Never Say Never
Chapter 7 - Insomnia
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing except the plot so don't sue me.
Hermione's POV
"Finally!" exclaimed Ron as he took my duffel bag from me as I walked out of the Hospital Wing, after being confined there for about four days.
"I could say the same thing." I replied looking wistfully back at the infirmary, "I'm gonna miss this place I think actually."
"Haha, very funny Mione. Let's get back to Gryffindor Tower, everyone's been missing our favourite Prefect!" Ron smiled sweetly as he said this and took my hand shyly in his pulling me along the hallway.
"Ron, has it ever occurred to you that I'm the only Prefect in Gryffindor?" I said shrewdly looking pointedly at him.
"Oh. . .must've. . .slipped my mind. . ." he stuttered, quickly letting go of my hand in embarrassment and his face went as red as his hair, turning a deep scarlet. He looked sheepishly at me and motioned for me to continue following him.
I chuckled and obediently did so, marveling at the fact that this guy standing in front of me used to be always in Harry's shadow, Harry being the one with all the fame and 'courage'. But Ron had proved himself to the world and I suppose he's also become one of the most admired people in our year, because after all, Harry always had a sidekick with him all the times. . .be it Ron or me!
I stepped gingerly through the portrait hole after giving the Fat Lady the password 'Mushroom patch' I sighed happily settling myself into one of the armchairs by the warm crackling fire.
"This, is life." I proclaimed watching the flames lick the top of the fireplace and snuggling myself deeper into the folds of the material.
"Mione, I'm gonna go get Harry ok?" said Ron softly patting me on the head fondly, "Be back soon."
"Uhhuh." I replied drowsily already starting to drift into an irresistible sleep that was taking over me.
I slipped into a surreal world, it was dark and I could see nothing at all, except a glimmer of silvery hair here and there. It was awfully cold and a gale force wind seemed to be sweeping through this place, making everything flap and some things would even start flying around in the wind.
Suddenly, dimly I heard a voice.
"Yes my lord. It shall be done." Came a whisper in clipped tones, the very voice itself was cool and suave, though in a place as dark as this, there was no doubt that this person was dark himself and what distracted me more, was that he sounded familiar.
I moved, trying to catch a glimpse of who it was and as I saw the person's face, I could feel myself being wrenched out of this place and I let out a piercing scream, unable to contain my horror at the person who was speaking.
"Hermione! Wake up!" someone was shaking me awake and I willingly opened my eyes, happy to get away from that nightmare I was having, "Are you alright Mione?" Harry's emerald eyes were gazing concernedly into my own.
"I'm fine Harry! I just got out of the Hospital Wing, of course I'm alright!" I said cheerily, acting as though nothing had happened.
"You were screaming again. . . I just thought that. . .maybe you were having a bad dream or something. . ." mumbled Harry quietly.
"No, I'm alright. Seriously!" I looked at him reassuringly and fished around for another conversation starter, "So, how's Parvati?"
"She's great!" beamed Harry smiling mischievously at me. Well, there's someone who was having a great year. I smiled encouragingly back at him and I laughed suddenly, remembering that Ron was there as well.
"Ron, why are you so silent today?!" I exclaimed pulling him down to sit down on the carpet next to me, "You guys have got to tell me everything that went on since I've been away." I looked eagerly at them as they swapped a look that clearly meant that something HAD happened.
"Go on, spill the beans!" I said calmly looking at them expectantly.
"Well. . ." stuttered Ron nervously, Harry saw this nervousness and continued on confidently.
"Lavender's been throwing herself at Ronnekins here asking him to go to the Yule Ball with her, even though that's like a few months away and he's been getting very annoyed and grumpy, and he wants you to do something about it."
"What?!" I replied in an astonished tone of voice, what on earth could that mean?
"He means, he wants you to talk with Lavender about him. . .you know maybe hint to her that he might not like her. . ." said Harry heavily.
"Why don't you ask Parvati to do that, Harry they're best friends!" I replied quickly.
"Oh, you know Parvati, she would rather kill herself than tell Lavender that Ron doesn't like her." He replied airily looking triumphantly at me.
"Ugh. Well . . . alright. . .just this once. I'm never doing something like this again, this includes any arguments that happens with Parvati and you, Harry." I said defeatedly, sighing exasperatedly. I had just gotten out of the infirmary and they decided to tell me that I had to play the bitch to Lavender.
"Thanks Mione!" cried Ron suddenly getting up and giving me a huge hug, which nearly crushed me.
"Ron! You're suffocating me!" I wheezed.
"What? Oh! Sorry Mione!" he exclaimed giving me another sheepish smile and letting go of me.
