IMPRESSIONS chapter eighteen

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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And I will call you by your first name. No exceptions," said Hermione dutifully.

            "Right."

            "Oh, Merlin…"

"What?" he asked sharply.

Hermione sighed unhappily. "It's 10:15."

He stared at her for a second before smirking. "You place so much stock on the rules, Hermione."

"There's nothing wrong with that," said Hermione defensively, flushing.

"Right," Draco repeated.

Hermione glanced towards the door. "I should go…" she said awkwardly.

Draco's smirk broadened. "Of course."           

Hermione went even redder. "Well… Bye, then," she said, turning and walking to the door. She turned before she opened the door. "I forgive you for everything," she whispered.

He said nothing, and she reached out to turn the handle. She jiggled it a few times and removed her wand. "Alohomora," she muttered.

Nothing happened. "What's wrong?" asked Draco curiously.

"The door isn't opening," said Hermione, confused. "It's not locked…" she turned the handle; it turned easily, but the door wouldn't budge.

"Move," commanded Draco, brushing her aside and shoving his weight against he door.

It opened a little more. "Something's blocking it," he said, fitting his arm through the opening. "It's smooth… Like a statue, or something…"

"Peeves," Hermione breathed.

"What—oh, of course," said Draco. "I can't see the object to charm it with my wand," he said. He launched himself against the door, and the little opening widened to eight inches.

"Stop!" said Hermione, scandalized.

"What?"

"Your stomach, you idiot," said Hermione.

Draco sighed. "But of course," he said, touching his torso gingerly. He suddenly looked stricken with an idea. "There is something I could do…" he trailed off. "No, never mind," he said abruptly.

            "What?" asked Hermione. "I really need to get out, so if you have an idea.... I have to finish my History of Magic essay."

            He looked extremely uncomfortable. "I can't, sorry..."

            "Why not?" inquired Hermione. "If it would work…"

            "Because it would entail your having to keep another important secret of mine. And this one is just as important," said Draco firmly.

            "I swear not to tell!" said Hermione eagerly. "I really need to get back to Gryffindor Tower."

            He ran a hand through his white-blond hair. "Look, Hermione, it's complicated, okay?" he snapped.

            "I forgave you! You could at least trust me," said Hermione sharply.

            He sighed and massaged his temples with his hand. "Will you let the trust issue go if I do?" he asked shortly.

            "Of course. If it's a secret worthy of trust," said Hermione.

            "All right. Hand this to me when I get out there," said Draco curtly, handing his ebony wand to Hermione, who took it with a bewildered glance.

            He closed his eyes for a second. "Here goes," he muttered to himself, and began to change.

            It was quite abrupt, actually. The change from man to beast took place in just barely a second, but Hermione saw it through shocked eyes that made the second last for minutes. And so, she was shortly staring at a sleek, large type of cat, its fur the color of shadows. She felt her jaw drop. "You're an Animagus!" she whispered weakly.

            The large cat—Draco--showed a few teeth in an unmistakable grin and turned his back to Hermione, slinking over to the door and sidling through the opening of the door with unbelievable flexibility. Moments later, she heard his voice from outside. "Hand me my wand," he told her.

            Hermione jumped and stared at the wand she was gripping in her fingers tightly. "H-here," she said shakily.

            His long fingers reached inside the room from the barely-open door and she placed his wand in them. "Right," was his predictable response. "Yes, Peeves toppled a statue… A rather large one, too," he called. "Wingardium Leviosa," she heard him mutter.

            A second later, he opened the door, looking pleased with himself. He smirked when he saw the completely astonished look on her face.

            "What in bloody hell was that?" she whispered, walking out into the hall with him. He closed the door and leaned against the statue he had just moved.

            "I'm an Animagus," he said. "I'm just full of surprises, eh?" the corner of his mouth twitched.

            "But—but, you're Draco Malfoy," she said weakly.

            "Yes," he agreed, amused and thoroughly enjoying her astonishment. "Did you think that I wouldn't be accomplished enough to perform advanced magic?"

