Disclaimer: Harry Potter, I don't own. Annoying, this is. Taken over my speaking ability, Yoda has.
Note: stressed words and thoughts are italicized. Because that's just how I write…
Couple: Still Draco and Hermione
Author: Pensive Puddles
A Rose for Every Wrong
Valentine's Day and the Day After: A Rose for Every Wrong
Hermione awoke in her bed. Looking up at the covered canopy above her, something caught her eye. Looking over, she saw Draco sleeping in a chair, his head using his folded arms as a pillow on her bed. She smiled down at him. His face looked so peaceful, slightly covered by a couple strands of his blond hair. For some unknown reason, her hand was drawn to his face and she pulled the extra strands away from his face. She touched his cheek. So soft!
He stirred under her touch and she pulled her hand back quickly. Slowly, he opened his eyes to reveal the gray orbs beneath. "You're awake."
"Yeah. How long have I been out?" she said, looking at her ankle that was perfectly normal now.
"Couple hours. Not long," he sighed, stretching. "How do you feel?"
"OK, I guess," she replied.
A smirk covered his face and his eyes shined in amusement as he snickered, "Well, you should be after what you did to me."
Surprised, she raised her eyebrows, slightly nervous at what could have happened, "What?"
"Oh…" he paused for dramatic effect and continued quickly, "Just asked what I would taste like in chocolate and then preceded to lick my face."
An appalled as well as embarrassed expression flooded Hermione's face, letting herself be caught with her mouth hanging open in disbelief. "I did no such thing!" she denied.
"Unfortunately for you dignity, you did. And may I say, Granger, I have never had such a seductive girl do that to me before," he praised as he smirked. She opened and closed her mouth, trying to defend herself but too speechless to say anything. Draco took advantage of the situation. "If you want another go, Granger, you might have to beg me for it. That was just a free-be."
He caught the pillow that she had flung at him. However, as much as Hermione should have been disgusted at his foul behavior, she couldn't help but let a smile cover her face. And that smile soon caused her to remember what he had said, which made her laugh quietly at first and then hysterically.
"I…I said that?" she asked between laughter.
"Yes, you did. If you want a visual, I can steal Professor Snape's Pensieve and show you. Hell, I'd like to see that scene again."
"Merlin, Malfoy! Are you admitting that you were turned on?" she smiled. He rolled his eyes, "In you you're dreams, Granger. Only in your dreams."
A knock at the portrait door called their attention away and they both looked at the door. Draco turned to her, "It's probably Potter and Weasley."
"Tell them I'm sleeping," Hermione grumbled and fell back into her pillows. "I'll see them at the Ball."
"You're still going to that thing?" he asked surprised.
"Well, my ankle is better and I was one of the ones who planned it. And being Head Girl, it's my duty and yours, being Head Boy to be at the Balls and Banquets that are held," Hermione stated as if reading out of a book. Draco shook his head in disbelief and left to the portrait.
"Let us see her, Malfoy!" Hermione heard Ron command.
"Malfoy, we've been here once before. Let us see her!" Harry demanded.
"You can come here as many times as you want for all I care. But I'm not letting you see her because she's sleeping, although I don't know how she can be since you two imbeciles are screaming at the top of your lungs," Draco snapped. "Now get lost!" Hermione smiled as she heard the portrait door slam shut and the muffled protests of Harry and Ron.
She saw Draco pass her doorway and she called out to him after a slight pause, "Draco…"
He stopped in the doorway and leaned on the doorframe. "Hm?" he asked with raised eyebrows.
"Thank you," she smiled. An immediate reaction made him smile back and he nodded, "You're welcome…Hermione."
Draco closed the door, trapping a sleeping girl with a smile on her face in a large, red bed. When he couldn't see her anymore, he let another smile grace his lips and he whispered again the name he had longed to whisper out loud, "Hermione…"
"Only an hour to go," she sighed happily, yet exhaustedly. Her shoes were killing her feet and weren't doing any favors for her wounded ankle. She longed to lie in the Head's gigantic bathtub filled with hot water and huge bubbles. The Valentine's Ball, in her opinion, had gone fairly well. It had started off slightly uncomfortable, as the guys stayed on one side of the room and the girls on the other, but after Dumbledore introduced the band and they started playing music, people flooded to the dance floor. Most people had stayed and a few of the couples sneaked their way out of the Great Hall to 'talk' with each other.
