Immortal

By Cedar

Disclaimer: " Its mine, all mine!" - me in a mental institute sporting a very attractive straight jacket. ( for u lawyers out there I'll say it once more, *sighs* no I don't own anything, apart from a plot - do u have to keep rubbing it in!)

A/N Since I got no threats on my life for the last chapter have decided to leave it be - author breathes out a sigh of relief. Oh and Just in case any of u guys were worrying after the last chapter, the story isn't gonna go fluffy. Hermione won't start bein all lovey dovey and Draco will be his gorgeous bastard self. Grrrr!

Chapter 5: Love? Yeah right !

Draco wiped his hand frantically on his robes trying to get rid of any Mudblood remnants; but failed miserably as his palm still smelt of her perfume. At first he considered avoiding the Head compartment, but he decided against it. Just because Granger decided to have a mental breakdown didn't mean that he would sacrifice the added comfort the Head carriage offered in comparison to the others. He found the carriage at the end of the train, and settled down on the plush seats. Leaning back he stretched his long legs to the opposite seating area. He still didn't get what had just happened. She had just gone all dazed, ignored Potter who was busy groping her and actually tried to touch him. Stupid Girl! Well she wouldn't be doing it again anytime soon considering the bruises he had left on her. A cold smile graced his full lips when he brought to mind her slim wrist bearing blue-black marks, no she wouldn't forget anytime soon.

The image evaporated from his head as soon as he caught sight of the black shoes in the bottom gap of the carriage door. Whoever it was was in two minds about whether to enter or not as Draco watched their feet shuffle uncomfortably. Draco dipped his hand into his robe pocket, fingers curling around his wand just in case it was Potter on a vendetta mission. Tentatively the door handle opened, and swiftly Draco got to his feet and with his free hand grabbed the unsuspecting prey, pressing them against the wall. He found himself looking into large, startled eyes filled with fear.

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Shortly after Draco had made his grand exit out of the carriage, Snape followed with the look of puzzlement still etched on his sharp features; leaving Hermione alone with Harry. Hermione had still not moved; her whole body was weighed down with the numerable uncomfortable feelings that were pushing down on her shoulders. What had she just done? The entire experience had been surreal. Malfoy, she hated him; but for those everlasting seconds she would have willingly cut out her own heart and served it on a platter for him. For those few seconds, feelings so uncommon to her had taken her by surprise, swiftly rushing through her body flooding her senses. In those couple of seconds she had loved him. Loved him, she shuddered thinking about it. It wasn't even the familiar love she had for her family, or the stable brotherly love she had for Harry and Ron; it was something so different it scared her. There had been the intense desire to touch him, to.., to possess him; and if she didn't she had felt that her body would shatter into a million pieces, scattering her feelings for all to see and laugh at. That's why she had reached out for him, protection from humiliation, death. She had been so close, but then she saw the look of horror that flickered in his eyes and in the millisecond before he had grabbed her wrist she had felt her heart deflate. He had managed to cause so much pain with that single glimpse of emotion: her heart had stopped, her blood had stood still and her insides had shriveled, curling up in the corner hiding away from the torrent of pain that was sweeping through her system. He had rejected her.

Ok this has to stop, she needed to get rid of these thoughts; automatically she began to furiously shake her head from side to side, hoping that all those feelings would be physically eliminated from her brain and out the window for all she cared. Glancing down at her tender wrist, she began to remember why she had hated Malfoy for six years of her life. In an instant all previous reflections evaporated from her mind, as images of Malfoy shopping them in to Mc Gonagall in their 1st first year landing them a detention in the Forbidden Forest, when he first called her mudblood on the quidditch pitch, his involvement in the hippogriff incident ....and so on flashed through her head. Her body began to relax as the familiar feeling of hatred against Malfoy once more invaded her, pushing away everything else. As for why she had done it, Hermione resounded to think that she had suffered from temporary insanity. Why not? Dumbledore for all his wisdom clearly suffered from it, why else would he have made such preposterous choices for head boy and girl. Having diagnosed herself as cured, she faced Harry who looked blatantly alarmed and perhaps a little bit scared.

