When I write this, well I know it's gonna be
It's gonna be an opportunity to sue
Cause they're not mine, no the characters aren't mine
and now comes the time for me to tell the truth
Well Harry Potter is not mine,
and neither is the Hogwarts school
the story though is mine and I say
don't steal that! Don't be so cruel!
La la la la!
Author's Note: I actually started this instead of studying for my English Lit exam! Well, not totally. See my teacher told us that there was no possible way to study for my exam, because the course is based mostly on 1) the things discussed in class, and 2) we pick our two favorite books. There are two parts to the exam: a) A sight passage, and b) a 1000 word essay where we have to pick our two favorite books and write about their themes. No problem. Anyway, here she is. I hope you enjoy her.
Chapter Eleven: A Modern Day Fairy Tale
Draco slowly opened his eyes to the bright sun. He squinted, trying to remember the last memory that had gone racing through his mind. He sighed as the sun became more annoying, almost trying to burn a hole through each eye. He groaned and rolled over. Suddenly a sharp pain ran up his entire body and he cringed, moaning in pain.
"God damn it. This didn't happen last time," he said to himself, lying on his back again. Gently, he pulled himself up, his pillow supporting his back as the upper half of his body tilted upwards slightly, compared to his legs. He pulled down the sheet, his white t-shirt tight against his stomach. He gently brushed his arm against his ribs and cringed again. It felt like someone was feeding volts of electricity straight through his body. Gritting his teeth, he lifted up the front of his shirt. He quickly dropped it again when he saw the splotches of blue and purple across his chest. He let out a frustrated groan. What the hell had he done? He sighed and tilted his head back. Suddenly, the images all came flying back, bouncing around the inside of his head like a game of Pong.
The Quidditch game.
Seeing Jim.
The fight with Dremply.
Shaking Harry's hand.
Lynx throwing the bludger at...
"Hermione!" he shouted sitting up. His eyes bulged as another wave of pain hit him, this time full force. He groaned and fell back against the wall as footsteps entered the room.
"Well, at least you're up Mr. Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey said, carrying a tray. "You had a lot of people worried."
Draco shrugged, ignoring the pain, and looked around him. "Wait a minute, I'm in my bedroom."
"One young lady thought that you would be more comfortable here," she said, mocking Draco's shrug.
He nodded to himself as he looked around the room. "Huh."
She placed the tray on the table next to him and held out a few pills. "You'll need to take these."
He groaned and sat up a little more so his back was completely against the wall. Taking a glass of water in one hand and the pills in the other, he swallowed them. He handed her back the empty glass.
"That was impressive," she said, placing them on the tray. "Most people would ask what they're taking."
Draco gave her a casual wave. "Doesn't matter, whatever they fix, I've got."
" The Odd Couple II," a voice suddenly came from the door. Draco turned and grinned for the first time that day.
"Very good, Granger, I'm impressed." he said.
Hermione came over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, Draco moving his arm to make some more room. She had a concerned look in her eye. "How do you feel?"
He shrugged. "Fast and loose."
Hermione smiled. "In the gut, I mean."
Draco grinned. "Tight, but good."
Hermione shook her head smiling. "The Hustler but there was more than one way you could have played that."
Draco smiled and shrugged. "I know, but I think Nicholas Cage would be disappointed in me if I tried his."
Hermione nodded, smiling. Her look then turned serious. "Is it tight... I mean, is it bad?"
"Is what bad?"
Hermione shrugged. "Whatever hurts."
"Well, I cast a quick look at my ribs, but they looked like they went through a couple of rounds with that muggle, Mike Tyson. I'm scared to look again."
"Can I take a look? I might be able to help with the pain a bit."
Draco shrugged. "Sure, go ahead if you want."
