dontpokeelmo: I would like to first offer a general thanks to all who read
and reviewed. Secondly, I feel an apology is in order, as it took me so
long to get the fifth chapter up, but I hope you will enjoy it. Please
continuing reading and reviewing, I would like to hear all comments and
opinions on this story. Remember that future chapters will be based on the
contents of reviews. Thanks. Also, much thanks to my beta sea-Shel123,
she's the greatest, and without her I would be lost.
*Hermione's Point of View*
Hermione slowly sank into a chair; the cold air numbing her body as tears surged from her eyes. The potions classroom was empty, eerie, but welcoming nonetheless. Her shoulders shook in silent sobs as she struggled to gain hold on her racing thoughts. Why were her two best friends treating her as though she had now become something slimy they had found on the sole of their shoes? Something foul and dirty. Sure she'd anticipated Ron's anger, even counted on it; after all, it was the entire reason she's avoided telling him in the first place. But Harry? She hadn't expected his reaction; the constant look of betrayal his face conveyed each time his eyes managed to meet hers. The thought of his sudden coldness towards her, much like the abandoned potion classroom was almost too much to bear, and she began to cry even harder.
'Hermione?' She jumped as the sound of Harry's voice floated across the silent air. Quickly wiping her tears from her face, she attempted to compose herself before turning to face him. She couldn't allow him to see her like this. So weak and miserable. She couldn't allow him to see how this was affecting her. How much his blatant rejection of her friendship had hurt her. 'Hermione, what's wrong?'
'Nothing,' she said with a slight smile. Amber eyes connected with green, and she held his gaze until she couldn't stank to look at him any longer.
'You're a terrible liar, you know. Your eyes give you away.' He brought his hand up to brush away a stray tear she had missed, and his finger lingered a moment before he pulled it away, almost as though the contact with her skin had burned him. She couldn't read the expression his eyes had taken on, but now he almost looked ashamed. Like a lost schoolboy being scolded by his mother. But the problem was, he wasn't a boy any longer. He had grown into a man. How could she not have seen it before? How could she have missed the way his jaw had grown broad and strong? The awkward moment passed, and he heaved a heavy sigh. 'Ron only acts that way because he cares about you. He doesn't want to see you hurt. I don't want to see you hurt.'
Her cheeks flushed with anger, but she managed to control her temper and an even tone as she replied. 'And why are you two so sure that he would hurt me?' But inside, she knew how ridiculous that had to sound. It was Malfoy they were speaking of. The boy who found making fun of her as a form of very enjoyable entertainment. The fact was, he was as likely to change as Neville's potions grade. In other words, not any time soon. He would never have feelings for her such as she had for him. And yet the thought made her wonder, why she, herself, was having feelings for such a rotten person. It went beyond a physical attraction. She saw something more in him, possibly something that no one else could, even Malfoy himself. But why? Why Malfoy, and why not someone more sensible for her like Harry? No, she wouldn't do that to herself, she had gotten over her feelings for Harry long ago.
'Because, Hermione, we've both seen the way he treats women. You deserve someone better. A man that sees you for the real Hermione Granger, and not just a quick shag. You need a man that truly loves you.' He broke off and looked absentmindedly at the contents of an ominous jar sitting on Snape's desk.
'A man like you, Potter?' The coldness surrounding Hermione intensified as she watched the form of Draco Malfoy emerge from the shadows. His tall form seemingly glided across the floor as he moved towards them. 'Noble, brave and true, Potter?' Hermione winced. She never managed to find a moment free of Malfoy; he was either in her thoughts or in her presence. She tried to focus her thoughts on the pewter caldron before her, and not the way the candles illuminated his face, making his stormy gray eyes flash with, was that anger? Was that the same hurt look she had seen Harry wearing only a few hours before at breakfast? Could it possibly be that he had seen Harry comforting her and believed it to be something more? She took little note of Harry swiftly standing and starting for Malfoy, poised to strike if need be. She was too lost in her confusion, but his voice managed to bring her back to reality.
'Sod off, Malfoy,' Harry spat through gritted teeth.
'Was I interrupting something then?' A smirk danced across his face, all trace of any anger lost. 'Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry. I thought you Gryffindors used the Astronomy Tower for endeavors of that nature.' Hermione rose with a jolt, and her small hand connected with his cheek.
