Disclaimer: I don't own this. I don't know why you people like it... so
easily amused.
CHAPTER FIFTY: Again
"So, what happened?" Harry asked the second Hermione entered the common room and she smiled; how blunt.
"What kind of a question is that, Harry? I don't want details," Ron said, sounding disgusted.
"I do!" cried Ginny, giving Hermione her full attention.
"Ginny!"
"Sorry, Ron, but I'm a girl. Spill it, Mione." Hermione smirked.
"He tickled me," she said and the three winced in unison. Everyone else was in bed... or at least upstairs. No doubt Lavender and Parvarti were still awake... talking about the new couple, most likely.
"How many of his bones did you break?" Ron asked and she smiled; he seemed a little more like his old self.
"None, surprisingly."
"Bodily injuries?" Ginny quipped and Hermione laughed.
"Maybe a bruised bum from contact with the floor, but that's all."
"Okay, can we not talk about Malfoy's bum? Anything else would be acceptable," Harry said and Ron nodded, but Ginny shrugged, a grin on her face.
"I don't mind."
"Ginny!" Ron scolded and she turned to him, rolling her eyes.
"Can it, Ron. It's not like I'm going to steal Mione's man... He TICKLED her and lived to tell about it. They've got to be like... soul makes or something. Malfoy's off limits again," Ginny told her brother, who scowled at being defied.
"Malfoy was never on limits to you, Gin," he said and his sister was about to get angry, but stopped and turned to Hermione.
"Harry said anything but Malfoy's bum would be acceptable conversation. Let's play pick-a-part-on-Malfoy; I'll go first. The part I'm thinking of is long and wide and pokes through cloth; what is it?" Ron stood up.
"Virginia Marie-Anne Weasley!" he yelled, face growing red.
"It's his arm, Ron, get your head out of the gutter!" she yelled back and Hermione decided to play referee.
"Okay, okay; Draco is not what I came here to talk about. Not his bum and not his... arm. Calm down, will you? Vicious lot you Weasley's are," she said and pushed Ron to sit back down on the couch. Ginny stuck her tongue out from her chair across the way.
"Great observation, Mione," Harry said and Hermione smiled.
"Shut up, Harry. Go play chess or something," she said, sitting down next to Ron. Harry was about to retort, but shrugged instead.
"Okay. Hey Gin, play me?" she smiled.
"Sure Harry."
When Harry and Ginny were well into their game and Ron had clamed down a bit, Hermione opted to listen to him.
"Do you want to talk now, Ron?" she asked, moving very close and looking concerned. Ron smiled.
"Actually, Mione, I was thinking about what you said at dinner and I think you might be right. I think I was just so surprised I thought it couldn't be true and convinced myself it wasn't. I mean, why me? I still don't understand that. Why not Harry?" Ron said and Hermione listened, nodding when appropriate.
"Because I told Dumbledore I didn't want to be a prefect," Harry, whom they'd thought wasn't listening, said.
"What? When?" Ron said over his shoulder, not even looking at Harry. Hermione did, and saw that the boy-who-lived kept his eyes glued to the chessboard.
"Right before we left for summer. I said not to even consider me, because I wouldn't accept it."
"Why?" Hermione asked as if it were the most illogical thing she could think of.
"Because I don't want it; figured I'd leave it for someone who does." Hermione smiled.
"Well Mione, that's settled. You can go back to lover boy if you want," Ron said, smirking.
"Hell no; I think I'd like to spend some time with my friends, if that's okay with you. And besides, Draco's busying himself with Parkinson at the moment," Hermione said and all three heads looked to her.
"Oh Mione... we're sorry," Ginny said and Hermione looked confused for a moment before she laughed.
"He's not screwing her, he's just talking to her." She shook her head. "You guys."
"Hermione," said Harry. " I believe this is what's more commonly known as denial." Hermione groaned a laugh.
