Chapter 27- The Line Between Good and Evil
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Yay I didn't take too long, go me! Anyway please enjoy and you know I love feedback! I'm sorry but I am not continuing with the scene I left you with last time. I can't decide whether they actually slept together or not so I leave it up to you to decide. I think it might be a bit early for them so really it is up to you!
Disclaimer: Not mine in any shape or form I don't have the skill or the panache!
'-'=thoughts
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***
The winter sun streamed in through a chink in the curtains and fell across Hermione's face. She wrinkled her nose against the intrusion and her eyelids fluttered open. She came face to face with Draco and saw that he was watching her, his expression intense yet still unreadable. Hermione blushed under his scrutinising gaze and the feel of his arms around her, fully aware of the night they had just spent together. Draco ignored her embarrassment and pulled her closer to him, kissing her softly on the forehead, and she snuggled closer, glad of his warmth in the chilly morning air. Draco smiled against her hair and held her tightly against him.
"If only Potter and Weasley could see me now!" he mumbled gloatingly and Hermione's head shot up subsequently hitting Draco squarely on the chin.
"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed rubbing his jaw and glaring down at her, "What was that for?"
"What did you just say?" she demanded moving out of his grasp to the other end of the bed.
"Nothing. I said nothing." He replied quickly realising his mistake.
"No, you said something, I heard you." Hermione said beginning to shake off her early morning drowsiness.
"Really it was nothing."
"I heard you but I can't believe you would say that!"
"Hey it didn't mean anything, what I said was an accident." Draco protested digging himself into a deeper hole.
"Accident?!" Hermione could hardy speak she was so furious. "All this was never about me was it? You wanted to take me away from the castle to get back at my friends. They were right all along. And to think I defended you!"
"Hermione calm down!"
She jumped out of the bed altogether and crossed her arms.
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down. So how far back does it go, huh? How long have you been using me to get back at my friends?" Hermione spat, her eyes filling with angry tears.
"You're not making any sense!" Draco tried desperately "Why would you think I've been using you? I've done everything for you, I even told you that I was beginning to fall in love with you but even that doesn't seem to be enough." He knew he should stop but his self-defence mechanisms had kicked in and she had hit too close to the truth for him to think rationally. "So tell me Miss Perfect what is good enough for you? Obviously not me!"
"Ron and Harry…" she began but Draco cut in again
"Why do you always hide behind Potter and Weasley?"
"And why are you being so defensive it you've done nothing wrong?" she shot back. Draco scrambled across the bed and stood up beside her. He put his arms around her and found she was quivering, he hoped from his touch but when she jerked out of his reach he realised it was anger.
"Look," he spoke softly, "let's not fight. Come on this was supposed to be a chance for us to sort out our feelings and get to know each other without the pressure of there being anyone else around."
Hermione wasn't moved, "Answer the question Draco." She stated coldly
"I just don't see what it matters…" Draco tried to defuse the situation but to no avail.
"I said answer the damn question!" Hermione yelled at him.
"Fine!" Draco grabbed her roughly by her wrists and threw her down onto the bed, "Listen up you obnoxious know-it-all, you want the truth, right you got the truth. Yeah I was using you and you were right it was to get at Potter and Weasley, however it wasn't for my own evil gain it was for someone else's. Okay bring out the brass band and the friggin' street parade it's true I worked for Lord Voldemort!" he snarled sarcastically "Well good-oh now you can tell your little friends that they were right to hate me and you can run back to your sheltered world and draw that great big line between good and evil. Don't think for a moment that there might be a grey between the black and the white. Don't think that maybe I was only in league with you-know-who because it was the only way out. Don't even begin to imagine that I stopped working for him a long time ago and that I have been after you for myself and not for anyone else. When I said I was falling in love with you I wasn't lying, I swear it! But I've never experienced love before so maybe I was wrong, it could just be some weird mutation of the hate I feel towards you, that could be it." Draco drew in a deep gasp, "But you don't believe me and you don't trust me so what can I do?"
Hermione watched him impassively. "Are you finished?" she asked, Draco nodded and she got off the bed again, "Good because now it is my turn. We've been at school together for over five years. In all that time you have never given any indication that you anything other then despised me. You broke your pattern this Christmas. However, two weeks does not cancel out five years, the equation just doesn't work. For a time I was willing to give you a chance, you seemed sincere enough and I suppose I pitied you. But now you tell me that you have been working with Voldemort all along and I'm supposed to be okay with it? Well I don't think so. You know I'm beginning to suspect that there wasn't any curse. You probably invented the whole thing and used some sort of trickery to create the scene in the hospital wing, you had me fooled for a little while but not anymore." she reached down and yanked at the anklet he had given her. The chain broke and she looked at it for a moment before throwing it at Draco. "You're right I don't believe you and I don't, of all things, trust you." She grabbed her bag tugged a cloak on over her night clothes and walked to the top of the stairs, "Well I'm off to draw a line between good and evil, you stay on your side and I'll stay on mine." With that final barb she hurried down the stairs and was outside a minute later marching briskly through the snow back to Hogwarts.
***
Ron yawned and stretched consequently falling off the narrow couch and onto to something soft beneath him.
