(50) Days of Summer by Sugarquills007
Disclaimer: I don't own harry potter
Plot: Restoring to her sanctuary in the muggle world, Hermione Granger has completed her sixth year of Hogwarts hoping to eliminate the forces of Evil penetrating the world around her. Thankfully or dreadfully she is roped into a sudden relationship with none other than her nemesis Draco Malfoy who shares the same disgust emotions swirling in them. Forced to forget their history they join up with the help of two friends to prove their relationship worthwhile.
Previously in Chapter 10...
And then he spoke, his voice a million miles away from here, detached and emotionless. "I just didn't want you to save me."
She felt her mouth move on its own accord and when she spoke to him, she knew her words would be ringing in his ears from today onwards. "Ditto."
12th Day of Summer
Chapter 11 – Choices
You have a choice. Live or die. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be. ~Chuck Palahniuk.
"I'm perfectly fine."
"We know sweetheart –"
"Then please stop treating me as if I'm a wounded puppy." The Granger's seventeen year old daughter exclaimed in exasperation, her hands running through her curls, all the while shooting her parents a disapproving frown at their childish behaviour.
They both had the decency to look away, slightly ashamed. She dropped onto the sofa in which she was walked to and fro and her frown quickly morphed into a scowl at the looks they shot her; a mixture of fear and anxiety as if she was sand – the grains easily slipping through their fingers. Gratefully, the healers had loaned several vials of healing draughts and between hours, Blaise had given them to her – so by the next day, Hermione felt considerably better. Her ribs had lessened to a dull throb and her head occasionally shot a spark of pain but she felt better. Healthier almost.
"Mum, Dad," she began softly, "it was just a rough accident," She sent her father a stern look on the last word and he sighed. "I'm fine." She explained quietly. "I feel better than I have stuck in bed." At Mrs Granger's look of disbelief, she continued. "I'm just feeling a bit frail – fresh air would do me a lot of good, I think."
Her mother continued to set her lips into a thin line, not convinced solely on her words. Her father held the same reaction until her beseeching look broke him to a sigh and a sad smile. He ruffled her hair affectionately as if she was just a child again. "Sorry baby girl." He murmured softly. "We just worry about you."
"And I understand that." Hermione smiled warmly up at him. "But I'm a big girl now and I can take care of myself. If not I've got Alexis and M-Dra –" She stopped shot as her eyes caught her father's fixed expression.
He had been like this since yesterday.
The minute she was discharged from the hospital yesterday, her father had become a lot more – let's say interested – in what she had to do with the blonde wizard entitled as her boyfriend. Not that she was with him since yesterday – no, not at all – they both had decided to ignore one another. Or avoid unless necessary. Which suited her fine. The only second they were thrown together was when Chloe seemed to have filled the presence with her hawk-like eyes and they had finally figured a routine as she watched them – hand-holding, teasing, laughing, the occasional peck - etcetera.
She sighed. "You can't blame him for everything you know." She said quietly for her father's ears only. His armour broke a little at her words and when she looked up at him, his eyes boring back at him – he shook his head.
"He was supposed to be the one looking out for you."
Hermione smiled. "But he did." She nodded her head earnestly. "I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for him coming back for me." At her father's look of utter disbelief, she took hold of his hand. "He would have gladly swapped places if given the choice." She said softly. "He told me so." She lied – little white lies – and rubbed her thumb over her father's aging hands. "I know – I know, you don't like him." She continued in that small voice of hers. "But please, don't pin this on him. He has enough guilt on his shoulders with the accident and all." She turned back to her mother and smiled. "Okay?" She asked confidently and her mother with slight concern in her eyes sat beside her.
"Hermione, I don't think you should be going out. The doctor had specifically said –"
"Not to engage in particular physical activities." Hermione finished off with a laugh. "Mum, I only want to go the park – perhaps the same one we went to a couple of days ago." At both her parents distressed look she continued. "I promise I'll come straight home – or better yet go the hospital as soon as I feel any pain." She assured and looked up at them with pleading eyes. "I only want to go out for an hour or so."
"Well then let's go." A new voice interjected and three heads whipped towards the intruder who had a huge grin plastered on her face.
"Hello stranger." Saluted Hermione and Alexis shot her a mocking wink. Hermione turned back to her parents and pulled a face, "See, even Alexis agrees."
"But Hermione you're not exactly capable –" Began Jane in a motherly tone when Alexis cut her off with a boisterous laugh.
"Oh pish posh Mrs G." Grinned the Muggle. "Hermione needs this. Just give her an hour or so of a breather and she'll be as good as new." Henry – hearing another view and not having any more objected, nodded with slight hesitance and Hermione sat up to give him a kiss on the cheek. All that was left was Mrs Granger who was the glue to the whole situation.
She bit her lip – one of the many traits that Hermione had inherited. "I'm not normally one to object the words of an adult Mrs Granger – but I do think that Alexis is right." Another newcomer – Blaise – intermitted with a small shrug. "She needs fresh air to relax. And a bit of exercise. She's been in bed far too long."
"Thanks for calling me fat!" Hermione shot at him with a small smile and he grinned at her – all teeth and charm.
Jane looked at each of the verdicts with worry before she shook her head and sighed out loud. "I'm going to regret this." She mumbled but Hermione grinned nonetheless. "Fine." Alexis cheered. Blaise smirked. "But only for two hour."
"What?" Hermione replied appalled. "Four?" She countered.
"Hermione." Reprimanded Jane. "Don't let me call this off." With a frown she continued. "Two."
"Four." Hermione crossed her arms and shot her mum a pleading look.
"Two."
"Four."
"Two!"
"Three and that's my final word." At Hermione's frown, she crossed her arms and raised a brow. "My rules or no outing." She said sternly. "So what will it be?"
Hermione was currently drying her hair with her wand when the door was pushed open. Hermione placed her wand behind her back but found it fruitless as Alexis walked in with a small smirk on her lips. "Anyone tell you not to use magic in front of normal people?" She questioned and Hermione blushed, looking down at her feet.
"Oh." Hermione managed to utter after moments of silence. Alexis grinned knowing Hermione couldn't see it and threw herself on Hermione's bed, eyebrows raised as she watched Hermione shuffle nervously on her feet.
"So," She decided to converse with a real ice-breaker. "A witch." She mused and watched with slight amusement twinkling in her eyes when Hermione, whose gaze had been thrown to the floor, flew up to meet Alexis' her eyes betraying everything.
At that point, Hermione wished nothing more than a black hole to randomly appear and swallow her whole. One of the many anxieties that came with her from the hospital was this confrontation exactly. But her Muggle friend had not mentioned one word – not one – about her dirty little secret. Not one. She had acted like before – like nothing had changed. Of course everything had changed. She didn't want to feel what Harry had when his family – not his biological – but his family nonetheless reacted to his identity. It was pretty selfish of her – she knew – but what would she be, if not human? It was a feeling that couldn't be controlled although she constantly wished for it.
She wanted to be praised on being a witch. Yes she was praised – no doubt about that – but on her vast knowledge. She wanted to be accepted into the world that did not belong to her and wanted to be praised on how well she fit in and that she didn't seem any different. Her wand hand dropped by her side and she filled with its end as a distraction.
"Don't you care?" Hermione suddenly called out and Alexis' piercing blue eyes snapped to hers in surprise.
"What?"
"That I'm a freak." Mumbled Hermione ashamedly. "That you're friends with a freak."
"Well if having magical powers is amazing, unbelievable and just plain fucking awesome, then no – I don't care about being friends with a freak." Hermione looked up slightly confused and Alexis smiled a warm welcoming smile. And Hermione felt her heart swell with love all of a sudden. She hadn't always made the best of choices but being friend's with Alexis even if her magic could have potentially ended it? She would never live to regret it. "A freak? You?" Alexis shook her head in disbelief. "No." She continued. "Never." Then she sat up and took Hermione's hands in hers. "If anything, it makes you all the more special."
"Doesn't stop me from being an inferior all the same." Mumbled Hermione and Alexis pried, eyes questioning. "I'm of normal blood. I'm not of magical heritage. It makes me a –"
"Mudbum?"
"Mudblood and yes."
Alexis looked at her solemnly and when Hermione looked at the blue iris, she saw nothing but honesty and sincerity. "It makes you one if you think you're one." Whispered her blonde friend in condolence.
"When it's freely thrown at your face, what else are you supposed to think?"
