A/N: Hello all! Here we are-another brick in the wall with a new chapter.
Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! Hurrah! It's a new year! Let's all
start anew! Please be kind and keep reviewing my story! I'm having a blast
writing it! I will update again soon!!! Keep rockin' in the free world!
-CheersDahling
"Love is my religion-I could die for it." -John Keats
Disclaimer: I own nothing. It's all the property of JK Rowling and other associates under contract.
Broken Against a Stone- Chapter 9
The rest of the day found Hermione rather jumpy and excitable. She tried to keep to herself, but people she hardly even knew- and others that she unfortunately knew too well-were practically accosting her in the halls to ask about her going to dinner with Harry and the possible reunion of the Gryffindor three. She casually brushed them off and tried to act as though she was occupied with more pressing matters that required her attention. The very idea of everyone getting so caught up in the gossip and stupidity of a reunion of friends sickened Hermione. She truly felt that Ron would always be out of the picture for her. But Harry- she could deal with. She did indeed have a special kinship with him. A bit of a nasty bicker would never separate their eternal friendship. But what Harry did not know would never hurt him.
That evening, before Draco was to meet her outside of the common room, Hermione decided it would be a good idea to have a relaxing bath to calm the screaming of the mad banshee that was her mind. She wanted to address the issue of the proposition that Draco would be speaking to her about that evening. She wanted to get her mind prepared and sorted out for what he might be asking of her.
As Hermione soaked her anxious body in English lavender scented billowing bubbles, she became more and more engrossed with ideas of the proposition. Everything was moving incredibly fast-like a swirl of color twirling and twirling until everything is full of dizzy motion. It was of no concern to Hermione. This love that she had acquired for Draco was boundless-weightless-utterly indescribable. Hermione knew in her own heart that what she was feeling was genuine. She would not allow others to block the tentacles of warm happiness that were bounding themselves to her. At last she was experiencing something substantial.
Thoughts of the Trivoli potion crept into Hermione's mind. The vial that she had saved from class was in the cabinet next to her bed. She wondered if Draco would take it so that Hermione could be absolutely sure of what his intentions were. It did sound like a rather brutal suggestion to make to someone. But considering how treacherous Draco had been to her in her past, it should not seem too shocking. She pondered whether or not she could honestly bring herself to mention the idea of taking the potion for her own ease. It would without a doubt finalize some questions for Hermione.
Hermione emerged from her bath feeling like a better-rounded person. Her mind was no longer wailing and carrying on like a hippogriff that has not been bowed to. She got dressed and spritzed gardenia perfume on her wrists and glossed her mouth. It was nearly time to meet Draco.
Hermione walked out into the common room to find Ginny and Ron laughing and sharing a box of toffees. When Ron saw Hermione he stiffened a bit, put down his candy and then fell silent. Ginny vaguely smiled at her.
"Where are you off to Hermione," said Ginny cautiously but curiously.
"It's just rather stuff in here at the moment. I'm nipping out to breathe the cooler air in the hall," said Hermione breezily. She thought it was rather outrageous for Ginny to be inquiring where she was going. She had not spoken to her in ages, and now questioned her whereabouts.
She walked out and stood by the fat lady who was looking absolutely dreadful with pink overnight curlers in her slightly graying hair. They were plastered to her head and made Hermione gawk at her in amusement. The fat lady yawned groggily and gazed at Hermione.
"Fine day for giraffes, really," said the fat lady offhandedly.
"I beg your pardon, said Hermione with a look of exasperation on her face. She had always thought that the fat lady was a bit off mentally.
"Well, you know giraffes are so lovely and tall. They are also vegetarians. Giraffes are wonderful animals to incorporate into your day," said the fat lady in a matter-of-fact tone.
