A/N: Okay, SO most of the reviews I am getting readers are complaining and some of you might think I'm becoming B****, BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DROP IT! I don't give a flying f***. And guest who said, "here's something, she can accio the ring and leave. This is ridiculous, she's not forced to be there" WELL HERE'S SOMETHING TOO MAYBE IF YOU READ CAREFULLY, "Her body was shaking violently as he knees began to grow weak, but she held onto dear life on the sill.Her wand…She turned to see Draco pocketing it and he shook his head" I can read, can you? Because what I read there seemed like Hermione knows she is a capable witch and went to get her wand. =O oh, my! That explains it! If you don't like it then go ahead drop it. I have this story another fic site and it is successful there. So, I don't NEED your constant b****ing ;)
There were many stories I personally didn't like and dropped it and kept it moving instead of complaining and whining. I started to write to do the stories the way I wanted to do it. You people must be miserable. If you like it read it, if you don't, don't read. I won't feel offend by you dropping it, BUT I do get upset when you don't read it and it seems like you read selectively then complain. Your reviews aren't constructive in anyway. Details of the scenery. Characterization. Grammar. That's constructive, not your petty complaining. So, good day to you =)
Draco's vision was a blur, his mind fuzzy and his body crushed under an overwhelming amount of pressure. He felt…wet? Remember, remember what happened. Disarmed the wizard of his wand. Then he… What did he do? He fought the muggle way. That's right. He pulled out a knife and started slashing around… Where was his father…? He wasn't there. He left Draco for dead.
His vision was spinning, around and around. Hermione, he thought. Then, she came into focus. Merlin, he was bleeding on her. Shit, did he fucking attack her? The pressure lifted and he couldn't help himself weakening, his body falling and falling and changing. His focusing vision became blurry again until everything went dark.
The light was stinging his eyelids with the colors of burnt oranges and light yellows. He softly groaned, squeezing his eyes and feeling the pain shoot through him.
"Malfoy…"
There that sweet voice. His eyes fluttered open to see her face. "Granger," he croaked. "Don't you look different?"
She heaved a huge sigh of relief. "Thank Merlin! I…"
"I'm alright." His eyes quickly glanced his bare upper body, wrapped in bandages that were stained with blood. He was in his room… Did she? He shifted slightly to an upright position with pain shooting through him. "Who bandaged me?"
"I did, but we should get you to a Healer."
"NO!"
"Malfoy, drop your pride. I have to—"
His face contorted in fury. "Dammnit, Granger, I SAID NO!" His voice startled her and he felt guilty for always frightening her. "Thank you… though. You did a good enough job. Just sit and relax…"
Hermione fell back into her chair, burying her face in her hands and supporting her weight with her elbows on her knees. "I was so worried about you. And you told me 'see you later' and later turned into a week and you didn't letter. Nothing!" She unburied her face, giving him a piercing glare. "What the bloody hell, Malfoy?!"
A tiny smirk played on his lips. "Worried about me, eh?"
She rolled her eyes violently. "Of course I was! Why wouldn't I be?"
"Thought you hate me."
"Hate is such a strong word," she smiled halfheartedly.
The full smirk was stretched across his lips.
"I thought you were your father…"
The smirk faltered. "Why?"
"I thought if you were an animagus, you'll be a ferret. So when I saw the tiger, and Merlin, I swear it felt like you were going to kill me, I assume it was your dad…" Hermione said lowly.
"Just because that bastard Moody—"
"Don't you ever speak about him like that!" cried Hermione shrilly.
"Okay," he said bitterly, narrowing his eyes. "Just because the bastard" at which Hermione rolled her eyes disgustingly, "transfigured me into a ferret, didn't mean that's what I represented, okay?" He leaned forward, but the pain was sharp, causing him to groan.
Hermione instantly rushed to his side, placing her hand on his shoulder, rubbing it gently. He felt where warmth burned him tenderly. "Malfoy, relax, please." He gave her a light nod, looking up at her and for some reason, he couldn't peel his eyes away. She fluffed his pillows as she asked, "What happened to you…?"
He heaved a heavy sigh. "Ran into some trouble with a resistance against Deatheaters."
"Oh," Hermione said a little too hopeful.
Draco immediately picked up her tone, questions arising in his mind. Is she only with me to spy on Deatheaters? He cleared his throat. "Anyway, disarmed him and he slash me with a knife. My fucking own father left me, there bleeding."
Hermione was shock and could not even recognize the quick tears seeping through into her eyes. "I… How could he even do that to you?" Her voice was become unsteadily higher. "You're his son! For him to leave you there! What if you didn't make out of there alive? Oh, Malfoy!" She leaned forward to hug him, but she was reminded that they weren't really friends and straighten herself up.
