A/N: Thanks for your patience everyone. I'm sorry that this has taken so
long to be updated. I got extremely busy with school and then got very ill.
I am better now and I hope that you enjoy this chapter! -CheersDahling
"Better to have love and lost, than to have never loved at all."
-St. Augustine
Broken Against a Stone- Ch. 8
Hermione could not believe that she could actually get out of bed the next morning. The previous night's events caused her to have a sort of awake/dream state sleep that never made one feel truly rejuvenated. She was uncomfortable about going back to class for the week. She did not want to see all the people that had chosen sides against her-especially after the great happiness that Draco had given her the night before. A grin was spreading across Hermione's face as she got ready for class.
"If those people knew who was in the holy shrine of Gryffindor last night-and in my dorm room at that," thought Hermione cheekily.
The first class of the day was Herbology. The Slytherins did not have this class with the Gryffindors. This made Hermione feel rotten and disappointed-almost a bitterness that swept through her very particles. She'd have to settle for the Ravenclaws. She'd be with the Slytherins after lunch in Potions class.
As Hermione walked into the greenhouse, she could see Ron, Harry, and Ginny sitting at a workstation helping one another repot the Chinese ginger roots used for stomach ailment drafts. As she stepped in, all three eyes followed her to her seat. She was about five minutes early for class and Professor Sprout had yet to make an appearance. Hermione silently began to look over the pots before her. She sensed that someone was coming her way. She looked up to see that it was Harry with a rather blank expression glued to his face like something covered in shellac. He sat down beside her and looked at Hermione expectantly. Hermione continued to look at the pots and act as though Harry's presence would never get her riled up.
"Hermione-look-I think that we should talk," said Harry
"Now why would I want to do something completely unnecessary like that," interrupted Hermione as she began to open a bag of Brashing's Famous wizarding soil.
"Hermione- don't act like the ice queen. We need to talk about that everyone thinks you're suffering from some kind of psychological breakdown or something. Even though Ron is hurt over the way you've acted, he's still concerned about you. I'm concerned about you too. We all are. You have not been yourself for ages Hermione," said Harry as he took hold of Hermione's face so that she'd look at him straight on. Hermione looked vivid over him physically turning her face.
"Harry- you all have ignored me for over a week. Why don't you just continue that trend," said Hermione feeling her complexion vibrate with anger.
Harry just stared at her-looking completely dumbfounded at the sight of her rage. He knew that grabbing her face was an offensive move and he regretted doing it instantaneously.
"Hermione-you have been one of my closest friends for years now. We have been through an unbelievable amount of things together. You really need to get together with me soon so you can tell me what's troubling you. It's not good for your health-all these weird secrets you're keeping. Why don't we get together at Mystical Al's for dinner or something tomorrow-my treat," said Harry.
Mystical Al's was a wizarding bar and grill in Hogsmeade. It had only been open for a year, but it was a very popular place to hang out for students old enough to visit Hogsmeade.
"I don't know about that Harry. My days and nights are filled with just me and the miserable solitude, you know. Why would I want to clutter up my busy schedule with someone who chose sides so quickly concerning my troubles with Ron? You certainly have bold gumption coming over here to ask me to dinner after you had put a black X next to my name in your book of priorities," said Hermione with a complete lack of emotion lacing her frostbitten voice. She watched the irises of Harry's eyes contract with the different shades of light entering and exiting the greenhouse from the partly cloudy conditions outside. They reminded her of the idea of black holes in outer space for come outrageously absurd reason.
"Hermione, no one has put a black X by your name. I think that we all needed some time recuperate from your strange display. Just talk to me, all right? That's really all I'm asking for at this point. You do not have to reveal any revelations with me yet. Just please talk with me. I miss your company Hermione," said Harry.
