All characters and the universe belong to J. but the plot belongs to me. I hope you enjoy but not as long. More about the voice will come.
Chapter 7: Teach Me
Gryffindors are known and renowned for their bravery, their nerve and their determination and Hermione felt at this moment a discredit to her house. This unsettled her and Hermione did not like feeling unsettled. Hermione, even herself, could admit Gryffindors had been known to be short-tempered. Yet, she knew her growing temper as of late was outgrowing even that.
Hermione's thoughts and worry continued to haunt her throughout the day, and she felt herself moving through the motions in Charms as she laid her prepared notes on the desk and again, in Ancient Runes. Hermione sat, as she did each day, with Harry, Ron and their friends at dinner time but could not bring herself to engage in conversation. She found herself nodding casually and smiling when it felt right to, but her thoughts were consuming her. Hermione missed the longing looks Harry and Ron each sent her way and each boy glanced from side to side to check no one had witnessed the way they looked at Hermione, even each other.
"So, Hermione, how is rooming with Malfoy?" Ginny asked as she scooped a generous helping of apple crumble into a bronze plated bowl, as Hermione watched as the Weasley portion sizes extended to Ginny also. Hermione did her best to contain the sigh that slipped out, "Living with Malfoy is… well its something. It is not the same as living in the Gryffindor tower with all of you." She smiled at them each individually and hoped to convey how she missed them all. Hermione wished she could tell them what had been happening, but she refused to risk them getting in trouble, especially as Harry was returning to them more and more each day, shedding the sadness of the summer. "You show him whose boss Mione!" Ron ordered as he shovelled mouthfuls of dessert into his mouth, just like his sister and Hermione found herself once again wondering how the boy never choked. "Yeah Hermione! You're Head Girl and you know the professors all love you. If Malfoy gives you any trouble, just report him!" Hermione rolled her eyes at the boys who always took every opportunity to remind her of the swot she was. Although this time, she didn't feel embarrassed. She knew she had this position because she deserved it and this reminder seemed to give her what she needed.
She was Hermione Granger, and she had the title of the greatest witch of her time, and she had this title for a reason. If only, her friends knew what was going on in her head, but she made a pledge to herself. Whatever continued to happen between her and Malfoy, she refused to be a mindless pawn. Each move in chess is made to protect the Queen but she did not need protecting. She was her own Queen. Yet, at that moment, her growing Gryffindor fury was met with the looming icy presence growing inside her.
"Oh, but Princess, every Queen needs her King."
She did not allow herself to consider what the voice instead and decided she would focus on the vow she had made to herself. Hermione sat patiently with her friends as they finished their meals and decided she would spend some time in the Gryffindor tower with them before bed. It was not her night to patrol, and she knew it was Draco's so she would be granted some peace when she decided to return to their tower. She lost herself in chatter with her Gryffindor housemates and this chatter spilled over into the common room as they sat together warmly in front of the grand fire. Ginny and Neville began to play a game of Wizard's chess and as she was pressed between the growing figures of her two best friends who commentated on each move the two players took. Hermione smiled softly as she held the warm cup of hot chocolate and with the warmth of the two growing men beside her. Hermione's eyes fluttered closed, and she could not see the harm in resting her eyes.
Hermione watched on in her dreams as she watched each occasion, she had lost her temper beginning with the summer. Her disbelief grew and grew as she could see the damage she had caused.
The couple she had crushed in the library sat in the hospital wings having their bones grown once again after her actions had broken them. The shattering glass after she had been granted the role of Head Girl. The damaged corridor which she had fled without a second glance and had to gaze upon the next day through new eyes with her friends.
Each kiss she had shared with Draco. She could not believe her eyes as she watched herself grip Draco firmly as she moved her lips against his punishingly. Hermione felt herself flush with heat as she imagined the hand, he gripped her hair with, and his possessive arm wrapped around her body.
Every Queen needs her King. Those had been the words she had heard earlier. Not him. Anyone but him.
Hermione tossed and turned and as her movements became more erratic and she awoke with a start as Draco's icy eyes stared back at her.
Hermione blinked quickly as she tried to focus on her surroundings and brushed her hands over her eyes and down her body to awaken her senses. She pulled a plush, reed blanket away from her body, someone must have placed upon her as she slept and hoped they had not noticed her discomfort. She could now see most of her friends had departed, aside from Ron and Harry who were the ones now playing Wizard's Chess. Neither boy glanced in her direction with their attention firmly on the game between them and she took this as a silent hope that they had not noticed her nap or at least, how unsettling it was. Hermione cleared her throat loudly and the boys spared a moment to glance in her direction. "I think I will head back to my tower now for bed. I am incredibly tired, and I have so much work to do." Harry and Ron were used to this from Hermione and exchanged a chuckle. Harry asked, "Did you want us to walk you back Mione?" and he gave Ron a pointed look as Ron sighed and gestured to their game of chess. "Oh no, I will manage," Hermione responded and followed this up by retorting, "I would hate to interrupt your game Ronald." Ron dared to look sheepish at this but smiled as Hermione laughed for her comment was only meant in jest.
Hermione walked briskly through the halls of Hogwarts, hoping Draco would not yet have returned from patrols allowing her peace and pleasant evening to continue.
