Sleeping with Friend Or Foe- Story 2
Disclaimer: Characters, actions, words etc... taken from JKR's Harry Potter © and used in this fanfiction do not belong to me. Even though I'd love to have Draco Malfoy…..Yum LOL!
A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry it took so long to pump this out. I was going to have too many things happen. I need to not rush this story. But I think a lot of readers will like this chapter. Please read and review. Thanks and have a great rest of the week xoxo TBG
Chapter Recap…..
When she reached the Great Hall, Ron and Harry stopped her and pulled her aside. They both looked a bit flustered.
"Harry and I just went up to the Room of Requirement to see if we could work on the cabinet again and we couldn't find it. It wasn't where it usually is and we didn't have enough time to look for it deeper in the Room. Do you know what happened?" Hermione sighed.
"I might have an idea. And I need to tell you guys something that happened last night with me and Draco. C'mon. "With that Hermione pulled them behind a hidden hallway and told them what she'd told Snape.
Chapter 18: Love
Hermione stood in her closet looking for what she wanted to wear for her Saturday morning walk. She wanted the quiet of the morning air to wake her up and have a moment to think. As Hermione stood in her in her closet in her bra and panties, she noticed her profile in her full length mirror. Her usual flat stomach was now slightly protuberant and round.
Hermione stepped closer to the mirror and looked at herself. Her figure from the front was still the same, her curves were where they had always been, but now cupping the small bump that had grown, for the first time Hermione allowed herself to think about her baby and a kind of love that hadn't filled Hermione before, did in that moment. She let the idea of being a mom fill her up and she couldn't help but smile and cradle her stomach even more.
Hermione stood there looking at herself for a few more minutes before she finally chose some jeans and a plaid shirt with a small cardigan. Hermione stopped at the kitchens first and got some toast and then took an apple with her as she made her way to the silent grounds. Hermione's thoughts began to float through her head.
It had been a few days since she, Harry & Ron had gone back to the Room of Requirement and they still had not located the cabinet. Hermione assumed Draco had moved it somewhere deeper in the room and it seemed almost impossible to find especially since the room was so large. Hermione had spent most of her free period on a broomstick scouring the space but she still hadn't found it.
Hermione was also starting to doubt what exactly she was doing with Snape. Yes she cared for him, but she was not in a healthy place emotionally to be really good to him as a partner. Hermione stopped by the lake and pinched the bridge of her nose. Things were too complicated and on top of it, she'd written her parents about the pregnancy and she was nervous to hear back from them. All of this plus the need to tell Draco about the pregnancy were all gnawing at her and making her feel even more stressed than usual.
Hermione started suddenly when she heard footsteps behind her on the dewy morning grass. She turned around and had her wand out faster than the person could blink.
Draco Malfoy with hands up stood a few feet away. Hermione huffed slightly and lowered her wand but didn't let go of it.
"Why are you sneaking up on me?" She asked.
"I didn't. I didn't see you until I'd come around the bend and by then you'd had your wand up," he replied. Hermione sighed.
"Oh, I must've been so deep in thought that I didn't hear you walking up. Sorry," she said. Draco walked over and stood beside her by the lake and watched as the giant squid flailed its tentacles across the surface of the water.
"We haven't been out here together since that dare week we had in winter," Draco said. Hermione smiled and looked at him.
"I remember that. Ha, that was the week I dared you to swim in the lake naked and you pulled me in with you. We had wicked colds after that didn't we?" He laughed. Yes he remembered how in the early cold morning, he and Hermione had crept out to the lake, he had stripped and had asked for a kiss for good luck that he didn't get eaten by the squid, before he'd jumped in. She'd giggled and told him the squid wouldn't eat him, but she'd kissed him anyway. And when her lips had touched his, he'd grabbed her waist and jumped in with her screaming.
When they'd both surfaced Hermione was fuming and had stomped out. Draco, who was laughing, had eventually coaxed her into a laugh by saying he was not getting dressed and was going up to the castle exactly as he was.
Both of them smiled at the memory and Hermione shook her head because she'd had a cold for at least a week because of it. She turned to Draco.
