Chapter 9: That She Can Never Be

You know what guys? I say 65 reviews and I get 75...you can never give me a break can you? LOL J/K. I love the reviews, keep them coming!
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::Recap::

"Grang..Hermione. What in bloody hell are you doing in here? How long were you listening? Because if you think that you--" But Draco was cut off when Hermione put her index finger over his lips like she had done that night, when they had first touched. Draco's eyes searched hers for an answer, anything to give him a clue as to what was going on. Hermione's finger lingered on his lips for another moment as Hermione's eyes wandered over his body, both of their breathing quickened. What happened next surprised both of them: Draco brought a hand up to her cheek, slowly bringing her face closer to his, and their noses touched. A jolt of electricity passed in between them; Hermione shuddered in delight. Then, they brought their faces close once again and tenderly touched their lips together for a long, gentle, and passionate kiss.
Hermione's arms subconsciously found their way around his neck, smooth with water and shampoo. The kiss intensified so much that Hermione thought she was going to explode with ecstacy, wanting more and more every second. Draco's hands rested on her lower back, pulling her close to him, passionately devouring her innocence in a burst of desire. Hermione couldn't fight her mind telling her that he would only hurt her, like everyone else, because her heart was telling her that this was what she had been waiting for her entire life. The intense longing knawed at her, and now that her dreams were coming true, she couldn't pull away. Draco let out a soft moan as their lips caressed eachother, hot and cold, brave and fearful, love and hate, life. They belonged...as if the world had been waiting for them to be together. Hermione was pressing herself harder against body when he started to lead her out of the bathroom and into Hermione's bedroom. Still snogging like mad, they somehow made their way to the giant bed and hoisted themselves onto it. Draco was ontop of Hermione, slowly trying to unwrap his towel from his waist. Hermione, however, saw this and pushed him off of her. Caught by suprise Draco fell off the side of the bed.

"Oi Granger! What in bloody hell was that?!" Draco yelled from the floor. Hermione leaned over the bed and gazed at him, bursting out into laughter. Draco raised one eyebrow in annoyance, looking back up at her.

"Think that's funny, do you?" Draco said, sounding deathly mad. The smile faded from Hermione's face, and then Draco quickly grabbed her upper torso, dragging her onto the floor as well. She screamed in delight, trying to get away. Draco just pinned her arms to the floor, looking highly amused.

"Well, Miss Granger, I wonder what Potter and the Weasel would say if they were to find you like this...maybe I should call them up here?" Raising her own eyebrows in suprise and playfullness, Hermione shook her head slowly, as if to say "You WOULDN'T". Draco then did something very...un-Draco-like. He started to tickle her! Hermione began squealing, trying to get away, laughing hysterically. Draco was laughing also, still in his loose towel. Hermione was now screaming, begging him to stop.

"Tell me I'm the most handsome man you've ever seen, and I'll stop," he said with a huge smile on his face. He was straddling her on the floor so he moved upwards as Hermione scrunched her face up with pain. She screamed again, this time in pain. Draco was suprised, but not stupid. He quickly got off of her as Hermione sat up, running a hand down her back, trying to see what it looked like. Draco was staring in curiousity, wondering what she was doing exactly.

"Draco," Hermione's voice was clogged with pain and tears. "Please get me a wet rag?" She asked politely. Draco nodded and ran into the bathroom, coming a minute later in boxers, holding a piece of wet white cloth. Handing it to her prudently, he watched her as she sadly lay down on her stomach and lifted her shirt off her back. Draco was suprised at her actions, but nevertheless went to stand by her when she called his name.

"You saw what happened...please, help me clean them," she whispered hoarsely. What Draco saw stopped his heart; her back was covered in bruises, gashes, scars, and cuts. He gasped in disgust as he took the rag from her hand.

"How could someone do this to you?" He asked. Hermione shook her head, and stuck her fist in her mouth. He gently placed the rag on her back, wiping away the blood, pressing on the wounds with the utmost care. Hermione whimpered in pain and dug her head deep into her mattress. Draco looked up at her, her entire body tensing up in pain.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. Hermione shook her head again, but spoke.

