A/N: Sorry this took so long! I had a lot going on in my life...like getting my permit, and other lovely things like that. Also, my muse went on vacation. (i.e., I ran out of ideas) so...anyways, I think it turned out ok, and, well, enjoy! Also, all suggestions are WARMLY welcomed. ~Lily~


The Messenger and the Dragon


Chapter Six: The Messenger and the Dragon


Draco lay wide-awake in his bed, tossing and turning. Last time he had checked, it had been somewhere around three in the morning. They had spent the rest of their detention talking about little irrelevant things, and every once in awhile yelling at each other, because the Shutupiserum had worn off, and they discovered that they both very much liked to yell. Also, they were very used to yelling at each other. Anything else seemed a little unnatural.

They had basically avoided talking about the important stuff because things had become very awkward and neither of them really knew what they wanted to do or where they were going. He knew that any relationship he had with her would be different from his multitudes of other girls. The main difference was that he actually cared about her. He had never actually cared for someone else before. Well, his mother. He remembered what she was like before the Imperious curse. She used to be lively and free, loving almost anyone and everything. Then Voldemort had come along, and wreaked havoc on their family. His dad had bowed down to the 'Dark Lord' and had done anything he asked, without questioning. Now his mother was like a zombie, often forgetting who he even was, always sitting in the same chair staring out the same window with the same blank expression on her face. Sometimes he would have to feed her when he came home for breaks because everyone would have forgotten to. She always sat there, silent, easy to forget. She didn't complain, after two weeks of starving. She didn't know how to complain anymore. She knew nothing. Only once, in these last seven years, had Draco seen any emotion flicker across her face. That was when he had become a Death Eater. When he had been attacked by The Knife. She, of course, had been the one to kill the lady. It was the only time he had ever seen his father lose control of one of his possessions. And Draco was very glad, and very grateful that he had. He wondered how much longer his father would let his mum live. Probably not long, if she started to fight frequently. He loved his mum.

He thought it was kind of funny how fast things had happened. One day, they were complete enemies. One hour, they were complete enemies. The next, they weren't only friends, they were almost lovers, too. Almost. He knew that things had to be gone about carefully. They would have to ease people into acceptance. After all, he was a bad Malfoy (he left out the big part because it wasn't really that true. He wasn't small, but he wasn't Crabbe or Goyle big, either.), and she was the perfect top student. Maybe he should go about wooing her. That was a kind of comical sight in itself. He just wasn't the type to go asking a girl to go out with him. They were always coming to him begging. Hmmm. This would present a problem.



*Hermione's POV*


Hermione lay, eyes wide open, legs and arms spread as if she were attempting to fly, on top of her bed covers. She had been like that for several hours now. When she had come into the dorm room, Lavender had bombarded her with all sorts of questions, wondering if they had kissed again, if he had declared his undying love, if she had kissed him back. Hermione simply shook her head. If only she knew. Did he really love her? Did he even like her? Did she really love him? What was love? Was love the answer? Why did he have to be put into such a terrible situation? How would Ron and Harry react to this? Should she tell them anything, or just wait? Who had killed the lady? Why was Voldemort so set on having Draco as a Death Eater? She wasn't able to fully answer any of her questions, which left her spinning in dissatisfied circles for hours.

Hermione wanted answers. She couldn't go on like this. Did most girls go through this? Was she being reduced into a bumbling, normal, teenage girl? How would everyone react? Then it hit her. What if Draco was making all of this up to take her mind off of her school-work so that he would get ahead and become top student? That would never do. Hermione jumped up and grabbed her book bag. She used her wand for light, and started to write away, working first on her Potions essay, then, around five in the morning, starting on Transfiguration. By six she was snoring over her books, and by 7:45, Parvati was nudging her and Lavender was giggling over her Transfiguration essay, which went something like, "Control of Draco Malfoy your magical Draco Malfoy powers is Draco Malfoy very important because, what is love? without complete control, Draco Malfoy outside influences can get in the way and mess up your Draco is bad, and Malfoy, but not big, and a goooood kisser! spells. I really love Draco Malfoy think that being able to use your magic without Draco Malfoy a wand is a very important stepping stone in every Draco Malfoy wizard or witches Magical education..."

Hermione woke up. She saw Parvati and Lavender giggling. "Wha's so funny?"

Parvati and Lavender exchanged glances, and then decided not to tell her that it was her essay. They would, instead, give it to the infamous Draco Malfoy, himself.