Sadly, as Hermione rounded the corner to enter the corridor containing the tower. She saw Draco's looming blonde figure making its way towards their portrait hole and Hermione decided in that moment, she would not cower any longer.
Hermione's smaller figure allowed her to walk quietly along the corridor as Draco seemed so set on his task to get inside, he did not notice her slip inside before the portrait closed and sealed them inside. Hermione stepped in line, and she followed Draco through the small, stone corridor from their portrait to their shared common room. She watched as Draco pulled his tie from his neck and the black material fell to his side resting in his fist. He ran his large, pale hand through his hair, and it became once again loose and no longer constrained by whatever held it in place.
She knew she could no longer remain as an idle onlooker and took his moment of relaxation to her advantage. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Hermione revealed her hiding space in the dark corridor and stepped forward to talk to Malfoy. "It isn't nice to be controlled without permission, is it Draco?" Hermione tried her best to intimidate him and unsettle him using his own name as he did hers. "You will leave me alone. Do you understand Malfoy? We are head boy and head girl. Our positions are equal, and you do not get to treat me as less than so. Now I am going to release you, go into my room and go to sleep. Do you think you could manage to do the same?" Hermione smirked and Draco seethed. His nostrils flared and his eyes glaring down at her. Unable to move due to her spell, Hermione took this that she was safe and made good on her promise moving towards her room.
However, Hermione's relief was short-lived as Draco dived forward and grabbed her knocking them both to the floor. Hermione would not allow Draco the upper hand and spun their bodies so instead of her landing with a bang to the floor, it was instead Draco. Draco appeared to steel himself for this and gripped Hermione at her hips not allowing her to escape from and they landed in a heap together on the floor. Thankful, she had not banged her head, Hermione used this opportunity to make her quick escape from Draco but had not accounted for his grip on her. "What an interesting position we find ourselves in Hermione." Hermione looked down and could see she was straddling his hips and he kept his hold on hers. She found herself unwilling to struggle and instead asked, "How did you release yourself? I hadn't done it yet."
Draco stared at her for a moment and remarked, "Wandless magic Hermione. I am surprised to see it is not yet in your repertoire." Hermione scoffed, as she knew he meant this to insult her. "And how long has it been in yours?" Draco released his hold on her, and Hermione stood quickly and moved towards her door. Draco stood also and seemed somewhat unfazed by the battle they had. He brushed dirt from his clothes and took a seat on their plush sofa ignoring Hermione's presence. Hermione waited expectantly for a response to her question, but Draco continued to ignore her, so at last, she gave up hope and stormed into her room slamming the large, oak door.
How could one stupid man rile her so. Hermione marched to her grand bed and turned with her arms spread landing with a thump on her mattress. She felt glad she had demanded Draco treat her equally and taken him by surprise but annoyed and frustrated, he had done the same to her. She even allowed herself to feel a little impressed that he was proficient in wandless magic. This was not something they were taught and although, she had dabbled, she was not quite as proficient as he. Hermione sat up abruptly, she did not want to allow Draco to be better at something than her and knew she must swallow her humility.
Hermione stood again and went back to her door, placing her hand on the handle as she took a deep breath and willed herself to step back out into their shared common room. Hermione opened her door carefully and stepped out onto the stone floor, feeling the warmth of the large fire Draco must have lit after she entered her room. He was still sat in the space he had occupied before she went into her room and Hermione willed herself to speak with him.
"Draco?" Hermione uttered.
He replied without moving, "What?"
Hermione knew it was bad manners to conduct a conversation in this way but found she could not bring herself to look Draco in the eye as she asked him for a favour. Hermione started again, "Draco." She stared at her feet, even this was hard, she couldn't believe what she was doing.
"Hermione," He emphasised his use of her first name, as this now seemed to be the way they were proceeding, "Could you consider the proper use of your manners when you are about to ask me for something?" Hermione gasped as he somehow knew what she had come back to him for. "I must say I find it incredibly satisfying watching the Gryffindor Princess coming to me for something." Draco grinned as Hermione rounded the sofa and finally looked him in the eye.
"You're right. I do want a favour." Hermione shared and watched and waited for Draco to say something else. He instead waved his hand as he beckoned for her to continue. "Your use of wandless magic was impressive." At this, Draco made to respond but Hermione continued before he was allowed the chance, "Believe me when I say, it is not easy for me to say that, but Dumbledore told us this should be a partnership and hoped for us to unite so I was hoping you would teach me."
"Teach you? Teach you what? Be more specific Hermione." Draco teased and looked at her expectantly. "Draco, will you please teach me wandless magic?" Hermione asked, swallowing her pride deeply. Telling herself this was brave to ask and attempting to take Dumbledore's instruction seriously. Draco stood and offered Hermione his hand, an offer to shake and as Hermione gripped his hand in hers, he pulled her close.
"Dear Hermione, what do I get in return?" Draco questioned and Hermione did not falter for a second before she replied, "I am sure you can think of something." Draco chuckled deeply and Hermione watched as he shed his calm façade and took a strong look, one Hermione could not seem to describe. "Oh I can and I will take what I want in return when I choose."