Chapter 15- Privacy
When they pulled away, Draco smiled. "I'm glad no one's here this vacation," he commented quietly.
"Yes," Hermione replied. "It would be terrible if anyone found out that you were dating a Mudblood."
Draco winced. He heard the note of resentment in her voice.
"*You've* said it often enough," she remarked.
"I know," he said. "And I knew you would still be holding it against me. I don't blame you in the slightest, I blame myself for everything. But I already told you, I had little choice in the whole thing. I feel terrible for ever calling you that. I've apologized to you millions of times, even if you could never hear me."
"Well, you're forgiven," she said, "but no one else is."
"Good. Don't forgive them. I don't even think I deserve it."
"Yes, you do. Besides, I can't be holding a grudge against my boyfriend," she smiled.
Sighing with masked relief, he leaned closer. She met him halfway and they kissed again. Hermione giggled slightly. "You're a very good artist," she said, "but your realism needs work. The picture-Hermione looks nothing like me."
"You're right. I could never capture such beauty on a canvas."
"Stop it."
"I'm serious. Half your beauty is in your personality. How can I do that with paints? It's impossible."
"I wonder what the picture of me is doing right now."
"Probably telling Weasley and Potter to start studying for N.E.W.T.s," Draco snorted.
"That's not funny, Draco."
"Yes it is." They both laughed.
"Why can't you at least try to be friends with them?"
"When they're friendly to me, I'll do the same for them," Draco said. "It's the largest compromise I'll agree to make, so you'd better be happy with it." He shook his finger in front of her face in a surprisingly McGonagall-esque gesture. She took his hand in hers tenderly, looking deeply into his eyes. For a moment he thought she could read his thoughts…and the thoughts he was having involving her at that moment were not ones he wanted to share. His mouth broke into a grin. "Still want to wrestle?"
She started, having drifted off into some private thought. "Well…only if you promise to let me win."
"Not fair. Anyway, you wouldn't be satisfied unless you really earned it."
"True. You do know me, Draco."
"Let's go, then."
Ten minutes later, Draco was pinning Hermione to the floor. "We seem to find ourselves in this position often," he said, with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I do hope it will become a trend."
Her eyes widened. "Draco! That's just- wrong." Then she dissolved into giggles again, still underneath him. He leaned down to kiss her. She yielded to his lips, and he savored her warm, gentle kiss.
"You've taken to giggling a lot," he noted.
"Well, if I have it's all your fault."
"Just like everything else will be, I can tell."
"No, I wouldn't blame *everything* on you."
"Oh, of course not. Just all the things that matter." A brief staring contest ensued, followed by shy smiles and more kissing.
That evening, as usual for this holiday, everyone ate at one large table, instead of five. A Ravenclaw third year sat to the left of the headmaster, who had done a splendid job at planning a party for Christmas night.
"Under your plate you'll find a special prize," he said. "Go ahead, look now before all the food covers it."
Draco lifted his plate carefully. Underneath was a large silver cracker. Looking around, he saw that everyone else had the same, but the contents were quite different when you opened it. His contained a Skiving Snackbox, some Fizzing Whizbees, a package of fireworks, and a tall green top hat, along with a large amount of confetti. He looked down the table to Hermione, whose hat was pointed and pink with a silk flowered veil trailing off the back. She looked disapprovingly at his Skiving Snackbox, but winked almost imperceptibly when he caught her eye.
She was sitting next to Potter and Weasley, who had received variations of his hat. Weasley's had a large orange star attached to the front, and Potter's was overgrown with purple vines. The two of them were exchanging indescribable looks as they swapped Weasley's Every Flavor Beans with Potter's chocolate frogs.
And dinner was delicious. *Not the usual anymore. The house elves have actually outdone themselves. Or that might just be my sudden elation, making the food taste better…* In all honesty, he could not tell.
He nervously caught up to Dumbledore as they left the table. "Um, Headmaster?" he said awkwardly, catching his attention. Dumbledore turned his twinkling eyes on him.
"Yes, Mister Malfoy?"
"I- that is- I was wondering…if I could go to Hogsmeade…with…um- with Hermione," he said, looking at his feet. He chanced a quick look at Professor Dumbledore, who peered at him with interest.
"I suspected something unexpected," he said cheerfully. "Ah, well, let me see. You are sixth years, both quite competent, I think you could do without a chaperone. You may go tomorrow, from noon to five of the clock in the evening. Is that satisfactory?"
