CHAPTER 8~ Surprises
Draco only remained in the hospital wing until dinner that night. Madame Pomfrey had released him due to his pleading that he couldn't stand so much sunlight, and she was just getting annoyed.
The weeks were flying by, and it was now three weeks before Christmas. Draco and Hermione were able to keep everything about their relationship hidden real well. They had both kept their promise not to change and were constantly bickering even when they were alone in their common room. They did have their good days occasionally. However, both seemed to find that kissing the other when they wanted them to shut up was very effective.
As they were sitting in their common room one night finishing their homework when there was a soft tap at the window, and Draco noticed his mother's owl. "Wonder what she wants," he said.
"Who?" Hermione asked curiously as she watched him open the window. The cold air along with the owl came flying in. Hermione let out an involuntary shiver and pulled a blanket around her.
"My mother. I haven't heard from her since the beginning of the year." He opened the envelope slowly and began reading her letter.
Dear Draco, Your father mentioned to me that he believes you are dating a Muggle-born girl. If I remember correctly, she is the one you were constantly complaining about. He is not happy in the slightest, but I would like you to bring her home for Christmas. Your father does not know about this, but he will not be here during any part of the vacation due to the fact that he has some business meeting-you know what that means. I would like to meet her while not under his close watch. I remember her at the Quidditch World Cup a few summers back, and she didn't seem so bad. You know that I am not prejudice like your father is, and it doesn't bother me that you have fallen for a nice Muggle girl. Please send your response back as soon as possible because I need to know what to tell the house elves to prepare. I hope that you will both be here. Love, Mom
"She wants to meet you. You know how we were planning on staying here for Christmas? Our plans just changed, if you agree of course."
"Let me see that." Draco walked over to her and handed to the neatly written note. Her eyes scanned it quickly and she said, "Of course I'll go. Your mother doesn't sound nearly as bad as I had expected she would be. No offense, but she just looked a bit stuck up at the Quidditch World Cup."
"None taken. She acts like that to please my father and keep up the 'Malfoy honor,' or some bullshit like that. Well, I should write back to let her know we're coming."
He grabbed a piece of parchment that was on Hermione's lap, and her quill, and began to write his response.
"Did I say you could use those?" she said in mock anger.
"Nope, but do I care?"
"Why are you always so difficult?"
"That's just the way I am. You should have figured that out by now. You do live with me after all."
She rolled her eyes as he continued to write without glancing up at her.
"Here, how's that sound?" he queried as he handed her the parchment.
Dear Mom, Hermione agreed to come with me back to the Manor for Christmas break as long as father will not make any sort of appearance. I do not want Hermione anywhere near him for fear of what he might do. He has already threatened her. I can't wait to see you again, and I hope that all is well with you. See you in two weeks. Love, Draco
"Aw, it's so sweet, Malfoy. You love your mom," she cooed.
"Oh shut up! You and my mother really are the only people that mean anything to me, so don't say anything about how I end my letters to her."
"Damn, I was joking, no need to get all pissy. You gotta work on that temper of yours."
"What is it with you and my temper? You're always complaining about it. I happen to think I'm perfectly normal when it comes to my temper and my personality," he answered defiantly.
Hermione just shook her head. "Well, you better send it."
He took the note from her hand and sent it off with his mother's owl. "I can't stand when you do that."
"Do what?" she asked.
"When we're talking about one thing and you immediately change the topic. It annoys the hell outta me. Why can't we ever just discuss one thing without having to change topics and start on something else?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's because I can't stand it that every single time I say something jokingly you get all mad at me and can't just laugh it off. You have the oddest sense of humor out of anyone I have ever met. You laugh your damn ass off when you make fun of some poor kid and then you get all defensive when someone tries to say something light-hearted to you. I don't-"
Draco cut her off by slamming his lips into hers. Immediately they both relaxed and fell into each other's embrace.
"That won't work forever you know?" Hermione whispered when they broke apart.
"I know. But it seems to be working for now, so I'm gunna stick with it. Why do we always have to argue about the dumbest shit anyway?" he asked while putting an arm around her shoulder and drawing her close to him.
"Because we're two seventeen year old, immature, spoiled brats who are used to getting everything our way or no way because we are only children," she suggested.
