Chapter 8- Kiss But Don't Tell
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Eek, I've done it again! Left you in the lurch for about ten days but I'm on holiday now! Yay everybody cheer. This chapter is full of dialogue and not much else and you can probably guess from the title and last chapter's preview what is going to happen. Excited?!
Disclaimer: insert some witty and amusing way of saying not mine please.
'- '=thoughts
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***
Hermione met Ron on the stairs to the infirmary.
"Ron what are you doing here?"
"Same as you I expect."
Hermione, thinking back on her dream chuckled a little.
"I sincerely hope not!"
As they approached the door at the top of the stairs Hermione began to feel a little worried about Ron. He was blushing furiously and glaring at the wall by his side as if he was trying to avoid her eyes. She stopped and placed a hand on his arm
"Ron…?" she began but to her surprise he shrugged her off quickly and without so much as glancing her way pelted up and through the infirmary door. 'Well!' Hermione thought. 'I wonder what has gotten into him.' She had no more time to ponder it, however, as she heard a strangled yell from the hospital ward.
"God no." she whispered bursting inside and rushing over to Malfoy's bed. Ron had him by the neck and was shaking him so violently that the Slytherin's eyes were rolling around in his head.
"Ron stop it!" Hermione yelled frightened at the twisted look of hatred that masked his face.
"Leave me alone 'Mione. I'm going to kill this little ferret for what he did to you."
Hermione glanced at Malfoy who was gradually turning blue. She grabbed Ron's hands and tried to pry them off.
"I don't care what he did to me! In fact I don't even know. Ron, he isn't worth you being expelled or, worse, being sent to Azkaban. What would Harry and I do if you weren't here? We need you here, I need you here." Tears welled up in her eyes as she desperately implored him. It was working! Ron's movements were slowing and Malfoy was gradually turning back to a normal colour. Finally Ron stepped back from the bed and Hermione ran into his arms, sobbing.
"God you scare me sometimes." She whispered against his chest.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to." Ron awkwardly patted her on the head.
"I know, just watch your temper. I mean it you know, I don't know what I'd do without you by my side."
"I know what I'd do."
She looked up at him.
"What?"
"Not do my homework and kill him." He jerked his head towards Draco who was gingerly rubbing his neck and sending them death glares.
"Ron you would never kill anyone!" Hermione said it jokingly but the smile left her lips as she saw Ron's face.
"If anyone hurt you or Harry I would kill them without a moments thought."
Hermione's eyes widened and she gripped Ron to her so tight she could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest.
"Don't even think such things." She hissed, "Now you're tired, you should go to bed. I think I'll have a talk with Neville after all Madam Pomfrey did tell us to spend time with him each day." If Ron hadn't been so wound up about Malfoy Hermione doubted he would have gone, however, all he said was;
"Alright, but don't stay up too long and watch him like a hawk."
She smiled and kissed his cheek goodnight.
As soon as he was gone she whirled around and stalked towards Malfoy…
***
"Did you like the dream I created for you?" he asked with a smirk.
Hermione stood stiffly next to his bed and looked down at him with disgust.
"Why did you do it?" she asked softly.
"What? Your dream? I thought it would be fun."
"You know that is not what I meant, Draco…"
"Oh Draco now is it?"
"Shut up! You obviously sent Ron a dream, why did you do it? You shouldn't have done that. Fine, have your twisted little fun messing with my dreams but you leave Ron's alone. My friends are off limits Malfoy. Do you hear me? I guess you've teamed up with Pansy to play games with me this Christmas and I'll take whatever screwed up plans you have but you leave everybody else out of it. Promise me Malfoy."
"No." he stared up at her with calm eyes, "And anyway what makes you think I'm playing games?" suddenly he reached out and grabbed her arms, pulling her off balance and onto his bed so they were mere centimetres apart. "Oh no little mudblood, this is deadly serious."
"D..Draco?" Hermione trembled under his touch an overwhelming feeling that things had gone too far this time sweeping over her as she realised Malfoy had control.
"Scared mudblood?"
Hermione bit her lip and resolved not to say anything.
"Oh quiet now are we? This has got to be a first, call the Daily Prophet."
"Let me go." Hermione struggled slightly but her heart just wasn't in it. She hated admitting it but she was falling for the Malfoy charm.
Malfoy pretended to think about it.
"Um no."
"I'll scream."
"Who'll hear you? Madam Pomfrey is not here and everyone else has taken a sleeping draught and is deeply asleep."
"Why won't you let me go?" now she was more curious then frightened.