"That was not part of the dare you cheater. I see that misery loves company." She turned to look back at the lake and Draco watched as a light breeze moved her hair and her creamy skin glowed as the morning rays fell upon it. It felt like each time Draco saw Hermione, his heart stopped and he couldn't breathe. Draco quickly stopped staring and looked out at the lake.
"So why are you out here so early Draco?" She asked. He shrugged.
"I needed to be alone with my thoughts. And I wanted to be out in the fresh air." Hermione now took her turn to look at Draco. His white blonde hair was free and soft and had grown to fall slightly over his ears. It flopped loosely across his forehead. He had a bit of dark blond stubble growing across his face. The only time Draco let himself get stubble was when he was distracted and couldn't remember to shave. His skin looked a bit paler than usual, and he had bags under his eyes like he hadn't slept well.
Draco turned and held out his arm, and smiled at Hermione.
"Let's go sit under our tree." Hermione hesitated a moment before she linked arms with him and went over to sit under their tree. Hermione felt a fluttering in her stomach, almost like butterflies. Hermione didn't know what to make of it at first as it stopped when they reached the tree. They both sat under it and Hermione very consciously, stopped touching Draco.
"Do you remember the time you left that mouse in my bed?" At this memory Hermione began to laugh incessantly. She remembered that day. She and Draco always played pranks on each other and that day Hermione had found a mouse and had placed it on Draco's bed. When he'd gotten into his sheets and had realized the mouse was there, he'd squealed and jumped and actually fallen out of bed. Hermione had been in the doorway laughing so hard she'd fallen on the ground herself.
She laughed almost as hard this time as she remembered that incident. Draco began to chuckle at that memory as well. It had been pretty funny. Hermione stopped laughing and wiped a few tears of laughter away.
"Oh goodness I am the master of pranks," Hermione said. Draco looked at her with a grin.
"Don't bet on that," he said. Hermione sighed and leaned against the trunk. Both of them began to reminisce and laugh about moments of hilarity that they'd shared.
"We were always laughing weren't we?" She whispered. She thought he might not have heard her, but he replied.
"Yes…I miss it ridiculously." They glanced at each other and then looked away. Hermione felt that fluttering feeling in her stomach again and this time she put her hand on her stomach. What could that possibly be? And then she understood, it was the baby moving. She could feel the baby moving for the first time and with Draco here as well. How strange that this moment was shared with him involuntarily. She felt herself tearing up, angry at herself partially for not telling him about the baby, but also afraid of whether it would be safe to tell him. She turned her face away and then stood up. Draco noticed and stood up as well.
"I'm going back to the castle." She was turned away from him so he couldn't how distressed she was. Draco frowned, he thought they had been having a nice moment, he didn't want her to leave.
"Don't go, I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable," he said. She shook her head with her back to him.
"It's not that, I just think I should go back in. I'll see you later." And with that Hermione began to walk back to the castle, leaving Draco standing by their tree, confused and sad. He sighed and sat back down. He ran his fingers across his temples and took a deep breath. It felt like an ache anytime he watched Hermione walk away from him and he needed her back more than anything. He knew the date of the castle invasion would be soon and now that Draco had fixed most of the issues with the cabinet and was sure that now that he'd moved it, Hermione and whoever else was helping her could not sabotage it.
Draco didn't even understand how she had found it, how she had any idea what it did. He hoped that she didn't know the plan either. He knew he had another Occlumency lesson that day and he was looking forward to it. He had been practicing clearing his mind and he felt that each new lesson he was getting much better.
Draco stood up and left, going into the Great Hall to get some breakfast and glancing at Hermione as she sat with the other Gryffindors. She glanced at him as he entered but deftly kept her back to him as she had breakfast.
"Hermione, how are feeling today?" Ron asked as he put a dollop of scrambled eggs onto his plate. She smiled.
"I'm fine. Had a bit breakfast before so I'm not too hungry at the moment. I think I'll have some fruit though." Hermione took some sliced watermelon, oranges, grapes and cantaloupe and put it on her plate.
"I'm very glad that it is Saturday and we have no classes," Harry said between a bite of toast and jam.