"Hey, I don't get everything my way. I did occasionally get some things to go my way when I was younger, but if smile at my house, I get my ass kicked."
"But if something happens to you outside of your home, your father always manages to get you special privileges that no one else gets. In second year, your father bought your whole House team a Nimbus 2001, in third year the whole thing with Buckbeak-"
"I was in a shit load of pain from that stupid animal! My arm was in a cast for the longest time if you don't remember, and in my second year, we all got brooms because I made the House team. He didn't buy my way onto the team, I really did make it."
"Buckbeak was not stupid! You just had to go and be yourself and not pay attention to a word Hagrid was saying."
"Okay, okay, we're getting back to this nonsense fighting again." He smirked a little at the shocked expression on her face.
"Oh, please, Malfoy. We both know that it doesn't bother you in the least. You know you love fighting with everyone."
"Yeah, but it's still nice to have one person around that I don't argue with."
"And we both know that I will probably never be that person since we hardly ever see eye to eye on anything."
"We do on some things," he said looking thoughtful.
"Such as?"
"My father being a complete and total jackass, for instance. I know you definitely agree with me there. Don't even try to deny that because I will know that you are lying."
"Yes, we do agree on that. There is definitely no denying that I despise the very being of that man. I've hated him since the day I met him."
"Hey, that's another thing we have in common! I've hated him since the day I met him too! What a coincidence!"
They both started laughing hysterically at Draco's sudden outburst, and Hermione collapsed on him, with her head falling onto his lap. Draco ran one of his long hands through Hermione's short hair while the other ran lazily over her stomach. As their eyes locked, they stopped laughing and just stared dazedly at each other. Both became victims of their own minds and were lost to everything else that was occurring in the outside world. For them, all that mattered was that they were with each other. If someone had suddenly guessed the password to the common room at that moment and walked in, neither would have noticed because of the invisible, unfelt magnetism that were keeping them in that position.
Hermione pulled herself up slowly never glancing away from his eyes, and she was now sitting on his lap instead of laying on him. They leaned in slowly and their lips only brushed against each other's at first, but soon became very deep and passionate. Her hands traveled all over his chest as his explored every part of her body.
Draco pushed her down on the couch and began to unbutton her robes. He pushed them off her shoulders and threw them across the room. She did the same with his robes and began working on his white shirt. His muscles tensed as she pushed it off his strong shoulders. Before Hermione, he had never allowed anyone to see any part of his chest, and he was still self- conscious of it.
Hermione felt him tense up, and she broke away from him, "Are you alright?" she asked soothingly.
"Yeah, fine," he answered as he kissed her again.
She continued to remove the shirt from him, and she threw it across the room to join their robes. Hermione ran her hands over Draco's exposed skin. Her touch was feathery light and almost gave him a tickling sensation. His chest was toned and she knew that years of Quidditch had definitely had a good effect on his body.
Draco took off Hermione's shirt and discarded it along with their other clothes. He broke away from her and started trailing kisses along her jaw and down her neck. Carefully, he removed her bra and began sucking lightly on her breasts. She moaned in pleasure as he bit down gently. His hands slid down her body and he started pushing down her skirt. He ran his fingers along the inside of her thighs and he was about to pull her panties down when she grabbed his hands.
He looked up at her confusedly and asked, "What's wrong? Don't you want this?"
"I do, but I don't know if I'm ready yet. I love you, Draco, but I don't know if I'm ready for this yet."
Draco's head snapped up even farther and he stared deep into her eyes. "You've never said that before."
"Said what?"
"You've never said that you loved me."
"I do, though. I know it doesn't seem like it because we're always arguing like two-year-old children who have nothing better to do with their time, but I do love you."
"I love you, too, but I was afraid you didn't feel the same for me, and I was afraid to tell you because I thought you were gunna laugh at me. I know that sounds stupid, but that's why I've refrained from saying anything."
"Why would I laugh at you for telling me how you really feel?"
"I don't know." He sat up and pulled her close to him. His hands caressed her bare skin and she closed her eyes and sighed contentedly, but shivered a little. "Are you cold?" he asked.
"A little." His robe happened to be the one item of clothing that was in his reach, so he picked it up and draped it around her shoulders. "Thanks," she said while smiling up at him.