"Because I've been wondering what you kiss like." Without waiting for a reaction to his words Malfoy pulled her down sharply and covered her mouth with his own. She gave a small cry and pulled away but as he gently covered her lips with feathery kisses the Gryffindor relaxed. After a few more moments he moved his hands to her waist and pulled her unprotesting body onto his lap, her hands also moved, up to his neck where they twined in his hair. Hermione tried to bring Draco's head down closer so he would kiss her more passionately but he pulled away.
"Tut, tut. What would Weasley and Potter say?"
Hermione groaned as his lips left hers.
"Shut up," She said again but his time in a more shaky tone of voice, "and just kiss me."
His inviting lips curled into a smile and he pushed her off his lap where she landed in a crumpled heap on the floor.
"No thankyou, I'm a little tired, goodnight." He rolled over and switched off the lamp next to his bed throwing the incredulous Hermione into darkness. Flushed and with a wildly beating heart the pretty Gryffindor staggered to her feet and made her way back to her common room. She opened the door and at once saw Ron asleep on one of the couches obviously waiting up for her. Hermione grabbed a blanket from one of the nearby chairs spreading it over him before gently smoothing his ruffled hair, whispering:
"Sweet Dreams Ron,"
and hurrying back to bed.
***
The next morning breakfast in the great hall was a sombre affair. Harry had appeared bleary eyed, weary and very late but wouldn't answer his friends questions as to where he had been the day before. Cho was pale and sullen and stared down at her plate as if she was wishing to be anywhere else than in the great hall. Ron had cramps from sleeping on the couch all night, Hermione was confused and her feelings were all mixed up about Draco. In fact the only person who seemed at all cheery was Malfoy who turned up just after the Gryffindors with a swagger in his step and no outward sign at all that he had kissed his worst enemies best friend.
"Morning all." He smirked seating himself between Pansy and Crabbe.
There were mumbled greetings from all but Harry, Ron, Hermione and Cho. "So how was last night for everybody?" Malfoy asked innocently. The effect this simple sentence had on the table was incredible. Cho gasped, shot Harry an accusing look and dashed off, Harry shouted:
"Cho! Wait!" and ran after her, Hermione turned white as a ghost and whispered:
"Malfoy, please." and Ron jumped to his feet spilling his goblet of pumpkin juice. Pansy giggled in an annoying way, Crabbe and Goyle (realising what Malfoy had said was supposed to be funny) guffawed stupidly, Mory burst into tears and whimpered:
"I miss Jonathon." and Jeremy grabbed Harriet's hand, looking alarmed, and shouted:
"If you've been spying on Harriet and I Mr Malfoy I'll see you expelled." Then left in a huff.
"Oops." Malfoy laughed cruelly, "what did I say?"
Ron walked quickly around the table and grabbed him by the arm.
"UP!" he shouted and surprisingly enough Draco did as he was told and got to his feet. Ron marched him out into the entrance hall and turned him roughly to face him.
"Right Malfoy, we are going to have a talk."
"Oh goodie!" Draco said sarcastically. "About what?"
"You know what! Hermione and I are not an item. We are, however, best friends and I will not see her hurt."
"Or in pink nighties?"
Ron glared at him but Malfoy, undaunted, continued "Oh didn't you like my dream. But the way her shapely legs and heaving bosom were portrayed so clearly in that kinky number must have had some effect on you. Go on admit it, you were hot for your best friend." Ron had been pushed too far. He gripped Malfoy by the throat and threw him up against the wall.
"You will not talk to her, you will not look at her in fact don't even breathe in her direction. If you give me one reason to smash your head into that wall don't think I will hesitate. The only explanation why you aren't in the same condition as Neville up there is because Hermione is a better person than I am."
"You didn't need to tell me that Weasley, I already know it!" Malfoy wheezed out.
"Of course you do. Hermione is better than this whole school put together." Ron loosened his grip slightly as Malfoy nodded. "At least we agree on one thing."
"Yes." Malfoy agreed, "I bet we agree on something else too, don't you think Hermione is a good kisser…I do."
Ron's eyes flared for a moment and it looked like he was going to carry out his threat and beat Draco's skull against the wall but in a moment the fury had subsided. He let the Slytherin boy go with a push so his back hit hard against the brickwork.
"You're a liar." He said simply, turning away.
"You'd like to think that wouldn't you?* Well go on Weasley, ask her. I'm sure your best friend wouldn't lie to you."
Ron turned to see Hermione frozen behind him slowly shaking her head, silently pleading with Malfoy to stop but he didn't.
"Go on mudblood," he hissed "tell him what you said."
"Stop it Draco. Please…"
"No, I don't think that was what you said, it went more along the lines of 'just kiss me.'"
Ron stared at Hermione willing her to say he was lying, to say he made it all up, to say anything. But she just stood there shaking as silent sobs wracked her body.