"I told him to go talk to her, guys. He really didn't want to. He even used the pouty face. Just close your eyes and back away; otherwise that lip will get him anything from you. 'Can I have a million galleons?' 'Uh, no.'::LIP:: 'Sure Draco, take two million.' It's no wonder everyone loves his mother so much; she's got the lip too." Harry Ron and Ginny stared blankly and Hermione shook her head. "Never mind."
* * * * * * * * * *
Hermione stayed in the common room for over two hours, just catching up with her friends. It was almost curfew when she finally decided she should go, but Harry stopped her.
"Play one more game with me Mione?" he asked.
"Harry, don't you get tired of losing?" asked Ron with a smirk and Harry scowled.
"If I did, I would've stopped playing you in first year."
"Harry, I think Ron taught you wrong or something. I hardly ever play chess, and you do all the time, yet you haven't managed to beat me yet. In seven years of playing Ron, how did you manage to not get any better?" Hermione asked with a smirk as she watched Harry set up the pieces.
"You mean in seven years of losing to Ron, how did I not get better?" he asked suspiciously and Hermione laughed. "So, how 'bout it? One more game?" Hermione looked uneasily at her watch
"I don't know, Harry. Curfew's in twenty minutes..."
"You're head girl, nobody's going to question you," he argued.
"That doesn't mean I should exploit my position," she said, but moved a piece, beginning the game.
"Let her go, Harry. She wants to get back to the foxy ferret," said Ron and Harry laughed.
"Foxy ferret... I like that." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Actually, Draco's not expecting to see me until breakfast," she said truthfully and the boys looked to her. "I told him I was staying here and I'd see him then... I was kidding, but he doesn't have to know that." She laughed. "I'm not staying, guys, if I do he'll fall asleep in the common room and then he'll be grouchy."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because the git won't go to sleep unless he sees me right beforehand. He'll wait for me... but I'm not much better. Check." Harry looked down at the board.
"Already?" he asked in amazement and Hermione smirked.
"What do you mean, Mione?" Ron asked curiously.
"Snape's an arse and he gave him this detention, right? I waited up thinking he'd be back about nine or ten, but it was one before Snape even let Draco leave. And I waited. You're dead, Harry. Check."
"Gah!" Harry sputtered.
"You waited for that long? If only Ginny hadn't gone to bed... I could just hear her. 'Awe, that's so sweet! You must really be in love!" Ron mimicked.
"Leave your sister alone, Ron. Oh, for Merlin's sake, Harry. Check Mate."
"She beats you faster than I do," Ron said with a smirk and Harry groaned.
"I think I'm getting worse."
"Now I really have to go," Hermione said, standing.
"Oh, come on, Mione. Tell us more about your devotion to the little prince of darkness," Ron said and Hermione crossed her arms.
"You want a story? I'll give you a story. That night we all went for a stroll in the forest? I slept with him. No, wait; let me rephrase that. I slept in his bed with him. No sex; too tired even if we'd wanted to, but what you guys don't know, and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tell you, but Draco has premonitions... and he saw what was going to happen a week before it did. HE wouldn't sleep the whole time. I stayed with him that night, and he slept until one o'clock. I waited until twelve thirty, although I'd woken about eight. There's devotion for you. Can I go now?" Harry was speechless, but Ron looked pale and scared.
"Hermione, I..."
"No Ron. I need you to do something for me. Stop feeling guilty. No body was hurt and it wasn't your fault, anyway. I don't want you all 'Oh my god, Hermione, are you alright? Can I carry your books? Let me just carry you' I've just broken Draco from that. We can't change what happened, but we can put it behind us." She sighed. "I'll see you guys at breakfast, okay?" she said, blew them each a kiss, then swept out of the common room, prepared to run, if necessary, to get home on time.
* * * * * * * * * *
Hermione walked into the common room, unsurprised to see Draco sitting in one of the chairs, reading another booklet on Apparation. He looked up when he heard Hermione walk in and she smiled at him, but then gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Draco pretended not to notice.
