(December 12, 2010)
"In my head there's only you now
This world falls on me
In this world there's real and make believe
And this seems real to me
And you love me but you don't know who I am
I'm torn between this life I lead and where I stand
And you love me but you don't know who I am
So let me go, let me go"
Let Me Go- Three Doors Down
The dim candles awakened Draco's shadow as he trailed his finger on the stem of the books while walking towards the forbidden section at the library.
The ancient sign that informed the trespassers that they were in the depths of the forbidden section sent tingles within his body. The thrill of getting caught was nothing compared to the knowledge he would soon know about the dark magic. Just a few more steps and his curiosity would soon be dispersed.
"Malfoy," a voice called behind him. Draco closed his eyes and dropped his shoulders. It took all his will power not to scream in frustration.
"What do you want, Potter?" Draco spat.
Silence filled the distance between them. Then, footsteps reached Draco.
"I demand to know your motifs as to why you have suddenly developed feelings, or lack thereof, for Hermione?" said Harry in a proud stance as he pointed his wand at Malfoy.
Draco glared at this weakling before him. Did he actually think that Draco would explain his reasons?
"Walk away Potter before I force you to," said Draco through his teeth.
"Stay away from her, Malfoy," Harry said while taking a step closer to the former death eater.
"Over my dead body," Draco sneered and withdrew his wand out from his coat.
"That won't be an issue," Harry muttered.
Draco clenched his jaw together to the point that it burned. He was in no mood for Potter's little mind games; he had far better things to do. The two boys stared at one another waiting for one of them to throw the first spell.
"Harry, where are you?" whispered Hermione from behind a few bookshelves. "I understand that the slightest thought of you attending the Winter Ball tonight gives you hives, but Ginny won't be pleased when her date abandons her."
Harry gave one last glare at Draco and stormed off to Hermione. Draco inwardly groaned as the thought of going to the ball tonight. Perhaps if he had overcome with hives, he wouldn't have to go.
He looked down at his watch and sighed once again. It was either he went and pleasured his date, or lose the chance of ever returning his dearest father back to the Malfoy Manor where he belonged. Draco Malfoy was a key example of how others were able of controlling his life.
~o~
Hermione lifted the bottom of her dress and let out a deep breath before walking down the staircase. She didn't understand why she was so nervous; the idea of what other people thought about her no longer occupied her mind. Perhaps it was because Draco Malfoy was going to see her in this luxurious attire of hers.
"Hermione, you look exquisite!" Luna shrieked while clapping her hands excitedly.
Hermione bowed her head in politeness and walked down the agonizing steps. She kept her eyes on the floor, not wanting to slip and fall. Her dress was painted blood red. It was a backless and hugged her every curve, but flowed down to the ground. The dress was cut out on the sides while red satin wrapped around her waist. Her hair was pulled back in a milkmaid braid that wrapped around her head and her makeup was simply nude since her dress took up all the attention.
"You look beautiful too, Luna." Hermione reached the end of the staircase and smiled shyly at her friends.
"Come on, let's go dance," Ron said while taking Lavender's hand. Harry held Ginny's hand and Neville was holding Luna's. The three pairs walked ahead to the ballroom with Hermione trailing behind. She looked around the ballroom hoping to see a certain blonde head, but it never did. Her heart began to sink. Draco promised her that he would be there to escort her and be her date.
Hermione shook her head in disbelief and held back the tears that were ready to fall.
"You actually assumed I would miss this?" a soft voice whispered into her ear as two strong hands grabbed her waist.
Hermione jumped in fright but didn't turn around. She opened her mouth to question his reasoning for being late, but then quickly closed it as two warm lips kissed her neck. Draco continued kissing her neck and trailed kisses up until his lips met hers.
"You look stunning," Draco whispered and placed his forehead onto hers. Hermione blushed and smiled as she gazed off onto his mysterious grey eyes. Draco detached himself from their embrace and placed one hand behind his back and the other out in front of him.
"May I have this dance?" Draco asked with a bow.
"You may," Hermione laughed and curtsied. She reached out to grab his hand and was led out into the ballroom that was filled with the many couples dancing with one another. A waltz echoed through the room, as well as unsatisfied groans, and Hermione looked uncertainly at the dance floor.
"Draco, I don't know how to dance the waltz," Hermione murmured.
"No worries, I do." Draco, with such grace, led Hermione into the middle of the dance floor and twirled her around before beginning the dance.
"You'll have to trust me. Just follow my lead," Draco smirked and started to dance. The two of them moved in sync and danced as if they were one. Hermione watched in awe at how graceful Malfoy can be. Of course it made sense to her that Draco Malfoy would know how to dance to such a superior style of dance, a dance of the wealthy most would call it, but for her to actually be in the presence of this new found beauty amazed her. She was more eager than ever to find out what else there is to this certain boy named Draco Malfoy.
Draco pulled Hermione closer to his chest and placed his hands around her hips as the song changed to a more upbeat genre. Hermione smiled and placed her hands around his neck and lowered her head onto his shoulder. The two of them swayed their bodies in a slow rhythm, even though the song that was blasting through the speakers was nowhere near a slow song.
"You dance so beautifully," Hermione whispered and breathed in his cologne.
