((Hello everyone! Ok here's the deal I'm going on vacation to Cancun for two weeks so I won't be able to type the story!! :( But I will be writing it! I can't believe it. . . 175 reviews!! Yay! I have some reviewers to reply to, because you guys had a lot of good questions. Amber721 . . . good point! Yes, Hermione does get shower and bathroom breaks, but I decided that I really didn't need to mention them. I mean, who wants to read about Hermione going to the bathroom anyway? Good observation though! And, Casey, you got me there. It was a mistake on my part . . . and Harry's Twin Sister. . . I believe that is the most random review that I've ever gotten! Twisted Silver Dagger thanks for giving me great and helpful reviews all the time! Well I hope you all enjoy chapter 15 . . . a little drama! Review when you're finished))
Disclaimer: JK owns everything. The plot; no.
Pansy let out a startled yelp, and scuttled back into Draco's arms. She stared at Hermione, wide eyed and unblinking as if afraid the girl would disappear at any moment. Crabbe and Goyle stared blankly for a few moments until recognition flooded onto their faces.
"Draco!" Crabbe cried in horror, scuttling over to the Malfoy. "It's that mudblood you hate!" Crabbe pointed her out to Draco, and gave her a threatening look. Suddenly Goyle grabbed her arms and hauled her to her feet. "What are you doing in Draco's house?" Crabbe demanded, taking her other arm. Before Draco knew what was happening, they had backed her up against the wall. Goyle drew his hand back, preparing to hit her, while Crabbe held her down.
"Let go of her, you oaf-headed imbeciles!" Draco yelled, shaking himself free of Pansy. His eyes burning with anger, he strode over and shoved Crabbe and Goyle away with one push. Hermione gave him a fleeting look. He noted that not once in the confusion and turmoil had she cried out. Crabbe and Goyle looked at Draco confusedly, no doubt wondering why Draco hd been so rough with them; after all Hermione had no right to be there at all.
After her initial shock, Pansy quickly recovered. Draco knew that Crabbe and Goyle would not be the trouble here; it was Pansy he'd have to face. He turned to look at her, wiping his face of all emotion.
Today she was wearing a short white skirt that showed off her smooth, dark legs. She wore black strapless shoes and a black tube top. Her long, straight hair fell down her shoulders, and her lips glistened crimson. Even with her eyes shining with a sudden coldness, Draco saw that Pansy was as beautiful as a red rose. At the same time she seemed stilted somehow, almost fake.
"Draco."
It was a statement, a question, and an answer all at the same time, but Draco understood what she meant as clearly as if she had said it.
"Huh?" Crabbe grunted suddenly, rubbing his arm where Draco had shoved him.
"Wha?" muttered Goyle, looking from Pansy to Hermione and back. This seemed to increase Pansy's suspicions.
"Draco, what is going on here? What is this filthy. . .bitch doing in your house? What is she doing in your room?" she said furiously. Her eyes flashed over to Hermione with such hate that the air between seemed to get hotter.
Draco thought ferverently. He needed something cruel that would delight Pansy so much that she wouldn't realize how impossible it was. He certainly couldn't tell her the truth. His mind drew a blank.
"Pansy. . ." he started, saying her name sincerely, and beautifully. It's the only way, Draco thought suddenly, realizing what he was about to do. "The reason that this . . . filth . . . is here– well, it would be too upsetting to you to say aloud. It's upsetting to even me. And I would never . ." he trailed off, catching her eyes in his and standing up. He took both of her small hands. " I would never want to upset a girl as beautiful as you." Then he leaned in to kiss her. Her mouth met his gladly, and he gave her a soft, deep kiss.
Hermione wanted to hurl something at them, break them apart, anything to stop them from what they were doing. Draco was the one who pulled away from the kiss. It felt odd, being the one to pull away. It was always the girl that stopped. Yet somehow the kiss didn't feel right. It felt sour in his mouth.
"Draco," Pansy whispered, softly, sexily into his ear. He looked down at her calmly, without that smirk on his face. He felt Pansy go weak kneed. Slowly she pulled out of his arms, looking regretful.
"I still need to know," Pansy said softly. "Come on, draco, I can handle it."
Draco stared at her blankly. He still had no idea what to say. He honestly could not think of an excuse for Hermione being there. "I . . . I can't say it, Pansy. It's too awful." he tried to look sad and troubled, but he dropped his eyes quickly.
"If you'll allow me to speak, Master," Hermione addressed Draco from across the room., "Then perhaps I could tell. . . Miss Parkinson . . . why I am here."
Draco looked at her coldly but gratefully. "Speak quickly, mudblood," he said.
Hermione started, " I was brought to this mansion as a . . ." she gulped visibly, "a gift for Lord Voldemort. Before he kills me, he plans to . . ." her voice cracked and she looked down, a single tear dripping off her face. Pansy's face showed barely concealed glee.
"Is that so?" she asked venomously, staring Hermione down. "Why are you sad about this, Draco?" Draco looked up in surprise. He'd thought that even Pansy would have the heart to be sad about this. What kind of sick person could be happy?
"It is nothing, Pansy. I only feared that it would upset you," he said, trying to sound sincere. Pansy stared at him blankly before saying, "Thanks for your concern, Draco, but this still doesn't explain why she is in your room." Her eyes turned cold as Draco's mouth went dry.
"I have to watch her while my father is gone. Even though she's a mudblood, she is clever and might get away if I don't watch her," he mumbled quickly.