"Well, hello you. I was beginning to think I really WASN'T going to see you until breakfast," he said with a smile, closing his book. Hermione, who had stopped dead, shook away a little of the surprise and quickly, approached him. She knelt between his legs and reached up to gingerly touch the right side of his face.
"My god, Draco, what did she do to you?" Hermione asked and Draco frowned as he felt her fingers gently tread over the skin around his eye, which he knew was quite hideously bruised.
"Seems I have a few Slytherin a tad angry with me, but that wasn't unexpected. You can't hope for universal popularity," he said and gave her a smile, but Hermione kept her look of concern.
"What happened?" she asked, making eye contact. Draco sighed.
"Pansy, Zabini, and Bulstrode. I went to talk to them, Pansy seemed mad that I even dare step a foot onto Slytherin territory and they backed her up, but never did or said anything. She hit me and I left, simple as that," he said and shrugged. "Slytherin aren't like Gryffindor, Mia. We don't 'talk'. We get even."
"You didn't hit her back, did you?" Hermione asked, but was more than sure he hadn't.
"No, of course not."
"Good, because I'm going to bitch slap her back to wherever the hell she came from," she added viciously and Draco looked almost scared.
"Mia, listen to yourself. I'm fine, and in reality I probably deserved it." Hermione shifted her eyes to his quickly, but Draco wasn't finished yet. "I didn't tell her after all, I let her find out by herself. Really shouldn't have done that, but it's not like she doesn't know I hate her. Calm down, love. The getting worked up isn't necessary." Hermione looked at him for a moment, and then made a dry sob.
"Draco, do you realize this is the third time this relationship has almost killed you? In under two months!" she was really upset and Draco was worried. Did she realize how insane that sounded?
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Hermione, calm down. It's just a black eye, I'm quite far from dead."
"Because it was just some girls. Draco, what if the rest of Slytherin turn against you, which they undoubtedly will? What about the boys, hm? I have faith in you, Draco, but there're so damn many of them... you could seriously get hurt," she said and kept lightly touching his face.
"Mia, listen to me. You are overreacting. Horrendously overreacting. I'm fine, love. I can handle the Slytherin. We'll just ignore them, alright?" he said, hoping to calm her down.
"I don't know if that's going to work... what if-"
"If they try to hurt you, I'll take them down, but otherwise, we'll leave them be, and they won't do anything. I know how their minds work, Mia. They're not bad people, they're just temperamental. Trust me." That was it; those two final worlds were all Draco needed to say to get Hermione to agree.
"Okay, okay," she said and Draco smiled. He didn't say anything for a moment, but gently removed her hand from his face, holding it between his own. "I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me she wouldn't want to talk to you?" Draco shrugged, still maintaining half a smile.
"I thought I should at least try. It's not your fault, Hermione; it was mine." Hermione looked down.
"I'm sorry," she said again and Draco caught his lips on hers.
"Go ahead, love. I'll be in in a minute," he whispered, breaking the light kiss. Hermione took a slightly deep breath and nodded.
"Okay," she whispered back, but gave him another kiss before standing. Draco smiled and watched his Gryffindor retreat to the bathroom. He'd let her get settled before joining her; perhaps she'd calm down a little. It wasn't until she reemerged from the lavatory that Draco's smile dropped. She was wearing heavy pajamas. Not good. The only other times Hermione had worn that sweatshirt and flannel sleeper pants was when she was mad at him and when she was unnaturally cold.
Draco watched her attentively, and with worry, as she walked to the bedroom. Hermione looked up before entering and smiled, blowing him a kiss. Draco smiled back and she left, closing the door all but a crack behind her. **At least she's not mad at me. **
Draco joined Hermion in bed not five minutes later, but she was already half asleep. She lay with her eyes closed, in what Draco was happy to note were no longer her heavy sleepwear. He crawled slowly in beside her, hoping not to be a disturbance, but Hermione's eyes popped open and she smiled widely.
