Twists & Turns
Chapter 10: Baring Souls
A/N:VERY SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED! LOTS OF STUFF HAS BEEN GOING ON! THANKS TO MY LOYAL REVIEWERS/SUPPORTERS, MY FRIENDS WHO TELL ME THEIR OPINIONS OF MY FANFIC AT SCHOOL (LUV U GUYS! CANT BELIVE WE GRADUATIN IN JUNE!) AND MY BETA-DRACO MALFOYLUVER!
Now without further ado...
Chapter 10:Baring Souls
Hermione opened her eyes groggily, and shivered. She felt a warm body next to her, so turning her head she saw Draco leaning on her. She looked around, and realized they must have fallen asleep on the couch. She conjured some blankets, and wrapped herself and Draco in them. That's better...
He shifted slightly, and his head fell onto her legs. She smiled sleepily, yawning slightly.
Even though they'd been together for less than 24 hours, she had a feeling that what she was doing was right. The boredom in her life was gone; the missing pieces found. She now felt at ease, and as if everything in her was complete. She no longer had to worry about the awkward moments they'd had, or the temptation she'd had to kiss him, or the fear of him kissing her. They were together now, for good.
She began to stroke Draco's hair gently as she remembered the previous night. They had both opened up to each other about such things that no other living soul knew about. What Draco had said wasn't too surprising, but it was still horrible. She then closed her eyes and remembered last night...
"Draco...what was your childhood like?" she asked softly. "The first 5 years of my life weren't too bad. My parents spoiled me, constantly buying me stuff. I was their little boy. My dad would actually spend time with me. Then, when I turned 6, it changed. I barely saw him anymore. He said he was out doing something, out at work, out with friends; Always a different excuse. So I spent time with my mum. When I turned 10, my dad told me that I had a good purpose in life. That one day the Dark Lord-who was to rule the Wizarding world-would come back. And I would be his most faithful servant, that I would do anything for him. The other thing my father wanted me to do was to be the top in school, marry a nice pureblood girl, and have a lot of kids." He sighed. "He began to teach me dark spells, insisting that I would need them at school, that Id need them in any fights I got into at school. These dark spells scared me; I didn't understand them at the time. Whenever I would get it wrong, he would scream like it was the end of the world. That scared me too, as a 10 year old. After he taught me quite a few, he was satisfied. By then, I saw him about once a month. He was always out doing something, or with someone. He also taught me manners, the Malfoy way of doing everything and how we were superior to others because we were pureblood. And so, that's how I grew up. That's when I came to a conclusion..." "And what was that?" He gave her a bitter smile. "My father didn't love me. He used me as an object, a trophy to show off to others. His Perfect Little Prince." He spat the last word out with distaste. Draco gave her a genuine smile. "But my mother-she loves me. She was the one who was with me the whole way, telling me everything would be ok...She's probably the only person in my family who truly loves me." He looked up at Hermione, and saw tears sliding down her cheeks. "Wha-Don't cry. It's over now. Everything's ok." "I know...but it's just not fair that you had to have such a horrid childhood. "It's ok..." His voice took a hardened tone as he said, "I rejoice that my father's dead. He was a piece of filthy scum who thought he was better than everyone else just because of the money in his pocket. You don't know how happy I am that he died in Azkaban. I'm free now, to do whatever I please, and Voldemort was killed last year, thanks to Potter, so I am fully free. I never want to be my father. I don't want to resemble him in any way." "Did you father ever beat you, Draco?" He had to strain his ears to hear her. "No. But he did beat my mother a few times when they would fight. I remember going into her room to comfort her." Hermione gave a shaky laugh. "My problems are tiny compared to yours." "Tell me." "No, they're so stupid, compared to everything you've been through." "Hermione...I want to know." She looked into his eyes, and surrendered. "Ok...Well, my childhood was ok, I guess. I was a good kid, didn't get into any trouble. My parents loved me. I remember in the summer I would read, and the other kids would make fun of me...saying I was weird. I would get top marks in school, and kids would hate me for it. When I got accepted to Hogwarts, I was so happy. I always knew that I didn't fit in with the life I was currently leading. So then, I came here. But, every summer I return, it's awful, especially this summer. The kids continue to make fun of me, but in a more hurtful way. The guys would say..." She sighed, and her voice broke slightly as she continued. "That only a blind person would date me, that I was hideous. They would laugh that I was 17, and hadn't even kissed a guy, or dated one. They would say that Im the ugliest girl alive. They would play pranks on me all the time. So I would go into my room, and cry myself to sleep..." He could see tears in her eyes once again, and he hugged her close. "I think I'll pay those guys a visit this summer. Show them what a good catch I've got. And THEY must be blind, because you're beautiful. You'll show off your hot boyfriend to them, and they'll be surprised." "And this year, my mom started buying me girly clothes, some of them revealing more than I want to show. She said that she was proud of me being the top student and everything, but I needed to get my head out of books, go to social events, party. Get a boyfriend..." "Let me guess, she's the one that bought you those pajamas, huh?" "Yep. She'll be so proud of me when I tell her about you. I can tell her, right?" "Of course." "Are you going to tell your mother?" "Yes. She'll be happy." Hermione snuggled close to Draco, and they stared into the fireplace, as the fire burned lower and lower. (A/N: have I mentioned they have a fireplace in between their bedrooms, across from the couches and tables, across from the kitchens? WELL THEY DO! lol)
He looked at her for a moment, closed his eyes to gather his thoughts, and began to speak.
