"Do you really want that Hermione?" He asked, whispering. "Tell me the truth and only the truth."
She looked at him, unsure of her answer. If she said no, she was sure to regret it later, or that's what her conscience said. If she said yes, he'd leave her alone, and she could have her vacation in peace. But honestly, peace meant boring, and did she really want to spend the rest of her time without him..? I mean, even if he was annoying, it was a bit amusing how he followed her around.
She stared into those eyes of his, and tried to find the correct words to speak.
"No." She murmured, barely audible, still unsure.
He smirked. "Granger, Granger, Granger. See, I told you that you couldn't resist me!"
"I have to go." She turned around and left him, just like she'd left him in the bar.
Malfoy stomped his foot on the ground, plopping his coffee on a café table and running outside to chase after her.
"Granger!" He screamed after her, sounding amused more than anything, yet there was a hint of annoyance in his silky voice.
Halfway down the block, standing in front of a hailed cab, Hermione turned to stare at Draco. She looked from the cab to Draco, determining if she should run and hide, or confront the problem head on.
Well, she didn't have much time to decide because Draco immediately took 5 or 6 long strides and was immediately standing in front of her. "Granger." He said, pronouncing the name, his tone sounding almost unsure.
"Malfoy." She brought her right hand down hard on the roof of the cab. She raised her eyebrow in obvious attempt to get him to continue. When he only continued to stare at her, she began to tap her foot in impatience.
After a few minutes of having a staring contest, Draco won by the way, he finally spoke. "Why, if you don't want me to leave you alone, do you always run away from me, Damnitt?"
Hermione, in all her years of studying, questioning teachers, researching EVERYTHING, and finally knowing almost every technical thing in the entire world, had never come across a situation where she had to answer a question like this.
Therefore, for the first time in the entirety of her life, Hermione Jane Granger could not answer a question directed towards her.
"Look Malfoy… I." She paused, looking down at her leather clad feet. "Can't keep doing this to you."
"Can't keep doing what?" He inquired, knowing perfectly well what she meant exactly, yet he found enjoyment in making her answer.
She huffed. "You know."
"Actually Granger, I don't." He smirked.
"We---"
"Ma'am." Came a call from inside the cab. "The meter is running, even though you're standing there. Either get in, or close the door and back away from the curb so I can drive away."
Hermione turned. "Okay. Give me a minute." She turned towards Malfoy again. "Now. Where was I? Oh, yes. I cannot keep doing this to you Malfoy. I'm sure that there are plenty hot, ready, and available women in the area. Probably a lot of them are pureblood." She smiled sadly. "And… they know how to make up their minds, you know."
"So you do want me to leave you alone?"
"Ma'am." Came the wheezy voice from inside the taxi. "Get in or I'll drive away."
"Give me a minute please." She said in a sickly sweet voice that showed she was extremely annoyed. She turned to Malfoy AGAIN.
"Not…." She paused for the umpteenth time.
"Not what?"
"Like that" She sighed. "See! I don't even know what I want!"
He grabbed her hand, which was flailing around. "Granger. Calm down."
"Calm down?" She asked, her voice slightly strained. "This is a lot to take in you know! After what, 6 or 7 years of pure torture coming from you, you tell me you love me!!!! That is completely barbaric! And now you expect me to easily fall in love with your charm and charisma and forget the past! Well I cannot! I simply can't! Words hurt more than you can imagine Malfoy. I know that maybe you might not understand ever being called unpure or unworthy, but I do, and it really really hurts! And worse, it was coming from you. If you love someone, than you don't intentionally hurt them! DUH!" She shouted as if it were all so obvious, all of her thoughts and emotions from the past days bottled up inside her just exploded from her.
He stared. And stared. And stared. He rested his right hand on the car door frame and stared some more.
"Ma'am," Came a slightly strangled voice from inside the cab. "Either-." But he was cut off.
"GIVE ME A GODAMN MOMENT, WILL YOU? AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M DOING SOMETHING EXTREMELY IMPORTANT." She started to face Draco again, but the taxi driver spoke.
"Um. Ma'am, you do understand the meter is still running, right?"
"DUH!" She threw her hands up in frustration. "I HAVE ALL THE FUCKING MONEY! WHY SHOULD IT MATTER HOW LONG I'M STANDING HERE, IF I'M PAYING YOU? THIS IS MY FUCKING MONEY THAT I'M PAYING, SO I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RIDE IN THE DAMN TAXI, OR STAND HERE!" With that, she yanked her purse open furiously; extracted her wallet and grabbed a few bills out.
"Here!" She said, her voice lower, but still frustrated. She threw the bills over the front seat, and slammed the door.
"OW!!" Came a strangled cry from Draco.
Hermione whirled. "What now? OH!" Her mouth formed a perfect circle, and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh I'm so sorry!"
She took a step towards Draco, who's right hand she had slammed in the car door. "Um. Instead of crying, could you pull it out before he finishes counting his cash and drives away?" He whispered; his voice hoarse.
"Oh sorry!" She cried out, carefully opening the car door. It wasn't really closed, it was just sitting on his hand, sort of… wedged in. Hermione looked away, her nose scrunched up, trying to avoid smelling or seeing the blood.
Draco immediately brought the hand to his chest and cradled it, moaning in pain.
The taxi driver chose that moment to drive away, just when they needed him. Hermione took a deep breath. She ought to have a look at it to see if it was hospital trip worthy.
