To my l8est reviewers, Fearless, DKG, Clare (OH NO! Was I THAT
descriptive??), Lilbleappleblossom and Gryfyndor Girl... Sorry this is a
WHOLE WEEK late! I was banned from the computer... Someone said I was
spending too much time on it... So just make do with this, okay? Sorry!
Chapter 26
"Minerva, where -?" Dumbledore held out his hand.
Trembling, McGonagall lowered the bottle into his hand. "The astronomy tower floor was half-covered. Lucky Severus had seen it, before me, or I'd have stepped in it!"
Dumbledore put the glass vial on his desk, and looked at them over his half-moon glasses. 'I hope you realize how serious this is, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Yes, professor," they said quietly, stunned.
The staircase began to move. Hermione and Draco looked expectantly at the staircase. Hermione could see Draco's hand on his wand. Shuddering, she put her hand on her wand too, and waited.
It was Harry and Ron, with Snape, who was staring vindictively at Harry out of the corner of his eyes.
"Headmaster," said Snape, nodding curtly, Harry and Ron echoing him.
"Very well. Since you are all here, I shall go straight to the point. As all of you know what this potion is, I would like you not to tell any of the other students about it. It is not a potential danger - yet, but I would like to keep this matter quiet, until we find the culprit who has been brewing this. Meanwhile, I'd like all of you to be on guard. Look out for all of your friends, and ensure that everyone is safe. I will tell the Head boy and girl about this," said Dumbledore, lifting up the bottle and peering at it once more. "You may leave. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," they answered, and left the office, their thoughts in a jumble.
Outside, Hermione was the first to speak. "Who can it be?" She said softly, feeling vulnerable. Her eyes were trained on the floor, as they walked on.
"And why," said Ron, who was on Hermione's right. He put an arm around Hermione's shoulders.
Draco tried not to look at Ron, or Hermione, who looked as though she appreciated Ron's arm around her. Like Ron was supporting her. Draco wanted to be the one who supported her. "It must be a death-eater," said Draco, his eyes filled with concentration.
"Why?" Said Ron, sounding a little harsh. "Because your father told you about this, didn't he?"
"RON!" Said Hermione, shivering, putting an arm on his chest. "Fighting among ourselves isn't going to help! Please! Keep your head!"
Draco, who was on Hermione's other side, simply kept quiet. He didn't need to see that.
"Hurry up," said Hermione, glad that Draco had not lost his temper with Ron. "Draco and I will send you back to the Gryffindor tower, then we'll head back to our tower."
Ron tried to argue, but Hermione would not hear of it.
All the while, Harry was quiet. When they were outside the portrait, he said softly, "I'll write to Snuffles. He might have a clue."
After saying goodnight to her friends, Hermione turned, and walked slowly alongside Draco.
"Are you okay?" Asked Draco, after he had ensured that Harry and Ron had closed the portrait door behind them.
"I - I don't know," admitted Hermione. "I don't know how much more I can take! I hope I don't bend under all these pressure!"
"You never seemed to have any difficulty before," said Draco, glancing sideways at her.
Hermione was silent. "Times are different, Draco," she said softly. "I've got other concerns on my plate too."
"I'm here for you," said Draco, without thinking.
Hermione stopped and stared at him. "Excuse me?"
Draco walked on, not glancing back. "Nothing," he said loftily, as she hurried to fall in step with him.
Hermione did not pursue the subject. They were silent, all the way to their tower. When they were about to part, there was an awkward silence. They stood in front of the wall between the staircases and stared at each other.
Hermione's brown eyes looked imploringly into Draco's silver ones. Suddenly, he held his arms open, and Hermione fell into them.
Her tears fell unbidden.
"Draco, I-," Hermione tried to say.
"Hush now," he said softly, holding on to her, feeling the tornado that was his feelings get stronger, and more confused.
For several minutes, he just held her while she cried, her tears forming a wet patch on his school cloak. When Hermione pulled back, she saw that Draco's eyes were closed, and it seemed as though he was concentrating on something. However, all he was trying to do was get a hold of himself.
