Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, the goddess known as J.K
Rowling does. Bless her.
Still fuming after the episode with Draco, Hermione forced herself to stop and take in deep breaths before she entered the Great Hall. After a number of calming breaths Hermione smoothed down her already immaculate cloak. As her hands swept over the folds of her cloak she felt the piece of parchment in her pocket and a smile appeared on her face. The prospect of seeing Justin after dinner and what he might say to her, made her feel almost giddy.
With the smile still lingering on her face she pushed the heavy wooden doors that lead into the Great Hall. Her gaze skimmed the population of the hall. First landing on Justin's laughing face as he joked with his fellow house-mates, then on the Gryffindor table.
Harry, Ron and Grace were heartily tucking into their meals and Hermione saw that they had saved a space for her beside Grace. Turning her head slightly, she noticed that sitting at that empty spot would mean looking at the Slytherin table and just the thought of anything associated with Draco Malfoy made her mad. With her mind made up, she cast an apologetic look towards her friends and took a seat next to her fellow prefect, Lavender Brown.
Mumbling a quick hello, Hermione dug into the glorious feast set in front of her. Though after only a few bites she decided she could eat no more. Excitement was bubbling inside her. Picking up her napkin and blotting at her mouth, Hermione looked up and noticed Justin looking in her direction. She sent him what she hoped was a dazzling smile. Justin blushed furiously and quickly looked away.
Biting her lip to contain the delirious giggles that threatened to burst forth, Hermione placed her napkin back onto the table and commenced chatting with Lavender about prefect duties. After a few minutes had passed, Hermione saw Justin discreetly move away from his rowdy house-mates and slip out of the Great Hall. With a quick apology and mumble about 'doing some study,' Hermione left the Gryffindor table and nearly sprinted out of the hall.
Hermione spotted Justin just ahead of her and called out to him. He turned and Hermione saw that his face was beetroot red. She ran up to stand in font of him.
"You said you wanted to talk?" she said with a smile as she looked up at him.
Justin quickly looked away, his gaze desperately avoiding hers and landing on his shiny, black leather shoes.
"Will you.um?" He mumbled, then stopped. "Could you.er?" He began to fidget with embarrassment.
Hermione knew he was nervous but she had the urge to grab him by the shoulders and give him a rough shake. "Just ask me. Ask me." she thought desperately.
Justin shook his head furiously, drew in a deep breath and looked straight into Hermione's eyes. His chocolate brown eyes locked with hers, making her feel as if she was drowning in his gaze. Justin had to be the most wonderful guy in Hogwarts . Anticipation built as she began to imagine them as a couple, holding hands, warm hugs and amazing kisses.
"Would you do me the biggest favour of asking Lavender if she likes me?" The words seemed to fall from Justin's mouth in a rush. "It's just that I've liked her for the longest time and I just want to make sure she feels the same and I just knew I could trust you."
Hermione stared at him incredulously, an expression of horror came over her face. Then all the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fall in place. All those winsome smiles and gorgeous blushes had only ever taken place when Lavender had been in the vicinity.
She swallowed as the disappointment that welled inside her threatened to overwhelm. Hermione opened her mouth to refuse to help him. To yell and scream at him for being so ignorant of her feelings, but one look at his beetroot red face and deep brown eyes had her melting all over again.
"Um.sure." She croaked.
Justin flashed her a truly dazzling smile before pecking her on the cheek and running off.
"Thanks so much, Herm. I knew I could count on you.." Justin yelled happily.
Hermione stood as still as a statue as she watched Justin's figure receding into the distance. Even when he disappeared from view she stood there. Her hands were clenched so tightly that her fingernails dug deep into her palms. Tears blurred her vision, but still she didn't move. In a short gasp, Hermione released the breath she hadn't realised she was holding. Looking down at her now unclenched fists, she saw deep crescent shaped marks on her palms where her fingernails had furrowed. Her tears spilled over and she felt them running down her face. The pain of rejection was beginning to overwhelm her, so she started to run. Where, she didn't know. All she knew was that there was a desperate need inside her to escape the walls of the castle.
Pushing herself roughly against the doors which lead outside, Hermione's silent tears became great sobs of anguish. Her cloak whipped behind her as she ran through the frosty night straight into the forbidden forest.
Hermione was oblivious to the branches that whipped and scratched at her face as she ran through the dark forest. All she could see was Justin and Lavender holding hands and laughing. Laughing at her! How could she have been so stupid as to think Justin would like her? That anyone could possibly like her in that way.
