Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter's characters. Everything
belongs to J. K. Rowling. Everything unfamiliar is mine. 8/6
A/N: '' - Basically means that the character is thinking
"" - Basically means that the character is speaking
This is not a continuation to "Models Have Fun".
Thanks for the reviews! Any thoughts? Thanks for the suggestions.
Guys, I'm asking your forgiveness this early because I am suffering
from a major mental-block case. I don't know now what will happen
next. My mind just keep on drifting to my other story, so unless you
guys would help me out by giving suggestions on how can I make
Hermione spend some more time with Draco, I might stay away from this
story until I can think of some more ideas. Frankly, I think pairing
them because the professors want them too is getting overrated. I
need help!
Title: Summer Camp
Chapter13: The Real Me
Draco Malfoy lay motionless on the ground. Madam Hooch stopped the match for a while as she glided towards him. Hermione was staring at him from a distant, shocked at what had happened. 'Why'd he do that?'
Harry and Ron rushed to her side to check up on her. "You alright Hermione?" Harry seemed concerned.
Ron on the other hand was fuming mad. He couldn't believe that somebody aimed a Bludger at her. "Crabbe should've been more careful!"
It took Hermione a while before she could respond. "I'm fine now. Draco's the one you should be worried at."
"Malfoy?" Ron eyed her dangerously. The idea of his ex and his enemy together kept haunting him. "What about him? He just did what his job was. And if I might add, he did a lousy job of protecting his teammates."
Hermione didn't want to argue with him anymore. She looked at Harry for support.
"Ron, let's leave it at that. It wasn't his fault that a Bludger came to her direction, I mean Crabbe was closer."
"So now, you're protecting that prat as well, Harry?" Ron was fuming. He felt that he was loosing his best friends to Malfoy and he didn't like it. "What happened to you guys?"
Harry was also getting irritated. He didn't want to play mediator anymore. He looked at Hermione and said, "I think you should tell him about everything so that he wouldn't get upset anymore." Then he faced Ron, "Mate, Malfoy just protected her. That must amount to something."
The two noticed the hint of irritation and decided to shut up. Although, Ron was thinking of what's the secret that Harry and Hermione shared.
Harry was glad that they didn't argue anymore. He looked down and watched the situation with Draco. "I don't think that he would be able to come back in this match." He raised his right hand and waived it around signaling for a meeting.
He watched as each Gryffindor and Slytherin people came to his side including the benchwarmers. "Malfoy went down and I don't think it is wise to have only 1 Beater and Crabbe for that matter. It seems to me that we still don't trust each other. I want all of you to remember to leave the Gryffindor and Slytherin issues at bay. We are all part of one team now." Harry directed his words at everybody but he didn't take his gaze off of Crabbe.
"So what's the point of this meeting Potter?" Pansy seemed to be protecting her house after the scolding they got from a Gryffindor.
"As I was saying, I don't think it is wise to have only 1 Beater. That means I'm recruiting one of you." He looked at the benchwarmers. He scanned the faces to see who he can trust. Sure he can trust all the Gryffindors but Lavender and Parvati just don't seem like the Beater type. Neville on the other hand was courageous and all but he was also clumsy. He could end up hurting one of his own rather than their opponent. Seamus seemed the logical person to choose, and then it hit him. "Seamus, I've seen you move with a Quaffle once and I think you'd do great a job today."
Seamus looked astonished. "Quaffle? Chaser you mean? I thought you were looking for a candidate for a Beater?"
"Yeah but I think Ron would do a great job with that as well." He looked carefully at his friend.
"Wait a minute Harry, you already placed me as a Chaser, which by the way is not my forte. I have no arguments on that anymore since I'm getting the hang of it. If you'd change my position again you will be debating with a very aggravated person."
"Ron, seriously, I believe that you have potential in all the part of Quidditch. I know you too well to think that you are the best candidate for that job. I trust you and I know you."
Ron couldn't believe his ears. "Fine whatever. Tell me mate, when Malfoy get back what will my position be?"
"Let's just try to finish this match and then we'll worry about the next one next time." He paused carefully choosing his tone, "So, does this mean you accept my offer?"
"As long as Seamus gives his ok."
Harry faced Seamus who looked threatened and nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Gryffindor-Slytherin team won the match. Hermione lost her touch at the last part of the match. Her mind seemed to drift to a certain someone. Harry was responsible for their victory. He noticed that Hermione was distant. He didn't know for what reason. He had a few guesses but he was just not sure. Was she distant because of the Bludger experience or because of Malfoy who was lying somewhere to recuperate? He knew that the only way for them to win was to get the Snitch as soon as possible. Both Ron and Seamus were still on the verge of getting used with their position and it didn't look good. Ron was ok for the position, he helped some of his teammates from getting hit but he was still a little awkward which caused him time. There were a lot of cases of 'too close' but he was getting used to it and was having fun as well.