"Ouch!" said a muffled voice
"Whoops, sorry Neville." Ron yawned getting off him. Neville sat up and rubbed his eyes
"What time is it?" he asked looking around and instantly wishing he hadn't as the sun from the windows hit him fully in the face. Ron chuckled at Neville's expression of pain and replied "Sometime in the morning I guess. Hey Harry." Harry was curled in a chair his glasses askew and his hair more unruly then ever. Harry jerked awake and grimaced as his muscles complained at being cramped up all night.
"What?" he asked grumpily as Ron's face swam into view.
"Breakfast, that's what!"
And soon all three of them slouched into the great hall bidding the only occupants, Jeremy and Harriet, a good morning. The couple looked radiant announcing that they had just received job offers in the same department of the ministry for when they finished school.
"We will always be together!" Harriet told them all happily whilst Jeremy beamed next to her. Ron, Harry and Neville congratulated them politely and sat down. Piling their plates with bacon and eggs they barely looked up when Jonathon and Mory walked in but as soon as he saw them Ron dropped his fork with a clatter.
"Jonathon!" he exclaimed in surprise, "You're better!"
"Yeah," Jonathon replied a little surprised that a boy he barely knew seemed so relieved he was well again. "Madam Pomfrey said it turned out to be only a vicious bout of flu."
"Flu?!" Ron jumped to his feet, complete bewilderment showing plainly on his face.
"Yes," Mory said through gritted teeth sending Ron a pointed look, "the flu. Funny how things turn out isn't it?"
Ron sat down again and stared at his plate, "yeah hilarious." He muttered sullenly. He was angry at the teachers for covering up the truth. Hermione had told him that Madam Pomfrey knew about the curse so why hadn't any of the staff done anything? What about Dumbledore? He'd probably say that things had to take their course but what if Hermione had been killed during that course? Ron stabbed a piece of bacon with his fork and proceeded to shred it angrily. Meanwhile Cho, Casey and Ronan had joined the table. Cho looked at Harry and gave a small smile which made Harry grin in reply.
'Progress!' he thought excitedly
Casey approached Neville and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek Neville, in turn, presented her with a plate of breakfast which she gratefully took settling herself down beside him and Ronan.
Ronan looked surly and tired, answered questions with one word answers and generally made himself disagreeable until Casey hissed something in his ear which sounded like:
"Get over her!" and he made an effort to smile although it came out looking a lot more like a grimace.
Finally Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle strode into the room. Ron got up again and pulled out Pansy's chair for her, ignoring the glares from Harry and Neville. Pansy looked embarrassed but thanked him anyway warning Crabbe and Goyle that if they tried anything she would "Deal with them." Ron was quite interested in what this meant as immediately both the hulks stopped bristling and began to stuff their faces with food. The meal was the most relaxed many of them had had in a long time and was ruined only when Ronan leaned across Casey and asked:
"So where's Hermione?"
Ron had to give Harry kudos on how he handled the situation. Without a pause he replied airily:
"Oh probably still asleep, you know what girls are like."
It was obvious Ronan didn't believe him but as he had no evidence to prove him wrong he settled back in his seat and everyone continued eating, unperturbed and Harry noticed with a surprising degree of pity that obviously no one cared where Draco was.
***
Gradually everyone drifted off until only Harry, Ron, Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle remained at the table. There was an awkward silence then, seemingly out of nowhere, there was a rumble of thunder and it began to pour down outside. Out of habit they all looked up at the enchanted ceiling and watched the droplets speed down towards them yet never reach them.
"That's one big storm." Harry remarked as a jagged lightning bolt crackled above them. Pansy rolled her eyes as if to say 'Obviously!' and Ron sent her a reprimanding look which, surprisingly, she quelled under. Crabbe and Goyle were having a heated whispering session and the other three watched in interest as they began to play scissors, rock, paper. Goyle apparently won and Crabbe reluctantly faced them all and shouted:
"Have you kidnapped Draco?"
"What?" Pansy shrieked whilst Ron and Harry burst out laughing,
"Well," Goyle said stupidly, "it's just that he didn't sleep in our dormitory last night and we haven't seen him this morning and…" he trailed off as Harry and Ron doubled up, guffawing loudly.
"Why," gasped Ron wiping tears away from his eyes, "would we want to kidnap Malfoy?!"
The Slytherin boys shrugged and Pansy looked at them in disgust "How is it I've put up with you for all these years?" she enquired icily.
"You never used to mind us." Crabbe objected.
"She's had a taste of someone with an IQ over a pea and now there's no going back." Harry said looking directly at Ron who gulped but Crabbe and Goyle mistook his meaning and nodded knowingly,
"Draco." They told each other missing the fact that Pansy's foot had just shot out and kicked Harry under the table. Harry's face turned red with pain and he mouthed something at Pansy which looked an awful lot like:
"Stupid cow!"
Ron gave him a push which almost sent Harry reeling out of his chair. Suddenly Goyle slammed his fist down on the table
"But she's been with Draco for years why is it different now?" Crabbe's eyes narrowed and both thugs cracked their knuckles menacingly. Just at that moment the doors flew open and a soaking wet and very bedraggled Hermione staggered in. Harry and Ron raced over to her, concern etched all over their features. Hermione just managed to choke out:
"You were right." When her legs gave way and her mind went blissfully blank.
