Chapter 25- Three Kisses: A Beginning, A Middle and An end
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Well it hasn't been too long…for me at least. I hope you all enjoy this chapter it is sheer fluffy goodness! Dons a party hat and begins dancing around the room Looking forward to June 21? IAM!!! At last Book 5 I was beginning to think it would never happen!
'-'=thoughts
Disclaimer: My hallucinations have stopped, unfortunately this means that I no longer believe I own Harry Potter…sigh
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***
"This would be so much easier if we had magic!" Draco grumbled as he and Hermione struggled through knee deep snow drifts.
"Well we don't have to go so far into the woods, you know." Hermione puffed.
"I want to get as far away as possible from those bumbling idiots you call friends." Draco answered, "Right I think this is far enough." He added forestalling her protests, he slung his back-pack off his shoulder and onto the ground. He delved around inside for a while and eventually pulled out a large folded square of olive green coloured material.
"Let's just hope this works." He muttered as he spread it out on the ground. For a minute it looked like nothing was happening. Draco swore and kicked a nearby rock which only succeeded in giving him an extremely sore toe. 'You'd think' he thought angrily to himself 'that a charm put on something by a bloody charms teacher would work!' earlier that morning he had visited Professor Flitwick and asked if you could bewitch an item that the equivalent of a squib could use. The professor had said yes but Draco pretended not to believe him and eventually got his very gullible teacher to charm the piece of material to become a wizarding tent that would spring into existence simply by being unfolded. But to Draco's intense disappointment it looked like all his plans would go to waste.
"Oh look!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed grabbing hold of one of the Slytherin's sleeves. He looked and saw that the material was wiggling and growing like someone was underneath it. In no time at all a two man tent stood, in the same green as the material, before them and Draco motioned to Hermione. "Witches first." he said gallantly she smiled and ducked under the awning.
She immerged into a spacious living area. To her right there was a small kitchen complete with stove, fridge and fully stocked pantry, a quick glance showed Hermione that the fridge was filled with her favourite foods. Straight ahead was a generous lounge room with a large couch flanked by matching armchairs, a roaring fire crackled in the grate which was already warming her through. On her left was a dining room dominated by a large oak table and 7 chairs with embroidered cushion covers. There were great windows along the wall in the lounge room and small wooden tables dotted around the place with flowers, magazines and books all arranged prettily on them. There was a small staircase tucked between the dining room and lounge room which led up to a bedroom that overlooked the open-plan living area. Draco entered behind her and made his way to the couch, flopping down amongst the cushions and looking very much at home. Hermione, meanwhile, darted hither and thither about the tent commenting on each new feature she discovered with awe. She bounced up the stairs and looked around the bedroom, it was quite sparse, only a large king sized bed with white Manchester and two little bedside tables with pretty little lamps on them. A rich blue Persian rug lay on the floor and Hermione took off her shoes to plough her toes into its plush weave.
"Wow, this place is amazing!" she called down to Draco, "But where's my 16 bedroom manor house?" she added cheekily
"It's in the post." He growled in reply, "Now stop bollocksing around and come down here!"
Complying with his orders Hermione bounded down the stairs and approached the couch he was seated on. She smiled at him then nervously perched herself primly on the armrest opposite Draco. He watched her with narrowed eyes then, with a low growl of frustration, he reached over and yanked her arm so she fell down onto the cushions of the couch.
"Right, better." He stated leaning back and observing her critically as she blushed. "Oh stop that," he snapped irritably, "it's just us Hermione no one will know that you were touched by a Slytherin.
"They already know, you made sure of that." She said quietly, avoiding his eyes.
"Don't go all shy on me now, Granger." He exploded in a fit of aggravation "I arranged it so we came out here to work things out and you're really not making it easy."
"Fine Mr Malfoy." She said sarcastically, "Whatever you desire."
A smirk crept across Draco's face and he eyed her predatorily, "Whatever I desire?" he repeated, "you mean…you?"
Hermione's eyes widened and she shot off the couch at such a speed that she almost overbalanced when she was on her feet.
Draco laughed and then rolled his eyes at her offended expression, "Couldn't resist, oh come on Hermione take a seat I promise I won't jump you."
