Possession, Part Two

'Cause you're everywhere to me

When I catch my breath it's you I breathe

Everything I know that makes me believe

I'm not alone

~ Michelle Branch, "Everywhere"

Room 311. Hermione pulled out the piece of paper from her coat pocket for the 271st time that day. It reminded her of Titanic when Jack gave her the note, saying to meet her in front of the clock to show her a "real" party. And they danced their hearts out and Rose lost her heart that night. Or that's when Hermione thought she did. Would Hermione lose her heart to the heartless Draco Malfoy? No one would know but her.

And now is when she was supposed to meet him. She turned the knob of the brass handle and the wooden door swung open to reveal only him. He looked at his gold pocket watch, hanging on the gold fob chain, and did the funny half-smile.

"You're on time." Was all he said. Hermione surveyed the scene and took in his words. She could imagine that by the time this was over, if she had a galleon for every time he mentioned "being on time" that she would be wealthy. She didn't pretend to understand his obsession with it, but she went along with it as though his obsession were fragile. Which it may as well have been, but once again, Hermione didn't know.

"Right on time, according to my watch." She looked down, but realized foolishly that she wasn't wearing one. "Which I left in my dorm."

He brushed a piece of blond hair out of his eyes.

"You're shaking."

"I'm nervous."

"Why?"

"Because you might kiss me." She looked up at his surprised face, and down at the hand that was tracing her jawline.

"And what would make you nervous about that?" He said absentmindedly, but she knew it was not a nonchalant question. He had moved his gentle fingers over the bridge of her nose and to her other ear. He touched the spot just behind her earlobe, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Because I may not be good enough for you." He left his finger there, feeling her pulse fluctuate as her breaths became shallow and rigid.

"That's impossible." He cupped her jaw, and she reluctantly looked up at him with her big brown eyes. "Kisses cannot be bad. Their tongue could be choking you, but especially if it's your first kiss, you won't think it as bad. Kisses," he kissed her forehead, "are meant to express emotion," he kissed her nose, "and how can you be bad at that?" Finally, he kissed her lips. She felt an odd, electric sensation as their lips touched gently, and then she felt the slightest bit confused. She didn't know what to do. This was not in a textbook or an encyclopedia that she could just research, this was field work. Work that you had to get out in the wilderness and do to know. This all happened in a moment.

"You cannot tell me this is your first kiss. What of Weasley, or Potter, or even Krum? They didn't use you as a playtoy to experiment with?" She dropped her eyes and shook her head slightly. He continued; "Follow my lead."

Once again, their lips touched and his tongue slid into her mouth. It wasn't unpleasant, there were more tingles and shivers and she thought she would collapse if she didn't sit, or lie down. He seemed to read her mind and put her on the couch, lying nearly on top of her. Hermione decided the weight was even comforting. He later said that she was quite good of a kisser, even for a beginner.

*

"Hermione! Where have you been? I've got the most amazing story to tell you! You wouldn't believe, Harry can be the biggest doll alive- Hermione?" Ginny rushed off her bed to greet her, but soon realized that Hermione wasn't truly listening.

"Hmm?" She said, pursing her lips together in a playful fashion, as if she wanted to taste her own lips.

"Where were you?"

"Lib'ry," she popped a jellybean in her mouth, "why?"

"Because I didn't think you went there. You left all of your things here; you didn't bring any books back. Now really, where were you?" Ginny smiled amiably. Hermione continued to suck on the single Red Apple flavored bean.

"Well I was, I returned a book I borrowed, and looked at some others while I was there. Didn't take any, they were the kind that you weren't allowed to take out." Hermione said flawlessly. She met Ginny's eyes all the way through. She hadn't fumbled upon words, but why would she? Words were her life. Her voice- smooth, as if her tongue was a serpent that spit out venomous lies. But Ginny didn't know that. Brown eyes met brown and Hermione could see her own face reflected in Ginny's glassy pupils.

They would all find out someday. But for now, Hermione was getting to be a very good liar.

"Well," Ginny started, but shook her head at no one, "nevermind. I'm going to go and get something to drink, wallow in the common room. Please care to join me."

"No, I think I'll just give myself some alone time. Thanks." Hermione flashed her a winning 100-watt smile, fake of course. She watched as Ginny turned the handle of the brass knob and left swiftly, rambling down the ancient steps.

"Look what you've become, Hermione," she looked at herself in the mirror, "a liar, untrustworthy. You've been sneaking around and you don't even tell your closest girl friend." Hermione could just see the angel Hermione say at her from the mirror, cloaked in white with a wingspan as tall as she. Her eyes were dusted with glitter, and her lips a shimmered pink. Of course, this was the angel Hermione in her daydreams, imaginations, apparitions.

Then of course came the devil Hermione. She faded into the mirror beside her, on the other side of the angel. She looked at Hermione and said "Look what you've become. A good kisser and a hopeless romantic- I see nothing wrong with that."

"Well with that, no, but what about lying? Ginny- Ginny is my best girl friend!" Hermione argued with her mirror. Her mind was so perplexed that she wasn't sure whether these visions had actually appeared or not. She looked to her left, and to her right, and the girl in the mirror did the same. But instead of the girl in her mirror, she didn't see the other two Hermiones. The Devil one made herself comfortable leaning on Hermione's shoulder, while the Angel tapped her foot impatiently, glaring at the second Hermione.

Was this Devil Hermione really her? Was she even a devil? That's what she suspected, after all, that's what all the cartoons depicted, but Hermione didn't look much like a devil. She looked surprisingly good. Her hair was wild, sexy almost, and her eyes were lined with light black. Her look depicted one of animal nature, animal instinct. Her lips- ruby red and matte. While the angel's clothes seemed to drape over her curves, the other's hugged them in a little red dress. Could she ever be this beautiful? So desirable? Instead of the cute, angelic Hermione she was more used to.

The devil's image flickered. Hermione wasn't as strong of a devil as much as she was an angel.

"Yes, Hermione, go with him. Be sexy, not young and cute. Be beautiful, you could so easily be me, you are me, but barely. Forget your friends, they obviously don't understand love."

"Wait, who said this was love?" The Angel interrupted, annoyed. "She just likes him, she would never give away her heart after a few measly kisses. Please, have some strong faith. You would never be able to trust Draco fully, with all your heart. He isn't the trustworthy kind. But your friends, they will be there for you until you abandon them. Go to Seamus, he will love you for who you are, which is me."

"No! She can not go against her heart!"

"No! She can not go against her head!"

"I can not believe I am arguing with myself!" Hermione almost yelled, squeezing her eyes shut. Instantly, the two imaginations were gone as well as their voices. When she opened her eyes again, she saw only herself.

"I am an angel; I am a devil. I don't believe in fate- only I may choose who will win over in the battle," she looked at her reflection a last time, "but maybe not right now," and clambered into bed. She pulled the covers up to her shoulders and slept a dreamless sleep.

A/N: A tad short and wayyy too long of a wait, but I'm really sorry!!! I went to Chicago, couldn't bring the precious laptop, you know the excuses. I'm really sorry, really, but I hope this didn't drag on.

Next chapter: A revelation and someone gets hurt.