To my sister... Happy belated 9th birthday! And everyone who is reading
this! Thanks! You give me the will to go on writing!
Chapter 12
Hermione looked at her watch. Ginny was late. She was standing in front of the portrait outside the prefects' quarters. She had promised to help Ginny with whatever she could, for her meeting with Harry. When Ginny told her what Harry said, she would've danced for joy, but the thought of talking to Draco later on, totally put her off.
"Hermione!"
Hermione's head snapped up. She saw the red-haired girl running towards her.
"You're late!" Said Hermione accusingly.
"Sorry! Ron kept asking me where I was going, until Harry said that I was going over some homework with you," said Ginny apologetically.
Hermione smiled. Harry was definitely treating Ginny much better this year. "You've got everything?"
"Yes," said Ginny.
Then, Hermione turned to the portrait and gave the password.
"Wow!" Was all Ginny could say when they entered the prefects' common room.
"No time to show you around now," said Hermione. "It's already a quarter to ten. I'll do it another day."
Then, she took Ginny firmly by her arm, ignoring Draco's stare, and dragged her up to her room.
"This is a really nice room, Hermione," said Ginny, as she put her bag down on Hermione's bed.
"Thanks," said Hermione. "Well, let's get started. Did you bring everything?"
"Not everything, but the best of what I have," said Ginny, opening up her bag and began to pull out a few casual outfits. "Not all of them really match, but it's really the best I could find."
"It's okay. You can always borrow some of mine," said Hermione. Then, she began to look through Ginny's clothes. "And of course, I'll just do you up a little."
"Make up?" Said Ginny, looking at Hermione amazed. "I thought you didn't do make up!"
Hermione blushed. "I don't. But there's that Valentine's, Halloween and Yule ball. My mother gave some to me. Said it was time I looked more lady- like. Anyway," said Hermione, not wanting to repeat everything her mother said, "I think I'll just put you in something warm, it's rather cold tonight."
Hermione walked to her wardrobe and extracted a pink sweater from it. "Here, try this with your denim skirt," she said, holding out the sweater to her friend.
Ginny obediently put it on, very glad that she had asked Hermione for help. "Well," she said, when she had done. "How's this?"
Hermione looked up from her note copying. She was copying some of Draco's notes, which he had insisted on lending her. "Perfect, Ginny! Now, your clothes are settled. Let's do your face!"
In fifteen minutes, Hermione had applied some light foundation, powder, a dab of natural pink blush, and lip-gloss to Ginny, who was amazed at the results.
"There, it looks natural, doesn't it?"
"Yes! Thanks, Hermione! I'll leave my things here, won't I? I'll collect them tomorrow morning."
"No problem," said Hermione. "Come on, I'll accompany you out."
Ginny ran the brush a last time through her hair, and walked down with Hermione.
"Harry will be blown off his feet," said Hermione, smiling at the thought.
"I don't know about that," said Ginny looking down shyly.
When they reached the common room, which was empty, except for Draco, they were very thankful. Draco opened his mouth.
"If it's nothing nice, then shut up, Draco," said Hermione, before he could say anything.
Draco rolled his eyes at Hermione and looked down at the book in his hands.
Outside, Hermione said goodbye and good luck to Ginny, and went back to the common room, taking her time, hoping that when she got back to the common room, Draco would be asleep or gone, and she'd be spared talking to him.
"Fat hope," she whispered to herself, when Draco looked up from his book, which he put down as she entered.
"Have a seat," said Draco, as if graciously welcoming her into his home.
Hermione sighed loudly to show her displeasure and threw herself into the couch opposite Draco's.
"Make it quick, Draco," said Hermione, pretending to look nonchalant, although her heart was beginning to race. "I want to turn in early."
"There's no school tomorrow, Hermione," said Draco, smirking. "Good try, though."
Hermione felt her irritation as she replied, "Not everyone wants to have eye bags like you, you worm."
Draco's hands flew instinctively to his eyes. "I do not have eye bags!"
Then, he saw Hermione laughing, and he began to laugh along with her, though he tried not to. What was wrong with him?
"Well?" Said Hermione, looking serious and tired again.
"I don't know where to begin, Hermione, but I'll try my best to put what I want to say into words. But I beg of you not to interrupt me." Draco looked at her, to see if she agreed. She did, with a nod of her head.
