AN: Short note here, long one at the bottom. We take cannon in this chapter and stomp on it - much harder than previously.
11. Of Dusty Rose and Rainstorms
The week went by quickly and that Saturday was a Quidditch match – Slytherin versus Gryffindor. I was amped to get back onto the pitch and I felt certain that with boy wonder as the team captain and the weasel as keeper we should have this in the bag. I scanned the stands as we hovered in the air awaiting the release of the balls. Blaise and Pansy were sitting together and waved at me as my eyes scanned over them. I smirked and continued my perusal of the stands. My eyes skimmed over Hermione and I noticed she looked…angry about something. I'd have to ask her later. We hadn't made much further progress on the bond and the dream had returned, but we kept on researching whenever we had spare time. There hadn't been much that week what with Quidditch practice and school work, plus Hermione was still trying to patch things up with Weasley. I had agreed to meet her that night in the Room of Requirement.
I snapped myself out of my musings when I realized the game had started with me staring off into space. I flew up higher and circled around keeping my eyes peeled for the snitch. As the game progressed I was shocked by how well the Gryffindor's were doing, especially the weasel, he was blocking nearly impossible shots on the goal hoops. I saw Potter dive out of my peripheral view and saw him zooming toward the snitch. I immediately lay flat against the broom handle and sped down to where the snitch was glinting in the diffuse sunlight. I was a little too late. Potter caught the snitch with a triumphant whoop and dove toward the ground seamlessly going from diving on his broom to running on the ground where his teammates swooped him up in celebration. I noticed the she weasel stalking off the field rather than celebrating with her team and cocked an eyebrow. I lightly touched down on the ground and walked to where my teammates were assembling.
"Sorry guys don't know how Potter always gets so damn lucky with that snitch." My teammates shrugged, no one was happy to lose to Gryffindor, but frankly, we were used to it. We all headed off the changing room. I took a bit more time than everyone else, not in the mood to join the rest of the team for post -game drinks. When I sauntered out of the changing rooms I practically walked into Hermione, who was walking quickly with her head down. We lost our balance a bit and I reached out steadying us. I noticed Hermione was crying. "Woah now Granger what's wrong?" I asked holding firmly to her arm when she looked like she was about to walk away. She ran her fingers under her eyes and blinked a couple of times.
"I'm just SO sick of Ron." The so was very emphatically projected. "I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't with that boy. I just can't handle it anymore."
"What happened? I thought you two were finally getting back on alright terms?" She shrugged and rolled her eyes. Without thinking I dropped my hand to hers and led her out to the Black Lake. I led her to the tree I favoured and helped pull her up onto the branch.
"Harry said that they were walking back to the Common Room yesterday when they happened across Ginny making out with Dean. I guess Ron freaked out. And Ginny was pissed. She said that Ron was only upset because he's never kissed anyone. And then pointed out that Harry has kissed someone, and I kissed Krum in fourth year, and Ron wasn't happy about that. Back in the Common Room Harry and Ron came to sit where I was studying, but when Ginny came back in her and Ron started yelling at each other. Ginny threatened that she wouldn't play today if Ron did. It was ugly." She took a deep breath and quickly flicked her gaze to me, before looking back out at the lake.
"That doesn't really explain why you're so upset." She shook her head.
"Well, Ron was mad about me kissing Krum; I guess he didn't know, so he was giving me attitude about that. Then this morning at breakfast I thought I saw Harry drop some Felix Felicis into Ron's goblet, and it made me angry because that's cheating; when I went to go see them in the changing room after the game Harry revealed that he only pretended to put potion in his cup. The vial was still sealed, and Ron looked at me, mimicked my voice poorly and then got mad because he said I obviously didn't believe he could do well at quidditch without it. Which is ridiculous – I never said that. So he stomped off and Harry was like c'mon let's go party in the Common Room. I just can't, I don't feel like celebrating Ron right now."