"Your welcome." He retuned the smile as she cuddled closer to him.
~
It was finally the last day before Christmas break and Hermione was becoming more nervous by the minute. She was stealing glances across the Great Hall all during lunch, but there wasn't really anything he could do at the moment since they were surrounded by the whole school.
"'Mione, what's up with you today? Why are you so jumpy?" Ron asked while biting into a piece of steak.
"I don't know. I guess going home for break is just uh making me kinda nervous for some reason."
"Hermione, you're going to be with your parents. What can be so bad about that? You've never been nervous before," Harry reassured her.
"Uh, yeah you're right. I don't know why I'm feeling like this. I just gotta calm down a lot." She knew that if they had been in her situation they would feel the same way. That wasn't the case, though, since Harry had met Ron's parents long ago and Ron met the Dursleys in a very non- pleasant manner, but he had met them nonetheless.
Throughout the rest of lunch, they would cast sideways glances in her direction and watch her wringing her hands together or staring out across the Hall into what they thought was oblivion, but was really Draco.
The last class of the day was Potions, and wouldn't you know it, they had to take notes. This earned groans from the whole class because they hadn't done anything at all in any of their previous classes. Snape glared at them as they once again became quiet.
"Now, just for that display of immaturity, I will be choosing who you will sit next to for the remainder of class. If I hear one person make a sound of protest, I will give you detention that will be served tonight." No one made a sound and Snape began to call out the names of the students who would be sitting with each other. "Malfoy, Granger; Smith, Patil; Goyle, Finnigan; Bullstrode, Potter; Parkinson, Weasley," and so on until everyone was paired with someone else.
Hermione made her way over to where Draco was sitting with his arms folded across his chest making it look like he was extremely upset with the seating arrangements. She slammed her books down on the table, which made him jump a little and she smirked at his reaction.
"What was that all about, Granger?" he hissed as she took her seat.
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all." She smirked as she took her seat beside him.
As Snape began speaking, Hermione's legs began to tremble again and her hands were shaking. Draco noticed this and ripped a piece of parchment out of his notebook and wrote:
Are you okay? You've been shaking all day. What's wrong?
He slid the paper across the small space that separated them. She pulled it onto her notebook and wrote back to him.
I've just been kind of nervous all day. We're going back to your house tomorrow and I don't know what to expect. What if I make a fool of myself? That would be so embarrassing.
Just as she was about to pass it back to Draco, Snape looked her way, and she began writing furiously in her notebook. Once she was sure Snape wasn't looking again, she passed it back to him.
You won't make a fool of yourself. Just relax a little. My mom is nothing like my dad. She accepts people for who they are and she doesn't pre- judge. I'm sure she'll like you for the pure fact that I like you.
He gave it back to Hermione, and she smiled a little. Mrs. Malfoy sounded so much nicer than Mr. Malfoy was, which helped her to relax a little bit.
Draco reached one of his hands under the table and began to gently massage Hermione's leg. This made Hermione relax much more. Just knowing that he cared for her was enough to keep her calm for the time being.
After class, Hermione met up with Harry and Ron and they made their way up to the Gryffindor common room.
"Feeling any better?" Harry asked as they passed the Entrance Hall and up the beautiful marble staircase.
"Yeah, much. I don't know what came over me before," she lied quickly.
"Well, that's good."
She nodded in agreement as they continued the long trek to their tower. "I can't believe I got stuck sitting next to that pug/slut, Pansy just now," Ron said. "She's such a horny whore and I can't stand her. She kept saying that she wondered what it's like to do a gay guy. I was trying to move away from her, but she kept inching her chair close to me. It was so annoying."
Hermione had to bite her lip to stifle a laugh, and she slowed down a bit so the boys wouldn't see her expression.
"Don't worry about her, Ron," Harry said. "We all know that she's fucked almost every guy in the school. Her and Malfoy are like the two biggest sluts I've ever seen. They are always with someone of the opposite sex and neither of them will probably ever settle down with anyone."
Hermione felt her cheeks become hot when Harry said that Draco was a slut. She knew for a fact that the rumors that were spread about him were false, and she hated the fact that everyone believed them. Draco was still a virgin, which most people wouldn't have guessed due to that fact that he was one of the most wanted males in Hogwarts. He and Hermione had come close to losing their virginity to each other, but Hermione was still afraid.