"Well, this is really hard, but first of all, I'm really sorry. Secondly, I realized that just lately, I've been... Well, feeling rather close to you. I don't know why, and I cannot explain it. It's not 'like', and I wouldn't call it 'love'. I don't know what it is. And I wanted to ask you, honestly, just how you feel about and towards me," he said, looking into her eyes.
Hermione stared back into his eyes. 'Maybe that was why they said that your eyes are the windows to your soul,' thought Hermione. She could see that Draco was being completely honest, and personal with her. He looked so vulnerable, totally unlike the swaggering, self-assured, confident jerk she knew him to be.
"I-," Hermione didn't know what to say. "I don't know, Draco. I've just been a concerned friend, and nothing more, when I got upset about that dream. But I didn't think that..." Hermione was at a loss for words.
"That?" Urged Draco. He wanted to know everything.
"That you'd feel that way about me," she finished.
"But how do you feel about me?" Asked Draco, not wanting to get his hopes too high. "Where do I stand?"
Hermione was trapped. "Draco... You're... Just a friend." She said finally. "Just a friend."
"Just a friend... Just a friend... Just a friend..." Hermione's words rang resoundingly in Draco's ears. "Just a friend... Just a friend... Just a friend..."
Draco's heart turned to ice. He did not want to hear anymore. He stood up.
"Draco..."
"I'm going to bed," he said, his voice, cold as an iceberg. "Night."
"Draco, please!" Hermione ran after him, and grabbed his arm just the way he had not too many days ago.
He took no notice of her, and walked on as though she wasn't there.
"Please, Draco! I'm sorry! Listen to me!"
"Hey, put a sock in it!" They heard, when they passed Justin's room.
"Draco," Hermione pleaded softly. "Please! I had no idea!"
Draco threw his room door open and sat at the edge of his bed. He looked down at the deep green carpeting in front of him. He wanted to shut everything out. He could, really. But he could not shut out Hermione, who was seated right next to him. Her presence, voice and scent was something Draco wanted there, but did not want at the same time.
Draco turned slowly to face her. "You had no idea. Of course. No one would. But I thought you'd read between the lines, Hermione! Haven't I been nice to you?" He got up, shook off Hermione's warm hand, and went to shut his door.
Hermione felt a prickle of anger. "You think that being nice to me for a week makes me forget everything? How you called me a mudblood, how you made my teeth grow a hundred times faster than anything, and humiliated me? How my best friends and I were the butt of your cruel jokes and taunts? No, Draco! And I-."
But Hermione didn't have the chance to go on. Draco had pulled her towards him and kissed her full on her lips. Hermione was taken aback, and didn't know how to respond, though her first thought was to push Draco away, but Draco being near to her, his warmth, his light eau de cologne, his everything... It just swept her off her feet, and all thoughts were instantly erased from her mind. Nothing was clear to her. Nothing made any sense, except to respond to Draco. So she did. She kissed him back.
Slowly, Draco wrapped his arms around her, going slow, so he wouldn't scare her, and Hermione found her arms around his neck. No sooner had they been entwined for a minute, Hermione broke the spell.
"We did NOT do that!" She said, looking at him, her eyes wide with fear. "I did NOT do that! It wasn't me! I- I... Don't know what came over me, and I-..."
Draco put a finger on her lips, and felt her warm breath, coming out in short gasps.
"We did, Hermione."
Hermione took a step backwards. "We didn't!" Then she turned and ran to the door.
"Hermione!" Draco started after her. Too late. She had disappeared down the stairs in a blur.
Draco shut his door slowly, and ran a finger over his lips. He had kissed Hermione Granger. And better -
"I kissed him back," whispered Hermione to herself, sitting huddled on her bed, her arms around her knees. "I kissed him back. How could I? How could you, Hermione Granger? Are you really Hermione Granger?"
Hermione didn't know what to think. Was she happy? Angry he had kissed her? Glad she had kissed him back? Furious for responding to him? She couldn't think straight. Her first kiss! Her first kiss went to Draco Malfoy! She had kissed Harry on the cheek once - but that didn't count. He didn't hold her, and she didn't hold him back.
