Sorry fans for the delay! But I've been slightly busy, and I needed to make this chapter longer than the third. The fifth one is going to probably be even later…sorry all. This weekend I intend to finish another 3 chapters, because I won't have anything to worry about for school. I had a soccer tournament on Saturday and I got injured…my knee cap shifted, and I had to get crutches…so I've been kept off track! But here is the 4th chapter! The fifth one shall be the introduction to the ball; I don't want to make this a long fanfiction, I'd like to get the seduction part just right...because there will be more than ONE of them! =D! Sorry again about the delay! I promise you this ending will be great! For now, enjoy!
Chapter 4- The Decision
Draco sat in his room, thinking about Hermione. He was staring up at the celing with his hands behind his head, wondering how he was going to get her. He knew Weasley wasn't the only one who fancied Hermione. It was obvious that Potter liked her too, and Draco was extremely disgusted by that repulsive idea, he increased his tauntings on Harry to the point where Harry would turn away in anger. He knew Harry tried desperately to ignore him, but he couldn't, and Draco was pleased to know this.
He went back to thinking about how soft Hermione's skin would be beneath his. He wanted to hold her tightly for some reason, and he was deeply disturbed by it. Perhaps he was obsessed, but he had begun to realize why exactly, earlier that year. He wasn't going to admit to it quite yet, not until he had a chance to talk to Potter. The note he had given him had been instructions to meet him by the Prefects washroom at midnight a month from when he had gotten it. Draco had much to do within that period of time, and he had already begun to organize what he had in store for them all.
He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what Hermione would look like naked. He knew it was starting to become an obsession, but he wanted her, and it disrupted everything around him. There was only one other thing that he thought about just as much…but it connected with Hermione, so he counted it as the same thing.
He saw Hermione through his mind's eye and watched her struggle beneath his body just like she had done that day and he heard her whimper from the pain that he was causing her by grinding roughly into her fragile body. He heard her scream out his name in pain and pleasure, and watched her eyes fill up with tears when he entered her as she moaned loudly in pleasure, finally giving in to him. She would be his first conquest. A sudden thought passed through his mind about what would be his second conquest, and he shivered from head to toe. He quickly dismissed the thought and turned his thoughts back to Hermione.
He began to get very hot, and his hand slipped slowly underneath his pants and into his boxers. He needed to help himself. He fell asleep putting the finishing touches on his plan, and hoped that he would soon accomplish it before the month was out.
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Hermione watched as Ron bolted up the stairs with a small piece of parchment in his hand. She shrugged it off and thought it odd that Ron had been coming from the library. She a faint smile traced her lips: Ron was doing this for her. Or so she thought, but she didn't really think much of it as she walked towards the great hall. She felt much better: the girl crisp morning air had really given her a chance to calm down and relax. She had taken a quick swim in the lake and had done a drying spell.
After, she returned indoors only to find a very anxious Ron bolting up the stairs with the parchement, and now, as she entered the great hall feeling calmer, she knew she would soon have to speak to Ron. She spotted Harry just finishing up his breakfast, and she sat down beside him. Her thigh brushed against his, and he shivered.
How can she keep doing this to me? He thought as she grabbed an apple off a plate in front of her and took a large bite. He looked away. He was letting someone come between Hermione and him. It wasn't Ron of course, Harry only wanted to be friends with Hermione, but the way things were going he didn't think it would be possible if certain…aspects weren't so apparent. The note Draco had given him hadn't really helped at all. It only made him dread the end of the month and he wished time would slow down so he could share peaceful times with Ron and Hermione, and finally see them get together before the bomb struck home. And it would strike home if something wasn't done quickly, he needed to get Ron and Hermione together before anything happened.
Hermione turned to him then and smiled. He almost fell off his chair.
"Harry, do you think you could come with me to talk to Ron?" Hermione asked tentatively. Harry looked at her and wondered if she knew everything….just looking into those brown eyes…god he wanted to hold her even thought he knew she and he weren't meant to be.