Hermione considered what Harry was saying to her for a moment. The thought of whether or not he was being sincere or not flooded her brain. The dread of the idea of Harry only wanting to talk to her to report things back to Ron gave her an immense sense of anxiety. She decided that it would be all right to dine with Harry as long as she did not share any sort of interesting tidbits with him. She would just tell him things along the lines of being stressed out over what to do after graduation and the like. Draco would certainly not be mentioned under any circumstances. With a gaze still stern with agitation, Hermione looked at Harry with uncertainty still lingering in her eyes.
"Ok, I'll go eat with you, I guess," said Hermione. "What time do you want to meet up?"
Harry looked dazed about this incredible breakthrough.
"Um, how about around 8? We can walk over to Hogsmeade together. I'll meet you outside of the common room," said Harry with cool confidence.
"Ok, see you then," said Hermione briskly.
With that, she began to study the amount of soil she would need for each ginger root. Harry left her there and went back to sit with Ron and Ginny, who looked as though they were about to spontaneously combust with a plethora of questions for Harry about the encounter. It was almost as though the good guy went over enemy lines to talk to the enemy.
Herbology ended with no further discussions with anyone. Hermione's thoughts were muddled with the class's lecture and emotional wanderings about dinner with Harry and confrontations with Draco.
After an episode of serious nervous eating at lunch, Hermione was preparing herself for potions with the Slytherins. She tensely began walking toward the dungeons with her hands gripped tightly around her book bag. When she was almost to the dungeon entrance, Draco reached out to her from the parallel classroom next to the dundeon door. He lightly touched her and whispered to her to talk to him for a moment. Hermione could feel herself falling into the endless pit that was her nerves and feelings. She hoped that no one could see what had just happened. Thankfully, she was early.
Draco looked at her with great adoration. Hermione noticed that he smelled lightly of perspiration and a mineral rich dirt fragrance. She thought it was phenomenal. He smiled at her warmly and reached over to hold her hand.
"How are you," said Draco breathlessly.
"Uh, I'm fine. How are you," said Hermione as she prayed for the words to grace her tongue before she felt dull witted.
Draco squeezed her hand and looked at her as if he was viewing a hallowed deity for the very first time. There was a great inconsistency in Draco's thoughts. It was almost as though he could see Hermione's divine grace. He could no longer control his emotion at that point. He was a teakettle ready to accidentally scald a bystander. He pressed his lips against her pliable mouth and put his hands lightly on her neck. He noticed that she did not resist. After a long kiss, Draco broke it and faced her to register what expression was on her face. She looked completely shaken.
"I'm glad that we had the opportunity to see one another before class," said Hermione shakily. She was seriously taken aback by Draco's sudden rush of affection. It was going to be an incredibly long Potion's class that day. Concentration would not be the word de jour of the day.
"I'm glad to see you too Hermione," said Draco silkily. "Do you think that I might be able to come see you this evening? I have a proposition for you."
"Yeah, that sounds good," said Hermione as she wildly thought about what sort of proposition Draco could be talking about. The thought truly bewildered her.
"What time would be convenient for you? I know you are quite a studier. I don't want to get in the way of your work or anything," said Draco.
"I think that seven would be a good time. I should be finished with everything by that time. Do you want to come to my dorm room again? I can meet you outside the common room again," said Hermione as she hoped that she wasn't being to forward about wanting Draco to come to her dorm room again.
"I think that your dorm room would be the best place to discuss what I want to talk to you about. Considering the nature of the proposition, quiet and privacy is actually quite crucial," said Draco with a slight quiver in his voice.
Hermione glared at him with shock. She was amazed with this proposition.
"Well, I guess we should go to class now. I will see you tonight. I better go first, and you can follow suit in a few moments. I would not want to give Gryffindor's darlings the shock of their life," said Hermione as she lightly kissed him on the cheek.
"Dear God Hermione, shock is your middle name considering the fact that you are actually carrying on a conversation with me," said Draco.
Hermione smiled and winked at him as she made her way to the dungeon door and faced a very tedious potions lesson indeed.
