Disclaimer: Hmm...not mine? Well the plot is mine & some characters I have to make up as I go along, but the rest aren't :-(
Author's Note: I have been mulling over an idea for one of the succeeding chapters for this fic for far too long now and I'm getting excited to write about it, but I just dunno when I'll be able to! I mean, I thought it would be in the last chapter for sure, but I guess that would be too soon, hopefully I get to write it in this chapter--btw, the idea I'm talking about is the surprise Hermione's going to get, hehehehe *wink, wink*
Summary: Hermione & Draco received a nasty blow to the head when an out of control bludger careened towards where they stood bickering during a Quidditch practice. They woke up in the hospital wing not knowing each other--but they know everyone else--and an instant attraction towards each other soon formed.
Setting: 6th year
Pairings: Draco & Hermione
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XXV. Alone for the Holidays
The little stunt he pulled at Letty Luke's the previous weekend didn't go unnoticed as far as Lucius Malfoy was concerned. He quickly sent an owl--I must be really lucky he hasn't sent me a howler yet! Draco thought--to his son berating him about his sudden interest over a certain Mudblood.
...I don't want the Malfoy name to be tarnished by your association with a filthy Mudblood!
Draco could practically hear his father screaming in his letter. Lucius Malfoy made damn sure no son of his would be associated--least of all married--to any Mudblood. It was purely and utterly insane to have that in the family! Malfoys are proud Purebloods, something Draco was often fed with growing up. But things change.
He'd changed.
And Lucius didn't like that his son has changed...for good.
~*~
Hermione found out that Draco was the only Slytherin student at Hogwarts this Christmas. Boy, it must be really lonely staying all alone in the Slytherin dungeon with no one to talk to. Since the day he rescued her from that thug at Hogsmeade and she cried in his arms, hearing him utter those soothing words to her and promising her nobody would dare touch her as long as he was around made Hermione feel more compelled to be by Draco's side no matter what. He may never come to love her as much as she love him, but he cared for her nevertheless. His care for her showed when he rescued her from that bully Steve at Letty Luke's.
"Harry, would you mind if I borrow your Invisibility Cloak again?" she asked her best friend before they left the tower to go to the Great Hall for dinner.
"Sure. But mind if I ask why you're borrowing it again?"
"Do I have to have a reason to borrow your Invisibility Cloak?" she asked evasively.
Harry raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest, giving Hermione a once-over before replying, "You're going to sneak out again and meet with Malfoy, aren't you?"
"No." she denied immediately, realizing that her reply came a bit too hastily and Harry's eyebrow rose even higher.
"I knew it!" he hissed, "Dammit, Herm! That bloke's playing with you and you're just letting him use like...like...you're hurting, and I hate it when you're hurting. You think I don't know that you've been crying yourself to sleep most nights? Hell, I even saw you and Ginny talking one evening and you were crying. Now I don't think I needed a genius that time to figure out that you were crying over that blasted Malfoy again."
"Look, I am borrowing the Invisibility Cloak because I just wanted to walk around the castle grounds without being detected. And the last time I used it and met Malfoy was completely an accident." she explained to her friend as calmly as possible, "I didn't even know he was out and about doing God knows what by the lake!"
"Uh-huh. And you just expect me to--"
Hermione reached out and placed her hand against Harry's mouth to shut him up. Honestly, having an overprotective best friend could be downright annoying. And she hates it when her friends knew her too well to be able to predict what she planned to do!
"Harry, I love you but right now you are trying my patience. It's a simple yes or no answer to my question. Can I or can I not borrow your Invisibility Cloak tonight? Yes or no?"
Harry knew when he had been defeated, so against his will he nodded his head and Hermione pulled her hand away, smiling brightly at him.
"Good. Can I have it now before we go to dinner?"
"What?" he looked like he was about to argue with her again, but Hermione gave him a stern look that told Harry to back off. "Fine, fine. I'll just grab it from my room." he muttered and stalked back upstairs to retrieve his ever useful Invisibility Cloak.
"Thank you." Hermione smiled triumphantly, following her best friend with her gaze.
~*~
Dinner was a quiet event that evening. It was Christmas Eve and Headmaster Dumbledore decided to throw a small feast for those few students who remained. Actually there were only about six students all together; Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione from Gryffindor, Draco from Slytherin and another boy from Ravenclaw. Since there were only a few people eating dinner, Dumbledore decided to have everyone seated around the same table, and as luck would have it Hermione and Draco ended up sitting side by side.
They went through the first course without as much as talking, but as the meal progressed everyone started talking to one another which eventually led to Hermione talking to Draco who was closest to her. She was unfortunately seated between Draco and the Ravenclaw boy whilst her three friends were seated across from her. It was a very tense moment as far as Hermione was concerned since Draco never replied to most of her questions. And talking to the Ravenclaw to her other side was a futile attempt since he was busy talking to Professor Sprout about something regarding Herbology.
Dessert was being served when Draco put down his napkin and excused himself from the table.
"Aren't you going to stay for sweets, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked quizzically.
"No, Professor. I'm quite full, thank you." he declined graciously and walked out of the Great Hall.