"Of course, Hermione, only if you need me." He swallowed hard before he had spoken and gently took her hands in his. They were about to get up and look for Ron when suddenly everyone started piling in for breakfast, and Dumbledore looked like he had to make an announcement.
Harry smiled to himself as everyone headed to their respected tables and sat down, digging into the hot breakfast that the house elves had made that morning. Dumbledore cleared his throat, and everyone immediately stopped talking.
"Good morning, students! I hope you slept well. I'm sure you're all wondering why I would like to make an announcement so early in the day." Hermione moved closer to Harry in the middle of Dumbledor's speech and Harry couldn't help but put his arm around her waist. He was rewarded by having her rest her head on his shoulder and her familiar scent of vanilla washed over him and he almost forgot that they were sitting in the great hall and not the safety of the Gryffindor Common Room. He tried to focus his attention back on Dumbledore.
"I'd like to state now, ladies and gentleman, that the traditional Yule Ball that was held last year will indeed take place again this year. Though, without the other two schools of course." The great hall was filled with quiet laughter, and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled in amusement. Harry felt as though his food didn't digest properly.
"So remember! Find you're partners now. The head boy and girl will be going together, and prefects will go with each other to open up the first dance." Hermione looked ill, and Harry took a sip of his drink to try and drown the uneasiness he felt. He almost choked on his beverage when Dumbledore stated the date of the Yule Ball.
"It will be held in one month's time, so please make sure you find your partners as soon as possible. Thank you, and enjoy your breakfast and have a wonderful-" Dumbledore was cut off by the loud opening of the great hall doors. Ron walked in looking quite flushed and bothered. His face turned a dark shade of red when he saw all eyes on him, and he quickly ran to the Gryffindor table and sat down beside a love-sick looking Seamus. He had just asked Pavarti to the Yule Ball.
"What's going on?" asked Ron to Dean when everyone had begun eating again and chatted loudly. Dean turned to him, his eyes wide.
"Honestly Ron, don't you ever know anything?" Ron was about to answer when Dean quickly interrupted him.
"Sorry, sorry. Anyway, it's the Yule Ball coming up! In one month exactly. Everyone has to find dates and such. Head boy and girl are going together and prefects are going with each other." Dean waved his hand as though he thought those details were quite unimportant. Ron's heart stopped.
"What?" He jumped off the bench and screamed so loud that everyone in the great hall turned to look at him again. Ron caught sight of Hermione and Harry sitting close together, and they turned to look at him with a worried expression on their faces. Ron noticed Harry's arm around Hermione's. Harry watched Ron slowly sit back down as he continued to watch them. Harry carefully slid his arm off Hermione's waist. He wanted to ask Hermione to the Yule Ball before Ron did. He didn't think Ron had anything to do with it though. Considering Harry was a prefect he thought it wouldn't be such a big deal, because now she couldn't go with Ron. He turned to face her completely having decided what to do.
"Hermione?" He asked softly. She glanced up at him and watched him wearily.
"Yes, Harry?" Harry almost did a double take as he saw the expectant look in her eyes. He could almost swear that she indeed wanted him to ask her.
"Would you do me the honour of going to the Yule Ball with me?" He thought then to say 'Just as friends' but thought better of it when she threw her arms around his neck and squealed "Yes!"
Across the hall, Draco Malfoy glared at Harry and Hermione and the scene they were making. He watched as their friends elbowed Harry and raised their eyebrows suggestively, and he watched Ginny give her the thumbs up sign. He knew how Weasley felt after all. He felt himself seething as he watched the two get up and begin to exit the great hall together, with Ron shooting up as well and headed out after them. He figured out that Harry had asked Hermione and he growled deep in his throat when he saw the way Hermione had thrown her arms around his neck. Draco knew he was jealous and for all the wrong reasons, but at least he wasn't in denial like some people.
"Yes…" He thought to himself with ironic amusement. "Like some people."
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Dumbledore had made one last announcement before Harry and Hermione had excited the Great Hall. He had asked all prefects to meet him at his office in fifteen minutes. They exited the great hall arm in arm, while they felt Ron's eyes bore into their backs.
