Are you happy now, Jessi?
Chapter 14: Lucius Will Be Watching.
On the morning of the big Quidditch match, Draco crept into Hermione's room early. He climbed into the sheets next to her and nuzzled his nose against her cheek, breathing in her scent. He stirred and woke, turning to face him.
"What is it, love?" Hermione asked groggily.
"Nothing," he replied simply, giving her a peck on the lips. "I just wanted to hold you." Hermione smiled.
"Draco, darling, that's very sweet, but you've been doing this a lot lately. This must've been the fifth morning in a row you did this." Her face grew serious. "Please, Draco, tell me what's wrong." He tightened his hold on her and kissed her one more time. He thought about what she just said. In truth, something was wrong…very wrong. With the Quidditch match drawing closer and closer, his recurring nightmare about Hermione and Voldemort haunted him again and again in his sleep. It must have been due to the fact that Lucius would be there. He had failed to inform Hermione about this as well. He gave a great sigh and held her close, hoping that she wouldn't be so angry or scared of what he was about to tell her that she'd run away from him.
"Hermione," he began hesitantly. I've been having this nightmare. You're in it and Voldemort…he…" He swallowed, forcing out the image of Hermione tied to a chair and Voldemort with his wand out, ready to issue out the most unforgivable of curses. "Voldemort kills you," he finished in a whisper. Hermione was unusually calm at what he had just told her. She, too, had dreams where Draco met an untimely and gruesome end, so she didn't see what the big deal was. Besides…she was best friends with Harry bloody Potter for Merlin's sake! It's not like Voldemort was such a big deal anymore anyway.
"Draco, you don't have to worry about me…dying anytime soon. I'll be right here…always," she said sincerely, taking Draco's hand and holding it up to her heart. Draco shook his head.
"It's not just the dream."
"What is it then?" she asked, brow furrowed. He closed his eyes.
"Lucius is coming to watch the match today." She blanched. For a brief moment, he found it ironic how hearing Voldemort's name would have no effect on her whatsoever, but once he mentioned his father, fear would immediately take over her whole body. He continued. "I think that might be why I keep having the same nightmare over and over again." She lay frozen in his arms. He brushed his hand over her cheek.
"Hermione…please say something," he said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Does he know about us?" she asked, her voice shaky. Draco shook his head.
"I hope not. I don't want any harm to come to you, Hermione…especially not at the hands of my bastard of a father." She managed a smile, but the color still had not returned to her face. She cupped her hands around his face and looked into his hypnotizing silver-gray eyes.
"I love you." Draco smiled warmly at her and kissed her softly.
"I love you too, Hermione," he whispered in reply.
"Always?" she asked tracing a finger around his toned and bared chest. He smirked.
"Always." He gave her a quick kiss then stood up and stretched. She sat up in bed, think about how much had changed over the past few months. His back was to her, looking out the window at the rising sun. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle. He put his hand on top of hers and squeezed it gently. She kissed a spot just between his shoulder blades and felt his muscles tense before he turned around to face her. He tilted her chin up and covered her mouth with his own. They stood there kissing for a while and when they finally broke apart, breathing slightly ragged, Draco announced that he should go get ready for the match.
"Right…the match. I almost forgot," Hermione said, slapping her palm against her forehead. Draco wrapped his arms around her waist.
"So…you're going to be rooting for Slytherin, right?" he asked, his eyebrows raised in a flirtatious sort of manner. She pretended to look appalled.
"Slytherin? Why ever would I want to cheer for that team when I could cheer for a team with actual talent?" Draco's jaw dropped, but then he recovered in time for a come back.
"Well, I happen to know that their Seeker is quite sexy." He winked at her and she pretended to think about it.
"I don't know about that. That Harry Potter has quite a bit of sex appeal himself." He scoffed.
"Who, Scarhead? I'm much better looking that him, surely!" She rolled her eyes.
"You really are conceited, aren't you?" He chuckled.
"Only sometimes, love. So who are you cheering for?" She rolled her eyes.
"You really are a stubborn little bugger. Well, if you must know, I'm going to cheer for both of you. I don't care for Quidditch that much and you know that very well." He smiled, gave her a quick kiss and rushed into the bathroom to take a shower. She shook her head.
"Those three boys are more alike than they'll admit," she muttered, referring to Draco, Harry and Ron. "Especially when it come to Quidditch." She walked out of her room and waited for Draco to finish with his shower downstairs in the common room. She picked a book and curled up with it on the sofa in front of the dimly lit fire. After about ten minutes, Hermione was so engrossed in her book that she didn't hear when Draco shut off the water and left the bathroom. He came out with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist and his hair dripping. He popped his head into her room so he could tell her that the bathroom was free, but she wasn't there. He walked down the stairs to the common room and found her totally absorbed in a book, twirling her hair around her finger. He smirked, made his way slowly and silently to Hermione. He grabbed her from behind and yelled "Boo!" She flew off the sofa, screaming in fright. Draco began to laugh hysterically as she fumed and scolded him.
"Draco Malfoy, don't you ever do that again!" she screamed, shaking a finger at him. Draco only laughed harder.
"You should have seen your face!" Draco said breathlessly once his laughter had calmed down a bit. She crossed her arms over her chest and stormed out of the common room through the portrait hole. He rolled his eyes.
"It must be that time of the month," he muttered as he followed her path out the portrait hole. He looked around the corridor for her. It was empty (for now). He kept one hand on his towel, holding it firmly in place.
"Hermione?" he called out into the hallway. No answer. Where is she? he thought. He stepped out fully into the empty hallway, hoping no one would come along and see him in a bath towel.
"Hermione?" he called again. "Look, I'm sorry. I promise I won't do it again. Now, will you please come out from wherever you are?" Draco was so busy looking around for Hermione, he didn't notice when Hermione slipped out from behind a suit of armor and back through the portrait hole until she slammed and locked it. Draco spun around and instantly began banging on the doorframe with his free hand.
"Hermione! Hermione let me in!" he hollered. He heard her laughing from the other side of the door. "Hermione when I get back in there, you're going to pay," he threatened. She only laughed harder.
"Hermione!" Draco yelled again, banging harder.
"Who is it?" she called out in a sing-song voice.
"You know very well who's at the bloody door! Hermione, open this door!" The sound of Draco's voice began to attract some students to their corridor. They were shocked as they watched the scene unfold before them. Draco looked down at the entrance to the hall. Most of the bystanders were Ravenclaws since their rooms were the nearest to the Heads'. Draco swore then banged harder at the door.
"Hermione! Hermione! Please! OPEN THE DOOR!" He was pleading by now and didn't care. Hermione pressed her ear to the door and heard snickering coming from the other side, plus the occasional girlish giggle. Hermione quickly unlocked the door with a quick spell and pulled Draco back inside before more students (or more girls was her main concern) came around.
"Thanks," he mumbled sarcastically. She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. He looked at her and sighed.
"We're even now," she said and gave him a peck on the cheek before heading to the bathroom.
"You're lucky I love you so much!" Draco called after her retreating back. Hermione turned to give him a wink and disappeared into the bathroom. He gave a final sigh and headed towards his room. He heard the water come on as he passed the bathroom and thought about sneaking in with her before shaking it away and heading straight to his room. He had just pulled on a pair of jeans when he heard Hermione's scream come from the bathroom.