When the game ended Harry's team cheered the players but Hermione didn't want to participate. She was really worried about Draco's condition. She slipped from the crowd and started looking for him.
"Where are you going?" Lupin blocked her way.
"Professor, I just." Hermione felt defeated. She couldn't think of any alibi, her mind was already occupied.
"You just want to see how he's doing right?" Lupin filled it up for her.
Hermione nodded, as she did this she noticed Sirius was at Lupin's side. "Looks like I'm not the only who's changed?" She patted his head. She returned her gaze to Lupin, "Professor, if I might ask, where is he?"
"I'm afraid you cannot see her Hermione."
"Why? I mean he got hurt because of me."
"It's nothing like that. You can't see him because he's staying in the guys cabin and no girl is allowed to enter it."
Hermione didn't like the idea of being referred to as a girl; she'll be having her 17th birthday this year. She's not a girl anymore, but she didn't argue. She figured it wouldn't make a difference anyway. That's how they see her and the only way to change it is if she would stop acting like a little girl anymore. She decided to face everything put in her way and not to run away. (Like her plan of leaving the island early.)
"Um, he is ok, right?"
"He's doing fine." Lupin put his right arm around her shoulder as he led her to a secluded area. with Sirius following at their back. When they were out of sight from everybody else Sirius returned to his original form.
Hermione couldn't help herself, "I guess you're wrong now, Sirius, Malfoys can change."
Sirius just shook his head.
"Hermione, that's the reason we pulled you here."
"I don't understand."
"But before that, how did you manage to make him act the way he did today? Earlier he was grumpy and I sort of saw you arguing with him as well." Lupin looked amused. He couldn't believe a muggle-hating wizard could be so protective of a muggle-born witch.
Hermione blushed and lowered her head to avoid their gaze.
Sirius was getting irritated, "Let's get started, Harry and the others will be looking for her soon."
"What Sirius is trying to get at is this." Lupin pulled a chain from his pocket and handed it to Hermione.
Hermione noticed that it was the necklace that Draco wore before. "That's Draco's right?"
Lupin nodded.
"Why'd you take it?"
"Hermione, can you remember a time when that looked different?"
Hermione remembered that the eyes of the snake were glittering before. "The snake emitted a green light from its eyes."
"Go on." Lupin urged her.
"Go on?"
"What happened then?" Sirius asked impatiently.
"I just noticed it and nothing happened."
"What did Malfoy do next?" Sirius was loosing each ounce of his patience.
"Nothing. What's going on?"
Lupin gave a sigh, "Hermione, this is really important. I want to know what he or you did next."
"I commented it to him and he went away."
"Now we're getting somewhere." Sirius's eye's glowed.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked again.
"Hermione," Lupin tried to explain to her. "Hermione you know that Dumbledore used a spell to keep anyone or anything in and out of this place right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know of any other way of communicating with other witches or wizards aside from owls and the likes?"
"I'm familiar of a few."
"Good, then this will be an easy explanation. This chain that Draco Malfoy wears is not an ordinary chain." He stopped wishing she would catch on.
And she did. 'FUCK! Draco was communicating to somebody else with that chain.' "You mean Draco's been giving secrets to their side?"
"We're not really sure he has any secrets to tell. unless of course you said."
"NO! I didn't! I may be controlled before but I would never tell anything that I know could bring harm to us."
"I'm glad to hear that. I just want you to be careful with him. He may have changed but I still think that he could betray your trust."
"I know that now." Hermione was depressed. She thought everything was going to be fine now. She took Draco's move earlier of protecting her as a sign that she could trust him but now.
Lupin didn't want to see her so depressed, "We also don't know if he said anything to anyone. I'm not condemning him of anything. Trust your better judgments. If that doesn't work, remember your best friends."
Hermione sort of found comfort with his words and nodded before she left them.
"And by the way, you're a good Keeper." Sirius felt bad at how he acted and guilty at how sad she looked right now.
That remark brought a smile on her face.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione joined Harry and Ron as they recounted the better parts of the match from the potion war to the Quidditch match. Somehow, there was a building awkwardness between Gryffindors and the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff team. That's understandable considering what happened earlier.
"Where've you been?" Harry was anxious to see her.
"I've just had a talk with Professor Lupin."
Harry's eyebrow shot up. "About what? About him?"