"Hey," she said and Draco smiled back.
"Hey," he agreed and leaned in for a kiss. As he did this, Hermione propped herself up on her elbow so that when their kiss ended, she could push him back. "You're not wearing my shirt," he pointed out as she settled herself in his arms. Hermione smiled.
"I don't need to; I've got my dragon right here," she said and squeezed him. "No pun intended." Draco laughed.
"Well that's a first. Every woman I've ever met has called me Dragon at one time or another, the connection fresh in their minds I'm sure. I think they do it to deliberately annoy me... Mia, what are you doing?" As Draco talked, Hermione had begun to slowly kiss him. First along his collarbone, then up his neck and across his jaw, and finally to his ear, which is wear he asked her. Hermione stopped and pulled back to look at him.
"You promised me tomorrow," she said quietly and Draco smiled.
"I'm surprised you even remember that."
"Do you not want to? Because we don't HAVE to, of course, I just thought that..." With a large smile, Draco cut her off; with his lips. "Mm..." she mumbled as she relaxed and fell into his kiss. Hermione let the caress sit for a moment, then broke away with a deep exhale. "You scared me half to death today, you know that?" she cut off his answer with another kiss. "'What if you never see me again'" she shuddered. "God, Draco..." Draco didn't know what to say. He really did regret saying that, but it had been one of those say-it-before-you-think-about-it things.
"Hermione..." he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. She closed her eyes.
"Just don't do it again, okay? I've come close to losing you more times than I want to be reminded of," Hermione pleaded, giving him gentle kisses as she spoke.
"I'm not going anywhere, Mia. I promise."
"I need you, Draco... probably more than is good for me," Hermione said, smiling, and Draco placed a kiss on her forehead. "Say something," she pleaded in whisper and Draco closed his eyes.
"I don't know what to tell you, Hermione... I'm unbelievably sorry... I wasn't thinking... you know how I am like that..." he sighed. "I don't deserve your immediate forgiveness, Mia. I want you to be mad at me for a while, alright?" Hermione smiled.
"I can't," she whispered before starting again on her kisses.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Good morning, sunshine," Draco whispered as he saw her open her eyes and Hermione smiled. She absolutely loved his voice. She felt Draco kiss her lightly and her eyes popped open again as she thought of something. Hermione rolled her shoulders back, brow crinkling as she looked up at her boyfriend.
"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly, although Draco was smiling like a maniac.
"Absolutely nothing, why?" Hermione still looked concerned. She brought a hand to his face.
"Well then, why are you awake? You're never awake, not since... a long time. Are you sure you're alright?" Draco chuckled.
"I'm definitely sure. Loosen up, love." He kissed her and Hermione smiled.
"You still haven't told me why you left Narnia about three hours early... or more, depending on how long you've been watching me," she reminded him and Draco kissed her softly.
"I awoke this early this morn and your unmistakable beauty captivated all five of my senses, rendering me to trade the bliss of sleep for the awe of your side," he said and Hermione closed her eyes again.
"How very poetic," she said and Draco smiled. Hermione opened her eyes again. "That was beautiful, Draco. How long did it take you to write that?" Draco smiled.
"How long would make you think me incredibly witty?" she giggled.
"If you told me it was spontaneous."
"Alright then, it was spontaneous. Completely spur of the moment." Hermione smiled.
"How long was the moment?"
"Since dawn. I knew you'd ask; had to be prepared," Draco said and Hermione shook her head.
"How is it that sometimes you make me want to body bind you and leave you in the rain... and other times all I want to do is kiss you?" Draco bit his lip in mock nervousness.
"Gee, I sure hope this is one of the latter situations." Hermione laughed.
"I've never felt so damn popcorn-y in my life," she assured him and Draco grinned, kissing her softly.