"That you're fucking awesome than them." Alexis said confidently and at Hermione's look of scepticism she twisted her lips. "I know that look." She rubbed her thumb over Hermione's hand. "Draco was filled with bullshit." She said and Hermione knew she didn't say it for humour. "Yeah he might have been the world's brattiest kid – but you know he doesn't mean it – he didn't mean it." Hermione nodded and bowed her head feeling a wash of tears come. Alexis got the hint and took her in her arms. "It's okay." She murmured softly and Hermione sniffled.
It was the emotional practicality of it all. She had survived unforgivables, broke several bones, had a very deep argument with Malfoy, and worried her nails off about Alexis' view of her now that she knew of her magical identity.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you in the first place." Her words came out muffled and Alexis let out a bark of laughter.
She pulled back and her own eyes were filled with water but her smile was bright. The brightest of them all and it shone every inch of her features. "Better late than never."
"You're moping again."
"You're being annoying again."
Blaise glared at Draco and the Slytherin cocked a brow in challenge. Blaise did not take the bait and merely shook his head looking away and tapping his head slightly impatient as he waited for the girls.
Draco, too, shook his head but decided to lean against the plump rest of Grangers sofa; breathing out quite loudly as everything settled into a dull hush. It made a good cover for all his thoughts to untangle themselves without ordered; settling into neat little soldiers; important at the front, feelings at the back.
Yesterday's sleep gave no help in settling his mind; with all the tossing and turning he probably had jumbled them further than solving any. He tried to think of happy things – ridiculous really, how it had to resort to that – but the Slytherin soon found out it was useless. Happy memories were rare. And instead of unicorns and rainbows came that afternoon. That afternoon where he blew things out of proportion for both him and the victim of his anger. He was being irrational on his first theory on how she avoided him as soon as she left the hospital. She wasn't really. She was just going with the current.
In fact, it was he, who was avoiding her.
It took fifteen minutes. Just fifteen blasted minutes. The only fifteen minutes he had to clear things with her. Those fifteen minutes where he could've thanked her for sparing his life – he could have told her how much he had to owe her. All that could've been said, slipped out of his grasp for what dignity did he have left to hold after she spoke to him? Those fifteen minutes held change. Could have made a change. Shame filtered every corner of him whenever his accidental glance fell on her as she doubled over in slight pain. And she bloody well took the pain because of them. Because of him.
Stupid, stupid Gryffindor.
And he remembered whenever she brushed past him or the day they had sat together on the plan's accord, where he had accidently breathed in Granger's scent he would never have dreamt she would hold. The candle warmth that filled him – intoxicatingly dangerous. The boundary line had been crossed and for the first time in years, Draco didn't give a rat's arse.
Any prejudiced orders, self-orders and preservation-orders slipped his mind as the flushing thought lighted up in his head like a Broadway sign that he was attracted to Granger. To Hermione damn Granger. He fucking hated the fact. As silly as a crush it may be, he found himself thinking to make the most of it before her essence would have ceased to be just hers – she would have made it gently tease his before boldly mingle. She would not just be a meaningless summer to be forgotten. No, he knew. He knew this would frequently pop into the recesses of his mind – it would plague him like how to assassinate Dumbledore did. It would haunt him and therein the questions would begin to jump out like vipers.
He watched her – during those seconds where everyone was involved in their own selfish little bubble of life to pay much attention to him. He watched her. The exhaustion she tried to hide by prying her chin up to show how it didn't empower her – which she was capable of moving along. How she cringed at sudden movements that were suddenly brass or unexpected. Or how she bit her lip to stop the occasional whimper that gurgled its way up her throat. How the usual shine from her lustrous hair faded by the minute as she placed on her smiling mask for show.
She was the exact opposite epitome of him.
She wore a lot of masks but for completely different reasons. He wore it to prevent emotions. Emotions were what made humans weak. What made him weak. He placed one mask – one mask of indifference or the occasional irritation for peers around him. One that held power and control. He didn't think too much on what he should show or not. It wasn't important. But her; no she wore a smile. She placed on masks to hide her discomfort, to conceal her pain just for the benefit of reassuring others. He didn't give a sod if they'd break in front of him – she'd willingly forget her work to help the deprived.
She was too good – far too good. And he noticed it. He noticed a lot, Malfoy did. It was unintentional to speak the truth; it was one of many rare diseases that stuck to you like glue. The microbes repopulating and holding onto you as if you were the thing that kept them together. A simple small lasting glance down her way gave him enough nicotine to hold in the puff of smoke away. But that wasn't the terrifying bit. What scared the Slytherin to the core – and he rarely allowed fear to control his mind – was that he liked it. He liked watching her. Call him a pervert – whatever names that fit for peering eyes – but it wasn't the puberty that done her good; it was simply her. Simple Granger being Hermione Granger. That is what truly fascinated him.
It was just the ravenous desire that filled him in realising that even her two guardians wouldn't notice and register the small things – overlooked things – in the six years of knowing her. Such as when anxiety filled her or when in set concentrating mode, she would delectably nibble on her bottom lip. Or how a rare twinkle would shimmer in the centre of her pupils when she found something amusing or as close and/or when she began to prepare a long speech on something she held firm belief over or something that completely fascinated her; and she had that urge – that simplistic urge that the world should know. And on top of his unwanted affection for the feisty witch a mound of knowledge had been dumped on his shoulder upon the realisation of finding one of her many weaknesses. It was probably never destined to been yet fate – being a bitch and all – managed to sneak in a way.
After his shameful bellows of stupid cries, the hours had flashed by like a blur as her family visited and before either of the four could dwell much on time, sunset had settled leaving dusk to follow in its path. His friend had abandoned his companionship long ago as he found himself walking into a room upon two sleeping girls. Well one of the two was sleeping soundly.
He recalled how he stood by the door like a dumbfounded idiot. Standing there – just bloody standing – hands hanging limp by his sides. Just watching. Watching the girl not five metres away from him mumble incoherent cries of plea as she shifted uncomfortably in bed. He watched wide eyed as she arched her from into some sort of dream-like pain as she continued to haunt him with her mumbling shouts of pleas to stop.
Stop. Stop something. Stop someone. And then he felt a weighty force blow him in the stomach and he staggered as he watched her suffer through the haunting recollections of that night where she was under extreme pain.
And the next second he could remember was that he was by her side. His hand hovering between reaching to her and pulling back. But then she whimpered and he – in a trance – placed a hand on her head. He remembered the smooth creamy parlour of her neck filled with cold perspiration as she let the fear overcome her. He remembered the translucent liquid escape her lashes stripping what was left of her innocence. He remembered the name she called out. Ears perking, he recalled how her Alexis' name slipped out of her mouth in whimpers. Then Blaise' as she called out to him to save her blond friend. Then his name was uttered in plead. His Christian name was uttered from the second time within a number of days.
He remembered the hoarseness that broke as she cried her way through mercy. How she begged him to leave her with Dolohov to save themselves. She was re-living the memory. How she repeated her Gryffindoric heroic manner as she surrendered herself to the bastard in her dreams. He recalled how his shaking hand began to caress her. Stop he from haunting him from opening any other wounds that were still afresh – that hadn't even began to form scabs yet. He remembered how his ice cool hands brushed against her perspiring forehead, watching with confused eyes as her jerks lessened massively. How content sighs slipped her mouth as he began to rub his hands across the temple of her hair. How her erratic breathing slowed down to light beats which jumped occasionally in whimpers. Remembering the flushing feeling of her calming down against his touch.
How he whispered anonymous words of comfort. How he heard the soft sighs along with many others that escaped her lips along with his name. Sadly it was the foremost beginning where she landed herself as she uttered his said name. How she managed to lessen the aggravated pain he had quenched towards her during one of their arguments. All under one touch, she managed to cast him under her spell. And then the memory filled out of him as how it emerged, leaving a gaping hole of mystification and confusion in him.
He felt the hated swirl of guilt run through him as he thought of how Alexis was known to their real identity – well her friend's foremost. For his Italian friend, it was a much harder problem as his lies weren't shied out front. How it kills him inside to watch his girlfriend smile at him adoration when he carried the burden of a monster. A killer. A murderer.