"Draco?" Whispered Hermione. She shivered at the peaceful look on his face. "Draco, good night."
Then, she went upstairs to her room without turning back. But if she had, she would have seen Draco watch her leave with pain and sadness in his eyes.
"Hermione, wake up! Hermione!"
Hermione turned onto her side, and mumbled, "Go away."
"Hermione! You're late!"
Hermione's eyes opened, and stared at Lavender. "Late? Oh no! I'm LATE!"
"Actually, I was just kidding!" Lavender laughed, jumping back from Hermione's bed. She dodged a pillow, and tapped Hermione's shoulders. "Draco wanted me to wake you up. He said something about potions class, which trapped... Or was it Trapped potion? I can't remember, but - Hey! Hermione!"
Hermione had not waited to hear the rest. She had thrown a sweater over her pajamas top, thrown the door open, and run down.
She barely heard Lavender yell, "Arithmancy starts in an hour!" as she fled down, nearly stubbing her toe.
"Is this how you look every morning?" Draco smirked, looking her up and down.
"What?" Said Hermione. Then she caught sight of her reflection on the polished oak table.
Her hair was flattened on her left side, and puffy on her right. Hermione went red, and glared at Draco, hoping to find something to say about Draco, but he was, as always, standing there calmly, his head held high, with every strand of hair in place. His clothes, a black shirt with a gray sweater over it with navy blue pants, was neat and creaseless, as usual. Hermione looked away.
"What do you want?" She sighed, wishing she didn't have to talk to him. She decided to use as little words as possible, and speak only when spoken to.
Draco, sensing he had touched a touchy subject, tried to speak in a nicer tone to her. "It's the - the potion. I found an old book, which used to belong to my father. It's very rare, but he gave it to me last year. He said it'd be useful, and I'd scoffed. But I guess I was wrong."
"Where is it?" She asked, looking at him, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I wouldn't bring such a valuable thing down," he said shortly, hearing Lavender and Parvati, making their way down, squealing excitedly about a boy in his seventh year. "It's up in my room. Why don't you take a shower, then see me in fifteen minutes?"
Hermione merely nodded, and traipsed up the stairs.
After a shower, which took only ten minutes instead of her usual twenty, she put on her school uniform in case they took longer than expected, then made her way down the girls' staircase, then up the boys' staircase.
Taking a deep breath as though to steady her nerves and heart, which was actually working overtime, she knocked on his door thrice.
"Draco?" She called, trying to sound cool and calm, though it came out sounding more like a squeak.
"The door's not locked," he called back.
Hermione gripped the doorknob, and pushed it slowly. She found herself staring into a dim room. Apparently, Draco had drawn his curtains, and used the torches to light up his room instead. It took Hermione several minutes for her eyes to get accustomed to the dimness.
"Can't you draw the curtains?" Asked Hermione, as she closed the door. She could see Draco's outline by his desk, bent over it, studying something intently.
"No," he said, glancing at her. "I don't like being exposed to too much sunlight. Except of course, unless it's quidditch. It's too bright for my liking."
"Wuss," laughed Hermione, walking over to his side. "What a wuss!"
"I'm not a -," he started to retaliate, but when he saw her throw her head back and begin to laugh, as she had managed to lure him into her trap, he merely waved a hand at her, and said "Whatever, Hermione."
"What do you want to show me?" Asked Hermione.
"This," said Draco, not looking up. "This book here actually tells you the details of how it is made. And the ingredients."
"Can I see that?" Said Hermione. Draco handed her the book.
As Hermione slowly scanned the page, and absorbed the information, she felt Draco's eyes on her. She could feel his eyes looking at her face, then slowly move down to her feet, and then back to her face again. Hermione tried her best not to squirm under his firm gaze.
Forgetting momentarily that his eyes were on her, she looked up, and stared into his eyes. Hermione tried to conceal her nervousness of making a fool out of herself, as she stared steadily back, wondering who would break the moment. She could feel the air in the room tingle, though she didn't know for what reason. But she had a guess what.
