Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they belong to J.K Rowling. I only own the plot.
A/N: First of all, a huge thank you to all my reviewers. I'm really glad that you like my story and that you took time to review it hugs to all of you Second of all, yes I know that I said this chapter wouldn't be up until the beginning of July, but fortunately I've had time to write this chapter during my exam period bad me lol, anyway, I hope you like it and chapter six will soon be done, so err, enjoy : )
Chapter Five – You don't have a choice
Terrified Hermione looked up and saw Ron's eyes burning with rage, she was frightened, she had never seen him like this.
"I-I.." stuttered Hermione and tried to avoid Ron's judging eyes.
"I can't believe this Hermione! How could you? After all that he has.." said Ron frustrated, but was interrupted by Hermione.
"NO, Ron! It's not what you think!" insisted Hermione and stood.
"Do you think I'm blind? That I can't see what's going on? Or maybe I'm just too stupid to understand in your eyes, is that it?" said Ron.
"No, you know that's not it! ...He was just being cocky as usual, an-and insulting me," said Hermione.
"Oh give me a break! We both know that that did not look like hostility! Don't lie to me, Hermione, and don't think I don't know that he was with you in detention yesterday!" said Ron and Hermione looked surprised, "Yes, people do actually talk on this school and rumour has that you two were together and now he's all over you. I can't believe you would do this to me," continued Ron with a lot of show.
"But that wasn't my fault, yesterday. What? You think I had planned for him to be there with me, like you said: after all he has done to us? There's nothing going on between Malfoy and me! How can you even think that I would be with him. He has just developed some disturbing stalker tendencies lately," said Hermione convincingly.
"Oh well, that clears everything up, then I'll just go and finish him up right now!" said Ron defensively.
"No! Ron, you know that's not the right way to do it! Then he'll just get what he wants: you into trouble, you know he's just playing with us," said Hermione desperately trying to reason with Ron.
"Is he? Or are you just playing with me?" said Ron, then turned around and quickly walked away.
"No! I'm not!" called Hermione after him.
She sat back down when Ron was out of her sight, then buried her face in her hands and gave into her tears. The pressure of the events of the last couple of days overwhelmed her and she didn't try to fight it. She sat like that for a while. She was almost alone in the library, there were only a few younger students there, but they didn't pay any attention to her, though they had been very curious before, about the fight. Suddenly Madam Pince appeared from behind one of the many bookcases in the library, she on the other hand did pay attention to Hermione.
"Are you okay, dear? Is something wrong?" she asked kindly and gave Hermione's left shoulder a little squeeze.
Hermione, who had not seen her approach, started and then quickly dried her tears and got up in a rush.
"No, I'm fine, thanks," said Hermione a bit bewildered, while collecting her books, and then she left the library as fast as she could, in fear that Pince might ask more questions about her obvious state of mind.
When Hermione was finally out in the empty corridor, she took a minute to fix her clothes and pull herself together, 'Okay Hermione, everything is fine, you don't have time to have a nervous breakdown now. Get a grip now, you have to go to..' thought Hermione and then unpleasantly remembered that she had to go to detention now, '..the dungeons, oh crap, I'm so not in the mood for Snape's ugly face right now! But I can absolutely not skip detention now, nor ever for that matter, just gotta get through it Hermione and you better hurry or you'll be late,' thought she and took a deep breath and then headed towards the dungeons.
She found the door to the classroom wide open and she entered the room very cautiously and a bit insecure. "Hello? Professor Snape, are you there?" she said in a shaky voice, she never did like the dungeons, especially not when she was alone down there.
Suddenly a deep voice from outside the room said, "Oh, there you are Miss Granger, at last."
Hermione started and turned around and saw Professor Snape standing in the doorway, 'What does he mean 'at last'? He's the one not giving out the exact information, stupid little potions master,' thought Hermione and said, "Oh hello Professor."
