CHAPTER 7
Hermione changed into a more comfortable outfit to go to the Great Hall for dinner. Trying not to think too much about silver eyes, pale blond hair and a voice that make her heart race.
She definitely was not a stranger to crushes, her infatuation with Ron during past school years being a clear example. But she knew this was different, she loved Ron dearly as friend, but with him she had never had this need to get to get to know him so deeply, to carefully tear his shields to decipher who he truly was. Ron carried his heart on his sleeve, but Draco was such a mystery, with a complex mind that gave her a run for her money.
She will not insult Ron's intelligence, because she knew he may not be the best student but he was bright. But Draco and her share similar interest, if the glimpses she caught of his reading habits and passionate rants to the other Slytherin's were to be trusted.
With butterflies inside her stomach she made her way to the Great Hall. Thankfully her Co Head had already left. Her nerves would have betrayed her an she would have made a fool of herself.
Merlin, she needed to control herself. She had to enforce her stoic mask if she didn't want to give him access to these treacherous thoughts.
Dinner passed in between laughs and a little bit of gossip. Everyone asked her about her dinner with the Malfoy's but she just gave them a mischievous smile and changed the topic.
-Keep your secrets. - Ginny told her and smirked at her.
Everyone let the topic go. Knowing Hermione could be a sealed tomb when she didn't want to talk about something.
Hermione tried really hard to not let her eyes linger at the Slytherin table but she was partially unsuccessful. Thank God, he never caught her. But Luna kept throwing her way knowing smiles. That witch was way to perceptive.
With a soft exhale she decided to stand up from the table and bid goodbye to her friends which responded with a chorus of "Night".
While leaving the Great Hall, she used all of her Gryffindor courage and turned her face in Draco's direction and a soft surprised breath left her lips.
Draco was already looking at her. His eyes were watching her every move, undecipherable emotions passing thru them. She felt goosebumps in her arms. It should be illegal for him to have such beautiful silver eyes that trap her in a web.
But she will not be defeated. She met his stare head on. The mischievous part of her brain impulse her to tempt him. She bit her lip softly and titled her head in the door's direction. Her eyes never leaving his face. Challenging him, "Are you coming?".
The message was loud and clear. His eyes darkened with emotions she didn't want to analyze yet. He nodded almost imperceptibly.
They thought they were being discreet. But two pairs of eyes, one belonging to a beautiful, long haired ginger Gryffindor, the other to a dark skinned handsome Slytherin, saw the whole exchange.
Hermione arrived to the Head's common room with a pounding heart and a sense of excitement. She wanted him. She was definitely attracted to him in several ways.
Thrill, unaltered thrill course thru her body. She wanted him to see her that way again.
This was a very dangerous notion. One thing was being attracted to his looks. But Hermione knew she was way pass that point. In a few days he was able to spark a flame inside her that only a challenge could ignite. A flame only he was able to ignite, even with his petty taunts during her first school years.
She had to be very careful. She had to get over this crush quickly.
Hermione sat at the couch in their common room anxiously waiting for his Co Head and what they were going to learn of each other this night.
The sound of the door opening and Draco's steps, shook her out of her thoughts. And she felt this giddy feeling starting to creep in her belly. Her eyes never leaving the entrance to the common room, waiting.
A few seconds later, his figure emerge. His eyes had a spark to them, that she knew hers also had.
With a confident smirk, he addressed her:
-So, little Miss Swot, tell me all your secrets?
Her eyes widened a little bit, and then a small, girlish laugh left her lips. And she gave him a smirk of her own.
-You wish, Mister Slytherin Prince.
A manly chuckle left his lips, a chuckle that definitely made her feel things.
-You know, I don't know where the fuck that nickname came from, Miss Gryffindor Princess.
Hermione rolled her eyes and chuckled.
-We have really dumb nicknames.
-That we can agree on.
With that statement, an uncomfortable silence descended over the room. Hermione understood that their past history, will be a barrier that they will both had to overcome to avoid this kind of moments but she was confident they were going the right way.