"But you held Draco," Hermione whispered rocking back and forth gently. 'You held him, as if you never wanted to let go."
Hermione's lips burned. She was thoroughly ashamed of herself. How could she do such a thing?
Just then, there was a sharp tapping on the window. Hermione jumped. She looked at the window. It was an eagle owl. 'Draco,' she thought, and quickly went to the window and opened it. The owl had a note.
Hermione, slightly dreading what was inside, opened it slowly, as the owl sat on her windowsill and began to preen itself. It read,
"Hermione, I don't know what to say, but I think I owe you an explanation why I... Kissed you. I guess you could say it was in the heat of the moment. And besides, you look really cute when you're all red and flustered and angry, so I couldn't help myself. I just had to. If you don't want to talk to me for the rest of your life, and beyond, I'm prepared. Yours always, Draco"
Hermione smiled, despite herself. Draco had a warped sense of humour, almost like Ron's, except Ron tended to be more sarcastic. Hermione re-read the letter, and wondered if she ought to reply.
"Well, for courtesy sake," she told herself, as she sat at her desk, pulled out her quill and bottle of ink, and wrote on a new piece of parchment.
"Draco, I'm as much to blame as you are, as I kissed you back. So don't bully yourself. Why would I not want to talk to you? Just DON'T (I MEAN IT!) mention it or breathe a word to anybody. Let's forget it ever happened -," 'though it won't be easy', thought Hermione, "and go back to our lives. Is that fine with you? Good night, Draco. I'm very tired from all these, and I need a break -," Hermione paused. How would she sign off? With her usual 'Love from'? Or 'Yours truly'? No, not 'Yours truly'. That wasn't personal, and so not her. Finally, she settled on her usual 'Love from', hoping Draco would not get the wrong idea.
Then, she tied the note on the owl's leg, and watched it take off into the night. Hermione looked down at the Hogwart's grounds. She couldn't see anything, and turned back to her bed.
Still thinking over everything, she changed into a comfortable pair of clothes, and fell back into bed. Hermione wondered if she really treated Draco just as her friend. Or was he someone who meant more to her, than she knew or actually dared to admit? Her thoughts still going round and round in circles, Hermione fell asleep.
Chapter 12
Hermione looked at her watch. Ginny was late. She was standing in front of the portrait outside the prefects' quarters. She had promised to help Ginny with whatever she could, for her meeting with Harry. When Ginny told her what Harry said, she would've danced for joy, but the thought of talking to Draco later on, totally put her off.
"Hermione!"
Hermione's head snapped up. She saw the red-haired girl running towards her.
"You're late!" Said Hermione accusingly.
"Sorry! Ron kept asking me where I was going, until Harry said that I was going over some homework with you," said Ginny apologetically.
Hermione smiled. Harry was definitely treating Ginny much better this year. "You've got everything?"
"Yes," said Ginny.
Then, Hermione turned to the portrait and gave the password.
"Wow!" Was all Ginny could say when they entered the prefects' common room.
"No time to show you around now," said Hermione. "It's already a quarter to ten. I'll do it another day."
Then, she took Ginny firmly by her arm, ignoring Draco's stare, and dragged her up to her room.
"This is a really nice room, Hermione," said Ginny, as she put her bag down on Hermione's bed.
"Thanks," said Hermione. "Well, let's get started. Did you bring everything?"
"Not everything, but the best of what I have," said Ginny, opening up her bag and began to pull out a few casual outfits. "Not all of them really match, but it's really the best I could find."
"It's okay. You can always borrow some of mine," said Hermione. Then, she began to look through Ginny's clothes. "And of course, I'll just do you up a little."
"Make up?" Said Ginny, looking at Hermione amazed. "I thought you didn't do make up!"
Hermione blushed. "I don't. But there's that Valentine's, Halloween and Yule ball. My mother gave some to me. Said it was time I looked more lady- like. Anyway," said Hermione, not wanting to repeat everything her mother said, "I think I'll just put you in something warm, it's rather cold tonight."
Hermione walked to her wardrobe and extracted a pink sweater from it. "Here, try this with your denim skirt," she said, holding out the sweater to her friend.
Ginny obediently put it on, very glad that she had asked Hermione for help. "Well," she said, when she had done. "How's this?"
