Quick Note: Hi everyone!!! Thanks so much for clicking on this story. Appreciate it a lot! smiles like a baby I know I've taken a while... Sorry bout that! It's just that this chapter was so hard for me to write... It's crazy! Hope you like it though... Please do tell me what you think about it... But be kind... Okay? See ya next chapter! (which I hope will be soon) LOL...
Disclaimer: Not mine.
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Chapter 14: Hearts Falling, Hearts Breaking
Hermione was about to pick up her little shoulder bag and march out the door of their room when Draco finally peered out of his book and inquired in an urgent, almost possessive voice. "Where are you going?"
Draco had been extremely quiet as soon as they got back from their stunt that morning that Hermione almost thought that he wouldn't notice her leaving. But alas, he did.
"Out, I guess. I need to think."
In truth, Hermione was supposed to go to Harry and Ginny's room for the "Hogwarts reunion" thing Ginny planned to get Ron and Hermione away from Cornelia and Draco.
However, she didn't think she would go there. In fact, Hermione didn't even know where she was going. She just needed to get away, away from Draco, away from everything. So many things happened that morning that Hermione felt it was best for her to sort things out by herself, have her heart in order and her wits intact.
Hermione glanced at the digital clock positioned on the table and gasped involuntarily. It was already 4:15 pm and she was running behind schedule. She should have left minutes ago!
According to Ginny, Cornelia would be arriving at their room 'probably around 4 pm'. For all Hermione knew, Cornelia could be standing at their door this very moment.
"Why do you have to go?" asked Draco putting down his book with an alarmed look. "Stay, I need to tell you something."
Hermione froze at Draco's words. Was she imagining things? Did he really say what he did? He's been acting weird all morning, especially at the stunt. What could he be thinking? What is it he wanted to say?
"What about?"
"I need to let you know something very important."
Hermione looked straight at Draco's eyes and waited for him to speak.
"I just realized something this morning, and I'm afraid if I don't tell you now, I won't be able to in the future."
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flashback
"Guys, your stunt for today is a stunt that has never been done before," started Jonah sounding a little hesitant but nonetheless enthusiastic. "It's a mixture of danger, excitement, adrenaline, and no one doubts that it's going to be fun. The question is: Will you be able to handle it?"
Immediately, Ron, Harry, Ginny and Hermione exchanged curious glances. What could Jonah be talking about? What stunt could be such a big deal that Jonah classified it as a dangerous, fun stunt?
As if unmoved by what Jonah had said, Draco gave out a low snicker that only Hermione was able to hear. She turned her eyes to him from Ron, and saw that he wasn't even paying the least bit attention to what Jonah was saying. Draco was staring straight at Cornelia with an evil grin that Hermione knew by experience he only wore when picking a fight with Harry and Ron, back at Hogwarts.
Hermione nudged Draco lightly to turn his attention away from Cornelia and whispered "Hey, pay attention."
At once, Draco broke eye contact with Cornelia and raised his eyebrows at Hermione. In return, Hermione motioned her head toward Jonah who was now looking high up in the sky, with a goofy look in his face.
"Since you're so excited to know what stunt you have to pull off flawlessly to win a 7 day skiing trip to the Swiss Alps and pocket money of 100,000 pounds, I won't keep you any more." Jonah looked each of the six contestants in the eye and then said conspiratorially. "Here is what you have to do."
As if on cue, a huge airplane colored in camouflage came flying noisily into view. Hermione could see that the airplane was flying fairly low with the door wide open and a teeny weeny person peeping out of the door, waving.
Hermione had a sinking feeling that she already knew what they were supposed to do. She looked at Jonah and sure enough, she saw Jonah wave back at the guy in the airplane and then turning to them, he said.
"You and your partner will be strapped together inside that plane 1000 feet from the ground. One will be blindfolded while the other, not. At the signal of a Threshold Representative, you have to jump off the plane - ,"
Jonah need not finish his sentence. Upon hearing what he just said, Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Cornelia gasped in horror as if someone punched them in their gut. Harry was deathly pale and Draco looked like he wanted to be sick.
Seeing their change of expressions, Jonah stopped what he was saying and chuckled to himself. "Why so glum, I'm not yet even finished! Time starts as soon as you jump off the plane. The person who's not blindfolded will be the one to gauge the distance from the ground and signal to his/her partner when it's the right time to release the parachutes. A word of caution though; remember the acceleration in free fall. Don't stall in releasing the parachute. When you think it's too dangerous, it probably is. The couple having the longest time before pulling the parachute wins."
"This has to be a joke!" muttered Harry to Ginny, loud enough for everyone to hear. He shook his head while studying the plane they were supposed to jump out off and shuddered involuntarily. "It's insane! It's a stunt only idiots would do!"