Hermione gently pulled up his shirt and Draco cringed and shut his eyes, also trying to ignore the feeling in his stomach as Hermione's cool fingertips gently grazed this skin. He gently opened his eyes and looked at Hermione. Her look was concerned, her brow furrowed. She had pulled out her wand and Draco watched as she muttered something to herself, waving the wand gently over the bruised areas. She was in deep concentration, and Draco had almost started to smile at her before he caught himself.
" Keep your head on your shoulders, Malfoy" he said to himself. "She practically owes you this"
He caught himself as she finished up. "There, that should be better. How do you feel now?"
Draco shrugged. "A bit better, I guess."
Hermione went to push off from her hand that was resting on the bed, however her hand slid across the silk sheets, causing her to land on Draco, her head close to his shoulder. For a moment Draco couldn't breathe. That same feeling that had hit him in the Common Room was coming back.
Hermione sat up, pushing her hair out of her face. "I'm sorry."
"I'm not."
Hermione looked up at him as a sudden familiarity hit Draco. It was almost a feeling of history repeating itself as Hermione tilted her head up to look at him, and Draco felt a strange feeling as he looked into her eyes. His eyes bulged slightly.
"Jim?" he felt himself say, barely above a whisper. Hermione sat up instantly, and Draco wondered whether or not she had heard him. He looked at her. Hermione looked taken aback.
"What did you say?" she asked, just above a whisper.
Draco swallowed and blinked. It couldn't be. "You've just suffered a serious blow to the head. Stop thinking nonsense" he said to himself.
"I said... I'm not... hurting. I'm not hurting anymore. You know... so the spot... where you landed, it didn't hurt... so you've got nothing to be sorry for."
"Oh," was all Hermione could say.
The two lapsed into a silence for a moment. Draco watched the expression on Hermione's face. She seemed relieved, but at the same time... almost disappointed. He was about to say something as a knock came at the door.
Draco looked at Hermione. "Would you mind getting that? I'm a little ill-equipped for answering the door right now."
Hermione nodded. Standing, she made her way over to the door.
Draco shook his head slightly. "It had to be from the fall... that's the only thing that makes sense" he thought to himself.
Hermione came back. "Harry and Ron are here to see if you're feeling better. What do you want me to tell them?"
Draco was shocked. Potter and Weasley came to see how he was feeling? Wouldn't you usually kick your enemy while they're down?
Harry and Ron came in. Ron didn't look happy to be there, but Harry looked happy. It wasn't a gloating kind of happy, but more of a "Glad to see you're alive" kind of happy. Draco looked at them, poker-faced.
"Well, I'm glad to see that you're alive, Malfoy," Harry said coming to stand by Draco's bed.
Draco looked shocked for a moment. "Does Potter read minds? That would explain a few things" he thought to himself, but soon laughed at his insanity.
Draco smirked. "I was given nine lives, Potter," he said, "though I believe I'm now down to six."
Harry looked curious and decided to take the bait. "What happened with the other two?"
Draco shrugged. "One other one happened a short time ago here in a small dark hallway..." he explained, feeling Hermione's eyes on him, "... and the other happened a while ago. Let's just say this wasn't the first time, and this certainly won't be the last," he looked up at Harry, "... surely you know what it feels like to have more than one life, Potter."
Harry gave him a faint smile and nodded. "Yes, I believe I do," he said in a quiet voice.
For an moment, a silence rested comfortably in the room. Suddenly, Ron spoke up.
"How you feelin' Malfoy?" he asked, though he didn't sound much like he cared to know.
Draco suddenly laughed. The trio looked at him for a moment. Draco sighed and shrugged. "Leave it to Weasley to break the silence," he said.
Hermione stood back a bit, hoping that neither Ron nor Harry would be offended. Suddenly, Ron broke out into a smile. "Nope, he's fine. He's still Malfoy." Harry also smiled.
Draco smiled along with them. "To answer your question though, Ron, I feel like the kling klang king of the rim ram room," he answered, casting a quick glance over in Hermione's direction.
Hermione smiled and headed towards the door. "I'm going to the dinner hall to pick up a bit of food. Would you guys like anything?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other and started to head towards the door. "Nah, that's okay. We thought we would just stop in to see how he was feeling, that's all," said Ron.
