione stuttered.
"What? She didn't tell you?" Ron looked confused.
"No Weasel-bee she didn't. You keep your hands off her," Draco snarled, advancing on Hermione. "Why did you do it Granger? Why'd you kiss him?"
"I-It just felt right, I didn't love him!" Hermione squeaked, as she backed into the wall.
"What!" roared Ron, "How can you kiss someone and not love them!"
"I don't know Ron, I just don't love you. You're nice and everything and I know we kissed but Draco…"
"Don't you dare blame this on me," hissed Malfoy, pushing her roughly in the shoulders. "How dare you kiss that filthy Weasel. You were mine Hermione; you swore that you loved me!"
"Draco, please you're scaring me," she pleaded as he pushed her again. "Please get off!" she looked over at Ron.
"Get off her Ferret face. You and your father should rot in hell together." Ron shouted suddenly. Draco turned, leaving Hermione for the moment.
"What did you say!" Draco's voice shook with anger.
"Draco it was nothing just leave it," cried Hermione, shaking in fear at what Malfoy would do next. This was a bad idea as Draco focused his attention back on Hermione, his glare pierced Hermione's heart. She knew that look, it was of pure hatred.
"You are the one who started this! If you had told me that you kissed him then I might still love you!" he yelled, grasping her chin forcefully. She tried to pull away but his grip was to strong. "You never deserved my love!"
He suddenly leant back and slapped Hermione across the face as hard as she could. She fell to her knees, sobbing from the blow. Sickeningly she heard the sound of fists against skin. Ron had dived at Malfoy when he had slapped her and the two men were punching each other fiercely.
"How dare you hurt her," yelped Ron, delivering a heavy blow to Draco's already sore cheek.
"You're the one whokissed herWeasel," Malfoy raged, pinning Ron down on the floor. Ron was no match for Malfoy, the blonde man was too heavily built for Ron to do any real damage. Malfoy however was a threat to Ron. He held the red haired young man down and punched him a few more times, across the jaw.
"Draco please…" whispered Hermione, who was cowering in the corner. She couldn't bear to see her friend being hurt. Ron moaned in pain and blood began to seep from his mouth.
"Shut up!" demanded Malfoy, letting go of Ron's robes. He turned to Ron. "Get out of here Weasel," Ron slowly crawled to the portrait door and stumbled out, blood still spilling from his beating. He had to get away, before he was hurt anymore.
Malfoy turned to Hermione who was shivering on the floor. She looked into his eyes and saw no sympathy. Is this how he felt when his father attacked him? Hermione shook in fear. Draco scoffed angrily and began to smirk.
"We're over," Malfoy spat, "I can't believe I wasted my time on such a low-down stuffed up mudblood." And with that Draco strode to the bedroom and slammed the door, leaving Hermione crying on the floor, huddled against the chair in sorrow and fright.
Things certainly had changed…