"Yeah."
Ron didn't like being left out. "You guys, what are you talking about?"
Harry looked at Hermione pleading her to tell Ron about what happened. Hermione didn't want to since she knows that he will only overreact.
"Sorry mate, not my story to tell."
Ron rolled his eyes before facing Hermione, "Hermione?"
"I will if you promise that you won't blow your head."
"I promise." .
~~~~~~~~~~
Try as hard as he can but he couldn't help but feel utter remorse at the idea. "So what you're trying to say is that you are obliged to befriend the slimy git or else you would be controlled by the fairies?"
"Right."
Ron was shocked at her response. "OK." He looked at Harry who only raised his shoulders. "So long as you never intended to act civilly to him, I guess I can't blame you."
Hermione smiled, she didn't think it would go well.
"This means Malfoy has to befriend you as well, right?"
"Yeah, I guess." Hermione thought for a moment, "Wait, you're not thinking of what I'm thinking are you?"
"Oh come on Hermione, we can use this to our advantage."
"Ron, I promised that this would be kept a secret and I broke that promise for you, please don't do it."
"Fine, but when are you going to stop this 'relationship' that you have with him?"
"Professor Lupin is already looking into it."
Harry was silent long enough, "So Hermione, how did it feel to play Keeper?"
"Wasn't as bad as I thought."
"Bad! There's nothing bad about being a Keeper." Ron was defending his position.
"Remember, I don't like riding on broomsticks."
Ron gave a smile.
Harry wasn't sure he liked what was happening. Sure he didn't want to hide anything from Ron. He also wanted things to work out with the 2. But seeing them like this makes him feel weird things, things that aren't supposed to be felt by anyone with their best friends. 'I'm not jealous of them, I have no right to be.' "So, should we prepare another party for our victory?"
Ron saw Harry's pathetic attempt to get Hermione's attention but he didn't speak to him about it. Instead he waited for Hermione to answer.
"I really don't know, I mean we've been partying for 2 weeks now, I think that people need time to rest too."
Harry didn't like the answer. He was looking forward for another round of 'Suck and Blow'.
Hermione noticed and added, "If we're going to celebrate every time we win then we'd be celebrating every week. With Harry as our Seeker, there'd be no chance for the other team to defeat us."
Harry's mood seemed to lighten with the compliment that he got from her.
~~~~~~~~~~
That night, Hermione couldn't sleep. Once again she sneaked out of her cabin and headed towards the beach. She began thinking of what happened earlier as she sat underneath a coconut tree. She was so sure that Draco meant to shield her. She didn't believe that he did it because of the fairies. She truly believed that Draco did it because he wanted to. 'What am I thinking, I'm just a mudblood to him. He might have forgotten it now but I know that's how he sees me still. Is it just wishful thinking to believe that he cares about me? Does this mean I want him to care about me?' She folded her feet and hugged them.
"You seem distressed."
Hermione looked for the source of the voice, "Draco, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be resting?"
"I've done enough of that earlier. And here I thought you would've wanted to talk to me."
"Don't be so arrogant, why would I want to talk to you?"
"Am I not the one who received that Bludger?" He took a seat beside her, facing the ocean.
Hermione blushed at the confrontation. "I.I."
"It's ok, I understand."
Hermione could see that he was troubled.
"Funny isn't it, we began talking to each other in a lake and when we were forbidden we still end up together and in the beach."
"Coincidence?"
"Maybe." Draco added to himself, 'or maybe faith.'
"Draco, are you alright?"
"Don't worry, all I got was some few bruised ribs, nothing serious."
"I wasn't talking about that, you seemed a little disturbed as well." 'Is this about the chain?'
Draco stared at the open sea. "Do you know what scares me?"
Hermione tensed, she hasn't seen Draco like this before.
"I think that we're getting really close. The fact that I'm telling you this."
Hermione wouldn't let him finish, "If that's all you don't have to worry, I'm sure the moment we leave this island, everything will go back to the way it should be." Somehow, she didn't like that idea.
"Are you sure that we are still under their spell? What if.?"
"Don't worry, when we get back to Hogwarts you'll be back to the obnoxious slimy git that I met 6 years ago."
"What if we can't go back?"
"Does being my friend that bad for you!?!"
This time, Draco faced her, "You don't understand."
"Oh I think I have a clue! To think that I was beginning to think of you as a friend, I guess I was wrong. How can I possibly like someone who hates my kind!?!" She started to stand up but Draco held on to her hand. "What!"
"Wait, let me explain."
Hermione waited for his explanation.
"This is hard for me."