            "Well, no, but I never figured you to be one who"—Hermione broke off. "That's really dangerous," she accused. "You could have gotten stuck half animal or something, or retained your animal mind—speaking of which, what kind of animal are you?" she questioned earnestly.

            "A panther," he said waving his hand dismissively. "Honestly, did you think I just decided to become one out of the blue? No, my father taught me a summer ago. Got his inspiration from Sirius Black, of course."

            "Your father's an Animagus?" asked Hermione, the information rushing towards her at alarming speeds.

            He frowned. "Actually, I don't think so," he said thoughtfully. "Or if he is, I've never seen him do it."

            "But it was so dangerous!" said Hermione, remembering the important things. "Seriously, your father made you try it when you were only fourteen?"

            He shrugged. "Yeah. But it doesn't matter, right, because, as you can see…" He smirked and spread his arms wide. "I am very clearly not an animal, and I think that you would realize it if my mind was akin to a panther's."

            Hermione's eyes suddenly went round. "Can you teach me?" she breathed.

            He looked slightly taken aback. "What?"

            "Can you teach me to become one?" she repeated, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

            "Oh, but Hermione…" he said. "That would involve breaking some rules. As well as laws. You can't do that," he said, his gray eyes glinting with mirth.

            "I've broken rules loads of times with Harry and Ron, it's really not a big deal. Will you teach me, please? I've always wanted to do it, it'd be so useful, you know, just to be able to turn into an animal whenever you wanted, and I wonder what kind of animal I'd be, maybe"—

            Draco suddenly put his hand over her mouth. "You're giving me a headache," he said. "Babbling, and all that. If you really want me to teach you…" he looked apprehensively. "You realize, doing that in addition to helping me with the translation, we'd be together constantly?"

            "So what? It'd be a trade-off! I swear to help with the translation—and cover for you—if you taught me!"

            "It's very difficult…" said Draco warily.

            Hermione's eyes blazed. "You don't think I can do it?" she snapped.

            He leered. "Calm down."

            "Why? I'm number one in the class! I can do it!" said Hermione wildly.

            "Be quiet," said Draco, his eyes flicking towards the hall.

            "No, you insulted my intelligence!" said Hermione. "You think I can't"—

            In a burst of movement, he pushed her down on the ground and behind the fallen statue—the door into the Room of Requirement had closed—and covered her mouth with his.

            She began to struggle, and he removed his mouth. "Just be quiet," he hissed. "Filch is coming."

            Hermione paled and whispered, "What?"

            "Shhh," he said, bending down and kissing her to forcibly stop her from saying anything else.

            She gasped into his mouth and he pulled away. She mouthed, "You didn't have to do that."

            He shrugged and mouthed back, "It was a good opportunity."

            She glared at him but was incapable of responding unless she broke their cover.

            "My pet, Peeves has been at it again…" a gravelly voice suddenly whispered. "Oh yes, we will get that pesky poltergeist, we will… What is it, my pet? Do you smell something? An errant student, perhaps?"

            Hermione and Draco both stiffened.

            They could hear Filch set down Mrs. Norris; they could hear the bell on her collar tinkling.

            "Yes, yes, my pet, what do you smell?" asked Filch earnestly, his heavy footfalls coming closer.

            Hermione suddenly pushed Draco off her violently; he had been lying on top of her, to her extreme embarrassment, and that was not a position she wished to be caught in.

            Mrs. Filch appeared on top of the statue, her lamp-like eyes peering down at them. Draco swore under his breath.

            "My pet, have you found something?" Filch breathed. His unshaven face emerged at the same spot as his cat's and his eyes widened in undisguised shock. He swallowed. "Well done, my pet," he said in a strangled voice.

            "Mr. Filch"—Hermione began, but to no avail.

            "Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy," said Filch, the surprise in his eyes replaced with a manic glint. "You have some explaining to do, yes you do. You're going to Dumbledore, you are."

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Author's Note: Wow, two chapters in one day. I'm happy. I am going to try and get through twenty this week, but I'm not sure how often I'll be able to get on the computer. Also, my spring break is coming up, so that's a good opportunity for writing. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks for all the reviews; can you believe that this story has 161? I am so excited. Thanks a bunch, reviewers!

Ar-Zimraphel