"Yes, thank you, Headmaster." Draco gave him a grateful half-smile before shuffling off toward the dungeons. Sagittus was waiting for him when he gave the wall the password.
"You seem to be happy," the dark-haired boy said in a ringing monotone.
"I am," Draco replied. "Thank you for helping me. I doubt I would have gotten her alone."
"Don't mention it." Sagittus displayed a sly grin. "I hate to see a good guy wallowing in depression." He disappeared into his room, leaving Draco alone to think about his new relationship.
************************************************************************
"Do you have your cloak?" he asked. Hermione held it up in her right hand. "Put it on, then. Hurry up, we only have until five."
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Hogsmeade. Come on." Draco took her hand and led her out the front door. She shivered when the cold December wind hit them, and he put his arm around her. He savored the feel of her body so close to his, comfortable to let him protect her from the chill air.
They were both grateful to step into the Three Broomsticks, where a satisfying warmth hung in the room. They sat down at a table in the corner, and having ordered their butterbeers, started talking.
"One of the best things about Hogsmeade the day after Christmas," Draco said, half-smiling, "is that no one is ever here."
"I had noticed that it was empty," Hermione said. He looked up to catch her eye. "Draco, have you done your homework yet?"
"Some of it. But I have enough time left in the holiday to do it. Especially since I have you to tell me all the right answers."
"You've never needed me for the right answers." She frowned.
"Why so unhappy? Is that a bad thing?" He sniggered. "Come on, Hermione. We're in Hogsmeade right now. Take your mind off of class. Just for a few hours."
It took him only a very short time to get her to think of other things. They alternated between talking and staring deeply into each other's eyes. He felt that her soul was bared to him, and whenever he looked into those deep brown eyes, he could see it. His happiness, though already widely encompassing, had grown by the time they left the village.
Until January seventh, they were as carefree as any couple could possibly be. They even found ways to sit next to each other during meals without being too suspicious. It was one thing to be horrible to Hermione to cover up his feeling to her, but quite another to do so to hide his feelings from everyone else- especially when she was doing the same. She admitted to him that she found it to be tedious but deliciously fun.
He had agreed, and then they had wrestled. It started as any other wrestling match, and ended with just their tongues. Draco noticed how those deep kisses were intense but gentle, perfect in their almost-innocence. They were never desperate or searching on either of their accounts. Hermione always smiled warmly at him when pulling out of that kind of kiss. For him, that was incentive to initiate it.
On the morning of January seventh, they sat in the common room together on one of the green leather couches. "This is going to be difficult," Hermione said, shifting slightly. One of her legs now draped across his.
"I expect it will," Draco answered. "And we won't be able to see each other here any more."
"I guess it's back to the ror," she sighed. "Ror" was their abbreviation for the Room of Requirement.
"That won't be as bad as you make it sound," he said, laughing slightly.
"I know. But I like being here. The Slytherin common room is much more comfortable than I had thought it would be. There's something very…private about it."
"That changes when the rest of the school is here. Believe me, you wouldn't like it very much. Anyway, we can't get those cloudlike cushions here." They both grinned at the memory. Draco glanced at the clock. "It will only be a few minutes before they arrive. You should probably go back," he said unhappily.
Hermione looked up at him. "Don't worry," she murmured. "I'll still be around." They shared a brief kiss, and she pushed herself off the couch and exited.
"Exeunt my love," Draco sneered. The leaving was the worst part of it all.
"She will be back."
"Do you always have to know exactly what's going on, Sagittus?"
"Yes. And we'll only be alone for another fifteen minutes or so. We might as well do this now. So tell me…"
Draco refused to talk. He had to lock himself in the bathroom to get away from the inquisitive second year. When he did so, the mirror said, "You look rather happy and irritated. That's an odd combination, but it looks good on you."
End Chapter 15
I'm glad you all like this story so much! Which leads me to believe you might like my other stories…which leads me to yet again plug myself. I still need reviews for As Darkness Destroys us, just one of you, that's all I ask. It doesn't matter if you like it, or if you continue reading it. Just review the first chapter.
On a side note, I have two questions, just for future reference:
What is the maximum number of O.W.L.s?
What are the required classes for every student? (I've got Astronomy, History of Magic, Herbology, Transfiguration, Potions, and Charms, I just want to know if I'm missing any. Flying doesn't count because there's no O.W.L. for it.)
I love my reviewers! Thank you! For reviewing! Review again! Please! Thank you! Review! Wow I'm driving myself crazy, I'll stop now.