'Miss Granger!' Damn. She turned around to face none other than the potions master himself. She couldn't help slapping him, she really couldn't. Something inside her just snapped. 'I would think that a person such as yourself would know that the rules of this school prohibit violence of any sort.' Malfoy smirked triumphantly along with Snape. 'I'm afraid that the deduction of points from Gryffindor for such behavior is in order. I think twenty-five should just about do it. Now take your seat. You too Mr. Potter,' he added, taking note of Harry's presence. 'Class is to begin shortly, and we've a difficult assignment for today, there is no time to waste.' Hermione slipped to the back of the class, a fuming Harry at her side, and set up the potions supplies as directed on the board while the rest of the class filled in quickly. She noticed Ron was missing, but all thoughts of him vanished as the lesson began, and she focused on the task at hand.
'Today, we will be making the highly complex Veritaserum Potion. For those of you who were too lazy to consult your books,' his gaze fell on the Gryffindors. 'The Veritaserum is a truth potion that is so strong, with only a few drops you could spill your inner most secrets for all to hear.' The corners of Snape's mouth twitched up in a smirk as he continued on, the thought of testing this statement out gave him great joy. 'Now under normal circumstances, the use of this potion is controlled very strictly by Ministry guidelines, but Dumbledore has obtained permission for me to teach this lesson. In a moment, you will pair up, and begin to follow the instructions on the board. Follow each step correctly,' he paused to glare harshly at Neville, who visibly shrank back in fear, 'and the potion should turn out completely clear, odorless and tasteless. Adding any ingredients out of order, or substituting others, will make it become lurid orange, and give off a burnt rubber smell. At the end of class you will fill a crystal bottle with a portion of the potions, and we will proceed to begin testing the potion on your partner and yourself. Now, to assure that each pair will work arduously, I have taken the liberty of assigning you your partners. You may thank me later.' A collective groan rung from the class, and Hermione prayed that she wasn't to work with Malfoy as punishment for slapping him earlier. She scooted closer to Harry, who laid his hand reassuringly on her arm, and nodded his head slightly. At least now she had Harry to help her though it. She braced herself as Snape began to divide the class into pairs. 'Now, lets see, Brown and Parkinson, Bulstrode and Patil, Longbottom and Crabbe, Goyle and Potter, Granger and Malfoy,' he continued on, but Hermione wasn't listening any more. Why did these things always happen to her? She began to gather up her things and moved to the opposite side of the room, where Malfoy sat observing her, obviously finding her current predicament amusing.
'Hurry up, Granger, we don't have all day,' he spat. 'Some of us have things we must be doing later.'
'Must you always be so rude Malfoy? Didn't your parents ever teach you manners?'
'My manners are reserved for people more deserving than yourself, mudblood,' he hissed. She brought her hand up quickly to slap him again, but he easily caught her wrist and held it in a vice like grip.
'Don't you ever call me that again, Malfoy, or I'll.'
'Or you're what?' he smirked. 'Be forced to punish me? I'm still waiting for that last time you promised me.'
'And just what did you have in mind?' She raised her eyebrows and wondered just what he was hinting at. His hold on her wrist tightened, and she winced in pain as he laughed at her discomfort.
'Well, I'd thought that would be rather obvious. And they say you're a clever witch, Granger.'
'If you would,' she said, pulling her wrist away from him sharply, 'please refrain from touching me, it would be much appreciated.'
'Oh come now, don't deny you liked having my hand on you, even if it was only your arm. I'm sure you're be positively screaming my name if I were to touch.'
'Malfoy!' she yelled turning bright red. 'Can we focus on the potion here?'
'Screw the potion, I don't feel up to sitting her any longer. I'm leaving.'
'You can't just leave in the middle of class; we need to finish the assignment. You can't just blow this off as if it were nothing.'
'Oh yes I can. Are you forgetting who my father is? He holds Snape in the palm of his hand. No matter what I do, I get top marks in this class. The arrangements have already been made.' He pushed back his chair and gathered his bag from the floor. He turned to go, but leaned down in the pretence of picking up a quill and slid Hermione a small scrap of parchment before he exited the dungeon. She sat there in shock for a few moments, alarmed that Malfoy had walked off in the middle of a lesson, before she took notice of the note in her hand.
Follow me
That's all it said. No explanation, just those two little words. Hermione knew she shouldn't leave the class, but she just couldn't stand sitting there by herself any longer, and her curiosity got the best of her. She picked up her bag quickly and turned to leave, catching a confused look from Harry. Snape hadn't even tried to stop her; apparently Lucius did own the man. Where had Malfoy gone? She looked around the barren hallway.
'What took you so long, Granger?'
'I didn't intend on leaving at first.'
'But you changed your mind?'
'Obviously, Malfoy. Now what is it that was so important you felt the need to pull me out of class?'
