Chapter 12: Temptations and desires
Capitulo XII: Provocaciones y anhelos
- Are you alright?
Ben's voice resound through the corridor of cold stone bursting with its echo Hermione's thoughts. She looked at him for a while until she understood what he had said.
- Yes – she answered finally, she noticed that lying was such a normal thing now. All because of Malfoy.
- You'll see Hermione, I have the sensation that… I don't know, that you are avoiding me… since we begin the year and I fought with that git of Malfoy, you barely speak to me and I've not dare to approach you in the library for the same reason… - he stopped and Hermione also did it. Ben watch her deeply with his green eyes before going on – did… did I made or said something that… are you like that because of the fight I had with Malfoy?
- I don't like fights – she said and it was true. Never had she bear them and less if they were because of her. She had been angry with both, Benjamin and Malfoy, for starting a fight as two roosters ignoring her completely when she was "the problem". She didn't understand why they had to solve everything with curses. From Malfoy she didn't expect anything else but, she felt that for Benjamin was more important his pride than what she wanted. At least that's what she thought when she asked herself why she was so distant with him but a little trickery voice suggest her that maybe she was being so cold because he could've injured Malfoy.
- I just wanted to defend you Hermione – answered the Ravenclaw ashamed.
- I know Benjamin. I know that your intention was good… but for Malfoy and people like him… is better to ignore them…
- How do you do it? – asked Benjamin in an admiration tone – I've always admired how you are capable to ignore the people that mess up with you and to do as if they don't exist, without letting them to affect you…
Hermione gave a hint of a smile. It have been a long time since she wasn't able to ignore Malfoy's comments, in fact, they affect her more than anyone could imagine. There was nothing admirable in her.
That is one of the things that I like about you – added the boy with the same tone. Hermione felt how her cheeks burned and saw the Ravenclaw blushing too – well, do you forgive me?
- I don't have anything to forgive you Ben.
- Then… friends? – he asked reaching his hand to her while holding his breath.
Hermione smiled him before taking it.
- Friends.
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Hermione sighed with relief when she saw that the library was empty with the exception of Mrs. Pince, the librarian. It wasn't something unexpected because most of the students in Hogwarts were still eating at the Great Hall.
She sat on her table, feeling how the peace that surrounded the library got into her, relaxing her nerves and softening her mood. She had just seen Parkinson giving Malfoy to eat a mint cupcake before letting out a silly laugh. This scene made Hermione threw her fork and stood up abruptly feeling how her stomach had closed completely and wanted to get out of there.
- Hermione what are you doing? – Harry had asked her.
- I'm going to the library, I'll meet you in the greenhouse – she answered plainly and left before no one could reply. And there she was, in the table of always and fortunately with no sign of Malfoy, Dewey or any person that could bother her. She took out a feather, a bottle of ink and a parchment, and placed them tidy in the table, which had many lines as if it had been scratched in many occasions. Hermione wasn't surprised by that because she was also starting to lose her nails because she scratched them when she studied hysterically. She dip the feather with ink and before writing, she threw a quick glance to the library's entry, mistrustfully. A drop of black ink slipped from the extreme of the feather and died in the yellowish parchment.
Malfoy was there, under the lintel of the door, watching her intensely. He went directly to her, without looking away and when he got to the table, he threw a blue book in it. Hermione startled a little while Malfoy rested both hands in the table, one at each side of the book making some platinum locks fall over his eyes.
Waiting for Dewey, Granger? – he asked with a smirk. Hermione decided to ignore him and taking her wand, she touched the spot of ink which immediately disappeared. Malfoy leaned more over the table, getting closer to Hermione. She knew he only wanted to intimidate her with his presence and she was tempted to run, but at the last moment she decided to change of strategy.
Do you still think I used a love potion in you, Malfoy?
The girl could observe with satisfaction how he retreated momentarily unarmed, but in a while he raised an eyebrow and leaned again onto the table.