Malfoy had noticed her too. He explored the Muggle in a different light – the little quirks that most would also entitle under stalker; yet it was just for his gain of knowledge to understand her better. He watched with hooded eyes as his friend's orbs glistening a laughing violent as he would watch his blonde girl laugh at the silliest of lines, smirk at the deviance behind her plans, frown at the silliest of words, giggle at the flushing chivalry she would attain and scowl when annoyed. He would watch the interaction between the two electrify with sparkling fireworks as they continued their daily lives knowing they had each other. He would raise a silent brow in mild interest as he noticed the depth of caring painted in the granite-tinted orbs when he would watch his girlfriend. When he would gaze at his girlfriend.
Though it would never be uttered in public, Malfoy knows how much the Italian means to him. And he also recalls how he should mention it to the mocha-skinned wizard before the effect of the Wizarding war would get to them yet dignity still overcomes the pride which withholds the blonde. Draco Malfoy saw Zabini in the light of an adopted brother - and he was sure the feeling was somewhat returned. And with that proclamation said, he adds to the fact that he knows the Italian inside out. He knows what lies in his friend's interests of love, though never interfering.
Blaise Zabini, like himself, never chose to stick one girl for a period of time. Why? Because they were bloody humans not machines. They weren't sadists like the Lestrange's who did not love. They were human and therefore knew the possible consequence of attachment. Unwanted, undesired, hated feelings fill them what then people say would grow into love. Love is not one used in the Slytherin fan of dictionaries. It's one that is despised. He would notice how his friend's eyes would crinkle in amusement as he watched his girlfriend chat animatedly not entirely bothered that she's not send off enough attention to which she calls a boyfriend. And though it should have bothered the Italian – it didn't.
And then Malfoy would recall how Alexis Carter would shape her brows in a 'v' Shape in worry when she would notice her friend in pain or the brief emotions that would flicker past his friend. Or how her hand would clench into a tight fist until her knuckles burnt white as Granger's cousin would brush by to stir a commotion. Though she had calmed down amazingly towards her cousin it didn't stop her from being what any other jealous teenage girl would do – be a bitch.
And then he would notice the tenseness of his friend's jaw as he would hear the Scot mock his girlfriend on things; though it leads to her appearance ninety percent of the time. Or how his emotion would regain to its smirking composure as he would hear the witty comeback she would shout or the subtle grin that would slip on him when Hermione managed to use her over-stuffed brain to make a disdainful comment that would leave them all thinking who had won the round.
And then the over-analysed conversations with Alexis would pop back into his mind doubting the unthought-of questions from different angles leaving him to do nothing but groan. Yet what made him relive a breath of relief and cringe his nose in annoyance at the same time was the blonde acted as if no conversation ever had existed. As if it was just purely a figment of his imagination. Not once, did the Muggle bring the conversation ever again. It was as if it was done and dusted – her point made clear and that was it. There was no wallowing into it. Or thinking deeper into it. It was said and the rest was up to him.
And he would fell a pair of watchful eyes burning holes right through him – no doubt belonging to her – as he entered close proximity to Granger. And it brought the inkling feeling of hum surrendering to the thought that Granger may have told what their recent conversation was based on which caused a whole lot of aggravation to spill on him. And then the cycle would repeat itself, rounding upon the hard-core barriers he put up to avoid rethinking over their spat. Of course not all would be barred. Out of all people Malfoy had known, none beside the inkling thought of his mother would ever risk their own lives to save his shrewd one.
And the horrendous thought of the debt that had to be repaid. Money was one thing the witch would not take, as much as he would offer, she would decline. Many reasons contributed – the first, taking off money from a Deatheater. He laughed bitterly and ran a hand through his hair. He shook his head. It was as if he was running a marathon and it wouldn't end. There was no finish line and he was just fooling himself by thinking so.
"Finally." His thoughts fused when Blaise sighed out in relief. He glanced over his shoulder and found Alexis and Hermione, arms linked walking towards them. "About time." Remarked Blaise with a pointed look shot towards them. They smiled innocently.
They were in a car. But not his. After making an excuse that to avoid hitting a tree, they swerved and fell off a cliff – it wasn't practical to use Draco's car. So instead, Alexis drove the Granger's blue Mercedes; Blaise sat beside her with Hermione, Draco and Chloe at the back.
Once Chloe had finally gotten the point that Draco wasn't interested and that her flirting did no good, he turned to Hermione who was busying herself by looking out of the window. Everything was still awkward and he'd hated the thought of talking to her again – it was oddly peaceful not talking to her. But it gave his head a headache nonetheless. He let his thoughts wander as he sat there besides her, faintly hearing bits of Alexis and Blaise' conversation. And then they were muted as he felt the acute proximity of Hermione's presence beside him.
He could fell her presence, smell her scent and hear her light breaths as she gazed thoughtfully out the window. Settling himself straighter than the slight slouch he had positioned himself into, he shot a side-glance at her. Her arm was proposed up against the window ledge, holding up her tilted head which held the lost features as if she was counting the cars that passed by. Her hair managed to fall back into its bushy state as they wind pushed past her face, flushing her cheeks with a faint rouge.
"Granger?" He called out, careful not to allow Chloe the chance to eavesdrop. She was busy reapplying her mascara, he noted.
She didn't respond for a moment. And he almost believed that she didn't hear him. Then her lips moved slowly and a quiet voice escaped it. "Yes?" It was feeble, much how she felt around him and he warily ran a hand through his hair.
"Can I have a word with you?" He questioned with caution, waiting for the biting rejection. But it didn't come. Not for a long shot at least.
"Now?" She said, turning slightly so she faced him.
He shook his head. "No, not here." He said. "When we reach the park." He said as he watched Alexis rear left.
He looked back at her, almost expectantly and saw her hesitate before nod briskly. And then in a tiny voice, he heard her mutter; "Okay."
"You cannot be serious!" Four teens whipped their heads towards Chloe at the sheer cry out of disbelief. Hermione sighed and looked down expecting a rant. "A picnic?" She continued walking towards them. "In this godforsaken place again?"
"It's a park Chloe." Hermione said softly and Chloe turned to her with an unattractive scowl. "You can't seriously expect rides or something far-fetchingly interesting."
"The only interesting thing within a five kilometre radius is that blasted pond." Shot back Chloe, eyes flashing as she looked at the four of them accusingly. Alexis typically ignored her and set on placing the picnic blanket in the correct spot. Draco moved to help her whereas Hermione continued to reason with the fuming Scot.
"Chloe – it's just for a couple of hours. You had a choice in coming and you agreed to it."
"Well I wouldn't have agreed if I knew we were coming to this place again." Sneered Chloe. "And why is it that you always have to be the centre of attention?" She questioned hotly. "If you're feeling cold, a trip to the ice-skating rink would do. If you're hot, perhaps an ice-cream will make it better." She scowled at Hermione who looked slightly pale at her words. "It's always about you." She growled. Blaise who was beside the witch began to intermit when Hermione stopped him – giving him the sign that she needed privacy.
"You know that's not true." She said to Chloe in a soft voice.
Chloe let out a bark of laughter. "This was our time together cousin," she spat, "and ever since your boy toys have arrived – you have done nothing but spend time with them." Her eyes were dark now and Hermione looked down at her feet quite apathetically. "You get to see Draco in school – why the holidays too?"
"You know it was a surprise for both you and me when they came over." Hermione's voice was quite but confident and Chloe scowled at her.
"Yes; what a surprise isn't it?" When Hermione looked up in shock, she caught on and continued. "Like I'm that bloody stupid." She scoffed haughtily. "It was too good to be true you know; your relationship." She shot Hermione a look of pure loathing. "There's something up – and I know it. No normal couple would bicker like the two of you do."
Hermione's lips twisted in what seemed to be a way to control her grimace. "That's how it is." She said and Chloe looked down at her, confused. "That's what makes our relationship somewhat lively." She continued. "We fight, and then make up." She lied and hoped Chloe would soak it all in. "That's the basis of our relationship – it isn't just holding hands and making-out or flowers every other day." When Chloe looked at her disbelievingly, she shook her head and sighed. "I don't know where you got the idea from Chloe –"
"You hardly ever snog anyways." Sneered the large blonde. "Whenever you do, you both always wear a dissatisfied expression sometime later – as if it was all a mistake."
Hermione, who was mid-way through walking away from the Scot, turned around. "We don't need to prove our love to you Chloe." She said.
"Yes because it's not already there." Said the blonde sweetly before she barged past Hermione and followed the others in where they chose a spot to sit and have a picnic.