"Getting lost in each others' eyes isn't going to help," said Draco, cutting the electricity between them.
"Er - right," said Hermione, feeling incredibly stupid as soon as the words were out of her mouth. 'Great, Hermione. Just great! Now he's going to think you're such a doofus!'
"We should concentrate on this now, and maybe later, we can... Continue?"
Hermione's heart raced so fast, she thought it's pop right out of her chest and into his face. 'He had said 'maybe later'. Not 'we'll never'. There's still a chance!' she thought hopefully.
"Do you want to show this to Harry and Ron later?" Asked Hermione, reminding herself to breathe normally.
"What?" He said mildly. "And spoil our fun?"
Hermione found it hard not to stare at him. 'First, he's telling me that we should get down to work, and now - he's FLIRTING with me!'
"Our fun?" She repeated lamely. "I thought we were supposed to... Work together?"
"Yeah," said Draco, looking into the fire. "Too bad." Then he snapped back, and became his usual self. "So when can we meet up with Potty and Weasel?"
"What about lunch?" She suggested.
"Do you think I'm going to miss my lunch? Or Ron, for that matter," he smirked, making Hermione's heart go faster.
'Stop it!' She told herself. "Fine. After lunch, then. Is that okay with you, your majesty?"
Draco's smirk widened. "Certainly, my loyal minion."
Hermione rolled her eyes as she shook her head, and turned to leave. As she reached for the doorknob, Draco caught her forearm, and turned her around. It happened so quickly, that Hermione only realized he'd kissed her when he'd pulled away from her, his eyes shining confusedly.
"Tell no one," he breathed, as Hermione's gaze met his.
She nodded, looking up at him, feeling dizzy.
Then, she turned, left his room, got her books from her room, and then half-skipped all the way to the Arithmancy classroom. She glanced at her watch and began to countdown to lunch, still remembering the way his lips had brushed hers, and how he'd looked at her when he swore her to secrecy.
'Ron's too late,' she thought, smiling to herself. 'Draco's put a spell over me, and no one - NO ONE - can save me.' Then, giggling to herself, she whispered aloud, "Go ahead and try."
Chapter 26
"Minerva, where -?" Dumbledore held out his hand.
Trembling, McGonagall lowered the bottle into his hand. "The astronomy tower floor was half-covered. Lucky Severus had seen it, before me, or I'd have stepped in it!"
Dumbledore put the glass vial on his desk, and looked at them over his half-moon glasses. 'I hope you realize how serious this is, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Yes, professor," they said quietly, stunned.
The staircase began to move. Hermione and Draco looked expectantly at the staircase. Hermione could see Draco's hand on his wand. Shuddering, she put her hand on her wand too, and waited.
It was Harry and Ron, with Snape, who was staring vindictively at Harry out of the corner of his eyes.
"Headmaster," said Snape, nodding curtly, Harry and Ron echoing him.
"Very well. Since you are all here, I shall go straight to the point. As all of you know what this potion is, I would like you not to tell any of the other students about it. It is not a potential danger - yet, but I would like to keep this matter quiet, until we find the culprit who has been brewing this. Meanwhile, I'd like all of you to be on guard. Look out for all of your friends, and ensure that everyone is safe. I will tell the Head boy and girl about this," said Dumbledore, lifting up the bottle and peering at it once more. "You may leave. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," they answered, and left the office, their thoughts in a jumble.
Outside, Hermione was the first to speak. "Who can it be?" She said softly, feeling vulnerable. Her eyes were trained on the floor, as they walked on.
"And why," said Ron, who was on Hermione's right. He put an arm around Hermione's shoulders.
Draco tried not to look at Ron, or Hermione, who looked as though she appreciated Ron's arm around her. Like Ron was supporting her. Draco wanted to be the one who supported her. "It must be a death-eater," said Draco, his eyes filled with concentration.
"Why?" Said Ron, sounding a little harsh. "Because your father told you about this, didn't he?"