"Better?" she didn't even open her eyes.
"Again."
CHAPTER FIFTY: Again
"So, what happened?" Harry asked the second Hermione entered the common room and she smiled; how blunt.
"What kind of a question is that, Harry? I don't want details," Ron said, sounding disgusted.
"I do!" cried Ginny, giving Hermione her full attention.
"Ginny!"
"Sorry, Ron, but I'm a girl. Spill it, Mione." Hermione smirked.
"He tickled me," she said and the three winced in unison. Everyone else was in bed... or at least upstairs. No doubt Lavender and Parvarti were still awake... talking about the new couple, most likely.
"How many of his bones did you break?" Ron asked and she smiled; he seemed a little more like his old self.
"None, surprisingly."
"Bodily injuries?" Ginny quipped and Hermione laughed.
"Maybe a bruised bum from contact with the floor, but that's all."
"Okay, can we not talk about Malfoy's bum? Anything else would be acceptable," Harry said and Ron nodded, but Ginny shrugged, a grin on her face.
"I don't mind."
"Ginny!" Ron scolded and she turned to him, rolling her eyes.
"Can it, Ron. It's not like I'm going to steal Mione's man... He TICKLED her and lived to tell about it. They've got to be like... soul makes or something. Malfoy's off limits again," Ginny told her brother, who scowled at being defied.
"Malfoy was never on limits to you, Gin," he said and his sister was about to get angry, but stopped and turned to Hermione.
"Harry said anything but Malfoy's bum would be acceptable conversation. Let's play pick-a-part-on-Malfoy; I'll go first. The part I'm thinking of is long and wide and pokes through cloth; what is it?" Ron stood up.
"Virginia Marie-Anne Weasley!" he yelled, face growing red.
"It's his arm, Ron, get your head out of the gutter!" she yelled back and Hermione decided to play referee.
"Okay, okay; Draco is not what I came here to talk about. Not his bum and not his... arm. Calm down, will you? Vicious lot you Weasley's are," she said and pushed Ron to sit back down on the couch. Ginny stuck her tongue out from her chair across the way.
"Great observation, Mione," Harry said and Hermione smiled.
"Shut up, Harry. Go play chess or something," she said, sitting down next to Ron. Harry was about to retort, but shrugged instead.
"Okay. Hey Gin, play me?" she smiled.
"Sure Harry."
When Harry and Ginny were well into their game and Ron had clamed down a bit, Hermione opted to listen to him.
"Do you want to talk now, Ron?" she asked, moving very close and looking concerned. Ron smiled.
"Actually, Mione, I was thinking about what you said at dinner and I think you might be right. I think I was just so surprised I thought it couldn't be true and convinced myself it wasn't. I mean, why me? I still don't understand that. Why not Harry?" Ron said and Hermione listened, nodding when appropriate.
"Because I told Dumbledore I didn't want to be a prefect," Harry, whom they'd thought wasn't listening, said.
"What? When?" Ron said over his shoulder, not even looking at Harry. Hermione did, and saw that the boy-who-lived kept his eyes glued to the chessboard.
"Right before we left for summer. I said not to even consider me, because I wouldn't accept it."
"Why?" Hermione asked as if it were the most illogical thing she could think of.
"Because I don't want it; figured I'd leave it for someone who does." Hermione smiled.
"Well Mione, that's settled. You can go back to lover boy if you want," Ron said, smirking.
"Hell no; I think I'd like to spend some time with my friends, if that's okay with you. And besides, Draco's busying himself with Parkinson at the moment," Hermione said and all three heads looked to her.
"Oh Mione... we're sorry," Ginny said and Hermione looked confused for a moment before she laughed.
"He's not screwing her, he's just talking to her." She shook her head. "You guys."
"Hermione," said Harry. " I believe this is what's more commonly known as denial." Hermione groaned a laugh.
