To The Contrary!
By Emma
Chapter Four: The Date
Disclaimer: I don't have much money, okay? So I'll just go along with the fact that YOU own everything and then nobody will have to get a lawyer and appear in court. Ack. Go away!
A/N: Thanks for the great feedback everybody, I'm glad to hear that it's doing ok. :) Sorry to keep you waiting, this one is longer. I had fun writing it. And if you can guess the movie referral in this chapter, you win a virtual brownie. Yes you do. *grins* And please, don't be afraid to leave constructive criticism. I need it! Thanks so much.
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Hermione sat down uneasily at the lunch table the next day. She'd kept her word, not telling anybody of the blackmail she was under. She watched as Draco's fellow Slytherin elbowed him and looked over at her. He smirked and rose slowly from his table to make his way over to hers. She closed her eyes and braced herself as he took a seat next to her. He ignored all the stares of dislike, disbelief and confusion the Gryffindors shot him and leaned near her.
"Ah," he whispered, "Together Twins are just in time for the show."
Hermione closed her eyes again quickly and held her breath. She didn't want to see Harry or Ron's face when the masquerade began.
"What are you doing?" Ron sneered at the Draco, who smiled with a malicious glint.
"I was just speaking to Hermy, here." he began, and Hermione tried not to wince at the sound of the hated nickname, "And I don't think we can get any privacy here, can we? Come on Hermy, let's go down to my dorm room."
Hermione eyes flashed open and she stared at him a moment.
"Yes," she finally managed to choke out, avoiding her classmates eyes, "Lead the way."
Draco smirked at the wordless Gryffindors once more and quickly pulled Hermione by the hand out the doors of the Great Hall. She stopped him in the corridor once they were out of sight.
He chuckled, "Not bad acting, Granger."
She was fuming! "Are you insane! Hermy? Privacy? YOUR DORM ROOM!? Are you trying to sabotage yourself? That entire table was ready to KILL!"
"Kill who? Me? You? I mean, I'm not the one betraying them, Hermy."
"Oh, shut up!" she exploded, and pulled away from him, "This stupid deal is off!"
"Alright," he said smugly, "I'll just be collecting Dumbledore and I'll see you later in his office."
She stopped dead. She just couldn't get in trouble with the headmaster....he may never trust her again and she might not get Head Girl.
"Wait," she called out to the male retreating form. Draco slowed and looked over his shoulder, wearing that annoying, 'knowing' look in his grey eyes.
"Second thoughts?"
"Yes." she looked at her feet as he neared her, and then stared up at him, "We'll go on one date. Tonight. But promise never to call me Hermy again. It's annoying."
Draco nodded in mock seriousness, "No problem. Mio."
She glared at him, but began to laugh after a moment.
"Oh, go away." she pushed him lightly.
"I'll meet you at your common room entrance at seven." he voiced as he walked away.
"Sharp." she said quietly to herself, and headed towards her dorm. She didn't feel very hungry.
~*~
Hermione knew that there wasn't a point of trying to look nice for Draco (for it wasn't a real date, you see) but she couldn't help feeling like she should look good. To make Ron squirm like he did at the Yule Ball...to make Malfoy squirm and want her. So that she could laugh in his miserable little face, of course.
So, she took a great amount of time making her hair sleek and cute. She didn't know what Malfoy had planned, so she just decided on a pair of jeans and a tight knit sweater that read "Perfect Ten". She hadn't ever worn it before, but decided that if Malfoy could be smug, so could she. She stole a lipgloss from Parvati's array and dabbed it on before hurrying down the stairs. She'd avoided talking to everyone all day, and she hoped that she could keep pulling it off until she got back.
Unfortunately, Ron and the rest of the Gryffindor fifth year boys were in the common room playing exploding snap.
Ron noticed her first. His eyes went wide, "Hermione-"
"Don't have time." she called to the staring gaggle of male peers as she rushed past.
Ron was about to go after her when there was a loud bang.