She reluctantly sat down again. And so followed a long and awkward silence. Hermione stared straight ahead and refused to look at him. Truth be told she could feel his presence so strongly that she was worried that if she looked at him she might just throw herself onto his lap and kiss him senseless, although, of course, she wouldn't be mentioning this to him anytime soon.
"What's it like being a muggleborn?" his question came so totally out of the blue that Hermione looked at him sharply. She immediately wished she hadn't. He had taken his cloak off and was revealed to be wearing a black T-shirt which was stretched tight across his muscles, his blond hair was tousled and his grey eyes seemed intent on sending the most smouldering look imaginable her way. Realising he had asked her a question she forced her mind to focus and thought for a minute.
"Tiring." She finally decided on.
"Tiring?" he asked, "In what way?"
"Well everyday you realise that there is something else you don't know about in the wizarding world, some spell or term, some reference to Voldemort, some terrible thing he did, the list goes on. It's like a giant puzzle and everyday you find more pieces only to realise that even more are missing. People like yourself don't make it any easier." She added wryly sending him an accusatory look.
He shrugged looking not at all apologetic "That's the way I am." He said by way of an excuse.
"No its not." Hermione told him sternly, "You know its not and that's why you asked me that question. Anyone who truly hated muggleborns wouldn't want to know what life was like for them. They're only interested in ruining it."
Draco chuckled, "So now you think you know everything about me?"
Hermione shot him a warm smile, "I'm getting there." she assured him.
He leant forward and cupped her face in his hands, drawing her closer to him.
"My dear naïve little Gryffindor," he crooned, "the day you know everything about me is the day I pledge my undying love to Weasley." He swallowed her objections up in a demanding kiss which made her head spin and legs feel weak.
***
"So, you've asked me, now it's my turn." Hermione relaxed in Draco's arms. They had been making out for several minutes and somehow she had ended up in his lap with his arms tightly encircling her waist and her arms around his neck. They were both very comfortable in this position and, it seemed, in no hurry to move.
"Oh yes, what's that?" asked Draco nuzzling her neck.
Hermione took a deep breath and leaned back so she could see his face. "Do you love me?" she enquired tentatively. Draco swore under his breath and hurriedly stood up so Hermione fell to the floor. She looked up, her eyes wide, her chest heaving and watched as he paced back and forth across the room then came to a standstill leaning against a little side-table which held a vase of flowers. He studied the wood intensely for a few minutes then looked up at the ceiling.
"I," he began, "I…think…"
"Draco, if you can't say it I understand. I'm sorry." Hermione interrupted alarmed at the way he was clutching the edge of the table
"Shut…up." He ground out, "I have to say this. I think I'm … beginning to." he finished turning and grabbing her hands, pulling her into a standing position. "I'm beginning to fall in love with you." He crowed, "I don't believe it, the prophesy came true. Well sort of." He amended, "But after all you said you didn't know and that's better then an outright no, isn't it?" he looked at her almost pleadingly and she nodded laughing,
"A lot better." She confirmed reaching out to him and being rewarded with another heart stopping kiss.
'And I have ample time to make you love me.' He added silently to himself.
***
"Still here then?" Ron remarked icily to Pansy. He had seen her sitting alone on one of the out of the way staircases and had wandered over to her, after all he had nothing better to do. Harry and Cho had disappeared right after breakfast and Ron had been wandering around aimlessly trying to think of something to do. It was too cold to go flying and in any case he wasn't in the mood.
"What do you mean?" she questioned just as snakily "Where else would I be?"
"Dead?" Ron suggested, "I mean I thought that was your plan yesterday."
"You caught me at a bad time, forget it."
Ron relented and sitting down beside her murmured, "Forgotten."
They sat in silence for several minutes then Pansy cleared her throat and spoke hesitantly. "Weasley…"
"Ron." He interrupted
"Ron," she agreed, "if things had been different, you know if you weren't who you are and I wasn't who I am do you think…? I mean if I wasn't such a …such a … if I wasn't me would you perhaps ever think, possibly, even for a moment, could you ever…"
"Fancy you?" Ron guessed
Pansy turned a brilliant shade of red and ducked her head so that her deep auburn hair fell in a curtain that shielded her face from view. Ron reached forward and swept the hair out of the way lifting her chin with his forefinger and staring into her light green eyes.