Hermione looked up from her note copying. She was copying some of Draco's notes, which he had insisted on lending her. "Perfect, Ginny! Now, your clothes are settled. Let's do your face!"
In fifteen minutes, Hermione had applied some light foundation, powder, a dab of natural pink blush, and lip-gloss to Ginny, who was amazed at the results.
"There, it looks natural, doesn't it?"
"Yes! Thanks, Hermione! I'll leave my things here, won't I? I'll collect them tomorrow morning."
"No problem," said Hermione. "Come on, I'll accompany you out."
Ginny ran the brush a last time through her hair, and walked down with Hermione.
"Harry will be blown off his feet," said Hermione, smiling at the thought.
"I don't know about that," said Ginny looking down shyly.
When they reached the common room, which was empty, except for Draco, they were very thankful. Draco opened his mouth.
"If it's nothing nice, then shut up, Draco," said Hermione, before he could say anything.
Draco rolled his eyes at Hermione and looked down at the book in his hands.
Outside, Hermione said goodbye and good luck to Ginny, and went back to the common room, taking her time, hoping that when she got back to the common room, Draco would be asleep or gone, and she'd be spared talking to him.
"Fat hope," she whispered to herself, when Draco looked up from his book, which he put down as she entered.
"Have a seat," said Draco, as if graciously welcoming her into his home.
Hermione sighed loudly to show her displeasure and threw herself into the couch opposite Draco's.
"Make it quick, Draco," said Hermione, pretending to look nonchalant, although her heart was beginning to race. "I want to turn in early."
"There's no school tomorrow, Hermione," said Draco, smirking. "Good try, though."
Hermione felt her irritation as she replied, "Not everyone wants to have eye bags like you, you worm."
Draco's hands flew instinctively to his eyes. "I do not have eye bags!"
Then, he saw Hermione laughing, and he began to laugh along with her, though he tried not to. What was wrong with him?
"Well?" Said Hermione, looking serious and tired again.
"I don't know where to begin, Hermione, but I'll try my best to put what I want to say into words. But I beg of you not to interrupt me." Draco looked at her, to see if she agreed. She did, with a nod of her head.
"Well, this is really hard, but first of all, I'm really sorry. Secondly, I realized that just lately, I've been... Well, feeling rather close to you. I don't know why, and I cannot explain it. It's not 'like', and I wouldn't call it 'love'. I don't know what it is. And I wanted to ask you, honestly, just how you feel about and towards me," he said, looking into her eyes.
Hermione stared back into his eyes. 'Maybe that was why they said that your eyes are the windows to your soul,' thought Hermione. She could see that Draco was being completely honest, and personal with her. He looked so vulnerable, totally unlike the swaggering, self-assured, confident jerk she knew him to be.
"I-," Hermione didn't know what to say. "I don't know, Draco. I've just been a concerned friend, and nothing more, when I got upset about that dream. But I didn't think that..." Hermione was at a loss for words.
"That?" Urged Draco. He wanted to know everything.
"That you'd feel that way about me," she finished.
"But how do you feel about me?" Asked Draco, not wanting to get his hopes too high. "Where do I stand?"
Hermione was trapped. "Draco... You're... Just a friend." She said finally. "Just a friend."
"Just a friend... Just a friend... Just a friend..." Hermione's words rang resoundingly in Draco's ears. "Just a friend... Just a friend... Just a friend..."
Draco's heart turned to ice. He did not want to hear anymore. He stood up.
"Draco..."
"I'm going to bed," he said, his voice, cold as an iceberg. "Night."
"Draco, please!" Hermione ran after him, and grabbed his arm just the way he had not too many days ago.
He took no notice of her, and walked on as though she wasn't there.
"Please, Draco! I'm sorry! Listen to me!"
"Hey, put a sock in it!" They heard, when they passed Justin's room.
"Draco," Hermione pleaded softly. "Please! I had no idea!"
Draco threw his room door open and sat at the edge of his bed. He looked down at the deep green carpeting in front of him. He wanted to shut everything out. He could, really. But he could not shut out Hermione, who was seated right next to him. Her presence, voice and scent was something Draco wanted there, but did not want at the same time.