"Come on boys!" Grinned Alexis wickedly as she jogged further away from them. Both wizards stood slightly rigidly on the spit as they watched Hermione throw a yellow saucer towards the Muggle who caught it with glee. When she caught the two of them standing several feet apart, she scowled with amusement and scolded them to move away. Once they had a comfortable distance away from each other; she called out Draco's name. She threw the disk and Draco who had been watching her curiously managed to catch the plastic before it flattened his nose.
"Oh, it missed." Remarked Blaise. Draco gave him the finger and he smirked. Hermione laughed and he turned to her, his hand automatically running through his hair. Blaise, who noticed this, grinned and yelled out. "Oi Draco; stop giving Granger googly eyes and throw the damn thing." Hermione blushed and looked away.
Draco scowled and hurled the Frisbee towards Blaise who caught it with ease; perks of being a chaser Draco thought. He shot Draco a smug look before he threw it to Hermione. She missed the catch and chose to duck instead when it came hurling quite rapidly her way. "Come on Hermione." Teased Alexis with a laugh; her hair whipping her face. "Now's not the time to play princess."
Hermione shot her a sarcastic smile and everyone laughed. She threw the disk back over to Blaise before turning back to face their chosen spot where Chloe sat, primly, crossed leg; glancing around her every few inches in case she caught any ants crawling their way towards her. "Chloe!" She called out and the blonde looked up surprised that someone had called her name. When she caught Hermione waving at her, she frowned. "Come on!" She continued. "Join us."
And the Scot pulled a face before looking down back to her phone which Hermione was sure was useless because there was hardly service out in the middle of the county park. She sighed and turned back to the game when a sudden wave of nausea washed over her. Then a prick of pain followed which intensified and she doubled over to hold it in place momentarily.
She looked up and found the others distracted which made a good cover. "Guys;" she called out and they turned to her in surprise; "I think it's time out for me." She said and they nodded albeit worriedly as they watched her slightly hobble her way back to the place under the tree where shade was best. When she chanced a glance back Alexis was watching her worriedly. She smiled and shook her head and Alexis relented with a small nod.
"If you're here to persuade me to join you; you've got something else coming." Chloe said when Hermione was hearing range from her. She shook her head and took a seat besides her making sure there was a generous gap between the two of them. Chloe, once Hermione had taken her seat, glanced up at her peculiarly taking in the pale skin and slightly green-ish skin. "You don't look alright." She stated and Hermione turned to her in surprise.
"What – no," Hermione shook her head insistently, "I just feel a bit peachy." And that was all Chloe needed to hear before she fell back into her phone. "You know Chloe," Hermione began pulling blades of grass out to buy time and hope that the pain in her stomach lessened, "we don't have to continue doing this," The scot looked up with raised brows, "you know – competing against each other."
"Who said anything about competing against each other?"
"We don't have to say anything. It sure feels like it though." Hermione shrugged. "I mean we're cousins at the end of the day. Do we have to continue as if we don't like each other…?" At Chloe's harsh look Hermione sighed. "Never mind." She mumbled. Because it was like that. Like her and Malfoy's relationship it was born to be. Hermione and Draco were supposed to be enemies from day one; her, a mudblood, him, a pureblood. Her and Chloe had no different problem – Hermione was working class; Chloe, the bottom region of upper class.
She looked away and watched the others play Frisbee; Alexis laughing, Blaise grinning and Draco scowling as a way to cover his amusement. She knew he found it distinctly pathetic – the game – but it was oddly refreshing. She wondered thoughtfully as she inspected the rich tone sin of Blaise, the rosy peach of Alexis' and the pale complexion of Malfoy's. The deep violet in Blaise' eyes that twinkled a violet satin, the shimmer of baby blue in Alexis that winked mirth and the wave of ocean swirling through a destructive storm in Malfoy's.
The kissable lips of Blaise that only managed to spill out clueless jokes around her, the sweet heart of Alexis' that caused herself to land into many consequence-filled mischief and the masculine shaped, soft lips of Malfoy's that she very well remembered coming in contact with. The tensing jaw bone of Blaise that clenched in controlled anger, the rounded flesh of Alexis that had no problem in bursting to a flush and the structured foundation of Malfoy's that seemed to blow off on its own accord. The petite figure of Alexis with her shining dirty blonde hair, the tall form of Blaise that seemed to shadow and the lean formation of Malfoy's body that seemed to nearly always be recognised because of his pale hair.
The witch flushed as her eyes lingered a second far too longer on the blonde Slytherin and she turned her gaze away – ignoring all the exterior points of the three of them.
The sky shared its own dull emotion as it just lingered by, cloudless and allowing its friend the sun to burn everyone all. Then her eyes averted back to the game and she sighed. She was never one to drop out of a game – Hermione – but the thoughts of Malfoy wanting to talk quite exclusively with her dropped all the more unresolved emotions on top of the pile that hadn't even been acknowledged.
He had the nerve to ask her after ignoring their little talk once she had woken up from unconsciousness. He had asked her after the awkward moments they were compelled to share with the force of her cousin's curiosity. He had asked her after showing no sign of emotion whatsoever that he had felt guilty or the least, sorry, for what he had said. No – instead he had brought up the façade that he held in the past days to then abruptly ask for a conversation out of the blue. Not true of course – she was waiting for it herself.
The problem wasn't so great for the first few days – after all, a no talking Malfoy was the best kind you could ever get. But it got harder for Hermione to resist his boyish charm – or just the Malfoy charm itself. The second he would brush past her, she would feel her breath catch in her throat. Every word that seemed to come rolling out of his mouth brought a shiver curl at the back of her spine at the melody in his voice. Every time he sat beside her, by force or choice, brought the beats in her heart to increase tenfold. Ever flicker of locked eyes they caught, brought a girly flush on her cheeks. Merlin she was pathetic.
She was feeling like a love-sick teenage girl. And it was the world's shittiest feeling.
And on top of her unwanted feelings for the wizard, she had the stress to somehow find a way to break it to her said boyfriend to make their relationship twice as much intimate as now Chloe openly voiced her thoughts on their pathetic relationship. Because it was. It was darn stupid and they were hardly trying. On its own accord, her eyes flickered back to the blonde who smirked as he non-verbally flipped the Italian who fell and shot Malfoy the finger.
Flushing a suffocating red, she found herself standing up on shaky legs, dusting herself and Chloe looked up at her suspiciously. "Where are you going?" She questioned and Hermione swallowed the sudden lump in her throat.
"I just need… a breather." Hermione managed to wheeze out before she walked away leaving the Scot to watch her with that same doubting look on her features. Hermione let her gathered thoughts lead the way as she walked towards the sun that gave the afternoon sky a slightly more pearly-gold glow to its blue. She had no sense of where she was going though she had some faint idea as she caught the two small hills – the place she had visited when she came here last. Then suddenly, like a bomb detonating, everything began to hit her one by one.
Malfoy. Their arguments. His words. Chloe's suspicions. Her words. Alexis' happiness. Her not-so secret that was revealed to Alexis. That night. That night.
She felt her cold run cold and everything suddenly went numb. Like when you slept on your arm and when you woke up on the morning you felt that strange panic for a couple of moments as you slapped your arm awake. Except this time it was all over her body. Her mind froze and her legs gave way like jelly. Her body trembled fearfully at the impact of those images that ran by slowly – excruciatingly slowly – in her min; just so she could have the images clearly imprinted in her mind. She bent down low as if she decided to pray, her head cradling itself among the grass – she thought faintly that if anyone were to look for her they wouldn't see her normally recognizable bushy hair – as her form began to quiver quicker.
A beam of red flashed past her eyes and she doubled over in another wash of pain. She could feel the pain – as if it had occurred this very moment. Her wounds were still fresh and the night was never far from her mind. She could feel it – every bit of it – all over again. Her limbs being snapped in a million pieces before being put back together for the same thing to occur. And her mind exploded. And she made the mistake of closing her eyes. And everything suddenly came to life.
Bloody images hit the back of her eyes. The crimson streak that was hurled her way. The pair of silver storms that watched her fall. The control – the battle between losing and having control. Then the pain. Pain. The suffocating tubes. The screams. And then Black eyes – murder. "No…no…no…no…" she groaned incoherently as jerks took control of her body.
All there was was blinding hot pain and blood. Lots and lots of it that distorted her vision. She wasn't aware of her eyes being tightly closed or that everything was in her head – she thought he had come after her. But this time instead of Alexis being thrown to the side, she was dead; even in her mind everything was wrong. Her organs were spilt and there were evident signs of torture on her pale body. And then she took a step closer and where the familiar teasing orbs that Hermione was so fond of was empty. She screamed.