"It's alright. Well, I guess I better be heading up to my dorm to catch up on some sleep." I said with a yawn, "And I'll chat to Lavi about it ok?"
"Night."
[Later that night in the girl's dorm in Gryffindor Tower]
I tossed and turned but I still couldn't get to sleep, my dreams weren't dreams anymore, they were nightmares. Silvery hair, cruel laughter and horrible curses were still haunting my sleep and I kept on seeing Malfoy, Draco Malfoy in midst of it all, as a Death Eater answering to Voldemort's call.
I buried my head in my soft pillow and willed myself to go to sleep, I could feel myself getting wearier but my mind showed no sign of shutting down for the night. I slowly got up and walked to the window, which was glinting in the moonlight, and I opened it, feeling the keen night breeze on my face.
I looked down and saw the lake glittering, bathed in the moonlight as well and it seemed so beautiful, so tranquil and serene. I breathed in the fresh air that was streaming through the opening and taking one last look at the great mass of water below me I closed the window and put on a light long jacket because I was only wearing a thin silk nightie.
Then I realized that I had left the Invisibility Cloak that Harry and Ron had bought for me a year ago for Christmas and I knew that I needed it tonight. Putting a silencing spell on my trunk I opened it soundlessly and took out the Invisibility Cloak before closing the trunk again and putting on the cloak over my other jacket.
I slipped quietly out of the dorm and made my way down the stairs and through the common room without a sound and as soon as I got out of the portrait hole I sighed in relief.
I quickly decided that I needed a nice long bath tonight to calm my nerves down, they were working overtime so I walked briskly through the corridors that twisted and turned through the network of Hogwarts and finally I found myself at the statue of Boris the Bewildered, a most welcome sight.
"Lemon lime." I whispered and the door next to the statue creaked open and I stepped into the beautiful Prefect's Bathroom, which was possibly one of my favourite places in Hogwarts apart from Gryffindor Tower. Quickly I locked the door behind me and slipped off my Invisibility Cloak leaving it on one of the hangers near the giant bath along with my long jacket, nightie and underwear.
I sighed happily as I slipped into the bath filled with an assortment of different bubbles in all the colours of the rainbow and in different shapes and densities. I smiled indulgently thinking about what Ron and Harry were missing, by not being Prefects and I sunk myself lower into the foam enjoying myself immensely.
Suddenly I was aware of something watching me and I whipped my head around looking wildly everywhere in the bathroom and my eyes locked with another pair of blue-grey ones. My shrill scream would've woken up the whole school if the bathroom hadn't been placed under a spell that made it soundproof and I hurriedly checked that that ferret couldn't see anything under all the foam.
"Well Granger, I must say it took you quite awhile to realize that I was here." There was his famous smirk again and that voice which was starting to haunt me.
"Malfoy! How long have you been in here?! And why the hell are you here anyway!" I spat furiously back at him.
"For your information I am a Prefect too, so this isn't breaking the rules or anything, I have just as much right as you do to be in here. Oh, and I've been in here long enough to know that you've got a great figure Granger." Malfoy smiled cunningly and just then I realized that he was only clad in a towel around his waist, my attention was soon drawn to his toned muscles from Quidditch and broad chest. So this was what the girls are all crazy about, Malfoy's perfect body.
I quickly shook my head in an effort to rid myself of thinking about Malfoy's body and back to the fact that he had been watching me take a bath.
"You saw me. . .?!" I choked out disbelievingly.
"That's right." His smile grew wider and there was another flicker of emotion that flashed across his face before he began walking slowly towards the bath himself.
"Malfoy! What do you want?!" I gasped as he neared me and as soon as he was standing next to the edge of the bath, he sat down on the tiled floor stretching his long legs.
"Nothing, just to have a nice long chat with you Hermione." He said with a slight quaver in his voice. One thing that I noticed was that he had called me something other than 'Mudblood' and 'Granger'. The next thing that I noticed in shock was that he was trying to make decent conversation with me. Jesus Christ, what was wrong with him?!
"Malfoy, is there something wrong with you? Lack of sleep?" I replied questioningly.
"No, of course not. Is there a problem with me and acting civil towards you? Look Hermione, we've known each other for about 6 years and all we've done is fight. Now that we're both Prefects and we're gonna have to work together, why don't we get to know each other in a good way?" he said softly not daring to meet my eyes. I was slightly freaked out at this kind of behaviour from him and I didn't quite know what to do so I decided to pinch myself, just to check that I hadn't fallen asleep and all this was just a dream.