"I told him to go talk to her, guys. He really didn't want to. He even used the pouty face. Just close your eyes and back away; otherwise that lip will get him anything from you. 'Can I have a million galleons?' 'Uh, no.'::LIP:: 'Sure Draco, take two million.' It's no wonder everyone loves his mother so much; she's got the lip too." Harry Ron and Ginny stared blankly and Hermione shook her head. "Never mind."
* * * * * * * * * *
Hermione stayed in the common room for over two hours, just catching up with her friends. It was almost curfew when she finally decided she should go, but Harry stopped her.
"Play one more game with me Mione?" he asked.
"Harry, don't you get tired of losing?" asked Ron with a smirk and Harry scowled.
"If I did, I would've stopped playing you in first year."
"Harry, I think Ron taught you wrong or something. I hardly ever play chess, and you do all the time, yet you haven't managed to beat me yet. In seven years of playing Ron, how did you manage to not get any better?" Hermione asked with a smirk as she watched Harry set up the pieces.
"You mean in seven years of losing to Ron, how did I not get better?" he asked suspiciously and Hermione laughed. "So, how 'bout it? One more game?" Hermione looked uneasily at her watch
"I don't know, Harry. Curfew's in twenty minutes..."
"You're head girl, nobody's going to question you," he argued.
"That doesn't mean I should exploit my position," she said, but moved a piece, beginning the game.
"Let her go, Harry. She wants to get back to the foxy ferret," said Ron and Harry laughed.
"Foxy ferret... I like that." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Actually, Draco's not expecting to see me until breakfast," she said truthfully and the boys looked to her. "I told him I was staying here and I'd see him then... I was kidding, but he doesn't have to know that." She laughed. "I'm not staying, guys, if I do he'll fall asleep in the common room and then he'll be grouchy."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because the git won't go to sleep unless he sees me right beforehand. He'll wait for me... but I'm not much better. Check." Harry looked down at the board.
"Already?" he asked in amazement and Hermione smirked.
"What do you mean, Mione?" Ron asked curiously.
"Snape's an arse and he gave him this detention, right? I waited up thinking he'd be back about nine or ten, but it was one before Snape even let Draco leave. And I waited. You're dead, Harry. Check."
"Gah!" Harry sputtered.
"You waited for that long? If only Ginny hadn't gone to bed... I could just hear her. 'Awe, that's so sweet! You must really be in love!" Ron mimicked.
"Leave your sister alone, Ron. Oh, for Merlin's sake, Harry. Check Mate."
"She beats you faster than I do," Ron said with a smirk and Harry groaned.
"I think I'm getting worse."
"Now I really have to go," Hermione said, standing.
"Oh, come on, Mione. Tell us more about your devotion to the little prince of darkness," Ron said and Hermione crossed her arms.
"You want a story? I'll give you a story. That night we all went for a stroll in the forest? I slept with him. No, wait; let me rephrase that. I slept in his bed with him. No sex; too tired even if we'd wanted to, but what you guys don't know, and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tell you, but Draco has premonitions... and he saw what was going to happen a week before it did. HE wouldn't sleep the whole time. I stayed with him that night, and he slept until one o'clock. I waited until twelve thirty, although I'd woken about eight. There's devotion for you. Can I go now?" Harry was speechless, but Ron looked pale and scared.
"Hermione, I..."
"No Ron. I need you to do something for me. Stop feeling guilty. No body was hurt and it wasn't your fault, anyway. I don't want you all 'Oh my god, Hermione, are you alright? Can I carry your books? Let me just carry you' I've just broken Draco from that. We can't change what happened, but we can put it behind us." She sighed. "I'll see you guys at breakfast, okay?" she said, blew them each a kiss, then swept out of the common room, prepared to run, if necessary, to get home on time.
* * * * * * * * * *
Hermione walked into the common room, unsurprised to see Draco sitting in one of the chairs, reading another booklet on Apparation. He looked up when he heard Hermione walk in and she smiled at him, but then gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. Draco pretended not to notice.
