Chapter Seven: Dumbledore's Punishment
To my lurvely reviewers:
As always, thanks so much! The Dumbledore punishment thing will be explained in this chappie. I know, nothing earth shattering, but I imagine that if you pretend to be either or—after the previous events—it's nothing short of evil, completely uncalled for torture.
HarryPotterWanter: I know…*tsk*. Well, you'll find out soon…in fact…now.
MistressDeDraco: Draco is a prat, period here, lol. I've written a little more of future chapters, and their relationship gets…interesting, to say the least.
Cera: I's SORRY! I'll try to include Crookshanks soon! Hehe, I forgot all about him…
Shammrockqt: Aw, spanks! Those questions—and more—shall be answered now, soon, or later, lol. Not to ruin it, or anything, but yes, they shall fall in love…I'm a sap like that. J
Nikki: The spell is torture, to say the least, but not in the physical way…well, not really. I mean, they don't, like, get beat or anything…
Blanche: I'm glad you love him, heh. Interesting…
Crystalline Lily: This spell…
Professor Snape sighed, unable to believe what he was about to do, the second Hermione and Draco fought in class.
Damn Dumbledore, and his "wise" decisions. At least—little consolation it was—Minerva agreed with him, when he said Dumbledore was daft for trying this.
Neither of the professors could see why the Headmaster was trying so hard to get their two top students—from rival houses, no less—together. It was just too weird, and unexplainably cruel.
He watched as the class began to file in, disappointed that Hermione was on time.
Ever since the night before's near debacle, Snape was just itching to take away points from Hogwarts' very own Head Girl.
Draco came in fashionably late; enjoying the look of hatred Granger, Weasley, and Potter gave him, for not getting deducted points.
Snape began the lesson, once again, with a question. "Where can one find the Striped Leaf needed to make a powerful truth potion?"
As usual, Granger raised her hand, but he made a point to call on Draco.
"In the Jungle of Gnomes," he replied. (A/N: I'm going on a whim here, go with it…)
"Correct, 10 points."
Hermione jumped up, glaring at Draco. "Professor, there's another spot!"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Do sit down, foolish girl. 20 points from Gryffindor for your ignorance."
"Draco wasn't specific enough! There's more than one spot; any good student would know that," she persisted.
"Miss Granger!"
Hermione huffed, and sat down.
Class passed by, with little interruption. With the exception of Neville's horrendously obvious mistake (15 points), Hermione's speaking without permission (10 points), and Hermione fighting with Draco, for real (35 points).
"Granger, Draco, please come up here."
Draco strutted up to the desk, a confident smirk. The best Granger could manage was a scowl, and death glares at them.
~*~
Hermione stared at the sallow-faced Potions teacher with his crooked nose, waiting nervously for the inevitable punishment for their fight.
"I'm afraid I have bad news, Draco. It seems Dumbledore is tired of you two bickering, and has a solution he thinks will suit the two of you. I'm afraid I don't agree, but there's nothing I can do," Snape began, with apologetic eyes aimed at Draco. "The two of you will be bonded together with a binding spell for the next week. The only time you get released is the detention you'll be serving at the end of this week."
Hermione's mouth dropped open in horror. Stuck, for a whole week, with Draco? "Even when we sleep, sir?"
Snape nodded.
That had to be against some kind of wizarding law!
Draco got a small smirk on his face, before he asked, "What about when we bathe?"
Hermione shuddered. She only breathed easily again when Snape shook his head.
One disaster averted.
Without another word, an invisible rope tied the two students together.
"Don't try any reverse spells, it only works when the caster speaks it. As far as when you need to bathe, the 'rope' will automatically let go. It has some sort of power, I'm not sure exactly how it knows when you will."
Draco stood up, smiling at Hermione. "Good-bye, Professor," he called, dragging Hermione.
"Let go of my hand, Draco!" she hissed.
"It won't get you any farther from me," he replied, his silver eyes sparkling for the first time.
"It'll give me a few centimeters," Hermione muttered, darkly.
"How about I take away even more space, huh?" Draco asked, moving her towards another wall.
The act was soon becoming tired, but it never ceased to get her heart racing from a mixture of excitement and fear.
"Go ahead," she challenged, looking him in the eye, defiantly.
So Draco did, and had his arms over her shoulders, pressed against the wall for support.
"Let's play a game. It's like that idiotic game you muggles play. Let's play Spin the Bottle."
Hermione shivered, as she spun the bottle he conjured, with great difficulty, since they were stuck together.
She wasn't the least bit surprised when it landed on Draco.
"Into the broom closet we go then," he grinned.
"Cheater."