Her heaving sobs grew louder and she began to run faster not knowing where she was going. The tears in her eyes blurred her vision so she was unable to see what was ahead. But still she ran. She heard a noisy rustling behind her. But still she ran. Her distraught mind refused to let her do anything but run. Suddenly a hand shot out of the dark and pulled her roughly to a halt.
"You stupid idiot. Are you trying to get yourself killed. Can't you see where your going?"
Hermione turned and lashed out at whoever was stupid and thoughtless enough to disturb her now, and they let her. She screamed and hit and cried until she was too weak. So weak that her arms fell helplessly to her sides.
Through the glittering tears in her eyes she was able to make out the Slytherin emblem on her assailant's cloak and she knew that it was Draco Malfoy. If she hadn't been so distraught she would have laughed hysterically. Of course Draco had to be the one to see her at her worst, but at that moment she felt too emotionally drained, to care. She let her head slump onto his chest and felt his arms encircling, and his chin rest lightly on her head.
Within the warmth of his arms, Hermione felt her emotions settle and returned to a state of semi-calm. She reached up to wipe away the last of her tears and moved to turn away from Draco. He released her from his embrace but it seemed he did so reluctantly.
"Why did you stop me?" She mumbled as she stared into the shadows of the forest.
"Well I can't exactly have my tutor tumbling down a cliff into the unknown, now can I?" Draco muttered.
Confused, Hermione turned towards him. It was then she saw that just a few feet away from where they were standing, the forest floor ended abruptly and sloped into a steep cliff. If Draco hadn't stopped her she would most definitely have died. The realisation that Draco had saved her from certain death, startled Hermione. Unable to voice her gratitude she stared into Draco' icy grey eyes and enquired, "What are you doing here? In the forest, I mean. Brooding?"
Malfoy let out a sharp laugh. "Yeah, brooding."
Even in the dark Hermione could see the scratches she had inflicted upon him during her outbursts. Her eyes searched his face and saw a faint bruise on his left cheek where she had punched him earlier in the evening. She took some satisfaction in the fact that she had marked him. She reached up and traced one of the scratches which was bleeding slightly, then the bruise on his cheek.
"I'm sorry I scratched you. But not for punching you earlier on."
Draco didn't even wince as she poked at his bruise, just stared at her with a questioning look in his eyes. He then shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"What are you doing here?" He asked as Hermione's hand dropped from his face back down to her side.
She looked away, embarrassed that Draco had witnessed her anguish.
"I dunno. Brooding I guess."
This made Draco grin. His white teeth flashed in the dark, which sent an excited shiver down her spine.
"Forget about Justin. He's just a stupid pansy."
Hermione took a step backwards, her back thudding against a tree and glared at him.
"What makes you think that this has anything to do with Justin?"
Locking their gazes, Draco leaned first one hand and then the other against the tree, imprisoning her.
"Come on Granger, I may be ignorant but I'm not stupid."
A look of confusion came over Hermione's face. She opened her mouth to scorn him, but was distracted when he leaned forward, his lips hovering just above hers. Hermione froze in surprise as Draco's stormy eyes seemed to pierce into her soul.
"I'm sorry I've been such a bastard to you, Granger. I would hate to think I ever made you cry." Draco whispered.
Hermione was stunned. Who the hell was this and what had he done to the real Draco Malfoy? She never got the chance to voice her opinion because Draco dipped his head down and kissed her. He kissed her and to her utter amazement she kissed him back. A cascade of emotions flooded her mind and she tried to process what was happening. But all she could think of was that this was her first kiss.Ever. Her First Kiss! It felt amazing! "Wow, who knew Draco could kiss so well. Draco?! Oh My God! I'm kissing Draco Malfoy!" she thought frantically.
She wrenched her mouth away, ending the kiss and gasped for breath. Before she was able to ask Malfoy to explain what had just occurred between them, Draco shoved something into her hand and with a flick of his cloak disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Hermione stared into the shadows, then looked down at her hand. The little black book sitting in her palm was the diary that Malfoy had stolen from her.
~*~
Trudging up the stairs into her dorm room, Hermione winced as the scratches on her face began to sting. She'd have to fix them up, so nobody asked her awkward questions. Feeling bone deep weariness Hermione pushed at her room door, expecting it to be dark and silent. She looked up and saw Grace excitedly bouncing on her bed and grinning up at her.