"Guys, I think I'll go up to my common room instead of to the Gryffindor Tower. I still have a lot of things to pack, and I don't wanna do it all tomorrow. I'll see you guys at dinner and then probably in a few weeks," Hermione called to them.
"Okay," they said together.
She turned and went down a different hall to get to the common room she and Draco shared faster.
"Hey, Mudblood!" she heard someone yell down the corridor.
She turned and saw Pansy Parkinson coming toward her. "What do you want? I have things to do, and talking to you isn't on my list."
"Don't you dare talk to your superior like that, you worthless piece of trash." Hermione rolled her eyes and faked a yawn. Pansy glared at her and asked. "What have you been doing to my Drakie?"
Hermione laughed at this. "Your Drakie? Really?"
"Yes, he's mine. What have you been doing to him? He never comes down to the common room anymore and hasn't spoken to me since the beginning of the year. What did you do to him?"
"I haven't done anything to him. Has the thought that maybe he doesn't like you ever crossed your mind? Maybe he found someone else who isn't such a whore."
Pansy's eyes widened at the tone Hermione used to talk to her. "How dare you talk to me like that?" she screamed. "You are nothing more than a Mudblood. Mudbloods do not speak to Purebloods in that manner. If I find out that you have anything to do with the way Drakie has been acting, I will personally use the Unforgivables on you." She turned and stalked off down the corridor.
Hermione shrugged as she continued the journey to her common room. As she was nearing the eagle, someone else called her name, "Hermione!"
Jeremy came down the hall with one hand behind his back. "What?" she called back unenthusiastically.
He pulled his hand from behind his back and in it there were six black roses. "I remember you saying something about them being you favorites."
She looked at them, but made no move to take them from him. "Yes they are, but what are they for? Last time I checked, I wasn't dating you," the words dripped from her mouth like poison from a snake's fangs. She was not in the mood for his games.
"It's an apology. I didn't mean for anything to happen to Draco back in October and I'm sorry that I hurt you. I really do love you and I would like to invite you to my house for maybe a few days over vacation."
"I can't. I already have plans."
"Yes, I know about them. Narcissa owled me and said that she would like me to go to the Manor for Christmas also. I've been going there for some years now, and I usually make a trip back to my house toward the end, and I want you to accompany me."
"I'm sure that Mrs. Malfoy also mentioned to you then that Draco and I are dating and that is the reason why I will be staying at the Manor. I have no intention of leaving until Draco and I return here together."
"Hey, what's going on here?" Draco asked as he put an arm around Hermione.
"Draco, did you know he's gunna be at the Manor for break too?" Hermione asked.
"I figured he'd be coming since he's always there for Christmas break anyway. My mom always invites him to come. It's been that way for a while. Is he bothering you?"
"Yes, actually. He wants me to leave you for the last few days of break to go to his house."
"I did not! She asked me if she can visit me sometime!" Jeremy lied quickly.
"I'm sure she did," Draco responded sarcastically. "Why don't you go take those roses and shove them up your ass? She already received a dozen from me yesterday."
Jeremy didn't look too happy that Draco would believe his girlfriend over his best friend. "I can't believe you, Draco. How can you trust her more than you trust me? We've been best friends for years, and you used to talk about how much you hated her!"
"There's a thin line between love and hate, Jeremy. I'll see you over break."
Jeremy turned on his heel and stomped off down the corridor and toward the stairs.
"Hell's fairies," Hermione muttered and stepped through the opening to the common room.
"Why does he want you to visit him?" Draco asked as he plopped down on the couch.
"He didn't tell me. My guess is so he can rape me and then say I fucked him so you'll break up with me."
Draco stared at her wide-eyed. "I would kill him if he ever did something like that to you. I would make him die a slow and painful death. There would be no mercy. I hope that bastard stays away for Christmas. He's probably devising a plan with Voldemort so he can get me to join."
"Would you join him?"
"No."
"Would you join him in order to save me?"
"Only if it was to save your life. I couldn't bare to see you get hurt."
Hermione nodded. "This is gunna be a long vacation," she mumbled.