"Oh shut up!" Draco countered irritated, "It's not like we're going to die or anything.
"Not going to die?" Ron answered in a half shout, cutting Draco off. "No, we're not going to die, will we, Malfoy? We're just going to splat to the ground like we were vegetables thrown from the top of the - ,"
Ron was about to say "highest tower at Hogwarts" when he suddenly caught himself. For the life of him, he couldn't think of a high place that wasn't related to magic, he definitely couldn't say Quidditch Goal Post, or a broomstick. "Well, top of... a high place."
"You could of course opt out." said Jonah butting in. "Notice though that the prize money has been quadrupled because of the danger involved. It's your choice really, if you're TOO SCARED, you don't have to do it. It's a no elimination stunt anyway."
Jonah emphasized the word "scared" that unknown to him, inadvertently irritated the wits out of Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron.
"Fine, then," the four Gryffindors said almost simultaneously. "We'll do it."
"Are you guys ready?" a voice suddenly said breaking the silence that was looming between Draco and Hermione.
They were still standing at the same spot they were in when Jonah told them about the stunt. Now, however, it was almost like they were standing closer to each other, each one feeding off of the energy of the other.
"I'm Jordan, I'm sorry to interrupt but I have to strap you two together for the stunt. Can you please follow me?"
Without a word, Draco and Hermione followed Jordan to a plastic table that had ropes, vests and the like scattered on top of it.
"Okay, I have to make sure that the parachute is strapped securely. Who's going to release the parachute?"
Immediately, Hermione raised her hand, ignoring Draco's shocked expression. "That will be me, I want to be blindfolded."
"Okay," Jordan said picking up the vests from the table and handing them to Draco and Hermione. "Put these on. Now, I have to ask, how do you want to be strapped together? Facing each other or both of you facing one direction?"
Although Hermione didn't quite understand, or refused to understand what Jordan was talking about, her heart immediately hammered in her chest and her hands became clammy and sweaty. It felt like she had gone through an electric jolt of some sort. Her and Draco, strapped together? Their bodies practically one? That close? Oh for Merlin, Dumbledore and Gandalf's sake, her emotions, or worse, her body will surely give her away!"
"Let her decide." whispered Draco suddenly in a far away voice. He looked away from Jordan and into the horizon, exactly opposite from where Hermione was standing.
Hermione turned her eyes to Draco and studied him. He had an odd expression on his face and he was beet red. She could tell that he was placed on the spot the same as she was. Of course Jordan has no clue that his question made them uncomfortable, but oh this was so embarrassing!
"Well, uhmm, I don't know, what do you suggest?"
"I think it's better that I strapped you two together facing each other, that way you can block his view of the height from the ground, that is if he's a little scared of heights. Plus, you can hug him if you get too scared. But of course, that's just me coz I'm a coward." Jordan laughed out loud and then reached for the ropes that he will be using to strap them together.
Hermione immediately heated up. She knew she shouldn't take Jordan's advice. What good will it do? It will only make her uncomfortable; having Draco's face practically in her face. Besides, what would Draco think?
However, she can't deny the little voice inside her head that encouraged her to just go for it. She had to admit, she wanted to feel how it was like to have him standing so close to her, to have his eyes on her...
Hermione glanced at Draco to see what he was doing. His expression might at least give her an idea of what he wanted.
Unfortunately, Draco was still staring into space with a blank expression, still frozen into place.
"Okay, let's go for it." rushed Hermione before she changed her mind. "Do it your way."
When Draco heard Hermione's answer, his heart began to sink to the ground, but definitely not because of disappointment. Sure, it was great to be so close to her, to feel her body heat combining with his, to have a reason to hug her tight... But Merlin knows what stupid things he was capable of doing. Yes, he could control his emotions like turning a faucet on and off, but his body! Oh that was such another story!
"Step closer to him please." Jordan said motioning Hermione to Draco.
As soon as Hermione closed the gap between her and Draco and both felt each other's bodies, they simultaneously stiffened and held their breaths.
Jordan started working his way, strapping them together, but Draco and Hermione were oblivious to his presence, they were busy staring at each other's eyes.
Hermione was so close! Draco could smell the shampoo she used for her hair. He could feel her chest rubbing against his as it rose up and down while she breathed.
Hermione watched and studied Draco's unreadable expression. She held his gaze. His body heat was radiating towards her making her warm and fuzzy inside. His aftershave drowned her senses. She couldn't think of anything else.
Suddenly, Draco leaned down and made his way to her lips.
Oh my! He's going to kiss me! Screamed Hermione's brain as Draco drew closer and closer.
Hermione closed her eyes the same moment Draco did and their lips met.
Hermione's started to hear ringing in her ears, her heart was pounding like crazy. It seemed like everything was right in the world. She forgot about the stunt, about Jordan, about everything. All there was was she and Draco.