"Understandable. I'm sorry Ron is being so horrible to you." She shrugged and I noticed she fought back a shiver. It was pretty chilly out. "Do you want to head in; it's getting kind of cold out." Hermione nodded. I dropped to the ground and helped Hermione down. "I don't fancy going back to my common room; did you want to hang out in the pasta monster?" She nodded with a small chuckle.
"Thanks for letting me vent Draco." I shrugged.
"It's no problem really." We discussed a few different theories we had on the bond on our way up to the Room of Requirement. We had just ducked into a secret passage that was a good short cut when we were stopped up short by a shocking sight in front of us. Weasley was attempting to eat Lavender Brown's face apparently, or maybe that was what he thought kissing was.
"Oh my god!" Hermione shrilled from beside me. The pair sprang apart like they'd just be shocked by electricity.
"Oh, ah, Hermione – and er – Malfoy, don't minds us." Lavender twittered out. I noticed that Hermione and Ron were locked in a staring contest and looked over at Lavender with a grimace.
"You've got some saliva on your face." I told her I indicated the whole area from her nose to her chin. "Just there." She flushed and rubbed her mouth with her sleeve.
"If you two will excuse us we have somewhere to be." Granger narrowed her eyes at Ron and then gave Lavender a sharp glance before we filed past the couple.
"Let me give you a tip mate – girls don't actually like it when you try to fit your mouth over their entire face – focus on her lips." Ron flushed a deep red and I pat his shoulder condescendingly as I walked past him. Hermione said nothing and was radiating tension. I pulled back the tapestry at the other end of the passageway and gestured for her to go through in front of me. We were on seven now and had a short walk to the Room of Requirement. I thought the password for the room and we headed inside.
"What an absolute prat that boy is!" Hermione seethed as soon as we were inside. "He had the nerve this morning to get mad at me for kissing a boy TWO years ago and he goes and does this. He's such an asshole!" I watched her stalk from one side of the room to other ranting about Weasley. I was leaning against the couch watching her and stuck out my arm, lightly grabbing her wrist as she passed by. She looked at me and I raised an eyebrow at her.
"Just try to calm down Hermione; he doesn't deserve this kind of reaction from you. He looks absolutely rubbish at kissing too, so I don't think you're missing out on much." She looked down and her shoulders hunched forward. I pulled her gently into a hug and rubbed my hand over her back. Her arms snaked around my back and she breathed a deep breath in. When she expelled the breath she collapsed closer to my chest, and I felt her hands bunch into fist around my shirt.
"I don't even know why I feel this way." She sounded miserable. I held her closer for a moment before letting her go and pulling her around the couch to sit. "I was convinced for years that Ron was it for me. That if he ever just looked at me, he would realize that I was there, waiting for him. I thought after I got mad at him at the Yule ball and told him he could've asked me himself he might have caught wise to it, but he didn't. I've just been stupidly waiting on the sidelines for someone who I'm not even sure I like." She dropped her face into her hands and groaned.
"Honestly Granger, you're too good for him anyway. He's not on your level. He'd bore you in point five seconds. You're going to find someone who can keep up with your intelligence and emotional maturity, and that's just not Ron."
"I don't feel emotionally mature today." She sniffled looking up and me from between her fingers. I shrugged.
"Today's your day off." She gave me a small sad smile and straightened up. I held my arm out to her, and she brought herself gently against my side. We sat in companionable silence for quite a time.
"Thank you Malfoy; you were a life-saver today." Her voice drifted up to my ears.