Hermione was about to comment on what the fat lady had just been rambling on about insanely, when she was abruptly interrupted. Hermione felt Draco's moist hand on her fingertips-just as he had touched her the last time they had met outside of the common room. She gasped and closed her eyes dreamily. She relished this touch. I was almost as though this was the touch of secrets-their particular way of meeting. Of course, he was invisible.
"Are you well dear," asked the fat lady.
"Oh, uh-I'm fine actually. I was just thinking about something-that's all,"said Hermione trying to snap out of the dreamlike state she was in. She could sense and taste Draco's breath near the corner of her mouth. He was playing it quite hazardously. She did not want him to be detected by anyone-not even the fat lady. She decided to walk to a near by corridor that was vacated in order to talk to Draco. Thankfully, there was not a soul within the vicinity. The sound of bellowing robes and a warm draft told Hermione that Draco was certainly following her. She reached out to feel for him. She found his face-smooth with pronounced facial contours. He grasped her hand and pulled her close-while drinking from the Daslantae vial. He appeared before her as he had done before. They were both completely visible to the outside world.
"This is really dangerous, Draco," said Hermione blankly.
"I don't care in the least, Hermione. Why does it honestly matter," said Draco.
"Ron and Ginny are in the common room right now. Do you still want to go to my dorm room and everything? I mean-they might hear us or suspect something," said Hermione nervously as she traced the S on Draco's Slytherin robes strategically with unbroken strokes.
"We'll both take Aslantae together and go. We'll try to keep our voices down as well. If they think they hear something and ask you about-you can just tell them that they must be hearing voices in the night," said Draco trying to hide his laugh.
Hermione considered this for a moment, and then agreed. They both took Aslantae together and carefully made their way to the common room and Hermione whispered the password-strawberry girl-to the very sleepy fat lady. She was so out of it-that she did not realize that an invisible Hermione was uttering the password to her. Luckily, no one was in the common room except for Neville Longbottom, who was slumbering in one of the plush chairs by the fire-a bottle of ink just asking to be knocked over on his knee.
Hermione and Draco walked into the dorm room and sat down. Hermione took out her wand and whispered "crimsonis vinolae" and two wine classes and a bottle of red currant wine appeared before them on the glass table in front of the couch.
"Oh, that looks gorgeous," said Draco with a giant smile on his face.
"Wait, you know about muggle vino then," said Hermione cheekily.
"Well, I've had it a few times actually. Once, I got aquainted with muggle wine too quickly. I certainly paid the dues of my vice they very next day," said Draco.
They sipped their wine from beautiful silver goblets embossed with Eye of Horus. Hermione loved artifacts that contained ancient Egyptian religious imagery.
"Hermione, I know that you've probably been wanting to know what my proposition is for you, said Draco as he put his goblet on the table and beckoned her to come closer to him. He gracefully wrapped his arm in hers and gazed at her with vivid thunderstorm eyes that seemed only half open, in a way that photographs of muggle Hollywood superstar Marilyn Monroe appeared in the pictures Hermione adored as a child. God, he is a statue from an age of infinite refinement, thought Hermione as his half- shell gaze pierced her skin without drawing the blood that would be Hermione's complete undoing.
"More than you could possibly fathom in this lifetime Draco, said Hermione as she leaned over to gently tug at the corner of Draco's mouth with her front teeth. She decided that now was the perfect time to prod his mouth open for a deep quenching exploratory kiss. She was amazed with the way Draco was always go gentle and never brash when they kissed. The kiss was so alcoholic and slow-intoxication from the moon. Hermione could feel Draco tenderly reach under the blouse just to experience the smooth skin. He did not do this in a way that suggested anything other than innocence. She felt her skin melt into molten lava beneath his fingers molding to him. She was clay to mold. She wanted him in a way that was all-consuming and dripping with thirst. Her mind told her that the most important thing was to find out what Draco's proposition for her was. The ever-rational Hermione was surfacing from its drunken state.
"Draco, I cannot wait any longer. I must know now," Hermione whispered agaist Draco's quivering mouth.