The Professor just stared at her with his dark, cold eyes, then he turned and walked down the hallway, "Follow me, miss Granger," he said.
Hermione hurried after him. He walked fast and she tried to keep up, just a few steps behind him, keeping her distance. He lead her up the stairs and kept her wondering about where they were going, but Hermione couldn't keep her mouth shut, she had automatically thought she'd be doing some stuff in the dungeons, but obviously she wasn't and she wanted to know where they were going.
"Where are we going?" asked Hermione.
"You'll see," answered Snape without even glancing back at Hermione.
Cheeky Hermione shook her head and made upturned eyes at his annoying reply. Hermione followed his lead until he stopped, so suddenly that Hermione almost walked right into him, but fortunately she stopped just in time for him to step aside and hold a door open for her. Just now Hermione realized that it was the girls' bathroom that he had lead her to.
She entered the bathroom, turned around and faced Snape, she had a very good idea about what he'd probably want her to do.
"The original plan was that you should have swept the court, but apparently Mother Nature is against my will," said Professor Snape bitterly, "but this will do," he smirked, "you'll be cleaning this bathroom: floor, toilets, sinks, everything, without magic, of course, but a 'know-it-all' like you'd probably already figured that out," he said and raised an eyebrow, "have fun and I'll see you tomorrow Miss Granger," he finished, left the room and closed the door.
Hermione stood in the middle of the bathroom and looked at the dirty and dusty floor, the filthy sinks and of course the toilets. As she stood there a feeling of complete hopelessness and loneliness overwhelmed her and she fell to her knees and bursted into tears. A million thoughts ran through her mind, then she abruptly heard a sobbing noise which she first thought she made, but then she remembered that this was Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Hermione looked up when her tears had faded a little, she saw Moaning Myrtle by the window in the other end of the room, crying as always. Hermione also noticed the rain falling from the dark sky on the other side of the window. Myrtle looked at her, then the ghost floated towards Hermione, and in a shrilly voice she said, "Have you come to share the tears of solitude with me?".
Hermione smiled, "No Myrtle, I've come to clean this place."
"But why? No one ever comes in here. Only me, all alone, forever and ever, for all eternity, why would anyone even think about cleaning my pathetic little home?" said Myrtle, and Hermione laughed.
"Yes, I know, but Professor Snape has decided to make this my punishment for just saying the obvious truth," said Hermione.
"Ugh, Snape? He's that nasty one, isn't he?" said Myrtle and Hermione nodded in definite agreement.
"Was that why you were crying before?" asked Myrtle interested.
"No, that wasn't the reason," said Hermione and looked down.
"But then why?" asked Myrtle eagerly.
Hermione hesitated and then she confessed everything to Moaning Myrtle, who listened patiently.
"Hmm.. at least boys are interested in you. They never cared for me, only when they needed someone to pick on," said Myrtle bitterly, "but I guess you should be working now," reminded Myrtle.
"Oh yes! I've talking for way too long, but thanks for listening," said Hermione with a little smile and then watched Myrtle float away.
'Oh dear, this is gonna take forever! I'll never be finished today,' thought Hermione and felt all hopeless again, 'And did he say 'have fun'? Which part of this is supposed to be fun? Stupid idiot! And he'll probably make me clean the boys bathroom tomorrow, or well, probably not, he'll make me sweep the court,' thought Hermione and felt drained from all possible strength she might have left in her body,
She got to work and finally, after many hours of hard work, she was finished. She stood for a second and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment before she left the bathroom. 'It must be way past dinner-time,' thought Hermione, 'oh well, I wasn't hungry anyway.'
She went through the cold hallways only lighted by the glowing candles. For a second she thought she heard footsteps behind her, but she convinced herself that it was just her imagination running loose, 'Calm down Hermione, there's nothing scary about this cold, dark, creepy castle on a rainy night, everything is fine.' Then she heard footsteps again and she quickly turned around to see if anyone was behind her, but no one was there, so she turned back around and found herself facing Draco, "Argh!" she screamed, Draco laughed his stupid little self-assured laugh.
