Chapter 2- You Are Very Beautiful
Snape had already started class when Hermione arrived. She tried to sneak in unnoticed, but Snape didn't miss a beat. "Ms. Granger, arriving late to class is an automatic detention." Her smirked at her misfortune. "I'll be seeing you a eight o-clock," he said. Hermione groaned, this was just what she needed, a detention.
Draco raised his hand. Snape really wanted to get back to class, but knowing Draco he would probably suggest an even more horrible punishment, one that Snape had not thought of yet. This was the sole reason the irritated Potions master called on his most prized pupil. But he did not get what he was looking for. Instead, what Draco said took him completely by surprise.
"But sir, I was going to help Hermione with her homework tonight. And it was I who made her come in late. Wouldn't giving her a warning be sufficient?" Draco pleaded. Snape was about to give a hash `no' but then saw the look on his face. If he didn't know better, he would have thought that Draco had a crush. But no, that was impossible, right? Draco, son of Lucius Malfoy, future Death Eater, hater of Muggle-borns liking Hermione Granger? It was unthinkable. Hermione would never join the dark side, but could she possibly bring Draco back from it? That was just the sort of think their side needed. He vowed he would do anything he could to get the two together.
"Sir?"
Snape was pulled out of his thoughts. He realized that the entire class had their eyes on him, awaiting his verdict. "Fine, Ms. Granger, your detention has been withdrawn, but be aware that I don't accept tardiness. I expect it won't happen again."
"No, sir, it won't," Hermione said, grateful that she no longer had a detention. Everyone knew that Snape's were the worst, though Harry still stood by the fact that his that time with Lockhart was much worse. Hermione looked back to silently thanks Draco, but he kept avoiding her eyes, so she finally gave up and went back to concentrating to Snape, as he was continuing what he was saying before she entered the class.
They made a Worries-Gone potions in class. The potions only lasted for half an hour, but they lifted everyone's sprits. Harry smiled like he hadn't in days. Now that Voldemort was at large he hadn't felt safe in what seemed like forever. Neville was now carefree about Snape breathing down his neck, a fact that Snape himself wasn't too happy about. Quite a few people were now at ease about Hermione and Draco's "study date," as Ron so kindly put it, including Hermione, Draco, Pansy and Ron. It could be said that that day's Potions class was the best they had ever experienced.
After class was adjourned Draco came up to Hermione and said to her, "Meet me in the Slytherin common room at 8:30." Then he lowered his voice and whispered, "The password is dominio. Don't be late." He left before she could ask him why he had stuck up for her during class.
The rest of the day crawled on for Hermione. All she could think about was her plans for the night. She was worried that Draco would realize what a lost cause it all was and give up. Knowing that she was going to be in the Slytherin common room, enemy territory, also didn't help her nerves.
All through dinner Ron and Harry talked about Quidditch, not a subject that interested Hermione much. So instead she read up on the history of Shrinking Spells. Every now and then she would look up and watch Draco quickly look away as Pansy tugged on his arm with a pout on her face. That was odd. Since when did Draco watch her during dinner? Hermione shrugged the thought off and continued reading.
After an hour and 42 minutes of waiting in her common room pretending to read, Hermione decided that it was about time to meet Draco. Being a few minutes early couldn't possible hurt, right? She said goodbye to Harry and Ron and stepped out the portrait hole. She walked to the dungeons and took the long winding corridors to the Slytherin statue and said, "Dominio." The statue moved aside and she climbed the stairs leading to the common room. The second she entered it she felt out of place. It was the opposite of the cozy common room she was used to. It was cold and unwelcoming. Hermione didn't see Draco anywhere so she went up to Blaise and asked where she could find him. Blaise told her that he was probably in his dorm and pointed her the way. Pansy glared at Hermione as she crossed the room to find Draco. 'She's probably jealous that I get to spend time with the 'Great Draco Malfoy',' Hermione thought bitterly.
Hermione climbed the stairs and found the sign that said, "5th Year Boys." She found Draco...with a teddy bear in his arms. She was unable to suppress a small laugh and Draco looked up from where he was sitting on his bed. The second he saw her the teddy bear was stuffed under his bed. Draco was mortified. Hermione continued laughing. "Are you here to work or not?" he asked sharply. "Quit wasting time." She stopped laughing, but the smile on her lips never faded. Draco was clearly trying to mask his broken pride. She wondered briefly if she should tell him that he was doing a horrible job, but she decided against it.
