Every time you read this
You hope that, you won't miss
some proof that the sto-ry goes on
Harry Potter this time, and Draco the next time
I have al-ways tried to go on
I know
The truth must be told
that these plots are my own but
the char-ac-ters are not
Once more,
They're sold in the store
The or-i-gin-al copies
Disclaimers go on and on
Author's Note: I AM THE MOST HORRIBLE PERSON IN THE WORLD!!! I am SOOOOO sorry for taking so long to write this. You can't possibly have any idea how bad I feel about leaving you guys hanging for so long. At least it wasn't a cliffhanger, right? Don't worry though. I was so free this weeken that I wrote two chapters today, and I might write another tomorrow. Then all it is is a matter of time before I post the next chapter. Anywa, I'm also graduating and stuff this year, so it gets harder. Don't worry. I promise that something like this will never happen again, at least not without a personal note to everyone as to when to check back again. By the way, GO SEE THE MATRIX RELOADED!! Oh, and when you do, listen carefully, WAIT UNTIL THE CREDITS ARE DONE FOR A SNEAK PEEK AT THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS!!!! Anyway, out with Keanu Reeves, and on with the story.
Chapter Nine: Proof of Life
"... so the cup looks like it's going to be ours!" said Harry, talking to a grinning Ron who was trying to fit as much scrambled eggs into his mouth as possible.
"That sounds brilliant, Harry! Doesn't it Hermione?" he said, turning to Hermione, almost spitting out his eggs everywhere.
Hermione jolted awake. "Huh? What? Are you talking to me?"
Harry looked hurt and Ron looked confused. "Are you okay Hermione? You did hear Harry's plans for the Quidditch cup, didn't you?"
Hermione plastered a smile to her face. "Of course I did!" She leaned forward towards Harry. "And just so you know, Ron's right, it is brilliant."
"Why aren't you as excited as me then, 'mione?" Ron asked.
Hermione sighed. "Because I'm not a big Quidditch fan, you know that. I don't study the rulebook and map out play-by-play instructions on how to win the Quidditch cup. Besides," she said, smiling, "why would I need to do that when I can learn everything I need to know from you two?"
This placed the two boys at ease, and they soon began talking about the Quidditch cup again. Hermione let out a sigh of relief, and casually looked around the breakfast hall at all of the students enjoying their meals. Ginny Weasley talking to Colin Creevy. Lavander talking to Pavorati. Malfoy staring at her. Marcus...
Wait. Malfoy?
Her gaze shot back to Malfoy who appeared to be engrossed in a deep conversation with Crabbe and Goyle. She watched as his eyes moved between the two boys, every now and then moving his hands to inforce a point. Suddenly, he paused and glanced around, catching her gaze. For an instant, Hermione didn't know what to do. She could almost feeling herself smiling. She felt herself turn a little red as a small smile spread across Malfoy's face, absent of any smirks or sarcasm. It was an unusual look for him.
"'mione? Who you lookin' at?" a voice brought her back to reality.
Hermione broke her gaze from Malfoy and turned to Ron. "No one."
Ron smiled and nodded, obviously not buying that answer. Harry laughed. "It looked from here like you were looking at the Slytherin table."
Hermione released an exasperated groan, buying time for herself to think of a response. "If you must know, I was preparing to recite a silent curse on the Slytherin Quidditch captain for you," she lied.
Harry chuckled and waved away her response. "Thanks anyway. But we don't need your curse. For once, let me try to do this on my own," he said, smiling at her.
Hermione nodded and turned to Ron. "You'll be up in the Gryffindor stands, right? And you'll save me a seat?"
Ron nodded. "Yeah, of course. It's too bad, you know," he said, putting a piece of toast in his mouth.
"What's too bad?"
Ron chewed quickly and swallowed. "That you have to hang out with Malfoy for the day preparing for the game. How can you stand him? He's cheeky, arrogant, and a complete pain in the ass."
"If it makes you feel any better Weasley, you're not exactly my type either."
Hermione turned to see Malfoy stand a few feet away from their table behind them, leaning against the wall.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry asked, his voice cold, making Hermione cringe.
"Granger," he answered, allowing his eyes to look her up and down, making sure that both boys saw. Ron turned red and stood up.
"Leave Malfoy."
Malfoy shrugged. "All I want is the girl."
"Tony, you don't want me. I'm a crazy girl," Hermione said to herself out loud, looking at Malfoy. For a second, a smile spread across his face, but he quickly put himself in check.
"What for Malfoy? Hermione hasn't finished eating yet," snapped Harry.
Hermione sighed and stood up. "I'm finished. We've got to start preparing for your game Harry," she said, giving him a smile that encouraged him yet told him to back off.
Harry shrugged and did a half wave. "See you later."
Hermione turned to Draco. "You ready to go?" he asked. "Said all your good-byes in your own special way?"
Hermione sighed. "Yes. Playing outlawed tunes on outlawed pipes. Let's go," she said, turning to Ron.
