CHAPTER 10: THE KISS
Hermione reached the common room long before Malfoy. She sat, arms crossed, waiting for him to return. But just what she planned to say, she did not know.
It was nearly two o'clock in the morning when Malfoy finally eased into the common room, broken and torn. He was almost certain Hermione would be waiting for him in the common room. And to his dismay, she was. The slow steady breathing coming from the couch told him she had fallen asleep.
And not wanting to engage in any type of conversation, Malfoy moved almost stealthily towards his room. But still, Hermione heard him enter.
"Malfoy," Hermione said crossly. "What is going on? Where did you go tonight and why are you all beaten up? Thanks to you, I have detention because your stupid group was late."
Malfoy rolled his eyes; he knew she was trying to get information out of him. Did she take him to be a fool? She knew exactly what happened, she was there and he saw her. But Draco understood in spite of himself how important it was to convince Granger not to tell Golden Boy and Friends. His cover would be blown and Narcissa dead before sunrise.
Draco's sudden burst of interest caught Hermione off guard. Did he see me tonight? She wondered. In a few steps Draco had closed the gap between them. "Look Granger, let us not beat around the whomping willow. I know you saw Lucius tonight."
Draco's bluntness caused Hermione to open her mouth as if to speak, as she tried to think of a brilliant way to deny the accusation. "But that's OK," Draco said instead, you must keep this between us."
Hermione stared; a secret between her and Malfoy? "Yes, of course, I'm going to keep this quiet." She said sarcastically. "Honestly Malfoy, whatever you're planning this time won't work." Hermione stood suddenly becoming upset. "I haven't forgotten that it was you that caused the death of Dumbledore. You are the one that let all those Deatheaters into this castle. I even suppose you pride your precious Dark Ma--"
Draco stood too, now also angry. The stupid muggle had no idea what she was talking about. How dare she insult things she couldn't understand, and power that she couldn't begin to hold. "Shut. Up. You stupid Mudblood bitch. Don't ever accuse me of things you don't understand. I want you and your friends to quit meddling in things you don't understand. Or you might end up like your precious Dumbledore."
Hermione fought back hot tears at his words. But she vowed to herself on the spot to never cry in front of Draco Malfoy. He could never understand human emotion. He was as empty and unfeeling as the color of his cold steel eyes. "Stop meddling? Like I told Harry last term? I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe had I listened to Harry last year Dumbledore would still be here. Oh yes, I'm going to tell. I'm telling anyone who will listen that you and Voldemort's motley bunch are planning another--"
Suddenly Draco lunged forward. For one fleeting moment, Hermione thought he was going to strike, but he pressed his hand almost painfully over her mouth. She had been backed into a bookcase in the process.
She was trapped. Stuck between Draco and the book case, she may as well been miles from anyone that could help her. But fear was not the emotion that rose within her.
Oh, how she hated him. She stared defiantly at him, as if she could cause physical harm just by shooting beams of hatred from her eyes. She struggled against him but he was too strong. He had her fully bound, her hands were above her head held together by one of his. He pinned her legs with his body as he leaned in to speak. His voice was eerily calm and steady, almost a hint of seduction…
"Listen to me good, you filth. You will shut your mouth or you will learn the hard way the value of silence. You don't know the first thing about me," he hissed. "Now what is it you want in exchange for…your silence? An apology? Oh, sorry Dumbledore is dead, or is it something more you want?" He said as he leaned closer to her left ear.
He slowly pressed his pelvis against her thigh. Hermione squeezed her eyes to prevent tears from falling. "Is it this you want?" He said finally. "I'm sure you can't stop thinking about the kiss…"
Hermione wrenched her hand free of Draco's and slapped him with all her might. He let go of her mouth and stepped back in shock. "You dirty—little"
"No!" Hermione cut across him. "You are the dirty—if you EVER touch or speak to me again in that way. I swear I will…hex you to the depths of hell where you belong!" Before he could respond Hermione ran to her room and slammed the door.
Draco stood staring after her, mad at himself for surely having just sealed his impending doom.
Inside her room, Hermione allowed her tears of anger and humiliation to flow freely. Her pillow beneath her head had become soggy. Sleep was the furthest thing from her mind.
She glanced at her study materials for NEWTs. She couldn't concentrate either. She felt one hundred ways about this new dilemma. She knew Draco was right, to tell anyone would mean sure death by the wand of Voldemort himself for the entire Malfoy family. And as much as she wouldn't mind imparting a bit of suffering and humiliation on them, she did not wish death upon anyone. Even Draco Malfoy.
But her mind wrestled. He was rude, and uncaring. And certainly if given the chance, none of the family would hesitate to watch her death.
She resolved to keep it to herself, at least for now. There was no need to get Harry and Ron angry too.