"Yes but we still have a lot of homework to do. We have to be ready for NEWTs don't forget." Ron groaned.
"How are you still focused on school when you now have 'other priorities'?" Ron asked with a slight motion to her stomach.
"That's why I'm thinking of them Ron. Better NEWTs means a better position in the wizarding world and thus a better opportunity to take care of myself," Hermione answered.
By the end of breakfast, both boys had been convinced by Hermione to go with her to the library to work on some homework. After finding a seat in the library, Hermione went in search of a book for her Ancient Runes essay.
Hermione made her way through the library, running her finger over the old binding of the books. She was looking for one in particular that she'd heard about.
She glanced around and then saw the nearly faded lettering glinting in the sunlight coming through a small window. Hermione walked over and was about to take it when it flew from her fingers and up above the shelf into the next aisle. Hermione grumbled as students were not supposed to be using summoning charms to find books.
As Hermione went into the aisle, she had ready a few sharp words for the culprit. But all those words caught in her throat when she saw in the aisle that it was Draco.
Hermione gritted her teeth for a moment before Draco caught sight of her. She walked over and held out her hand.
"May I have my book?" Draco looked innocently at the book in his hands.
"This? Are you sure this is yours? Maybe I need it," he drawled. Hermione took a deep breath and lowered her voice.
"You don't need an Ancient Runes book. I need it for my report. You don't even have that class," Hermione said. Draco thought he could use this opportunity to his advantage.
"How about a trade?" He offered. Hermione looked at him suspiciously.
"What kind of trade?"
"Tell me the real reason why you ran off this morning and I'll give you the book." Hermione shook her head.
"Absolutely not." Draco frowned for a moment and was going to persuade her when another idea came to him.
"Fine, you can have it and you don't have to tell me anything. I know how stubborn you can be," he said as he held out the book. Hermione smiled lightly and took hold of the book firmly, but as she did, Draco who still had a hold of it, quickly moved closer, causing Hermione to retreat and hit a shelf.
She pressed her back against it as Draco held the book but at the same time had Hermione pinned to the shelf. The aisle they were in was in the very secluded corners of the library and no one was nearby.
Hermione felt her heart racing in her chest. She began to breathe heavily as she realized how alone they were. Hermione cursed herself for letting Draco put her into this position. She looked up at him.
His hair was falling lightly into his eyes and he was looking at her with a look that Hermione couldn't place. It was almost tender.
"You said I could have the book, so what is it that you think you are doing?" Draco moved one the arms enclosing Hermione and lightly stroked her cheek. She almost moved into his caress as he slowly stroked from her temple to her chin and then took her chin between his fingers.
"I don't want to know why you ran off this morning. But I do want something in exchange for the book." Hermione stared at him as he pressed even closer. He moved his lips close to her ear and whispered.
"A kiss. One kiss to change me like in those Muggle Fairy Tales. A prince into a frog and a beast into a prince." Hermione sighed as he pulled back and moved his thumb lightly on her cheek.
"It's a frog into a prince. But the beast part is right," she whispered. Draco was staring at her lips.
"Yes it is, isn't it?" Draco said with pain in his voice. He looked into her eyes.
"Just one kiss. Maybe I'll become that prince I once was. That's all I ask." Hermione glanced at his soft lips and lightly licked hers. She swallowed because she wanted him to kiss her, but she didn't want the consequences.
When Draco saw Hermione glance at his lips and lick her own, he couldn't help but groan at how simple and sensual her movement was. He knew she wanted it as he did and he couldn't wait any longer.
Her leaned in and quickly caught her lips with his own. Draco only kissed her for a moment, tenderly teasing her lips.
Hermione couldn't help but hold onto Draco, as one of his hands slid down her waist. But he didn't try to open her mouth to deepen the kiss, he only allowed for it to go the point where Hermione would want more and then quick as a flash he let her go and left.
Hermione stood there for many moments trying to figure out what had happened almost as if she was in a daze. She clutched the book to her chest and took a deep breath. She had wanted more. She could feel warmth running through her entire body and Hermione pursed her lips together and shut her eyes.