Draco only remained in the hospital wing until dinner that night. Madame Pomfrey had released him due to his pleading that he couldn't stand so much sunlight, and she was just getting annoyed.
The weeks were flying by, and it was now three weeks before Christmas. Draco and Hermione were able to keep everything about their relationship hidden real well. They had both kept their promise not to change and were constantly bickering even when they were alone in their common room. They did have their good days occasionally. However, both seemed to find that kissing the other when they wanted them to shut up was very effective.
As they were sitting in their common room one night finishing their homework when there was a soft tap at the window, and Draco noticed his mother's owl. "Wonder what she wants," he said.
"Who?" Hermione asked curiously as she watched him open the window. The cold air along with the owl came flying in. Hermione let out an involuntary shiver and pulled a blanket around her.
"My mother. I haven't heard from her since the beginning of the year." He opened the envelope slowly and began reading her letter.
Dear Draco, Your father mentioned to me that he believes you are dating a Muggle-born girl. If I remember correctly, she is the one you were constantly complaining about. He is not happy in the slightest, but I would like you to bring her home for Christmas. Your father does not know about this, but he will not be here during any part of the vacation due to the fact that he has some business meeting-you know what that means. I would like to meet her while not under his close watch. I remember her at the Quidditch World Cup a few summers back, and she didn't seem so bad. You know that I am not prejudice like your father is, and it doesn't bother me that you have fallen for a nice Muggle girl. Please send your response back as soon as possible because I need to know what to tell the house elves to prepare. I hope that you will both be here. Love, Mom
"She wants to meet you. You know how we were planning on staying here for Christmas? Our plans just changed, if you agree of course."
"Let me see that." Draco walked over to her and handed to the neatly written note. Her eyes scanned it quickly and she said, "Of course I'll go. Your mother doesn't sound nearly as bad as I had expected she would be. No offense, but she just looked a bit stuck up at the Quidditch World Cup."
"None taken. She acts like that to please my father and keep up the 'Malfoy honor,' or some bullshit like that. Well, I should write back to let her know we're coming."
He grabbed a piece of parchment that was on Hermione's lap, and her quill, and began to write his response.
"Did I say you could use those?" she said in mock anger.
"Nope, but do I care?"
"Why are you always so difficult?"
"That's just the way I am. You should have figured that out by now. You do live with me after all."
She rolled her eyes as he continued to write without glancing up at her.
"Here, how's that sound?" he queried as he handed her the parchment.
Dear Mom, Hermione agreed to come with me back to the Manor for Christmas break as long as father will not make any sort of appearance. I do not want Hermione anywhere near him for fear of what he might do. He has already threatened her. I can't wait to see you again, and I hope that all is well with you. See you in two weeks. Love, Draco
"Aw, it's so sweet, Malfoy. You love your mom," she cooed.
"Oh shut up! You and my mother really are the only people that mean anything to me, so don't say anything about how I end my letters to her."
"Damn, I was joking, no need to get all pissy. You gotta work on that temper of yours."
"What is it with you and my temper? You're always complaining about it. I happen to think I'm perfectly normal when it comes to my temper and my personality," he answered defiantly.
Hermione just shook her head. "Well, you better send it."
He took the note from her hand and sent it off with his mother's owl. "I can't stand when you do that."
"Do what?" she asked.
"When we're talking about one thing and you immediately change the topic. It annoys the hell outta me. Why can't we ever just discuss one thing without having to change topics and start on something else?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's because I can't stand it that every single time I say something jokingly you get all mad at me and can't just laugh it off. You have the oddest sense of humor out of anyone I have ever met. You laugh your damn ass off when you make fun of some poor kid and then you get all defensive when someone tries to say something light-hearted to you. I don't-"
Draco cut her off by slamming his lips into hers. Immediately they both relaxed and fell into each other's embrace.
"That won't work forever you know?" Hermione whispered when they broke apart.
"I know. But it seems to be working for now, so I'm gunna stick with it. Why do we always have to argue about the dumbest shit anyway?" he asked while putting an arm around her shoulder and drawing her close to him.
"Because we're two seventeen year old, immature, spoiled brats who are used to getting everything our way or no way because we are only children," she suggested.