"Ouch!" I exclaimed and Malfoy started in shock before he leaned over and whispered,
"What's wrong Hermione?" God, even his voice had changed and become more concerned and sincere.
"Nothing Malfoy, nothing." I replied stubbornly rubbing the spot where I had pinched myself once more before turning around to face him.
"Alright, so what do you say to getting to know each other?" he asked again quietly with a bit of hopefulness in his voice.
"One question before I answer you, why do you want to get to know me and I know that we called a truce, but this is going a bit far." I said reasonably.
"I. . .just don't wanna leave Hogwarts with enemies on my tail, powerful smart enemies like you." He said lightly. I blushed slightly at being called 'powerful and smart' before collecting myself and replying,
"So you just don't want to be killed my Harry, Ron and me when we get out of school?" I said calmly, and he nodded, "Well, that just makes you all the more despicable in my mind, Malfoy. You selfish brat."
With that I looked around for my garments and seeing that they were still hanging on the wall next to Malfoy, I cursed myself for not bringing my wand. Ugh, I was stuck in the bath with him being the one with the more control.
"Malfoy, just one favour, get my clothes please." I stated icily.
"Wha- what?!" he was still in shock from being called a selfish brat after trying to be friendly I suppose, and I looked pointedly at the wall beside him, "Er. . .here."
"Thanks." I said emotionlessly before staring coldly at him again, "Turn around." He did so obediently and I stepped out of the bath and quickly put on my underwear and nightie before exhaling slowly. I put on my long black jacket and just as I was about to slip on my Invisibility Cloak, he spoke again.
"Listen Hermione, I didn't mean it the way that you thought I did, I just want -" I smoothly cut him off,
"Get out of the way, Malfoy." I growled and putting on my Invisibility Cloak I forced my way past him leaving him standing desolately near the door as I slipped past him and slammed the door in his face.
"Ha, serves him right for all the things he's ever done to Harry, Ron and me." I muttered to myself as I started to make my way back to Gryffindor Tower, but I couldn't ignore the feeling that I had done something awfully wrong.
Hey guys! Im so sorry that I didn't get this chapter up very quickly, I had to put some thought into this one so I hoped that you guys liked it =) please review!
Thanks to my reviewers =) - esp. to Hedwig7up for continuing to review, made me very very happy =) and thanks to everyone else who gave me encouraging words!!
psychohart
Chapter 7 - Insomnia
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing except the plot so don't sue me.
Hermione's POV
"Finally!" exclaimed Ron as he took my duffel bag from me as I walked out of the Hospital Wing, after being confined there for about four days.
"I could say the same thing." I replied looking wistfully back at the infirmary, "I'm gonna miss this place I think actually."
"Haha, very funny Mione. Let's get back to Gryffindor Tower, everyone's been missing our favourite Prefect!" Ron smiled sweetly as he said this and took my hand shyly in his pulling me along the hallway.
"Ron, has it ever occurred to you that I'm the only Prefect in Gryffindor?" I said shrewdly looking pointedly at him.
"Oh. . .must've. . .slipped my mind. . ." he stuttered, quickly letting go of my hand in embarrassment and his face went as red as his hair, turning a deep scarlet. He looked sheepishly at me and motioned for me to continue following him.
I chuckled and obediently did so, marveling at the fact that this guy standing in front of me used to be always in Harry's shadow, Harry being the one with all the fame and 'courage'. But Ron had proved himself to the world and I suppose he's also become one of the most admired people in our year, because after all, Harry always had a sidekick with him all the times. . .be it Ron or me!
I stepped gingerly through the portrait hole after giving the Fat Lady the password 'Mushroom patch' I sighed happily settling myself into one of the armchairs by the warm crackling fire.
"This, is life." I proclaimed watching the flames lick the top of the fireplace and snuggling myself deeper into the folds of the material.
"Mione, I'm gonna go get Harry ok?" said Ron softly patting me on the head fondly, "Be back soon."
"Uhhuh." I replied drowsily already starting to drift into an irresistible sleep that was taking over me.
I slipped into a surreal world, it was dark and I could see nothing at all, except a glimmer of silvery hair here and there. It was awfully cold and a gale force wind seemed to be sweeping through this place, making everything flap and some things would even start flying around in the wind.
Suddenly, dimly I heard a voice.
"Yes my lord. It shall be done." Came a whisper in clipped tones, the very voice itself was cool and suave, though in a place as dark as this, there was no doubt that this person was dark himself and what distracted me more, was that he sounded familiar.
I moved, trying to catch a glimpse of who it was and as I saw the person's face, I could feel myself being wrenched out of this place and I let out a piercing scream, unable to contain my horror at the person who was speaking.