Harry looked back at Draco for a moment. There was a look in Potter's eyes that Draco had seen before, but it was usually reserved for when he was with Hermione or Ron.
When he was with friends.
Harry turned to Ron and Hermione. "Actually Hermione, if you wouldn't mind, I think I'll eat here instead of in the hall," he said.
Ron and Hermione looked surprised, but neither of them could rival the look of shock that had registered on Malfoy's face.
Hermione put herself back into check. "Yeah, sure Harry. Ron, do you want to help me get the food for everyone?"
"Yeah... sure," he said, walking out the door while casting looks at Harry over his shoulder.
Hermione stayed behind for a second, but then smiled. "Well, I'll just be, uh..." she paused and looked at Draco. "...Leaving Las Vegas then. See you in a bit," he said, closing the door behind her.
Draco stared at Potter's back for a second before he turned around. Draco watched as he pulled a chair up next to Draco's bed.
"So Potter, what's the topic going to be for today?" he asked.
Harry shrugged. "Beats me. I just can't stand to see you sitting there sulking."
Draco frowned. "So this is out of pity then?"
Harry shrugged again. "Mostly."
Draco smiled. "That makes me feel better then. Hate for this to turn into a kind of friendship, Potter. Even if you are Granger's chum."
Harry laughed. "Don't worry Malfoy, I feel the same way about you." Harry paused for a minute. "You say "chum" like its a bad thing though."
"Well is it? Is it a bad thing to be joking and laughing with Granger?"
Harry looked at Draco seriously. "You tell me."
Draco shut up and looked at Harry. He squinted. "What are you getting at, Potter?"
Harry leaned forward. "Just this: when Hermione doesn't complain about the one person who has been making her life a living hell for the past six years, one begins to worry."
"Maybe I've had a change of heart."
Harry just looked at Draco.
"So I'm going to assume that this is not just a courtesy call, is it?" Draco asked.
Harry shrugged, placing his elbows on his bent knees. He spoke from behind his hands that lay resting in front of his chin, partly hiding his mouth. He smiled slightly.
"Let's talk about Hermione."
*********
Hermione tried listening to Ron as he told her how great the Quidditch game had been, but couldn't shake the close encounter that she had had with Draco just moments ago. She shook her head.
"'mione? Are you okay? Your head hurting or somethin'?" Ron asked her, concerned.
She smiled at him faintly. "No, I'm just tired. I didn't get much sleep last night."
Ron nodded and the two fell into a comfortable silence. Hermione's mind continued to race. How could Draco have even made that close of a connection? Just because she slipped. People apologize all of the time for falling or collapsing on someone... granted that not everyone falls on someone else... she sighed to herself. She was so confused. She didn't even know why she cared. It's not like Draco was interested in her that way in the first place.
Then again, he did practically save her life. Why did he do that? Why didn't he just let her get hit? Isn't that what the old Malfoy would have done? Why did he save her?
"Because he cares... and you know it" a voice in her head answered, "and you care because you like him too".
Hermione shook her head again, ignoring the look she received from Ron. This was stupid. She couldn't be falling for Malfoy... could she?
No. It was impossible. She had just fallen into the fairy-tale feel because Draco had saved her. Her knight in shining armor. Like in the fairy tales.
Like in the movies.
Hermione smiled in spite of herself. "Malfoy a knight in shining armor? Give me Heath Ledger any day" she said, laughing at herself. This was crazy.
"I reckon Harry's probably done talking to Malfoy now," Ron said suddenly.
Hermione's little bubble of thought broke. She caught Ron's arm and the two stopped walking just in front of the door to the Great Hall.
"Talking to Malfoy about what?" she asked.
Ron seemed to turn red but caught himself and shrugged. "Whatever they were talking about. You can't talk to Malfoy for too long without your head exploding... Maybe Harry killed him! Cor, that would be a sight to see!"
