Ever since the kiss there had been silence.
It was not even the comfortable type of silence; it was more a semblance of avoidance. Hermione was becoming incredibly frustrated. He was her bloody best friend, and now he could not even talk to her? This was definitely not the Draco she'd known for so many years. His almost-bashful behavior (because Malfoys never showed enough emotion to be considered "bashful") was disturbing, and the more he refused to return her gaze, the more determined she became to somehow meet his eyes.
'Boys!' she thought impatiently, as she leaned against the wall right next to the male sixth year Slytherin dormitories. Draco was in there. She'd seen him enter earlier to escape her, yet this would also lead to his demise. He could stay in there for as long as he pleased, but at that moment, she was the Goddess of Patience. If it took all night, so be it. She'd completed all of her homework earlier, anyway.
After a good thirty minute time lapse, something stirred from inside the room, and the door creaked open. Draco walked out and closed the door behind him before he noticed the still figure waiting for him. His expression changed ever so briefly into one of panic, then regained its cool composure. "Stalking me, are you?"
She rolled her eyes at him before standing up straight and getting a firm grip on his arm. "We need to talk."
Shaking back a piece of fair hair away from his face, he raised a perfectly formed eyebrow. "Really? That's odd. I can't think of a thing I want to say to you.. . ." his voice trailed off and while she could sense his anger, she also knew he wasn't going to leave.
And before she could stop herself, the words were out of her mouth. "Stop acting ignorant; I would think you'd have quite a few things to say to me. After all, you kissed me, remember?"
Draco glared at her, ripping his arm away from her and staring at a point just over the top of her shoulder. "Everyone makes mistakes," he spoke evenly, but his voice threatened to give way, "Look, Granger, I'm sorry, but right now I really don't want anything to do with you." He ripped his arm away from her grip, then turned to walk away.
"Afraid to face me, Malfoy? Is that it?" Her eyes were narrowed, and for a moment she thought he'd just keep walking. But she knew Draco, and Draco never ever let an insult to his name go without punishment.
So, as she had guessed, he whipped back around, and pinned her against the wall. Suddenly, she felt a small surge of fear; had she overstepped one too many boundaries? Was this how it would end, pushed roughly into a wall by the boy she'd considered her best friend until a week ago?
His face leaned into her own, and for a moment she thought he would kiss her again. Instead he stopped an inch from her faces, and stared her down. Her fear increased as she slowly began to realize that she would have liked it if he'd lean in and close that inch. There was no such luck; after keeping her in that position for a few moments, he released her and took a step back. "Why would I be scared of a mudblood?"
Her jaw dropped as he walked away.
Hermione had returned to her room after the confrontation and had rooted in her bed. She had shed no tears; there was no spiteful cursing of his name. Truthfully, she was just too stunned to move. He'd done the one thing she thought he would never ever do, overstepped the one line that should have remained left alone.
He'd called her a mudblood.
She shook her head in an effort to rid herself of all her thoughts, but it was futile. It had happened; she had been there. The only indication that there was some of the Draco she knew still inside was the utter silence as he'd walked away from her down the hall. Running a hand through her hair, she sighed. There was nothing she could do about it.
She was alone now.
Throughout her entire time in Slytherin house, she'd always felt like an outsider in a group of close friends, with the exception of Draco. The other Slytherins were nice to her, (and she suspected he had something to do with that) but it was frosty sort of politeness. Now, without Draco to protect her, they could be as openly hostile as they pleased. She felt a small surge of fear, which she promptly pushed back. Emotionally, she was a strong person. She didn't need a shield from the world. Trying to feel braver than she did, Hermione stood, grabbed a book, and exited the girl's dormitories. Why should she have to hide from the world just because he had been a jerk and a complete idiot to let go of her friendship? Her confidence rose as she made he way down to the common room.
It was ten at night by now, and while the common room was still populated, it was not as crowded as it might have been earlier in the evening. Stray students were still trickling through the door in pairs and trios, confiding within their own groups. Hermione frowned slightly; that was the only real problem she had with Slytherin house. They rarely laughed. She saw Gryffindors walk down the corridor and they would let out giggles and smiles with a warmth she'd only ever seen Draco posses with they were alone. It was something she would never understand, the need to keep their poker faces. They were human, and she thought it couldn't possibly be right to never laugh. She shrugged it off; after six years she'd become accustomed to the stony faces of her peers. Instead of worrying about it, she found a seat near the fire and sat down.
The orange glow was warm, and she even found herself smiling lightly as she engrossed herself in her book. Already the bad events of the day were slipping away as the text seemed to live before her eyes. No one had really ever understood her love of books, except for maybe. . .
Draco?
His voice was soft but very clear, and her eyes immediately darted up to see him stagger in with Pansy Parkinson on his arm. He led her down the couch opposite Hermione; she had a sneaking suspicion that he knew exactly what he was doing. She forced her eyes to fall back on the page, but it wasn't the same. The pictures refused to form in her mind, and though she tried to concentrate, her eyes kept moving to a certain distraction across the room.