"Hermione! Wake up!" someone was shaking me awake and I willingly opened my eyes, happy to get away from that nightmare I was having, "Are you alright Mione?" Harry's emerald eyes were gazing concernedly into my own.
"I'm fine Harry! I just got out of the Hospital Wing, of course I'm alright!" I said cheerily, acting as though nothing had happened.
"You were screaming again. . . I just thought that. . .maybe you were having a bad dream or something. . ." mumbled Harry quietly.
"No, I'm alright. Seriously!" I looked at him reassuringly and fished around for another conversation starter, "So, how's Parvati?"
"She's great!" beamed Harry smiling mischievously at me. Well, there's someone who was having a great year. I smiled encouragingly back at him and I laughed suddenly, remembering that Ron was there as well.
"Ron, why are you so silent today?!" I exclaimed pulling him down to sit down on the carpet next to me, "You guys have got to tell me everything that went on since I've been away." I looked eagerly at them as they swapped a look that clearly meant that something HAD happened.
"Go on, spill the beans!" I said calmly looking at them expectantly.
"Well. . ." stuttered Ron nervously, Harry saw this nervousness and continued on confidently.
"Lavender's been throwing herself at Ronnekins here asking him to go to the Yule Ball with her, even though that's like a few months away and he's been getting very annoyed and grumpy, and he wants you to do something about it."
"What?!" I replied in an astonished tone of voice, what on earth could that mean?
"He means, he wants you to talk with Lavender about him. . .you know maybe hint to her that he might not like her. . ." said Harry heavily.
"Why don't you ask Parvati to do that, Harry they're best friends!" I replied quickly.
"Oh, you know Parvati, she would rather kill herself than tell Lavender that Ron doesn't like her." He replied airily looking triumphantly at me.
"Ugh. Well . . . alright. . .just this once. I'm never doing something like this again, this includes any arguments that happens with Parvati and you, Harry." I said defeatedly, sighing exasperatedly. I had just gotten out of the infirmary and they decided to tell me that I had to play the bitch to Lavender.
"Thanks Mione!" cried Ron suddenly getting up and giving me a huge hug, which nearly crushed me.
"Ron! You're suffocating me!" I wheezed.
"What? Oh! Sorry Mione!" he exclaimed giving me another sheepish smile and letting go of me.
"It's alright. Well, I guess I better be heading up to my dorm to catch up on some sleep." I said with a yawn, "And I'll chat to Lavi about it ok?"
"Night."
[Later that night in the girl's dorm in Gryffindor Tower]
I tossed and turned but I still couldn't get to sleep, my dreams weren't dreams anymore, they were nightmares. Silvery hair, cruel laughter and horrible curses were still haunting my sleep and I kept on seeing Malfoy, Draco Malfoy in midst of it all, as a Death Eater answering to Voldemort's call.
I buried my head in my soft pillow and willed myself to go to sleep, I could feel myself getting wearier but my mind showed no sign of shutting down for the night. I slowly got up and walked to the window, which was glinting in the moonlight, and I opened it, feeling the keen night breeze on my face.
I looked down and saw the lake glittering, bathed in the moonlight as well and it seemed so beautiful, so tranquil and serene. I breathed in the fresh air that was streaming through the opening and taking one last look at the great mass of water below me I closed the window and put on a light long jacket because I was only wearing a thin silk nightie.
Then I realized that I had left the Invisibility Cloak that Harry and Ron had bought for me a year ago for Christmas and I knew that I needed it tonight. Putting a silencing spell on my trunk I opened it soundlessly and took out the Invisibility Cloak before closing the trunk again and putting on the cloak over my other jacket.
I slipped quietly out of the dorm and made my way down the stairs and through the common room without a sound and as soon as I got out of the portrait hole I sighed in relief.
I quickly decided that I needed a nice long bath tonight to calm my nerves down, they were working overtime so I walked briskly through the corridors that twisted and turned through the network of Hogwarts and finally I found myself at the statue of Boris the Bewildered, a most welcome sight.
"Lemon lime." I whispered and the door next to the statue creaked open and I stepped into the beautiful Prefect's Bathroom, which was possibly one of my favourite places in Hogwarts apart from Gryffindor Tower. Quickly I locked the door behind me and slipped off my Invisibility Cloak leaving it on one of the hangers near the giant bath along with my long jacket, nightie and underwear.
I sighed happily as I slipped into the bath filled with an assortment of different bubbles in all the colours of the rainbow and in different shapes and densities. I smiled indulgently thinking about what Ron and Harry were missing, by not being Prefects and I sunk myself lower into the foam enjoying myself immensely.