"No." he told her seriously, Pansy's eyes widened then began to fill with tears, Ron leaned forward, "But you are who you are and…" with his lips scant inches from hers he whispered, "I don't think I've ever fancied someone as much as I fancy you right now." The corners of Pansy's lips curled upwards and she moved forward to give him a short chaste kiss before throwing herself into his arms. Ron rocked backwards with the force of her body but automatically pulled her tightly to him and buried his face into her hair as she began to sob unrestrainedly against his shoulder.
***
"You know this is the last time we can ever meet like this, don't you?" Harry questioned Cho who was standing in the snow a few feet from him. Her shoulders slumped and she avoided his eyes. Harry spoke her name softly and she nodded in agreement. "It isn't so bad. It was an outside chance anyway, we never really thought it would work." When she remained unresponsive he began to plead with her. "Please Cho, you have to let me go, I can't go on like this! I've already collapsed once I can't afford for that to happen again. What if Voldemort decides to rise again today? I have to be strong enough to help in the battle against him. Release me, Cho, say I can go. Say we can finish this madness!"
"I release you, you can go, you can stop." Cho spoke dryly and bitterly and still refused to look him fully in the face. Harry let out a sigh of relief and stepped forward to thank her.
"Stay away from me." She whispered
"Let's not end it like this." Harry said feelingly, "After all we've been through, can't we end it like friends?" She chose not to answer. Harry took another step closer, "I can't bear to see you like this," he murmured taking one of her cold hands in his, "Your grief is too much. You've become so bitter, Cho. You were never like this, you used to be so kind and sweet and caring. You have a right to heartache but it has to stop sometime and the world isn't just going to wait until you have got over it. Cedric would've wanted you to be happy." 'Ergh what a cliché!' he thought, immediately after he said it.
"It's…hard." Cho choked out and Harry pulled her towards him so her head rested on his shoulder.
"I know, I know." He soothed.
Cho lifted her head as he lowered his and their lips met in a bittersweet goodbye
***
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And yet you still don't know what those two are up to! It will come out, I promise, perhaps next chapter…? Why is it my female characters are so weak, they all end up crying! Anyway I am on 41 favourites lists! Can you believe it? I certainly can't. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! And thankyou again to these people:
Foxy: ANY of it?! Blimey I'm doing a pretty bad job of it then! Thanks for letting me know, hopefully it will become clearer, if not email me and I'll explain my strange little plot as best as I can. Thankyou for the review.
Marille: Yes I know I took forever but it has only been a bit over a week which is pretty good for me! So I have written on fairly quickly, I'm glad you were looking forward to a new chapter so much! A sweet review, thankyou: )
2 lazy 2 sign in (Orangeblossom): Hermione does always seem to end up stupid in my stories which just isn't right! You killed a character too…did you really or only pretend like me?! Anyway I'm glad you think my story is cool it means a lot, thanks. (Don't worry I didn't think for a minute it was a flame.)
laala: Thankyou, hundreds more would be fun but somehow I sincerely doubt it happening! Talented authoress? Gee blushes profusely thanks. All the way through? You have more patience then me, I'm glad I managed to snare your rapt attention, it means a lot. I have updated fairly soon and I hope you like this chapter too, thanks so much for your kind words!
Prantis-Queen of Hearts: Yes more…kind of soon. It hasn't become very interesting yet but we can only hope. Thankyou for your review.
Gohansfollower: Nothing like a bit of a confidence booster to start the day. With comments like "wonderful chapter" I had trouble getting my big head through the door! Yeah Pansy…well obviously she is a little unbalanced. Well this chapter answered your other questions. Thankyou for reviewing so faithfully!
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Silver: Absolutely amazing? Really you shouldn't feed my ego so much! More romancy? I thought you were drowning in it already, well there is quite a lot in this chapter and will be more in chapter 26, I promise…just for you! Yeah I enjoy reading the ones that are kind of smutty occasionally but to be honest I much prefer plot! Yeah the past thing is still a little confusing hopefully I will be able to clear it up in future chapters. Thankyou so much for your review and you will already have received an email from me it you're reading this!
MysticalStormz: Yes, I know, I'm sorry but I have returned! No need to wait any longer! Thanks.