"Oh did I scare you, Granger?" he said.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, you did," answered Hermione unwillingly.
"Well, I certainly didn't mean to," said Draco ironically and when Hermione just looked at him with cold eyes, he said, "Hmm, so I hear there's a bit of a tiff between you and the moron?"
"Oh just go away, Malfoy!" said Hermione and walked by him, just striking his one shoulder. Then in a matter of no time Malfoy had grabbed Hermione's one wrist and now held her against the cold wall.
"Let go of me!" demanded Hermione and tried to break free of his grip, but couldn't, because the more she fought against him the more he tightened his grip.
"There's no use in fighting me, Granger, I always get what I want," said Draco intensely.
"Look, I'm not in the mood for your stupid games Malfoy! I'm exhausted, 'cause I've just spent hours in the girls' bathroom, cleaning! Oh and by the way, if I remember correctly then you said you had other plans and that you wouldn't show!" said Hermione resentfully.
"Well, I rescheduled my timetable, just for you," said Draco and smirked.
"Oooh, thanks a lot. Now I'm forever in your debt," said Hermione and rolled her eyes.
"Now, don't be so saucy," said Draco. Hermione looked unimpressed.
"Oh Draco, why are you here?" she asked wearily.
"Aww, now I know you're tired and probably just wanna get in bed," he smirked and Hermione thought she was going to throw up, then he continued, "but I thought I'd just let you know that I'm taking you...out on Saturday after the Quidditch game, so we can celebrate my victory," said Draco very secure of himself.
"What? Who do you think you are? I'm with Ron! And even if I weren't, then I still wouldn't go out with you!" said Hermione and Draco laughed.
"Now Granger, you don't really have a choice!" said Draco and tightened his grip around her wrist even more.
"Av! Just let me go!" insisted Hermione, but then Draco put his other hand on Hermione's thigh and let it find its way under her robe, and then the way to her loin, then he pulled her closer and held her tight so she couldn't possibly break free. Hermione admitted to herself, that even though she was drained, still admired Draco's passionate way of showing his feelings, well except for his grip around her wrist. He leaned forward, as if he wanted to kiss her, again, but just as their lips were about to meet he turned left and whispered into her ear.
"Say: please!" said he. Hermione gathered all her strength and pushed Draco, but he was too strong for her and she realized that if she wanted to get any sleep tonight, then the only way out of this would be to obey him. "Please?" she said.
"Good girl," he said and then he finally let her go, but not without smirking first.
She left Malfoy in a rush and hurried to her room, as fast as she could. She hurried inside and locked the door. 'Finally,' she thought relieved. She quickly changed and brushed her teeth. Then she threw herself on the four poster bed and buried herself in the duvet and the blankets. She felt the soft cotton against her skin and she loved it. 'Oh I must be in heaven. It's gonna be great with a good night's sleep after so many hours of toil,' she thought, but she had just closed her eyes, when a loud peal of thunder echoed through the castle and made her start. A few seconds after, her room was lighted by a lightening outside. "I guess it's gonna be a rough night," said she to Crookshanks, who had just placed himself comfortably next to Hermione in the bed. She lied back down and petted Crookshanks. She let her head rest on the pillow and listened to the rain pouring down outside, and she couldn't help, but to admit that even though she was really tired and really wanted to go to sleep, she still loved the sound of the rain, and if it had been just the rain, then she might have been able to fall asleep, but the thunder and the lightening kept her awake and she was haunted by her own conscience.
'Blimey, Draco has changed. I don't understand him, he's different. One minute, he's just mean and the next minute he's almost nice, and then there's the physical contact of course,' Hermione shivered, 'Should I go with him on Saturday? Ron doesn't have to know, he would just freak, no Ron can never know nor about the kiss,' concluded she, and a couple of hours later the storm died down and Hermione finally fell asleep.
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