When she opened her eyes, she was alone. Hugging her knees on the floor with a wet face and blood-shot eyes. She gasped and looked around her – when she saw no one she sighed. And then she crumbled again but forced herself not to cry. She sat there for minutes, her head tucked between her legs, before she found her breath and everything slipped away from her mind. Pushed – forcefully – to the back of her head where it would stay. For good this time.
But she didn't move – she sat there – on the same place which turned out to be the exact place she last sat with Malfoy. Malfoy. She reached down with an unrecognizable emotion churning her stomach and plucked out a peony – lifting it to her nose and smelling its earthly scent. Then she reached out and gently grazed her fingers over to the spot where he once lay. She had her first growing up conversations with her father here – many times in fact – and many more with Alexis; her mother and herself also had frequent emotional conversations too. Then bloody Malfoy jumped into view and broke the sentimental sequence.
Then Ron's furious yet familiar voice rang in her ears and she felt her heart churn uncomfortably; 'You're fraternizing with the enemy.' If only he was here to witness what she was now involved in with a different foe. But Ron wouldn't understand. He wouldn't understand how wonderfully peculiar he was. Or how he confused Hermione to no end. One second he would be playing his part as the arrogant spoilt brat, and the nest he would morph into a teasing sock flashing one sentiment some would entitle as nice.
Hermione wiped her face with the back of her hand as she felt it suddenly begin to dry. It's nothing, she thought stubbornly. He's gone. He's gone. I'm okay. Then she stood up and began to move forward, into the area where trees were not cut. She ducked as a branch came in her way and she moved a bit slower taking in all the scenery. She hadn't show Malfoy this yet. It was too private – her private place. He knew enough already.
At a large boulder, she looked around her bearings before squeezing through two slightly overgrown bushes and found herself at the edge of a cliff. It wasn't a large cliff per say – you could walk down but it had quite a height. She looked down and watched as the lake winked at her as it drifted its way west. Then she spotted the familiar large Oak Tree and she walked over to that. She let her fingers slowly run down the bark and she swore she heard the leaves around her sigh. She sat down, hesitantly and let her head rest against the bark. And she closed her eyes. Because she still felt it – the dull ache in her stomach and her heart. She still felt the out-of-tune beat of her heart and waited all but patiently for it to return to its normal dry and boring state.
It took a good seven minutes for it to calm down but it only took seven seconds for it to shoot sky high. All because of one voice. "Dreaming about me?" Hermione started and she scraped the edge of her elbow against the bark. She looked up to find familiar blonde hair and a smirking face. She opened her mouth to answer him but shook her head as she gingerly rubbed the back of her shoulder.
She hoped he took the indication that she wanted to be alone but he apparently faked ignorance. He took her silence as an invitation and settled himself beside her, squelching the grass beneath him. An immediate wash of apprehension filled her as she felt his body heat clash against hers – she could practically feel it; her heat prodding and probing against his in question before he (just like his owner) folded his way into her privacy. "You can go you know." Hermione said softly, deliberately not looking over at him, for if she did she knew she wouldn't be able to look away. He had that effect on people, she mused quietly. When he didn't answer, she chanced a glance and found his pale arm propped up against his leg and his features – facing her with an undistinguishable expression on his features.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She demanded of him and he raised a brow at the no-tolerance in her tone. When he didn't say anything. "Why?" She pressed.
Then he shrugged and looked a way, his face neutral. Then when she opened her mouth to tell him to sod off, he spoke. "How about that conversation?" He questioned and when Hermione turned to him, his eyes were piercing through her – as if reading her every though; jumbled as it was – the grey particularly shining out like frozen icicles hanging off the door.
Hermione looked away and folded her arms timidly across her chest. "Go on." She said in a controlled tone. When he said nothing she turned her head to him, her eyes flashing at his impeccable silence. But he was staring at her again – a similar expression as hers, adorned on his face – his lips dipped down. "Malfoy –"
"You know what I'm going to say." His voice was neither here or there and she frowned, suddenly taken aback at his brashness. When she shook her head an inch, he continued. "It's weird though isn't it –" He continued and she continued staring at him as if he was an alien that wanted to do zumba with her. "It's always around you – fucking you – that I have the need to express my regret."
Hermione raised her left brow skilfully and looked at him with suspicion and slight amusement. "You're sorry?" She asked tantalisingly slowly. He scowled and looked up at her. A small smile hit her lips and she looked away before he could catch it. When she took his silence as acceptance, she continued. "It's sad really," she began. "How I want to hear the words coming out of your mouth Malfoy."
He growled. "Bitch."
She smirked and he suddenly felt captivated at her lips. "I never meant what I said." He relented and shot her a scowl though it lacked its meaning.
She pulled a face at him and pried further, deliberately playing devil's advocate. "What did you say?" When he shot her a serious look she shrugged and looked away, a tell-tale smile glittering on her face. Silence ensued after her question and she thought he had given up, but his voice was hoarse and raw and she suddenly felt compelled to listen to him.
"It was like a defence mechanism." He said and she perked her ears. "I was told never to be indebted to someone – in fact it should be the other way round." Hermione turned her face to him but he wasn't looking at her, but straight ahead. "And don't make me mention that you're Hermione fucking Granger." She scowled but he continued as if in a trance. "So I got it out on you instead." He ran a hand through his hair and scoffed bitterly. "We both said bullshit Granger." He said but he didn't look at her yet again and she suddenly wished that those pairs of molten mercury meet hers. "We both said something that we didn't mean –"
"So what was the point of it?" She interrupted. He broke away and paused as if allowing her sentence to soak in.
Then he spoke, his voice clear and confident – as if he had memorised this from a text book or something. "You see it's this thing isn't it?" He began. "When people say they love each other – and they declare it at the ends of the world which such confident that you're bound to believe in it and never doubt it; they always end up hurting each other. And before everyone continues with the bullshit that you hurt the ones that you love – it really is bullshit." He then looked at her and she saw something raw and real lurking beneath those eyes she thought of more than just beautiful. "If you loved them you wouldn't hurt them." He shrugged as if it was simple. "You use everything you know against them to cause them pain because it'd make your conscience clearer." Then he looked away. "So when we said those things to one another – it wasn't our biggest secrets being shed out into the open." She frowned. "It was just our anger and we just sprouted things that would provoke the other."
"But that doesn't make sense?" Hermione said in a confused tone and he elaborated.
"I said shit to you – but I meant it. Or didn't mean it – either way you wouldn't care to an extent because it's typical. It's expected." She hoped he couldn't hear her heart breaking, cracking, slowly decomposing at his words. "We don't care so much about each other that it would mean anything. Instead you'd throw something equally as hurtful and honest back." He shrugged. "Point is it didn't mean anything." He looked at her and there was indifference shining. "If I was say, your real boyfriend and we were in that bullshit-stage love," He spat, "if I said anything like I said to you yesterday, it would mean something. It would hurt." She began to understand what he was coming to. The odds bits and pieces and she got it. It made sense. "It doesn't hurt as much when a stranger says something honest or hurtful because they are outsiders; but when someone you've come to care about and they carve their words onto your skin – you never forget."
"So you're saying it's a good thing that we don't care about each other otherwise what you said would have hurt me?" Hermione summarised and he turned to look at her with curiosity sparking in his pupils.
"No." He shook his head. "I'm trying to make a valid point that what I said wasn't too hurtful to an extent that my apology matters."
Hermione hit his shoulder and he smirked. "You're a prat." She muttered and he grinned looking down at her. "I actually fell for the pseudo-speech." She said with a sigh and the grin lost its humorous touch.
"It's all true though." He said with a shrug. "It's not a very systematic process isn't it? Being in love." He scoffed and threw a pebble he found beside him and they both watched as it fell over the cliff. They didn't say anything until they heard an echoing splash which indicated that it hit the water.
"But that's the thing about love." Hermione said softly. "You don't ever look at the bad, the hurtful or the difficult," he looked at her but she was in her own trance like he was, "you look at the times that are worth remembering and holding everything together. You look at the laughs and the late night conversations. You look at each other and take each other's hand before strolling into the obstacles that come in your way." Hermione said before turning to look up at him. "Because that's what love means." She said meaningfully. "About doing things together no matter what situation you're in."