"Hey, I don't get everything my way. I did occasionally get some things to go my way when I was younger, but if smile at my house, I get my ass kicked."
"But if something happens to you outside of your home, your father always manages to get you special privileges that no one else gets. In second year, your father bought your whole House team a Nimbus 2001, in third year the whole thing with Buckbeak-"
"I was in a shit load of pain from that stupid animal! My arm was in a cast for the longest time if you don't remember, and in my second year, we all got brooms because I made the House team. He didn't buy my way onto the team, I really did make it."
"Buckbeak was not stupid! You just had to go and be yourself and not pay attention to a word Hagrid was saying."
"Okay, okay, we're getting back to this nonsense fighting again." He smirked a little at the shocked expression on her face.
"Oh, please, Malfoy. We both know that it doesn't bother you in the least. You know you love fighting with everyone."
"Yeah, but it's still nice to have one person around that I don't argue with."
"And we both know that I will probably never be that person since we hardly ever see eye to eye on anything."
"We do on some things," he said looking thoughtful.
"Such as?"
"My father being a complete and total jackass, for instance. I know you definitely agree with me there. Don't even try to deny that because I will know that you are lying."
"Yes, we do agree on that. There is definitely no denying that I despise the very being of that man. I've hated him since the day I met him."
"Hey, that's another thing we have in common! I've hated him since the day I met him too! What a coincidence!"
They both started laughing hysterically at Draco's sudden outburst, and Hermione collapsed on him, with her head falling onto his lap. Draco ran one of his long hands through Hermione's short hair while the other ran lazily over her stomach. As their eyes locked, they stopped laughing and just stared dazedly at each other. Both became victims of their own minds and were lost to everything else that was occurring in the outside world. For them, all that mattered was that they were with each other. If someone had suddenly guessed the password to the common room at that moment and walked in, neither would have noticed because of the invisible, unfelt magnetism that were keeping them in that position.
Hermione pulled herself up slowly never glancing away from his eyes, and she was now sitting on his lap instead of laying on him. They leaned in slowly and their lips only brushed against each other's at first, but soon became very deep and passionate. Her hands traveled all over his chest as his explored every part of her body.
Draco pushed her down on the couch and began to unbutton her robes. He pushed them off her shoulders and threw them across the room. She did the same with his robes and began working on his white shirt. His muscles tensed as she pushed it off his strong shoulders. Before Hermione, he had never allowed anyone to see any part of his chest, and he was still self- conscious of it.
Hermione felt him tense up, and she broke away from him, "Are you alright?" she asked soothingly.
"Yeah, fine," he answered as he kissed her again.
She continued to remove the shirt from him, and she threw it across the room to join their robes. Hermione ran her hands over Draco's exposed skin. Her touch was feathery light and almost gave him a tickling sensation. His chest was toned and she knew that years of Quidditch had definitely had a good effect on his body.
Draco took off Hermione's shirt and discarded it along with their other clothes. He broke away from her and started trailing kisses along her jaw and down her neck. Carefully, he removed her bra and began sucking lightly on her breasts. She moaned in pleasure as he bit down gently. His hands slid down her body and he started pushing down her skirt. He ran his fingers along the inside of her thighs and he was about to pull her panties down when she grabbed his hands.
He looked up at her confusedly and asked, "What's wrong? Don't you want this?"
"I do, but I don't know if I'm ready yet. I love you, Draco, but I don't know if I'm ready for this yet."
Draco's head snapped up even farther and he stared deep into her eyes. "You've never said that before."
"Said what?"
"You've never said that you loved me."
"I do, though. I know it doesn't seem like it because we're always arguing like two-year-old children who have nothing better to do with their time, but I do love you."
"I love you, too, but I was afraid you didn't feel the same for me, and I was afraid to tell you because I thought you were gunna laugh at me. I know that sounds stupid, but that's why I've refrained from saying anything."
"Why would I laugh at you for telling me how you really feel?"
"I don't know." He sat up and pulled her close to him. His hands caressed her bare skin and she closed her eyes and sighed contentedly, but shivered a little. "Are you cold?" he asked.
"A little." His robe happened to be the one item of clothing that was in his reach, so he picked it up and draped it around her shoulders. "Thanks," she said while smiling up at him.