"Hermione! How did it go with Justin? I'm assuming that's where you went. Tell me." She jabbered happily but stopped when she saw Hermione's slightly pink nose, shiny eyes and scratches on her face. "Oh no! Hermione what's wrong?"
Hermione had thought that she had cried all she could cry, but as the tears began to cloud her vision once more, she knew she was wrong. Grace enfolded her in her arms and gave her a big hug. It all spilled out.
"I was meeting with Justin. I've liked him for absolutely ages and I thought he was going to ask me out.but when I got there he told me he wanted me to ask Lavender if she liked him. Just like that. I knew I could trust you, he said. That's me. Hermione the trustworthy. And like a stupid doormat I agreed to help him. Agghhh." Hermione sobbed. "I'm so stupid. I just thought. well I just had to get out of there so I ran out into the forest."
"That thoughtless bastard!" Grace said and hugged Hermione tighter. She looked up at Grace's furious expression and was glad for her comforting presence. Hermione had to bite the insides of her cheeks to keep herself from telling Grace about the confusing episode with Malfoy. Although Grace would probably understand, she didn't want any one to know about it. At least not yet.
Hermione dried her tears and gave Grace a quick hug before assuring her that she was feeling fine.
"Go to bed. I promise I'll be fine." She said to a droopy-eyed Grace.
As Grace tumbled into bed, Hermione reached into her cloak and retrieved her diary. She was itching to pour her soul into it once more, so she sat down at her desk and pulled out a self-inking quill. She opened the book to a blank page and was just about to start writing when a stray tear fell onto the page. Furiously she put down her quill and wiped away the tears. Steeling herself she picked up the quill once again and looked down at the page. She let out a startled gasp.
Where her tear had fallen on the blank page, black sloping writing began to appear. Hermione read it in a whisper. " No man is worth your tears and the one who is, won't make you cry."
Hermione ran her finger lightly across the quote and recognised Draco's scrawny writing.
~*~ I'm so very very very very sorry to everyone who has been reading my story and has been waiting for so long for it. I hated to neglect my story at such a crucial point but my best friend was in hospital for a month, I fell sick, and then exams started. I know these are pitiful excuses but I really hope you enjoy this chapter. I was so happy to finally get it out. Thanks again to everyone who has read and reviewed my work.Special thanks to FruitloopsX2 for telling me the colour of Draco's eyes. I forgot.
Still fuming after the episode with Draco, Hermione forced herself to stop and take in deep breaths before she entered the Great Hall. After a number of calming breaths Hermione smoothed down her already immaculate cloak. As her hands swept over the folds of her cloak she felt the piece of parchment in her pocket and a smile appeared on her face. The prospect of seeing Justin after dinner and what he might say to her, made her feel almost giddy.
With the smile still lingering on her face she pushed the heavy wooden doors that lead into the Great Hall. Her gaze skimmed the population of the hall. First landing on Justin's laughing face as he joked with his fellow house-mates, then on the Gryffindor table.
Harry, Ron and Grace were heartily tucking into their meals and Hermione saw that they had saved a space for her beside Grace. Turning her head slightly, she noticed that sitting at that empty spot would mean looking at the Slytherin table and just the thought of anything associated with Draco Malfoy made her mad. With her mind made up, she cast an apologetic look towards her friends and took a seat next to her fellow prefect, Lavender Brown.
Mumbling a quick hello, Hermione dug into the glorious feast set in front of her. Though after only a few bites she decided she could eat no more. Excitement was bubbling inside her. Picking up her napkin and blotting at her mouth, Hermione looked up and noticed Justin looking in her direction. She sent him what she hoped was a dazzling smile. Justin blushed furiously and quickly looked away.
Biting her lip to contain the delirious giggles that threatened to burst forth, Hermione placed her napkin back onto the table and commenced chatting with Lavender about prefect duties. After a few minutes had passed, Hermione saw Justin discreetly move away from his rowdy house-mates and slip out of the Great Hall. With a quick apology and mumble about 'doing some study,' Hermione left the Gryffindor table and nearly sprinted out of the hall.
Hermione spotted Justin just ahead of her and called out to him. He turned and Hermione saw that his face was beetroot red. She ran up to stand in font of him.
"You said you wanted to talk?" she said with a smile as she looked up at him.
Justin quickly looked away, his gaze desperately avoiding hers and landing on his shiny, black leather shoes.
"Will you.um?" He mumbled, then stopped. "Could you.er?" He began to fidget with embarrassment.
Hermione knew he was nervous but she had the urge to grab him by the shoulders and give him a rough shake. "Just ask me. Ask me." she thought desperately.