Draco looked up at her and removed an eyelash that had fallen to Hermione's cheek.
"Ok, I will tell you now then. I've been doing quite a lot about something lately. As you know, I will be forced to go home to Malfoy Manor during the Christmas holidays in order for father to conference with me about my insubordination concerning joining with Voldemort. I do not think that I can possibly handle this unaccompanied, Hermione. Will you accompany me home and stay with me during the break? You can take Aslantae and no one will ever know that you are there. There is a house that no one ever uses on the estate grounds. I can just tell father that I want to stay there to get some space from the family a bit. We can stay there together. I swear-no one will ever suspect anything," said Draco.
Hermione continued to look into the eye of the thunderstorm with her mouth ajar.
"I-think it is an marvelous idea Draco. I really want to go. But-how will I get around my family and friends? They will be pretty curious about how I will be spending the holidays," said Hermione.
"I think that we will have to cross that bridge when we get there," said Draco lovingly. He pulled her even closer than before and their faces were mere centimeters apart.
"I love you with every atom of my body Hermione. I cannot bear for us to be apart for a long break. I need you. I starve from within without you. I know it seems like madness but it is pure and the truest emotion among us. You are my hope," said Draco as he lethargically unbuttoned Hermione's top and pushed the material past her shoulders and slowly traces a line of perspiration that was expelling from her skin and traveling into her cleavage. He kissed her neck with emotion saturated with a sticky kind of desperation. Hermione completely succumbed to what Draco was doing. This was not a time for judgments and silly hang-ups.
"Can I be with you-through the night," asked Draco as he breathed in the scent of Hermione's hair.
"Yes," breathed Hermione as she smoothly unclasped the bra that had been restraining her so unnaturally.
Draco gazed upon the milky-skinned idol sitting before him and could no longer contain what was brewing within his body. He quickly removed his shirt and pressed himself against her perfection. Their touching and grabbing and breathing was eating them alive.
"Come with me," said Hermione as she pulled herself away from Draco's skin and led him to her bed.
The love made that night made single particles a whole entity.
"Take away love-and our world is a tomb." -Robert Browning
Disclaimer: I own nothing. It's all the property of JK Rowling and other associates under contract.
Broken Against a Stone- Chapter 9
The rest of the day found Hermione rather jumpy and excitable. She tried to keep to herself, but people she hardly even knew- and others that she unfortunately knew too well-were practically accosting her in the halls to ask about her going to dinner with Harry and the possible reunion of the Gryffindor three. She casually brushed them off and tried to act as though she was occupied with more pressing matters that required her attention. The very idea of everyone getting so caught up in the gossip and stupidity of a reunion of friends sickened Hermione. She truly felt that Ron would always be out of the picture for her. But Harry- she could deal with. She did indeed have a special kinship with him. A bit of a nasty bicker would never separate their eternal friendship. But what Harry did not know would never hurt him.
That evening, before Draco was to meet her outside of the common room, Hermione decided it would be a good idea to have a relaxing bath to calm the screaming of the mad banshee that was her mind. She wanted to address the issue of the proposition that Draco would be speaking to her about that evening. She wanted to get her mind prepared and sorted out for what he might be asking of her.
As Hermione soaked her anxious body in English lavender scented billowing bubbles, she became more and more engrossed with ideas of the proposition. Everything was moving incredibly fast-like a swirl of color twirling and twirling until everything is full of dizzy motion. It was of no concern to Hermione. This love that she had acquired for Draco was boundless-weightless-utterly indescribable. Hermione knew in her own heart that what she was feeling was genuine. She would not allow others to block the tentacles of warm happiness that were bounding themselves to her. At last she was experiencing something substantial.