"And you think this is easy for me!?!"
"What I'm trying to get at is that I've never actually had a friend before. I don't know what to do or how to act."
"Huh?"
"I know I'm not making sense, but my family is different from yours. Liking someone is equivalent to weakness."
"You're right, our families are not the same, for us, liking someone gives us strength. They make us stronger. We know that there'll be somebody who's going to watch my back."
"To us however, friends are obstacles. Your enemy for instance can get to you by attacking your friend. You maybe prepared but you let yourself get vulnerable because of your friend. You become weak by protecting more people rather than just protecting yourself."
"Friends, when they support you can boost your powers. When you know someone believes in you and supports you, you get the courage and the ability to do more than you are capable of doing."
"We're fighting again."
"Nah. Think of it as a debate. It's healthy to debate with friends, you get to know them better that way." Hermione sat once again beside Draco. "Tell me, the thing you said earlier about."
"Liking you?"
"Yeah, that one, was it for real?"
"Don't you want it? I can't help what I feel."
"It's not that," She didn't know how to respond so she changed the topic. "Ron now also knows about the fairies."
"I figured."
"Aren't you mad?"
"Is there anything I can do about it?"
"Guess not."
"Hermione, how did we win earlier?"
"Harry caught the snitch just in time. I couldn't catch a single Quaffle."
"Was it because you were worried about me?" He teased.
"Me? Worry about you? Why?" She teased back.
"I imagine a lot of Bludger came your way?"
"Ron wouldn't let that happen?"
"Excuse me?"
"Harry put Seamus in replacement of Ron since Ron took your. assumed to be a Beater."
Draco was having a hard time masking his feelings. He didn't like Harry taking his place as Seeker but Ron taking his place as Beater was more than he can handle. 'How can that idiot.'
His train of thoughts were interrupted, "Draco."
He gazed into her eyes. He anticipated what she was going to say. He could feel his heartbeat quicken as he stared into her eyes.
"I just wanted to say, thanks."
That wasn't what he wanted to hear, but then again this was the first time he heard her say 'thanks' to him. He gave her a sincere smile.
'Oh my. when did he got that amazing smile.' "You know, you should smile more often, it suits you." Her heart was skipping a beat every second.
'She's flirting with me!' He smiled wider.
Hermione could feel all her defenses melting away. His smile was just so inviting, she started to lean towards him and could feel his breath.
Draco took her action as a sign. He closed the distance between them and finally tasted her lips for the first real time.
Hermione's lips felt like they were burning. She moaned from the pleasure at the touch of their lips. Draco couldn't help himself. He slid his tongue inside teasing her to do the same. Hermione couldn't think, she didn't want to think, all she wanted was to increase the pleasure that she was feeling. She used her tongue to satisfy her desire. Draco in one swift movement turned Hermione over her back as he climbed on top of her. He deepened the kiss, frustrated that he couldn't do more. He respected her too much and wouldn't want to make any mistakes. When he heard her moan again he felt outraged. She was so near yet so far. His desire was also growing and wanted to be satisfied. He moved lower to her neck gently biting on it. He sucked and kissed skin to soothe the sting.
"Draco."
That jumpstarted back his brain. He leaned to one side as he watched her recover.
"What did I do wrong?" Hermione asked, blushing.
"Nothing. It's just me."
Hermione let go of the topic although she didn't want to. She felt rejected. "What's wrong then."
"Remember the moment when the Bludger was after you?"
"Yeah, you protected me from it."
"Do you know how I felt when I saw it coming towards you?"
Hermione blushed.
"I felt like, nothing else mattered but getting to you in time. I don't know what I would've done if I was too late."
Hermione blushed deeper.
"I was scared that I would lose you. And I've never felt anything close to that before. What I'm trying to say is." He took a deep breath before continuing. "I care about you, I like you and I don't want to lose you."
Hermione couldn't believe what she just heard. She stood up quickly and ran away.
"That didn't go so well." Draco whispered to himself.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione took off running without looking. She just kept on running. She didn't realize that she ended up in the lake. 'What's happening to me! I don't know what I feel anymore!'
'You like him too and you know it. You should be glad that the feeling's mutual.'
'But he just might be using me. I mean, the chain and all. He could be using me to get information for Voldemort or to hurt Harry. I can't let him do that!'
'Lupin said that he might not have betrayed you or anything yet.'
'That's bull! He's a Malfoy, and Malfoys are followers of Voldemort! How can I trust him? This is getting out of hand. Why did I let him kiss me? Why did I kiss him back? Why did I like it?'
