The Passion of a Dragon
By: xKatx
Author's Notes: Wow! All of you guys seem to adore my story! I'm thrilled! lol At this point, I'm guessing this story is going to have between 35-40 chapters—I know, it's a lot, but we still have a lot of stuff to go through before Draco and Hermione settle things! I have a question for all of you who read this story:
Would you guys read more D/Hr stories of mine, regardless of setting or story line (Would you give other stories of mine a chance?) I'm thinking of another one w/ our favorite couple during Hogwarts, and then maybe I'll try one post-Hogwarts. What do you guys think? I really want your opinions! Review and let me know what you think or email me: xnegrl80xhotmail.com I love you all!
Disclaimer: I don't own HP stuff—I'd be in the mountains right now if I did—I own everything you don't recognize.
Characters You Will Meet In This Chapter:
no new characters
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You're going to have to work bloody hard, mate," Seamus said to Harry that afternoon as they ate lunch in the Great Hall. Hermione nodded her agreement, and Harry nodded as well.
"I know. Our weakest points are the Chasers--they're not working together, and I don't know what to do to make them."
"I'll help," Hermione offered, "I went to a summer camp for my Muggle softball team, and we had a bunch of different exercises to teach teamwork."
"Would you really?" Harry questioned as he poured himself some pumpkin juice and looked at her (she was seated to his left).
Hermione nodded, "It's not a problem, unless you'd rather take over?"
"Are you joking? I've tried everything I can think of and nothing's making it any better."
Hermione laughed, "Well all the Chasers are girls, aren't they?"
"She's got a point," Ron said from around a mouthful of bread and butter.
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Harry, "Offer's up, if you want to take it."
"Absolutely," Harry said, putting an arm on her shoulders and hugging her, "Thanks, Hermione."
"Anything for a friend," she told him, "And so we can win the Quidditch Cup."
The friends laughed as Harry told her the next practice was Monday night.
"I'll be there," she told him.
"All right. I'll be working with Ron, Nikoli, and Dominic while you work with Natalie, Riva, and Jade, okay?"
Hermione nodded, "Not a problem."
"We may actually kick some butt his year!" Ginny said with a grin.
Ron raised an eyebrow and threw a look at his sister, "Gin, we won the Quidditch Cup last year-our team has always been good."
Ginny rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean. Kick butt as in send the Slytherins back to their dungeon with their tails between their legs."
Hermione, Ron, Harry, Lavender, Parvati, and Seamus nearly spit out whatever food or beverage was in their mouths.
"That was probably the most inopportune moment to say something like that, Ginny," Hermione told her as she grabbed a napkin and covered her mouth.
Everyone else nodded, and Ginny just smirked.
"At least you pigs managed to keep your food in your mouth," she told them with a sly grin.
From across the Great Hall, Malfoy watched her. She was covering her mouth with a napkin as she and her friends began to laugh hysterically. He felt anger burn in his chest. Why couldn't he make her laugh like that? He searched her neck and realized the mark he'd left was just visible at the edge of her crimson halter. It didn't look like anyone had noticed. He smirked; she hadn't even tried to cover the edges of it with makeup. Why hadn't she? Most girls whom had received a hickey from him had tried to cover it with makeup; but she hadn't.
Intriguing, he thought to himself. He'd be sure to mention it tonight… that is, if they happened to have a rendezvous.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hermione stood in the Owlery waiting for her parents to respond to the letter she'd written them. Until Hedwig returned, she stood there, thinking about all the changes that had occurred in the last twenty-four hours. She'd managed to fight with Malfoy, confront him, and end up in his bed making out with him. The memory of the night before brought butterflies to her stomach, but it also made her sick. She'd actually ended up in the bed of her enemy.
She was definitely going soft.
Maybe she needed to hit below the belt. Maybe… tease him enough to drive him up the wall, or something. She had to do something to make him feel all the conflicted feelings she had. It was only fair to return the favor, after all.
But damn, how could he be so sexy? The way he looked at her, the way he touched her… how he knew just where to kiss her to make her do whatever he wanted… she needed to find a weakness in him. Or perhaps a weakness she provoked by something she did or wore or… she'd have to experiment, that was for sure.
But experimenting meant snogging with him. Again. Many times.
I'm in big trouble, she thought to herself. There was only one way to figure out his weakness, and that way required making out with him more than one more time.
"No way," she said to herself, "No way am I doing that."
But part of her wanted to. What kind of girl wouldn't? If she walked up to any girl and offered her a whole night to do whatever that girl wanted with Draco Malfoy, Hermione was sure nine out of ten girls would take her up on that offer. Nearly every girl, whether they professed it or not, wanted to snog with Draco Malfoy. And here she was; the one person least likely to turn out being his snog buddy, and she'd spent the previous night doing just that.
Why can't I hate him again the way that I used to? She asked herself as she looked out the window, seeing an owl coming closer and closer. She hoped it was Hedwig. In the fading light of the setting sun, she couldn't tell.
Hating him with a fiery intensity was so much more easy than secretly adoring him.
Maybe if she played hard to get long enough, he'd get frustrated and give up, leaving her alone. If he left her alone, she could easily get over him.
She broke that train of thought as Hedwig landed on the windowsill with a large manilla envelope. There was a piece of parchment attached to the envelope.
Hermione untied the envelope from Hedwig's leg, pulled out an owl treat and gave it to the bird. Hedwig took it, nipped her hand affectionately, and flew off to her perch, where she enjoyed the snack.
Hermione smiled at Hedwig and left the Owlery, envelope in hand.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hermione sat at her desk that evening at about six-thirty, having just returned from dinner. She flipped open the piece of parchment on the envelope and read the message.