Draco noticed. He wasn't stupid. And he couldn't help himself, but to want to hug her, hold her and feel her warmth. She was worried for him. Something no one was ever for him, expect of course, his mother.
She cleared her throat lightly to clear the awkwardness filling inside her. She whispered lowly, "How did you get back here?"
Draco loosened his tight jaw and flexed his muscle a little bit even if he sensed a little jolt of pain. And he knew Hermione noticed his body and arms as he suppressed a smirk. "I stunned him and I disapparated outside the Manor. But the entrance is long so I just changed and it was quicker to get inside—"
"Malfoy, why didn't you just apparate straight into the Manor!?"
Draco slightly rolled his eyes. "Granger, I'll have you know that I wasn't going to leave you and my mother unprotected. What do you take me for, a moron? Before I left, I put enchantments and charms around the Manor including an anti-apparation charm. And I'm going to keep them. Things are getting nasty out there."
"It's like another war…" she whispered.
"Yes, just like another war," he agreed firmly.
They both stared into each other's eyes, exploring each other's thoughts silently. Both did not want any of this and now they only had each other, it seemed.
"What did you do while I was gone?" asked Draco awkwardly, staring down at his bandages.
"Library. Cook… Did…um…was Zabini with you?"
Draco's eyes shot up to Hermione, his eyes narrowing accusingly. "Why the fuck you care about Zabini?"
"I…Malfoy, it's just a question…"
"No, he wasn't," he snapped.
"Oh…" After some passing time, Hermione pressed on, "Do you know where he was?"
Draco cocked an eyebrow questioningly at her. "He was doing some petty work with other low-ranking Deatheaters if you must know. What is he any of your concern anyway?"
"I was uh…" Why I am stumbling all over my words? thought Hermione. "Worried for him too." A threat flashed in Draco's eyes. "He came over the day you left and we spoke and you know…uh…we sorta got along."
"Oh, did you now?"
Heat from the anger was stinging his body as rage filled his veins. Draco and Blaise always shared women, considering most of the women they fooled around with were easy. Draco and Blaise were suave and sexy, seducing women easily. And whoever Draco had, Blaise eventually had and vice versa. One thing Draco refused to share was Hermione. And Merlin, did he found her insufferable and the dislike grew every time he was around her, but the ring on her finger meant she was his. Not to mention, if she fooled around with Blaise and they were found out, Draco and Hermione will be blasted off the face of the Earth.
"Yeah…I guess we sort of did get along… And he said he would visit me again and he didn't show. So I was worried and—"
"Shut up, Granger!" growled Draco. Even if Draco was bandage, his strength was all the same when he seized her wrist and pulled her forward. "You make a terrible fiancée. You shouldn't worry about other men." He' released her and she backed away quickly. "I'm hungry."
"I'll go get something for—"
"CHERRY!" he bellowed.
With a faint pop, Cherry appeared, bowing so low her nose touched the floor. "Young Master Malfoy." She straightened up with her hands folded in front of her.
"Get me—"
"Please," stressed Hermione.
"May you please bring me some food?" Draco shot her an are-you-happy-now look.
"Cherry, could you please just heat up the leftovers from earlier today if you would kindly?"
"Of course, misses!" squeaked the elf happily and with another faint pop, left.
"I can't even understand why you need to be so kind to them. They're elves. They love doing that shit."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You sound like Ron."
"Don't," he warned.
"Can I ask you something?" she added quickly.
"Hm?"
"Everyone is talking about me becoming a Deatheater and—"
"Granger, let's not have this conversion right now."
"Well, Malfoy, I think we should!"
"Well, Granger, you need to do what you need to do to survive, right? So, naturally in order for you to survive under this roof is to get a Dark Mark and pretend to be dark and evil, you do it."
"I WILL NOT!" she cried shrilly.
"TWO LIVES ON YOUR SHOULDER, GRANGER!" The stare down between them intensified with each passing second until Draco spoke. "Wouldn't becoming a Deatheater be easier for you to spy?"
A heavy sigh left Hermione's lips. "I already told you I wasn't going to do that," she lied convincingly.
The faint pop meant Cherry was back again with a plate of food, holding it out.
"Granger, fed me."
"Excuse me?"
A smirk played on his lips. "Listen I have been badly injured. My arms…OUCH! Ouch! Merlin, does it hurt." He squeezed his eyes shut, his face contouring in agony and going through the motions of pain.
