ϟ ϟ ϟ
Draco Malfoy fought with himself, sitting in the Gryffindor girl's dormitory, on Hermione's bed.
I can't believe she wrote that.
Granger wouldn't write in a book.
It was signed, "Hermione."
Granger wouldn't write in a book.
Just wake her up and ask her.
I can't, she'll know I invaded her privacy.
That's going to stop you?
Shut up.
ϟ ϟ ϟ
"Wake up, love," came a deep, soothing voice. Hermione could feel his hands on her cheeks, and she started smiling. But she didn't have the energy to get up.
"What are you doing here?" she asked instead.
"I came to see you," replied Draco, still watching her half-sleep.
Hermione just nodded, her eyes still closed, and still traumatized by her nightmare. Finally getting the energy to get up, Hermione opened her brown eyes and sat up on her bed, and sure enough, she came face-to-face with Draco. His hands still on her cheeks, he kissed her on the forehead as a "good morning".
He looked over at Hermione's night desk and it looked as though something had hit him across the head. He looked suddenly distant, sad, even.
Hermione noticed, but not having the energy to do anything, she asked wearily, "Draco, are you alright?"
"Get dressed," said Draco, snapping out of his trance. "We'll be late for breakfast."
Hermione moaned, still not feeling the energy to get up. She arose from bed, rubbing her eyes.
"Why are you so tired?" asked Draco.
"I stayed up late last night, and I didn't sleep well," Hermione responded.
"Why were you up so late?" asked Draco, half-smirking, obviously thinking of last night.
Hermione just shrugged it off. She took out her day clothes from her dresser and laid them out on her bed.
"Okay, shoo," said Hermione playfully, flailing her arms at Draco, ordering him to get out of her dormitory.
"I'll be waiting for you," said Draco seductively, when Hermione shut the door. Slowly she got dressed, making sure her bed-head hair was somewhat tamed (which she ended up tying anyway).
Looking herself in the mirror, she tugged at her clothes and stared at herself, crooked in the mirror.
Suddenly, the word "nothing" started repeating in her head, reminding her of her nightmare. Hermione, being the stubborn girl she is, shook it off, and walked out, into the common room.
Sure enough, there was Draco, waiting for her in one of her favorite seats. He was sitting, looking uncomfortable, staring outside the window, and appeared to be in a trance.
"Ready?" asked Hermione, walking over and taking Draco's hand.
Draco's eyes fluttered from the window to Hermione and he just nodded, and squeezed her hand. Hermione felt her stomach flutter with butterflies as she led him out the portrait hole. Keeping their last conversation in Hermione's dormitory in mind, she proudly held his hand as they walked through the crowded corridors.
Much like the night before, people gaped at her and whispered rudely, but this time, Hermione had not a single care when she was with Draco. He too, just smirked and shrugged it off as they walked towards the Great Hall.
Reaching the big doors, still hand in hand, Hermione and Draco began to walk into the Great Hall. All eyes seemed to be on them, and silence fell upon the room.
Draco led the way to the table where Slytherins sat and chose a few empty seats. And finally, after minutes of Draco scowling at the crowd watching them, the students returned to their food, still muttering the rumors that had become of the couple.
Hermione helped herself to food, but she felt more cold eyes on her, so she didn't eat. Underneath the table, she felt Draco's hand squeeze hers, and she looked up at him.
His eyes told her that he needed to tell her something, and Hermione raised her eyebrows, as if to ask "what?"
"I think it's time for us to go," he said, squeezing her hand again.
"Why? You haven't finished your breakfast," said Hermione, staring at his barely touched plate.
"I'll eat later; we have to talk." Hermione's heart jumped at the sudden seriousness in his voice. He dragged her out of the Great Hall with force, and the students in the Great Hall finally seemed to notice that Hermione was being dragged away.
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"Draco—Draco, STOP!" Hermione exclaimed, pulling Draco to a sudden stop.
"What, Granger?" Draco asked, harshly.
"What just happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean." He knew exactly what she meant. Things had just been so perfect, and they fell so fast at one rising thought. One fear.
END OF CHAPTER 10.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Dear dear, what could this mean?
Anyway, new chapter, yay! I know you guys have been...killing me over it, and I have like a bazillion more saved on my computer.
So new chapters every other day, I think, is that good? :)
Okay! Review time! There's gonna be a lot of errors, especially, because I don't have time to nitpick at edits...
Help me!
Love, Xan!