"You would have done the same for me, I'm sure." I felt her nod against me. We were quiet for a time after that again. Hermione's breath was getting deeper. "Don't know why I care so much about that git." He voice sleepily burbled out. I grinned and flopped my head back against the couch. Soon I heard Granger emitting sleep sounds. Deep breathing, the occasional hum, which I noticed she did in her sleep. I picked my head up and looked down at the witch sleeping on my shoulder. I had gone totally soft-hearted where she was concerned, and I found that I didn't care a bit. I used my hand to tuck her wild hair behind her ear, and just watched her sleeping face for a moment. I felt a weird stirring in my chest and took a deep breath, looking away from Hermione. I moved slowly, tucking my arm under her legs and pulling her up into my arms. I walked slowly and carefully toward Hermione's bed and set her down gently. I was just about to pull away when golden threads started threading between where our ribcages were touching. To say I was shocked was an understatement, I had no idea attachment magic could work without skin to skin contact. I lay next to Granger and slid a hand up my shirt to see if went beneath the fabric to my skin, and sure enough I could feel those magical threads stitched to my ribcage. I sighed. I drew my wand out and summoned one of the books I was reading.
I gently pulled as far from Granger as I could and looked at the magic threads. I noticed another colour running through the gold. It was a soft dusky pink. I pursed my lips already knowing the significance of the colour. As soon as I stopped focusing on pulling away from Hermione the magic tightened and I sighed. I situated the pair of us so that I was propped up against a pillow, and Hermione was resting against my chest, somehow able to sleep through all of the jostling movement. I picked up the book I had summoned and settled in to read it. I doubted Granger would sleep from now till morning, it was only around four in the afternoon – I'd just have to wait out her nap.
A couple of hours passed and I finally felt Hermione stirring. Her breathing was the first thing to change, and she pulled in closer to me for a moment. She made a fuzzy sounding groan and finally, opened her eyes. She blinked in rapid succession before looking up at me confusion evident in her eyes. "Hi," Her voice was still a little thick with sleep.
"Hi, you feel asleep, and I picked you up to set you in your bed and the attachment magic happened again." I pointed to where we were still stuck together. Hermione pressed a hand in between us and looked at the magical threads curiously.
"That's new. When do you think this bond will stop surprising us?" I shrugged. Hermione blinked a couple more times a stretched. As she was stretching the threads seemed to melt away. Hermione sat up burying her face in her hands for a couple of minutes. "Pink – we both know what that means." Her voice was muffled by her hands.
"It could just mean affection platonically? We've been more open about touching each other lately." Hermione gave me a look that clearly read disbelief. "It's going on six did you want to go to the Great Hall for dinner?" I asked. She shook her head.
"I don't really want to deal with anyone. You can go though." I shook my head.
"I'll stay here with you."
"Thank you," she sighed and dropped her hands; she turned to look at me. I really don't know what I'd have done without you today." I smiled at her.
"You're just lucky I promised I wouldn't start anything with those boys. Otherwise Weasley would have been on the receiving end of some terrible hexes." She grinned.
"Thank you for keeping your word, although one tiny hex might not have been out of line." We both bust out laughing.
"Noted; I read some interesting things while you were napping, found some more experiments we can try." Hermione perked up and for the rest of the evening we focused fully on the bond.
The week was rolling by fast and before I knew it, it was Thursday, the thirty first of October. Everyone was excited about the Halloween feast, but I was excited because I finally got back the Arithmancy project that Granger had helped me with the week before. Professor Vector had given me full marks and had commended me on my growth in her subject that year. I floated excitedly into the hall for dinner. The floating candles had been replaced with floating jack-o-lanterns and there were bats fluttering about. Halloween decorations hung off of every surface, and there was enough candy to put every single student and their families into a sugar induced coma. As usual for the feat dessert was served first, and by the time dinner came around, I was too full to eat pretty much anything of nutritional value. The entertainment of the evening was a rather dramatic retelling of the Salem witch trails, with acting from our school ghosts.
I caught Hermione's eyes and indicated I wanted to meet up with her. She nodded and I met her out by the four hour glasses that kept track of house points. We just stood next to each other while we waited for the hall to clear out. "Do you have rounds tonight?" I asked her. She shook her head no. "Good, I don't either, pasta monster?" I asked. She smirked and nodded. We set off and bantered back and forth about a ridiculous theory we had come across earlier on in the week. Once we were in the Room of Requirement I went and leant against the arm of the couch.