"RON!" Said Hermione, shivering, putting an arm on his chest. "Fighting among ourselves isn't going to help! Please! Keep your head!"
Draco, who was on Hermione's other side, simply kept quiet. He didn't need to see that.
"Hurry up," said Hermione, glad that Draco had not lost his temper with Ron. "Draco and I will send you back to the Gryffindor tower, then we'll head back to our tower."
Ron tried to argue, but Hermione would not hear of it.
All the while, Harry was quiet. When they were outside the portrait, he said softly, "I'll write to Snuffles. He might have a clue."
After saying goodnight to her friends, Hermione turned, and walked slowly alongside Draco.
"Are you okay?" Asked Draco, after he had ensured that Harry and Ron had closed the portrait door behind them.
"I - I don't know," admitted Hermione. "I don't know how much more I can take! I hope I don't bend under all these pressure!"
"You never seemed to have any difficulty before," said Draco, glancing sideways at her.
Hermione was silent. "Times are different, Draco," she said softly. "I've got other concerns on my plate too."
"I'm here for you," said Draco, without thinking.
Hermione stopped and stared at him. "Excuse me?"
Draco walked on, not glancing back. "Nothing," he said loftily, as she hurried to fall in step with him.
Hermione did not pursue the subject. They were silent, all the way to their tower. When they were about to part, there was an awkward silence. They stood in front of the wall between the staircases and stared at each other.
Hermione's brown eyes looked imploringly into Draco's silver ones. Suddenly, he held his arms open, and Hermione fell into them.
Her tears fell unbidden.
"Draco, I-," Hermione tried to say.
"Hush now," he said softly, holding on to her, feeling the tornado that was his feelings get stronger, and more confused.
For several minutes, he just held her while she cried, her tears forming a wet patch on his school cloak. When Hermione pulled back, she saw that Draco's eyes were closed, and it seemed as though he was concentrating on something. However, all he was trying to do was get a hold of himself.
"Draco?" Whispered Hermione. She shivered at the peaceful look on his face. "Draco, good night."
Then, she went upstairs to her room without turning back. But if she had, she would have seen Draco watch her leave with pain and sadness in his eyes.
"Hermione, wake up! Hermione!"
Hermione turned onto her side, and mumbled, "Go away."
"Hermione! You're late!"
Hermione's eyes opened, and stared at Lavender. "Late? Oh no! I'm LATE!"
"Actually, I was just kidding!" Lavender laughed, jumping back from Hermione's bed. She dodged a pillow, and tapped Hermione's shoulders. "Draco wanted me to wake you up. He said something about potions class, which trapped... Or was it Trapped potion? I can't remember, but - Hey! Hermione!"
Hermione had not waited to hear the rest. She had thrown a sweater over her pajamas top, thrown the door open, and run down.
She barely heard Lavender yell, "Arithmancy starts in an hour!" as she fled down, nearly stubbing her toe.
"Is this how you look every morning?" Draco smirked, looking her up and down.
"What?" Said Hermione. Then she caught sight of her reflection on the polished oak table.
Her hair was flattened on her left side, and puffy on her right. Hermione went red, and glared at Draco, hoping to find something to say about Draco, but he was, as always, standing there calmly, his head held high, with every strand of hair in place. His clothes, a black shirt with a gray sweater over it with navy blue pants, was neat and creaseless, as usual. Hermione looked away.
"What do you want?" She sighed, wishing she didn't have to talk to him. She decided to use as little words as possible, and speak only when spoken to.
Draco, sensing he had touched a touchy subject, tried to speak in a nicer tone to her. "It's the - the potion. I found an old book, which used to belong to my father. It's very rare, but he gave it to me last year. He said it'd be useful, and I'd scoffed. But I guess I was wrong."
"Where is it?" She asked, looking at him, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I wouldn't bring such a valuable thing down," he said shortly, hearing Lavender and Parvati, making their way down, squealing excitedly about a boy in his seventh year. "It's up in my room. Why don't you take a shower, then see me in fifteen minutes?"