When they pulled away, Draco smiled. "I'm glad no one's here this vacation," he commented quietly.
"Yes," Hermione replied. "It would be terrible if anyone found out that you were dating a Mudblood."
Draco winced. He heard the note of resentment in her voice.
"*You've* said it often enough," she remarked.
"I know," he said. "And I knew you would still be holding it against me. I don't blame you in the slightest, I blame myself for everything. But I already told you, I had little choice in the whole thing. I feel terrible for ever calling you that. I've apologized to you millions of times, even if you could never hear me."
"Well, you're forgiven," she said, "but no one else is."
"Good. Don't forgive them. I don't even think I deserve it."
"Yes, you do. Besides, I can't be holding a grudge against my boyfriend," she smiled.
Sighing with masked relief, he leaned closer. She met him halfway and they kissed again. Hermione giggled slightly. "You're a very good artist," she said, "but your realism needs work. The picture-Hermione looks nothing like me."
"You're right. I could never capture such beauty on a canvas."
"Stop it."
"I'm serious. Half your beauty is in your personality. How can I do that with paints? It's impossible."
"I wonder what the picture of me is doing right now."
"Probably telling Weasley and Potter to start studying for N.E.W.T.s," Draco snorted.
"That's not funny, Draco."
"Yes it is." They both laughed.
"Why can't you at least try to be friends with them?"
"When they're friendly to me, I'll do the same for them," Draco said. "It's the largest compromise I'll agree to make, so you'd better be happy with it." He shook his finger in front of her face in a surprisingly McGonagall-esque gesture. She took his hand in hers tenderly, looking deeply into his eyes. For a moment he thought she could read his thoughts…and the thoughts he was having involving her at that moment were not ones he wanted to share. His mouth broke into a grin. "Still want to wrestle?"
She started, having drifted off into some private thought. "Well…only if you promise to let me win."
"Not fair. Anyway, you wouldn't be satisfied unless you really earned it."
"True. You do know me, Draco."
"Let's go, then."
Ten minutes later, Draco was pinning Hermione to the floor. "We seem to find ourselves in this position often," he said, with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I do hope it will become a trend."
Her eyes widened. "Draco! That's just- wrong." Then she dissolved into giggles again, still underneath him. He leaned down to kiss her. She yielded to his lips, and he savored her warm, gentle kiss.
"You've taken to giggling a lot," he noted.
"Well, if I have it's all your fault."
"Just like everything else will be, I can tell."
"No, I wouldn't blame *everything* on you."
"Oh, of course not. Just all the things that matter." A brief staring contest ensued, followed by shy smiles and more kissing.
That evening, as usual for this holiday, everyone ate at one large table, instead of five. A Ravenclaw third year sat to the left of the headmaster, who had done a splendid job at planning a party for Christmas night.
"Under your plate you'll find a special prize," he said. "Go ahead, look now before all the food covers it."
Draco lifted his plate carefully. Underneath was a large silver cracker. Looking around, he saw that everyone else had the same, but the contents were quite different when you opened it. His contained a Skiving Snackbox, some Fizzing Whizbees, a package of fireworks, and a tall green top hat, along with a large amount of confetti. He looked down the table to Hermione, whose hat was pointed and pink with a silk flowered veil trailing off the back. She looked disapprovingly at his Skiving Snackbox, but winked almost imperceptibly when he caught her eye.
She was sitting next to Potter and Weasley, who had received variations of his hat. Weasley's had a large orange star attached to the front, and Potter's was overgrown with purple vines. The two of them were exchanging indescribable looks as they swapped Weasley's Every Flavor Beans with Potter's chocolate frogs.
And dinner was delicious. *Not the usual anymore. The house elves have actually outdone themselves. Or that might just be my sudden elation, making the food taste better…* In all honesty, he could not tell.
He nervously caught up to Dumbledore as they left the table. "Um, Headmaster?" he said awkwardly, catching his attention. Dumbledore turned his twinkling eyes on him.
"Yes, Mister Malfoy?"
"I- that is- I was wondering…if I could go to Hogsmeade…with…um- with Hermione," he said, looking at his feet. He chanced a quick look at Professor Dumbledore, who peered at him with interest.
"I suspected something unexpected," he said cheerfully. "Ah, well, let me see. You are sixth years, both quite competent, I think you could do without a chaperone. You may go tomorrow, from noon to five of the clock in the evening. Is that satisfactory?"