I should get the Draco and tell him we have to patrol soon, she thought silently. Leaving her comfortable chair, she made her way quietly to the dance floor, squeezing her way in-between people, trying to find the one person she needed to talk to.
Hermione spotted the familiar, pale blond hair and tall figure of her Head Partner and she started walking towards him. Suddenly, a pair of arms trapped her and she twisted around to look at her captor. Harry looked down at her, a smile on his face. "Dance with me, Hermione."
"Harry…I don't know…" she said at first. He chuckled and ignored her protests. He swept her away and placed one hand on her hip, the other holding her hand. Even with heels on, it was hard for Hermione to place her free hand comfortably on Harry's shoulders. It seemed all the boys in Seventh Year had sprouted unexpectedly.
"You look beautiful tonight," he leaned down and murmured in her ear. She blushed. Guys could be so sweet sometimes. She chuckled, "You're just saying that."
"No, I'm not," he said firmly. She pulled away and looked into his serious green eyes. "I'm not joking around, Hermione. Why can't you just admit that you're pretty?"
"Harry…please stop," she laughed. She smiled under his glare. "Fine. Just for tonight. Can't let that go to my head…"
She heard him snort above her and she ignored it. She knew what her physical features stood in the realm of males, and it was near the bottom, maybe but highly unlikely close to the middle. She looked over and say Draco covered in Pansy. If they were any closer…Hermione shrugged. No point in accusing Draco of anything; he was dancing with Pansy Parkinson. She admired how handsome Draco looked that night. He was dressed all in black, and his dance partner at that moment, was dressed in a deep, red rose dress that clung to her curves and accented her features. Hermione sighed. If only she could be Pansy for just a second…
Woah! Where'd that come from? She thought. I shouldn't be jealous of her, especially her. Besides, what does Draco have that Harry doesn't?…besides exquisite charm, natural grace, silky blond hair, piercing gray eyes…stop! Just look away from him and pay attention to Harry. Hermione did as her mind told her and tried with all her might to stop thinking of the gray-eyed man dancing just a few feet away.
She thought. Hermione did as her mind told her and tried with all her might to stop thinking of the gray-eyed man dancing just a few feet away.
The song came to an end and slowly she and Harry parted. "Thank you," she smiled and he smiled in return, giving her a small bow. Dumbledore's voice filled the dance floor, "This will be the last slow song for the night."
Hermione sighed, "Only one more song and then this day will be over."
Someone tapped her shoulder as the music started and Hermione turned around, and was engulfed in black. She looked up at the boy, a quizzical expression on her face. "Malfoy?"
"Let go of her, Malfoy. I'm going to dance with her," an angry redhead snarled, taking a hold on Hermione's arm. Draco looked coldly at Ron, a small frown on his Greek features.
"Unfortunately, Weasel, Dumbledore said that the Head Boy and Head Girl had to share a dance before the night was over, or we'd have to clean this whole mess up ourselves, and I for one, don't want to be hear till dawn cleaning up your filth. Maybe you should have tried to actually do school work instead of depending on Granger for good grades. Then perhaps you would have made Head Boy…although I highly doubt it…" he sneered and swept Hermione away, leaving a red faced Ron standing in the middle of the dance floor. A pretty blond grabbed him and he soon forgot his encounter with Draco and Hermione.
Hermione felt strong arms touch her hips and she looked up at Draco. A calm, expressing was on his face and a victorious gleam in his eyes. With narrow, suspicious eyes, she asked, "Did Dumbledore really tell you to dance with me?"
He looked down at her and smirked, "Not with actual words…but he did motioned me over in your direction with his eyes…although he could have been looking at Professor McGonagall who was behind me…"
The two students shuddered at the thought of their two Professors together. She smiled and asked sarcastically, "So you asked me out of the goodness of your heart?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Why can't I ask someone if I want to dance with them?"
"Because you've been practically glued to Pansy this whole night," she stated.
He smirked, "First of all, Parkinson was glued to me, and second, I'm amused to see you're taking notes on every movement I make."