"Don't forget to save me a seat," she said smiling. She turned to Harry. "Good luck," she said.
He smiled and returned to his conversation with Ron while Hermione and Draco walked away.
"I worried about her. I hope she'll be alright," Ron said, sneaking a glance at the two walking away.
Harry chuckled. "Never mind Hermione. Draco's the one that should be fearing for his life. There's nothing scarier than a woman with a temper, and a witch with a wand."
******
"Okay, so that's it then. I'll do the announcing for the game, and you'll be the referee. That way we'll both be involved in the game," Hermione said, putting down her quill and parchment that had the notes for the Quidditch game that would begin in a few hours time.
Draco had his feet up on the table in front of the couch, slouching, his head resting against his elbow on the armrest. He sighed.
"Yeah, whatever."
Hermione looked up from her seat, their Common Room seeming silent aside from the wind whipping outside the window.
"Malfoy, the least you could do is listen to what I have to suggest. You don't have to care about it, or even think about it after we're finished, but the least you could do is listen while we're discussing it!" she said, beginning to shout. She kicked the table in anger, Draco's legs falling off. He sat up and stared at her, anger flashing in his eyes. Hermione though he was going to curse her. She didn't care. She threw herself back into her chair in anger, putting her feet up on the table.
Draco was about to lash out in anger, but caught himself. He wasn't in the mood for a fight. She seemed to be upset about something else. He sighed and got up, moving to the chair next to her. He turned it to face her and sat down.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently.
Hermione's head shot up, her eyes wide. "How did you..."
He shrugged. "It's not that hard to move a chair, you know."
She pulled her legs under her, crossing them and sitting down. She looked at him. "Nothing's wrong."
"Well something's wrong with you."
"There is nothing wrong with me! If there's nothing wrong with me . . . there must be something wrong with the universe!" she said, avoiding his gaze.
" Star Trek: The Next Generation, but that's not getting you out of answering my question."
"Why not?"
"That's a television show, not a movie," Draco stated.
"So that brings up another question."
"Not till you answer mine first."
"How do you know television shows?"
"The same way I know movies."
"Which is?"
"What's wrong?"
"Don't avoid the question, Malfoy."
"I'm not the one who's afraid to answer, Granger."
Hermione sighed, shifting her weight and leaning on the armrest, her eyes fixed on Malfoy's. "You're impossible."
Malfoy just raised his eyebrows. "I'm impossible?"
She sighed again, looking up to the ceiling. "Look, nothing's wrong. There's no problem."
"I think there is."
She looked at him. He paused.
"And I think it has something to do with last night."
Draco tightened for a moment, waiting for her reaction. He knew one of them would bring it up eventually. He just didn't think it would be him.
She smiled faintly. "Are you a psychic?"
He chuckled. "Psychic? Nah. I'm working on the pycho part right now. I think I've almost got it down pat."
Hermione smiled faintly but didn't look at him.
"So...?" he asked gently, "is there anything you want to talk about?"
Hermione looked up at him, and Draco could almost see a faint hint of fear in her eyes. She ran a hand through her hair.
"I just... I want to know why you did it," she said, looking at him.
For a moment Draco looked taken aback. "Why... why I what? Why I helped you?"
She nodded, her mouth clamped shut.
Draco shrugged, suddenly feeling her eyes on him, almost piercing his soul. "I just... you were in trouble! What else could I have done?" he asked, looking at her.
She blushed and dropped her head, almost ashamed. "I can think of a few things..."
Draco was shocked. He leaned forward, taking his hand and placing it under her chin, lifted her face up, her gaze meeting his.
"Is that what you think of me? You think that I... I would have done that to you? I may have a cruel mind, Granger, but I have a half-decent heart," he said, gently drawing back his hand.
"So you... you didn't have any ulterior motives then?" she asked gently, almost tiptoeing over the subject.
Draco chuckled for an instant. "No Granger. No. What I did I did because it was the right thing to do. I didn't have anything else on my mind at the time. Just..." he paused, "... your safety."
For the first time since she had been in his company, Hermione grinned, and Draco had a funny feeling in his stomach. He leaned forward casually to brush a strand of hair out of her face as Hermione turned towards him. The two stopped, their faces about an inch away.
Draco couldn't breathe, couldn't think. He tried to tell his mind to lean back, to get ready for the game, but his heart had other plans. The only thing he was thinking of was how close he was to her.
For an instant Hermione considered kissing him. He had saved her life, right? There wasn't any other reason that she would want to kiss him other than as a sign of thanks, right?
The two sat there, neither knowing what to do. Suddenly, there was a big knock at the door. The two turned to the door, Hermione getting up from the seat and going to answer it.
Draco sighed as he heard Hermione talking to the person at the door. What had happened there? What was the matter with him? He couldn't be falling... no, he wouldn't even use that expression. Malfoys were incapable of feeling, much less falling in love. He stood up and brushed off his robe as Hermione came back.
"They want us on the field in fifteen minutes. The game is going to start soon," she said, leaning over and picking up her quill and parchment. She turned to go to the door.