"You are, dear. How late were you up last night?"

"I-I dunno. I never really planned to fall asleep. I was working on my homework...what happened to my Transfiguration essay? Have you seen it?"

Lavender had it folded up and hidden in her hand.

"No. But, if you did it in the early morning hours, it probably wasn't very good anyways. How was detention?"

"I told you yesterday how detention was. It was fine, for being with Malfoy, I guess. It wasn't anything special. And no, I did NOT kiss him, Lavender. For the hundredth time!"

"What ever you say, 'Mione dearest. Now, I don't mean to rush you, but in ten minutes breakfast starts, and you haven't even gotten a shower!"

"Oh! Noooooooo! Aaaah!" Hermione jumped up, scattering notes everywhere on the floor and ran towards the showers.

"Now, should we give it to him before, after, or during breakfast?"

"Before. C'mon!"

The two girls giggled and ran out of their dorm, through the common room, out the portrait hole, and towards the Slytherin common room. They neared it, and slowed down, catching their breath. About five minute later, a very ragged looking Draco came stumbling out of the portrait hole, smoothing down his usually perfectly smooth hair, looking like he hadn't slept a wink, judging by the dark circles on his pale face.

"Er-Draco?" he turned around, looking shocked at seeing two Gryffindors.

The two girls giggled sheepishly, looking at one another.

"*What* do you want?"

"Well, we don't want anything, actually. We just have something to give you...it's from Hermione, only she doesn't know that she's giving you anything..."

"*What* do you mean?"

Parvati spoke up. "Well, you see, we found her still asleep at about a quarter of eight, which has never before happened in Hermione Granger history, and when we went to wake her up, we found this...it's supposed to be a transfiguration essay, but its completely useless to her...so we thought maybe you would like it."

"Why would I want her essay?"

"Just read the first line, and you'll know why..."



*Draco's POV*



He glanced down at Hermione's essay. It was the funniest Hermione Granger essay he had ever read. It had his name every couple words.

"Do you know at what time in the morning she wrote this?" He asked bemusedly. Then he looked up. The two girls were gone.

Well, at least he hadn't been the only one who hadn't gotten much sleep. Oooh...she thought he was a good kisser...a slow, sly, Draco Malfoy grin slid across his face. This was the perfect way to start the day. To know the answer to the one question that wouldn't leave him alone all night. Yes, obviously Hermione Granger did like him. Very much so, indeed. His grin grew a bit wider. His favorite line had to be, "When I felt his mouth against mine you concentrate with an unbounded amount of effort I nearly melted. I always thought that it would be and eventually get some small result in perhaps the change of an eyelash, or Viktor who would kiss me first. But, no, it was Draco! Anyways, I nearly melted because I have never felt growth of a fingernail. Eventually things get easier and you are able to grow things at an abnormally fast rate. You can make people's such an amazing clash between hot and cold, light and dark, it was like a never-ending ecstasy that made perfect sense nose's grow extra long, like Pinnochio, and..."Ok, maybe it was a *bit* more than a line...but, God, this could go to his head...

Smiling, and whistling a little tune under his breath, he headed for the Entrance Hall. He may be dead tired, but this little essay was definitely worth staying up all night and worrying...

He was in the middle of his second sunny-side up, and his third piece of toast, when she came running into the Entrance Hall. Her hair was looking good, she was back to no makeup, which he didn't mind, although a little under the eyes would've done her good...he could use some himself...she was adjusting her robes, and carrying her shoes in one hand. All in all, she looked very flustered, but cute. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and a tiny flicker of a smile was exchanged, before she was sitting amongst her Gryffindor friends. She sat facing him, though, and they both exchanged several more glances throughout breakfast.



*Hermione's POV*



"So, Hermione, how was your detention with the ferret?" Ron was chewing a huge bite of sausage as he said this.

"It was...ok, I guess. I think we've run out of curses to use on each other, and sort of come to a mutual understanding, actually..."

Harry had a little trouble swallowing his last bite of toast, before starting to talk.

"Uh, 'Mione...this is the guy who was embarrassing you in front of the whole school and sending your two best friends to the infirmary, only yesterday..."

"Yeah, I know, Harry. But, I don't think he'll be doing anything else to me, and I don't think he will really be bothering you and Ron that much either..."

"How do you know?" Ron was eyeing her suspiciously.