" Err Harry are you alrite, you're looking a bit peaky," remarked a genuinely concerned Hermione.

Harry suddenly became alert, as a voice broke the silence that had taken over the carriage. Harry's face quickly transformed into a picture of relief; his features relaxing, his eyes closed for a second. She had come back to him. When Snape had left, he being just as confused as Harry at the whole incident, Hermione had just stood there. Painful minutes passed as her features shifted from displaying joy, pain, anger and that was only naming a few. She hadn't even acknowledged his presence; she had been so wrapped up in her thoughts. He had never known her to do that, phasing out, ignoring everything around her. Hermione was known by all and sundry as a person who was always fully grounded in reality, that's why the whole incident had scared him.

"Harry.." a gentle prod landed on his shoulder, " anybody in there?" questioned the short brown haired girl in front of him.

" Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine, more importantly how are you? What was that whole thing with Malfoy? You got even Snape spooked." Amusement finally made a welcome return into his eyes as he recalled the image of the Potion's master without the celebrated smirk gracing his features, instead in its place a horrified gaping mouth.

Hermione thought hard how to answer his questions, i.e how should she lie, " To tell you the truth I have no idea. All I remember was my brain just switching off. I probably went to sleep and was just reacting to things in my dream." ARGH! Hermione mentally kicked herself, hard. Even as the words were passing smoothly from her lips she knew how utterly feeble they were, but they just kept coming. Please work she prayed, as she watched Harry's response to here answer. At first his eyes screwed up and Hermione began panicking, oh bugger! But then a grin erupted from his lips, and Harry gave her quick hug. Hermione couldn't help but sweep away the beads of sweat that had begun to burst onto her forehead very unattractively, with the back of her hand. However Hermione had realized that she was not fully out of the clear, the look that had passed between them before he had hugged her meant that he knew she was lying and wouldn't question her. Well, for now, which was the part that Hermione dreaded.

Snatching her hand, he pulled her into the corridor, and dragged her along with her legs flailing behind her as she attempted to keep up with his pace. Every so often she caught snitches of conversation:

" Did you have a good summer?" " How was..." " ...stayed at Ron's...it was hilarious Fred gave Ginny a ..and..."

This was getting annoying she was missing all the good parts. She had even been tempted to fall to the ground and refuse to budge until Harry told her everything when the sentence, " The best thing was when Dudley and his 'posse'....the zipper wouldn't move....ended up in jail" flew past her ears. Abruptly Harry stopped outside their usual compartment, Hermione ungracefully collided into him. "Ow!" rubbing her nose, which had slammed straight into Harry's chest in the crash, voices could be heard from within; Ron and Ginny she hadn't seen them in so long. Eagerly she placed her hand on the handle ready to greet her friends, when Harry positioned his on top of hers.

" Err Harry we don't need to do everything together. I'm well practiced at opening doors," commented Hermione, slightly confused. Harry gave a weak smile, but his face swiftly turned into a serious expression.

" Its not Remus is it?" Hermione felt herself becoming more anxious, not again. Remus had proudly adopted a fatherly role to Harry following Sirius' death; no one could be cruel enough to take three fathers away from one person, she hoped.

Harry noting her fearful state quickly explained what was on his mind, " Hermione we've been friends a long time, and you know you can tell me anything.."

Please let it not be about Malfoy, Hermione raised her eyes upwards counting on divine intervention.

".. It's just that when I crashed into you earlier on, you were in a really good mood but then. Then you saw my badge and you just changed. Is it? Is it me being head boy, did you not want me to get it?" Harry said, finally getting out what had been plaguing his mind all morning.

" Oh," well this is tricky, be thankful it isn't about Malfoy reminded her inner voice. She could deal with this, " To be honest..." Honest the meaning of that word was slowly coming back to her, " Well, to be honest at first I was a bit disappointed.." Hermione watched as he face fell, " ..It was me, I was just being selfish. Its just that I felt with you being head boy, you thoroughly deserved it (if in doubt suck up), but I felt that nobody would care that I was head girl."