She opened them again and went back to her table with Ron and Harry. They had their noses in two huge dusty books, so she didn't say anything when she came back. She just opened her book and tried to focus on her homework. A familiar fluttering within her stomach made her smile. She lightly stroked her stomach as she finally began to focus on her work and got started on her essay.
Draco on the other hand was on his way to his table before his Occlumency lesson. He had been trying his best to clear his mind every night before bed but he sometimes he couldn't control the dreams he had of Hermione. They were very simple, just of her smiling at him or laughing at him. She'd smile and then lightly stroke his face. Draco always woke up right before she would kiss him and he would just sigh in frustration and then roll over in bed.
He could still feel the warmth of Hermione's lips against his own. The full supple lips, the softness, the warmth and taste of her lips seemed to be engulfing his senses as he sat in the library trying to concentrate and kept thinking about the light puff of air that had escaped Hermione's lips right before he'd kissed her. The feel of her lips and how they felt like home. He had wanted to hold onto her forever, she was like safety and strength all bottled into one beautiful being, and when Draco had kissed her, he knew in that moment how much she meant to him.
He was going to do everything in his power so as to get her back and have her love him that way again. After Draco was able to finally focus and finish his Charms paper, he went back to the dormitory to finish a bit of work, drop off his book bag and then go to an early dinner before Occlumency.
He was not looking forward to seeing Crabbe and Goyle at the moment. When Draco went into the dorm he hoped he would see Hermione, but the dorm was silent as the grave. Draco sighed and went to his room.
Hermione on the other hand was in the dungeons. She had written a letter to Severus which she'd charmed so that only he could open it. She slipped it under his office door, and then made her way back upstairs. It had taken her a lot of time and thought to write that letter and she knew she was being a coward for not telling him face to face, but she didn't want to have to look in his eyes as she let him down again…especially after he'd said that he loved her.
Hermione took a deep breath and knew that it was the best for all of them. She needed to focus on her own feelings, and after her kiss with Draco, she was pretty sure that she was still in love with him and that wasn't fair to Severus.
Hermione went to the Great Hall where she waved and sat down with her friends. A few minutes later, Draco entered the hall as well. He glanced over at Crabbe and Goyle who were surrounded by a few Slytherin girls. Draco stared for a moment. He didn't really feel like being around them, so he turned and left the Great Hall.
He went to wander across the grounds a bit and then grabbed a small dinner in the kitchens. Even though his old house elf Dobby served him, Dobby moved with a bit more pride and self awareness. He wasn't rude, but he definitely didn't call him sir or bow as the others did. Draco thought that maybe after someone was set free of something horrible was when they became strongest. It made Draco think of Hermione.
Meanwhile, Snape had gone back to his office and when he'd swept into the room, the parchment crumpled under his foot. He bent down and looked at the parchment wondering if it had fallen off his desk.
He unfolded it and recognized the beautiful cursive on the page. It was from Hermione but it was just a letter for him. He went to his desk and began to read.
'Dear Severus, I wanted to write this down because I thought I'd be able to best express myself through writing. These past few weeks have been wonderful. You've taken care of me and made me feel precious and special again. But I haven't been honest about my true feelings. I realized that even though I cherish your love, I do not feel the same way. I do care for you deeply and I always will care for you, but even though I've been through so much, my heart still belongs to Draco. Its not fair to you for me to love Draco and be with you. I need to find myself and then I can truly be happy, I hope you can understand that. Take care…and destroy this after you read it.
Hermione'.
Snape sat there in shock for a moment as he absorbed what he'd read. His heart was beating loudly in his ears as he realized he'd lost Hermione again. He must've scared her off when he said he loved her. But he did understand that for her to heal she needed to be alone. Snape stood up and went over to the fire. He stood over it as he stared at the parchment reading the words over and over.
Footsteps and then a knock on his door caused Snape to turn around. There stood the one who stood in his way with Hermione. Draco came into the office and shut the door.
"I'm here for Occlumency professor." Snape said nothing and Draco stared back before he glanced at the parchment in Snape's hands. Hermione's words echoed in his mind, take care…and destroy this after you read it. Snape dropped the parchment into the fire and turned toward Draco.
"Let us begin." He said.