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Obviously, trust is a big thing for her. She still doesn't know
at this point that one of her best friends is falling for her.
A/N: '' - Basically means that the character is thinking
"" - Basically means that the character is speaking
This is not a continuation to "Models Have Fun".
Thanks for the reviews! Any thoughts? Thanks for the suggestions.
Guys, I'm asking your forgiveness this early because I am suffering
from a major mental-block case. I don't know now what will happen
next. My mind just keep on drifting to my other story, so unless you
guys would help me out by giving suggestions on how can I make
Hermione spend some more time with Draco, I might stay away from this
story until I can think of some more ideas. Frankly, I think pairing
them because the professors want them too is getting overrated. I
need help!
Title: Summer Camp
Chapter13: The Real Me
Draco Malfoy lay motionless on the ground. Madam Hooch stopped the match for a while as she glided towards him. Hermione was staring at him from a distant, shocked at what had happened. 'Why'd he do that?'
Harry and Ron rushed to her side to check up on her. "You alright Hermione?" Harry seemed concerned.
Ron on the other hand was fuming mad. He couldn't believe that somebody aimed a Bludger at her. "Crabbe should've been more careful!"
It took Hermione a while before she could respond. "I'm fine now. Draco's the one you should be worried at."
"Malfoy?" Ron eyed her dangerously. The idea of his ex and his enemy together kept haunting him. "What about him? He just did what his job was. And if I might add, he did a lousy job of protecting his teammates."
Hermione didn't want to argue with him anymore. She looked at Harry for support.
"Ron, let's leave it at that. It wasn't his fault that a Bludger came to her direction, I mean Crabbe was closer."
"So now, you're protecting that prat as well, Harry?" Ron was fuming. He felt that he was loosing his best friends to Malfoy and he didn't like it. "What happened to you guys?"
Harry was also getting irritated. He didn't want to play mediator anymore. He looked at Hermione and said, "I think you should tell him about everything so that he wouldn't get upset anymore." Then he faced Ron, "Mate, Malfoy just protected her. That must amount to something."
The two noticed the hint of irritation and decided to shut up. Although, Ron was thinking of what's the secret that Harry and Hermione shared.
Harry was glad that they didn't argue anymore. He looked down and watched the situation with Draco. "I don't think that he would be able to come back in this match." He raised his right hand and waived it around signaling for a meeting.
He watched as each Gryffindor and Slytherin people came to his side including the benchwarmers. "Malfoy went down and I don't think it is wise to have only 1 Beater and Crabbe for that matter. It seems to me that we still don't trust each other. I want all of you to remember to leave the Gryffindor and Slytherin issues at bay. We are all part of one team now." Harry directed his words at everybody but he didn't take his gaze off of Crabbe.
"So what's the point of this meeting Potter?" Pansy seemed to be protecting her house after the scolding they got from a Gryffindor.
"As I was saying, I don't think it is wise to have only 1 Beater. That means I'm recruiting one of you." He looked at the benchwarmers. He scanned the faces to see who he can trust. Sure he can trust all the Gryffindors but Lavender and Parvati just don't seem like the Beater type. Neville on the other hand was courageous and all but he was also clumsy. He could end up hurting one of his own rather than their opponent. Seamus seemed the logical person to choose, and then it hit him. "Seamus, I've seen you move with a Quaffle once and I think you'd do great a job today."
Seamus looked astonished. "Quaffle? Chaser you mean? I thought you were looking for a candidate for a Beater?"
"Yeah but I think Ron would do a great job with that as well." He looked carefully at his friend.
"Wait a minute Harry, you already placed me as a Chaser, which by the way is not my forte. I have no arguments on that anymore since I'm getting the hang of it. If you'd change my position again you will be debating with a very aggravated person."
"Ron, seriously, I believe that you have potential in all the part of Quidditch. I know you too well to think that you are the best candidate for that job. I trust you and I know you."
Ron couldn't believe his ears. "Fine whatever. Tell me mate, when Malfoy get back what will my position be?"
"Let's just try to finish this match and then we'll worry about the next one next time." He paused carefully choosing his tone, "So, does this mean you accept my offer?"
"As long as Seamus gives his ok."
Harry faced Seamus who looked threatened and nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Gryffindor-Slytherin team won the match. Hermione lost her touch at the last part of the match. Her mind seemed to drift to a certain someone. Harry was responsible for their victory. He noticed that Hermione was distant. He didn't know for what reason. He had a few guesses but he was just not sure. Was she distant because of the Bludger experience or because of Malfoy who was lying somewhere to recuperate? He knew that the only way for them to win was to get the Snitch as soon as possible. Both Ron and Seamus were still on the verge of getting used with their position and it didn't look good. Ron was ok for the position, he helped some of his teammates from getting hit but he was still a little awkward which caused him time. There were a lot of cases of 'too close' but he was getting used to it and was having fun as well.