Hermione shot him a nasty look, taking the plate from Cherry and bid Cherry a thank you. She slid onto the edge of the bed and said crossly, "Merlin, you haven't changed a bit. Drama King," she muttered under her breath.
He opened his mouth smugly. She began to feed him and with every bite, he smirked.
After a swallow, he teased, "You wouldn't make a bad one."
"A bad what?" she asked frustrated.
"You know."
"A wife?"
The smirk grew wider and smugger. "No, a servant."
Hermione rolled her eyes and decided to jam as much food as she could into his mouth. His cheeks were stuffed and bulging out. Hermione snapped her head away from him, her laughter seeping through her lips that she was trying so hard to suppress.
He chewed like a llama when she finally burst out laughing, "You're so unflattering! I wish all the ladies could see this!"
Once he swallowed hard, he hissed, "Think it's funny, Granger?"
"No it isn't." When she saw his satisfied face, she gave him her own smirk. "It's hilarious!" Then burst into fits of laughter.
Draco grabbed her wrist, the one with the hand that held the fork and food, eating it off it. His abrupt actions always shocked her. He swallowed his bite again with a smirk forming again and he reach out for her hair, playing with it gently. Hermione flushed unwillingly, knowing all too well this will only add to his arrogance.
"You know, Granger?" he whispered seductively. "You should let me take a bite of you."
She pulled herself away from him and handed an arrived Cherry the plate with a mumble of thanks. "You should go to sleep." She pulled on the pillows and tugged on him hard where he fell into a laying position; he yelped in pain as a response.
"The fuck, Granger!" Draco felt a drink forcibly flowing like a river down his throat and he coughed. "What did you—"
"Good night, darling."
And as quickly as he was going to open his mouth to retort, sleep knocked him out cold.
Merlin, not again. What time is it? Hermione moaned lightly, awakening from her slumber and fumbling for her watch. She squinted at it. For Merlin's sake, it's three in the morning! The whimper grew louder as Hermione inched to the head of Draco's bed, lightly grabbing ahold of his hand. She brought it up to her lips and kissed it ever so gently. She began singing the lyrics to, "No need for a Love Potion," so lowly and sweetly, serenading him, "I can fall in love with you all on my own, My love for you is always known, My heart shows those dearest emotions, Without needing a Love Potion." She continued on singing as she leaned forward to push back the hair on his face tenderly. His whimpers disappearing, drowning into the night.
His pale face was beautiful in the moonlight as his blonde eyelashes shined and she couldn't help herself, but to soak in the handsome young man. She brought his hand to her face, opening it to cup her face. She kissed his palm and when he stop the whimpering, the realization of what she was doing dawned on her. She let his hand dropped softly and escaped back into bed, facing away from him.
Where did the warmth go? Draco's eyes fluttered opened, puzzled. In his nightmare, it was cold, icy cold. He was in an icy mountain cave, on the floor. The pain was agonizing him still like the cruciatus curse was on endless replay. Then he felt a body holding him and the body's tender warmth cloaking him and just like that the pain went away.
He took a peek at Hermione, resting on the mattress on the floor, sleeping soundly. The only time he didn't experience those horrid nightmares was the day he slept with Hermione. And he wondered… No, he couldn't. She won't. No. He began fidgeting because he was itching to crawl into her bed. Dammit Draco, he thought, scolding himself. Get ahold of yourself!
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push Hermione out of his head, but he couldn't. She was in his dreams.
"Granger…Granger…" the whispered echoed. "Granger!" It was becoming unsteadily louder which caused her to groan with sleepiness. "Oy, Granger!"
She flipped over in her bed, glaring at Draco. "What is it?" she hissed.
"It's ten already. Get up! I need help. Bring me to the bathroom."
Hermione's eyes widened in shock and she quickly jumped her feet. It was not hard to notice the black silk gown that stopped short on her thighs. As she leaned forward, he could see the curves of her breasts down her shirt and immediately looked away. Instead he focused on climbing out of bed. One arm was wrapped around her neck as the other clutched his side and her arm was draped lightly around his waist, her warmth burning pleasantly into his. Once in the bathroom, he held himself up on the counter, but his arms were shaking and giving way. Hermione conjured a chair and he collapsed into it.
"I think now is a good time to get you to a Healer."
"I'm doing better," he said firmly.
"And who is going to shower you? You barely can walk or lift yourself up. You have gashes on your chest, your arm and your leg. There's this draught you can bathe in, but someone is going to have to be here to help you," explained Hermione.
