Intoxicating Dreams and Bittersweet Reality
Intoxicating Dreams and Bittersweet Reality
Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine, they're actually Miss Rowling's (like you didn't know that all ready)
Later that night, Hermione sat in bed looking at a little notebook laid out on her knees. She sat sedately, in her ribbony high-necked nightgown; her hair slung back in the usual low ponytail, her face freshly washed.

She was tapping a quill irritably against her chin contemplating the orderly rows of letters, all in her neat and steady hand. It was the notebook she kept of all her marks. She had started it, way back in the beginning of her first year and had updated it up until now. She stared hard at the first row, one right after another it read, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A. It was the same for the next row and the next and so on and so on. All up until this year, it read the same thing.

She stared quizzically at the mark she'd just added, transfiguration: A. It was still glistening with wet ink, and as she looked at it, she felt her stomach twist slightly. It was awfully irregular, wasn't it? Hermione could hardly think of another student who tried so hard, or got as good marks as she did. Why was it that she was so perfect? But as she sat there pondering these things, something else elbowed its way into her thoughts. Why did she care what Malfoy thought? He was the one who'd put these ridiculous ideas into her head. He's just jealous, she thought huffily. Ugh, why should I care what Malfoy thinks? All he does is ride around on his stupid broomstick, and cause trouble. Hermione snorted, tucking the little notebook into a drawer. Only Malfoy would try and convince me that getting good marks is bad. Ha, stupid Malfoy. And with a final toss of her hair, she rolled over and turned off the light.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You guys all ready?" Harry called. There were the general murmurs of assent, as Ron and Hermione rose and joined Harry by the portrait hole. He held Hedwig's empty cage in one hand. He held Hedwig's empty cage in one hand. They were off to Hogsmeade to pick her up and go on few other errands. Last week Hedwig had been caught out in a rather fierce thunder storm, and spiraled into the owlery with a damaged wing. Harry had had to drop her off at Hogsmeade's pet shop, as that was the closest place with a magical vet. Harry was scheduled to pick her up today, as her wing had supposedly healed.

"All right then lets be off."

The ride to Hogsmeade was a pleasant one, they spoke happily of light, airy things like the weather and Hedwig's condition. Hermione watched contentedly, as the landscape slipped by, out the train window. Except for that stupid incident with Malfoy the other day, her life was relatively perfect.

As they stepped off the train with the bustling mass of students they agreed to meet at the ice cream shop when all their prospective errands had been taken care of. So Hermione set off cheerily across the street to the quill and parchment store, her bright mood reflecting the cloudless, blue sky. It was a beautiful sunny day, but still awfully cold and there was an unpleasant sting in the air that bit at Hermione's cheeks and sent her breath spiraling, into smoky, white curls.

She made her purchase quickly, and stood outside on the cobbled street, wondering absently where she could go to wait the rest of the time. Her eyes wandered listlessly over the rows of stores, and she'd almost decided to take a peek in the bookstore when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Hermione whirled around, hoping that maybe Harry and Ron had finished early. Her face fell when she saw Draco Malfoy, leaning against the wall behind her, nonchalantly lighting a cigarette. He had a rebellious air to him, slouched against the wall, his jacket collar pushed up, fair hair tumbling into his eyes.

Hermione scrunched up her face in disgust, and stepped hurriedly back.

"Well don't look so excited to see me," he drawled sardonically.

Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "What do you want Malfoy?"

"Nothing." He shrugged, sliding his hands deep into his pockets.

Hermione tapped her foot impatiently, "Then why did you tap me?" Malfoy flashed her a rakish grin, but didn't answer, just blew plumes of smoke out one corner of his mouth. "Well Malfoy. If you're not going to talk to me then I-"

"You're just a lot better to talk to than any of the other idiots who go to this school." He finished, gazing dispassionately at a spot in the sidewalk. He glanced up quickly and snickered. "Here come your two bumbling sidekicks now."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Malfoy, anger bubbling in her veins. "Don't you ever call them that Malfoy. You're so judgmental and miserable. Why I even put up with you is a mystery to me." She turned hastily, preparing to walk away but before she could move, Malfoy grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face him. She was surprised to see his pale blue eyes looking at her pleadingly.

