To The Contrary!
By Emma
Chapter Eleven: La Vie En Rose
Disclaimer: You know the drill, people. Geesh.
I have a little extra time on my hands so lucky you- two chapters in one week! Hello, two chapters in one month! Wowie. Yay me. lmao.
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The next day, after classes...
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Hermione laid atop Draco on her bed (she'd actually managed to sneak him in!) And she smiled at him. They were both fully clothed and both knew that they would remain, but they just couldn't stop staring at each other's eyes.
"Hermione?" he said softly, and she smiled for him to continue, "How much do you love me?"
She raised her eyebrows, "Well...I love you more than Ron...or Harry...I love you more than books. Draco Malfoy, I love you more than the library."
"I'm touched."
"Shut up!" she laughed and rolled over to stare at her ceiling. They were silent for moments, and then Draco broke the silence.
"La Vie En Rose. Viewing the world through rose coloured glasses. Beautiful song...beautiful quote...beautiful movie. You really should see Sabrina."
"You really should get over Audrey Hepburn." Hermione quipped.
"I can't!" he exclaimed, "I love her! She's perfect! She's the greatest muggle that ever lived! She made me want to be muggle!"
"She's dead, Draco."
"So?"
"And do you love her more than you love me?"
Draco smirked, "What did you say you love me more than? Oh, yes! The library. Yes, shweetheaaaart. I do love Audrey more than you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday you'll realize that."
She laughed and sighed with content. "I've just have so much fun with you."
"You're been having so much fun? Just sitting around, doing nothing? So much fun, huh?"
She nodded, and a smirk played once again at his pale lips, "Ooh. If this is fun for you, I can't wait to~"
"Shush." Hermione ordered with a sly smile.
He did. But kept staring at her.
"You're so beautiful." he said, thinking aloud.
"You're a liar. I'm not even wearing makeup."
"That's what's so beautiful about it. You can sit there, no changes or alterations, just one hundred percent Hermione...and you still look like the setting sun in my eyes." he paused, "Wow, I've gotten rather corny, haven't I?" he joked.
Hermione's eyes were filled with tears.
"How can you do that? Just look at me like you've never seen me before in your life? So easily, so freely and truthfully? When I was angry with you...I said that no man was as romantic as you played yourself to be. Am I right, Draco? I mean, I know you love me now. But with the ocean in the dungeon..."
"That was real." he finished for her, "It was a romantic gesture, nothing less."
Hermione eyes nearly spilled over as she leaned to kiss him again.
He pulled away, "But..."
"But what?" Hermione stared at him suspiciously.
"But there is still something that I have to tell you. From before the beach dungeon."
She blanched.
"I.." he started uncomfortably, "I...do you know Ronnie Atkins? Sahib Sandrin?"
Hermione nodded thoughtfully and motioned for him to go on.
"Well...they were my friends at a point. I...I had this list thing of girls...of conquests. And you were the only girl I knew I'd really have to work at...you know? I hadn't thought about...not before, not last year. But this year you showed up all new and improved and then Ronnie and Sahib saw you and made a bet. Ronnie that I could and Sahib that I couldn't."
"Could or couldn't what, exactly?"
"Bed you." his eyes met hers again, and through her own shock she could read the shame in his.
"So," she blinked, "I hit right on before, when we got in the fight. It WAS just a ploy to get in my pants. You lied to me."
"I did. But only because I knew you'd think the bet was still on. And then you'd get buggered off, and with good reason. I mean, if I were me I'd probably never speak to me again."
"So is this your apology?" Hermione's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"No." he said instantly, and she gasped slightly.
"No," he continued, "because then, I never would have followed you to the kitchens, bribed you, or asked you out again after that, or gotten to know the stupid little things like your favourite colour. I really regret my first intentions. I'm sorry about them. I apologize for them. But nothing more than that or I never would have met the girl, the real girl, the intelligent, sweet, beautiful, independent girl that I've fallen so far in love with."
Hermione's lips parted in momentary shock.
Then, she unbuttoned two of her top shirt buttons.
He stared at her, "What are you doing?"
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TBC...(I am evil personified. Muahahaha.)