"What did you want to talk about?" She asked.
"Well, mostly I just wanted to gloat." I smirked at her and she raised an eyebrow at me. I pulled my graded Arithmancy project out of my bag and handed it to her. She took a quick glance over it and her face erupted into a huge smile.
"Didn't I tell you that you would ace it?" She asked I nodded. She held her hand up for a high five and the resounding clap of our hands seemed to echo in the room. I noticed that Hermione almost seemed to have apprehension in her eyes. She turned to look out the window. Rain was lashing hard against the school and if you listened you could hear thunder far off in the distance. I imagined how the castle would look from the outside. Like a warm safe haven from the vindictive elements. I sort of viewed Hermione that way now. It was bizarre to think that not even a month ago I was certain I hated her. When her eyes returned to me I couldn't ignore the emotion in them.
"Is something the matter, Hermione?" I asked. Out of sheer habit and subconscious instinct I reached out and held her hands in mine. My palms were turned away from body and my finders were threaded through hers. She took a deep breath and then looked up into my eyes, her irises shone golden in the dim light of the room.
"I've seen this exact moment before." Her voice was hushed, almost reverent. "The first night with the attachment magic, I told you I couldn't remember the second half of the dream, but I lied." I squeezed her hands urging her to continue. We were in the Room of Requirement, it was raining, and I had been excited about that paper. "Well, this happened too and then we…" Her voice trailed off and her eyes fell to my lips. I nodded catching her meaning.
"I mean…do you want to?" I felt foolish saying the words, and scared that she might say no. But she didn't answer me, instead she leaned a bit closer, her eyes flicked up to mine, question in them – I could tell she was waiting for me to pull back or meet her half way. It took all the courage I possessed to slowly lean forward. My eyes slid shut as my lips came into contact with hers. Nothing touched save our hands and lips, we both stood still, just with our lips pressed together for several long moments. I slowly brought a bit of movement to the kiss, moving my lips lightly against hers. She kissed me back and sighed into the kiss. Before I could get too clouded over the kiss I pulled back and placed a kiss to each corner of her mouth before drawing back. She smiled up at me and leaned up pressing a kiss to my jaw before settling against my chest – finally letting go of my hands and wrapping her arms around me. I mimicked the action and felt a feeling of absolute calm and contentment wash over me.
AN: Okay, something cooool happened this chapter - it was of course the timid lip lock at the end! I was going to write it in like two chapters ago, but, I had to wait for the right time. Now as I said in the AN at the top we go so far off cannon this chapter, and that's how the rest of the fic will be. A fun little 'behind the scenes' for you. I decided on Pasta Monster for the password because one - I've watched the documentary Party Monster maybe five times too many, and it also made me think of the 'religion' Pastafarianism, where they worship the flying spaghetti monster, which really gets me every time. I'm still going to try and keep pacing very much in check despite the fact that they've now gotten all smoochy smoochy with each other, but I'm also a HUGE lover of fluff, if I could only eat marshmallow fluff and not die from lack of nutrition and diabetes I would, it feeds my soul, so there probably will be some fluffy saccharine moments ahead. Also, last thing I swear, take a shot for every time I typed kiss and lips in the last paragraph(it's 10 times). Is there another descriptive word I could have used? Maybe, but once I realized the gratuitous use of the words I immediately cackled to myself. Blink if you're still with me ;)
I'll take this chance to thank my stellar reviewers since the last update - you guys have made this my most reviewed story out of the eight posted on this site! Lovesagoodstroy19(no time-turner just typing fingers that blur with speed :P), Niamh x, emjrabbitwolf(you should charge for your great ideas!), pinkduck2587, CancerScorpio15(Never!), and Mykie(x3!). You all rule, and deserve freshly baked brownies. ;)
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~WS