"Well, I guess it will be you then." As Hermione opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off quickly. "Granger, give me a break in the name of Merlin's bread. You've seen naked men before? Yes? Alright, then. The only difference is that you get to see the sexiest man ever naked."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but a small smile crept onto her lips. "I wish they would have gashed the mouth of yours." Hermione turned away and gave him a toothbrush.
Before shoving the brush into his mouth, Draco smirked, "I know you don't mean that."
Afterwards, Hermione leaned into the mirror on her tippy toes, flashing her teeth. Her gown lifted a little and Draco could not help, but to stare. She's a mudblood, he thought distastefully. But his mind was playing devil's advocate. But a woman is a woman…and she is a woman…
"Okay, ready?" With a wave of the wand, water rushed quickly into the tub, filling it. Hermione grabbed a bottle off the counter, dumping its contents into the water and as a reaction, the water was steaming from the draught. When she turned, Draco was already naked, hoisting himself up and she could see his body trembling. She tried to keep her eyes steady on his face, but her eyes sometimes were pulled downward to the v-line muscle and other inappropriate place where she felt like she was cheating just by looking.
"Okay," she whispered. "Come on now. Hurry up." She quickly helped him in tub and he sank low with a satisfied smirk, but it soon disappeared with relief. Draco felt relief washing over him as he heard and felt his wounds slowly sizzling. He leaned back, getting himself comfortable.
"Sit," he ordered her.
Hermione with a scowl took a seat at the edge of the tub, cocking her eyebrow.
"We should talk."
Her eyebrow rose further, questioningly.
"More rules."
Hermione sighed heavily.
He continued, "You really should have nothing to do with other men."
Hermione shot him an I-can't believe-you-just-said-that look with eyebrows furrowed and her lip curling upward. "You're fucking kidding me!"
Draco smirked hard. "The world must be ending. The Golden Girl cursed."
"Malfoy, shut it. I can't even begin to comprehend what you just said! Especially when you're the one putting your…thing anywhere it could fit!"
"I cut off ties," he said somberly. "Therefore, you should stay away from men, especially Blaise."
"Really? Really?"
"Yes, really, really."
Hermione shook her head, disapprovingly. "You know I have been questioned by almost everyone about our relationship. And it's your fault!" she finished, with a loud voice, almost yelling.
"My fault! My fault!" he roared.
"Yes!" she bellowed back, leaning in toward him. "You and all these women! If I would have known this, I wouldn't be sitting here right now! Our plan isn't working because you're a…a whore!"
Feeling his strength come back, he went for her, tugging her a little too hard and she toppled over into the tub. She ascended up from the water with a loud gasp of air, her gown sticking snugly on every curve of her body. There was no denying now. Draco's heart pounded with the realization. He was attracted to Hermione Granger. There was no doubt about that. But that was all there was. Nothing, but sexual attraction.
"Why you always must be so rough?" she cried shrilly. She touched her hair and screamed, "My hair! I just did it yesterday!"
He never seen Hermione disgruntled over something so superficial, usually he would catch a glimpse of her panic over grades or rule-breaking back in Hogwarts, but never this. First he began to chuckle, but when her face contorted in fury and her hair became more matted onto her face and shoulders, he burst into a loud laugh.
She splashed water into his face and some went into his mouth as he began coughing harshly. A smirk played on her lips, but it was not there for long when it felt like a tsunami hit her. From what she could make out from her blurry vision, Draco leaning over the edge of the tub, laughing and laughing nonstop. She moved toward him like a predator and caught him off guard when she dunked his head underwater. Quickly, he soared up from the water, his body crashing into hers and she felt his nakedness touch her as he felt the swell of her chest against his. Red swept all over her face, but Draco looked like her wanted to consume her hungrily.
"Playing are you?"
Draco and Hermione snapped their head to see Lucius at the door, looking ominously at them. Draco immediately swept Hermione into his arms, pressing their bodies close, shielding her to cover her body.
"Meeting tonight at six. And bring it," his chilly voice said. And with that he was gone.
Hermione felt her tense body relax at his leave, but when she looked at Draco, she immediately pushed him away. He stood up, his manly parts coming at the same level of her face and she threw herself back, ungracefully with a splash. Merlin, she wanted to drown right about now.
Draco began drying himself and pulling on his clean underwear with his back toward her. She couldn't help, but to look at his perfect bum. He mumbled, "What did you say?"
"To what?" she replied meekly, dipping her body low into the water, hoping to disappear forever in it. She unnecessarily focused on the ceiling too hard.
"To the people who questioned you… Who was it that questioned you anyway?"
"Zabini. Evelyn…"
"So what did you say?" He now turned toward her.