"Well, hello you. I was beginning to think I really WASN'T going to see you until breakfast," he said with a smile, closing his book. Hermione, who had stopped dead, shook away a little of the surprise and quickly, approached him. She knelt between his legs and reached up to gingerly touch the right side of his face.
"My god, Draco, what did she do to you?" Hermione asked and Draco frowned as he felt her fingers gently tread over the skin around his eye, which he knew was quite hideously bruised.
"Seems I have a few Slytherin a tad angry with me, but that wasn't unexpected. You can't hope for universal popularity," he said and gave her a smile, but Hermione kept her look of concern.
"What happened?" she asked, making eye contact. Draco sighed.
"Pansy, Zabini, and Bulstrode. I went to talk to them, Pansy seemed mad that I even dare step a foot onto Slytherin territory and they backed her up, but never did or said anything. She hit me and I left, simple as that," he said and shrugged. "Slytherin aren't like Gryffindor, Mia. We don't 'talk'. We get even."
"You didn't hit her back, did you?" Hermione asked, but was more than sure he hadn't.
"No, of course not."
"Good, because I'm going to bitch slap her back to wherever the hell she came from," she added viciously and Draco looked almost scared.
"Mia, listen to yourself. I'm fine, and in reality I probably deserved it." Hermione shifted her eyes to his quickly, but Draco wasn't finished yet. "I didn't tell her after all, I let her find out by herself. Really shouldn't have done that, but it's not like she doesn't know I hate her. Calm down, love. The getting worked up isn't necessary." Hermione looked at him for a moment, and then made a dry sob.
"Draco, do you realize this is the third time this relationship has almost killed you? In under two months!" she was really upset and Draco was worried. Did she realize how insane that sounded?
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Hermione, calm down. It's just a black eye, I'm quite far from dead."
"Because it was just some girls. Draco, what if the rest of Slytherin turn against you, which they undoubtedly will? What about the boys, hm? I have faith in you, Draco, but there're so damn many of them... you could seriously get hurt," she said and kept lightly touching his face.
"Mia, listen to me. You are overreacting. Horrendously overreacting. I'm fine, love. I can handle the Slytherin. We'll just ignore them, alright?" he said, hoping to calm her down.
"I don't know if that's going to work... what if-"
"If they try to hurt you, I'll take them down, but otherwise, we'll leave them be, and they won't do anything. I know how their minds work, Mia. They're not bad people, they're just temperamental. Trust me." That was it; those two final worlds were all Draco needed to say to get Hermione to agree.
"Okay, okay," she said and Draco smiled. He didn't say anything for a moment, but gently removed her hand from his face, holding it between his own. "I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me she wouldn't want to talk to you?" Draco shrugged, still maintaining half a smile.
"I thought I should at least try. It's not your fault, Hermione; it was mine." Hermione looked down.
"I'm sorry," she said again and Draco caught his lips on hers.
"Go ahead, love. I'll be in in a minute," he whispered, breaking the light kiss. Hermione took a slightly deep breath and nodded.
"Okay," she whispered back, but gave him another kiss before standing. Draco smiled and watched his Gryffindor retreat to the bathroom. He'd let her get settled before joining her; perhaps she'd calm down a little. It wasn't until she reemerged from the lavatory that Draco's smile dropped. She was wearing heavy pajamas. Not good. The only other times Hermione had worn that sweatshirt and flannel sleeper pants was when she was mad at him and when she was unnaturally cold.
Draco watched her attentively, and with worry, as she walked to the bedroom. Hermione looked up before entering and smiled, blowing him a kiss. Draco smiled back and she left, closing the door all but a crack behind her. **At least she's not mad at me. **
Draco joined Hermion in bed not five minutes later, but she was already half asleep. She lay with her eyes closed, in what Draco was happy to note were no longer her heavy sleepwear. He crawled slowly in beside her, hoping not to be a disturbance, but Hermione's eyes popped open and she smiled widely.