Do you think that because you have that idiot of Dewey after you, everybody else has the same symptoms? – he asked sourly – well, I'll tell you something: no one is interested on you. Not even Dewey, he just uses you to exceed his N.E.W.T
I've never think that Dewey was going after me – she answered plainly, and it was true. She knew he was only kind with her and that if he had kissed her under the mistletoe was just because it was a stupid Christmas costume. That was why he had run away and avoided her for days, to make clear there were no feelings toward her.
Draco remained silent for some seconds watching her and deciding if she was trying to make fun of him. She seem sincere, was it possible that she was that stupid to have not noticed that Dewey was crazy for her? He made an ironic face; it was obvious that the answer was affirmative. She wouldn't realize that Dewey drawled for her not even if he proposed.
- Your very stupid bookworm – he said in a superiority tone – it is quite clear that the jerk is crazy for you, that he needs help in his studies is just an excuse to be near you, haven't you realized that no one with his stupidity could've reach seventh year? – he asked with disgust – of course it's just a worthless trick of muggles to be near you. He always uses any excuse and never moves his eyes off you when you are near him. He had to gathered the courage to kiss you under the mistletoe – he said, with each word he became more and more heated, he had closed his hands into fists – and then he run… coward – he spit disdainfully – and he turns into a basilisk every time I'm near you… it seems he has named himself your guardian… and you are so stupid that you think he only acts like that because of nobility and friendship, don't you? – he mocked.
Hermione was open-mouthed when Malfoy finished his speech. She had never ever listened him talk with such hatred and anger… not even when he addressed her, whom he had remembered dozens of times how much she disgust him. It seemed that he spit every word with pure hate and something she couldn't define… like… sourness? Anyway, the thing was that it was obvious he had seen details that she had not even noticed, does it meant that he had been spying them? What was that of Dewey gathering the courage to kiss her? How could he have guessed that if he wasn't observing her too? How had he noticed that Benjamin seek for her?
- I don't know if everything you said is a motive to think that Dewey is after me or that you are – she said without thinking, and when she heard her own words, she blushed. She insinuating that Malfoy could feel something for her? Just think of it was crazy, but saying it, had no name.
Draco tensed immediately and paled even more, giving his face a fragile and tormented look. He almost trembled in fury and his heart beat faster than a Fwooper's flapping. He felt a stab of irrational panic, as possessed by sensation of imminent danger and his brain started to think faster. How does he felt… outraged? Insulted? Furious?... scared? He thought fast in what reaction could erase any doubt of his feelings towards the mudblood, and when he found it, he watch her for a few instants with a serious expression and then… he started laughing.
Hermione felt as if she had been slapped when she saw how the Slytherin burst into laughter and banged the table with his fists to remark how funny he had found the comment she had made. She was conscious that she had said something stupid, but even though, the sound of the laughter was like a rope that tied her heart stronger, squeezing it until it was dry. She felt so humiliated by the fact that the idea of feeling something for her was so humorous and hilarious, that she stood up immediately and put al her things in her bag, she closed the ink before throwing it inside and without looking at the Slytherin, she turn and went away.
- You can be funny if you want to Granger – Malfoy's honeyed voice behind her back paralyzed her – I had never listened something so ridiculous – he let out a cruel laugh and Hermione trembled, still giving her back to him – but I don't doubt that that's what you'll like.
Malfoy walked until he reached her, and when he did, he stood in front of the girl and watch her fixedly with his icy eyes.
Don't you Granger? – he asked in a whisper – because it is you the one who's crazy for me. Welcome to the club. – he end with presumption and vanity.
Hermione felt how she trembled uncontrollably, but not of nervousness but because of the rage she felted, how did he dare to speak to her like that? As if she was one more of those sighing and trembling girls that watch him with admiration every time he passed with his arrogant expression. As if he only needed to snap his fingers and she will fell to his feet. Arrogant and spoiled, that he was.
You don't make me laugh – she spit offended – Cause I remind you that it was you who kissed me.
The vain expression was erased immediately from the Slytherin's face as he hardened it, until it seemed it was ice what was piercing at her.
- And you will like me to do it again, don't you Granger? – he asked in a tone to cold and cutting to be suggestive – admit it – he insisted resentfully - it's me of whom you are in love, it was of me who you were talking about in Krum's letter.