Pansy smile, a satisfied smile. "Well, we certainly wouldn't want that. When Voldemort gets hold of her, she will get everything she deserves. Stand up, girl," Pansy said, a cruel smile falling across her face. Draco half reached out to stop her before catching himself. He had already stood up for Hermione once, and that had given too much away. Reluctantly Hermione stood up, hating Pansy with every fiber in her body. Pansy walked up to her, putting her face close.
"Are you afraid of Lord Voldemort, girl? Afraid of what he will do to you? Poor sweetheart, such a shame that someone of such high blood will meet their downfall quickly. Such a shame," Pansy said, each word getting colder. Suddenly Pansy reached back and slapped Hermione with all her might, sending her hurling across the floor. Crabbe and Goyle roared with laughter as she crashed into the wall, her head hitting first with a sickening crack. Pansy began shrieking with laughter. The laughter throbbed in Hermione's ears, and made her feel sick. After the laughter died down, she looked up. Draco looked about ready to wring Pansy's neck. As she turned around he smoothed his face and looked at Hermione. "You," he said, addressing her as if he'd never met her, "Stay there and be silent until I say."
Then he turned to Pansy quite conversationally, and said, "Why did you three come over?"
Pansy smile confidently as she purred, "I heard bout you becoming a Death Eater. The ceremony is only in four days! We came to congratulate you!"
Hermione's head snapped up. Neither Draco or Pansy so much as glanced at her. Draco? A Death Eater? Four days? She thought in confusion.
"We wanna be Death Eaters," Crabbe yelled, a stupid grin coming over his face. Draco felt quite sick, and knew that Hermione was listening intently. Before he could speak, Pansy said, "I can't believe it! Such an honor to enter the Inner Circle in your first year! And a year early! Do you know why they are excepting you so early?"
"I have no idea," Draco said uncertainly. Pansy walked over to his closet and threw it open
"We have to find you a good outfit! I want you to look perfect," she sighed dreamily. She pawed through his closet, throwing out random seeming ties, cloaks, and suits. While she was doing this, Draco asked Crabbe and Goyle how their summer had been. They talked for a while until Pans sighed in satisfaction. "Perfect," she said cooly. Draco turned to look at the outfit she had chosen. On his bed was skin tight forest green shirt with a black suit. The tie was silk and dark green also. Finally, a cloak lie on the far end of the bed. He did not remember owning the cloak. Pansy was smiling broadly at him "I had that cloak tailored especially for you," Pansy said quietly. "Try it on."
Draco moved to touch the cloak. It was of the finest material, and felt almost like silk under his fingers. He lifted it on, and went to the mirror. When he looked at himself, he found that he couldn't tell what color the cloak was at all. It was a mixture of midnight blue, forest green, and deepest black. In the dark it would easily disguise him from unwanted eyes.
"Thank you," Draco mumbled, still enchanted. "It is perfect."
Pansy smile and moved to kiss him again, but he turned away quickly he looked out the window and practically yelped as he saw his father walking up the drive. Taking action immediately, Draco whirled.
"Pansy, you three need to leave. My father is here now. Do as I say! GO!"
Pansy's face paled n dislike for his father, but her eyes held confusion as to why he was so urgent. "I will see you at the initiation, Draco. Crabbe, Goyle, we will take the upstairs floo system. Come!" She beckoned to them and was out the door before he could say a word.
He turned to Hermione, who was scrabbling up. "Quickly!" he said, taking her hand. "We will talk later. I promise." Hermione gave him a tight look, but follow as they headed downstairs. Draco had reached the room next to the living room, and had only one room to go to get to the dungeon entrance. Suddenly he heard the front door slam in the foyer.
"Narcissa!" Lucius roared suddenly. Draco shrank back as Narcissa whirled through the room. He heard Lucius stomp in briskly.
"Yes?" Narcissa asked quietly.
"Have you seen Draco?" he practically yelled. "I need to talk to the boy."
"He was up in his room last I saw him," Narcissa said hurriedly.
Draco's heart pounded. Why was Lucius looking for him? Why did he act so urgent? Silently he cursed, bringing himself back to the present. There was no way out. Lucius had to walk directly through this room to get to Draco's room, and the only way out was by going back up the stairs. Draco already heard Lucius enter the living room. Quickly he chose a dark corner, before realizing that it was almost directly in Lucius's path. He shrank with Hermione into the corner as far as he could, and felt her shaking against him. Suddenly e became aware that he was still wearing the cloak. He quickly slipped it round Hermione, and in the dark the cloak seemed to shift and change.
Suddenly Lucius burst into the room. His face held its usual impassive calmness, and he came closer and closer to the corner. Draco's heart pounded wildly as he came within an inch off Hermione's face . . . and continued on.
Draco stared with disbelief as he exited the room, heading still for Draco's room. He unfastened the cloak and examined it. In the dark he could barely see Hermione shrouded in it. It made her all but invisible.
"Is that . . . an invisibility cloak?" Hermione asked, awe in her voice. Draco considered for a moment.
"No, I don't think that it is. I think it was made by some other magic," he muttered softly.
"We should get back to the dungeons," Hermione said carefully. He noticed a coldness in her voice that hadn't been there before. She noticed his eyes grow softer.
"Yes, we should. My father will be back any second."
They began to make their way down to the dungeons, unseen.
((A.N. Why do you think Draco's father is looking for him? Tell me in your review!))