Hermione turned and looked Ron in the eye. "Ron, what was Harry going to talk to Malfoy about?"
Ron squirmed under her gaze. "I don't know."
"Ron..." Hermione warned.
He sighed. "I don't know! Harry didn't tell me. Besides, what do you care? It's just Malfoy, right?"
Hermione looked at Ron for a moment. He sighed and went into the Great Hall. Hermione stood there for an extra moment. She sighed.
"Yeah, just Malfoy."
*********
Malfoy smiled in spite of himself. Potter had guts, he'd give him that. He hadn't expected the question and answer period that had gone on, but he found himself actually glad that it had taken place. Now he had everything straight in his head. Potter had unintentionally helped him sort out his feelings. He sighed and leaned back, watching Harry pick up his robe.
"So Potter, do I get some kind of reward for participating in this survey?" he said smiling.
Harry turned and smiled. While the two had been talking, an unusual feeling had come over Draco. They had laughed a few times, mostly at some of the things they had heard at school (stories about Longbottom never lost their humor), and for an instant Draco had thought something unusual.
"So this is what it must feel like to have a friend."
Of course he had tried to shove the thought to the back of his head, but now he realised how must in common the two of them had. Draco even found himself coming to admire Harry, though he would never admit it to him. Although it was probably temporary, Draco thought it felt good to have a friend.
Harry smiled at Draco. "A reward?"
Draco smirked. "Yeah Potter. You took up my precious time."
Harry chuckled and turned towards the door. "I don't think I've got anything that you'd want."
"How about a friend?" Draco suddenly found himself saying.
Harry paused and turned back to Draco. Suddenly, he smiled. "That comes automatically when you save my friend's life. It also always follows after respect."
Draco smiled and raised his hand. "See you later, Potter."
Harry waved back. "Bye Malfoy. Don't go anywhere!"
Draco smirked. "I'll try."
Harry laughed and Draco smiled as Harry went out the door. He looked at the time. Hermione would be back soon with Ron. Draco would have to tell them to take the food to the Gryffindor Common Room.
The sun shone in again through the window and across his bed. He considered moving his legs, but decided that the pain wouldn't be worth it.
He sighed and closed his eyes, thinking about what a drastic change had taken place in the last little while. He thought of the conversation he'd had with Potter as he slowly began to drift off to sleep.
"First of all, Malfoy, I want to tell you something that is hard for me to say. I saw something today that I never EVER thought I would see. It amazed me, it shocked me, but most of all, it pleased me and made me realize something. You do have a good heart. You knew what you had to do and you did it, without thought or hesitation. You saved my best friend's life today. In doing that, you have gained my respect, which is not something that is easily distributed."
Harry had paused for a moment to let everything sink it. Draco had taken it all in stride, and to say he was please was an understatement. For some strange reaon, he felt not only honored, but thrilled to have Potter tell him that he respected him. Not necessarily liked him or applauded his past efforts, but respected him. And all he had to do was save someone's life. He had looked at Harry.
"I'm sensing a "but" here, Potter"
"But when a HUGE random act of kindness as this one happens to the one person who has been a primary target by the one person who has been doing the targeting, well..."
"There's only one business where that's no problem at all."
"What?"
"Chicago"
Harry looked at Draco confused. Draco gave an exasperated sigh.
"Never mind. Look Potter, Dremply is an idiot. Nobody deserves to be abused for something they didn't do. There is no reason for that kind of behavior for someone that age."
"Are you speaking from experience?"
Draco had looked taken aback and offended for an instant. Then he softened his voice.
"Yes, I am."
Harry had looked at Draco for an instant, and saw a change that he hadn't seen present in the Malfoy boy before. He sighed.
"Malfoy, as Hermione's friend, I just want to make sure that this sudden act of kindness is all that it was. There's no other reason that you saved her aside from the fact that she was in danger."