"Your welcome." He retuned the smile as she cuddled closer to him.
~
It was finally the last day before Christmas break and Hermione was becoming more nervous by the minute. She was stealing glances across the Great Hall all during lunch, but there wasn't really anything he could do at the moment since they were surrounded by the whole school.
"'Mione, what's up with you today? Why are you so jumpy?" Ron asked while biting into a piece of steak.
"I don't know. I guess going home for break is just uh making me kinda nervous for some reason."
"Hermione, you're going to be with your parents. What can be so bad about that? You've never been nervous before," Harry reassured her.
"Uh, yeah you're right. I don't know why I'm feeling like this. I just gotta calm down a lot." She knew that if they had been in her situation they would feel the same way. That wasn't the case, though, since Harry had met Ron's parents long ago and Ron met the Dursleys in a very non- pleasant manner, but he had met them nonetheless.
Throughout the rest of lunch, they would cast sideways glances in her direction and watch her wringing her hands together or staring out across the Hall into what they thought was oblivion, but was really Draco.
The last class of the day was Potions, and wouldn't you know it, they had to take notes. This earned groans from the whole class because they hadn't done anything at all in any of their previous classes. Snape glared at them as they once again became quiet.
"Now, just for that display of immaturity, I will be choosing who you will sit next to for the remainder of class. If I hear one person make a sound of protest, I will give you detention that will be served tonight." No one made a sound and Snape began to call out the names of the students who would be sitting with each other. "Malfoy, Granger; Smith, Patil; Goyle, Finnigan; Bullstrode, Potter; Parkinson, Weasley," and so on until everyone was paired with someone else.
Hermione made her way over to where Draco was sitting with his arms folded across his chest making it look like he was extremely upset with the seating arrangements. She slammed her books down on the table, which made him jump a little and she smirked at his reaction.
"What was that all about, Granger?" he hissed as she took her seat.
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all." She smirked as she took her seat beside him.
As Snape began speaking, Hermione's legs began to tremble again and her hands were shaking. Draco noticed this and ripped a piece of parchment out of his notebook and wrote:
Are you okay? You've been shaking all day. What's wrong?
He slid the paper across the small space that separated them. She pulled it onto her notebook and wrote back to him.
I've just been kind of nervous all day. We're going back to your house tomorrow and I don't know what to expect. What if I make a fool of myself? That would be so embarrassing.
Just as she was about to pass it back to Draco, Snape looked her way, and she began writing furiously in her notebook. Once she was sure Snape wasn't looking again, she passed it back to him.
You won't make a fool of yourself. Just relax a little. My mom is nothing like my dad. She accepts people for who they are and she doesn't pre- judge. I'm sure she'll like you for the pure fact that I like you.
He gave it back to Hermione, and she smiled a little. Mrs. Malfoy sounded so much nicer than Mr. Malfoy was, which helped her to relax a little bit.
Draco reached one of his hands under the table and began to gently massage Hermione's leg. This made Hermione relax much more. Just knowing that he cared for her was enough to keep her calm for the time being.
After class, Hermione met up with Harry and Ron and they made their way up to the Gryffindor common room.
"Feeling any better?" Harry asked as they passed the Entrance Hall and up the beautiful marble staircase.
"Yeah, much. I don't know what came over me before," she lied quickly.
"Well, that's good."
She nodded in agreement as they continued the long trek to their tower. "I can't believe I got stuck sitting next to that pug/slut, Pansy just now," Ron said. "She's such a horny whore and I can't stand her. She kept saying that she wondered what it's like to do a gay guy. I was trying to move away from her, but she kept inching her chair close to me. It was so annoying."
Hermione had to bite her lip to stifle a laugh, and she slowed down a bit so the boys wouldn't see her expression.
"Don't worry about her, Ron," Harry said. "We all know that she's fucked almost every guy in the school. Her and Malfoy are like the two biggest sluts I've ever seen. They are always with someone of the opposite sex and neither of them will probably ever settle down with anyone."
Hermione felt her cheeks become hot when Harry said that Draco was a slut. She knew for a fact that the rumors that were spread about him were false, and she hated the fact that everyone believed them. Draco was still a virgin, which most people wouldn't have guessed due to that fact that he was one of the most wanted males in Hogwarts. He and Hermione had come close to losing their virginity to each other, but Hermione was still afraid.