She rolled her eyes and put her hands on his shoulders. "Besides," Draco said, leaning down so he could just talk to her specifically (and also to make her wrap her arms more around his neck), "Dancing with a girl who sticks to you like glue can get very tiresome after a while."
"I wouldn't know," Hermione informed him and continued to dance to the music. Draco grew silent after that. The warmth of the room and the slow music, along with the twinkling bewitched ceiling above their heads, made her eye lids grow heavy and she found herself leaning into him, resting her head against his neck. She could feel his pulse beat in his neck and she wondered if it should have been beating as fast as it was going. She ignored it and wrapped her arms more around his neck to get into a more comfortable position. Draco automatically held her tighter around the waist. Hermione noticed smugly that both of Draco's hands were placed quite low down her hips, unlike Harry's gentlemanly hands. And surprisingly, Hermione didn't mind at all. He held her closer and she did not object.
The opened their eyes to see the whole school looking at them with accusing, shocked and awed eyes. Hermione embarrassingly realized that she and Draco had been dancing incredibly close to no music at all. Both fiercely blushed and pulled away quickly from each other. The eyes of the students quickly avoided them, although among the peering crowd, there were a few pairs who still stared intently on them. Draco and Hermione avoid as much contact as possible. Hermione walked away, her face still hot at letting herself get caught in such a situation.
She finally looked over at her shoulder and say Draco watching her. She motioned to the clock and held up five fingers to signal five minuets before they had to scout for people who weren't in their beds.
"You two go to bed. I have to make a quick patrol around the school before I get to bed. I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast," Hermione said and turned to leave.
As she was making her way out of the nearly deserted Great Hall, a hand stopped her and pulled her into the corner. Startled, she looked at the person and looked at Ginny Weasley. "Ginny…what's wrong?" she asked concerned at seeing her puffy, red eyes.
"Hermione…" her voice choked and she just hurled herself into her arms. Surprised at her friend's suddenly clingingness, she asked what was wrong. "It's Blaise…the…the whole thing…c-cards and f-flowers was all a b-b-bet!"
"Ginny! I…I'm sorry!" Hermione said, unsure of what else to say. She never had been a situation like Ginny's and for once, Hermione was at lose on what to do. Casting pitying eyes on Ginny, Hermione did the only thing that seemed right; she pulled the girl close to her and let her cry.
"He told me on the dance floor, when I asked for a dance. He told me and laughed. He laughed at me! It was just a couple galleons and they betted that he could get me to fall in love with him by tonight. Shows what a fool I've been…to think that someone like him could actually love me…" Ginny sighed into Hermione's dress. The older girls' eyes hardened.
"Don't think that way, Ginny. You're so beautiful. And if scum like him can not see it, then you're too good for him. Besides, I've never really liked Blaise. He's a stupid git." She let out an angry growl from the back of her throat. "When I get my hands on him, I'll hex him so bad…"
Ginny was still crying and Hermione rubbed her back and whispered comforting things which usually involved Blaise in agonizing pain and walked Ginny to the Gryffindor room. Slowly, Ginny's tears ceased to fall and she smiled in gratitude at Hermione before disappearing into the room. Hermione sighed at the poor girl and turned to leave to scout with Draco. Draco! She had completely forgot! Finding it difficult to run with high heels, she ripped them off her feet and dashed down the halls, making her way to Draco who was near the Great Hall entrance.
She rounded the corner and thundered down the hall. She saw his tall figure leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He glared at her disapprovingly as she came to a sudden halt in front of him. "Could you take any longer?" he asked sarcastically. Hermione glanced at her watch, discovering she was only three minuets later than expected. Leave it to Malfoy to exaggerate little things like that. It reminded her of the time Buckbeak scrapped his arm, barely causing him to bleed. Hermione could still his whimpering of "I'm dying! I'm dying!"
She snorted very unlady-like at the memory. Draco glared at her. Hermione only smiled sweetly up at him…too sweetly that he looked at her in accusing suspicion.
"Let's get this over with," he snapped, ignoring her smile and began walking down the halls. Hermione sighed and followed. The two were silent as they patrolled down the quiet halls. After finding two people huddled in a broom closet and deducting points from Ravenclaw, they finally came to the Great Hall again.