"We had an open relationship… I also told Evelyn that's why you chose me… I wasn't possessive. She's a witch you know… Just replace the W with a B if you must."
He gave a small chuckle. "Good enough answer… Are you planning to get out?"
"No."
"But we should talk about tonight."
"What about tonight?" She dipped lower.
"Granger, stop trying to hide yourself. I have seen plenty of women's bodies including yours. So will you get out and have a real conversion!"
"Just give me a moment please."
Draco left the bathroom with a slam and Hermione got out, drying herself as clothes appeared on the counter. She slipped on the black lacy underwater, black blazer, black v-neck, black leather leggings and the black six inch heel booties with green bottoms. With all this black, Hermione felt like she might as well be color-blind. When she came out, he was all in black too, leaning back on the loveseat coolly.
"I have a rule I would like to make."
Draco bore his eyes into her. "Depends."
"I want you to control your anger and stop man-handling me."
He snorted.
"Malfoy."
"Listen, and just sit." When she did not move, he pressed on, "You're going to want to sit for this."
Hermione moved cautiously toward him, sitting as away from him as possibly.
"Tonight my father wants you to come to the Deatheater meeting."
"When did he say that?" cried Hermione shrilly.
"In the bathroom."
"No, he didn't!"
"This is why I lose my temper. Brightest witch of our age my ass. When he said 'Bring it'–"
"He called me an 'it!'"
"Yes, I know. I didn't like it either," he admitted. "Anyway let me give you some brush up on Deatheater history so you'll at least have some idea. Can't have you going in with no preparation. So listen up!
So as you should know at least, many Deatheaters were killed or captured. But much more escaped after the Battle of Hogwarts to countries like Bulgaria or Albania or Slovak, places like that. Those places hold the most pureblood wizards and witches. There the Lestranges were taken in by a family. And considering with this whole new movement, Dementors were kicked out of Azkaban, making it much, much easier to my father to break out. There are endless rumors on how he got out. Knife. Used someone's wand. Help on the inside. Turned into a snake. I'm not sure which one is true. I never asked and I won't. He immediately left for Bulgaria where he met with the Lestranges. And with that, they were able to convince almost all the pureblood families over there to take over Britain."
Draco gave a humorless chuckle then continued, "He wanted power."
"Like many men in history," nodded Hermione.
Draco nodded in agreement. "And he was bitter. Bitter that now mudbloods and blood traitors were above him. He wanted revenge. He wanted order. And he didn't want to go back to beginning below anyone. Many of the Deatheaters now are from different countries and follow blindly with their primitive beliefs. They moved here and helped the beginning of the terrorization. And now are here to stay. Along with the old ones too. The Ministry was harder to get to, with Minister Shacklebolt, but yet easier since many of the Aurors died in the battle and in the chase for Deatheaters. And now Minister Raft Sielski rules, but he rules under my father, taking orders and such. All you basically need to know is the Malfoys are first then it's the Lestrange brothers."
Silence killed them both as Hermione was turning in her head all of this.
Draco continued, "I didn't know about this. Any of it. Until one day my Dark Mark burned. And I was scared shitless. So at the time, when you helped me in court…I—I didn't know."
Hermione's eyes jolted up to examine his face in shock.
"I don't want any of this bullshit, Granger. Trust me, I don't. But I was sucked into it once again. And no one fucking understands. It's like I'm alone." All the words came rushing out of him at an incredible flow that the minute he stopped talking he instantly felt regret. Hermione had no right to hear this.
"You're not alone. I'm here for—"
"Save your breath," he growled. "Leave." When she didn't move, he roared at her. "LEAVE! NOW!"
She got to her feet slowly, her eyes refusing to waver from him. She said every carefully, "You're alone because you chose to be. I've always extended my hand to you. And to let you know, that won't ever change." She left with a soft click, leaving his mind pounding with thoughts.
Draco began pacing back and forth in front of the dining room's grand doors, fidgeting and becoming nervous every long second. Where was she? He had sent Cherry to get her. Damn that elf!
He heard heels clicking rapidly and Hermione came into view as she got near him, she stumbled. Draco reached for her, hoisting her up.
"Dammit, Granger," he hissed.
"Sorry," she said as she straightened herself up. "I don't know how to walk in them all that well."
He rolled his eyes. "Let's go in." He pushed the door open to the dining hall where the meeting was taking place.
And the first sight was Lucius right in the middle of it all, beckoning them to hell.
A/N: Hey everyone! =D What do you think of Hermione & Draco's interactions so far? Is it going at the right pace? I would like to know what you think!
PS- I'm warning you now, this is probably going to be a long fan fic! 3