"Yes, thank you, Headmaster." Draco gave him a grateful half-smile before shuffling off toward the dungeons. Sagittus was waiting for him when he gave the wall the password.
"You seem to be happy," the dark-haired boy said in a ringing monotone.
"I am," Draco replied. "Thank you for helping me. I doubt I would have gotten her alone."
"Don't mention it." Sagittus displayed a sly grin. "I hate to see a good guy wallowing in depression." He disappeared into his room, leaving Draco alone to think about his new relationship.
************************************************************************
"Do you have your cloak?" he asked. Hermione held it up in her right hand. "Put it on, then. Hurry up, we only have until five."
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Hogsmeade. Come on." Draco took her hand and led her out the front door. She shivered when the cold December wind hit them, and he put his arm around her. He savored the feel of her body so close to his, comfortable to let him protect her from the chill air.
They were both grateful to step into the Three Broomsticks, where a satisfying warmth hung in the room. They sat down at a table in the corner, and having ordered their butterbeers, started talking.
"One of the best things about Hogsmeade the day after Christmas," Draco said, half-smiling, "is that no one is ever here."
"I had noticed that it was empty," Hermione said. He looked up to catch her eye. "Draco, have you done your homework yet?"
"Some of it. But I have enough time left in the holiday to do it. Especially since I have you to tell me all the right answers."
"You've never needed me for the right answers." She frowned.
"Why so unhappy? Is that a bad thing?" He sniggered. "Come on, Hermione. We're in Hogsmeade right now. Take your mind off of class. Just for a few hours."
It took him only a very short time to get her to think of other things. They alternated between talking and staring deeply into each other's eyes. He felt that her soul was bared to him, and whenever he looked into those deep brown eyes, he could see it. His happiness, though already widely encompassing, had grown by the time they left the village.
Until January seventh, they were as carefree as any couple could possibly be. They even found ways to sit next to each other during meals without being too suspicious. It was one thing to be horrible to Hermione to cover up his feeling to her, but quite another to do so to hide his feelings from everyone else- especially when she was doing the same. She admitted to him that she found it to be tedious but deliciously fun.
He had agreed, and then they had wrestled. It started as any other wrestling match, and ended with just their tongues. Draco noticed how those deep kisses were intense but gentle, perfect in their almost-innocence. They were never desperate or searching on either of their accounts. Hermione always smiled warmly at him when pulling out of that kind of kiss. For him, that was incentive to initiate it.
On the morning of January seventh, they sat in the common room together on one of the green leather couches. "This is going to be difficult," Hermione said, shifting slightly. One of her legs now draped across his.
"I expect it will," Draco answered. "And we won't be able to see each other here any more."
"I guess it's back to the ror," she sighed. "Ror" was their abbreviation for the Room of Requirement.
"That won't be as bad as you make it sound," he said, laughing slightly.
"I know. But I like being here. The Slytherin common room is much more comfortable than I had thought it would be. There's something very…private about it."
"That changes when the rest of the school is here. Believe me, you wouldn't like it very much. Anyway, we can't get those cloudlike cushions here." They both grinned at the memory. Draco glanced at the clock. "It will only be a few minutes before they arrive. You should probably go back," he said unhappily.
Hermione looked up at him. "Don't worry," she murmured. "I'll still be around." They shared a brief kiss, and she pushed herself off the couch and exited.
"Exeunt my love," Draco sneered. The leaving was the worst part of it all.
"She will be back."
"Do you always have to know exactly what's going on, Sagittus?"
"Yes. And we'll only be alone for another fifteen minutes or so. We might as well do this now. So tell me…"
Draco refused to talk. He had to lock himself in the bathroom to get away from the inquisitive second year. When he did so, the mirror said, "You look rather happy and irritated. That's an odd combination, but it looks good on you."
End Chapter 15
I'm glad you all like this story so much! Which leads me to believe you might like my other stories…which leads me to yet again plug myself. I still need reviews for As Darkness Destroys us, just one of you, that's all I ask. It doesn't matter if you like it, or if you continue reading it. Just review the first chapter.
On a side note, I have two questions, just for future reference:
What is the maximum number of O.W.L.s?
What are the required classes for every student? (I've got Astronomy, History of Magic, Herbology, Transfiguration, Potions, and Charms, I just want to know if I'm missing any. Flying doesn't count because there's no O.W.L. for it.)
I love my reviewers! Thank you! For reviewing! Review again! Please! Thank you! Review! Wow I'm driving myself crazy, I'll stop now.