"I don't want to go to bed just yet," Hermione said. She wasn't really directing the comment to Draco, but he seemed to be thinking along the same lines.
"Maybe we should patrol outside, just in case?" he suggested. She nodded.
The air outside was crisp and sharp. The moon was bright in the dark sky and she wondered how night could be so beautiful. The trees appeared fake and the lake was as clear and flat as glass. So perfectly calm that it would be a sin for it to be disturbed. Draco held out his wand and fired a spell into a large bush. There was a sharp squeak and the two culprits crawled out.
"Ten points each from Slytherin," Hermione said in a monotone and motioned for them to get inside. The younger students looked over the shoulder at the two Head's and made faces at them, but Draco caught them in the act, and in a clear voice, "Another ten each. Thirty points in one night…respect your elders, you twits."
They continued to walk around and found no one else on the grounds, surprisingly. Draco sat down on the dew-covered grass and motioned for her to sit next to him. She looked down at him for a second before sitting. She sighed and looked at the sky. Draco watched as the loose strands of hair that had escaped from the pile on top of her head fell behind her shoulders and blew with the gentle wind. She shuddered at the breeze and Draco unclasped his cloak, and being the gentleman he was trained to be, draped it over her shoulders. He clasped the front for her and said, "There you go."
Hermione touched the soft cloth lightly, deeply surprised at Draco's gentlemanly behavior. She looked up at him with her warm, brown eyes that made him caught his breath. He looked at her lips that held a small shine in them from the moonlight. They looked so tempting, as if daring him to mess the perfect glaze. He leaned his head down slowly, stopping for a second, his mind yelling at him to think of what he was doing. Her eyes were already closed, already expecting the kiss. She had such a pretty face…
Draco closed his eyes and leaned forward, his lips touching hers gently. It was a strange filling that filled Draco, a feeling he found hard to compare. All he knew was that warmth filled his gut that rose and seemed to spread out throughout his body, filling the bottom of his toes to the tips of his perfect blond hair. His gut twisted inside painfully, and yet it felt good. He pulled back, his lips still hovering dangerously close to hers.
She sighed and looked up at him, her eyes covered in a starry haze. It was a sight Draco had never seen, and he was proud to know that he was the cause of it. But at that moment, he didn't care. All he wanted was to feel warm again. He leaned in again, urgently this time and pressed his lips slightly harder against her lips. He held himself back. She wasn't like any other girl and he wasn't going to treat her like he did with other girls. His hand held the back of her head and pushed her closer. It was a sweet, long kiss, one that Draco had never experienced in his entire life.
Pulling back, he looked at her, looking at her hazy eyes. She smiled slightly, seemingly pleased. He smirked back. She reached up, hesitantly and after an agonizing slow moment, she finally touched his face, resting a palm against his cheek. He leaned into her hand, never once taking his gaze off her. She caressed his face and then moved to run her fingers through his hair. Surpassing him, she pulled his head towards her and kissed him with such passion, it swept him away.
Draco didn't know how many minuets had passed. All he knew was that he was in complete bliss. Her small fingers where playing in his hair, clutching long strands and twirling and twisting them. She let him kiss her throat and nibble her neck. She let him run his fingers through her wavy hair that had come loose from the bun on top of her head. She let him do whatever she wanted him to do. She wasn't quite as touchy as him, but Draco didn't care. Desire's flame lit their blood on fire, burning them into a fiery haze of passion. It was a moment he would never have imagined himself in, and he wondered if she was thinking the same thing.
A cat hissed nearby and the two broke apart, looking at the ginger cat that was seated on a rock near by. "Crookshanks…" Hermione growled. The cat had somehow escaped from the Head's Room. Although upset with the fact that the stupid cat disturbed the moment, Draco was slightly pleased that Hermione seemed angry at the cat as well.
Suddenly, the realization of what they had just been doing flooded over them and both their faces flushed a violent red, pulling away. Draco jumped to his feet, brushing grass off him. Extending a hand so she could get up, they silently and awkwardly walked back to the castle, avoiding all eye contact. When they had reached their rooms, they finally took the chance to look at each other.