A/N: I'm sorry that this chapter is not extremely long, but antibiotics in one's system make one weary and sluggish. I promise to make the next chapter full of excitement, and LENGTH!! Thanks for your kind reviews! In this next chapter, you'll get to see what Draco's special proposition for Hermione is! Take care everyone! -CheersDahling(Amoxicillan Queen)
Broken Against a Stone- Ch. 8
Hermione could not believe that she could actually get out of bed the next morning. The previous night's events caused her to have a sort of awake/dream state sleep that never made one feel truly rejuvenated. She was uncomfortable about going back to class for the week. She did not want to see all the people that had chosen sides against her-especially after the great happiness that Draco had given her the night before. A grin was spreading across Hermione's face as she got ready for class.
"If those people knew who was in the holy shrine of Gryffindor last night-and in my dorm room at that," thought Hermione cheekily.
The first class of the day was Herbology. The Slytherins did not have this class with the Gryffindors. This made Hermione feel rotten and disappointed-almost a bitterness that swept through her very particles. She'd have to settle for the Ravenclaws. She'd be with the Slytherins after lunch in Potions class.
As Hermione walked into the greenhouse, she could see Ron, Harry, and Ginny sitting at a workstation helping one another repot the Chinese ginger roots used for stomach ailment drafts. As she stepped in, all three eyes followed her to her seat. She was about five minutes early for class and Professor Sprout had yet to make an appearance. Hermione silently began to look over the pots before her. She sensed that someone was coming her way. She looked up to see that it was Harry with a rather blank expression glued to his face like something covered in shellac. He sat down beside her and looked at Hermione expectantly. Hermione continued to look at the pots and act as though Harry's presence would never get her riled up.
"Hermione-look-I think that we should talk," said Harry
"Now why would I want to do something completely unnecessary like that," interrupted Hermione as she began to open a bag of Brashing's Famous wizarding soil.
"Hermione- don't act like the ice queen. We need to talk about that everyone thinks you're suffering from some kind of psychological breakdown or something. Even though Ron is hurt over the way you've acted, he's still concerned about you. I'm concerned about you too. We all are. You have not been yourself for ages Hermione," said Harry as he took hold of Hermione's face so that she'd look at him straight on. Hermione looked vivid over him physically turning her face.
"Harry- you all have ignored me for over a week. Why don't you just continue that trend," said Hermione feeling her complexion vibrate with anger.
Harry just stared at her-looking completely dumbfounded at the sight of her rage. He knew that grabbing her face was an offensive move and he regretted doing it instantaneously.
"Hermione-you have been one of my closest friends for years now. We have been through an unbelievable amount of things together. You really need to get together with me soon so you can tell me what's troubling you. It's not good for your health-all these weird secrets you're keeping. Why don't we get together at Mystical Al's for dinner or something tomorrow-my treat," said Harry.
Mystical Al's was a wizarding bar and grill in Hogsmeade. It had only been open for a year, but it was a very popular place to hang out for students old enough to visit Hogsmeade.
"I don't know about that Harry. My days and nights are filled with just me and the miserable solitude, you know. Why would I want to clutter up my busy schedule with someone who chose sides so quickly concerning my troubles with Ron? You certainly have bold gumption coming over here to ask me to dinner after you had put a black X next to my name in your book of priorities," said Hermione with a complete lack of emotion lacing her frostbitten voice. She watched the irises of Harry's eyes contract with the different shades of light entering and exiting the greenhouse from the partly cloudy conditions outside. They reminded her of the idea of black holes in outer space for come outrageously absurd reason.
"Hermione, no one has put a black X by your name. I think that we all needed some time recuperate from your strange display. Just talk to me, all right? That's really all I'm asking for at this point. You do not have to reveal any revelations with me yet. Just please talk with me. I miss your company Hermione," said Harry.
Hermione considered what Harry was saying to her for a moment. The thought of whether or not he was being sincere or not flooded her brain. The dread of the idea of Harry only wanting to talk to her to report things back to Ron gave her an immense sense of anxiety. She decided that it would be all right to dine with Harry as long as she did not share any sort of interesting tidbits with him. She would just tell him things along the lines of being stressed out over what to do after graduation and the like. Draco would certainly not be mentioned under any circumstances. With a gaze still stern with agitation, Hermione looked at Harry with uncertainty still lingering in her eyes.