"It wasn't as if I could do this here," he smirked wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close to him. What was going on here? What was he doing? She tried to pull back, but he firmly held on to her, and lowered his lips softly to her before she was given much chance to think.
*Hermione's Point of View*
Hermione slowly sank into a chair; the cold air numbing her body as tears surged from her eyes. The potions classroom was empty, eerie, but welcoming nonetheless. Her shoulders shook in silent sobs as she struggled to gain hold on her racing thoughts. Why were her two best friends treating her as though she had now become something slimy they had found on the sole of their shoes? Something foul and dirty. Sure she'd anticipated Ron's anger, even counted on it; after all, it was the entire reason she's avoided telling him in the first place. But Harry? She hadn't expected his reaction; the constant look of betrayal his face conveyed each time his eyes managed to meet hers. The thought of his sudden coldness towards her, much like the abandoned potion classroom was almost too much to bear, and she began to cry even harder.
'Hermione?' She jumped as the sound of Harry's voice floated across the silent air. Quickly wiping her tears from her face, she attempted to compose herself before turning to face him. She couldn't allow him to see her like this. So weak and miserable. She couldn't allow him to see how this was affecting her. How much his blatant rejection of her friendship had hurt her. 'Hermione, what's wrong?'
'Nothing,' she said with a slight smile. Amber eyes connected with green, and she held his gaze until she couldn't stank to look at him any longer.
'You're a terrible liar, you know. Your eyes give you away.' He brought his hand up to brush away a stray tear she had missed, and his finger lingered a moment before he pulled it away, almost as though the contact with her skin had burned him. She couldn't read the expression his eyes had taken on, but now he almost looked ashamed. Like a lost schoolboy being scolded by his mother. But the problem was, he wasn't a boy any longer. He had grown into a man. How could she not have seen it before? How could she have missed the way his jaw had grown broad and strong? The awkward moment passed, and he heaved a heavy sigh. 'Ron only acts that way because he cares about you. He doesn't want to see you hurt. I don't want to see you hurt.'
Her cheeks flushed with anger, but she managed to control her temper and an even tone as she replied. 'And why are you two so sure that he would hurt me?' But inside, she knew how ridiculous that had to sound. It was Malfoy they were speaking of. The boy who found making fun of her as a form of very enjoyable entertainment. The fact was, he was as likely to change as Neville's potions grade. In other words, not any time soon. He would never have feelings for her such as she had for him. And yet the thought made her wonder, why she, herself, was having feelings for such a rotten person. It went beyond a physical attraction. She saw something more in him, possibly something that no one else could, even Malfoy himself. But why? Why Malfoy, and why not someone more sensible for her like Harry? No, she wouldn't do that to herself, she had gotten over her feelings for Harry long ago.
'Because, Hermione, we've both seen the way he treats women. You deserve someone better. A man that sees you for the real Hermione Granger, and not just a quick shag. You need a man that truly loves you.' He broke off and looked absentmindedly at the contents of an ominous jar sitting on Snape's desk.
'A man like you, Potter?' The coldness surrounding Hermione intensified as she watched the form of Draco Malfoy emerge from the shadows. His tall form seemingly glided across the floor as he moved towards them. 'Noble, brave and true, Potter?' Hermione winced. She never managed to find a moment free of Malfoy; he was either in her thoughts or in her presence. She tried to focus her thoughts on the pewter caldron before her, and not the way the candles illuminated his face, making his stormy gray eyes flash with, was that anger? Was that the same hurt look she had seen Harry wearing only a few hours before at breakfast? Could it possibly be that he had seen Harry comforting her and believed it to be something more? She took little note of Harry swiftly standing and starting for Malfoy, poised to strike if need be. She was too lost in her confusion, but his voice managed to bring her back to reality.
'Sod off, Malfoy,' Harry spat through gritted teeth.
'Was I interrupting something then?' A smirk danced across his face, all trace of any anger lost. 'Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry. I thought you Gryffindors used the Astronomy Tower for endeavors of that nature.' Hermione rose with a jolt, and her small hand connected with his cheek.
'Miss Granger!' Damn. She turned around to face none other than the potions master himself. She couldn't help slapping him, she really couldn't. Something inside her just snapped. 'I would think that a person such as yourself would know that the rules of this school prohibit violence of any sort.' Malfoy smirked triumphantly along with Snape. 'I'm afraid that the deduction of points from Gryffindor for such behavior is in order. I think twenty-five should just about do it. Now take your seat. You too Mr. Potter,' he added, taking note of Harry's presence. 'Class is to begin shortly, and we've a difficult assignment for today, there is no time to waste.' Hermione slipped to the back of the class, a fuming Harry at her side, and set up the potions supplies as directed on the board while the rest of the class filled in quickly. She noticed Ron was missing, but all thoughts of him vanished as the lesson began, and she focused on the task at hand.