"Here," she said quietly, unclasping the robe and handing the soft fabric back to its master. Draco took it, noticing in disgust that his hands were shaking as they brushed against hers. He looked down at her, looking at her messy hair that tumbled around her face, her soft, tired complexion. Draco leaned in to kiss her again. Just a goodnight kiss…that's all, Draco told himself. He could almost taste the sugar lip-gloss when she pulled away, out of his reach.
"Good night, Draco," she said quickly before vanishing into her room. Blushing at being left out in front of her room and letting her do that, he slid into his own room. Too tired to change into his pajamas, Draco slipped off his shirt and pants, and crawled into bed only in his boxers. He lay with his eyes closed, unconsciously licking his lips and tasting the faint remains of her lips, disappointment making his chest feel heavy.
He had gone too fast. He could practically feel the restlessness between them when they had stood outside her room. Her face had still been pink from embarrassment. And those lips! They were red, plump from their bruising kisses. And they called to him, begging for relief with just a touch of his own. And he followed his own desire, not taking her into consideration. He slammed his fist against his mattress in frustration. She probably thought he was a horny git like the rest of the males out there. That wasn't what he wanted her impression of him to be! And now it was all ruined, just because he couldn't control himself. She probably hated him, whatever respect or friendship they had gained was lost for sure now. Sighing unhappily, Draco rolled onto his stomach. He'd fix it, she'd see that he was different than the other guys. A plan was already formulating in his head as he distantly noticed how heavy his head felt and how the darkness was so comforting.
The day after Valentine's Day was bright. Hermione opened her eyes, immediately the memories of the previous night flooded back to her and she reddened. She sighed. He was a great kisser. He made her feel…special. Stupid to think that, she knew, but it was the truth. Is that what all the other girls felt like when they kissed him? She could only wonder. And she could only wonder what he thought of her now. She had practically thrown herself at him after he had pulled back. But it had felt so good! It had left her in just…awe. And she could only think of feeling his lips against hers, feeling his closeness. Her lips had tingled, her heart pounded, making her body move closer to him. And she thought she could control it, could control the emotions. But once she tasted him again, there was no turning back. She had let herself go. And now, he probably thought she was just another of those eager girls. That's not who she was. Now he had the wrong impression of her, and he'd back away from their little friendship, and maybe, just maybe he'd joke about it with his friends and inform his friends that Hermione Granger was easy.
And how would she explain it to Harry and Ron when the rumors reached their ears? What would happen? And her reputation! The teachers would hear and her grades would surely fall. But the real problem was her best friends. Already, one problem was that they were both boys who looked over her like older brothers, which was both sweet and aggravating at the same time but the second, bigger problem, was the fact that she had snogged their worst enemy. She covered her face with her hands and let out a muffled groan of irritation.
Rolling out of bed, she looked around her room. A rose caught her attention. It was a simple white rose with petals perfectly white and soft. She smelt it and smiled. She looked around for a card and found none. Too tired to think on whom it was from although it probably was obvious, she walked to the bathroom that was connected to her room as was it connected to Draco. The room was still humid, signifying that it had been occupied only moments before.
She tried not to think of him, especially as she slid into the shower and washed her hair, but her mind constantly thought of the events of the night before with the dance, and then the kiss. A warm feeling filled her stomach and her heart tightened when she thought of him.
When she stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around her, her eyes met another rose, this time red. It was just as beautiful and perfect as the white one, and Hermione grinned in awe. She was still admiring the rose when she walked back into her room. Her feet felt something other than the carpet and she looked down and around her room. The red rose fell from her limp hands.
Hermione stared wide-eyed at her room that was decorated in myriad colors of roses. Roses of all colors, the classic red, white, pink and yellow and then there were other colors of roses she had never seen before. Blue roses, silver roses, purple roses…the colors were endless and they did not clash with each other. Her floor and room where littered with white rose petals. In white, delicately cut paper, a card was propped on her all ready made bed that was smothered with petals. She picked it up and opened the flap. In green, elegant flowing letters, it read: I'm sorry if you were offended the night before, but I do not regret anything. A rose for every wrong thing I did towards you this year, since Hogwarts would be decorated in roses if it was since the day I met you.