The next day, Hermione decided to spend the after in Gryffindor girls' dorm. She couldn't sit through another Quidditch practice and she hadn't spent time with Ginny all term.
"Hermione," Ginny Weasley said quietly. "What is wrong with you? You can fool Harry and Ron but not me."
"Nothing really, just a little tired." Hermione said unconvincingly.
The tall red head stood in front of Hermione with her hands on her hips. "Yeah and Ron pulled an all-nighter for History of Magic. Is it Malfoy? Has he done anything?"
Hermione swallowed a lump in her throat and turned to look out of the window. Students were all over the grounds, enjoying one of the more pleasant days left before the first snow.
"I hate him," she said plainly. Ginny continued to stare. Hermione quickly felt embarrassed. "I mean it's nothing really. But we had an awful row last night. What a way to spend your 7th year. It's just horrible because every time I see him, I am reminded of why Dumbledore isn't here."
"Oh Mione. Don't you worry about him. He wouldn't dare pull another stunt like last term. And if necessary Ron, Harry and I are here for you…Ready and willing to kick his prissy ass."
Hermione laughed. "Thanks, I needed that."
"Speaking of Ron," Ginny said as-a-matter-of-factly. "You can't say anything but Harry reckons Ron still fancies you."
"Ron did what?" Hermione asked.
Ginny giggled. "Well, apparently he and Lavender broke up because he mutters your name in his sleep."
Hermione turned a deep shade of crimson, genuinely embarrassed. "Wow, I guess I never really thought of Ron that--"
"Oh come of it Hermione. You were into Ron for nearly three years! Just talk to him." Hermione didn't say anything, smiling she only shook her head and pretended to return to her work.
Now after three years Ron wanted to finally come around. Hermione wasn't exactly sure how she felt about it. But in the mean time she resolved to avoid the subject as best she could.
That night at dinner, Harry and Ginny made sure Ron and Hermione sat together. Hermione tried to ignore the awkwardness between the four of them and opened one of her books and began to read.
Looking up Hermione noticed the bread was conveniently on the other side of Ron. "Ron, will you please pass the bread?" He almost knocked his goblet of pumpkin juice across the table in his haste to fulfill her request.
Harry rolled his eyes, apparently growing weary. "Oh please, I wish you two would just say it." He grabbed Ginny's hand and left the great hall smiling at Ron and Hermione.
"Well, I think I'll go to Ron, got to do that essay for Professor Binns." Hermione said suddenly standing too. "See you."
Halfway down the hall, Ron caught up with her, winded from just having run the entire way.
Falling in step with her, he said, "I think Harry may be onto something. About us I mean," he added looking sheepish as he stuffed his hand in his pockets.
"I don't know what you mean Ron." Hermione said, though she did know perfectly well.
Ron stopped and grabbed Hermione's arm, turning her towards him. He pushed his shaggy ginger hair from his face revealing piercing blue eyes. "I don't know, I kind of thought you knew…and I was hoping you know, I wanted to be more than friends." His cheeks blushed faintly, and he kicked his shoe at an invisible pebble on the floor. "I just never said anything because I was sure you'd laugh at me…"
Hermione smiled in spite of herself. "I knew Ron. I think it's really sweet you saying these things, I would never laugh at you…" Her voice trailed off. After hearing Ron confess his feelings, she didn't have the heart to tell him she no longer felt the same way.
Ron took her silence as acceptance and suddenly leaned in and softly pressed his lips to hers. When he stepped away he somehow looked drunk, his lips slightly pinker from the pressure against hers. "Well, I'll let you study. See you, Mione." And with another peck on the cheek Ron sort of strutted off down the hallway.
Hermione licked her lips, surprised by what just happened. Had she just entered a romantic relationship with Ron Weasley? He was her friend and she felt nothing more for him.
For years she wondered what a kiss with goofy, sensitive, and hot tempered Ron would be like. Something in their kiss was sweet, but it wasn't the passion she secretly hoped for…
Looking sideways down the hall, Hermione quickly hitched her bag further onto her shoulder and walked in the direction of the library.
Draco stepped out of the empty classroom he had gone into when he heard voices approaching. He almost laughed at Weaselbee's lack of experience, the muttering fool.
Draco hated to admit to himself, he felt a slight tinge of annoyance as he realized the Mudblood and Weaselbee were now an item. But even as Draco had stood there witnessing their disgusting romance, he was pleased knowing she enjoyed his kiss better.
AN: SORRY EVERYONE FOR THE LONG TIME UPDATE. I ORIGINALLY DECIDED NOT TO FINISH THIS BECAUSE MY COMPUTER CRASHED SO I HAD TO START OVER, THEN THE DISK I STARTED SAVING IT ON GOT LOST. SO I WAS LIKE FORGET IT. BUT DON'T WORRY…I WILL TRY TO UPDATE AGAIN SOON! PLEASE KEEP R&R.