As he checked for singeing on his eyebrows, Harry grinned.
"I think that was a sign to leave her be, mate."
~*~
Hermione stepped out the portrait hole and sighed when Malfoy looked her up and down.
"Muggle clothes." he guessed, and Hermione glared at him. He put his hands in the air, "No, no. It's good! You've got to hand it to them....they know how to dress their women."
Even the strong feminist that Hermione was, she decided to ignore the comment.
"So," she followed him as he turned down the hallway, "What are we doing?"
"Walking."
She rolled her eyes, "Where to?"
"Somewhere."
"Oh." she gave up and just followed him.
Once they reached a staircase that seemed to lead to a dungeon, Draco turned to her.
"I'm actually quite a fan of muggle movies," he started as his cheeks went red, and Hermione tried her hardest not to chuckle, "And this guy said that the girl wanted a guy- a man who would lead her on the beach blindfolded just to feel the sensation of the sand beneath her toes. And Rhona- my cousin that I was watching it with- she just melted. Just went red. It looked like she was so pleased that a guy-even in a movie- could be that romantic. And...are you the kind of girl who melts at such stuff?"
Hermione spluttered, "Isn't every?"
Draco pulled out a blindfold and dangled it in front of her face. She didn't understand.
"Put it on." he bit his lip, and Hermione couldn't help but feel excited in her uneasiness.
After she tied the blindfold tightly, Draco grabbed her hand and carefully guided her down the stairs. At the last one, he stopped her.
"Take off your shoes." he ordered, and she did nervously. What was he up to?
He brought her down the last step and she parted her mouth slightly in shock. What was it she could feel beneath her toes? Was it really...sand? She could taste a salty breeze that caressed through her hair.
"Malfoy-" she whispered in amazement, "What is this?"
"The ocean."
"But....where are we?"
"In a dungeon. I spent some time today enchanting it after I heard you tell some Patil twin that you'd never seen the ocean. I think everyone should see the ocean."
She still had the blindfold on- thankfully- or else he would have seen the glisten of moisture in her eyes.
She felt him removing the blindfold, and she gasped when it came off.
A sunset, every shade of red ever dreamt of. Blue green water lapping at the white, silky sand at the shore before them...
"This is beautiful..." she finally said softly, "The greatest thing anyone's ever done for me. How did you..."
He shrugged and smiled, "My little secret."
They stared silently out at the calming scene for what seemed like hours when Draco patted her arm.
"Your watch says ten." he raised an eyebrow, and her eyes went wide.
They stood and shook off the sand and he said "Take one last look."
She did, and before she could breathe another sigh of contentedness, the scene morphed into a dark, deserted dungeon.
They preceded up the stairs and quickly made way back to the Gryffindor portrait hole without getting caught.
Hermione looked Draco in the eyes.
"Thanks." she whispered softly, and he stared at her a moment before taking her hand and landing a soft kiss on it.
"Thank you." he smiled at her, "That wasn't so bad, now was it?"
"I guess not." she chuckled and he licked his lips.
"Well..." he said uncomfortably, "would you consider going to the Halloween Ball with me then?"
Hermione's eyes went wide. The deal had been for one date. But...it had turned out so incredibly different than she'd imagined!
"What the hell," she muttered and pushed back a strand of hair, "I don't have a date yet. Why not?"
He, for the first time since they'd met five years before, grinned an honest to God grin. It was like he was actually excited about going out with her.
No way, she thought.
"Good then." he raised an eyebrow, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." she whispered as he walked away.
She entered the common room and was so lost in thought that she didn't hear Ron yelling at her as she took the stairs, two at a time, to her dormitory.
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Well kids, what do you think of that? I like it, personally. I had such a fun time writing this, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. That's what this fic is about, it's sort of going to be comical romance if I can work it right. I have the entire story planned, and some fairly good quotes. And if this reminds you of any movies at all, this entire story is basically formed by movies. And TV shows. :) Have fun. Thanks for reviewing, if you do. I looooove yous.