***
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Thanks to all who reviewed, you know you're my inspiration!
Evol norgara: When I first read your name I thought it was evil norgara but how can you be evil when you review so nicely? Thanks for both the reviews, sorry I made you stay up so late…sleep is good by the way and you should never deprive yourself of it, oh sleep how I love thee…hmm sorry about that. Thankyou for putting me on your favourites list even when you were so tired! I can't believe you always miss part of the PB, when I was little I would always fast forward the part where Westley gets tortured so I guess I can't talk. Ooooh with bendy straws? They are such nifty little gadgets, like we are all too lazy to move forward to drink! Thankyou for threatening me in such an unusual way and for reviewing of course.
Gryfyndor Girl: Glad you got the email, no need to thank me, it's me thanking you! Thankyou so much for saying that the story is excellent, I'm glad it makes more sense to you now. I have updated quite soon so I hope you like this chapter too. I liked your story a lot but there needs to be more, okay? Thanks.
Tom Felton's babe: yeah I wanted to put Draco in a situation he wouldn't be used to and see what happened, glad you liked. Well like I said, it is up to you whether they actually had sex or not, I'm rubbish at writing that kind of thing so I left it up to you. Yeah Harry and Cho is just not right and there won't be any of it in my story…apart from that one kiss but it was just one. In your hearts favourite list is just as good if not better thanks. Hope you sort the problem out soon. Thankyou for saying I'm doing great, I try.
Gohansfollower: I'm happy you thought it was wonderful. Sorry I didn't mean it to be a cliffhanger at all you'll have to supply what went on yourself. You didn't have to wait long for the next chapter, I'm so proud! Thanks for reviewing so nicely.
Lazy: No need to wait any longer! Thankyou for reviewing.
Erica: Oops sorry if I didn't make it clear. Hermione was dreaming the same dream she did in chapter 4 "The Nightmare". Well the answer to your second question will be revealed all in good time. Not too long a wait this time, thankyou for reviewing again, much appreciated.
Alina: good, I didn't know if Pansy was right but if you like it then I'm happy. You remember mine? Thanks and don't worry, I know what its like when you have all these stories and some are so similar that they blend. Well I love you too because you are a fantastic reviewer, thanks!
Vixen: Yep did you like the Cho/Harry thing? Yeah I thought I would just make the "sleeping together" thing simple, decide for yourself. Congrats on your module thingy I hope it goes well for you. By the time it got to Easter I would forget having done the thing! Read it all again?! Wow well it might make more sense…notice I said might. Thankyou for reviewing so beautifully all the time.
Amanda: Thankyou so much! I think awesome is a bit extreme but still it was nice of you to say. I'm glad I managed to make the Cho and Harry thing a bit of a surprise. Sorry I'm not going into detail with the whole sleeping together thing. I'm rubbish at writing that kind of thing so I have to pass it back to you. Also I was in two minds whether they should actually or not so I decided to leave it open, sorry to disappoint. Your review wasn't corny but even if it was I wouldn't care! Thankyou for saying you loved chapter 26 hope you enjoyed this one too.
Aki: Shame! Shame on you for not reviewing….just kidding it is perfectly okay. I always miss people's updates, its cool. Glad you thought it was great and I agree with you that I don't know about them sleeping together. I was in two minds about it so I thought I'd leave it up to the individual to decide. No need to apologise it is great that you review at all so yeah! Thanks a lot.
Kuri: I perfectly understand…actually I'm STILL on holidays myself but they are drawing to a close…I don't wanna have to go back to school and shudders violently work! I am looking forward to seeing all my friends who went away though. Glad you agree with Aki and the sleeping together thing is totally up to you. Yeah it could be a bit soon considering they spend more time mad at each other then actually admitting their feelings. Don't stare at computer screens makes everything go fuzzy, I hate that. Anyway thankyou for reviewing.
Arwen: it wasn't meant to be a cliffhanger so I'm terribly sorry that you are angry! So you think they didn't? I reckon I'm leaning that way too but I cheated and didn't decide! Well it seems that Harry already knows somehow about Ron and Pansy…how? Well that will be revealed. Thankyou for reviewing, I'll get chapter 11 to you soon, promise!
Mexx: I'm awfully sorry but I didn't continue the scene. Well go where your imagination leads you! Draco's list of things to do was fun to write and I wanted to make it a bit less heavy going for a chance, glad you liked. Thankyou for saying it was wonderful and here is more soon!
Akira Gown: Don't stress, we all miss a chapter now and again! You're still thirsty? Blimey where've you been? The desert? Thanks for saying I'm doing a good job and I agree authors should be told! Well done with your guess on the Cho/Harry you got it spot on by the sounds of it! Harry and Ron should be friends, it was weird when they weren't, the Hermione/Draco thing is up to you and finally Neville rejoins us! Thankyou for reviewing as nicely as always.
That's all folks well chapter 28 should be up soon, until then enjoy yourselves,
Jess/star123