-Care to seat next to me? - Hermione asked.
He gave her a grateful look and then his lips lift up in a mischievous, teasing smile.
-Only if you promise not to talk about books.
When he sat next to her, close enough to touch if she wanted to. Hermione responded to his taunt.
-I will let you know that reading is not the only thing I like doing. I am a very accomplished woman.
-Yeah apparently you are a decent piano player, obviously not as good as me-Draco told her, finishing his statement with a smirk.
-Debatable. But I haven't heard you play, maybe you will surprise me by being near my playing skills. -she gave him a teasing smile. And his smirk got wider. -But I will let you know I'm also a great singer.
-No way. That I can't believe. -he told her with a chuckle. And then throw her a challenging smile. -Prove it.
Hermione gave her an offended look.
-You prat! I've been singing since I was five, I don't need to prove anything. - She told him while bumping softly his arm with her shoulder
Draco made an exaggerated surprised face.
-What? A Gryffindor backing up from a challenge. Unheard of.
Hermione rolled her yes.
-Let's make a deal Granger…
-No thanks.
-That's harsh. -he told her with a smirk, but continued nonetheless. – I will play for you if you sing for me.
Hermione bit her lip, she was intrigued. She wanted to hear him play, and she knew she was a good singer. Also, she knew he will be surprised by her singing, very few people knew what she was capable of doing with her voice.
-Fine, but if you back up from our bargain, I will hex you.
He raised his hands in mock surrender.
-Don't take your claws out, I didn't plan to back up. In fact, I know the perfect place where we could both achieve each of our tasks. Follow me.
He stood up from the couch and signaled with his head to follow him.
-Malfoy! Curfew already started.
Draco rolled his eyes.
-Yeah, and we will not get caught. You never caught me during your prefect rounds during fifth year.
Hermione's eyes widened. But she composed herself quickly.
-We are Heads now; we have to set an example.
-Yeah, yeah. I think that after fighting a war we deserve a little bit of liberties. Don't you think?
Hermione stood up and addressed him with a frown on her face.
-If we get caught, I will smack you. You know I will.
Draco chuckled.
-Fine, no need to be violent. -Quietly he added, while touching withs his finger the bridge of his nose. -Had to be a Griffyndor.
Hermione rolled her eyes and playfully smacked him in the arm.
-Whatever, lead the way.
Draco smirked and they proceed to make their way to the door. He quietly opened the portrait and cast a silent "Lumos".
-All clear, let's go I know a shortcut.
Hermione nodded and started following him. She will prefer death to admitting that she missed the excitement of trying not to get caught during curfew.
They walked in a comfortable silence.
Five minutes later, they arrived to a corridor near the Slytherin dorms, to a wall covered with a tapestry.
Draco made three circles with his wand in front of the tapestry and Hermione watched, mesmerized, as the tapestry faded away and a door appeared instead.
He opened it and held it for her.
-After you.
-Such a gentleman -she told him teasingly.
Hermione entered the room and left a surprised gasp. It was a music room. Different instruments, magical and muggle loitered the room. But the cherry on top was the Grand Piano at the center of the room, which was in front of a huge window, where you could see the Black Lake and all the creatures that lived inside it.
-Beautiful. How come you knew about this room? It doesn't appear described in Hogwarts: A History.
Draco smirked at her and shrugged.
-This is a room my mother discovered when she attended Hogwarts. It's existence is kind of a myth, supposedly it only gives access to those who truly understand and cherish music. -His smirk morphed into a taunting smile. -You know, little Miss Swot, not everything about this school is written in Hogwarts: A History.
Hermione listened to his explanation, even his taunt (arsehole), but a movement inside the lake distract her. A delighted sound left her lips and she softly said "Merpeople".
She then gave him her full attention back and addressed him.
-I will ignore your taunt just this time. I think I know what song I want to sing.- Hermione said while making her way to the Grand Piano and seating on the bench
He nodded at her, and sat next to her while making a gesture with his hand indicating she could start.