Thoughts of the Trivoli potion crept into Hermione's mind. The vial that she had saved from class was in the cabinet next to her bed. She wondered if Draco would take it so that Hermione could be absolutely sure of what his intentions were. It did sound like a rather brutal suggestion to make to someone. But considering how treacherous Draco had been to her in her past, it should not seem too shocking. She pondered whether or not she could honestly bring herself to mention the idea of taking the potion for her own ease. It would without a doubt finalize some questions for Hermione.
Hermione emerged from her bath feeling like a better-rounded person. Her mind was no longer wailing and carrying on like a hippogriff that has not been bowed to. She got dressed and spritzed gardenia perfume on her wrists and glossed her mouth. It was nearly time to meet Draco.
Hermione walked out into the common room to find Ginny and Ron laughing and sharing a box of toffees. When Ron saw Hermione he stiffened a bit, put down his candy and then fell silent. Ginny vaguely smiled at her.
"Where are you off to Hermione," said Ginny cautiously but curiously.
"It's just rather stuff in here at the moment. I'm nipping out to breathe the cooler air in the hall," said Hermione breezily. She thought it was rather outrageous for Ginny to be inquiring where she was going. She had not spoken to her in ages, and now questioned her whereabouts.
She walked out and stood by the fat lady who was looking absolutely dreadful with pink overnight curlers in her slightly graying hair. They were plastered to her head and made Hermione gawk at her in amusement. The fat lady yawned groggily and gazed at Hermione.
"Fine day for giraffes, really," said the fat lady offhandedly.
"I beg your pardon, said Hermione with a look of exasperation on her face. She had always thought that the fat lady was a bit off mentally.
"Well, you know giraffes are so lovely and tall. They are also vegetarians. Giraffes are wonderful animals to incorporate into your day," said the fat lady in a matter-of-fact tone.
Hermione was about to comment on what the fat lady had just been rambling on about insanely, when she was abruptly interrupted. Hermione felt Draco's moist hand on her fingertips-just as he had touched her the last time they had met outside of the common room. She gasped and closed her eyes dreamily. She relished this touch. I was almost as though this was the touch of secrets-their particular way of meeting. Of course, he was invisible.
"Are you well dear," asked the fat lady.
"Oh, uh-I'm fine actually. I was just thinking about something-that's all,"said Hermione trying to snap out of the dreamlike state she was in. She could sense and taste Draco's breath near the corner of her mouth. He was playing it quite hazardously. She did not want him to be detected by anyone-not even the fat lady. She decided to walk to a near by corridor that was vacated in order to talk to Draco. Thankfully, there was not a soul within the vicinity. The sound of bellowing robes and a warm draft told Hermione that Draco was certainly following her. She reached out to feel for him. She found his face-smooth with pronounced facial contours. He grasped her hand and pulled her close-while drinking from the Daslantae vial. He appeared before her as he had done before. They were both completely visible to the outside world.
"This is really dangerous, Draco," said Hermione blankly.
"I don't care in the least, Hermione. Why does it honestly matter," said Draco.
"Ron and Ginny are in the common room right now. Do you still want to go to my dorm room and everything? I mean-they might hear us or suspect something," said Hermione nervously as she traced the S on Draco's Slytherin robes strategically with unbroken strokes.
"We'll both take Aslantae together and go. We'll try to keep our voices down as well. If they think they hear something and ask you about-you can just tell them that they must be hearing voices in the night," said Draco trying to hide his laugh.
Hermione considered this for a moment, and then agreed. They both took Aslantae together and carefully made their way to the common room and Hermione whispered the password-strawberry girl-to the very sleepy fat lady. She was so out of it-that she did not realize that an invisible Hermione was uttering the password to her. Luckily, no one was in the common room except for Neville Longbottom, who was slumbering in one of the plush chairs by the fire-a bottle of ink just asking to be knocked over on his knee.
Hermione and Draco walked into the dorm room and sat down. Hermione took out her wand and whispered "crimsonis vinolae" and two wine classes and a bottle of red currant wine appeared before them on the glass table in front of the couch.