'Today, we will be making the highly complex Veritaserum Potion. For those of you who were too lazy to consult your books,' his gaze fell on the Gryffindors. 'The Veritaserum is a truth potion that is so strong, with only a few drops you could spill your inner most secrets for all to hear.' The corners of Snape's mouth twitched up in a smirk as he continued on, the thought of testing this statement out gave him great joy. 'Now under normal circumstances, the use of this potion is controlled very strictly by Ministry guidelines, but Dumbledore has obtained permission for me to teach this lesson. In a moment, you will pair up, and begin to follow the instructions on the board. Follow each step correctly,' he paused to glare harshly at Neville, who visibly shrank back in fear, 'and the potion should turn out completely clear, odorless and tasteless. Adding any ingredients out of order, or substituting others, will make it become lurid orange, and give off a burnt rubber smell. At the end of class you will fill a crystal bottle with a portion of the potions, and we will proceed to begin testing the potion on your partner and yourself. Now, to assure that each pair will work arduously, I have taken the liberty of assigning you your partners. You may thank me later.' A collective groan rung from the class, and Hermione prayed that she wasn't to work with Malfoy as punishment for slapping him earlier. She scooted closer to Harry, who laid his hand reassuringly on her arm, and nodded his head slightly. At least now she had Harry to help her though it. She braced herself as Snape began to divide the class into pairs. 'Now, lets see, Brown and Parkinson, Bulstrode and Patil, Longbottom and Crabbe, Goyle and Potter, Granger and Malfoy,' he continued on, but Hermione wasn't listening any more. Why did these things always happen to her? She began to gather up her things and moved to the opposite side of the room, where Malfoy sat observing her, obviously finding her current predicament amusing.
'Hurry up, Granger, we don't have all day,' he spat. 'Some of us have things we must be doing later.'
'Must you always be so rude Malfoy? Didn't your parents ever teach you manners?'
'My manners are reserved for people more deserving than yourself, mudblood,' he hissed. She brought her hand up quickly to slap him again, but he easily caught her wrist and held it in a vice like grip.
'Don't you ever call me that again, Malfoy, or I'll.'
'Or you're what?' he smirked. 'Be forced to punish me? I'm still waiting for that last time you promised me.'
'And just what did you have in mind?' She raised her eyebrows and wondered just what he was hinting at. His hold on her wrist tightened, and she winced in pain as he laughed at her discomfort.
'Well, I'd thought that would be rather obvious. And they say you're a clever witch, Granger.'
'If you would,' she said, pulling her wrist away from him sharply, 'please refrain from touching me, it would be much appreciated.'
'Oh come now, don't deny you liked having my hand on you, even if it was only your arm. I'm sure you're be positively screaming my name if I were to touch.'
'Malfoy!' she yelled turning bright red. 'Can we focus on the potion here?'
'Screw the potion, I don't feel up to sitting her any longer. I'm leaving.'
'You can't just leave in the middle of class; we need to finish the assignment. You can't just blow this off as if it were nothing.'
'Oh yes I can. Are you forgetting who my father is? He holds Snape in the palm of his hand. No matter what I do, I get top marks in this class. The arrangements have already been made.' He pushed back his chair and gathered his bag from the floor. He turned to go, but leaned down in the pretence of picking up a quill and slid Hermione a small scrap of parchment before he exited the dungeon. She sat there in shock for a few moments, alarmed that Malfoy had walked off in the middle of a lesson, before she took notice of the note in her hand.
Follow me
That's all it said. No explanation, just those two little words. Hermione knew she shouldn't leave the class, but she just couldn't stand sitting there by herself any longer, and her curiosity got the best of her. She picked up her bag quickly and turned to leave, catching a confused look from Harry. Snape hadn't even tried to stop her; apparently Lucius did own the man. Where had Malfoy gone? She looked around the barren hallway.
'What took you so long, Granger?'
'I didn't intend on leaving at first.'
'But you changed your mind?'
'Obviously, Malfoy. Now what is it that was so important you felt the need to pull me out of class?'
"It wasn't as if I could do this here," he smirked wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close to him. What was going on here? What was he doing? She tried to pull back, but he firmly held on to her, and lowered his lips softly to her before she was given much chance to think.