Hermione-
Found what you asked for. There was more, but it wasn't information you could use there. If you still want it, send a note. Take care of yourself!
Love, Mom and Dad
Hermione smiled as she opened the envelope and pulled out the Muggle packets she'd received while at camp. They had different activities that focused on team work and strategy.
"Perfect," she said to herself as she flipped through them. She decided now was as good a time as ever to give them to Harry. She wanted him to see what she was thinking, and she wanted him to see before the next practice.
It's only six-thirty, she told herself, I could get to the Gryffindor common room and stay a while and still get back before curfew.
She decided that's just what she would do. She changed into a short jean skirt, a pair of sneakers, and a black hooded shirt with ¾ sleeves. She left her hair down and curly, and made sure her makeup was all right. The thought that Malfoy might be out and about was in the back of her mind as she picked up the envelope and made sure her wand was in her skirt pocket.
When she was sure she was ready to leave, she walked out of her bedroom, careful to shut the door behind her, and left the common room.
She walked down the hall and up to the Gryffindor common room. The Fat Lady smiled.
"Well, Miss Granger, it's been a long time since I saw you last."
Hermione nodded, "I know, I should come visit more often."
"Yes, you must, anyway, password?"
"Treacle tarts," Hermione said, and the Fat Lady's portrait swung open.
Hermione stepped through and found the common room bright and warm and full of lively chatter. She stopped to speak with a few of her other friends before finding Harry, Ron, and Seamus in the corner playing Wizard's Chess.
"Hey, Mione," Harry greeted her, giving her a hug as he looked up from the board.
"Hey," she greeted him as Seamus stood to hug her as well.
"What, Ron, too focused for a hug?" She asked, bending down to speak near his ear.
Ron nodded, a determined, thoughtful look on his face.
Hermione rolled her eyes and put her arms around his neck, "Well, I'm not."
Ron smiled at her as he hugged her arms before focusing back on his move.
Hermione sat on the couch between Harry and Seamus, and watching Ron as he said, "Bishop to E6."
"What's that, 'Mione?" Harry questioned as Ron's pawn moved forward.
"I'll show it to you after the game," she assured him.
Harry nodded before immediately replying, "Knight to E6."
Ron cursed under his breath as Harry's knight bashed the Bishop across the board.
"Bad move, mate," Seamus commented from behind a book entitled Fabulous Quidditch Moves and How To Use Them.
"Interested in helping Gryffindor?" Hermione questioned, pointing to the book in Seamus' hands.
He shrugged, "Can't hurt. Besides, if I read about a play that could help us beat Slytherin, you bet your Irish whiskey I'm lettin' Harry know about it."
Hermione laughed as the other two boys wrapped up their game. Ron ended up winning, but neither were bitter.
"He's beat me thirty seven times!" Harry informed her.
She smiled, "But how many games have you played total over the last six years?"
"God only knows that, lass," Seamus said from behind his book. His voice was muffled, and it caused Hermione to laugh.
"So, 'Mione, what is in the envelope?" Ron asked, finally interested in something other than the game.
She lifted the tab and pulled out the packets, "I wrote my Mum and she sent these to me. They're old worksheets and fact sheets about those activities we used to do at camp. I figured Harry would want to have a look."
Harry nodded as he took a packet, Ron took one, and Seamus sat forward, reading over Hermione's shoulder as she looked at one.
There was silence between them for about three minutes while the four skimmed through them.
"These look like they'll work nicely," Harry commented with a smile, "If you can pull these off with Natalie, Jade, and Riva, I'd be thrilled!"
Hermione nodded, "Once I spruce up their teamwork skills a little, you'll be able to run some plays with them and see if it's done any good."
"Well, if you improve their teamwork three levels above where they are now, I'll let you run the plays."
"Oh no way," Hermione said, "Harry, you know I'm afraid of heights."
Ron looked at her, "'Mione, you don't have to be in the air to help run plays."
"Ron's right. If you're down on the sidelines running the plays, I can be in the air and we can get used to all seven of us being up there like it will be when we play Slytherin."
"You blokes don't seem too worried about playing Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw again," Seamus commented from back behind his book.
"Why should we? Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are pushovers. Their Seekers are amateur, to say the least," Ron said.
"Come on, Braiden Kelso and Justin Finch-Fletchley try their best."
"But their best isn't good enough," Ron told her.
She shrugged, "Can't argue there."
Ron smiled, "Caught ya."
"But still, I don't know half of the plays that you guys use anyway."
"That's why, when the time comes, I'll explain them to you," Harry said, "Listen, 'Mione, if I can remember all of the things Wood has told me over the years while I ran down the hall late for class, you can remember them if I explain them carefully."
"He's got a point," Seamus commented, his voice still muffled by the book.
Hermione hit his leg with one of the papers, "We don't need commentary from the peanut gallery!"
Harry and Ron laughed as Seamus narrowed his eyes playfully at her, "Yes ma'am."
Hermione rolled her eyes and sat back, ready to enjoy the rest of the evening with her best friends.
And she did just that. It wasn't until nine-thirty that Hermione bid her goodbyes to her friends and the Fat Lady and made her way down the dark and deserted corridor. She arrived at the painting of Elvira the Elusive, and prepared to say the password.
"There are rumors going around," the painting informed her, "About you and Mr. Malfoy."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "What kind of rumors?"
"That you two had a little rendezvous last night in his room," Elvira said, "Young woman, if I were you, I'd snatch him up while I could."
Hermione nodded, "I'll… remember that, I suppose. Infinigus."
"But did you?" Elvira asked as her portrait moved.
Hermione shook her head, "Goodnight!"
She entered the common room, and looked up, "Hello," she said.