'Eugh,' she thought disgustedly, 'Calling me a mudblood is one thing, but he must be really seeking revenge if he's willing to snog Pansy Parkinson.' Pansy was perched on his lap, a grin, not of happiness but more of victory, spread widely across her face. He also was smiling, but Hermione took a small satisfaction in the fact that she knew he was completely miserable. No matter what he did, she knew he privately found Pansy completely unattractive in the way she threw herself at him.
'Serves him right.'
His eyes shifted over Pansy's shoulder and locked with hers. Suppressing a surprised look as best she could, she raised her eyebrows skeptically, then returned her attention (well, as much as possible) to her book. It was then he spoke three words that made her do a double take.
"I love you."
Her head whipped up, staring at the couple across the room. However, the first thing she noticed were his eyes-looking over Pansy's shoulder and directly at her! A private joy filled her.
Pansy, though, did not notice.
"Oh, Draco, do you really mean it?"
Hermione offered a small smile. Silently, she mouthed Pansy's words back to him again. He smirked lightly, which she considered a good sign. "Yes." Then he paused, bringing his eyes to Pansy, but making his voice a little louder and pronounced, "Will you meet me tonight at half past midnight? In the Astronomy Tower?" Gray orbs returned to look over Pansy's shoulder.
A small nod confirmed his statement, then his attention returned to Pansy. She was practically squealing in glee before he "suddenly" remembered that he could not do it because Snape had threatened to give him a detention if he was out past curfew again. It was a lie, of course, but Pansy was fooled. As the girl left, Hermione stood and proceeded to go to her dormitory. She only chanced one look at Draco as she was leaving. By then he was paying her no mind, instead staring into the fire as if it held all the secrets to the world.
It was only when she was inside her blankets "asleep" did she think that maybe she should have refused.
Disclaimer: Merely drowning in the ocean that is Harry Potter.
A/N: I hated the last chapter 2. I have this terrible problem; I never check anything I write before posting it. I'm a terribly lazy person, you see. And when I casually read it a few days after posting it, I wanted to throw myself off a cliff. Seriously. It was terrible! I had no idea why I was getting such wonderful reviews for that piece of CRAP. So I decided to rewrite it. And I did. Now that I have a beta, it's much better. I like it more, at least. THANK YOU ELLUXION (Aria) FOR BETA-ING FOR ME! Everyone should check out her wonderful stories. They're much better than mine. ^^ Anyway, please re-review or review or. . .yeah. :D Bye!
It was not even the comfortable type of silence; it was more a semblance of avoidance. Hermione was becoming incredibly frustrated. He was her bloody best friend, and now he could not even talk to her? This was definitely not the Draco she'd known for so many years. His almost-bashful behavior (because Malfoys never showed enough emotion to be considered "bashful") was disturbing, and the more he refused to return her gaze, the more determined she became to somehow meet his eyes.
'Boys!' she thought impatiently, as she leaned against the wall right next to the male sixth year Slytherin dormitories. Draco was in there. She'd seen him enter earlier to escape her, yet this would also lead to his demise. He could stay in there for as long as he pleased, but at that moment, she was the Goddess of Patience. If it took all night, so be it. She'd completed all of her homework earlier, anyway.
After a good thirty minute time lapse, something stirred from inside the room, and the door creaked open. Draco walked out and closed the door behind him before he noticed the still figure waiting for him. His expression changed ever so briefly into one of panic, then regained its cool composure. "Stalking me, are you?"
She rolled her eyes at him before standing up straight and getting a firm grip on his arm. "We need to talk."
Shaking back a piece of fair hair away from his face, he raised a perfectly formed eyebrow. "Really? That's odd. I can't think of a thing I want to say to you.. . ." his voice trailed off and while she could sense his anger, she also knew he wasn't going to leave.
And before she could stop herself, the words were out of her mouth. "Stop acting ignorant; I would think you'd have quite a few things to say to me. After all, you kissed me, remember?"
Draco glared at her, ripping his arm away from her and staring at a point just over the top of her shoulder. "Everyone makes mistakes," he spoke evenly, but his voice threatened to give way, "Look, Granger, I'm sorry, but right now I really don't want anything to do with you." He ripped his arm away from her grip, then turned to walk away.
"Afraid to face me, Malfoy? Is that it?" Her eyes were narrowed, and for a moment she thought he'd just keep walking. But she knew Draco, and Draco never ever let an insult to his name go without punishment.
So, as she had guessed, he whipped back around, and pinned her against the wall. Suddenly, she felt a small surge of fear; had she overstepped one too many boundaries? Was this how it would end, pushed roughly into a wall by the boy she'd considered her best friend until a week ago?
His face leaned into her own, and for a moment she thought he would kiss her again. Instead he stopped an inch from her faces, and stared her down. Her fear increased as she slowly began to realize that she would have liked it if he'd lean in and close that inch. There was no such luck; after keeping her in that position for a few moments, he released her and took a step back. "Why would I be scared of a mudblood?"