He looked at her honest face for a moment, from the doe-like eyes to the parted mouth where she licked in anticipation as she waited for his response. Then he snorted and her eyes narrowed at his deferment. "That," he licked his lips at her, "is such a girl thing to say."
"It's good that I'm a girl then isn't it?" Hermione questioned tartly and he rolled his eyes. But he didn't answer or respond to her explanation at her all. For her answer were all butterflies, unicorns and rainbows. It bore all the gullibility, naïveté and innocence that were expected from her. And it would be a sin – in his conscience – to break the realities of a pathetic emotion to her. It would kill all she held in this mythical emotion so he pressed his lips together and kept quiet.
"You were angry weren't you?" His voice cut through her own muse and she looked up to find his face unreadable. She shrugged and looked away but he repeated the question, deliberately a bit more forceful and she sighed.
"I wasn't angry." Hermione shook her head then looked down at her nimble fingers. "Just," she closed her eyes as she thought of the correct word to place, "hurt?" He didn't answer to that though. He didn't respond to it at all and turned to her with blank eyes. She stared at him for a moment and neither looked away, then Hermione spoke. "So," she said and when he raised his brows she pulled a face, "are you going to apologise or not?"
"What the fuck was that speech for then?"
Hermione tittered at him as if he was four. He scowled. "Language Malfoy." She reprimanded and he pulled a face at her. When she pressed him on with an expected look, he emitted a sigh. With a last glare he murmured the words she was expecting; albeit so quietly that she had to strain her ears to hear them. It wasn't perfect but she knew he was playing the petulant brat part.
She smiled but dropped it with a sombre expression as she cupped her ear and leant in closer. "Pardon?"
"I'm not going to fucking repeat it."
She laughed and leant back grinning warmly at him. "Touchy." She pointed and he sneered as she continued to laugh at him. Then she stopped and peered at him closer and he cocked his head as if trying to decipher the puzzle she was figuring out as she looked at him. "Everyone has a choice you know." She said out of the blue and he leant back in surprise. "Sorry." She shook her head then looked back at him almost shyly.
"Wait." He shook his head. "Why?" He questioned. "Why did you say that –?"
She sighed a half-hearted sigh and looked to her right where the sun was beginning to slowly inch its way down towards the west and she breathed in the nature smell she was so fond of. "I don't know." She finally relented. "I just thought you should know." When he opened his mouth to say something – snarky probably – she cut him off. "It's not because you haven't got one or anything like that – it's just most people find actions such as choosing to save someone or being someone is a ridiculous idea." When she looked at him, she continued. "Do you get me?"
He shook his head. "You're mad." He declared and she shot him a glare. "Now don't give me that look – here you are, sprouting nonsense –"
"It's not nonsense." Hermione stated matter of factly. "It's true." When he looked at her disbelievingly she continued. "It's the words that Dumbledore said which proves it otherwise;" she explained; 'It is not our actions that show what we truly are, but our actions.'" Draco looked away when he caught an anguished expression hit Hermione's features. He didn't bother to contradict her this time and just sat there as Hermione thought her way through problems. "I miss him you know." She suddenly whispered.
And he caught something in her eyes that he had been training himself to hide – grief. And her eyes were full of it. He looked away immediately and looked at his hands. "Sometimes, I wish I could hear him say something as confusing as the look on Weasley's face when a girl rejects him –"
Hermione hit him and he complained. "You're a great sod."
"Well you are the girlfriend of this great sod so pack it in." He snarked but before Hermione could squeeze in her own retort, he was up with his hand brushing the back of his pocket for his wand. "Sssh." He ordered Hermione and then he heard it – twigs snapping. Hermione, after opting to object, closed her mouth and began to listen like he ordered. She reopened her mouth to shout at him for cutting her off when she heard it; her name. Being called out through the masses of trees.
Hermione suddenly looked queasy. "It's Chloe." She muttered and he turned to her in surprise. When she caught his bemused expression she continued. "Don't look so excited; you know she's more than just suspicious." Whispered Hermione frantically. He looked down at her with slight worry and she gave him a look as if to say 'I told you so'. "She let it slip about how much we argue," As Hermione spoke she tugged on his elbow and they began to shrink away into the trees, "I told her that's what the basis of our relationship was. We argue and then make up –"
"And she still didn't believe you?" Questioned Draco quite loudly. Hermione glared at him to shut up and they continued ducking through branches and avoiding particularly large twigs.
"She said we look revolted after every time we kiss." Hermione mumbled and Draco shot her a look. But before he could argue, she pulled him behind a thick walnut tree and they waited as they caught their breath. "Do you think she'll come this far?" She asked and it was only then they both realised that she was still holding onto his arm. She let go blushing and he brushed it off casually despite the tingling burn he felt under the space she had touched. Before he could remark on her blushing face, a ringtone interrupted them. And it sounded quite near.
He felt Hermione brush herself against him as they edged closer to the tree; hiding from view along with listening to what the Scot had to say. The blonde couldn't help but notice the proximity they now held. Hermione Granger was virtually pressed flushed against him – the base of her back brushing the lower part of his chest. He could see her scent swimming its way to stick on him like glue filling him with a rapacious desire. He could feel the crown of her messy curls tickling his chin and he had the sudden urge to nuzzle his nose amongst the nest; to cherish the softness of her curls despite its natural bush.
A high pitched drawling accent then reverberated through the trees and into his ears breaking all thoughts that were narrowed to the witch before him. "Oh hi Stella!" Both Draco and Hermione shot each other alarming looks as they heard the shrill voice of Hermione hit their eardrums – she was closer than they had anticipated. Draco looked over Hermione's shoulder to see the blonde descending a small hill.
She could feel his hot minty breath fanning the base of her hair tickling the fringe to hit her nose in an annoying manner. She could acutely feel his form against hers and stifled a suppressing groan that wished to escape. Merlin he smelt delightful. Twisting her position, she looked at the Slytherins who seemed to have inched closer than before and mouthed; 'run'. He nodded and a second later they were running of, avoiding making too much noise and ducking branches.
They jogged over a muddy slope – hopefully away from Chloe's view. Stopping beside a similar looking tree as before – thought this time it was a Pine – they mutually caught their breath. He leant against the trunk, breathing in heavily and watching with slight concern as Hermione doubled over clutching her stomach in pain as she took in heavy breaths. "Granger," he began and she looked up and shook her head.
"Give me a minute." She promised and minutes later she was okay – slightly sore but fine. She nodded her head and looked around their bearings. Once both had checked they were safe, they looked at each other before starting to laugh – small, joyous giggles that escaped them as they thought of their narrow discharge route. But before they could go into detail about their actions they heard a sudden crunch of leaves, the witch' head lifted up in alert; all signs of amusement leaving her face to replace terror. She heard the distant sounds of footsteps gaining closer and she glanced over at Malfoy for help who then merely placed his index finger towards his lips in symbolisation for quiet.
When agreed, he beckoned her to follow him. She obeyed silently till they had reached the outskirts of the field. Realising a little too late that they couldn't run as the blonde would notice, they hid behind yet another tree, waiting patiently for her exit. Once again they pressed themselves against the trunk of a tree, listening to the faint calls of Chloe till it become audible enough to hear without perking their ears.
"You saw Hermione's boyfriend didn't you?" The first snippet of her conversation brought a hitch into Hermione's throat. She noticed the warmth behind her disappear and the beckoning of Malfoy to follow but she shook her head as she peeped by the tree, to find her cousin standing twenty-five feet away, phone on ear, one had curling her locks. "No?" She heard her voice before a tinkling laugh that followed.
"Well it doesn't matter anyways." She said and Hermione caught bitterness laced within her tone. "Although he positively oozes sexiness out of his pores; he's taken. And from no one else than my dearest cousin." They heard her hum to something her friend – Stella – said on the phone before she scoffed. "No – Hermione's so stupid." That brought a rupture on both Hermione and Draco's part. "She acts as if he's not even bloody there." Snapped her cousin as she continued her ditzy way through the forest. "I mean he follows her and she just ignores him. The amount of arguments they've had since he came over is unbelievable." She scowled and both foes winced at her words. "I know. Oh no. I'm looking for the both of them. They've disappeared and haven't returned yet. Probably arguing if you ask me."