She frowned at him; he could seat on the chair near the piano. And he just smirked at her.
-If you are going to sing to me, I need a first-class seat.
The heat of his body so close next to hers was a distraction at the moment. But she knew, that when she started to play and sing, she would immerse herself in the music.
-Whatever.
Hermione delicately put her hands in the titles she needed for this song. A song she always related to the ocean and a melody Muggles always associated with the beautiful voice of a siren.
With a soft exhale, she started playing.
Draco, was as close as giddy as a Malfoy could be. He was sure she was not going to agree to sing for him, but thankfully, her Gryffindor self could not back from a challenge.
He was really curious about how her voice will sound like.
The sound of the first chord brought him back from his thoughts. For a few seconds she only played the piano.
But then a beautiful, rich sound left her lips. He was stunned. Her voice was imitating what he could only describe as a call of a siren, waiting to lure someone into her trap. And Salazar help him, he was tempted to follow her wherever she may go, just to hear again and again her voice.
Just when he thought it couldn't get better. The words started pouring from her mouth.
Upon one summer's morning
I carefully did stray
Down by the Walls of Wapping
Where I met a sailor gay
Her voice was soft, caressing his ear. He shivered. Her tones jump in between rich, high and low sounds that worked so well together.
Conversing with a young lass
Who seem'd to be in pain
Saying: William, when you go
I fear you'll ne'er return again
He was truly fucked. And he decided to dig an even deeper hole by deciding this was a great time to let his eyes wander to her figure, that he stupidly decided to seat way to close to.
My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold
Her eyes were closed, her dainty fingers caressing the piano tiles, she didn't need sight, she was a natural pianist, her muscles already knew where they needed to be. Draco let his eyes linger to her lips…what a mistake that was. Her full lips, move in such a sensual way to produce the words to such a haunting melody, that made his skin tingle. Her words were like the caress of a lover. Shit.
His hair, it hangs in ringlets
His eyes as black as coal
My happiness attend him
Wherever he may go
Her olive skin clashed beautifully with his alabaster one. And as the 18-year-old he was, he couldn't help but imagine how would they look together in a much more passionate embrace. Now where the fuck did that thought came from?
From Tower Hill to Blackwall
I'll wander, weep and moan
All for my jolly sailor
Until he sails home
The more he looked at her the more he berated himself. How could he have insulted her looks. She was just a little girl, of course no one looks good before puberty. His pointy chin and sleeked back hair could attest this statement.
My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold
And he berated himself even more for ever feeling superior to her. This woman was way stronger that he could ever aspire to be. She survived being tortured by his derange aunt, she lived on the run during a war that tried to eliminate people like her from the wizarding world, slurs about her blood where thrown her way by purebloods, by him, just because during centuries they were led to believe his heritage and money made them special. She was a force to reckon with, not even him could put his father in his place like she did, she was a powerful witch, she was kind, she was beautiful, she was forgiving. He stiffened.
My father is a merchant
The truth I now will tell
And in great London city
In opulence doth dwell
She forgave and saved him and his family, while they didn't even offer a meager apology for their continuous mistreatment of her. This realization hit him hard.
His fortune doth exceed
300,000 gold
And he frowns upon his daughter
Who loves a sailor bold
He was an idiot. His attention returned to her face. Before he was only curious about her, but now he was intrigued, attracted to the curly haired witch that sang as a siren and played piano beautifully. He wanted to get as close to her as she let him.
A fig for his riches
His merchandise and gold
True love has grafted my heart
Give me my sailor bold
He knew he didn't deserve anything from her. But he was a selfish bastard. And he wanted more. Yep, he definitely was truly fucked.
My heart is pierced by Cupid
I disdain all glittering gold
There is nothing can console me
But my jolly sailor bold
Hermione finished her song and with sparkling eyes and a small smile turned her head to face him.
With an exhale, he said words, he was taught to never use:
-Hermione, I owe you an apology.