"My mother insisted that I needed to learn a cultured dance, I objected at first but she won that war. Let's just say, you can never object to my mother." Draco took in a deep breath as the thought of his mother appeared in his mind, but closed his eyes shut not wanting anything to ruin the moment he had with Hermione.
"I wish you'd open up like this more often. I like knowing the things that not many people know about you," Hermione said softly.
Draco shook his head, not wanting to talk about him or his family. "There's nothing more for you to know about me," he muttered. "It's best if you don't."
Hermione stopped dancing and looked at him. "But I want to know more about you, Draco. It's just that you keep yourself so hidden. It's hard enough that I can barely know what you're feeling."
Draco signed and took her hand into his. "I don't want you to read me like an open book, Hermione. I have already opened myself to you quite vastly."
Hermione shook her head softly and took her hands away from his grasp. She stopped dancing and crossed her arms over her chest. "Draco, I don't want to date a wall."
"You dare compare me to a wall?" Draco huffed.
"Yes, and a very bland one in fact," Hermione said while raising her voice in frustration.
"Hermione, don't start tempting me into a fight," Draco reached out and grabbed her hand while she started to turn away from him.
"Or what, you'll hurt me again like your beloved aunt?" Hermione snarled harshly. Draco glared at her and squeezed her arm. Hermione sighed and pulled her arm away from him. Draco took in a deep breath and watched Hermione rub her arm. It was then that he noticed the faint scar on the inside of her arm, inscribed mudblood.
"Goodbye Malfoy," Hermione whispered and turned away from him.
"Hermione wait!" Draco yelled though he stood where he was.
~o~
Harry watched Hermione run past him and out of the ballroom. Confusion filled his mind and he glanced down at Ginny.
"They got into a fight again," Ginny sighed and nodded her head at the lonesome Malfoy standing at the middle of the dance floor.
Harry stopped dancing and withdrew his wand from the inside of his coat. He was ready to pounce at this certain ferret for hurting his best friend's heart. Ginny shook her head and lowered Harry's wand.
"I know you want to stop it, their relationship. Protect her from him, but you don't see what I see," Ginny whispered and glanced at Malfoy. He was lost in deep thought, while looking at the door of the room that Hermione vanished into. "It's not just that she makes him a better person. She does, but, he changes her too. Draco Malfoy challenges her, surprises her. He makes her question her life, beliefs."
Ginny smiled and touched Harry's raging jaw to calm him down. "His love is pure," she continued and watched Draco walk towards the room Hermione was in. "He'll always be good for her."
Harry shook his head in amazement at the words that Ginny spoke from her mouth. He doesn't know how she could see all of this; all he could see is the evilness that lurks on Malfoy's shoulder. Harry kissed her forehead and continued dancing with Ginny; just for once, he'll let them collapse on their own terms.
~o~
Hermione sobbed while sitting on a patterned rug in front of a blazing fireplace. She didn't know where she ran off to, but it excluded her from Draco. She wept into her hands not understanding what wrong she had done. All she wanted was to understand him, know his past, and listen to his innermost stories. She knew that Draco was hard to read, but she can't be in a relationship with a rock.
A soft knock was patted on the door and Hermione quickly dried up her tears. She didn't want to look like a wreck when a professor would question her about why she was in this room. Hermione turned her head and saw Draco close the door behind him. She bit the inside of her lip to keep herself from bursting out in rage. She knew if she did, then she'll push him farther away.
Draco tucked his hands inside his pockets and walked swiftly towards Hermione. She turned her head back to the view of the fireplace, not wanting him to see her like this.
"The fireplace is divine, don't you agree?" Draco said softly to break the silence. Hermione nodded her head slightly, but didn't say a word. Draco frowned as he saw her wipe away a tear.
"Darling, there's no need for you to cry. It was all just a tad argument, nothing more." Draco walked closer to Hermione and sat down next to her, though he faced the door while she dazed off into the fireplace.
"All I want is to know more about you and make sure you're not this cold blooded snake that you make yourself to be," Hermione sniffled. Draco closed his eyes. If only she knew how right she was. Draco was a snake, a very deceiving one in fact. He reached out and let his fingertips brush hers.
"It's hard Hermione, I'm not used to letting people in," Draco whispered the truth.
Hermione licked her lips and turn her head to look at him. "Allow me to be the first," she said and placed her hand onto his. Her touch sent shivers up and down his spine and removed his hand from beneath hers. Hermione closed her eyes at his actions and turned back to the fireplace.
"If I let you in, all you'll want to do is run," Draco said.
"Draco, there's nothing that you could do that will make me run away from you in fright," Hermione said.
"You don't understand!" Draco spat in anger.
"Then make me understand," Hermione said timidly.
Draco shook his head and dropped his head into his hands. He didn't want to do this menacing plan anymore. He didn't want her to be hurt any longer. Draco lifted his head and from the corner of his eye watched Hermione gaze off at the fireplace. She was so naïve; he envied that. Draco reached out into his pocket and pulled out a ring with a green gemstone on it.
"Hermione," Draco whispered and twirled the ring in his hand.
"Yes Draco?" she asked and looked at his tense face. Hermione curled her eyebrow and moved closer to him. "What is bothering you?" she whispered.
Draco took in a deep breath and shook his head. Hermione touched his jaw softly and stared into his eyes before leaning in to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her body and hugged her back.
"Will you marry me?" he whispered gently.