Draco beckoned Hermione but she shook her head. She needed to hear this. She needed to prove her cousin wrong. "Of course I try and talk to him – what do you think of me?" Chloe demanded and Draco's eyes rose up. "But he blows me off and I don't understand why out of all people he chose Hermione." He saw Hermione stiffen in humiliation. "There are a ton of girls willing to suit him perfectly and he chose my bookish cousin out of all people! I know." Chloe hummed in agreement as she looked around. Draco pulled Hermione back a bit as Chloe's eyes whizzed past them. "She's not as beautiful – yes I know." Hermione felt the portion which held respect and toleration for her cousin die by the second.
"That's what I thought." Chloe cried. "I thought he was one of those – yeah no, me too. But I have a feeling Hermione's shaped him a bit." She sighed almost wistfully. But the rest of her conversation was muted as Hermione caught a slip of pale skin flash past her eye and she turned around in time to find Draco pulling his wand out.
"Malfoy," she said in warning tone as she saw him level his wand before them, "what are you going to do?" She whispered. When he ignored her, she placed her hand on his arm and he stopped for a moment. "Is it good?" She questioned almost sadistically and he saw the gleeful glint in her eye. It winked mischief and he felt himself – if possible – get more captivated by the certain witch.
"Nothing serious." He shrugged with raised brows and she smirked and nodded at him affirmatively. Throwing a glance at her talking cousin, she slipped out her own wand and upon noticing the look he sent her way, she shot him her own smirk. Beckoning him forward her index finger, he complied eagerly feeling a smirk grow on her lips as her mouth was pressed against the side of her cheek and she whispered the words of a devious plan that was simply Hermione and he felt himself shiver in anticipator. He stepped back and nodded.
Lifting her own wand, the witch murmured a charm causing a gust of wind to rush her cousin's way. They heard with a scoring smirk, the shriek that left her as her curled locks transformed to a tangled mess. Placing the tip of her wand against the base of her throat she whispered; Sonorous. And with that spell said, she managed to emit a werewolf howl echoing off the inner shadows of the forest.
Both enemies waited with baited breath as the first part of their plan fell into motion. With a nod from the witch, Malfoy leant across her, shifting his head so he was in sight of Chloe – he lifted his wand, feeling Hermione beneath him tense in anticipation. He watched in glee as she took a feared step back in fright. Two steps later he watched her whip around; as if preparing herself for a run and in time, the wizard managed to whisper the charm the witch had said for him to cast. They watched in smirks as her feet tipped over in unbalance, her arms flailing forward as she attempted to keep herself upright. It must have been the unruly weight she dumped over her feet because the next thing she knew, she let out a blood-curdling cry before she fell into a puddle of thick mud.
The wizard stifled his laugher as she screamed in surprise and disgust. Both he and Granger glanced up to see the different ranges of birds flutter away from their nesting grounds due to the loud ruckus. Hermione giggled.
Quiet enough for the animals to fall back into their shelter; yet loud enough for Chloe to hear through her moans. The witch slapped her hand over her mouth in shock as Malfoy shot her a warning look. They had heard the last o Chloe's curses as it fell to a stop and heard the footsteps of muddy clogs clinging against the grass. She snuck a dangerous glance to see her cousin wiping the remnants of mud off her shoes and felt part of the pressure within her release. But it wouldn't stop her cousin from finding them a couple of minutes later. She glanced over her shoulder to warn Malfoy but found the Slytherin to be gone. Leaving nothing but his sandalwood-tinted scent behind.
"Malfoy?" The witch whispered as she glanced around her surroundings for the familiar flash of blonde. "Malfoy?" She repeated.
"Granger." Her eyes widened at her name being called out though another glance around her beatings told her it was her imagination. "Granger it's me." She felt her muscles relax and twirled in the spot looking for him.
"Where are you?"
"Look up."
She huffed in response as her surprised chocolate's met his amused clouds. "How on earth do you expect me to get up there, moron?" He seemed to consider this before he stretched out his arm. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "I'm not going up." She shook her head. "And you're not going to pull me up." She stated stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest.
He scowled in frustration at her lack of co-operation. "You are being radical Granger." He stated insistently. "I am going to pull you up."
"Like hell you are." When he continued reaching down, she persistently pleaded. "Malfoy."
"Granger." She glared at him before hearing the groan of a branch as he swiftly jumped down from the nearest branch in swift. "Nice going, now what?" He questioned brusquely.
Hermione barely heard him. "She's going closer." She stated frustratingly.
He shot her a helpful scowl before he looked around, looking for a mean of escape. 'Come on. Think. Think.'' He heard himself mumble as he heard the crush of weeds gaining closer. Granger was getting impatient. An obvious thought splintered his mind which left him staring at the witch dazedly. "Granger." He barked. She turned towards him. "Giggle." He ordered and she looked at him as if he had spurted three heads. "Now." He said impatiently.
And she did.
He shook his head. "Relax." He instructed. "Don't try." She looked up with a scowl perched on her lips at her words and with a grudged sigh, followed his guided-helped words. They heard in time the intake of breath that slipped out of the Scot an estimate of ten feet away upon hearing the laugh that left the Hermione's mouth.
And then, without a warning or sound, Hermione found herself backed up against the Pine tree. A gasp escaped her as she felt the rough texture of the bark scratch against her back, her eyes fluttering in surprise as they locked with Draco's serious ones who suddenly stood immensely close to her. She felt her eyes brink on the edge of closing as she savoured the propinquity they held, letting her heart warm as their noses brushed lightly against one another's.
"Malfoy." She hissed lightly in warning, her eyes re-opening in all seriousness. She noticed the hungry glint that seemed to mystically form at the centre of his pupils and she felt herself subconsciously shiver. "Don't tell me you're thinking what I think you're –"He found himself getting irritated at the never-ending words that seemed to possess Granger's mouth and for the mere sake of saving his ears – and for his own craving delight – he shut her up by latching his lips against hers.
The desire was too great to be ignored.
The craving was much needed to be abandoned.
The hunger was abundant for him to bear.
It was just a simple press of lips against one another. Nothing else. No response. After all this was Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy if you suddenly forgot.
She found herself speechless as the Slytherin before her made no move to start what she knew he wanted. Her lips were sealed tightly under his as they leant against the tree, unresponsive. She attempted to wriggle her way out of his grip when he found it useless as she knew Chloe was soon going to see them. At the mere thought of her cousin; she felt something suddenly boil.
Feeling the ravenous swell at the bottom of his stomach, he felt their body's mould perfectly against one another – then the desire was indeed far too great and with a stifled sigh, he moved. The witch found it absurd to stand there with no intimate contact performing so with the thought of pushing him off, she was blown momentarily as she felt the tiniest flutter of movements erupting the thousands of hidden feelings that were locked away for safe-keeping – or not. He was responding to the kiss – barely a kiss – if Hermione titled the touch of lips as a kiss. It was a harmless action that, the fluttering brush of his lips against hers, bringing out the image of summer strawberries being dipped in melted chocolate. If that was possible. Neither knew who originally started the kiss – they both blamed one another later on – but it was a hidden fact, later to be acknowledged that it was the best action either could have made.
For it was.
At first, the kiss was tentative – almost shy. As if he was testing her – to see if she was really worth it all. And then it was gentle and cool. And in time Hermione realised she wouldn't hold back to her own desire that filled her to the brim as his lips brushed hers for the third time that minute; she felt his lips suddenly beginning to move away as if she wasn't worth it but then she boldly moved forward and pressed her lips tighter over his.
Shocked at the invitation, Malfoy stood, his arms both side of the witch and pressed up against the trunk, till he felt her arms snaking their way up his torso. Then the impact of the action hit him – she accepted him. And with a lowly growl that grumbled from somewhere within him he had pressed her harder against the tree, directing their limbs so their forms were touching – their bodies as one. Cupping her cheeks, he discovered her lips pursued under his, ready for a soft fleeting buss from an equally green beau. He responded to her virtuous offering by slanting his head, giving attentive care to tutor his with his lips. His lessons invited her to relax and receive the adoration of his mouth. And then the response that drove him to the brink of insanity.
The flicker of a moan that seemed to gutter at the tough of her throat. She moaned under his touch. His arms were at first tightly wrapped around her waist, now tightened, one hair delving into the mane of her frizzy locks; indulging in the suppleness of her bizarre curls. Hers found them crawling up his torso – gripping hard onto his shoulders emitting a gratifying hiss from him before they were wounded around his neck, the other playing with the base of his hair, just above the beginning of his neck. He smirked against her lips, dumbfounded as her grip tightened on his locks. His craving was fulfilled. His desire was consumed. His hunger was fed.