When the game ended Harry's team cheered the players but Hermione didn't want to participate. She was really worried about Draco's condition. She slipped from the crowd and started looking for him.
"Where are you going?" Lupin blocked her way.
"Professor, I just." Hermione felt defeated. She couldn't think of any alibi, her mind was already occupied.
"You just want to see how he's doing right?" Lupin filled it up for her.
Hermione nodded, as she did this she noticed Sirius was at Lupin's side. "Looks like I'm not the only who's changed?" She patted his head. She returned her gaze to Lupin, "Professor, if I might ask, where is he?"
"I'm afraid you cannot see her Hermione."
"Why? I mean he got hurt because of me."
"It's nothing like that. You can't see him because he's staying in the guys cabin and no girl is allowed to enter it."
Hermione didn't like the idea of being referred to as a girl; she'll be having her 17th birthday this year. She's not a girl anymore, but she didn't argue. She figured it wouldn't make a difference anyway. That's how they see her and the only way to change it is if she would stop acting like a little girl anymore. She decided to face everything put in her way and not to run away. (Like her plan of leaving the island early.)
"Um, he is ok, right?"
"He's doing fine." Lupin put his right arm around her shoulder as he led her to a secluded area. with Sirius following at their back. When they were out of sight from everybody else Sirius returned to his original form.
Hermione couldn't help herself, "I guess you're wrong now, Sirius, Malfoys can change."
Sirius just shook his head.
"Hermione, that's the reason we pulled you here."
"I don't understand."
"But before that, how did you manage to make him act the way he did today? Earlier he was grumpy and I sort of saw you arguing with him as well." Lupin looked amused. He couldn't believe a muggle-hating wizard could be so protective of a muggle-born witch.
Hermione blushed and lowered her head to avoid their gaze.
Sirius was getting irritated, "Let's get started, Harry and the others will be looking for her soon."
"What Sirius is trying to get at is this." Lupin pulled a chain from his pocket and handed it to Hermione.
Hermione noticed that it was the necklace that Draco wore before. "That's Draco's right?"
Lupin nodded.
"Why'd you take it?"
"Hermione, can you remember a time when that looked different?"
Hermione remembered that the eyes of the snake were glittering before. "The snake emitted a green light from its eyes."
"Go on." Lupin urged her.
"Go on?"
"What happened then?" Sirius asked impatiently.
"I just noticed it and nothing happened."
"What did Malfoy do next?" Sirius was loosing each ounce of his patience.
"Nothing. What's going on?"
Lupin gave a sigh, "Hermione, this is really important. I want to know what he or you did next."
"I commented it to him and he went away."
"Now we're getting somewhere." Sirius's eye's glowed.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked again.
"Hermione," Lupin tried to explain to her. "Hermione you know that Dumbledore used a spell to keep anyone or anything in and out of this place right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know of any other way of communicating with other witches or wizards aside from owls and the likes?"
"I'm familiar of a few."
"Good, then this will be an easy explanation. This chain that Draco Malfoy wears is not an ordinary chain." He stopped wishing she would catch on.
And she did. 'FUCK! Draco was communicating to somebody else with that chain.' "You mean Draco's been giving secrets to their side?"
"We're not really sure he has any secrets to tell. unless of course you said."
"NO! I didn't! I may be controlled before but I would never tell anything that I know could bring harm to us."
"I'm glad to hear that. I just want you to be careful with him. He may have changed but I still think that he could betray your trust."
"I know that now." Hermione was depressed. She thought everything was going to be fine now. She took Draco's move earlier of protecting her as a sign that she could trust him but now.
Lupin didn't want to see her so depressed, "We also don't know if he said anything to anyone. I'm not condemning him of anything. Trust your better judgments. If that doesn't work, remember your best friends."
Hermione sort of found comfort with his words and nodded before she left them.
"And by the way, you're a good Keeper." Sirius felt bad at how he acted and guilty at how sad she looked right now.
That remark brought a smile on her face.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione joined Harry and Ron as they recounted the better parts of the match from the potion war to the Quidditch match. Somehow, there was a building awkwardness between Gryffindors and the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff team. That's understandable considering what happened earlier.
"Where've you been?" Harry was anxious to see her.
"I've just had a talk with Professor Lupin."
Harry's eyebrow shot up. "About what? About him?"
"Yeah."