When they reached the door, they heard someone running after them; they had managed to reach the hallway, when they heard his voice. It was low and dangerous.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ron growled at them. They turned around, and Hermione gave Harry a pleading look full of fear. Harry didn't want to lose his best friends; he needed to set things straight. He suddenly got an idea.
"Ron," He began hesitantly. Did he really want to follow through with this? Ron only glared at him, and it made Harry slightly angry so he continued.
"I want to set things straight, Hermione and I are prefects so we decided to go together, if I had gone with the prefect: Cho, Hermione would have to go with Malfoy. You wouldn't want Hermione getting stuck with that stupid ferret would you?" Harry wasn't enjoying where this was going, and it only worsened when Ron's features softened a little until the cocky drawl was heard from behind Ron.
"Is it still ferret, Harry? I could swear we were on a first name basis." Harry blanched, and Ron looked like he was going to be sick. Hermione looked at Malfoy incredulously.
"What the hell are you talking about, Malfoy? You're off your rocker." Hermione looked at Harry who wouldn't meet her eyes, but kept staring at the floor, while Ron was holding his stomach. Malfoy was the only one who looked relaxed and calm.
"Well I wasn't talking to you, Hermione." He purposely said her name. He'd been doing it lately and it was starting to unnerve her. He said it so sensually it was though her name itself was the…Hermione blinked rapidly to get her thoughts straight. She was thinking about how good Malfoy said her name! The way it rolled off his tongue it was like he was meant to always call her by her first name!
"I don't care if you were or weren't, why are you here?" Hermione asked matter-of-factly. She didn't want to tolerate his annoying self any longer and she wanted to get rid of him. Ever since that day before Potions when he had practically thrown himself at her, she didn't dare go near his body again. She remembered lying trapped under his firm…taut…masculine…body. Hermione shook her head to get rid of the thoughts that were beginning to surface in her mind.
"Well I came to see the commotion…I can feel the hostility...can't you?" Draco let his words fall like bombs. Each part was specifically dropped carefully. The atmosphere between them was indeed hostile. Ron was glaring daggers at Harry, and Harry had begun to turn a shade of green while Malfoy's gaze shifted between Harry and Hermione. No matter what, it looked like he was leering at both of them. Harry suddenly cleared his throat.
"Stop playing with fire, Malfoy." Harry stated quietly, his voice full of heat. He wasn't going to do this now, he just wouldn't. He didn't even know if he was going to be able to stand up any longer. Malfoy regarded Harry levelly. He seemed to carry a challenging air about him.
"Stop trying to melt ice, Potter." Malfoy shot back. Both boys glared at each other, and Hermione and Ron looked deeply puzzled. What the hell was going on? Ron decided to let it slide of course, him wanting to get straight to his own matter, and turned to Harry and said:
"Who are you taking to the Yule Ball?" It was a dumb question. Even Ron, for all that went on in his brain, knew it was stupid. But he needed to know, just like all desperate men need to know for sure that they've actually lost something they care deeply about. Proof or nothing. That's the way Ron was.
"Hermione." Harry said, his voice turning soft. Hermione looked up at Harry as he said it, and was struck by the way his eyes shone down at her. He almost looked…loving. Ron on the other hand looked murderous and he was clenching and unclenching his fists staring at Harry intently.
"Why?" He asked through clenched teeth. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Because we're both prefects, just like I told you before. Remember? You don't want her going with the fer- Malfoy." Harry corrected himself quicly, not wanting Draco to bring up anything between them again. Ron nodded slowly.
"Why couldn't I go with her? She'd probably have a nicer time with me anyway." Draco drawled glancing at Harry. Harry's face turned red with anger, and Ron looked from Harry to Draco. His best friend and his worst enemy. Suddenly he could not tell the difference. Ron took a step towards Draco.
"She'd never go with you." Ron said icily, and Harry nodded his head in agreement. Hermione gripped Harry's hand tightly because she could see him itching to run over to Draco and punch him hard in his gut. But Harry was thinking along different lines.