"Potter, Hermione was in danger. Her life was threatened..." he bit back the temptation to say "again". "Why else would I have saved her?"
Harry had looked at Malfoy. "I can think of a few reasons."
"Such as?"
"Her affection, for one."
Draco had laughed. "You've lost your mind, Potter."
"Do you like her?"
"She's a good kid."
"You know what I mean Malfoy."
Draco had paused for a moment, thinking. He knew what Potter meant. He had nodded his head.
"Yeah Potter, I know what you mean."
"Well?"
"Not like that."
"Not like what?"
Draco shrugged and moved his hands in front of him, as though trying to conjure words out of thin air.
"Like a fairy tale."
"So you don't have any interests?"
"Not in her, no."
Harry had gotten curious. He leaned forward eagerly.
"Who then?"
"You wouldn't know her."
"But you do. That's all that matters."
He had shook his head and sighed.
"Do you like her? Like a fairy tale?"
"Yeah. I think I love her."
"Who?"
"You wouldn't know."
"That's not her name Malfoy."
Draco had sighed again. Memories came flooding back again, and he grinned to himself. The time had seen so
innocent, so small and miniscule compared to the time he was spending without her. His grin widened.
"You're thinking of her."
"Shut up, Potter."
"What's her name, Malfoy? If you can't say it to me, how are you going to say it to her?"
"Her who?"
"Hermione. You have to set her straight. You're already set straight. Now you have to do the same to her."
Draco had sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He knew Potter was right. His emotions had been straightened. He had to be sure hers were as well. He nodded.
"I'll tell her."
"Tell her what?" he had said, as though he was a lawyer coaching a witness on what to say.
"Tell her I'm in love with someone."
"With who?"
Draco had smiled to himself as her image came back, and the fun they had had in coming up with her name.
"Jim," he had said. "I'll tell her I'm in love with Jim."
*********
Author's Note: Well, this chapter took longer that I thought. I hope everyone enjoyed reading it. It didn't turn out as great as I had hoped at first, but I think it got better towards the end. I didn't like what I had written at first because there wasn't enough Draco/Hemione action going on, but I decided to give Draco a chance to interact with someone else. Don't worry, I have the next chapter all planned out, and I'm hoping to update sometime next week (after my graduation on Tuesday and Wednesday... don't ask). Anyway, I hope everyone at least slightly liked this chapter. It's not one of my better ones, I can tell you that.
NOTE: Stupid Fan-fiction is missing two reviews that I had sent to my e-mail, but I didn't think I would need them. Write me an e-mail and let me know if you reviewed. Sleepy-kitty, I'm pretty sure you were one of them, adn it isn't listed I don't think in the reviews. I apologize to you and the other individual who posted but whose reviews are missing from the review page! Sorry!
Here's my new "review" song (I think you guys enjoy these more than actually reviewing, but I enjoy them too, so it's a win-win):
To the tune of I've Got You by Marc Anthony:
I could go to the movie show
and I could talk to all the friends I know
But I don't wanna sit or talk so I'll review!
I could read a book about a million times,
Go and buy tickets and stand in line
But I don't wanna read or stand so I'll review!
Before I go to my reviewers, I'd just like to say that I'm going to add the section that is now just below. It's like when you shop on Amazon.com and it says "people who bought this CD also bought...", so if you have any stories that you would like me to add that YOU have written, let me know.
If You Liked this Fic, try...
- The Moment by Sabriel4
And finally...
To My Reviewers:
Alexa Donaghy: I know what you mean about writing coming out crappy. That's the way I felt at first with this chapter. I'm still not completely satisfied with it either. I made a TON of changes in comparison to the original, and I feel better about it, but I feel bad not having more going on between Hermione and Draco. That's okay. Draco's going to be in over his head soon enough! Count on it! Thanks again for the review! It's great to know that you're such a loyal reviewer!