"It's not your fault...we have to bandage the wounds though, or else they won't heal. You don't know a healing spell advanced enough for these, and I most definately can't go to Madam Pomfrey. I guess I have to do it the old fashioned way," her voice was laced with pain. Draco frowned, and picked up his wand, and white bandages came out of the tip, wrapping themselves around Hermione's torso. Blood seeped through the bandages although it didn't come all the way through, but the rag was stained crimson and was now dripping her pain on the maroon rug. He threw out the rag in the bathroom and couldn't stop the tear that slipped down his cheek. He wiped it away and went to sit with her on her bed, but she wasn't there. A breeze tickled his shirtless chest, and he walked toward the balcony, seeing her in her pyjama pants and a new t-shirt, staring wistfully at the Hogwarts grounds, her hair blowing around her face dramatically. She looked like and angel that lost it's wings. an angel who wanted to fly again.

"What are we doing?" She whispered. Draco wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, careful of her back. Hermione smiled a bit.

"I don't know. But whatever it was...it felt good," Draco replied.

"It felt great, but you know it's never going to work." Hermione frowned as Draco released her, turning her aeound to face him.

"Why not? Why can't it work?"
"Because...our houses would tear us apart from eachother. Gryffindor would disown me, and Slytherin would murder you in your sodding sleep, Draco. We would start something...irreversible. The Gryffindor Mudblood Bookworm with the All-Mighty Slytherin Prince? No way. Plus, Harry and Ron would never speak to me again. There's just too much going against us." Hermione looked away, not understanding why she always had to make things logical.

"Hermione. I don't CARE what they think. It's our last year. Who bloody cares anymore? Let's give it a shot," he pleaded.

"Why would you want someone like me anyway?" She asked sadly after a pause, looking at the ground. Draco brought her face towards his, and said, "I wanna make you feel beautiful." Hermione smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder, feeling warmth spread through her.

"You've done it now Granger. Now, I'm never letting you go." Hermione laughed into his shoulder. For the first time in her life, things were looking up for Hermione Granger.
"So, what were you planning on doing Dumbledore?" Colin Creevy asked from his chair excitedly. He was a Gryffindor Prefect, and in his sixth year, but he still hadn't lost that annoying eager personality. Dumbledore looked over at Colin with a twinkle in his eye, pondering the boy's question. Hermione was staring at Dumbledore from her own seat. Dumbledore had brought the Prefects and Head Boy and Girl together for one meeting, and everyone was curious as to why they were all jumbled together like this.

"I want you all to plan an...event," Dumbledore said. The students murmered in confusion, but Dumbeldore put his hands up, stopping their chatter.

"By event, I mean...a celebration of the year. For the holidays. A party, perhaps?" Dumbledore said innocently. An anxious Hufflepuff Prefect in the back of the room named Geneva O'Connell jumped up and down in excitement.

"OH! WHAT ABOUT A BALL? You know, like the one we had in fifth year? That would be magnificent!" She squealed. The other students nodded in agreement, looking expectantly at Dumbledore. He looked doubtful, but he sighed and smiled, looking around the room.

"Alright then. It will be arranged." There was applause heard around the room. "The jobs of the prefects are decorations, food, etcetera. The jobs of the Head Boy and Girl will be to plan a trip to Hogsmeade to get dress robes and things. You're duties include forms of entertainment and music. You will be in charge of required attire and what age group will be allowed to attend. I expect nothing less than good working conditions and reasonable results. Am I understood?" Dumbledore said kindly. The students nodded and filed out of Dumbledores office in suprise and excitement. Draco brushed his hand against Hermione's when Dumbledore's voice was heard again.

"Miss Granger? May I have a word?" Hermione looked into Draco's eyes and turned around, walking back into Dumbledore's office. They talked for a while (Sorry everyone, I can't tell you what their talking about yet! You'll find out later!), and Hermione exited his office in numb awe. When Draco caught her eye during lunch, she looked away and started talking to Harry and Ron about their upcoming Quidditch match.

What do you think? Balls are so overused now, but I don't care. It's my story and I'll do what I want! LoL.

A/N: This may be a stretch, but I was hoping to get 90 reviews for this chapter. I'll update in a few days if I don't get 90, but if I did get 90, I'd give you a long chapter right away. Pleeeeaaaassse REVIEW!

A/N: I know this chapter is kind of short, I hope you liked it anyway!
sundaym0rning 0o