"Guys, I think I'll go up to my common room instead of to the Gryffindor Tower. I still have a lot of things to pack, and I don't wanna do it all tomorrow. I'll see you guys at dinner and then probably in a few weeks," Hermione called to them.
"Okay," they said together.
She turned and went down a different hall to get to the common room she and Draco shared faster.
"Hey, Mudblood!" she heard someone yell down the corridor.
She turned and saw Pansy Parkinson coming toward her. "What do you want? I have things to do, and talking to you isn't on my list."
"Don't you dare talk to your superior like that, you worthless piece of trash." Hermione rolled her eyes and faked a yawn. Pansy glared at her and asked. "What have you been doing to my Drakie?"
Hermione laughed at this. "Your Drakie? Really?"
"Yes, he's mine. What have you been doing to him? He never comes down to the common room anymore and hasn't spoken to me since the beginning of the year. What did you do to him?"
"I haven't done anything to him. Has the thought that maybe he doesn't like you ever crossed your mind? Maybe he found someone else who isn't such a whore."
Pansy's eyes widened at the tone Hermione used to talk to her. "How dare you talk to me like that?" she screamed. "You are nothing more than a Mudblood. Mudbloods do not speak to Purebloods in that manner. If I find out that you have anything to do with the way Drakie has been acting, I will personally use the Unforgivables on you." She turned and stalked off down the corridor.
Hermione shrugged as she continued the journey to her common room. As she was nearing the eagle, someone else called her name, "Hermione!"
Jeremy came down the hall with one hand behind his back. "What?" she called back unenthusiastically.
He pulled his hand from behind his back and in it there were six black roses. "I remember you saying something about them being you favorites."
She looked at them, but made no move to take them from him. "Yes they are, but what are they for? Last time I checked, I wasn't dating you," the words dripped from her mouth like poison from a snake's fangs. She was not in the mood for his games.
"It's an apology. I didn't mean for anything to happen to Draco back in October and I'm sorry that I hurt you. I really do love you and I would like to invite you to my house for maybe a few days over vacation."
"I can't. I already have plans."
"Yes, I know about them. Narcissa owled me and said that she would like me to go to the Manor for Christmas also. I've been going there for some years now, and I usually make a trip back to my house toward the end, and I want you to accompany me."
"I'm sure that Mrs. Malfoy also mentioned to you then that Draco and I are dating and that is the reason why I will be staying at the Manor. I have no intention of leaving until Draco and I return here together."
"Hey, what's going on here?" Draco asked as he put an arm around Hermione.
"Draco, did you know he's gunna be at the Manor for break too?" Hermione asked.
"I figured he'd be coming since he's always there for Christmas break anyway. My mom always invites him to come. It's been that way for a while. Is he bothering you?"
"Yes, actually. He wants me to leave you for the last few days of break to go to his house."
"I did not! She asked me if she can visit me sometime!" Jeremy lied quickly.
"I'm sure she did," Draco responded sarcastically. "Why don't you go take those roses and shove them up your ass? She already received a dozen from me yesterday."
Jeremy didn't look too happy that Draco would believe his girlfriend over his best friend. "I can't believe you, Draco. How can you trust her more than you trust me? We've been best friends for years, and you used to talk about how much you hated her!"
"There's a thin line between love and hate, Jeremy. I'll see you over break."
Jeremy turned on his heel and stomped off down the corridor and toward the stairs.
"Hell's fairies," Hermione muttered and stepped through the opening to the common room.
"Why does he want you to visit him?" Draco asked as he plopped down on the couch.
"He didn't tell me. My guess is so he can rape me and then say I fucked him so you'll break up with me."
Draco stared at her wide-eyed. "I would kill him if he ever did something like that to you. I would make him die a slow and painful death. There would be no mercy. I hope that bastard stays away for Christmas. He's probably devising a plan with Voldemort so he can get me to join."
"Would you join him?"
"No."
"Would you join him in order to save me?"
"Only if it was to save your life. I couldn't bare to see you get hurt."
Hermione nodded. "This is gunna be a long vacation," she mumbled.