Hey everyone! Thanks to everyone who voted on the poll; the result will be found in this chapter (Yay!)... actually it's the winner of the poll AND something else I added too, but you'll see when you get to it. Sorry to those who didn't know about the poll; it was a last minute idea and I only messaged those who had reviewed on the story...
Speaking of reviewers... A special thanks ayoAOx and IGOTEAMEDWARD for being my top two reviewers! Oh course, I also have to thank everyone who reviews for me, but I especially wanted to thank them.
As always, my beta is KICKASS and pretty much entirely rewrote what I had for the textbook, so I can't take any credit for that part! She also helped with the chapter title too!
This chapter is Hermione's POV since we haven't heard from her in awhile.
She sat in shock, still holding Draco's passed out form. Hermione couldn't wrap her mind around what she had just heard. Draco liked her for her, not just because she was suddenly a 'Pureblood.' He liked her and was keeping her secret to protect her. I-wh-how-wha…? I-I can't think like this! She checked to make sure he was breathing and had a pulse before putting him down. The window seat always gave her peace before; hopefully it would work now.
Wh-what am I supposed to do with all of this? Talk about emotional overload; this day has been too much! Why did everything have to come out all at once? This day- this week- has just been too much! First, mom and dad… Th-that letter… Ron… Harry… Naked Draco… Draco and Harry being nice to each other… Me spilling my guts… Draco spilling his guts… Th-that kiss… Crying, crying, crying all day about everything… Stupid Draco overdosing on his stupid Veritaserum… Confessing his feelings for me… Him passing out… Ugh! Too much, too much for one fucking person to deal with! What horrible deed did I do that is causing the Cosmos to punish me like this!? I-I can't even cry anymore; there just isn't anything left! Is this even real? Am I dreaming or something?
The stars were beginning to appear in the sky, reflecting on the lake below. The scene was beautiful, but Hermione wasn't able to enjoy it because of her thoughts. Solving problems had always been easy for her, so why was all of this so difficult to figure out?
It's because you're too focused and too close to it to see the solution. Only with her most difficult problems, Hermione heard her mother's voice in her head. A single tear, which she was surprised to find she had left, made its way down her cheek.
Okay… She huffed. I just go with the flow… I've got to stop thinking. Thinking is not helping me at all right now!
She turned to Draco's body. Alright, first things first. "Accio Potions Book." Her book came flying from her room and she caught it easily. She searched the index and flipped to the right page.
-Veritaserum, while not the most powerful of truth potions [see BANNED POTIONS: Mental and Nerve], is the most powerful in use. With three drops, it can cause the drinker to speak the truth, to the best of his/her knowledge, for anywhere from three quarters of an hour to ninety minutes, depending on body size, mental acuity, and metabolism. Most commonly used in legal proceedings until McTavish v. The County of Sussex [1872; see also, RESTRICTED POTIONS], the use of Veritaserum is now restricted by practice less so then actual DMJ ruling in the Commonwealth. This has led to the potion being used, primarily, in divorce proceedings and custody battles that never come to court….
…Depending on how much Veritaserum is consumed, effects may be quite profound. Xuxa McTavish, the defendant's sister in McTavish v. Sussex, was tricked into drinking well over a pint of the potion, thus leading to its non-use in the DMJ. While accurate study of this overdose was not made, the McTavishes claimed that Xuxa, then seventeen, was affected for over twenty-four hours and suffered multiple bouts of unconsciousness, dry mouth, and night terrors for up to a week afterwards. As the court reporter, M. Terrance Lawrence, Jr., noted in The Evening Prophet, Xuxa McTavish was said to be a 'slight girl, of no more than four stone, and with features more akin to a pixie ancestry than-
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. Thank Merlin, the stupid git didn't cause himself any permanent damage! He does deserve it, though. She sat down and placed his head in her lap. He nuzzled his head against her leg and her hand somehow made its way to his hair. Draco began groaning and she figured that he was beginning to come to. Slowly, his eyes opened, although they were still unfocused. "You passed out."
"Oh, okay."
"Are you still being affected by the potion?" We might as well figure that out now…
"I'm not sure… My head hurts…"
Well I suppose I could punish him a little is he is still under the potion's effect… "What's your biggest fear?"
