Disclaimer: Characters/settings/names/etc., belong to J.K Rowling! (:
Thank you's: coldblueblood (hehe, your review made me smile! thanks! oh yeah, actually the 3 little words were the apparition words…ahaha, I know, not very interesting, I like yours better!), american-born-confused-desi, GoldenAngel71, Eternally Night, and nikki! Thank you all for the support! You guys rock. Thanks for being wonderful and brilliant! (:
That being said, on to Chapter 9! ENJOY. (:
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"Oof!"
With a dull thud, the two teenagers landed roughly in a heap on the ground.
"Ow," Hermione grumbled as she tried to stand up, smoothing down her hair and rubbing her sore kneecaps, grimacing. About a meter away, Malfoy pushed himself to his feet and brushed the dirt off his sleeves silently.
"Not that I don't like to be dragged and side-along-apparated without my permission or anything," Hermione said sarcastically, with a sneer worthy of Malfoy himself, "but do you think you could tell me why you took me here?"
Malfoy didn't answer, but only picked another dry leaf out of his sleek blonde strands of hair. He gestured in front of him with a nod of his head and continued tidying his appearance.
Hermione turned around and silently gasped. A few meters down the hill where they were standing, she could see rows of stores and crowds of bustling people, all with bags and various sweets in hand. She spotted a redheaded child running around happily, clutching a brand-new broom, and a brunette one beside him, munching on a bag of Fizzing Whizbees. Couples sat contentedly outside shops, holding cups of coffee or butter beer. Her heart swelled with nostalgia.
Hogsmeade.
But if this is Hogsmeade, then-
Hermione turned her head slightly to the left, and she was met with a sight that made chills of happiness run down her arms. The Hogwarts castle, majestic and grand, loomed against the sun in the cloudless sky, like a lighthouse to weary travelers. The lake was visible from where she was standing, and the surface shimmered and rippled with every breath of breeze. After so many nights of dreaming about seeing the castle again, Hermione found herself breathtaken with the sight of her home at last. Her real home.
Happiness and relief overcame her, and Hermione sank down onto her knees in joyful tears. Now she could see McGonagall, Hagrid, Madam Pomfrey, Magda Eisenhower (oh, sweet Magda!), oh blast it all, she wouldn't even mind seeing Trelawney again! Hermione cried and cried, swearing to visit Harry and Ron at once, refusing to leave until they had rescued Ginny together… Tears ran down her cheeks and left her hands drenched.
She was free.
"Oh, get up," Draco finally said quietly from behind her. "I never said I was letting you go back."
Hermione stopped crying immediately and sniffled. What? She turned around, getting to her feet. "What?" she said aloud, walking toward him slowly, step by step. "Then. What. Did. You. Bring. Me. Here. For? To torture me? To dangle my wildest dreams in front of me and then snatch it back? Why? Why would you do this to me?" Her voice cracked threateningly, and Draco was afraid she would burst into tears once more.
"Don't start crying again," he muttered, stepping back. "I just…we just need to talk."
"Oh, we need to talk?" Hermione whispered quietly, wiping tears away with her sleeve. "Why don't we talk about how you kidnapped me from my own school?" Her voice rose. "Why don't we talk about how I was forced into marrying you, just to fit some evil plan? Why don't we – ?"
"Please," Draco said, rubbing his throbbing head, "Just…can you just listen to what I have to say?"
Hermione quieted, but still stood with her arms crossed, a look of distrust written on her face.
Draco opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again. He shut his eyes and creased his brows in concentration, wondering how exactly to start the speech. When he opened his eyes again, he saw, to his surprise, that Hermione was fifteen meters down the hill, making her way toward Hogsmeade.
"Oi!" Draco yelled, chasing after her. He scuffled cautiously down the hill and caught up to the girl, yanking her around to face him. "That was a dirty trick you tried to pull," Draco said, sounding incredibly like a father who has caught his son stealing. "Here I was, trying to tell you something important, and the first chance you get, you try to escape! What's the matter with you?"
Hermione shrugged her arm out of his clutch and said simply, turning back around, "I was hungry. Can we talk over food?" Not waiting for an answer, she started down the hill again, stepping daintily from stone step to step. Draco had no choice but to follow.
