Chapter Five: If I Can't Be This, I'll Be That

Draco looked into Hermione's big, bright brown eyes.  Could he do this?  Really, truly?

But resisting this isn't even an option anymore.  You made sure of that the second you let her touch your eye, his mind argued.

That was very true, but he couldn't help it!  She had a delicate touch…like her kiss.

He heard her inhale sharply, as he bent over her again.

"Draco," Hermione whispered again.

"Yes?" Draco asked, trying to hide his irritation.  If she tried to stop this…

She licked her lips nervously.  "Could you…could you…" she trailed off, unable to finish.

"Could I what?  Stop?  Now?"

"No, not stop…kiss me?"

Draco pulled back in surprise.  She hadn't seriously just asked him to kiss her?  Did she?

But nonetheless, he was more than willing to oblige.

Draco pressed his lips against her full ones.  She exhaled through her nose, in surprise.

At first, he was patient.  The kiss remained gentle, not asking for much.  But he soon lost his patience, like the Malfoy he was, and pushed his tongue in.

Hermione made a small sound of delight, urging him to continue.  So continue he did.

Draco moved to her robes, and fumbled with them for a moment, before it fell to the ground in a black swirl.  Expertly, he removed her tie, tossing it to the floor impatiently.

Hermione took off his robe as well, and took a while longer with his green-silver tie.  So Draco yanked it off, before moving to her buttons.

But before he could, the doors knocked open.

"Get off her, you slime ball!" yelled an angry redhead.

Hermione yanked away from him, flushing in embarrassment.  "Ron!" she scolded.  "Stay out of my room!"

Harry stepped forward, angrily.  "Not after what Malfoy said.  Is it true?"

She looked between the three boys, bewildered.  "Is what true?"

"Have you slept with the slimy git?" Ron spat, his cheeks dangerously closed to matching his hair, minus the orange.

Hermione glared at Draco. "What?  No!"

He flinched.  Just when everything was going right…

~*~

Hermione stared at Draco, hurt.

After struggling for a moment with her two friends, assuring them nothing was happening now, they reluctantly left.

Tears brimming, she asked shakily, "You…you said we…slept together?  How could you?  All of this…it was to get me to, wasn't it?"

"Of course not.  Don't be dense, Granger.  Anyway, you came onto me, not the other way around.  Who am I to argue when you want me to satisfy your needs?"

"You're disgusting," she shrieked, trying to block the memory.

Just moments ago, it had been the sweetest thing in the world; her helping him, then kissing.  But now…now it was just vile, tainted.

"You didn't fight it, though.  You're just as responsible."

Draco smirked.  "Why would I fight it?"

"This is the real you.  I was stupid to think it would change.  To think, I helped you!"

He bowed his head.  "And I thank you for that."

"You're not welcome!" Hermione yelled, running to her room.

It was official.  Draco was nothing but a lost cause.

~*~

Draco shrugged, and turned to his own respective room.  It wasn't his fault, if Hermione was being stubborn.

He flopped down on the bed, turning on a hidden TV.  That stupid book lied; a fact he discovered in fourth year, when some first year brought a CD player.

It said that having electronics work was impossible, but that was a ruse to keep kids from using such items, and stray from their work.

He flipped it to BET, a music channel he discovered in London, after going to a muggle girl's house.  She seemed to like it a lot.

To his surprise, a white man was riding a bike.  He thought that there were only African Americans on this station.  But he shrugged, leaning back.

The caption: "Thicke, 'When I Get You Alone'" flashed on the corner of the video.

Draco listened intently, surprised how much it related to him and Hermione.

Baby girl, where you at?
Got no strings, got men attached
Can't stop that feelin' for long no
Mmmm You makin' dogs wanna beg
Breaking them off your fancy legs
But they make you feel right at home, now
(Ooooh)
See all these illusions just take us too long
(Ooooh) And I want it bad.
Because you walk pretty,
Because you talk pretty,
'Cause you make me sick
And I'm not leavin', till you're leavin'
(Ahhh)
Oh I swear there's something when she's pumpin',
Asking for a raise
(Oooh) Well does she want me to carry her home now?
(Oooh) So does she want me to buy her things?
On my house, on my job
On my loot, shoes, my shirt,
My crew, my mind, my father's last name?
(Ahhh)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you you'll know baby (know)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you alone now (it's all mine)
(Ahhhh....oh)
Come on
Oh yeah-yeah
Baby girl you da shit
That makes you my equivalent
Well you can keep your toys in the drawer tonight,
All right
All my dawgs talkin' fast-
Aint you got some photographs?
'Cause you shook that room like a star, now
Yes you did, oh
(Ooooh)
All these intrusions just take us too long
(Ooooh) And I want you so bad..
Because you walk city,
Because you talk city,
'Cause you make me sick
And I'm not leavin', till you're leavin'
(Ahhh)
So I pray to something she aint bluffin',
Rubbin' up on me
(Oooh) Well does she want me to make a vow?
Check it
(Oooh)Well does she want me to make it now?
On my house, on my job
On my loot, shoes, my voice,
My crew, my mind, my father's last name?
(Ahhh)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you you'll know baby (know)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you alone now (it's all mine)
(Ahhhh....oh)
Oh no
Get you alone baby
Oohh..