Draco only cocked an eyebrow at his comment and it infuriated Harry. He broke free of Hermione's grip and tackled Draco to the ground, Draco was shocked, you could tell by his face, his mouth was parted slightly, and his eyes were wide with confusion. Then suddenly, both characteristics disappeared and his knowing smirk came back, and his eyes were unreadable yet again, as the two boys rolled along the floor never stopping as they gripped each others shoulders. Their breath came in heavy pants as Hermione and Ron finally got them apart. Harry sat on his knees trying to catch his breath, while Draco stood up, and stared down at Harry with an inscrutable expression on his face. Harry raised his head slowly and met Draco's gaze. Emerald green met liquid silver as the two boys stared at each other for what seemed like hours, when finally, Hermione's voice cut through their thoughts as she cooed ever so softly:
"Harry…are you alright?" He nodded, without taking his eyes from Draco. Draco sneered, and tore his eyes from Harry and let his eyes rake over Hermione. She blushed in spite of herself. Harry was watching Draco intently. To Draco's surprise, Hermione bent down and grabbed Harry lightly, slipping her arm through his, and then dragged him backwards to where Ron stood, and linked her arm through his as well. She looked very small compared to the two grown boys, who could now be considered men. She smirked ruefully at Draco.
"As much as we'd love to stay and chat, Malfoy." Hermione began acidly. "We can't stand being around you another minute." Ron grinned happily at Hermione, and Harry's eyes did not leave Draco's face. Without warning, Hermione dragged the two boys around, and broke Harry's gaze from Malfoy.
"Don't forget about that note, Potter!" Malfoy called out to him, and Harry's heart quickened beneath his chest, and he clutched onto Hermione tighter to keep from falling over, and breathed in heavily to keep him from losing air. Even though the blond haired boy was out of site, and out of his vision, Harry couldn't get those smoldering silver eyes that were now scorched into his brain, out of his head.
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Back in the common room, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat on the couch in front of the fire. Hermione sat in the middle, Ron sat on her left, and Harry sat on her right. They were pretty silent, the only noise was the occasional opening and closing of the portrait hole. Harry broke the silence, he had to, it was just so stupid. He was NOT going to be selfish. He was going to state it clearly and explicitly for Ron to understand, and then he was going RIGHT to bed before any of them could say a word. He turned to face them both.
"Ron." He began. "I don't like Hermione that way, I did it for her own protection, because we both know that Malfoy…"He trailed off, and Ron nodded, his eyes widening a considerable amount, and let him continue.
"That's why I asked her to go with me, I did it out of courtesy, please don't get the wrong idea. I'd never go after the girl of your dreams." Ron blushed furiously and tried his best to glare at Harry, but couldn't manage it, he managed a small smile, and with that, Harry got up, and headed for the stairs.
When Harry had said that he didn't feel that way about her, Hermione felt an odd pain in her chest. She didn't really comprehend what it meant, but immediately turned to face Ron completely when Harry had headed for the stairs. She noticed how happy and contented he looked; his blush had faded a considerable amount, and he was gazing at her with an expression that made her feel flushed. She noticed how he was looking at her lips with what seemed like pure lust that shone distinctively in his eyes.
Hermione turned her head ever so slightly and surpressed a gasp when she noticed Harry standing by the stairs. She quickly averted her gaze so Ron would not be distracted, but of course, he was too busy staring at her. Hermione stole a peek again at Harry, and was struck by his features. Noticing he had been caught, he ran abruptly up the stairs without so much as a backwards glance. But what Harry didn't know, was that Hermione had caught the yearning in his eyes, and the longing that was so clearly written over his face.
Hermione turned her attention back to Ron, who had gotten a lot closer to her, when she had been distracted by Harry. She smiled sweetly, and he took her hand in his, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, and they stayed like that.
Hermione suddenly remembered the look on Harry's face, and with an sharpness that startled her off her seat, she realized that everything was not as it appeared to be. She took one last glance at Ron, and noticed happily that he was sleeping; she pulled him gently down on top of her, and nodded off to sleep as well.