Her jaw dropped as he walked away.
Hermione had returned to her room after the confrontation and had rooted in her bed. She had shed no tears; there was no spiteful cursing of his name. Truthfully, she was just too stunned to move. He'd done the one thing she thought he would never ever do, overstepped the one line that should have remained left alone.
He'd called her a mudblood.
She shook her head in an effort to rid herself of all her thoughts, but it was futile. It had happened; she had been there. The only indication that there was some of the Draco she knew still inside was the utter silence as he'd walked away from her down the hall. Running a hand through her hair, she sighed. There was nothing she could do about it.
She was alone now.
Throughout her entire time in Slytherin house, she'd always felt like an outsider in a group of close friends, with the exception of Draco. The other Slytherins were nice to her, (and she suspected he had something to do with that) but it was frosty sort of politeness. Now, without Draco to protect her, they could be as openly hostile as they pleased. She felt a small surge of fear, which she promptly pushed back. Emotionally, she was a strong person. She didn't need a shield from the world. Trying to feel braver than she did, Hermione stood, grabbed a book, and exited the girl's dormitories. Why should she have to hide from the world just because he had been a jerk and a complete idiot to let go of her friendship? Her confidence rose as she made he way down to the common room.
It was ten at night by now, and while the common room was still populated, it was not as crowded as it might have been earlier in the evening. Stray students were still trickling through the door in pairs and trios, confiding within their own groups. Hermione frowned slightly; that was the only real problem she had with Slytherin house. They rarely laughed. She saw Gryffindors walk down the corridor and they would let out giggles and smiles with a warmth she'd only ever seen Draco posses with they were alone. It was something she would never understand, the need to keep their poker faces. They were human, and she thought it couldn't possibly be right to never laugh. She shrugged it off; after six years she'd become accustomed to the stony faces of her peers. Instead of worrying about it, she found a seat near the fire and sat down.
The orange glow was warm, and she even found herself smiling lightly as she engrossed herself in her book. Already the bad events of the day were slipping away as the text seemed to live before her eyes. No one had really ever understood her love of books, except for maybe. . .
Draco?
His voice was soft but very clear, and her eyes immediately darted up to see him stagger in with Pansy Parkinson on his arm. He led her down the couch opposite Hermione; she had a sneaking suspicion that he knew exactly what he was doing. She forced her eyes to fall back on the page, but it wasn't the same. The pictures refused to form in her mind, and though she tried to concentrate, her eyes kept moving to a certain distraction across the room.
'Eugh,' she thought disgustedly, 'Calling me a mudblood is one thing, but he must be really seeking revenge if he's willing to snog Pansy Parkinson.' Pansy was perched on his lap, a grin, not of happiness but more of victory, spread widely across her face. He also was smiling, but Hermione took a small satisfaction in the fact that she knew he was completely miserable. No matter what he did, she knew he privately found Pansy completely unattractive in the way she threw herself at him.
'Serves him right.'
His eyes shifted over Pansy's shoulder and locked with hers. Suppressing a surprised look as best she could, she raised her eyebrows skeptically, then returned her attention (well, as much as possible) to her book. It was then he spoke three words that made her do a double take.
"I love you."
Her head whipped up, staring at the couple across the room. However, the first thing she noticed were his eyes-looking over Pansy's shoulder and directly at her! A private joy filled her.
Pansy, though, did not notice.
"Oh, Draco, do you really mean it?"
Hermione offered a small smile. Silently, she mouthed Pansy's words back to him again. He smirked lightly, which she considered a good sign. "Yes." Then he paused, bringing his eyes to Pansy, but making his voice a little louder and pronounced, "Will you meet me tonight at half past midnight? In the Astronomy Tower?" Gray orbs returned to look over Pansy's shoulder.
A small nod confirmed his statement, then his attention returned to Pansy. She was practically squealing in glee before he "suddenly" remembered that he could not do it because Snape had threatened to give him a detention if he was out past curfew again. It was a lie, of course, but Pansy was fooled. As the girl left, Hermione stood and proceeded to go to her dormitory. She only chanced one look at Draco as she was leaving. By then he was paying her no mind, instead staring into the fire as if it held all the secrets to the world.
It was only when she was inside her blankets "asleep" did she think that maybe she should have refused.
Disclaimer: Merely drowning in the ocean that is Harry Potter.
A/N: I hated the last chapter 2. I have this terrible problem; I never check anything I write before posting it. I'm a terribly lazy person, you see. And when I casually read it a few days after posting it, I wanted to throw myself off a cliff. Seriously. It was terrible! I had no idea why I was getting such wonderful reviews for that piece of CRAP. So I decided to rewrite it. And I did. Now that I have a beta, it's much better. I like it more, at least. THANK YOU ELLUXION (Aria) FOR BETA-ING FOR ME! Everyone should check out her wonderful stories. They're much better than mine. ^^ Anyway, please re-review or review or. . .yeah. :D Bye!