Hermione darted a quick look at Ginny who has been watching her since Draco made his excuse. She was the only one who knew about Hermione's plan on why she borrowed Harry's cloak. Not wanting to look obvious that she was going to follow Draco, she lingered in the Great Hall and downed a couple of her favorite cupcakes, sneaking two inside her robe to give to Draco later, before she stood up and excused herself.
She headed straight out the Great Hall and headed towards the direction of the Slytherin dungeon--she hoped. She have seen Draco come through that direction numerous times whenever he was headed to the Great Hall that she assumed that was where their dungeon was located. She put on the cloak to cover herself and walked towards the direction she hoped Draco took.
After what seemed like an endless hallway, she finally came to a full stop at a spiral stone staircase and caught sight of the back of Draco's head. She quickly followed him and stopped a few inches away from him and waited for the portrait door to open as Draco provided the keeper with the password.
She have never been to the Slytherin dormitory before. Harry and Ron once entered this place under the disguise of Crabbe and Goyle back in second year, but neither one of them went into lengths telling her exactly what the Slytherin common room looked like. From what she could see it was pretty dark and dank. She moved towards one of the chairs near the fireplace and sat down, the Invisibility Cloak still covering her and watched Draco move about quietly in the silent common room. He looked very troubled and in dire need of someone to talk to. It must be really lonely to be the son of a man like Lucius Malfoy. From what Ginny told her--and from what she could remember--Lucius Malfoy was a number one supporter of the Dark Lord and a very vile man.
"A penny for your thought?" she asked softly when she heard Draco's long indrawn breath as he stood in front of the fireplace, his hands braced against the top ledge and his gray eyes focused on the dancing flames.
Draco's blond head quickly snapped up when he heard someone spoke. He looked alarmed as he quickly scanned the room in search of his unwanted intruder.
"Show yourself." he demanded sternly.
~*~*~*~*~
to be continued...
A/N: Okay, okay, I know I'm prolonging the inevitable. I'm sure ya'll are waiting for that time when Draco finally admits his feelings to Hermione. But fear not my faithful readers and new readers alike, Hermione will soon hear those three little words she longed to hear him say to her for so long now...
Starrynights13: thanks for loving the chapters, and you will find out what happens to Draco and Hermione soon enough. Of course a happy ending is in the works for this fic...but as always, I just have to throw a few more twists to their love story, hehehehe
Claudia: now that I am cured off my writer's block, I'm sure to be writing more soon
Hannah4Daniel: thanks again for your constant review, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the previous one in case you haven't read it yet
song*breeze: so you like Bryan Adams songs too?! hehehe, I think most of his ballads are wickedly good...and the one I used in this fic is a particular fave of mine--I won't get tired listening to it over and over again!
Quistis88: thanks for leaving your mark, hope you enjoy this next chap
Queen Li: I thought that would garner some "oohs" and "aahs" from you readers! hehehe, actually I wanted to throw that in just to show Hermione--and you readers as well--just how much our stubborn Slytherin really cares for our brainy Gryffindor
Draco's one and only: yes, I did receive your email and I did check out your story. that was a good one
Angela: they are getting together soon enough, my dear child, hehehehe, don't worry
CrystallineLily: sorry had to go to work earlier today so I didn't get the chance to upload again until now...nevertheless, hope this next chap cures you off your sudden boredom *lol*
Brookie: thanks for liking the way I write. Hermione already knows how much she really loves Draco, but it's Draco's feelings for her that she ain't really sure about--until last chapter's events which got her thinking that maybe--just maybe--he really does care for her, hehehehe
Sabrina: I'm flattered and glad you liked each and every chapter of this fic, and hopefully this one ain't a disappointment. and if you have any ideas feel free to throw it in. I always listen/read my reviewer's ideas
Rebecca: hehehe, I think I'll have to keep you in suspense about what's about to happen now that Hermione has found her way in to the Slytherin dormitory with our resident Hogwarts heartthrob...hehehehe *wink, wink*
mattpenn: thanks for leaving your mark, hopefully this irked your curiosity some more
ju: well I'm glad you're serious and you want me to kill Lucius?! *lol* how??? oh well, I'll think of a way to shut him up and let Draco & Hermione get together without his interference!!
tickle the dragon: thanks for leaving your mark, and I'm curious to know which 5 or 6 songs you connected to this lovebirds, care to share 'em? I get most of my inspiration from listening to certain music and I just visualize ideas for the next chapter and whatnot. As for me using Laverne Helmsly instead of Lavender...I think Lavender's too much of a "girly-girly" type of character and my Laverne's more...oh, I dunno, tough? hehehe
Jubliations: oh don't worry dearie, Draco's gonna grow a pair soon *lol*
Rach: you really think that they're adorable when they're all protective but not overly so? well that's nice! :-)
daine: I'm trying to write/type each chapter as fast as I can, but due to too much work I can only upload a chapter or two a day. But worry not for you will find out soon enough what will happen to our two fave lovebirds, hehehehe
nessa-girl: the last scene in the previous chapter has got to be my fave scene so far in this story. I decided to make Draco all sweet and protective of Hermione because--duh!--he really does love her! and about the saints...yeah, that's weird that Lucius Malfoy is such a devil in the HP serious when somebody with his first name was a saint, hehehehe