Justin shook his head furiously, drew in a deep breath and looked straight into Hermione's eyes. His chocolate brown eyes locked with hers, making her feel as if she was drowning in his gaze. Justin had to be the most wonderful guy in Hogwarts . Anticipation built as she began to imagine them as a couple, holding hands, warm hugs and amazing kisses.
"Would you do me the biggest favour of asking Lavender if she likes me?" The words seemed to fall from Justin's mouth in a rush. "It's just that I've liked her for the longest time and I just want to make sure she feels the same and I just knew I could trust you."
Hermione stared at him incredulously, an expression of horror came over her face. Then all the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fall in place. All those winsome smiles and gorgeous blushes had only ever taken place when Lavender had been in the vicinity.
She swallowed as the disappointment that welled inside her threatened to overwhelm. Hermione opened her mouth to refuse to help him. To yell and scream at him for being so ignorant of her feelings, but one look at his beetroot red face and deep brown eyes had her melting all over again.
"Um.sure." She croaked.
Justin flashed her a truly dazzling smile before pecking her on the cheek and running off.
"Thanks so much, Herm. I knew I could count on you.." Justin yelled happily.
Hermione stood as still as a statue as she watched Justin's figure receding into the distance. Even when he disappeared from view she stood there. Her hands were clenched so tightly that her fingernails dug deep into her palms. Tears blurred her vision, but still she didn't move. In a short gasp, Hermione released the breath she hadn't realised she was holding. Looking down at her now unclenched fists, she saw deep crescent shaped marks on her palms where her fingernails had furrowed. Her tears spilled over and she felt them running down her face. The pain of rejection was beginning to overwhelm her, so she started to run. Where, she didn't know. All she knew was that there was a desperate need inside her to escape the walls of the castle.
Pushing herself roughly against the doors which lead outside, Hermione's silent tears became great sobs of anguish. Her cloak whipped behind her as she ran through the frosty night straight into the forbidden forest.
Hermione was oblivious to the branches that whipped and scratched at her face as she ran through the dark forest. All she could see was Justin and Lavender holding hands and laughing. Laughing at her! How could she have been so stupid as to think Justin would like her? That anyone could possibly like her in that way.
Her heaving sobs grew louder and she began to run faster not knowing where she was going. The tears in her eyes blurred her vision so she was unable to see what was ahead. But still she ran. She heard a noisy rustling behind her. But still she ran. Her distraught mind refused to let her do anything but run. Suddenly a hand shot out of the dark and pulled her roughly to a halt.
"You stupid idiot. Are you trying to get yourself killed. Can't you see where your going?"
Hermione turned and lashed out at whoever was stupid and thoughtless enough to disturb her now, and they let her. She screamed and hit and cried until she was too weak. So weak that her arms fell helplessly to her sides.
Through the glittering tears in her eyes she was able to make out the Slytherin emblem on her assailant's cloak and she knew that it was Draco Malfoy. If she hadn't been so distraught she would have laughed hysterically. Of course Draco had to be the one to see her at her worst, but at that moment she felt too emotionally drained, to care. She let her head slump onto his chest and felt his arms encircling, and his chin rest lightly on her head.
Within the warmth of his arms, Hermione felt her emotions settle and returned to a state of semi-calm. She reached up to wipe away the last of her tears and moved to turn away from Draco. He released her from his embrace but it seemed he did so reluctantly.
"Why did you stop me?" She mumbled as she stared into the shadows of the forest.
"Well I can't exactly have my tutor tumbling down a cliff into the unknown, now can I?" Draco muttered.
Confused, Hermione turned towards him. It was then she saw that just a few feet away from where they were standing, the forest floor ended abruptly and sloped into a steep cliff. If Draco hadn't stopped her she would most definitely have died. The realisation that Draco had saved her from certain death, startled Hermione. Unable to voice her gratitude she stared into Draco' icy grey eyes and enquired, "What are you doing here? In the forest, I mean. Brooding?"
Malfoy let out a sharp laugh. "Yeah, brooding."
Even in the dark Hermione could see the scratches she had inflicted upon him during her outbursts. Her eyes searched his face and saw a faint bruise on his left cheek where she had punched him earlier in the evening. She took some satisfaction in the fact that she had marked him. She reached up and traced one of the scratches which was bleeding slightly, then the bruise on his cheek.
"I'm sorry I scratched you. But not for punching you earlier on."