Draco pulled out a small pile of papers and objects and one by one said the words corresponding with the objects. He first handed over a rather big piece of parchment. "Grande," (Large) he said. The word was also written on the paper. Next was a much smaller piece. "Pequeño." (Small) He continued handing over objects for all of the describing words that they had learned. Some were just the words themselves, others were done in sentences. He handed over a picture of Goyle and said, "Goyle es gordo" (Goyle is fat) as well as a picture of himself while saying, "Yo soy guapo." (I am good-looking) The last thing he gave her was a small hand mirror and told her, "Tú eres muy bonita." (You are very beautiful)
At first, Hermione thought he was joking. He couldn't really think that. But when she looked up at him she saw total sincerity in his eyes. Her next conclusion what that he was confused with what he had said. "Bonita...it means..." she trailed off. She couldn't continue.
"Beautiful," he said finishing for her. "Which is what you are." Draco's usually pale cheeks were turning a rosy hue. Hermione felt hers doing the same.
"I...uhh...have to go," Hermione said rising to leave. Draco did the same.
"Take these," he said pushing the objects into her hands. "The images will help the words get stuck in you mind." She took them and left. Draco sat back down on his bed, but not before pulling Stuart, his teddy, out from under his it. 'What the hell were you thinking? Calling a girl like that beautiful. She probably hears it all the time, the last person she wants to hear it from is you. She hates you. The only reason she asked you to help her was because no one else in the class understands it either. Just forget about your feelings for her, they'll never be returned.' Draco spent the rest of the night mentally bashing himself.
Hermione shot out of the Slytherin common room without making eye contact with anyone. The last thing she needed was anyone noticing that she was crying. Once she was into the corridor her steps slowed. She put her back to the wall and slid to the cold floor. Her tears were of joy. No one had ever called her beautiful before. Not even her parents, the people who were supposed to tell you things like that to boost your confidence. She couldn't even remember a time when anyone even called her pretty. Words like 'smart' and 'plain' were always used to describe her, never 'beautiful.' Hermione found that she liked the feeling that someone thought of her as something more than plain.
* * * * *
A/N- I would like to thank Irish Lass, SilverDragon, Jen Drake, Xtreme Nuisance, aunt-rhiannon, and Kaji for reviewing the first chapter of 'The Language of Love.' I hope you enjoyed chapter 2. What'd ya think of Draco with his teddy? The thought came to my mind and I just *had* to add it in. I'm going to Vermont tomorrow, and probably won't be able to update till Saturday or Sunday, but I'l update as soon as possible. Oh, if anyone was wondering, dominio means power. Please review! ~Kori
Snape had already started class when Hermione arrived. She tried to sneak in unnoticed, but Snape didn't miss a beat. "Ms. Granger, arriving late to class is an automatic detention." Her smirked at her misfortune. "I'll be seeing you a eight o-clock," he said. Hermione groaned, this was just what she needed, a detention.
Draco raised his hand. Snape really wanted to get back to class, but knowing Draco he would probably suggest an even more horrible punishment, one that Snape had not thought of yet. This was the sole reason the irritated Potions master called on his most prized pupil. But he did not get what he was looking for. Instead, what Draco said took him completely by surprise.
"But sir, I was going to help Hermione with her homework tonight. And it was I who made her come in late. Wouldn't giving her a warning be sufficient?" Draco pleaded. Snape was about to give a hash `no' but then saw the look on his face. If he didn't know better, he would have thought that Draco had a crush. But no, that was impossible, right? Draco, son of Lucius Malfoy, future Death Eater, hater of Muggle-borns liking Hermione Granger? It was unthinkable. Hermione would never join the dark side, but could she possibly bring Draco back from it? That was just the sort of think their side needed. He vowed he would do anything he could to get the two together.
"Sir?"
Snape was pulled out of his thoughts. He realized that the entire class had their eyes on him, awaiting his verdict. "Fine, Ms. Granger, your detention has been withdrawn, but be aware that I don't accept tardiness. I expect it won't happen again."
"No, sir, it won't," Hermione said, grateful that she no longer had a detention. Everyone knew that Snape's were the worst, though Harry still stood by the fact that his that time with Lockhart was much worse. Hermione looked back to silently thanks Draco, but he kept avoiding her eyes, so she finally gave up and went back to concentrating to Snape, as he was continuing what he was saying before she entered the class.
They made a Worries-Gone potions in class. The potions only lasted for half an hour, but they lifted everyone's sprits. Harry smiled like he hadn't in days. Now that Voldemort was at large he hadn't felt safe in what seemed like forever. Neville was now carefree about Snape breathing down his neck, a fact that Snape himself wasn't too happy about. Quite a few people were now at ease about Hermione and Draco's "study date," as Ron so kindly put it, including Hermione, Draco, Pansy and Ron. It could be said that that day's Potions class was the best they had ever experienced.