Hermione sheepishly looked up at Harry. Harry gave her shoulders a shake; hoping to knock back some sense back into her, "Don't be silly! You're head girl Hermione, how can anyone ignore you? If anything you're going to out shadow me with your 187% test scores."

Hermione instantly perked up, he always knew what to say. " Now what we gonna do about our ferret partner?" Harry asked her.

" What's this about?" asked Ron, who at that point had stuck his head round the door.

" Malfoy's head boy, with Harry," sighed Hermione.

" You what!" Ron's mouth was gaping open, giving Hermione a pleasant view of mushed up chocolate and caramel. Grabbing both their hands, he dragged the two of them into the carriage. Entering, Harry and Hermione gave Ron's sister Ginny a hug each, questioning her on how she was doing and what she had been up to. During this Ron remained in the corner, foot tapping impatiently wanting an explanation for Malfoy's appointment.

Finally, not being able to wait any longer he burst, " Ginny will you shut up about dress robes and let them tell us why Malfoy is head boy."

At first Ginny was furious at her brother's rudeness, but then she registered what he said and her eyes instantly widened as she uttered a prolonged, "ooooh." The stage now being set the two heads told their best friends what had passed, Harry kindly left out Hermione's breakdown to which she was thankful for, no need telling people more than what was necessary.

"Personally I think it's a huge mistake. Dumbledore has got to be wrong. I think I'll go and talk to him about it," Harry concluded to his enraptured audience.

" Somehow I don't think that will work. Dumbledore never makes mistakes," stated Hermione. Harry didn't look convinced, obviously recalling Dumbledore's confession that he had been wrong to withhold the information concerning the prophecy and his past from him. " Oh and Harry. Did you notice that Dumbledore wasn't there?" The minutes passed pleasantly as the four discussed possible theories concerning the absent Dumbledore, tales about the twins' newest inventions, many of which found Hermione shaking her head in disapproval. It was during Ron's extended version of the story about the latest Percy-Mr. Weasley fight that Hermione remembered that there was a head compartment. Wanting to stretch her legs Hermione suggested the little outing, but they all declined complaining that they had all eaten too many sweets and couldn't move. Lazy sods Hermione observed before setting out on her own.

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"Draco, what are you doing? You're hurting me," whispered Pansy, her voice quivering with trepidation. It had all happened so quickly. She had been outside, trying to decide whether to enter, sorting her hair out, checking her makeup. As soon as she had her manicured hand ready to open the door she had felt herself being dragged into the carriage, taking her breath away. All she could feel now was Draco's entire body weight crushing her frail figure, his strong left hand pressing onto her collarbone nailing her against the wall. She felt herself being enveloped by his sheer presence, as it gradually began to squeeze out the air surrounding her, leaving her fighting for breath. She pleaded with him one last time, " Draco. Please."

Draco had been slow to register who is was pressed up against him, and only when she begged him did he click, for he had heard her beg so many times. Breaking the contact between their bodies he allowed her to fall to the carpet. He returned leisurely to his seat and quietly watched as the girl struggled to regain her lost breath, rubbing her smarting collarbone. Pansy Parkinson: rich, beautiful and Lucius' desired daughter-in law. This alone was enough of a reason for Draco to treat her with utter contempt but add to this her pathetic, needy character made him more often then not want to wring her neck. Silently reveling in repeated images of Pansy squirming in his hands as they tightened their grip, Draco had failed to notice Pansy walking seductively towards him, a limp somewhat hampering the image of temptress. In a well-practiced move she was soon straddling him, her fingers tracing his strong jaw line. Now if her father wasn't such a valued death eater Draco would not have hesitated throwing her out the open window, but as luck would have it….

"What do you want Parkinson?" doing nothing to hide his irritation.

"Well." her fingers dropped, and began tracing patterns on his chest, ".. We could.." Her lips brushed against his ear, her tongue flicked across the lobe.

" No I don't think so. I don't want to lose Head Boy because of your pathetic fantasies, now get out." Draco whispered into her own ear, clearly emphasizing his last three words. Pansy's body stiffened with anger. He had rejected her! Wait until her father heard about this. While making a move to get off him, the carriage door unexpectedly flung open.