Draco didn't even wince as she poked at his bruise, just stared at her with a questioning look in his eyes. He then shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"What are you doing here?" He asked as Hermione's hand dropped from his face back down to her side.
She looked away, embarrassed that Draco had witnessed her anguish.
"I dunno. Brooding I guess."
This made Draco grin. His white teeth flashed in the dark, which sent an excited shiver down her spine.
"Forget about Justin. He's just a stupid pansy."
Hermione took a step backwards, her back thudding against a tree and glared at him.
"What makes you think that this has anything to do with Justin?"
Locking their gazes, Draco leaned first one hand and then the other against the tree, imprisoning her.
"Come on Granger, I may be ignorant but I'm not stupid."
A look of confusion came over Hermione's face. She opened her mouth to scorn him, but was distracted when he leaned forward, his lips hovering just above hers. Hermione froze in surprise as Draco's stormy eyes seemed to pierce into her soul.
"I'm sorry I've been such a bastard to you, Granger. I would hate to think I ever made you cry." Draco whispered.
Hermione was stunned. Who the hell was this and what had he done to the real Draco Malfoy? She never got the chance to voice her opinion because Draco dipped his head down and kissed her. He kissed her and to her utter amazement she kissed him back. A cascade of emotions flooded her mind and she tried to process what was happening. But all she could think of was that this was her first kiss.Ever. Her First Kiss! It felt amazing! "Wow, who knew Draco could kiss so well. Draco?! Oh My God! I'm kissing Draco Malfoy!" she thought frantically.
She wrenched her mouth away, ending the kiss and gasped for breath. Before she was able to ask Malfoy to explain what had just occurred between them, Draco shoved something into her hand and with a flick of his cloak disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Hermione stared into the shadows, then looked down at her hand. The little black book sitting in her palm was the diary that Malfoy had stolen from her.
~*~
Trudging up the stairs into her dorm room, Hermione winced as the scratches on her face began to sting. She'd have to fix them up, so nobody asked her awkward questions. Feeling bone deep weariness Hermione pushed at her room door, expecting it to be dark and silent. She looked up and saw Grace excitedly bouncing on her bed and grinning up at her.
"Hermione! How did it go with Justin? I'm assuming that's where you went. Tell me." She jabbered happily but stopped when she saw Hermione's slightly pink nose, shiny eyes and scratches on her face. "Oh no! Hermione what's wrong?"
Hermione had thought that she had cried all she could cry, but as the tears began to cloud her vision once more, she knew she was wrong. Grace enfolded her in her arms and gave her a big hug. It all spilled out.
"I was meeting with Justin. I've liked him for absolutely ages and I thought he was going to ask me out.but when I got there he told me he wanted me to ask Lavender if she liked him. Just like that. I knew I could trust you, he said. That's me. Hermione the trustworthy. And like a stupid doormat I agreed to help him. Agghhh." Hermione sobbed. "I'm so stupid. I just thought. well I just had to get out of there so I ran out into the forest."
"That thoughtless bastard!" Grace said and hugged Hermione tighter. She looked up at Grace's furious expression and was glad for her comforting presence. Hermione had to bite the insides of her cheeks to keep herself from telling Grace about the confusing episode with Malfoy. Although Grace would probably understand, she didn't want any one to know about it. At least not yet.
Hermione dried her tears and gave Grace a quick hug before assuring her that she was feeling fine.
"Go to bed. I promise I'll be fine." She said to a droopy-eyed Grace.
As Grace tumbled into bed, Hermione reached into her cloak and retrieved her diary. She was itching to pour her soul into it once more, so she sat down at her desk and pulled out a self-inking quill. She opened the book to a blank page and was just about to start writing when a stray tear fell onto the page. Furiously she put down her quill and wiped away the tears. Steeling herself she picked up the quill once again and looked down at the page. She let out a startled gasp.
Where her tear had fallen on the blank page, black sloping writing began to appear. Hermione read it in a whisper. " No man is worth your tears and the one who is, won't make you cry."
Hermione ran her finger lightly across the quote and recognised Draco's scrawny writing.
~*~ I'm so very very very very sorry to everyone who has been reading my story and has been waiting for so long for it. I hated to neglect my story at such a crucial point but my best friend was in hospital for a month, I fell sick, and then exams started. I know these are pitiful excuses but I really hope you enjoy this chapter. I was so happy to finally get it out. Thanks again to everyone who has read and reviewed my work.Special thanks to FruitloopsX2 for telling me the colour of Draco's eyes. I forgot.