"More." He heard her gasp breathlessly between kisses. He obliged without protest. What sane man would? The rummaged albino felt like melting into a pool of nothing but honey – honey that tasted as sweet as how her eyes looked. Honey that reflected her very well – easy to obtain, sweet to taste and magically pure to consume.
Merlin.
He couldn't believe what he had been missing. The absurd thought of not caring whether or not he died on the spot; there and then, filled him – at least he would have died a happy man. Her kisses were… As he devoured himself with her, he thought with muddled sense of the correct verb. Eccentric. Gentle. Innocent. She responded with the lightest of feather touches to his rough and hungered movements. The plan was to distract Chloe – possibly prove her wrong – but the thought slipped their mind as soon as their lips had met in an unconventional method. The only coherent thought was her. "More Granger?" He barely registered the worlds slipping out of his mouth in a husky tone as his kisses trailed down from her lips to the lobe of her ear to then drop down to her neck. He felt her neck move into a nod and arched her neck back to reveal more skin as he dropped butterfly kisses down her throat.
The softest sin he had ever felt. The soft yet exhilarating scent that was sprayed over her. The image of their first kiss hit his mind and he felt himself smirk as they locked lips once again. That kiss was nothing compared to this one. It was when they continued did they hear a slight cough to their left. They broke away; suddenly missing the loss of contact, chests heaving, and lips bruised, shining a bright red from the snog as they turned their locked gaze away from each other to face Chloe was standing beside them, jealousy and disgust mixed with newly found admiration.
"Yes?" Hermione asked, breathless.
"It's time to eat." Chloe had the nerve to suddenly look sheepish. But when she looked back, anger was restored and she shot Hermione a stone-hard glare. Hermione looked away.
"We'll be there." Dismissed Malfoy with a nod before giving the Scot a smirking once over. "Have fun with the mud then?" He questioned and Chloe spluttered before she dashed off leaving the two to laugh it all off. As they watched her trot away with futile trips, Hermione felt Draco lean in once again back to her. As much as her muddled brain and body wanted to please the reaction that her form created, she placed her hands on his clothes-clad chest and took a moment to speak.
"You know, snogging wasn't what I had expected when I said help me." Her voice wobbled. Her knees felt like jelly – the good kind. Her lips were aching for yet another intimate contact with him.
A smirk was tinkling in his eyes as he leant down. She moved back and he moved in closer, and she knew she was trapped. "Well you didn't have any other plan," he replied, his breath ghosting over her lips, "and plus," he grinned roguishly, "I didn't hear you protesting." But he didn't kiss her though she partly wanted him to – he leant in and their foreheads met in their own little kiss as he smirked down at her.
She huffed at his words. "Well as you so eloquently put it; we didn't have any other plan." She snarked and he grinned at her.
"You're a bit clingy aren't you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That I don't like you."
"Well at least I was forewarned that your bitchy mood was switched on."
He smirked when Hermione shot him a glare but nonetheless shuffled a bit further away from her. She rolled her eyes. "You know, this petulant act of yours isn't getting rather boring."
He rolled his eyes and shot her a sardonic look. "You've wounded me – honestly Granger."
"Prat." She managed to retort in return but nonetheless shook her head and fell back into sky-gazing. He followed suit but after moments he turned to look at her, head cocked and someone indescribable in his eyes. "I can feel you staring at me you know." She stated moments later. "It's slightly unnerving."
He grinned at her words and shrugged. "I just wondered what possessed you to come to this place." He stated motioning towards the hidden alcove where the oak tree, river, cliff and peace sprinkled in the air
She looked at him surprised and he noticed a sudden flush rise to her cheeks. But then she shrugged. "I was seven." She said softly. "It was a day like this – dry but hot all the same. And we were having a picnic and I went wandering." She turned away from him and continued to stare ahead. They were respectable sitting at the edge of the cliff – which was safe and Draco had triple checked – their legs hanging off the edge. The sun was setting now – slowly – as it did in the summer. And there was something startlingly magical about it all. "And at that time the unexplainable happened – before I knew I was a witch. And I found this." And at this she smiled, one of those long-lasting peaceful sorts of smiles. The smiles you don't realise you still have on your face until a couple of minutes later when you're bathing in that happiness. "And it's been my sort of escape I guess." She looked at him and her eyes soften just as her smile does. "I was the only one to know of this until –"
"I came and wrecked it up." He smirked at her and she looked away rolling her eyes. "This has become structural now hasn't it?" He questioned, leaning back on his hands and looking up. "The arguments, the bizarre peace settlements –"
"Who said I'm at peace with you?"
"Don't make me make you take that back Granger." She was grinning at him now; a smile that glowed the brightest and he wondered how she could make such one amidst death, war and anguish. But then her eyes glowed – differently, mischievously and he saw the girl she would have loved to been; carefree, loose and not oppressed by obligations.
"Make me." She challenged haughtily and she caught the dark glint in his eye rather late. She was in fact letting her down for once – as Alexis always phrased it – and it was a drunken feeling. She felt as if she were flouting on clouds – or skating on ice but like those professionals who worked all their life to perfect the simple glide technique. Before, however, she could retract her statement she felt rather than saw him lean in and he quickly smothered his lips over hers.
For a split second, Hermione sat stock still – eyes wide in surprise at his second bold move – but then the soft gentle prod of his mouth across hers brought her to that drunken state and her eyelids fluttered close as she felt her body begin to hum in return. Heart pounding, brain exploding electrically, the witch focused her attention on the warmth of his lips as she found herself reaching up to entangle her hands through his hair, again. She had always wondered what the dishevelled fibres would feel like and was pleasantly surprise to discover that they were in fact, soft smooth and screaming silk. With an air of impatience, the blonde used his other arm to press the small of her back and pull her closer through the gap they miraculously still had left between them. Then she pushed him away with all the jelly-like strength she had left and she gasped as reality hit her.
"What are you doing?" She practically scolded and she ignored – she really tried to ignore – how suddenly striking he looked, his hair practically gold beneath the yellows and oranges of the sky, how his lips looked even fuller and redder. "You can't do that!"
He looked slightly annoyed at her interruption and scowled at her slightly hysterical words. "I was attempting to make you take back your words." He stated in a monotonous tone and she shot him a glare to which he responded with a clever arch of his brow. "Merlin Granger I thought it was obvious what I was going," he watched as she ran a hand through her slightly dishevelled hair, "you don't have to be such a prude about it."
She slapped him. He turned to her with a blooming right cheek and she glared at him. "You git." She growled in a low tone and he countered her glowing glare with his dark one. "Don't you start with that –" she raised a shaky finger to him.
"I don't know why you suddenly decide to cower away like a fucking shy schoolgirl." He scowled. "You want this –" she scoffed. He shot her a dark look and she pushed him away.
"I will not have you tainting my dignity as well as my pride Malfoy." She sniffed indignantly and all shards of anger evaporated inside of him. Just like that. And instead he tipped back his head and barked out a shout of laughter.
Hermione, who was clearly not amused, folded her arms primly and waited until he was ready to explain as to why he found something amusing. When he didn't, she asked him so. "Bloody hell Granger." He grinned at her and she felt something do a flip-flop inside her stomach. She named it as her hate for him. He ran a hand through his hair and shot her a crooked grin. "Do you always have to over-analyse everything is beyond me?"
"I don't over-analyse anything –"
"It was just a blasted snog." She glared at him. "It's recreational Granger – snogging. It's not that one-in-a-lifetime opportunity yet with the way you're acting it might be." He avoided her as she tried to punch him. "I surely as heck don't mean anything by it." He stated.
"Then there's no point in fooling around is there?" She questioned and he sighed.
"It's just for a bit of fun Granger." He shot her a look. "It's supposed to be a way of letting loose and letting go. It's not a textbook that you have to look at every possible subtle meaning."
"You continue like this and you'll get two slaps instead of the one."
"Bitchy – I like it."
Despite punching him on the shoulder, she laughed. And he smiled appeased but just for the sake of fixing her pride, she swatted his shoulder again and he smirked. "You're despicable." She muttered and he smirked – one of those rare smirks that looked more like a smile than a smirk. But then again it could have been a smile.
Slow progress - it's totally working. I had so much writing this; I guess that is why I've updated early. *Hats off to me* But no, back to the story I hope this has shown you the change in their relationship. There's more to come lovely readers so look out.
Reviews are lemon drops.
~Sugarquills007