IMPRESSIONS chapter eight

Disclaimer: Don't own anything, except for stuff you don't recognize.

Summary: An emotionally, physically, and mentally wounded Draco needs someone to help him, whether he wants to admit it or not, after his father lands in Azkaban, his mother is committed to St. Mungo's, and his entire world crumbles. Romance/Angst.

Author's Note: Please review!

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"Don't you read the papers, Granger?" he said, rolling his eyes. "I am no longer on their parent's… list of favorite people."

            "But why not?" asked Hermione, astonished.

            Malfoy paused thoughtfully for a few minutes. "Well, it's rather complicated."

            "Well, if it was in the papers"-

            "It's because my father is a… how should I say… My traitor is considered a traitor. My entire family, actually," Malfoy said finally.

            "To Voldemort?"

            Malfoy flinched and swore. "Bloody hell, why did you say his name?" he hissed.

            Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Sorry," she mumbled.

            "Well, you might not be scared of saying his name, but when you are forced to know him"- Malfoy checked himself abruptly at the look on Hermione's face. "Don't act like you didn't know it, Granger."

            She reddened. "Well, I knew about your father, but I didn't know that you're a"-

            His arm shot forward and clasped her wrist tightly He jerked her to him. "I'm not," he spat. "I'm not. Not yet. And don't ever say that I am."

            She was quite speechless and didn't say anything for few moments. "Don't expect you to believe me, of course. The only ones who do are the Slytherins." He gave a hollow laugh.

            Hermione swallowed. "So… Why is your father a traitor?"

            Malfoy sighed. "Why do you care, Granger?" he asked snidely.

            "It's Hermione, and you brought it up. I'm just reacting by natural curiosity," said Hermione.

            "He's a traitor because he's basically lied and renounced the Dark Lord – sorry, You-Know-Who – about twenty times, and when he went to Azkaban last it was no different. I expect that all my housemates who have parents supporting the Dark – You-Know-Who, I mean – have been told that I'm to be shunned or something stupid."

            Hermione didn't say anything for a few seconds. "So does that mean that no one in your house talks to you?"

            Malfoy snorted. "Hardly. The girls seem to… conveniently forget… when they want to shag," he said, nonplussed. "And Malcolm Baddock's family doesn't support You-Know-Who."

            Hermione looked scandalized. "The girls do what?"

            Malfoy glanced at her. "Granger, we had this conversation. You're a virgin, and I'm not." He looked amused.

            "But"- Hermione struggled for words as her visage turned alarmingly red –"Don't you put… value… into it at all?"

            He raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Why should I?"

            "Because - because it's something that should be for when you really love a person!" said Hermione indignantly.

            He snorted. "Granger, you read to many romances. Real life isn't like that. They know I'm a good shag, so we do it," he said, supremely arrogantly. "Besides, why are we even having this conversation?"

            Hermione stared at him in utter disbelief. "I don't believe you. We actually start acting civilly, and you have to remind me that you're Malfoy."

            "What did I do?" Malfoy looked completely surprised. "And I thought you were going to call me 'Draco?'"

            "If you want me to call you by your first name, then you must do the same," said Hermione primly. "And you were being arrogant."

            "How do you know? I was being truthful. And you certainly can't form an opinion on that unless you've experienced it." He smirked at her.

            She gasped. "How dare you?" She added nastily. "Not to mention, wouldn't your… injury… affect your… game?"

            His eyes narrowed. "I perform an illusion charm on stomach beforehand," he said coldly.

            Hermione went even redder. "This is a ridiculous conversation," she said. "I don't even want to know those – details."

            "Are you sure?" Malfoy whispered, edging up to her and talking in her ear.

            She squirmed. "Malfoy, if you don't"-

            "It's 'Draco,' Hermione," he said quietly.

            She froze in surprise. "What are you doing?" she asked uncertainly as his finger grazed her cheek, her heart beating furiously with both alarm and a strange form of anxious pleasure.

            "The question is, what do you want me to do?" he said softly, seductively.

            Her eyes went very wide and she turned to face him angrily. "Malfoy – I mean, Draco – I don't know what you think"-

            He cut her off abruptly by pressing his lips to hers firmly. He still held Hermione's wrist in his hand, so it was impossible for her to get away. Her eyes, if possible, went even rounder as he pulled her closer to him. "Don't tell me you don't want to," he whispered in her ear after breaking the kiss.

            Hermione was quite breathless and too much in a state of shock to do anything.

            "OY! GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF HER!"

            Hermione jumped away from Draco, whose expression was now of extreme smugness.

            Hermione's face was flushed, but she went very pale as Ron and Harry shed the Invisibility Cloak. Ron's face was a terrible sight to behold; it was twisted with such anger that it made him look like a different person. Harry, though certainly just as shocked, was gripping Ron's arms to keep him from charging Malfoy.

            "Look, Ron – Harry"- Hermione began frantically.

            Draco sauntered out onto the open platform. "Okay there, Weasley?" he said coolly.

            Ron's eyes bulged and he whipped out his wand. The spell that was shouted, however, was not his own.

            "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Hermione shouted, her own wand out and pointing to Ron.

            The lanky redhead's arms and legs snapped together and he fell backwards, Harry just managing to keep him from hitting the ground.

            "Ron, I just have to explain without you interrupting, okay," said Hermione sadly, walking over to her friend.

            "Hermione…" Harry began uncertainly. "Look, we weren't here for very long, we didn't see anything accept for – for…" He couldn't seem to bring himself to say, 'kiss.'

            "Cool it, Potter. I kissed her," said Draco, walking forward. "Don't worry, your precious Granger isn't turning against you."

            Harry's jaw dropped, as did Hermione's. He admitting his complete instigation of the kiss was the last thing she had expected him to do. Indeed, she was still in complete bewilderment.

            "Now, I have some homework to do, so…" Draco trailed off sophisticatedly. "Good luck with her, Weasley," he added, smirking. And without further adieu, he swept past them and down the stairs of the tower.

            Harry stared at Hermione. "Now are you going to tell us what in the bloody hell is going on?" he asked, controlled fury quite evident within his tone.

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            Author's Note: I sped it up a little! And to answer the question I am sure I will receive… No, Draco does not love her. He's just… should I say… a little frustrated. And I promise, I will talk about the Permeus Surpos curse next chapter!

Thanks a bunch for all the reviews, I'm astounded at the response this little ficlet has gotten!

Ar-Zimraphel