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Hermione had arrived just in time to see Pansy removing her person off Malfoy's lap. Malfoy himself looking rather disheveled compared to his normal immaculate appearance, his hair slightly fluffed up and his cheeks flushed. Hermione immediately put two and two together. " Malfoy, not very Head Boy behaviour. Now it would only be right for me to take points off and inform Professor Snape of yours and of course Miss Parkinson's ..." Pansy let out an indignant grunt, ".behaviour." Hermione snidely remarked, determined to erase the memory of her earlier behaviour and think of Malfoy as the git he was.

For the first time since entering Draco finally acknowledged her presence, turning his gaze from the opposing wall to her. "Get out, Pansy. You shouldn't be here, go." Draco catching the triumphant look on Hermione's face stopped mid - sentence, "..wait, come here." Pansy approached him, somewhat cautiously unsure of what he was going to do. In one quick motion he pulled her down for a passionate kiss. Pansy was too caught up in the pure feeling of pleasure that was coursing through her body to notice that his eyes never left Hermione's.

By the time Malfoy had finished his mini expedition of Pansy's mouth Hermione was seething with fury. The arrogant bastard! In Pansy's view the kiss was broken all too soon, Draco forcefully pushed her away and ordered her to leave. She complied, smirking at Hermione on her way out, thinking naively that he was hers again. Hermione noted the bruises marking Pansy's collarbone, as she passed her. Hearing the click of the carriage door she was keen to point this out.

" What's this Malfoy! You have to beat a girl up before she even comes close to you. Why am I not surprised." Face impassive as always, he got up from his seat and walked towards her. Hermione felt all her senses in overdrive as she became hypersensitive to Malfoy's presence. For every step he took towards her she took two back, until finally her back came into contact with the unwelcome door. Her fingers behind her searched for the door handle, she needed to get out. Malfoy stopped a mere inch from her face, still not surrendering eye contact he grabbed her hand from behind her, once again trapping it in his iron grip. Bringing her hand up to her face Malfoy finally spoke as Hermione's eyes were now transfixed on her bruised wrist.

"In my experience," he said calmly, " its normally the other way round. I often find that I have to protect myself from girls throwing themselves at me." He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her neck setting the underlying skin ablaze hoping to hit home with his final comment, "..like you yourself did." Before she could respond, his lips were on her neck sucking it gently. At first Hermione indulged herself in the shivers that were running from the skin where Malfoy's lips were planted, but then she came to her senses.

"Get off me, you bastard!" Ripping her hand from his hold, she placed both of her hands on his chest and pushed him away. The force would have caused anybody else to fly across the room but Malfoy simply stuttered back. Hermione started rubbing her neck feverishly with the palm of her hand, attempting to get rid of any traces of Malfoy whilst glaring angrily at him.

" Don't you dare do that again! Anyway isn't it going against your religion to even touch a mudblood, especially like that?" screamed Hermione. Draco grinned, retraced his earlier steps so he was once again nose-to-nose with Granger. Hermione covered her neck with her hands, protecting her flesh from Malfoy's lips. Draco noticing this grinned even wider, which did nothing for Hermione's composure, as she had never seen him smile before. If it was possible he was even more beautiful with a smile that seemed so natural she wondered why he didn't do it more often. Her legs were beginning to tremble either from lust or fear of what he was going to do, she didn't know which was better.

" I just wanted to taste something different," he whispered. Hermione's eyes grew from the bluntness of the statement. " But." he continued " ...you've just strengthened my beliefs. Mudbloods really are beneath purebloods in everyway possible." Stepping to the side, he grasped the door handle from behind her. Just about to exit he gave one last parting comment, " You might want to do something about that." His fingers casually waving in front of her neck, with that said he left.

" Huh!" exclaimed a thoroughly confused Hermione. What was he going on about but her question was soon answered when Harry strode in from the corridor. His eyes immediately narrowed in suspicion, staring fixatedly at the curve of Hermione's neck.

" Err Hermione do you realize you've got a big red blotch on you're neck. It looks like a."