Felicity: Oh well, I can't remember who it's by but I used to listen to it all the time. Right I have continued, I hope you like! Thanks.
Purple People Eater: Alright, alright, no need to rub it in! Smifiligate away but leave them for me to put in future chapters okay? Thanks. Yep the protective vibe is getting a little strong but really it is a basis for the whole story so I don't think I can drop it now! No more suspense? But don't you like suspense? Well they are kind of together in this chapter, make your own judgement on what you think. Thankyou for reviewing so constantly even though I don't return the favour by updating constantly!
Alina: I don't know about joy to the world but joy to some people at least! Actually I agree and think that Ron and Pansy are cute, I might write a story about them when I've finished this one…what do you think? Considering their tent I don't know if you can call it camping anymore it is a bit far from sleeping bags and campfires but they're in a tent so I guess it still suffices. Anyway thankyou so much for your review.
dEsTiNy: Eek you called me creative! Thankyou so much! I'm sorry you wasted a whole day of your life reading my story…actually I lie, I'm not, I'm very glad! It makes me so happy when people say my story is well written, it is so kind. Well I have updated, not much suspense. Thankyou so much for leaving me a review with so many complimentary things in it!
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Aki: What were you crying for? It wasn't that bad was it?! Okay I think awesome is going a bit far it wasn't that good a chapter. I would never have expected them to go on a camping trip either, my mind keeps throwing up strange little ideas and I just run with them. This chapter is a little longer then my usual ones too, just for you! Oh I'm sorry you have writers block, that must suck. I haven't really had too much trouble with that …yet, sometimes I just can't be bothered to type my ideas up! I am chronically lazy. There isn't much on the camping front in this one but next chapter I promise I will include a lot more about Draco and Hermione, I have some interesting ideas up my sleeves…so watch out! Thankyou as always for your review.
Kuri: One of the best? Well I must admit I liked the Draco/Hermione bit at the start. Yeah the Ron/Pansy thing came to me and I thought I'd like to see where it went. I think when I've finished this story I might write a little R/P what do you think? I hope you get over your writers block really quickly and keep writing your story. Well you didn't have to wait as long as last time for an update, you proud?! Hey going camping with Draco sounds like fun, you keep your hopes up…it might happen…okay maybe not! Your reviews keep me writing…so no pressure or anything… joke. Thankyou!
Bamboo Anime: Wow! That is so interesting! Sorry you have to sit at such small desks but at least you get to feel tall. An interior decorator? And they chose kahki? Couldn't they have chosen something a bit more…I don't know, interesting?! GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK!!! I really hope you get the part of Lily, I'm sure you deserve it. Oh yeah back to the story I'm glad you liked the way Hermione exerted herself a bit more. Thankyou for answering my question and reviewing so nicely. And in answer to your question in chapter 26 they might wink, wink, nudge, nudge!
Yopgi-chunsa: I'm glad you liked the chapter. Sorry Ron seems out of character I'll try to make him better in future chapters, I promise! Great is a little excessive but thankyou for saying it anyway! I have updated fairly quickly, I hope you like. Thankyou.
Amanda: I'm glad you enjoyed chapter 19 so much. It was hard to write, I must admit but it all turned out alright in the end! A good writer? Thankyou so much for your appreciative review.
Akira Gown: I hope you are less thirsty now! Makes me wonder what? Why you are so incredibly nice? I guess! Sorry there actually isn't much Ron and Harry but there is more Pansy/Ron. It was so nice of you to say they clicked, I really like the idea actually (yes I'm very modest!) You will probably still be confused with the whole Harry/Cho thing but there is a very sweet part at the end for you. Poor Cho! Yeah I most admit I liked the D/Hr bit at the start of last chapter. It was a nice little interaction I thought…okay I have to stop with this self-congratulative line! Yes someone agrees with me about the exclamation mark thing. I hate them but they just keep creeping in! See. Whoops…please don't hurt me, I've updated again and it hasn't been too long. Over a week I'll admit but still…! Thankyou so much for your pretty thorough review, means a lot!
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And there you have it. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and you know reviews make me post sooner…okay sorry that sounded a bit bullying. I do love reviews though (I'm shameless!)
Enjoy life
Jess/star123