"Tell him." Malfoy hissed.
"I won't lie to you…" she began.
Ron drew a sharp breath. "It isn't true, Hermione tell me it isn't true."
"I can't." she whispered sinking to her knees in defeat.
***
*Another Princess Bride quote! He, he. : )
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Ooh so dramatic! Well Hermione hasn't cried in a while so I guess it is fitting that she should cry twice in one chapter! I hope you all liked it; yet again it was a blast to write. I can't believe I'm on 7 favourite lists! Thankyou so much to those people it is such an honour, also thankyou to everyone who reviewed:
Edainme: Um okay are you saying you are Draco? Sorry I think I missed what you were trying to say (yes I am very stupid!) sorry, thankyou for the review though!
*Prongs*: Thankyou so much for saying you adore my story that is so very nice of you. Do you really like my characters? Blimey! I was kind of worried about making my own characters in case they were a total flop or people didn't understand them! Thankyou so much for putting my fears to rest! In fact thankyou for reviewing full stop: )!
Sila-chan: Oh I know! What I wouldn't give for one! You're right perhaps if we were rich wizards we could magically enlarge everything of Barbie's and make it all our own! Sound like a plan?! I will keep writing and thankyou for your encouragement.
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Waiting: I don't know about 'good as always' I have some awful chapters out! But thankyou for the saying so and for reviewing of course! I will keep going even if it is only for you my ever faithful reviewer!
Draco's gurl: I'm glad someone read the preview and I'm doubly glad you got so excited over it! I'm sorry I didn't write it very soon but it is here at last (der!). Your Draco does rock and I'm sorry I should have asked if I could borrow him for my story! Thankyou so much for saying you love my story and for reviewing.
Lady Alanna Salmalin of Conte: Oh dear I hope I will be forgiven I didn't really write this chapter very fast. Please, please don't hurt me! There will be more chappies and hopefully soon!
SuperStar: I know what you mean but I thought if most people in my twisted version of Hogwarts are good-looking it would be a little mean to leave Harry out of this strange little transformation of mine. Um Hermione certainly isn't getting it on with Harry and she is just good friends with Ron. Who knows what's going with Malfoy?! I tried to find your story but I couldn't, I'm sorry I'll look for it again. Promise : )
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Chikata: I will write more and hopefully my next chapter will be up really soon as I am on holiday and have some more time! Thankyou for reviewing so nicely.
Sailor Earth: I'm so happy you like Draco's mind invader I was worried it was a little too odd but hey I thought it was an interesting plot twist so there you are! I was hoping the preview would entice some people and it seems like it did. Cool! Thankyou so much for reviewing.
Gaille: sorry to hear you have been sick I hope you are feeling better now. I hope too that you liked this chapter and Ron is sort of jealous but only because he loves Hermione as a friend…in this story at least! Anyway thankyou for reviewing (as always!).
Akiyo: Cool? Why thankyou! It was great of you to review so thankyou again and I will continue.
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Heather the Hobbit (previously known as Heather!): Yeah it is pretty strange. In answer to your question it will become clear soon that our dear little Malfoy was telling lies when he said that. That is all I'm saying for now… okay that was my pathetic attempt of being mysterious! Thankyou so much for reviewing my stories! It is really nice of you!
PREVIEW
"What is going on with you Harry?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Harry avoided her eyes and instead stared at the ground.
Hermione rolled her eyes "Alright we kissed once could people please move on? I'm sick of feeling guilty about it, okay? Could we just drop it?"
"No." another voice joined in.
She span around to face the owner of the voice. "Ron, look…"
"Whatever Hermione." He brushed past her and Harry smiled sympathetically at Hermione.
"Still not exactly friendly is he."
"Well at least he is talking now." Hermione smiled feebly but she felt terrible. Ron wasn't talking to her, Harry wasn't talking to anybody about what was going on with him and Malfoy was telling anyone who would listen that he had kissed the know-it-all Gryffindor. Suddenly they heard a call.
"Hermione!"
"What do you want ferret?" Hermione growled.
"It's Jonathon. Merlin you have to hurry!..."
Alright, I'm starting a list of people I email when I update. If you would like to be added to this list please tell me so in your reviews (hint, hint, nudge, nudge) or email me and I will be happy to oblige. Even if I have emailed you before please remind me again because I will be starting afresh with this list. Oh by the way I'm getting the Harry Potter video tomorrow = ) okay you probably don't care…sorry! Thanks everyone and one last note. GO ENGLAND (most specifically Emile Heskey and Michael Owen)!!! Ah I love the world cup and rest assured I know that my team isn't the best out there but hey it is my team I've been going for, for ages so! Thankyou everyone…until next time!
Jess/Star123