"Granger..." he started.
But she was gone.
Draco sighed as he went into the hall, closing the door behind him. "In the grand design, women were definitely drawn from a different set of blueprints."
*****
Author's Note: I have no comment... except that for my review note right underneath this, I'll have to write another disclaimer to Dr. Seuss... who wasn't really a doctor and used to work for the propaganda people during the war making posters... I'm finished now. Don't forget to review!!
Review, said the cat, don't be shy, speak your peace!
The author will read it and comment at least
You know, said the cat, you should to just that
You shall go review, said the cat in the hat
Please go to the bottom left corner to review now. You must be 18 months or older.
To My Reviewers:
Jaedi: Yay! I'm glad you like my story! Let me know if it keeps satisfying you, okay? And I'm going to try to add a little more about what's happening in the school scenario. Thanks so much for reviewing!
colleen: Thanks so much for reviewing! I know it's slow moving. Mostly because I know main points of what I want to happen, but I've read so many pieces where the action was rushed or it went from one thing to teh next and I feel like saying "No, no wait! Go back! Give me something in the middle!" You know what I mean. Those kinds of pieces where they pass each other in the hall, say "hi", and then the next line is "Two weeks later...". I'll try to keep the action coming though.
Alexa Donaghy: Thank you for reviewing! And a belated birthday! I'm sorry I missed it! I hope you enjoy the next two chapters. I thought to myself "I better get writing them, or Alexa might be disappointed in me. I'm sorry they took so long! Thanks again for reviewing!
fReDAnD GEoRGeWeASleY ArE gODs: Okay, you guys are gonna have to tell me which line is the same. I loved the piece by the way! I posted a note a while ago about it. I hope you're continuing on with it! Anyway, glad you like the cowboy. Thanks for reviewing guys!
DazzilinAngel555: Awww... thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it so much! I hope it seems even a little bit original. I have so many damn tv and movie quotes in my head that I figured they should be put to good use. Anyway, I do hope you read every post. Thanks for reviewing!
sleepy-kitty: I know the whole rape thing is old, and believe me when I say that I didn't intend for it to happen. I was going to end it right when Hermione shut the door as Draco opened his, or they would have just met and had another battle in the hallway. Very iunoriginal of me, and I apologize. But don't worry. I'll make it up in time.
Girl-named-Belle: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I wrote two chapters one after the other, so in a few days I'll just post the next one! Thanks for the review!
Lily of the Shadow: Okay, maybe I'm just psychic... then again, maybe they're just really REALLY big coincidences... that really is weird though. You know what they say too, huh? Everything happens in threes. That's why on a bad day, you never have just one bad thing happen- you have three bad things happen. Anyway, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reviewing!
Dreaming One: So many questions... too little time. I'm glad you're enjoying it (don't worry. I'll try not to get too fluffy... but a little bit of fluffy is always okay). All of your questions will be answered (right now, evern I don't know the answers to some of them!) but let me know chapter by chapter how it's all turning out! Thanks for the review!
PsYcHoJo: You can't possibly have any idea how badly I want to tell you how it will end up... I just... no, must not tell... It's so good, even I have trouble believing it! Anyway, he is Draco, so he is clueless, but don't worry. It will get so much better, but unfortunately, not for a while. Thanks for the review!
Athena: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I apologise for anything in the story that doesn't go perfectly with the actual books. I know I'm taking a TON of liberties. As to some of the specifics you asked for- sometimes the reason I don't tell is because when I give some of my secrets at the end, I want people to say "How could I have missed that!" Those kinds of things. Don't worry. Thank you so much for your comments. You have no idea how much they helped me. Thanks for the review!
cherie: Hey hey hey! It's good to know someone out there can be just as hyper as me sometimes! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you'll enjoy the next one. It's already written and sitting in my folder on my computer. I just have to wait for the right time to post it. Thanks again for reviewing!
MysticalRing: Aww hon... don't lose sleep! It's so important to you and your health. If you ever need any ideas on how to fall asleep, just ask. I have almost a book of ways. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you don't stay up so late the next time you want to read it. Thanks so much for reviewing (and losing sleep, in a way...).
suzuki bob: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you like the same movie that I do. It has to be one of my favourites. I have yet to see the sequel though. It looks as funny as the first!
leonsalanna: Hey! Thanks for the review! I can't tell you exactly what the spell is, because I might need to use it again to play another part later on. I like holding on to some of my secrets as long as possible in case of an emergency in the plot and I might need them to save me from some horrible calamity that I've written myself in to... (*sigh*) otherwise, I would. I'm glad you enjoy the story. Let me know what you think of the rest and how it turns out!
Sabriel4: Thanks for the review! No one can have any idea how badly I want to say "Okay, first I'm gonna do this... then this and this.. and I'm gonna get them to go here so she can do this..." because I have such a good idea as to where I'm going with this. Other than my being unable to tell you the rest of the plot (and my plan for world domination), I thank you for your review and look forward to your reactions soon!