Hermione merely nodded, and traipsed up the stairs.
After a shower, which took only ten minutes instead of her usual twenty, she put on her school uniform in case they took longer than expected, then made her way down the girls' staircase, then up the boys' staircase.
Taking a deep breath as though to steady her nerves and heart, which was actually working overtime, she knocked on his door thrice.
"Draco?" She called, trying to sound cool and calm, though it came out sounding more like a squeak.
"The door's not locked," he called back.
Hermione gripped the doorknob, and pushed it slowly. She found herself staring into a dim room. Apparently, Draco had drawn his curtains, and used the torches to light up his room instead. It took Hermione several minutes for her eyes to get accustomed to the dimness.
"Can't you draw the curtains?" Asked Hermione, as she closed the door. She could see Draco's outline by his desk, bent over it, studying something intently.
"No," he said, glancing at her. "I don't like being exposed to too much sunlight. Except of course, unless it's quidditch. It's too bright for my liking."
"Wuss," laughed Hermione, walking over to his side. "What a wuss!"
"I'm not a -," he started to retaliate, but when he saw her throw her head back and begin to laugh, as she had managed to lure him into her trap, he merely waved a hand at her, and said "Whatever, Hermione."
"What do you want to show me?" Asked Hermione.
"This," said Draco, not looking up. "This book here actually tells you the details of how it is made. And the ingredients."
"Can I see that?" Said Hermione. Draco handed her the book.
As Hermione slowly scanned the page, and absorbed the information, she felt Draco's eyes on her. She could feel his eyes looking at her face, then slowly move down to her feet, and then back to her face again. Hermione tried her best not to squirm under his firm gaze.
Forgetting momentarily that his eyes were on her, she looked up, and stared into his eyes. Hermione tried to conceal her nervousness of making a fool out of herself, as she stared steadily back, wondering who would break the moment. She could feel the air in the room tingle, though she didn't know for what reason. But she had a guess what.
"Getting lost in each others' eyes isn't going to help," said Draco, cutting the electricity between them.
"Er - right," said Hermione, feeling incredibly stupid as soon as the words were out of her mouth. 'Great, Hermione. Just great! Now he's going to think you're such a doofus!'
"We should concentrate on this now, and maybe later, we can... Continue?"
Hermione's heart raced so fast, she thought it's pop right out of her chest and into his face. 'He had said 'maybe later'. Not 'we'll never'. There's still a chance!' she thought hopefully.
"Do you want to show this to Harry and Ron later?" Asked Hermione, reminding herself to breathe normally.
"What?" He said mildly. "And spoil our fun?"
Hermione found it hard not to stare at him. 'First, he's telling me that we should get down to work, and now - he's FLIRTING with me!'
"Our fun?" She repeated lamely. "I thought we were supposed to... Work together?"
"Yeah," said Draco, looking into the fire. "Too bad." Then he snapped back, and became his usual self. "So when can we meet up with Potty and Weasel?"
"What about lunch?" She suggested.
"Do you think I'm going to miss my lunch? Or Ron, for that matter," he smirked, making Hermione's heart go faster.
'Stop it!' She told herself. "Fine. After lunch, then. Is that okay with you, your majesty?"
Draco's smirk widened. "Certainly, my loyal minion."
Hermione rolled her eyes as she shook her head, and turned to leave. As she reached for the doorknob, Draco caught her forearm, and turned her around. It happened so quickly, that Hermione only realized he'd kissed her when he'd pulled away from her, his eyes shining confusedly.
"Tell no one," he breathed, as Hermione's gaze met his.
She nodded, looking up at him, feeling dizzy.
Then, she turned, left his room, got her books from her room, and then half-skipped all the way to the Arithmancy classroom. She glanced at her watch and began to countdown to lunch, still remembering the way his lips had brushed hers, and how he'd looked at her when he swore her to secrecy.
'Ron's too late,' she thought, smiling to herself. 'Draco's put a spell over me, and no one - NO ONE - can save me.' Then, giggling to herself, she whispered aloud, "Go ahead and try."