Keeping at least ten paces behind her the whole way, Draco trailed Hermione to the Three Broomsticks and followed her to a hidden table near the back of the pub. Hermione seated herself and waved her hand for an attendant, completely ignoring the tall, skinny boy shadowing her.
An aged waitress shuffled over to Hermione as Draco seated himself at the table.
"Yes, ma'am?" she croaked, tucking a wand behind her ear.
Hermione skillfully and quickly rambled off an order of finger sandwiches, and the waitress then turned to Draco. "And for you – ?"
"That'll be enough," Hermione cut in crisply, smiling and folding her hands on the table. The waitress nodded and shuffled back to her spot behind the counter.
Draco scoffed, shaking his head, but didn't say anything. He rolled his eyes and looked at Hermione, who was now tapping her foot and staring defiantly at a spot somewhere above Draco's left shoulder.
"Can I talk now?" he started, somewhat sarcastically.
No response.
"Okay then," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just going to come out and ask. Who are you?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"I mean," he continued, "sometimes you're obedient and serving, sometimes you're annoying and stubborn, I have no clue what you're trying to pull here, Granger. It's like you have split personalities. Like I said before, I don't like having someone playing with my head. I really want to believe that you're truly obedient, but I know better. Just tell me, honestly, you're planning something. What are you planning?"
Hermione didn't move, but Draco caught a glimpse of panic pass in her brown eyes. "I'm not hungry anymore," she said quickly, tossing a few Sickles onto the wooden table and rushing out the door. Draco sat alone for a while, sighing and staring at his hands, and then got up and began followed after her. I'm doing a lot of tailing after Granger today, he thought as he quickened his pace. Thinking how ridiculous he was acting, he chuckled silently and then immediately stopped. Merlin's Beard, I did not just chuckle. He stuffed his hands in his pocket and turned the corner. He instantly spotted a wavy haired girl sitting and leaning against a nearby tree, wearing a muddied wedding dress.
Draco stepped quietly over fallen leaves and twigs until he reached Hermione. He sat down next to her and dangled his arms over his knees. She didn't acknowledge his presence. They both sat there for a while, with only the sound of the warm breeze whistling through the leaves.
"I'm neither," Hermione finally broke the silence, as if choosing her words carefully. "I'm not arrogant. I'm not obedient. I guess I'm just…scared."
"Of what?"
"Of what might happen to me if I acted like my true self. So I had to act the way I did."
"Nothing would have happened to you," Draco said quickly, voice catching at the lie. Okay, so she would have been killed, but no need to bring that up…
"Don't lie."
"Fine," Draco muttered, looking up at the sky. "But I just want to tell you, it wasn't my idea. My dad was the one…"
"The one to what?"
"Forget it." Draco fumed inwardly. I almost gave away the plan! He gritted his teeth. What is this girl doing to me?
Hermione glanced quickly at Draco and then sighed. "Please," she started softly, "I hope you won't let anything happen to me. I mean, a few days ago, you said I didn't know anything about you. And you were right. I don't. But I really, really, hope that deep down, you won't let me worry anymore. Just don't let anything happen to me. If you promise me that, I'll stop this act."
Draco swallowed, his face impassive.
What am I going to say? 'Yeah, sorry, Granger, you're never going home, it's too late, you have no choice, and you're eventually going to be murdered? ' Gee, way to impress the Dark Lord. He sighed, unsure where to bring his thoughts next. I hate that Granger actually has hope for me. For the first time, someone actually believes I could be someone else than this evil Death Eater son… maybe I can finally show everyone that I'm not my father… Draco's head felt dizzy with uncertainty. Merlin, she's making this so damn confusing!
"Er," Draco started, stalling for time.
Suddenly, he glanced over at Hermione and saw the genuine hope and expectation shining in her brown eyes.
She really believes in me...
"Fine," his voice strengthened, "I'll take care of it."
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(A/N) How was it? I really hope you liked it! Please review to let me know your thoughts! (: Gah, spring break is almost over for me. In three days, I will once again face the wrath of evil teachers, larger than life portfolio projects, AP testing, state testing, and the looming SAT's. –sighs resignedly- (: So I probably not be updating for a while. I'll really try, though! Anyway, hope you're having a better time than me! (:
