Chapter Twenty-three Love or Hate?
Okay, here's where it really heats up! I always enjoy writing this, but for the last couple of chapters I've been feeling miserable, because I have to write Hermione being depressed. It's really perked me up, writing something quite cheerful for a change! Don't get me wrong, I love writing all the time, but it's always better writing happy things.
I don't own ANYTHING Harry Potter! Muhahaha so you can't sue me!
Natyslacks- hey is this enough fluff for you? Lol, more is coming but don't think it'll be a smooth course to love! Thankies for the great review, please keep `em coming!
Vincie- I'm back on Neopets! *squeals* Thanks for the review honey! And just because I'm back on neomail, doesn't mean you can give up reviewing my stories… ;) keep them coming!
SanguineSistar- thanks very much, I'm really pleased and flattered you liked it.
Etherelemental- yep Draco has morals, though they vary. Where Hermione's concerned there's a little blind spot but he still has a bit of a nasty side. As for his father… well that comes in later chapters. But please keep reviewing!
Hermione gasped and then quickly stifled her open mouth with her hand, squeezing her fist into a ball so that they wouldn't notice her cry of surprise. She struggled to keep still as she took in what Draco had just said. He said he LOVED her. Was that possible?
It couldn't be. He hated her… didn't he? And she hated him.
No she didn't. She shivered when she thought of that fateful moment on the stairs, but no longer was she filled with the desire to strangle him. But she didn't want to be with him. Did she?
"I've told you now so where is she?" she heard Draco demanding, and went back to listening and watching through the bush.
"To be honest, I don't know," Harry said, scratching his head confusedly. "I'm still in shock. You really love her?"
"Don't ask me to say it again," Malfoy shuddered. "Do you have any idea where she went?"
"Nope, but you know Hermione. Check the library. And don't you upset her; I don't care if you love her, if you hurt her I'll skin you alive. And that's a promise."
Draco didn't say anything, but abruptly spun around and began making his way towards the castle, his white shirt making ripples across his back, his usually neat hair stuck up with stress. Hermione took a deep breath and charged from her hiding place, chasing after him as fast as her legs could carry her. She had no idea why, or even what she was going to say to him. All she knew was that she needed to talk to him- and now.
"Wait," Hermione gasped, pausing and putting her hands on her knees to catch her breath. "I'm here."
Draco stopped and briefly smiled; Hermione felt a pang in her stomach at his smile. It was warm and happy, two things which didn't usually radiate from his face. "I've been looking for you," he said.
"I know," Hermione said, then bit her lip. "I heard everything, Malfoy."
"Call me Draco," he answered. "You were spying were you? I should be angry for that." But he was teasing, and laughed a little, then blushed violently as he remembered what he had said. "You heard EVERYTHING?"
"Everything," Hermione repeated, "and don't worry about your reputation, I won't tell anyone."
"Come here," Draco said, grabbing her hand, looking around furtively and then rushing along to behind a tree, where they could talk in peace. "See, now we can speak properly. And I think it's about time we said our true feelings, don't you? No bullshit." Hermione nodded.
"What you said… did you mean it? I mean really mean it?" Hermione asked nervously. "And you expect me to forgive you for what you did? You made me lose my baby, I'll have you remember."
"I know," he agreed, "and I also happened to make the baby too. Do you think I WANTED you to be pregnant? Admittedly I shouldn't have done what I did, and I regretted it so much. But you can't deny it has made things a lot easier for us both in the long run. Can you imagine what would have happened? You would have been kicked out of school and would never be able to get a job; you'd be lumbered with a kid at sixteen years old, no qualifications, no money, and no chance of a career. And eventually you'd want money and you'd let out that I was the dad, and my reputation would be destroyed, my father would kill me and I would have been disinherited. I would have lost everything; from then on I probably wouldn't have a father. So you see, no matter how horrible and terrible and disgusting it was… in ten years, you'll look back and be glad you don't have a child." Draco finished and looked down at Hermione's trembling face.