"Hey Hermione, I'm sorry. I only wanted to talk to you for a min-" But before he could finish, someone had stalked up behind him, and ripped him back from Hermione by the back of his jacket, throwing him violently against the wall. Hermione winced when she heard a sickening crack, as Malfoy's head connected sharply with the brick.

Ron stepped close to Malfoy, eyeing him scathingly, his voice soft and dangerous. "What are you doing Malfoy? Hurting more people to make yourself feel good?" Malfoy just scowled at him bitterly, licking blood from his lips. "Huh, Malfoy? What's the matter? Doesn't feel so good now, does it?" Ron paused as if waiting for an answer. Malfoy gave him none. "Does it?" He barked.

Malfoy wiped fiercely at the ribbon of blood trickling down his cheek, then screwed up his eyes in fury, and heaved himself off the wall to stand at his full height. "I didn't touch your stupid girlfriend Weasley! So back off!" Ron gave a loud cry of anger, and raised his fist back way over his head, to send it smashing into Malfoy's jaw. Hermione cried out in horror and clasped a hand over her mouth. Malfoy teetered drunkenly for a moment, before toppling headfirst into the puddle at his feet; black with rich, dark mud.

Harry and Ron laughed cruelly, and linking Hermione's arm in his, Harry breezed by, purposely shuffling through the murkiest puddle, so that Malfoy's face was splattered with plump, greasy drops.

Hermione let herself be led away, feeling numb, but as they passed through the ice cream shop's doors, she listened to Harry and Ron's elated discussion, with a growing feeling of resentment. "And the way it felt to connect with his jaw like that! Phenomenal! I've always wanted to do that!"

Harry nodded eagerly, "And the fact that he sailed right into that puddle, brilliant! Don't worry Hermione, " Harry went on, giving her shoulders a reassuring shake, "Malfoy won't bother you again!" Something seemed to switch on suddenly, inside Hermione, and she wrestled herself free of Harry's grasp. Not even bothering to give an explanation, Hermione turned and raced back out the door.

Malfoy had raised himself to a sitting position, and Hermione could see the entire right side of his body steeped in mud. His features were twisted with loathing as he dabbed gingerly at the puddle of blood oozing down his jawline. He placed a tentative finger on his jaw, and his face twitched in pain. "Fuck." He muttered, his scowl deepening further so that his eyes became two shadowed pits, sunk deep into his skull. He hadn't even noticed Hermione come up.

She cleared her throat, regarding him awkwardly, "Umm...Malfoy I-" Cold blue eyes flashed up at her, causing her voice to falter.

"What'd you want?" He growled, his voice as sharp as broken glass.

"I only wanted to apologize for-"

"Well don't," he snarled, "I don't need your pity. Why don't you just leave me alone." His fingers crept once more over his jawline, and his face contorted with agony.

Hermione stepped forward, extending a hand. "Why don't you-"

"Get away from me!" He bit out, scuttling back from Hermione, so that his thin, heaving shoulders were pressed against the wall. He tossed his head fiercely, trying to shake the hair from his eyes, but the mud had dried, and it stuck in thick chunks, plastered to his forehead. He clawed irritably at it, then leered at Hermione from beneath the damp, matted tangle, his ice blue eyes vicious. "I said, get away from me!" He shouted. He put a muddied hand on the wall, and drew himself shakily to his feet, swaying tipsily. "I suggest you get away from me Granger before I have to grab you by your hair and drag you away." He narrowed his eyes at her maliciously, and she shrank back frightened. "I don't need your charity, I don't need you friendship, and most of all I don't need YOU!" he spat, "So go!" Hermione leapt back, deciding he was true to his word, and turned only once before she retreated, eyeing him longingly. "GO!" He screamed, and with a start, Hermione turned and ran, horribly confused by the way the corners of her eyes were beginning to sting.

The End!! For now, anyway. I know it was an awfully short chapter, but don't worry there's lot's more to come!! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and all that, and remember PLEASE write a long meaningless review, haha, I mean not really meaningless just long. Tell me if you're in love with Draco, or if you think he's an ass, or somebody else is acting stupid..*cough* harry and ron *cough* Well anyway, just write something, and I'll cya later~