Here is the chapter that I was really excited about writing. I also just added another story that is a Ginny and Draco fic that you should check out if you like the pairing. Enjoy and please Review.
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Ch.11: Up In Flames
When they arrived in their common room, Hermione was glowing. She spun around with her arms held out. Draco watched her amused and slightly intrigued. He had never had that type of relationship with his parents. It was nice to see that some parents cared for their children. A frown came to his face, he was jealous of their relationship.
"It's a wonderful evening isn't it Draco." She smiled up at him but he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. "Care to share with the rest of the class?"
"Huh?" He was shaken from his thoughts and without thinking blurted out the very thing he had been deliberating. "What's it like?" Hermione turned to him with a confused glance. She didn't know exactly what he was asking her. "What is it like to be loved?" The question was asked in such a manner that he could have very well been asking her for help in potions.
"What!?" She didn't know exactly what to say or what had brought about his question.
"You heard me. Don't make me say it again." He sat across from her and rested his forearms on his legs. He looked as if he were waiting for a doctor to tell him that he had one year to live. He looked utterly helpless and it broke Hermione's heart. She rose from her seat and enveloped Draco in a hug.
"I don't know if I can tell you that. You'll simply have to experience it for yourself."
"Do you think I would be asking you if I had someone who loved me? Then I would already know what it's like and I wouldn't have asked you."
"I love you." His head snapped around and she could have sworn that she saw a tear in his eye but he resumed his calm demeanor.
"Do you really? I mean… that's um… I love you too Hermione." He ended with much more conviction then he had started with. He kissed her fully on the lips. His tongue traced her bottom lip begging for entrance. She allowed him just that. With in moments Draco was laying above Hermione kissing her like he had never done with another girl. He was kissing her like she was the girl that he had fallen in love with. Hermione broke away briefly and stifled a yawn.
"Guess we should get to bed, it is late. See you in the morning luv."
"No I don't want to." She pouted and he lip teased and taunted him but he knew she was tired.
"Really? Cause your body says otherwise." He smirked as she yawned again.
"Fine." She frowned deeply and he led her up the stairs to her room. He kissed her good night and went to go to his room. She help onto his hand and didn't aloe him to leave. He eyed her with an uneasy glance. "Stay with me."
"I don't think that is a good idea…" She kissed him on the lips again and pulled him into her room. "Hermione you don't want to do this."
"I never said we would be doing anything. I just want you to stay in here with me." He sighed in relief and she glared at him. "Why are you so relieved? You don't want to do anything with me? Don't think I'll be any good?" She fumed.
"No Hermione. That's not it at all. I don't want to rush anything. Come on, we will just got to bed and talk in the morning." She nodded and they took turns changing in the bathroom. Draco came out wearing only green silk pajama bottoms. Hermione couldn't take her eyes off his bare chest. Quidditch had definitely done him well. He smirked at her and she blushed furiously.
"Why aren't you wearing a shirt?" She looked away from him embarrassed.
"I usually sleep in just my boxers but I thought that might make you uncomfortable. Hey we don't need to do this if your…"
"Nope. It was my idea. Now lay down like a good boy and lets get some rest." He saluted her like a sergeant and then slipped under the covers. Hermione was hesitant at first but laid beside him nonetheless. He pulled her close to him and left an arm wrapped securely around her waist. She rested her head on his chest and allowed herself to fall into a very restful sleep.
The next two weeks went by in a flurry of tests and homework. They had little time to see each other during the day but they spent every night together. Harry and Ginny had come over and spent sometime with the couple. Ginny instantly warmed up to the new and improved Draco but Harry remained skeptical. Ron hadn't been around them as a couple yet but her didn't ignore Hermione.
We then went to bed it was assumed that Draco would be staying in Hermione's bed. They had yet to do anything to take their relationship up a level but they didn't sleep beside each other every night. It was to the point where Draco knew exactly what it felt like to be loved. He didn't thin he would be able to sleep in a bed alone any longer.
It was early Friday morning and Draco had awoken earlier then Hermione. He kissed the top of her head and took in the sight of his sleeping girlfriend. She would be leaving on Sunday in order to go home for the Christmas holiday. He would remain at the castle because he felt no need to return to the manor. Hermione's present had already been arranged and he was rather excited to give it to her before she left. They would sing tonight and tomorrow night for the two-night semifinals of the competition. He was rather excited about the competition, he had never expected to be chosen let alone make it as far as he had. Draco had entered his name only to make it far since he had entered Hermione's name.
His train of thought was interrupted when an owl tapped on his windowsill. He slipped out of bed careful not to disturb Hermione who was still sound asleep. He opened the window to allow the bird in. It dropped a letter and flew away not waiting for a treat or payment. The envelope had the Malfoy seal on it and Draco knew what it had to say. He dressed quickly and was off to the dungeons. It was imperative he speak with his Godfather immediately.
Hermione awoke alone that morning. She threw an arm to her side looking for Draco but it met an empty mattress. She opened her eyes and looked around but he was nowhere in sight. She dressed and made her way down to breakfast. When she entered Harry and Ron looked up at her worried. They looked nervous as she took her seat between them.
"What's the matter with you two? You look like you've seen Voldemort tap dancing with Snape." She chuckled and snatched the daily profit from Ron.