"Oh, that looks gorgeous," said Draco with a giant smile on his face.
"Wait, you know about muggle vino then," said Hermione cheekily.
"Well, I've had it a few times actually. Once, I got aquainted with muggle wine too quickly. I certainly paid the dues of my vice they very next day," said Draco.
They sipped their wine from beautiful silver goblets embossed with Eye of Horus. Hermione loved artifacts that contained ancient Egyptian religious imagery.
"Hermione, I know that you've probably been wanting to know what my proposition is for you, said Draco as he put his goblet on the table and beckoned her to come closer to him. He gracefully wrapped his arm in hers and gazed at her with vivid thunderstorm eyes that seemed only half open, in a way that photographs of muggle Hollywood superstar Marilyn Monroe appeared in the pictures Hermione adored as a child. God, he is a statue from an age of infinite refinement, thought Hermione as his half- shell gaze pierced her skin without drawing the blood that would be Hermione's complete undoing.
"More than you could possibly fathom in this lifetime Draco, said Hermione as she leaned over to gently tug at the corner of Draco's mouth with her front teeth. She decided that now was the perfect time to prod his mouth open for a deep quenching exploratory kiss. She was amazed with the way Draco was always go gentle and never brash when they kissed. The kiss was so alcoholic and slow-intoxication from the moon. Hermione could feel Draco tenderly reach under the blouse just to experience the smooth skin. He did not do this in a way that suggested anything other than innocence. She felt her skin melt into molten lava beneath his fingers molding to him. She was clay to mold. She wanted him in a way that was all-consuming and dripping with thirst. Her mind told her that the most important thing was to find out what Draco's proposition for her was. The ever-rational Hermione was surfacing from its drunken state.
"Draco, I cannot wait any longer. I must know now," Hermione whispered agaist Draco's quivering mouth.
Draco looked up at her and removed an eyelash that had fallen to Hermione's cheek.
"Ok, I will tell you now then. I've been doing quite a lot about something lately. As you know, I will be forced to go home to Malfoy Manor during the Christmas holidays in order for father to conference with me about my insubordination concerning joining with Voldemort. I do not think that I can possibly handle this unaccompanied, Hermione. Will you accompany me home and stay with me during the break? You can take Aslantae and no one will ever know that you are there. There is a house that no one ever uses on the estate grounds. I can just tell father that I want to stay there to get some space from the family a bit. We can stay there together. I swear-no one will ever suspect anything," said Draco.
Hermione continued to look into the eye of the thunderstorm with her mouth ajar.
"I-think it is an marvelous idea Draco. I really want to go. But-how will I get around my family and friends? They will be pretty curious about how I will be spending the holidays," said Hermione.
"I think that we will have to cross that bridge when we get there," said Draco lovingly. He pulled her even closer than before and their faces were mere centimeters apart.
"I love you with every atom of my body Hermione. I cannot bear for us to be apart for a long break. I need you. I starve from within without you. I know it seems like madness but it is pure and the truest emotion among us. You are my hope," said Draco as he lethargically unbuttoned Hermione's top and pushed the material past her shoulders and slowly traces a line of perspiration that was expelling from her skin and traveling into her cleavage. He kissed her neck with emotion saturated with a sticky kind of desperation. Hermione completely succumbed to what Draco was doing. This was not a time for judgments and silly hang-ups.
"Can I be with you-through the night," asked Draco as he breathed in the scent of Hermione's hair.
"Yes," breathed Hermione as she smoothly unclasped the bra that had been restraining her so unnaturally.
Draco gazed upon the milky-skinned idol sitting before him and could no longer contain what was brewing within his body. He quickly removed his shirt and pressed himself against her perfection. Their touching and grabbing and breathing was eating them alive.
"Come with me," said Hermione as she pulled herself away from Draco's skin and led him to her bed.
The love made that night made single particles a whole entity.
"Take away love-and our world is a tomb." -Robert Browning