She reread it several times, thoughts flashing through her mind. The note was so poetic, so apologetic. He was playing with her heart, wasn't he? Kissing her last night had been the final step. All he wanted now was for her to tell him how much she cared about him, finally wrapping herself firmly in his web, and then laugh about it in her face, just like Blaise did to tangled Ginny. Slipping on the first things that her hand touched which was a short, spaghetti strap tang top and short bed time shorts, she rushed out of her room. She found him sitting near the fireplace, already dressed for school and gazing pensively into the fire. He looked up when she called, "Draco?"
He watched as she came towards him, her hair wet and tangled. He had never seen her so…unmodest before that he gazed at her nicely shaped legs and bare skin hungrily. She stopped in front of him with hard, suspicious eyes and he swallowed nervously. He had slight hopes that she would run out of the room and jump into his arms. It would have been a nice memory…
"Is this a joke? A bet like Ginny's?" she demanded coldly, throwing the card and one of the colored roses at him. Draco looked at her, surprised. He shook his head, "Nothing of the sort."
"Then why did you do that?" she asked, taking a step closer, the doubt slowly fading from her eyes. He could feel the heat of her body, the smell of her apple shampoo so potent he was almost too dazed to say anything. He looked at her and said, "Because I wanted to." Because I love you…he longed to say instead.
She looked at him, her eyes revealing her cynical feelings. He looked at her and swallowed, angry thoughts filling his mind. "I knew you wouldn't believe me. I knew you'd think it was a joke, because that's all a Slytherin male is to you, isn't it? Just a horny boy who would do anything to get someone in bed with them," he remarked bitterly.
"No!" she said quickly, shaking her head. "Nothing like that. But you're house is known for betting to get girls to fall in love with them and then breaking their hearts all for a couple of galleons."
Five words caught his attention and he glanced quickly up at her. He wouldn't lie and say that his house was known for betting on playing with the hearts of girls, but they never actually meant for the girl to fall in love with them, only to like them and kiss them. He asked quickly, his hopes rising, "Fall in love? Did you fall in love with me?"
Hermione opened her mouth, wanting to say something but couldn't think of anything. She bit her lip. Was that why she felt jealous whenever she saw him talking to any girl? Was love the reason why she felt so odd whenever she saw him? Was that the reason for the aching heart pains when he was away, like she couldn't breath and then the suffocating feeling whenever he was near? Was she, Hermione Mudblood Granger, in love with Draco Pureblood Malfoy? She avoided his eyes, looking away. Draco reach down and took her face in his hands, turning it to him and making her look straight into his eyes. "Do you love me?"
Hermione faltered under his gray gaze and she nodded in defeated. Draco smiled a true genuine smile. He leaned down and whispered truthfully in her ear, "I love you too. That's why I did it."
Hermione looked at him, his last comment taking a second longer to register. She smiled, showing off her straight, white teeth and he did the same. Hermione reached up to hug him and he embraced her, holding her close. "I love you, Hermione Granger."
She pulled away to look at his face, and she leaned in close, kissing him and telling him through that kiss that she loved him too. It was a sweet, pure kiss. There was no flaming desire, nor anything that disturbed it. It was a kiss that two lovers share when they truly love each other.
Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey smiled over their early morning tea as the knight who guarded their doorway told them of the recent news of the Gryffindor and Slytherin. Dumbledore turned to the old nurse, "And who says romance blossoms most on Valentine's Day?"
THE END
A/N: Yes! This is the last and final chapter! OK… did that really suck as much as I think it did :sees the unanimous agreement:sighs: That's what I thought…so, if you're going to be really honest, the honest thing to do would be to put me out of my misery and review and flame me….harshly. Burn me to a crisp. Douse me in oil and light a match, shove me in a furnace, tar and feather me…hmm…these torture ideas are getting a little away from the whole point of flaming….
Anywhoo! There it is! Another sappy, fluffy fic written by me. Tell me what you think in a review…ah! Such a lovely word: REVIEW…I could say that forever…review review review review review review review now review…:invisible hand slaps pensive puddles out of her stupid and pointless chanting:
Ahem! Well…:cough: in case you haven't read anything else by me, go and check out some of my other works, such as Fault and Weep Not, which are both angst and lack reviews…and then if you want another romance thingy with a 'nice' ending :dodges rotten fruit tossed from others who have read it, go and check out Behind the Masks.
FYI new story that I just (as is RIGHT NOW) put up: A Long Awaited Engagement
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