Oooh...oh-oh
That a girl!
You get some
(Ahhh)
All these intrusions just take us too long
(Ahhh) And I want you so bad..
Because you walk pretty, (You, you-you)
Because you talk pretty, (You get some)
'Cause you make me sick
And I'm not leavin', till you're leavin'
(Ahhh)
But I pray to something when she's pumpin',
Rubbin' up on me, now
(Oooh) Want me to break it down?
Check it
(Oooh) Well did you want me to make it now?
On my house, on my job
On my loot, shoes, my voice,
My crew, my mind, my father's last name?
(Ahhh)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you you'll know girl (know)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you alone now (it's all mine)
(Ahhh)
I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you alone (know)
I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you alone (it's all mine)
Yeah

Suddenly, Draco heard a loud, shattering crash in Hermione's room.

He jumped up, trying to fight the urge to run to her.  But, he failed greatly.  Besides, who could fight curiosity?

Draco froze, right in front of her open door.

She was kneeling on the floor, attempting to pick up the miniscule shards of glass.

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded harshly, rushing to her side.  "You don't just pick up glass with your bare hands!"

Hermione wiped away a tear, before spitting out, "I'll do what I want," and continuing.

"No, you don't understand.  You could hurt yourself," Draco told her, staring at her hand, moving back and forth, scooping up the glass.

"And what do you care?"

"I don't," he said simply.

"Then go."

"I will, then," he spat, in frustration.

No sooner than he left, did Hermione let out a whimper of pain.

Sighing, he turned back around, and she was holding her finger, which had a large dot of blood popping up.

"Come on, let's go to Madam Pomfrey," Draco said, grabbing her elbow, dragging her out into the hall, toward the nurse.

"I'm fine!"

But she clearly wasn't.  There was a small, unreachable piece of glass sticking out of the wound.

"What did you drop, anyway?"

"Nothing," Hermione replied quietly, turning her head.  "Let me go."

"Oh, will you get over it?  I didn't do anything!" Draco yelled, attracting stares.

~*~

Hermione peeked up at Draco, seeing his open, honest face.  It was pretty clear he wasn't lying.

Being the stubborn person she was, she just kept walking, ignoring his wide silver-blue eyes staring at her face.

"You ok?" he asked gently, pointing to her finger.

"I'm fine.  It's just a little glass cut," Hermione said, irritably.

Draco just shrugged.  "Excuse me for asking."

They were finally in front of the witch's office.  She stared expectantly at Draco, who stayed stubbornly by her side.

"We're not friends," Hermione said, glaring.

He shook his head, before leaving.

Madam Pomfrey quickly healed her finger, and took out the glass, mumbling about wastes of her time.

Hermione sighed, and strolled out the room, before feeling herself pinned against the wall.

"Draco get off!" she yelled.

"You said we weren't friends, so really, this is the way it'll be," he whispered into her ear coldly.

Hermione shivered, before realizing he was leaning forward, to kiss her.  "Get off," she whispered, again.

Draco kissed her anyway, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Pulling away, he grinned.  "I like this.  It's much more fun to feel you struggle."

Hermione wanted to slap Draco, but just decided to play along his game.  "What if I don't?" she asked, reaching for her shirt.

Draco shrugged.  "Wouldn't be as fun."

She smirked, and pulled off her robes, and peeled off her top.

But, to her surprise, Draco pushed her against the wall again, his hands roaming her body.

"I said it wouldn't be as fun, not that I wouldn't do it," he whispered, before licking her ear.

Hermione stared at him.  Oh Gods, she wasn't thinking today!  "Can we at least go to our rooms?" she asked weakly.

"A good classroom would do, I would think," Draco muttered, steering her into a class.

He shoved her onto a table, and ripped off the rest of her clothes.

"Remember how much you wanted this earlier?" he asked her.

Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust.  "GET AWAY!" she shrieked, pushing him back hard.

She grabbed her clothes, and put them back on quickly.

She felt Draco watch her as she left.

[Submitted April 6, 2003]