Sighing, she reached for his hand, still looking away. Reluctantly he let her touch it. "Granger, what's wrong?"
"I.. uh. Don't like blood." She blushed.
"Hmm. Coming from the girl who planned to be healer when she grew up."
"How'd you????" She trailed off.
"I told you Granger, there is a thin line between hate and lust. And, even though a majority of the time in school I hated you, I also admired you."
"Oh." She looked down at the hand, holding her nose, prepared for the worst. She sighed in relief when she saw only extreme swelling, and a few drops of blood from his right pinkie.
"Oh?" He asked, but said nothing else.
"Well. It's definitely not severe enough to wait for hours on end in a waiting room, so I'll just take you to my hotel and wrap it with some gauze, alright?"
He nodded, still wincing in pain every few seconds.
They walked a few blocks, saw the studio, and went inside. Just like Hermione was hoping, Mark was still there, examining her pictures.
"Mark." She called out weakly.
He turned. "Hermione." He smiled brightly, and his eyes flickered to Malfoy.
"What can I do for you?" Mark asked, looking at Draco's hand.
"Um. We're having some problems with public transportation at them moment, Mark. Would you mind giving us a ride in that shiny BMW of yours?" Hermione smiled.
Mark looked that them. "I'm not even going to ask."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hermione sighed in relief as Mark pulled up to the hotel. "Oh I so owe you!" She gave Mark a quick peck on the cheek, and got out, helping Malfoy. She waved goodbye as Mark drove off, then lead Malfoy into the grand hotel.
Up the elevator they went, in an uncomfortable silence. Hermione stared at Malfoy, and he stared back, confused.
Hermione dissolved into a fit of giggles, and Malfoy stared at her, bewildered at what was so funny!
"Um… okay…" He cleared his throat, and clutched his hand.
The elevator came to a stop on Hermione's floor, and they emerged from the elevator a second later. Hermione dug through her purse for the key, grabbing the little card, and sliding it through the slot. With a low beep, the button flashed green, clicked, and then swung open.
Hermione walked through, setting her bag on the table, and immediately turned to Malfoy.
"Alright, if you'll just follow me to my room."
Draco chuckled. "Gosh Granger, I mean, whoa. You move quick in a relationship, don't you?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
Hermione's eyes flashed. "NO…." She calmed down. "Oh… Draco. I just want to bandage your hand." She smiled slightly, and walked into the room.
He loved her smile…. It was so…. He shook his head and followed her. Oh yeah, he was so in love.
She sat on the bed, and patted the spot beside her. Obediently, Draco followed her lead, and joined her. He assumed, as she pulled out a small wooden crate from underneath her bed, she was pulling out her wand, but no, she pulled out gaze wrapping, and one of those ice packs that you pop to release the cool liquid.
Confused, Draco stared. "Uh…" He looked nervously at the medical supplies. "Aren't those… Muggle stuff?"
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, so what?"
"Well." He coughed nervously. "Can't you just use your wand?"
Hermione looked sad momentarily, then her face hardened. "Remember? I don't… or… ever will for that matter… use magic."
Draco stared. "Okay." He sucked in his breath, and held out his hand. "I'm trusting you, Granger."
She smiled, and applied disinfectant to a cotton ball. "Okay. This will hurt a bit." She applied it to his pinky, the only finger that was cut open.
"Ow!" Draco screeched.
"Oh, you big baby! Take it like a man!" Hermione giggled. "C'mon. If you be a big boy, and suck it up, Mommy will give you a little kissy." She mocked.
Draco straightened, and brightened considerably. "Okay."
She finished, and as she promised, planted a quick kiss on his right hand. It should have been, would have been, a friendly gesture, if she had not lingered there for a few moments, her lips remaining there, on his right pinky.
It… maybe… would have still be considered friendly, if she had moved away. If she hadn't continued kissing up his arm, lightly and fluttery, staring into Draco's eyes, maybe….
Ahhh... Another instalment.
No kisses yet... I'm suprised with my self. Usually I have one really early. But no... This story is just going to be one bottle of tension!!!! Lol.. Yeah..
Thanks to my reviewers:
Draco's Princess 92- Haha... She will! Hope you liked how I presented it...
pussycat06- Haha... I know! But thanks bunches... I'm glad you like it! I enjoy writing it.
Isiss2868- I know right? I mean.. Haha... I'd be like "Will you marry me?" And give him puppy dog eyes. :)
Elven at Heart- Ahhh... Thanks! (Love the username btw)
Silent-Mousie- Yeppers! Lol! Love the username
sherriithewriter- I know right? I know I have the power to change the character, but lol, Hermione annoys me.!!! I could change it, lolz... but I have to have it like that for a reason. It's part of the whole bitterness package.
Fnicks-Gurlz- Ahhh... Chica! Heyyyy Karrah! Thanks for reviewing hun! Hope your Twilight story is out soon! Keep me posted hun! Haha... Ttyl.
reader101- Ohhh... Never! Lol. Thanks for reviewing.
hpwwefan- Thanks!!!
Heidi191976- I know!!! And the Fred and George house description thingy will be in the next chappie! Lol... thanks!
ILOVEWHPDM- Thanks!!!!! Hoped it made up for the looooooooonnnngggggg wait... Lol.
nellz21- Thanks!
Airlady- yeahh... but he gets what he wants, obviously, even if he is annoying! Lol...