Hermione thought that was the saddest thing a little boy could think.
It's not fair...not right for a little kid to experience that." He wiped away her tears with his fingers.
There was an awkward silence.
Hermione laughed. "You're too modest, really," she said sarcastically, and she took a deep breath of his cologne.
Hermione felt something touch her shoulder and she jumped. It was Draco.
"Morning," he said sitting up.
"Morning," she said cheerfully.
"While you were playing with my hair, I woke up and waved my hand in your face for about 5 minutes and you still didn't notice...You ok?"
"Yeah."
"Don't dwell too much on what I said. It's all in the past, anyway," he said, shrugging.
"Ok."
She went into the bathroom to take a shower.
Truth was Draco hadn't meant to bare his soul to Hermione. It wasn't part of the plan. But there was just something about her that he wanted to trust...and he'd opened up to her. And she'd just sat there and listened. She was the first person to. He snorted. I'm beginning to like her...
He looked at his watch and cursed. Damn it, we're going to be late to Potions! Well, Snape will let me off...I don't know about Hermione, but since we're partners he'll let it slide again...I hope...
He jumped up from the couch, and went into his room, gathering his books as he put on his robes.
He hammered on the bathroom door, and was about to turn the knob.
"Draco! I'm in disposed!" she yelled.
"Put a towel on!"
She came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body, her hair wet.
"What's the matter?"
"Have you looked at the time?"
"No...Why?" She looked at her watch and looked up at him, wide-eyed. "Snape will kill us! I shouldn't have sat on the couch daydreaming! We have to hurry!"
She ran into her room and hurriedly put on her robes, picking up her books in a neat stack off her desk.
He had to stifle a laugh. Her robes were on the wrong way.
She looked down and noticed. Muttering angrily, she went back into her bedroom. Moments later, she came back out, and this time everything was on the right way.
She took her towel and tried to dry her hair.
"Ever heard of magic?" Draco asked. He said a spell and hot air came out of his wand. Her hair was dry in seconds. "Err...thanks," she said.
He kissed her on the lips. "Have a nice day," he said. "You too," she said, smiling. She still needed time to get used to the fact that they were together.
They ran through the halls and into the dungeons. "Sorry we're late, Professor Snape," they chorused. He sneered. "20 points from Gryffindor, Miss. Granger. And I'm disappointed in you, Mr. Malfoy. I expected better. This is the second time you two are late. Next time will result in a detention for both of you."
They nodded and sat down all the way in the back next to each other. "Partners should be sitting next to each other, as we've been doing since September. Or maybe your skulls are too thick to understand that. Make the potion on the board, and when you are done, you may continue with your projects.
Draco looked around the classroom. People were just settling into their seats, and arranging their books. They'd only been late by about a minute. Snape began to go around the room, criticizing everyone.
They began their potion, which was quite easy for the two of them, as they were the top 2 students in Potions class for their year.
They finished about 40 minutes later. Draco looked at the potion the two of them had made together. It was the desired silver color, and some mist was escaping it.
They stared at the potion in silence.
Draco spoke up. "It wasn't fair for him to take points off of you and not off me."
"Really? Well, everyone knows Snape's a dirty, prejudiced-"
"Do you really want to finish that sentence, Ms. Granger?" His voice carried over the entire room and everyone looked over at Snape, Hermione, and Draco.
Hermione's eyes widened in fear. "I-I-um-"
"50 POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR! AND A DETENTION TONIGHT AT 8! CLEAN OUT YOUR MOUTH AND WATCH WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT TEACHERS! SCOURGIFY!"
Foam began to pour out of Hermione's mouth as it cleaned itself. Hermione wiped at the foam, trying to get it off, her eyes filled with tears.
The Gryffindors all glared at Snape, while the Slytherins were on the floor laughing. All accept Draco. He was looking at her, worried. He was furious at Snape. Draco felt an extreme loathing towards what had once been his favorite teacher.
The foam continued to pour out of her mouth, and down her robes, soaking them. Snape muttered the counter curse, and the foam disappeared. She let out a sob and ran out of the classroom, tears streaming down her face.
The bell rang, and Snape roared, "WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT! GET OUT OF HERE!" The class scrambled out of the dungeons, afraid that Snape might do something to them, too.
Draco picked up Hermione's books, which had scattered on the floor when she ran out. He balanced them with his books, and walked out of the dungeon, glowering at Snape.