"I have two. I'm afraid of failing. My father always had such high expectations for everything, and, even though he's gone, I still can't escape that fear. I'm also afraid of being alone. I've always acted higher than everyone else and never really let anyone get close to me. Part of that was because I don't trust people because everyone has always wanted to be my friend simply because of my family, not because of who I am. I'm afraid to take down my walls and let people in because they might not like what they see and I'll be left alone."
"Wow… I-I'm sorry…" It's weird how much we have in common… "I know how you feel, at least with your fear of failure. I mean, it's pretty obvious to everyone that I'm exactly the same way."
"No, it doesn't show as much as you think it does. You overachieve, but it never looks like fear or insecurity; it simply looks like a strong drive to succeed."
"Oh, I… How long do you think this potion is going to last?" Why am I feeling uncomfortable? I'm the one asking the hard questions, I shouldn't feel this insecure.
"I don't know, but you can keep asking me questions if you want. I feel like you might as well since I was such a prick earlier." It's weird how observant he is in this state. He doesn't even look like he can focus on anything. Hmm… well if he doesn't mind… What should I ask?
"What does your Patronus look like?"
"A ferret."
She burst out laughing. "Oh Merlin, you can't be serious! That's hilarious!" She was sure that if he could he would be bright red. "This is fun! Now what else… Is the 'Slytherin Sex God' nickname a true representation?"
"Yes, although it's not with as many girls as everyone believes."
"Okay… What does Amortentia smell like to you?"
"There is something that I can't describe, but the other is mangos." Hermione blushed. "I was quite surprised to find that your shampoo is the same mango scent."
Okay, wow, waaaaaaaay too personal now… That is just-Wow! "Have you ever cheated on a test?"
"No, although I've thought about it just so I could finally beat you at something."
She thought for another question, unaware that she had been playing with Draco's hair the entire time. She smirked as she came up with the perfect question. "Do you think that you're a better Seeker than Harry?"
"I-" His eyes suddenly regained their focus and he shot up. "Hell yes I am!"
She frowned. "Damn, that was a really good question too!"
He turned to her, a smirk on his face. "I can't believe you asked me all that stuff! It's so… Slytherin of you. And here I thought you were a Gryffindor…"
Hermione matched his smirk and hit his arm. "Well you were the 'Sly Slytherin' idiot who overdosed on a truth potion. I, being the 'naïve, honorable Gryffindor' that I am, figured I might as well take advantage of it while I could. Besides, you told me to do it."
Draco came close enough to whisper in her ear. "So are you saying you believe me now?"
His breath on her neck sent shivers through her body. "Well, I…" He was making it hard for her to think. He smells so good… Oh, what was he asking? "Draco…" Her voice came out as nothing more than a whimper.
Draco chuckled and pulled away. "I'll take that as a yes." He looked into her eyes. "I really am sorry. I hope you know that I was only looking out for you." She could only nod. He smiled a rare, genuine smile. "You've had a long day, are you tired?"
She yawned. "Actually, yes very. I think I'll go to bed now… I-" She wanted to ask him, but she was too embarrassed. "Never mind."
"Hermione…" She still couldn't look at him. "Do you want me to sleep with you again?"
Wow, how can he know me so well, so soon? "Yes?" It came out as a question, even though she was screaming it in her head.
Draco chuckled. "Silly girl, it's not like I haven't already. Go on and I'll be in after I change."
Hermione smiled and bit her lip. "Thanks Draco." She felt a little bolder then. "And, if you normally sleep in boxers, I don't want to inconvenience you."
He cocked an eyebrow and disappeared into his room.
EKKK! I can't believe I just said that! Oh Merlin, what am I doing? Am I trying to seduce him? I hardly even know him! But… part of me feels like I've always known him. And when I'm with him it just feels… right. I don't know what I'm feeling; I've never felt like this before, not with Viktor, not with Ron… Oh Mom, I wish you were here to help me! And how can I feel like this after Mom and Dad? It just… it's like he heals me. I'm not… I can't be… Can I?
Whoooooooo, whatcha think? Please REVIEW!!!!! And be sure to let me know WHAT you like/dislike about the story so I can fix it if need be! Oh, and for those of you who actually read the A/N's... There is a new poll up on my profile. It is about the Slytherin/Gryffindor match, which won't be written for quite a few chapters, but I thought if I got it up early enough I would get a good respond to help me.