Before Harry could continue Hermione quickly cut in, " Oh this," Hermione pointed to another of Malfoy's marks, " .funny story actually, I was trying to put some books up in the luggage holder when one of them fell on me. Hurt like hell!" Hermione laughed nervously, she was a pathetic liar and both Harry and her knew perfectly well what it really was. Bloody Malfoy! Not wanting to be on the receiving end of anymore questions Hermione maintained in liar mode saying, " I've got to go, said that I would meet Lavender in 5 minutes, see you later." With that Hermione bolted out of the coach and headed straight for the bathroom, ignoring concerned looks from people as they watched a clearly distressed girl practically running down the corridor. Once locked safely in the bathroom, away from prying eyes, Hermione examined the hickey in the large mirror. He would have to do it wouldn't he, just to piss her off. Whipping out her wand, she pointed it at the offending mark and said, "Cooperio", ignoring the advice of the perverse mirror, which had actually exclaimed that it was a thing of beauty. Turning her head from side to side Hermione checked to see if the charm had worked. Satisfied that all the evidence was suitably covered, Hermione splashed her face with water in the hope of cooling down her flushed face before leaving the bathroom; to the pleasure of Neville Longbottom who had been waiting for over 5 minutes and was in desperate need for the loo. For the rest of the journey Hermione avoided Harry and Ron, who he of course had told by now, instead was kept entertained with the company of Semus and Dean, fellow Gryffindors.

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At the same time that Hermione had isolated herself in the train bathroom; Draco was sauntering to his usual Slytherin compartment letting out the odd chuckle, to the confusion of passer-bys. He loved teasing her and teaching her lessons, she was so easy to rile. Over the years it had become a sort of twisted game to see how far they could push each other before the other snapped. Before today he would have even conceded that they were on equal footing, but considering recent events Draco judged that he was winning in a game in which the stakes had raised. Past tactics had included name-calling, the odd sabotage of experiments but never anything sexual. The thought of doing something like that had never entered his mind previously, in fact the idea of being intimate with the mudblood often left him with an odd taste in his mouth and a feeling of sickness in his stomach. It wasn't that she was hideous to look at: in fact Draco felt he was man enough to admit that she was attractive, not stunningly beautiful like Pansy but she possessed a quality that made you look at her twice. No, his disgust lay rooted in her origins, she had no right to be here plain and simple and she was beneath him in every aspect of life. But when she walked in and just assumed that he was some sex crazed idiot and with what she did before, the cogs in his head just started turning and he did it. He was surprised she had allowed him to stay attached to her neck for so long, shamefully he had actually begun to enjoy himself and was truly pissed off when she pushed him away. A mite roughly, he added, she had actually caused wrinkles on his pristine robes. However his anger was quickly forgotten when he took in her reaction to his "Pureblood" comment. Her flushed cheeks, big livid eyes and angry pout had marked his triumph. This day could just not get any better, Draco thought upon entering the compartment containing his peers.

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A/N I know I promised Hogwarts (will appear in next chap) but my brain has officially crawled into a crevice in my head and died. I've never thought so much in the summer hols, am still new to the whole thinking process so sorry if I made slip ups in my grammar and spelling. I promise to read a dictionary 2nite! Again am not sure on this chapter, so *hint, hint, nudge, nudge* send me those reviews. Have bcum a review junkie and would like to reach the 25 mark soon. So go on help a sad soul! Ok enough of my pleading just wanna say thanx to a couple of people:

Mesmer: don't knock u're ideas. Their really good and I've def taken them on board! And Hermione will be havin one of her miserable breakdowns v. soon.

Hahero01: Thanx! I so identify with the mental computer thing. Mine has a tendency to go completely bonkers

. Thalion: Went on my stats page and was chuffed to see I was on u're favorites page! Thanx so much was well happy! Hope you like the long chapter and please tell me if my details start makin the story borin. Cheers! Oh and I strongly agree with u're views on an evil Draco hmmmm

Serpent Du Feu: The 'scenes' r a cumin but just want to build up the chemistry first. Sorry, am gonna leave u hangin on a little bit longer. My evil plan to get more reviews from you *said stroking fluffy white cat*