Suddenly I was aware of something watching me and I whipped my head around looking wildly everywhere in the bathroom and my eyes locked with another pair of blue-grey ones. My shrill scream would've woken up the whole school if the bathroom hadn't been placed under a spell that made it soundproof and I hurriedly checked that that ferret couldn't see anything under all the foam.
"Well Granger, I must say it took you quite awhile to realize that I was here." There was his famous smirk again and that voice which was starting to haunt me.
"Malfoy! How long have you been in here?! And why the hell are you here anyway!" I spat furiously back at him.
"For your information I am a Prefect too, so this isn't breaking the rules or anything, I have just as much right as you do to be in here. Oh, and I've been in here long enough to know that you've got a great figure Granger." Malfoy smiled cunningly and just then I realized that he was only clad in a towel around his waist, my attention was soon drawn to his toned muscles from Quidditch and broad chest. So this was what the girls are all crazy about, Malfoy's perfect body.
I quickly shook my head in an effort to rid myself of thinking about Malfoy's body and back to the fact that he had been watching me take a bath.
"You saw me. . .?!" I choked out disbelievingly.
"That's right." His smile grew wider and there was another flicker of emotion that flashed across his face before he began walking slowly towards the bath himself.
"Malfoy! What do you want?!" I gasped as he neared me and as soon as he was standing next to the edge of the bath, he sat down on the tiled floor stretching his long legs.
"Nothing, just to have a nice long chat with you Hermione." He said with a slight quaver in his voice. One thing that I noticed was that he had called me something other than 'Mudblood' and 'Granger'. The next thing that I noticed in shock was that he was trying to make decent conversation with me. Jesus Christ, what was wrong with him?!
"Malfoy, is there something wrong with you? Lack of sleep?" I replied questioningly.
"No, of course not. Is there a problem with me and acting civil towards you? Look Hermione, we've known each other for about 6 years and all we've done is fight. Now that we're both Prefects and we're gonna have to work together, why don't we get to know each other in a good way?" he said softly not daring to meet my eyes. I was slightly freaked out at this kind of behaviour from him and I didn't quite know what to do so I decided to pinch myself, just to check that I hadn't fallen asleep and all this was just a dream.
"Ouch!" I exclaimed and Malfoy started in shock before he leaned over and whispered,
"What's wrong Hermione?" God, even his voice had changed and become more concerned and sincere.
"Nothing Malfoy, nothing." I replied stubbornly rubbing the spot where I had pinched myself once more before turning around to face him.
"Alright, so what do you say to getting to know each other?" he asked again quietly with a bit of hopefulness in his voice.
"One question before I answer you, why do you want to get to know me and I know that we called a truce, but this is going a bit far." I said reasonably.
"I. . .just don't wanna leave Hogwarts with enemies on my tail, powerful smart enemies like you." He said lightly. I blushed slightly at being called 'powerful and smart' before collecting myself and replying,
"So you just don't want to be killed my Harry, Ron and me when we get out of school?" I said calmly, and he nodded, "Well, that just makes you all the more despicable in my mind, Malfoy. You selfish brat."
With that I looked around for my garments and seeing that they were still hanging on the wall next to Malfoy, I cursed myself for not bringing my wand. Ugh, I was stuck in the bath with him being the one with the more control.
"Malfoy, just one favour, get my clothes please." I stated icily.
"Wha- what?!" he was still in shock from being called a selfish brat after trying to be friendly I suppose, and I looked pointedly at the wall beside him, "Er. . .here."
"Thanks." I said emotionlessly before staring coldly at him again, "Turn around." He did so obediently and I stepped out of the bath and quickly put on my underwear and nightie before exhaling slowly. I put on my long black jacket and just as I was about to slip on my Invisibility Cloak, he spoke again.
"Listen Hermione, I didn't mean it the way that you thought I did, I just want -" I smoothly cut him off,
"Get out of the way, Malfoy." I growled and putting on my Invisibility Cloak I forced my way past him leaving him standing desolately near the door as I slipped past him and slammed the door in his face.
"Ha, serves him right for all the things he's ever done to Harry, Ron and me." I muttered to myself as I started to make my way back to Gryffindor Tower, but I couldn't ignore the feeling that I had done something awfully wrong.
Hey guys! Im so sorry that I didn't get this chapter up very quickly, I had to put some thought into this one so I hoped that you guys liked it =) please review!
Thanks to my reviewers =) - esp. to Hedwig7up for continuing to review, made me very very happy =) and thanks to everyone else who gave me encouraging words!!
psychohart