Draco ignored her comment, dragging her into a closet. "Isn't this fun?"
Hermione laughed dryly. "Not hardly."
He leaned in, and she could just barely make out his handsome features. Draco was persistent, and pressed his lips harder on hers, pushing in the tongue, and roaming her body to intensify their kiss.
As if that was needed.
"Remind me to thank our dear headmaster," he murmured, against her lips.
Hermione groaned in response. "You're still sick," she spat.
In response, he pressed his body closer, letting her feel every last bit.
"Why is it I make you hard?" she asked, with both smugness and curiosity.
"If you were feeling what I was…" Draco growled.
Hermione hissed, pulling away. "I want out. I've tried to be patient with this stupid game you're playing, but I've had it. If you like me, then just tell me! There's no way I'd fall for you when you push yourself on me."
"I haven't done that just yet. And, mudblood, who ever said I liked you? I like your body," Draco hissed in response.
She closed her eyes, when he pressed against her again.
"Like what you feel, Granger?" he asked snidely.
~*~
Draco watched as her eyes flew open.
"No!" Hermione said, trying to sound disgusted.
Even through the dark, Draco could see the look in her eyes. It was lust. She wanted him, but was afraid to have him.
He could change that.
Once again, he threw open the door, and stepped out. He watched Hermione struggle to keep up with his long, graceful strides.
"Too hard?" he asked, grinning.
"Oh, go fuck something," she retorted.
"I already tried, but she's just a feisty little vixen," Draco replied.
He knew that if they weren't bonded together, she would cross her arms in a huff, and stalk away. But, she was stuck with him.
"How are we supposed to change?" she complained.
"I don't mind, Granger. It isn't anything I haven't seen before," he added.
"Disgusting," Hermione muttered, just above a whisper.
"Inclina Induviae," Draco whispered, pointing his wand towards her. (A/N: Apparently, that means change clothes in Latin…)
Suddenly, Hermione shrieked, when she found herself clothed in a tiny halter, cutting off far higher than normal, and cut lower than most. She had a mini skirt, just barely covering her butt.
He smiled broadly, glancing at her outfit. "That's how you change your clothes. And, mudblood, I must say…you should dress like that more often."
"Change it back, Malfoy, change it back!"
He pouted, and just before changing it back, he pinched her easily accessible butt.
"Oh Gods, Malfoy, please! Stop it," Hermione moaned in misery.
"You sure you want me to?" Draco whispered in her ear, grinning slyly.
At that, she tensed up, and he could tell she was fighting back an outburst. But, being the predictable witch that she was, she said nothing.
Draco had to hold back a laugh when he saw Potter and Weasley approach, with looks of rage and disgust.
~*~
"Just what the hell is going on here?" Ron asked.
Harry glanced at the proximity of the two Head students, watching Hermione's grateful gaze.
"Sod off," Draco replied, smirking smugly.
"Not until you tell us just why you're so close to Hermione," Harry replied, clenching his fists.
"Because we're getting ready to go to our rooms and have a fun night, if you know what I mean," Draco said.
"UGH! Just shut it, Draco! Guys…this is our punishment for fighting," Hermione informed them, looking very angry.
Harry looked back and forth between the two, and Ron.
"I'll go to Dumbledore," Ron said, in desperation. "There's no way he could agree to something this awful!"
Harry felt his heart drop when he saw Hermione shake her head, sullenly. "It was his idea," she replied, in a hollow voice.
Harry was taken aback. "Dumbledore suggested this? I just can't believe it!"
Draco stood there, his arms folded as best he could, what with the bonds. "Let's get on with it! It's bad enough I have to be seen with the mudblood bitch. Do I really have to be seen with you two idiots as well?"
Hermione glared at him, her deep brown eyes flashing. "Shove it, Draco!" she yelled irritably.
Ron and Harry snickered.
"You show 'em, 'Mione!" Harry smirked, triumphantly.
Draco was pretty pissed off at this, and gripped Hermione's delicate wrist tightly. "We're going," he hissed, loud enough for them to hear.
"You aren't going anywhere!" Ron yelled, grasping her other wrist.
Hermione looked pleadingly at Harry, wincing in pain.
"Let her go, Ron. She's in pain," he said, in a hollow voice.
Ron clenched his jaw, and grudgingly let her go.
Without a further word, Malfoy dragged her down the hall, to only the Gods knew where, in that huge multi-leveled castle.
~*~
"That was damn rude!" Hermione scolded, punching Draco's arm forcefully.
"Don't…hit me," Draco replied, through clenched teeth.
She could see he was trying very hard to refrain from hurting her, so she didn't push the issue any further.