Draco turned slowly to face her. "You had no idea. Of course. No one would. But I thought you'd read between the lines, Hermione! Haven't I been nice to you?" He got up, shook off Hermione's warm hand, and went to shut his door.
Hermione felt a prickle of anger. "You think that being nice to me for a week makes me forget everything? How you called me a mudblood, how you made my teeth grow a hundred times faster than anything, and humiliated me? How my best friends and I were the butt of your cruel jokes and taunts? No, Draco! And I-."
But Hermione didn't have the chance to go on. Draco had pulled her towards him and kissed her full on her lips. Hermione was taken aback, and didn't know how to respond, though her first thought was to push Draco away, but Draco being near to her, his warmth, his light eau de cologne, his everything... It just swept her off her feet, and all thoughts were instantly erased from her mind. Nothing was clear to her. Nothing made any sense, except to respond to Draco. So she did. She kissed him back.
Slowly, Draco wrapped his arms around her, going slow, so he wouldn't scare her, and Hermione found her arms around his neck. No sooner had they been entwined for a minute, Hermione broke the spell.
"We did NOT do that!" She said, looking at him, her eyes wide with fear. "I did NOT do that! It wasn't me! I- I... Don't know what came over me, and I-..."
Draco put a finger on her lips, and felt her warm breath, coming out in short gasps.
"We did, Hermione."
Hermione took a step backwards. "We didn't!" Then she turned and ran to the door.
"Hermione!" Draco started after her. Too late. She had disappeared down the stairs in a blur.
Draco shut his door slowly, and ran a finger over his lips. He had kissed Hermione Granger. And better -
"I kissed him back," whispered Hermione to herself, sitting huddled on her bed, her arms around her knees. "I kissed him back. How could I? How could you, Hermione Granger? Are you really Hermione Granger?"
Hermione didn't know what to think. Was she happy? Angry he had kissed her? Glad she had kissed him back? Furious for responding to him? She couldn't think straight. Her first kiss! Her first kiss went to Draco Malfoy! She had kissed Harry on the cheek once - but that didn't count. He didn't hold her, and she didn't hold him back.
"But you held Draco," Hermione whispered rocking back and forth gently. 'You held him, as if you never wanted to let go."
Hermione's lips burned. She was thoroughly ashamed of herself. How could she do such a thing?
Just then, there was a sharp tapping on the window. Hermione jumped. She looked at the window. It was an eagle owl. 'Draco,' she thought, and quickly went to the window and opened it. The owl had a note.
Hermione, slightly dreading what was inside, opened it slowly, as the owl sat on her windowsill and began to preen itself. It read,
"Hermione, I don't know what to say, but I think I owe you an explanation why I... Kissed you. I guess you could say it was in the heat of the moment. And besides, you look really cute when you're all red and flustered and angry, so I couldn't help myself. I just had to. If you don't want to talk to me for the rest of your life, and beyond, I'm prepared. Yours always, Draco"
Hermione smiled, despite herself. Draco had a warped sense of humour, almost like Ron's, except Ron tended to be more sarcastic. Hermione re-read the letter, and wondered if she ought to reply.
"Well, for courtesy sake," she told herself, as she sat at her desk, pulled out her quill and bottle of ink, and wrote on a new piece of parchment.
"Draco, I'm as much to blame as you are, as I kissed you back. So don't bully yourself. Why would I not want to talk to you? Just DON'T (I MEAN IT!) mention it or breathe a word to anybody. Let's forget it ever happened -," 'though it won't be easy', thought Hermione, "and go back to our lives. Is that fine with you? Good night, Draco. I'm very tired from all these, and I need a break -," Hermione paused. How would she sign off? With her usual 'Love from'? Or 'Yours truly'? No, not 'Yours truly'. That wasn't personal, and so not her. Finally, she settled on her usual 'Love from', hoping Draco would not get the wrong idea.
Then, she tied the note on the owl's leg, and watched it take off into the night. Hermione looked down at the Hogwart's grounds. She couldn't see anything, and turned back to her bed.
Still thinking over everything, she changed into a comfortable pair of clothes, and fell back into bed. Hermione wondered if she really treated Draco just as her friend. Or was he someone who meant more to her, than she knew or actually dared to admit? Her thoughts still going round and round in circles, Hermione fell asleep.