After class was adjourned Draco came up to Hermione and said to her, "Meet me in the Slytherin common room at 8:30." Then he lowered his voice and whispered, "The password is dominio. Don't be late." He left before she could ask him why he had stuck up for her during class.
The rest of the day crawled on for Hermione. All she could think about was her plans for the night. She was worried that Draco would realize what a lost cause it all was and give up. Knowing that she was going to be in the Slytherin common room, enemy territory, also didn't help her nerves.
All through dinner Ron and Harry talked about Quidditch, not a subject that interested Hermione much. So instead she read up on the history of Shrinking Spells. Every now and then she would look up and watch Draco quickly look away as Pansy tugged on his arm with a pout on her face. That was odd. Since when did Draco watch her during dinner? Hermione shrugged the thought off and continued reading.
After an hour and 42 minutes of waiting in her common room pretending to read, Hermione decided that it was about time to meet Draco. Being a few minutes early couldn't possible hurt, right? She said goodbye to Harry and Ron and stepped out the portrait hole. She walked to the dungeons and took the long winding corridors to the Slytherin statue and said, "Dominio." The statue moved aside and she climbed the stairs leading to the common room. The second she entered it she felt out of place. It was the opposite of the cozy common room she was used to. It was cold and unwelcoming. Hermione didn't see Draco anywhere so she went up to Blaise and asked where she could find him. Blaise told her that he was probably in his dorm and pointed her the way. Pansy glared at Hermione as she crossed the room to find Draco. 'She's probably jealous that I get to spend time with the 'Great Draco Malfoy',' Hermione thought bitterly.
Hermione climbed the stairs and found the sign that said, "5th Year Boys." She found Draco...with a teddy bear in his arms. She was unable to suppress a small laugh and Draco looked up from where he was sitting on his bed. The second he saw her the teddy bear was stuffed under his bed. Draco was mortified. Hermione continued laughing. "Are you here to work or not?" he asked sharply. "Quit wasting time." She stopped laughing, but the smile on her lips never faded. Draco was clearly trying to mask his broken pride. She wondered briefly if she should tell him that he was doing a horrible job, but she decided against it.
Draco pulled out a small pile of papers and objects and one by one said the words corresponding with the objects. He first handed over a rather big piece of parchment. "Grande," (Large) he said. The word was also written on the paper. Next was a much smaller piece. "Pequeño." (Small) He continued handing over objects for all of the describing words that they had learned. Some were just the words themselves, others were done in sentences. He handed over a picture of Goyle and said, "Goyle es gordo" (Goyle is fat) as well as a picture of himself while saying, "Yo soy guapo." (I am good-looking) The last thing he gave her was a small hand mirror and told her, "Tú eres muy bonita." (You are very beautiful)
At first, Hermione thought he was joking. He couldn't really think that. But when she looked up at him she saw total sincerity in his eyes. Her next conclusion what that he was confused with what he had said. "Bonita...it means..." she trailed off. She couldn't continue.
"Beautiful," he said finishing for her. "Which is what you are." Draco's usually pale cheeks were turning a rosy hue. Hermione felt hers doing the same.
"I...uhh...have to go," Hermione said rising to leave. Draco did the same.
"Take these," he said pushing the objects into her hands. "The images will help the words get stuck in you mind." She took them and left. Draco sat back down on his bed, but not before pulling Stuart, his teddy, out from under his it. 'What the hell were you thinking? Calling a girl like that beautiful. She probably hears it all the time, the last person she wants to hear it from is you. She hates you. The only reason she asked you to help her was because no one else in the class understands it either. Just forget about your feelings for her, they'll never be returned.' Draco spent the rest of the night mentally bashing himself.
Hermione shot out of the Slytherin common room without making eye contact with anyone. The last thing she needed was anyone noticing that she was crying. Once she was into the corridor her steps slowed. She put her back to the wall and slid to the cold floor. Her tears were of joy. No one had ever called her beautiful before. Not even her parents, the people who were supposed to tell you things like that to boost your confidence. She couldn't even remember a time when anyone even called her pretty. Words like 'smart' and 'plain' were always used to describe her, never 'beautiful.' Hermione found that she liked the feeling that someone thought of her as something more than plain.
* * * * *
A/N- I would like to thank Irish Lass, SilverDragon, Jen Drake, Xtreme Nuisance, aunt-rhiannon, and Kaji for reviewing the first chapter of 'The Language of Love.' I hope you enjoyed chapter 2. What'd ya think of Draco with his teddy? The thought came to my mind and I just *had* to add it in. I'm going to Vermont tomorrow, and probably won't be able to update till Saturday or Sunday, but I'l update as soon as possible. Oh, if anyone was wondering, dominio means power. Please review! ~Kori