He saw Harry up ahead, and surprisingly, alone. Where'd Weasley go? "Hey Potter!" Harry looked back at Draco, who walked up to him.
"What do you want?" he said curiously.
"Um, these are Hermione's books...thought you should give them to her. Well, err...bye." He walked away towards the classroom in which he took Muggle Studies.
"Hey, Malfoy, wait up!" Draco turned.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"No problem. And (he didn't know if he was passing the line between him and Harry, but it was true) what Snape did back there was wrong."
Harry seemed taken aback. "Really?"
"Yeah. Well see you around, Potter." And he left a surprised-looking Harry behind. Something's changed about him...
Draco was just about to enter his Muggle Studies classroom when somebody pulled him back into an abandoned corridor. It was Ginny.
"Draco. What happened to Hermione?" He looked at her, amazed. She had called him Draco. Weird.
"We were in Potions, and he docked points off her when we were late, but not me. So I was telling her how what Snape did was unfair and she was about to say how everybody hated him, and he caught her. So he cleaned out her mouth with 'scourgify'..." She looked at him.
"That's foul, Stupid Snape. Well, I saw her crying her eyes out in the bathroom on this floor. Thought maybe you could go comfort her." She winked at him.
"You know?" he asked slowly.
"Yeah," she said, grinning. "Well, I'm going to be late for class. Bye!" And she ran off.
Who cares about Muggle Studies? The teacher won't notice that I'm not there, not with that loud class.
The corridors were quiet, with every teacher and student in a classroom. He went inside the girls' bathroom. "Hermione?" He heard a sniffle, and then a giggle.
She came up to him. "What are you doing in here? This is the GIRLS' bathroom."
He was speechless for a moment, and she laughed. "I'm just kidding. This is an abandoned bathroom."
"Oh...Well I came to see how you were doing. What Snape did wasn't fair, or nice."
"I know...I hate him...and I have to serve detention tonight," she said sadly.
"I haven't had a detention since...1st year, actually."
"I remember that. I was there, too. Remember, we went into the forest?"
"Oh, yeah," she said, laughing. "You were so scared."
"I was not!"
"You were, too!"
"Ok, yeah I was...Well, I was 11, and that place IS creepy!"
"Hah! You admit it!"
"Yes! Fine! Ok?"
She stepped up to him and kissed him. He smiled inside. I do like her...I can't help it. Something about her is just...
As he remembered his plan, his insides squirmed. Why am I doing it? What's the point?
Nonetheless, he decided to go on with it.
They spent 2 class periods in the bathroom...kissing.
Meanwhile, in Care of Magical Creatures, Harry was worried. Neither Malfoy, nor Hermione had showed up. Malfoy's probably just ditching. And Hermione's probably still upset...He hoped he was right.
Hermione and Draco both showed up for their next classes. Harry noticed that Hermione was beaming, and he was happy that she was ok.
Dinner went by, and Hermione sighed. "I don't want to go to detention. Who knows what he'll have me do?"
"Prepare for the worst," Harry said. "He might be standing at the door with a club, ready to beat you to death."
"Thanks a lot, Harry," she said sarcastically.
She got up. "Bye, guys!" Ginny got up, too. "I'll escort you to the dungeons, I want to talk to you." They walked slowly, taking their time.
"So...what did you two do in there for two whole class periods? Harry told me you were missing in Care of Magical Creatures. You're lucky that he doesn't go to Arithmancy, or he would know you ditched that, too."
"How did you know I was with Draco?"
"Well, after I saw you in here, I told him where you were. So what did you guys do that whole time?"
"What do you think?"
"Good girl," she said, patting Hermione's head. Hermione turned bright pink. (A/n:they were just making out, nothing more lol...dont want you gettin wrong idea)
They got to the dungeons. "Good luck," Ginny muttered as Hermione entered.
"There will be no need for wands," he said as soon as she got in. "You will be using your hands." Joy...
Four hours later, Hermione stumbled into the Heads Quarters, exhausted.
She lay down on the couch, her head on Draco's lap. "He made me clean the ENTIRE dungeon with my hands! All those jars, his cabinets, his desk, everything!"
"I'm so tired, I can barely keep my eyes open...and I didn't even get started on the homework we have due in 3 weeks!"
"Oh, I think that's ok. You still have time," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Shut up."
"I'm hurt," he said, making a sad face.
She closed her eyes, yawning.
"You sure you're too tired?"
"Yeah, why?"
He kissed her again.
"I'm awake!" They had an intense snogging session for about an hour, until the clock struck one in the morning.
"It's late...we should go to sleep," Hermione mumbled.
"Yeah, ok..."
He took her into his arms and dropped her on the bed.
"Night," she muttered, already asleep on top of her covers.
"Night," he said.
The end to another...interesting day, he thought as he fell asleep.
Epilogue - About 3 weeks passed, and they carried on in this manner. It was on November 24 when something significant happened in Hermione and Draco's relationship.
A/N:PLEASE REVIEW!