Ron didn't like being left out. "You guys, what are you talking about?"
Harry looked at Hermione pleading her to tell Ron about what happened. Hermione didn't want to since she knows that he will only overreact.
"Sorry mate, not my story to tell."
Ron rolled his eyes before facing Hermione, "Hermione?"
"I will if you promise that you won't blow your head."
"I promise." .
~~~~~~~~~~
Try as hard as he can but he couldn't help but feel utter remorse at the idea. "So what you're trying to say is that you are obliged to befriend the slimy git or else you would be controlled by the fairies?"
"Right."
Ron was shocked at her response. "OK." He looked at Harry who only raised his shoulders. "So long as you never intended to act civilly to him, I guess I can't blame you."
Hermione smiled, she didn't think it would go well.
"This means Malfoy has to befriend you as well, right?"
"Yeah, I guess." Hermione thought for a moment, "Wait, you're not thinking of what I'm thinking are you?"
"Oh come on Hermione, we can use this to our advantage."
"Ron, I promised that this would be kept a secret and I broke that promise for you, please don't do it."
"Fine, but when are you going to stop this 'relationship' that you have with him?"
"Professor Lupin is already looking into it."
Harry was silent long enough, "So Hermione, how did it feel to play Keeper?"
"Wasn't as bad as I thought."
"Bad! There's nothing bad about being a Keeper." Ron was defending his position.
"Remember, I don't like riding on broomsticks."
Ron gave a smile.
Harry wasn't sure he liked what was happening. Sure he didn't want to hide anything from Ron. He also wanted things to work out with the 2. But seeing them like this makes him feel weird things, things that aren't supposed to be felt by anyone with their best friends. 'I'm not jealous of them, I have no right to be.' "So, should we prepare another party for our victory?"
Ron saw Harry's pathetic attempt to get Hermione's attention but he didn't speak to him about it. Instead he waited for Hermione to answer.
"I really don't know, I mean we've been partying for 2 weeks now, I think that people need time to rest too."
Harry didn't like the answer. He was looking forward for another round of 'Suck and Blow'.
Hermione noticed and added, "If we're going to celebrate every time we win then we'd be celebrating every week. With Harry as our Seeker, there'd be no chance for the other team to defeat us."
Harry's mood seemed to lighten with the compliment that he got from her.
~~~~~~~~~~
That night, Hermione couldn't sleep. Once again she sneaked out of her cabin and headed towards the beach. She began thinking of what happened earlier as she sat underneath a coconut tree. She was so sure that Draco meant to shield her. She didn't believe that he did it because of the fairies. She truly believed that Draco did it because he wanted to. 'What am I thinking, I'm just a mudblood to him. He might have forgotten it now but I know that's how he sees me still. Is it just wishful thinking to believe that he cares about me? Does this mean I want him to care about me?' She folded her feet and hugged them.
"You seem distressed."
Hermione looked for the source of the voice, "Draco, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be resting?"
"I've done enough of that earlier. And here I thought you would've wanted to talk to me."
"Don't be so arrogant, why would I want to talk to you?"
"Am I not the one who received that Bludger?" He took a seat beside her, facing the ocean.
Hermione blushed at the confrontation. "I.I."
"It's ok, I understand."
Hermione could see that he was troubled.
"Funny isn't it, we began talking to each other in a lake and when we were forbidden we still end up together and in the beach."
"Coincidence?"
"Maybe." Draco added to himself, 'or maybe faith.'
"Draco, are you alright?"
"Don't worry, all I got was some few bruised ribs, nothing serious."
"I wasn't talking about that, you seemed a little disturbed as well." 'Is this about the chain?'
Draco stared at the open sea. "Do you know what scares me?"
Hermione tensed, she hasn't seen Draco like this before.
"I think that we're getting really close. The fact that I'm telling you this."
Hermione wouldn't let him finish, "If that's all you don't have to worry, I'm sure the moment we leave this island, everything will go back to the way it should be." Somehow, she didn't like that idea.
"Are you sure that we are still under their spell? What if.?"
"Don't worry, when we get back to Hogwarts you'll be back to the obnoxious slimy git that I met 6 years ago."
"What if we can't go back?"
"Does being my friend that bad for you!?!"
This time, Draco faced her, "You don't understand."
"Oh I think I have a clue! To think that I was beginning to think of you as a friend, I guess I was wrong. How can I possibly like someone who hates my kind!?!" She started to stand up but Draco held on to her hand. "What!"
"Wait, let me explain."
Hermione waited for his explanation.
"This is hard for me."
"And you think this is easy for me!?!"