"No Hermione don't…" He didn't get to finish because she had seen what he didn't want her to. She gasped at the front page article. It read:
The Daily Profit is please to be the first to announce the engagement of Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson…
She didn't need to read any further. At that moment Draco walked in looking around frantically. He spotted her and thought about forgetting everything and walking straight over to the Gryffindor table. When he made up his mind and decided to make his way over there, he was pulled away by the very last person he wanted to see. Pansy dragged him to the Slytherin table. He saw a flicker of hurt in Hermione's eye but it was soon replaced by anger.
She rose from her seat and the boys beside her looked up at their best friend. They may not have liked Malfoy but hey knew their friend was hurt. She held her high and walked out of the Great Hall with her dignity intact. Draco watched her leave and was impressed with her strength. He wanted didn't have that same kind of strength, since he had received the letter that morning he had been broken.
He had tried to speak with her the entire day but Ron and Harry had flanked her sides not allowing him within speaking distance. At dinner that night he had resorted to sending her a letter explaining himself. He sat waiting anxiously for her to arrive. When she did the letter was waiting on her plate. Harry and Ron shot him looks that could kill. She fingered the letter which had her name written in Draco's script and the Slytherin seal was present on the back.
She looked across the hall at the boy. She was about to open the letter when Pansy took her seat beside Draco. She was holding her hand out a large diamond ring was shimmering in the candlelight. The anger returned to her eyes. She held up the letter for him to see and then help it above the candle. The flames licked at the paper before it caught fire. She watched the flames eat the note and the fire was reflected in her eyes. She then dropped the flaming paper into her goblet and left the hall.
Then tension was high backstage that night. Ginny kept Draco away from Hermione with the threat of a repeat of her famous bat bogey hex. He watched her intently through the darkness. Colin took the stage to begin the show.
"Welcome again everyone. Tonight will be the first of two. Our final three performers will sing one song tonight and then will appear again tomorrow night for a second song. After which I will ask you all to vote again. Draco Malfoy will be our first performer tonight. He will be singing Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. I haven't heard of Leon but anyways here he is." Colin left the stage and reluctant Draco entered. He just wanted to forget about the contest and explain to Hermione what had happened. He needed her to forgive him. The music started; Draco sighed and began.
'I've been roaming around always looking down at all I see.
Painted faces fill the places I can't reach.
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you
And all you know and how you speak
Countless lovers undercover of the street
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you
Off in the night while you live it up I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shake the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice
Someone like me
Someone like me
Somebody
Someone like you
Somebody
Someone like you
Somebody
Someone like you
Somebody..'
He abruptly left the stage as soon as the music had stopped. Colin took the stage to introduce Ginny. He knew that this was chance to speak with Hermione but once again Pansy ruined his chances. She came barging into the backstage area and Hermione eyed them not so discretely. Ginny began singing on stage but her attention was firmly on the couple in front of her.
"Oh Draco, it was so nice of you to sing that song for me. Although you could have sung something more fitting but I guess it will do." She peppered his faces with wet kisses and he struggled out of her grasps. Ginny's song had ended and Colin spoke into the microphone.
"That was excellent Ginny. Now our final performer of the night is Hermione Granger. She actually has yet to announced what her song will be so we will have to wait and find out. Please welcome her to the stage."
Draco had finally gotten Pansy to leave when Hermione's name was announced. He swore under his breath as Hermione crossed the stage. Her fists were clenched in anger and the once clear sky above the hall turned dark with storm clouds. She wore tight black pants with a red corset. He hair was down with wild curls that aided in the look of reckless abandon. The sparks of fire flickered behind her eyes as the music began. It was loud and Draco feared what she would be singing.
'I hope the ring you gave to her
Turns her finger green
I hope when you're in bed with her
You think of me
I would never wish bad things
But I don't wish you well
Could you tell
By the flames that burned your words?
I never read your letter
'Cause I knew what you'd say
Give me that Sunday school answer
Try and make it all okay
Does it hurt
To know I'll never be there?
Bet it sucks
To see my face everywhere
It was you
Who chose to end it like you did
I was the last to know
You knew
Exactly what you would do
Don't say
You simply lost your way
She may believe you
But I never will
Never again
If she really knows the truth
She deserves you
A trophy wife, oh how cute
Ignorance is bliss
But when your day comes
And he's through with you
And he'll be through with you
You'll die together but alone
You wrote me in a letter
You couldn't say it right to my face
Well give me that Sunday school answer
Repent yourself away
Does it hurt
To know I'll never be there?
Bet it sucks
To see my face everywhere
It was you
Who chose to end it like you did
I was the last to know
You knew
Exactly what you would do
And don't say
You simply lost your way
They may believe you
But I never will
Never again
Never again will I hear you
Never again will I miss you
Never again will I fall to you
Never
Never again will I kiss you
Never again will I want to
Never again will I love you
Never'
Draco's heart broke at the anger in her knew that she meant every word in her song and it killed him. She sang with such pain and fury. He knew that he deserved every once of it but he still needed to talk to her. If he could just make her understand... but she stormed off the stage and past him. Before Draco was able to scream her name she had escaped out the door. He hurried out after her but he knew that she was long gone.
Draco sat outside of her door that night. He knew that he would be unable to sleep without her at his side so he didn't. He could also tell by the sounds of her sobs that she wasn't getting any sleep either. Though she was unaware they spent that night together awake and hurting.
REVIEW Please. Night two of the competition coming up tomorrow hopefully!!
A/N: The song was Never Again by Kelly Clarkson