"Hey, Hermione," called a seventh year Slytherin, grinning.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Draco clench his jaw again, and she grinned widely. "Hey, Kyle!" she greeted, winking.
Kyle started over, looking her up and down.
Normally, she didn't like that sort of thing, but she could tell how angry this was making Draco. Served him right.
Kyle was one of the few Slytherins she tolerated, and he was pretty nice. It surprised her that he was so nice…she thought for sure the Hat made a mistake!
She hugged Kyle as best she could, but it was very difficult, because of the bonds.
"Draco," Kyle greeted, nodding. Giving Hermione a peck on the cheek, he asked, "Why's it so hard for you to hug me?"
Ignoring Draco's piercing glare, Hermione smiled fully, with her eyes sparkling. "It's a…" she trailed off, frowning. "Punishment. Dumbledore thinks bonding us together will get Draco and I to cooperate. Hogwash, I say."
Draco cleared his throat, staring down Kyle. "I think we should go to our dorms," he said loudly, accenting the last part.
Kyle Thompson just gazed at Hermione, ignoring Draco as well.
"How in the hell do you know the mudblood?" Draco spat.
Kyle glared at him, his deep blue eyes narrowed, with the flecks of gray glittering. "We went out in fifth year."
Draco probably would have fell over, if it hadn't been for the invisible ropes. "WHAT?!"
"You heard him," she replied, calmly, smiling at Kyle.
"Do you have any idea what that could have done to Slytherin's rep?"
"Get over yourself, Malfoy," Kyle spat.
"Honestly. You're the one trying to seduce me. You'd think you wouldn't have a problem with a relationship…" Hermione replied, innocently.
"Did he hurt you?" Kyle asked, concerned.
Hermione looked over at Draco, staring into his icy blue eyes meaningfully. Finally, she said, "No, Kyle. He didn't."
Kyle eased up, his broad shoulders dropping.
He was the type of guy that rivaled Malfoy's. He, too, was a Quidditch player…Chaser, to be specific. So naturally, his muscles had been refined, and well toned. He was tall, towering over Hermione's meager 5 foot 6 inch frame. Kyle had to be at least 6 foot 2 inches, hands down. Two inches taller than Malfoy, for sure.
She smiled at his worried expression, nodding slightly.
Kyle finally turned to leave, but not without turning back, his sapphire eyes searching hers.
When Draco was sure Kyle was gone, he turned toward Hermione.
~*~
"If you two are so in love, why aren't you together?" Draco demanded, his ice silver eyes boring into her soft brown ones.
Hermione stubbornly looked away, trying to fold her arms. "That's none of your business, Draco Malfoy."
He peered into her face, narrowing his eyes into tiny slits. "He cheat on you?"
"Of course not!" she shrieked, swiveling to face him. "Kyle's far to decent!" Hermione insisted, glaring at him.
"Uh-huh," Draco said sarcastically.
Groaning with frustration, Hermione spit out, "It just wasn't working, ok? His Quidditch was getting too in the way, and well, we didn't want to tie each other down over the summer."
"I would have tended to your needs anyway," he said, smirking.
He loved to irk her, vex her in anyway possible. It was great, getting a rise out of Hermione.
"Oh, please. Anyway, who said we slept together?"
Draco slightly jumped. "You mean Thompson never made a move on you?" he asked, increduously.
"Incredibly enough, not all men are pigs," Hermione retorted, her eyes burning.
"Huh, no wonder it died."
Hermione punched him forcefully in the arm. "I never said he didn't, either, did I?" she whispered in a deadly tone.
Smiling, he asked slyly, "So the question remains: Is pure, innocent Granger not a virgin? Did Thompson deflower you before I did?"
Her jaw clenched and unclenched, before she continued the game. "If we did, who said it was him, and not someone else?"
Draco's mind was racing, at the thought that when, not if, he bed her, she would be experienced, and know how to please him.
"It's just idle talk, Hermione," Draco persisted.
"So I've been upgraded from Granger to Hermione?" she asked, sarcastically. "Oh, I'm honored, Draco."
"Don't patronize me. Tell me," he demanded, eyes flashing.
"Yes."
"Yes what?"
"Figure it out," she said, coyly.
Draco mumbled the password to their dorms, and then pressed her against the head of the couch, dangerously. "I plan to," he replied, dipping his head.
A/N: Bwahahaha! And so…the chappie. Hope you liked the spell, at least a teensy bit. A bit disappointing I know, but still…it's still pretty damn evil on their part…
Er, I think I'll be putting up the next chapter too…hmm, we'll see…
[Submitted: April 10, 2003]