"For starters, he's gotten over the mudblood thing. And...other reasons..."

Hermione noticed disquietingly that Lavender had started grinning at this. She really had a totally different idea in mind.

He was watching her. He looked like he hadn't slept much, either. That always meant something. And he had briefly smiled at her. And she was becoming a totally pathetic girl. She would have to re-write her Potions essay, because she had found the words Draco Malfoy in the essay in three different places.

"Hermiiiiiiiioneeee! Hey! Anybody in there?" Harry was waving a buttered piece of toast in front of her face.

"What? Oh, I guess not..." She smiled at him apologetically.

"'Mione, can we talk alone for a minute?"

"Sure, Harry."

She followed him out of the Entrance Hall. He watched them leave.

"'Mione, I get the feeling that there's something you're not telling us. Did Malfoy harass you again? Did he try to kiss you?"

"No, Harry. Nothing like *that*!"

"Well, then, why on earth do you keep staring at him?"

"Have I been? Must be a funny coincidence!"

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Hermione. Why do you look like you didn't sleep much last night?"

"Because I didn't."

"Why?"

"Homework."

"But you had all detention to do it!"

"Well...it didn't get done. No, don't look at me like that!"

"Well then, what did happen?"

"Well, I got taped to the wall, I knocked him out, and revived him, we got to talking..."

"You like Malfoy, don't you?" Harry was looking at her incredulously.

"Harry!" Hermione couldn't lie to him. She never could. "Maybe...I-I dunno..."

"Hermione! This is awful! He's...he's a piece of horse shit!"

"Why's it awful? He is not!"

"He's our enemy! He hates you! Or does he?"

"Well, he trusts me..."

"And..."

"Why do I have to justify who I like, when you like some stupid girl like Cho over Ginny? Hmmm?"

"She's not stupid!"

"Great response, Harry. And she is. And she's Cedric's for the time being, and you know it. So move on."

"Ginny's like my little sister, though!"

"But she's not."

Harry ran a hand through his messy black hair, and sighed. "You got me off topic. Why else?"

"Listen, quiz me later. I'm still the same Hermione Granger, I'm still getting my homework done, I'm a big girl, Harry, I doubt anything will happen, and, look, I'm over Viktor!"

Harry shook his head, sighed for the second time, and headed back to the table without a word to Hermione. Hermione also sighed, and slumped down in the corridor. Great. Harry would tell Ron, and he would react even worse than Harry had. She didn't feel like breakfast anymore.


***


Draco watched Hermione and Harry leave the Gryffindor table. It wasn't hard to guess what this would be about. Finally, he saw Harry return. He waited, but Hermione never came back. Harry had resumed his seat and kept shooting him daggers. Obviously he hadn't taken things too well. Draco slid his chair back, and headed out of the Entrance hall. Where was she?

Oh. There she was. She was huddled on the floor in a little mass of black robe, funny hair, and a few tears.

"Hey."

She looked up, after attempting to wipe away her tears.

"Hi..."

"Are you ok?" He squatted down in front of her.

"No. Not really. But I'll survive."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Oh, c'mon. Don't be a typical girl. You're avoiding the question, but I know you want to answer it..."

"I'm not a typical girl! I'm just stressed and tired and my Transfiguration essay is missing and...never mind."

"I know where your essay is..."

"You do? How? I wrote it at five in the morning. How could you possibly?"

He pulled it out, and waved it in front of her face. She grabbed it, and upon reading the first line, started to blush.

"This-this can't be mine...I-I was much more...focused..."

"It says Hermione Granger at the top of the page." He hastily added, "Plus, it made all my late night worries ok...it was the best letter anyone could hope to receive, even if it wasn't meant to be sent."

"Really? You didn't sleep either?"

"Do I look like I did? Hell, Hermione, what are we getting ourselves into?"

She laughed at this. "I really don't know..." Slowly she brought her face up, until their eyes met...the Emperor and the Angel, the Messenger and the Dragon, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, were united.




Viola! Chapter Six! Awww...anyways...how will Ron react? Has this been the teachers' plan all along? Or just Dumbledore's? Will my muse return?

I am Siamese, if you please...*ahem* just please review, I had a little too much mint chocolate chip ice cream....

Joycie-sorry this took so long, but thanks for waiting...I hope you liked it!!! and thanks for all your ideas...if you noticed, I added in about the Shutupiserum...lol!