"What I'm trying to get at is that I've never actually had a friend before. I don't know what to do or how to act."
"Huh?"
"I know I'm not making sense, but my family is different from yours. Liking someone is equivalent to weakness."
"You're right, our families are not the same, for us, liking someone gives us strength. They make us stronger. We know that there'll be somebody who's going to watch my back."
"To us however, friends are obstacles. Your enemy for instance can get to you by attacking your friend. You maybe prepared but you let yourself get vulnerable because of your friend. You become weak by protecting more people rather than just protecting yourself."
"Friends, when they support you can boost your powers. When you know someone believes in you and supports you, you get the courage and the ability to do more than you are capable of doing."
"We're fighting again."
"Nah. Think of it as a debate. It's healthy to debate with friends, you get to know them better that way." Hermione sat once again beside Draco. "Tell me, the thing you said earlier about."
"Liking you?"
"Yeah, that one, was it for real?"
"Don't you want it? I can't help what I feel."
"It's not that," She didn't know how to respond so she changed the topic. "Ron now also knows about the fairies."
"I figured."
"Aren't you mad?"
"Is there anything I can do about it?"
"Guess not."
"Hermione, how did we win earlier?"
"Harry caught the snitch just in time. I couldn't catch a single Quaffle."
"Was it because you were worried about me?" He teased.
"Me? Worry about you? Why?" She teased back.
"I imagine a lot of Bludger came your way?"
"Ron wouldn't let that happen?"
"Excuse me?"
"Harry put Seamus in replacement of Ron since Ron took your. assumed to be a Beater."
Draco was having a hard time masking his feelings. He didn't like Harry taking his place as Seeker but Ron taking his place as Beater was more than he can handle. 'How can that idiot.'
His train of thoughts were interrupted, "Draco."
He gazed into her eyes. He anticipated what she was going to say. He could feel his heartbeat quicken as he stared into her eyes.
"I just wanted to say, thanks."
That wasn't what he wanted to hear, but then again this was the first time he heard her say 'thanks' to him. He gave her a sincere smile.
'Oh my. when did he got that amazing smile.' "You know, you should smile more often, it suits you." Her heart was skipping a beat every second.
'She's flirting with me!' He smiled wider.
Hermione could feel all her defenses melting away. His smile was just so inviting, she started to lean towards him and could feel his breath.
Draco took her action as a sign. He closed the distance between them and finally tasted her lips for the first real time.
Hermione's lips felt like they were burning. She moaned from the pleasure at the touch of their lips. Draco couldn't help himself. He slid his tongue inside teasing her to do the same. Hermione couldn't think, she didn't want to think, all she wanted was to increase the pleasure that she was feeling. She used her tongue to satisfy her desire. Draco in one swift movement turned Hermione over her back as he climbed on top of her. He deepened the kiss, frustrated that he couldn't do more. He respected her too much and wouldn't want to make any mistakes. When he heard her moan again he felt outraged. She was so near yet so far. His desire was also growing and wanted to be satisfied. He moved lower to her neck gently biting on it. He sucked and kissed skin to soothe the sting.
"Draco."
That jumpstarted back his brain. He leaned to one side as he watched her recover.
"What did I do wrong?" Hermione asked, blushing.
"Nothing. It's just me."
Hermione let go of the topic although she didn't want to. She felt rejected. "What's wrong then."
"Remember the moment when the Bludger was after you?"
"Yeah, you protected me from it."
"Do you know how I felt when I saw it coming towards you?"
Hermione blushed.
"I felt like, nothing else mattered but getting to you in time. I don't know what I would've done if I was too late."
Hermione blushed deeper.
"I was scared that I would lose you. And I've never felt anything close to that before. What I'm trying to say is." He took a deep breath before continuing. "I care about you, I like you and I don't want to lose you."
Hermione couldn't believe what she just heard. She stood up quickly and ran away.
"That didn't go so well." Draco whispered to himself.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione took off running without looking. She just kept on running. She didn't realize that she ended up in the lake. 'What's happening to me! I don't know what I feel anymore!'
'You like him too and you know it. You should be glad that the feeling's mutual.'
'But he just might be using me. I mean, the chain and all. He could be using me to get information for Voldemort or to hurt Harry. I can't let him do that!'
'Lupin said that he might not have betrayed you or anything yet.'
'That's bull! He's a Malfoy, and Malfoys are followers of Voldemort! How can I trust him? This is getting out of hand. Why did I let him kiss me? Why did I kiss him back? Why did I like it?'
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Obviously, trust is a big thing for her. She still doesn't know
at this point that one of her best friends is falling for her.