"Ok, I'll go eat with you, I guess," said Hermione. "What time do you want to meet up?"
Harry looked dazed about this incredible breakthrough.
"Um, how about around 8? We can walk over to Hogsmeade together. I'll meet you outside of the common room," said Harry with cool confidence.
"Ok, see you then," said Hermione briskly.
With that, she began to study the amount of soil she would need for each ginger root. Harry left her there and went back to sit with Ron and Ginny, who looked as though they were about to spontaneously combust with a plethora of questions for Harry about the encounter. It was almost as though the good guy went over enemy lines to talk to the enemy.
Herbology ended with no further discussions with anyone. Hermione's thoughts were muddled with the class's lecture and emotional wanderings about dinner with Harry and confrontations with Draco.
After an episode of serious nervous eating at lunch, Hermione was preparing herself for potions with the Slytherins. She tensely began walking toward the dungeons with her hands gripped tightly around her book bag. When she was almost to the dungeon entrance, Draco reached out to her from the parallel classroom next to the dundeon door. He lightly touched her and whispered to her to talk to him for a moment. Hermione could feel herself falling into the endless pit that was her nerves and feelings. She hoped that no one could see what had just happened. Thankfully, she was early.
Draco looked at her with great adoration. Hermione noticed that he smelled lightly of perspiration and a mineral rich dirt fragrance. She thought it was phenomenal. He smiled at her warmly and reached over to hold her hand.
"How are you," said Draco breathlessly.
"Uh, I'm fine. How are you," said Hermione as she prayed for the words to grace her tongue before she felt dull witted.
Draco squeezed her hand and looked at her as if he was viewing a hallowed deity for the very first time. There was a great inconsistency in Draco's thoughts. It was almost as though he could see Hermione's divine grace. He could no longer control his emotion at that point. He was a teakettle ready to accidentally scald a bystander. He pressed his lips against her pliable mouth and put his hands lightly on her neck. He noticed that she did not resist. After a long kiss, Draco broke it and faced her to register what expression was on her face. She looked completely shaken.
"I'm glad that we had the opportunity to see one another before class," said Hermione shakily. She was seriously taken aback by Draco's sudden rush of affection. It was going to be an incredibly long Potion's class that day. Concentration would not be the word de jour of the day.
"I'm glad to see you too Hermione," said Draco silkily. "Do you think that I might be able to come see you this evening? I have a proposition for you."
"Yeah, that sounds good," said Hermione as she wildly thought about what sort of proposition Draco could be talking about. The thought truly bewildered her.
"What time would be convenient for you? I know you are quite a studier. I don't want to get in the way of your work or anything," said Draco.
"I think that seven would be a good time. I should be finished with everything by that time. Do you want to come to my dorm room again? I can meet you outside the common room again," said Hermione as she hoped that she wasn't being to forward about wanting Draco to come to her dorm room again.
"I think that your dorm room would be the best place to discuss what I want to talk to you about. Considering the nature of the proposition, quiet and privacy is actually quite crucial," said Draco with a slight quiver in his voice.
Hermione glared at him with shock. She was amazed with this proposition.
"Well, I guess we should go to class now. I will see you tonight. I better go first, and you can follow suit in a few moments. I would not want to give Gryffindor's darlings the shock of their life," said Hermione as she lightly kissed him on the cheek.
"Dear God Hermione, shock is your middle name considering the fact that you are actually carrying on a conversation with me," said Draco.
Hermione smiled and winked at him as she made her way to the dungeon door and faced a very tedious potions lesson indeed.
A/N: I'm sorry that this chapter is not extremely long, but antibiotics in one's system make one weary and sluggish. I promise to make the next chapter full of excitement, and LENGTH!! Thanks for your kind reviews! In this next chapter, you'll get to see what Draco's special proposition for Hermione is! Take care everyone! -CheersDahling(Amoxicillan Queen)