"I know," she whispered, "but… I still can't help wonder. It was our flesh and blood." She leant in close to him and hugged him tightly, embracing him with her arms. He sighed and pulled her closer comfortingly, her head nuzzled into the cavern between his neck and shoulder. With one hand he stroked her soft brown curls; the other he draped around her waist.
Without warning she pulled back and looked into his steel gray eyes. "We can put this behind us, can't we Draco?" she asked. "Forget the past and maybe… I don't know…"
"Give it another go?" Draco asked mischievously.
"No," Hermione said firmly. "Slowly slowly… and anyway, who said I feel the same?"
"I say you do," Draco replied, and leant in next to her, his warm breath against her porcelain cheek. He pressed his lips to her ruby red ones and she responded; her lips battling with his own. His tongue caressed the inside of her mouth and she felt a quiver of excitement. Eventually the lingering kiss had to end and Hermione smiled at him, before he gently took her hand in his own and kissed it softly. It had finally happened... Hermione had forgiven him.
"Draco…" she said, her eyes pleading for reassurance. "Do you think it would have looked like us? You know, the baby?"
"Yes Hermione," he answered, his voice unusually gentle. "Yes I do. The baby would have been beautiful. Just like you."
******
"Where've you been?" Ron asked, frowning at his two best friends. They had joined him eating their evening meal in the Hall, but both were unusually silent and for different reasons.
Harry was pondering on Draco; he cared for Hermione immensely and didn't want to see her get hurt. But she wouldn't be stupid enough to love such a prick would she? Well, he thought to himself, she was foolish enough to sleep with him. Anything's possible.
Hermione was also thinking of Draco, but for different reasons to Harry; she couldn't forget the enveloping warmth that had been on the tip of her tongue, or the softness of his touch or the sound of his voice. She couldn't forget the words he'd uttered. She couldn't forget him.
"Hello?" Ron asked.
"Sorry," Hermione and Harry said at the same time.
"I've just… Hermione, did Draco find you? He wanted to talk to you," Harry said.
"Yes," Hermione said truthfully, but the closed look on her face meant that neither of her friends dared ask for more details. "So how did your meeting with Cho go, Ron?"
"Good," Ron answered happily. "We talked about Quidditch for a while, then, well, things got steamy and…" He blushed, his cheeks going the usual red.
"Did you-?" Harry said, not able to finish his sentence. Ron nodded.
"It was great," he smiled. "I was dead nervous but, you know, it was okay. Guess you're the only virgin now, Harry!"
Harry laughed. "I'm waiting until Ginny's at least sixteen thank you!"
But Hermione wasn't listening; Draco had just come in and she noticed that Pansy was behind him, simpering and chatting away. Her mouth dropped. How could he? When he'd been with her? She scowled, and felt a reality check hit her with a thud.
He'd used her before, so why not now? Okay, so this time they'd only kissed, but did he just want her for a bit of fun?
No, Hermione argued silently with herself. He'd said he loved her.
Feeling sick, she glared as Draco made a cutting remark to Neville, then stuck his foot out so a little first year tripped over. The little boy got to his feet, his face red and bits of dust stuck to him. Pansy sat next to Draco, playing with her hair and shooting venomous looks at Hermione out of the corner of her eye.
He's never going to change, Hermione thought sadly. Never. She couldn't understand how he could treat some people so cruelly, yet love her so much. It was like Draco was two people; either that, or she brought out the best in him. Could she cope with that? But just then she had to laugh when Draco turned round and shouted obscenities at Pansy, so cruel that even the cow herself couldn't twist them into compliments. At least he didn't want Pansy.
"But does he want me?" Hermione asked out loud, causing Ron and Harry to stop their conversation midflow.
"You what?" Ron asked.
"Oh, erm, nothing," she stammered, and when she looked up she saw that Draco was smiling at her. And she smiled back, a truly happy loving smile..
It wasn't too soon, was it? Hope not, because it's been building up and it IS Chapter 24! Anyway there's still more tension to come and I thought it was about the right time. But don't think things will go smooth sailing for them; there are still a lot more obstacles to overcome… that is, if they manage to…
