(A/N: Yeah, I know I should've updated. I won't even make excuses. Please
forgive me, though hopefully this chapter will remove any hard feelings you
may have.)
Things continued in this vein of Hermione denying that Draco existed for a good part of the rest of the school year. No mention was ever made by the two as to what had happened between them, and hence, Thomas never found out about any of those disturbing events. He separated congenially from Hermione, and they resumed just an easy friendship. Draco, however chummy he might have been with Thomas, could not bring himself to let himself confide in Thomas; the feelings for Hermione were still there, though repressed, and a slip of the tongue could bring about his downfall in the eyes of his peers.
Studies in all his classes maintained a steady level of work. Some days had more than others, but that was to be expected. To keep his thoughts off of the world, Draco poured himself into school with a devotion that would have shocked his home-school Slytherins. His reading took him into all sorts of charms and spells, potions and Arithmancies.
Two weeks to the end of school, while skimming quickly through an ancient tome of lore, Draco came upon something quite interesting. Two things, actually. First, on a page half torn out, a title jumped to his eyes.
Dreams Deferred: How to Send Others Your Dreams.
Could Hermione have used this? He wondered to himself, thinking over whether Hogwarts would have this book in their library. It was quite possible, really.
The other item to catch his eye stated quite clearly,
To Tell the Truth A Truth Spell to Find out What You Want to Know
Now this would be perfect for getting her to tell him her true feelings. Surely she didn't mean it when she told him she didn't mean all that she had said. She hadn't even drunk anything strong, just butterbeer. Maybe that was too strong for her. Maybe. Oh, gods, why did all this have to be so hard?
He set to work immediately on his spell.
Two days, a weekend, later, the spell was finished, glowing pale blue in front of him. Now, just to find her and cast it around her, draw it tight. They would have to be alone; Draco didn't want any others to hear words that might or mightn't be welcome to him and her. Ah, look. There she is now, sitting alone in the common room and reading her tale tell book, Hogwarts, A History. She must be feeling homesick for her faraway school. She definitely had been keeping up with Ron with letters from Pig. Draco casually approached her, sitting down carefully askance on the couch. "So how's your life?" he asked.
"Fine. Why?" she asked warily. "You have hardly talked to me since. then."
Biting his tongue to refrain from comments about her not talking to him, he merely said two very dangerous words.
Indigentia Agnosco.
Immediately a look came into Hermione's face of absolute trust and utter believability. The spell only lasted five minutes, so Draco had to work quickly.
"How old are you?" He asked, to assure the validity of the spell.
"Seventeen." She replied, looking dazed.
Good. It worked. "Who do you love?"
"Everyone. I can't help it."
Dangit. More specific questions. "Do you love me?"
"Yes."
"How? As a brother, friend, or. or a lover?"
"I just love you for how you are, for what you do. I love you the way you want to be loved but just don't know it yet."
What the heck? "And how do I want to be loved?"
"Truly and deeply."
Wow. She loved him! "If you love me, then why did you hurt me like that?"
"Because I thought my love would hurt you more. You pushed me away from you, remember?" Her face was starting to lose the innocence. "But that doesn't mean I don't love.you?" The spell had worn off, leaving her confused. But as she realized what she had told him, and why, she sat back.
"Oh my. I didn't even know I felt like that. I had hoped it would go away. But it won't." She said quietly. "I love you."
Finis.
Things continued in this vein of Hermione denying that Draco existed for a good part of the rest of the school year. No mention was ever made by the two as to what had happened between them, and hence, Thomas never found out about any of those disturbing events. He separated congenially from Hermione, and they resumed just an easy friendship. Draco, however chummy he might have been with Thomas, could not bring himself to let himself confide in Thomas; the feelings for Hermione were still there, though repressed, and a slip of the tongue could bring about his downfall in the eyes of his peers.
Studies in all his classes maintained a steady level of work. Some days had more than others, but that was to be expected. To keep his thoughts off of the world, Draco poured himself into school with a devotion that would have shocked his home-school Slytherins. His reading took him into all sorts of charms and spells, potions and Arithmancies.
Two weeks to the end of school, while skimming quickly through an ancient tome of lore, Draco came upon something quite interesting. Two things, actually. First, on a page half torn out, a title jumped to his eyes.
Dreams Deferred: How to Send Others Your Dreams.
Could Hermione have used this? He wondered to himself, thinking over whether Hogwarts would have this book in their library. It was quite possible, really.
The other item to catch his eye stated quite clearly,
To Tell the Truth A Truth Spell to Find out What You Want to Know
Now this would be perfect for getting her to tell him her true feelings. Surely she didn't mean it when she told him she didn't mean all that she had said. She hadn't even drunk anything strong, just butterbeer. Maybe that was too strong for her. Maybe. Oh, gods, why did all this have to be so hard?
He set to work immediately on his spell.
Two days, a weekend, later, the spell was finished, glowing pale blue in front of him. Now, just to find her and cast it around her, draw it tight. They would have to be alone; Draco didn't want any others to hear words that might or mightn't be welcome to him and her. Ah, look. There she is now, sitting alone in the common room and reading her tale tell book, Hogwarts, A History. She must be feeling homesick for her faraway school. She definitely had been keeping up with Ron with letters from Pig. Draco casually approached her, sitting down carefully askance on the couch. "So how's your life?" he asked.
"Fine. Why?" she asked warily. "You have hardly talked to me since. then."
Biting his tongue to refrain from comments about her not talking to him, he merely said two very dangerous words.
Indigentia Agnosco.
Immediately a look came into Hermione's face of absolute trust and utter believability. The spell only lasted five minutes, so Draco had to work quickly.
"How old are you?" He asked, to assure the validity of the spell.
"Seventeen." She replied, looking dazed.
Good. It worked. "Who do you love?"
"Everyone. I can't help it."
Dangit. More specific questions. "Do you love me?"
"Yes."
"How? As a brother, friend, or. or a lover?"
"I just love you for how you are, for what you do. I love you the way you want to be loved but just don't know it yet."
What the heck? "And how do I want to be loved?"
"Truly and deeply."
Wow. She loved him! "If you love me, then why did you hurt me like that?"
"Because I thought my love would hurt you more. You pushed me away from you, remember?" Her face was starting to lose the innocence. "But that doesn't mean I don't love.you?" The spell had worn off, leaving her confused. But as she realized what she had told him, and why, she sat back.
"Oh my. I didn't even know I felt like that. I had hoped it would go away. But it won't." She said quietly. "I love you."
Finis.