Hermione felt discovered and vulnerable. He knew it or at least seemed to be sure he did. She observed him desperately, wishing the floor of the library will open and eat her forever. It was obvious what she felted, Hermione knew he suspect it since he read the letter but after the way she had melted in his lips, for the Slytherin was no doubt left. She looked at him, unable to speak, and saw how a smirk formed in his face, erasing the coldness in his eyes and changing it for a strange shine… almost malicious. Everything on him, from his posture to his look, indicate his self-security, and for his expression you could guess that he was self-satisfied and was waiting for the girl to throw into his arms and confess her love for him.
The Gryffindor opened her mouth searching for something to shout him but, she was so indignated that she wasn't able to talk. How she hated him. She hated that expression of being the king of the world, that security of being desired, his idolatry and his narcissism. How a person could be so in love whit himself?
- Oh, don't be that self-confident – she said at last, pissed off – you are not much as you think you are, you know? You are not that handsome, neither that athletic nor that wonderful as you think – she pointed him in a menacing way – not even the best quidditch player or the best wizard.
Hermione observed with some pleasure how Malfoy got furious and tightened his lips and fists, killing her with his eyes. At least she had hurt him, although it had been just his pride.
- And Dewey is? – he asked with a voice full of disgust and anger.
- Dewey? – asked Hermione surprised – what does Dewey has to do with this?
- Yes, the idiot of your friend. He is handsome, athletic and wonderful? Ha! Don't make me laugh – he said with cold sarcasm – he's just an airhead full of muscles and with no attractive at all. He needs help from a daughter of muggles to pass and in his last quidditch match he lost his left ear. And you think he is better than me? Tell me something Granger – he gave a step forward, touching the girl's feet and reaching her face – he also kisses better than me? – he said in a whisper that froze Hermione's blood and burned her lips. The girl closed her eyes and swallowed loudly, while she felt her legs trembling under the black robe. Merlin, that answered had destroyed her.
- Would you like me to kiss you again… Hermione? – he insisted with whispering voice and half-opened lips very close to the girl's mouth.
Touched and sinking. Hermione was almost melting under the proximity of the boy's mouth to hers, she just needed to raise a little bit her face for their lips to brush, to feel again how he drank her soul. To experiment again that heat, that sensation of happiness with drops of sweetness. But her lately forgotten conscience talked to her between that mist of pleasure that fill her with hope. That was what he wanted, that she kissed him to demonstrate that he was the one who had the power, that she was the one looking for him. He temptated, she desired.
If she gave away to her feelings, her desires, the urgent need to kiss him, she will be giving him the reason, demonstrating him for one more time that she was in love with him. And he was already suspecting it. She couldn't confirm it.
She stood very still during some seconds looking into his eyes, and then, very slowly she backed of, and even though he didn't grab her, Hermione had the sensation that he sustained her with his look. Fighting that invisible force that immobilized her, she backed a few steps feeling how the effect of the boy's proximity died. She blinked forcefully for a couple of times and felt more awakened and in control of herself, the she looked at him seriously.
- I'm not going to kiss you again Malfoy – she said calmly and it was certainly her intention as difficult as it was to make it – and you don't interest me. You are too arrogant to be.
She wasn't able to look him into the eyes as she lied, so when she said the last word, Hermione turned backwards and went away. She went out of the library without looking back.
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Hey!
Well, the title of this chapter summarize to well what happened in this chapter XD First, Hermione and Ben become friends again… thanks to Draco, and now the blond went to tease her in the library. If I were Hermione, I would've punch him and after that gave him a kiss xD but she is stronger than me… and resisted the temptation. At least for now, she has something to use against him because it was him who kissed her…
Thanks to the reviews =D
Kisses to all of you!!
Dry
Hey!!THANK YOUUU!!! Really I'm sooo happy you are liking it =D and here is my gift!! I'm updating earlier!! Thanks especially to Mistik Tink!! Thank you for reviewing every chapter, I appreciate it a lot!! Also thanks to Brickhead1992, olioli80 and wackyjacky125 for reviewing in chapter 11. I'll try to update 13 soon =) kisses&hugs!