"Hey," she said and Draco smiled back.
"Hey," he agreed and leaned in for a kiss. As he did this, Hermione propped herself up on her elbow so that when their kiss ended, she could push him back. "You're not wearing my shirt," he pointed out as she settled herself in his arms. Hermione smiled.
"I don't need to; I've got my dragon right here," she said and squeezed him. "No pun intended." Draco laughed.
"Well that's a first. Every woman I've ever met has called me Dragon at one time or another, the connection fresh in their minds I'm sure. I think they do it to deliberately annoy me... Mia, what are you doing?" As Draco talked, Hermione had begun to slowly kiss him. First along his collarbone, then up his neck and across his jaw, and finally to his ear, which is wear he asked her. Hermione stopped and pulled back to look at him.
"You promised me tomorrow," she said quietly and Draco smiled.
"I'm surprised you even remember that."
"Do you not want to? Because we don't HAVE to, of course, I just thought that..." With a large smile, Draco cut her off; with his lips. "Mm..." she mumbled as she relaxed and fell into his kiss. Hermione let the caress sit for a moment, then broke away with a deep exhale. "You scared me half to death today, you know that?" she cut off his answer with another kiss. "'What if you never see me again'" she shuddered. "God, Draco..." Draco didn't know what to say. He really did regret saying that, but it had been one of those say-it-before-you-think-about-it things.
"Hermione..." he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. She closed her eyes.
"Just don't do it again, okay? I've come close to losing you more times than I want to be reminded of," Hermione pleaded, giving him gentle kisses as she spoke.
"I'm not going anywhere, Mia. I promise."
"I need you, Draco... probably more than is good for me," Hermione said, smiling, and Draco placed a kiss on her forehead. "Say something," she pleaded in whisper and Draco closed his eyes.
"I don't know what to tell you, Hermione... I'm unbelievably sorry... I wasn't thinking... you know how I am like that..." he sighed. "I don't deserve your immediate forgiveness, Mia. I want you to be mad at me for a while, alright?" Hermione smiled.
"I can't," she whispered before starting again on her kisses.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Good morning, sunshine," Draco whispered as he saw her open her eyes and Hermione smiled. She absolutely loved his voice. She felt Draco kiss her lightly and her eyes popped open again as she thought of something. Hermione rolled her shoulders back, brow crinkling as she looked up at her boyfriend.
"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly, although Draco was smiling like a maniac.
"Absolutely nothing, why?" Hermione still looked concerned. She brought a hand to his face.
"Well then, why are you awake? You're never awake, not since... a long time. Are you sure you're alright?" Draco chuckled.
"I'm definitely sure. Loosen up, love." He kissed her and Hermione smiled.
"You still haven't told me why you left Narnia about three hours early... or more, depending on how long you've been watching me," she reminded him and Draco kissed her softly.
"I awoke this early this morn and your unmistakable beauty captivated all five of my senses, rendering me to trade the bliss of sleep for the awe of your side," he said and Hermione closed her eyes again.
"How very poetic," she said and Draco smiled. Hermione opened her eyes again. "That was beautiful, Draco. How long did it take you to write that?" Draco smiled.
"How long would make you think me incredibly witty?" she giggled.
"If you told me it was spontaneous."
"Alright then, it was spontaneous. Completely spur of the moment." Hermione smiled.
"How long was the moment?"
"Since dawn. I knew you'd ask; had to be prepared," Draco said and Hermione shook her head.
"How is it that sometimes you make me want to body bind you and leave you in the rain... and other times all I want to do is kiss you?" Draco bit his lip in mock nervousness.
"Gee, I sure hope this is one of the latter situations." Hermione laughed.
"I've never felt so damn popcorn-y in my life," she assured him and Draco grinned, kissing her softly.
"Better?" she didn't even open her eyes.
"Again."