BellethePhilosopher'sCookie: Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! You know, you and Alexa are the first people I look for when I'm sorting through my new reviews. I figure "If those two aren't in here, then I can't publish (sometimes not even write yet) my next chapter. They have to be in here". And you were here again, so I thank you. And don't worry. Your reviews could never be boring. Thanks for reviewing, and I know you'll come back soon.
totallystellar: Hey! Thanks for the review! I'm glad you've enjoyed what you've read so far. You can let me know whether or not I start going downhill. So many pieces are great, but then they start going down and lose the feeling they once started with. Anyway, I hope you read up to this chapter! Thanks so much for the encouragement!
vegetarianxtc: No exams? Bah! That's not fair! I don't think that's fair at all! Well, I guess I'll have to live with that. I'm sorry I kept you in such anticipation for the past little while. Exams are horrible. Bah! Three hours for a French exam, and I had to write an essay. I mean COME ON! She could find out what I know in ten minutes! Anyway, thanks for reviewing, and I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! Read and review again sometime!
fReDAnD GEoRGeWeASleY ArE gODs: Ahh ha ha! You guys are great. I'm glad Fred that you are so fascinated with the word "Yay"! Good word. And yes, there was Quidditch, and I did knock Malfoy off his broom! I'm glad you enjoyed that too. Thanks so much guys for reviewing, and I hope you'll do it again sometime... Yay! (P.S. I noticed the movie reference "Crank Yankers". You guys are getting better!)
OneofaKind92: Hey... intriguing idea... I might just use that... eee, hee, hee, I am SO evil! You just gave me another great idea...oh this is sooo good. For this I thank you, and I thank you for your review! I hope you enjoyed this just as much, and will come and review again sometime.
Lily of the Shadow: Woo-hoo! I am the "Ruler of All Movie Quotes"! Yeah! It comes with a crown, right? And little gold stars? Cause it is SO not worth it if it doesn't have little gold stars (stickers) with the whole "Ruler" name...lol! Anyway, I'm glad you're enjoying it, and I'm sorry I don't have too many movie quotes in this one... I'm slacking! Anyway, thanks for the review!
PsYcHoJo: Ha! You think I'm letting him get away with it that easily? Trust me, when you realize what I'm doing with this and how I'm going to twist it so much... I hope you'll like it. I like the idea I have in my head... it's getting it on paper that's the tricky part. Anyway, thanks for the review! Read and review again soon!
Sabriel4: Wait, wait, wait... you like Frank Sinatra? You and I have to have a talk. When I wrote that, I thought "Hey, it actually would be funny, cause he is flying, and because I love Frank Sinatra". I seriously did not think anyone else would pick up on that and comment about it. Trust me, when I re-read my chapters, I smile every time I read that line. I feel so smart having put it in! (lol) Anyway, Frank Sinatra is the greatest, and I am SO glad that I made you day, because I made mine at the same time! And I'm glad you like where the story is going... I think Dremply is enough bad guy to last me for a while... I hope! Thanks for the review! Come back again soon!
AndinaodRivendell: Thank you so much! And you're welcome for mentioning your name. I feel that the people who take the time to review (even if it's just one or two sentences), deserves to be thanked as much as the writer has been. I hope you keep reading and reviewing!
t baby: Lol! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so much! And I agree with Jess Ventimiglia from Gilmore Girls and Draco- bad boys are the ones to beat. They're the best, but I think that Draco might have lost some of his badness here (it's all from the bump on his head, I swear!). Anyway, thanks for the review and I hope you read again sometime!
Rebeltawn: Thanks for the review! Every once and a while I see your name pop up! It's good to know that you keep coming back! Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Actually, I can see what you mean. The look on their faces must have been pretty funny. I hope to have more funny looks in future chapters. That is one thing that movies give us that books don't is a visual picture, but books let us imagine it for ourselves! Thanks a lot for the review! Y'all come back now!
leonsalanna: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! As you can see, I have written more (lol), so I hope you enjoy this as much as you did the part before, though I'm not too sure I like it as much as I should myself. Thanks for reviewing! Come back soon!