Hermione delicately placed her hand on the back of Draco's neck and pulled him closer to her to deepen the kiss.
At the same moment, Draco wrapped his hand around her waist and also pulled her closer to him, as if there was still enough space for her to move any closer.
At the heat of the moment, images of little Dracos and Hermiones flashed through Draco's head, laughing, playing. He saw her smiling back at him and holding his hand while they watched them.
Suddenly, Draco pulled away in shock. He saw Hermione abruptly open her eyes completely disoriented. What was he thinking?
Hermione regained her composure and looked at Draco. Why did he suddenly pull away? Although she noticed he was breathless and was the reddest she had ever seen him, she still couldn't understand why he had to pull away like there was something wrong.
"I'm so sorry..." stammered Draco as soon as he found his voice. He looked away and avoided Hermione's gaze. "I shouldn't have done that, I guess I got carried away!"
Hermione nodded mutely and then kept quiet. She was going through a whirlwind of emotions and she didn't even know what to think.
Draco looked long and hard at the horizon. He studied the trees and mountains in the distance. They were in a vast airfield, but he wondered why the place suddenly felt so small. He couldn't fall for Hermione. She was so different from him. Surely he wouldn't make the same mistake of giving another person the capability to hurt him. Besides, he didn't even know how she felt about him.
Draco averted his eyes to Hermione. He didn't know why he did that. It was easier to just avoid her gaze and pretend that nothing was happening. But still, he looked at her, unable to control himself. And right then and there, as their eyes locked again for the nth time, Draco knew that he was already far gone. He was in love with Hermione Granger, and he couldn't do anything about that anymore.
end flashback
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Of all times that he could have spoken to her about what happened that morning, he chose now to talk about it? Idiot! Why now!?!?! Hermione wanted to kick herself for not leaving earlier. Surely Cornelia was just out there. She would be knocking any minute from now.
"Draco, I really need to go."
At once, Draco stood up and caught up with Hermione. She just reached for the door and he couldn't let her get away just like that.
He had been thinking about what happened that morning and though his brain shouted that he was making a very stupid mistake by deciding on telling Hermione what he felt, his heart told him that it wouldn't hold any longer.
He needed to know how she felt about him. He needed to let her know how he did. Was there any chance for them? To hell with Potter and Weasley, to hell with the pureblood, mudblood system, to hell with anyone who thought what he was going to do was wrong. He didn't care anymore. All that mattered was her and him. Period.
"Listen, Hermione."
Hermione sighed and she began to shake her head.
"Drake, don't! I really- ,"
Hermione's words were lost in the air as the door behind her suddenly swung open. She didn't have to look behind her. She already knew. And as she saw the change in Draco's expression from pure sincerity to utmost wrath, it almost felt that it was the end of the world.
"Well, look who we have here!" said Draco sarcastically as he slowly recovered from the initial shock of seeing an unexpected visitor.
Not taking his eyes away from Hermione, Draco continued. "Surely, you didn't know she was coming because you were in such a hurry to leave."
He then sized Cornelia from head to foot and then commented to Hermione again. "Oh, shame on you, Hermione, you even asked her to wear a hideous evening gown! I didn't know there was supposed to be a party here. I should have worn my finest suit."
Hermione winced inwardly; Draco was being too hard on her! All she wanted to do was disappear and die. What did she get herself into?
"I should leave." said Hermione trying desperately to meet Draco's eye. "She's here to talk to you. I have no business here."
"Oh no!" answered Draco with a dry laugh. "You planned this along with your little friends. You have every right to hear what she's got to say." He motioned Cornelia inside the room and directed her to the couch.
Draco then went past Hermione to the door and locked it firmly behind him. He strode toward his bed and left Hermione standing near the door, looking more lost than ever.
Hermione knew she had no choice but to stay. She was caught in the middle and didn't like one bit of it. Why did she have to get involved? Draco is surely never going to talk to her after this. If only she had moved faster!
Hermione shook her head and made her way to her bed. She sat down noisily while asking herself over and over why she had to get involved???
As soon as Hermione sat down, the room became eerily silent. Nobody could be heard. Even the sound of everyone's breathing, to Hermione's opinion, was controlled to maintain the silence.
Cornelia was the one who spoke first. "Draco, first of all, I want you to know that I came here by my own decision. No one influenced me or helped me; I wanted to come because I wanted to talk to you; to clear things up between you and me, to explain everything. You shouldn't get mad at Hermione; she has nothing to do with this."
Hermione had to snort. Was this the same Cornelia she knew? The Cornelia she knew was aggressive, possessive and a control freak. Why was she suddenly acting all goody goody and clearing her and her friends' names?
Draco looked irately at Cornelia and wrinkled his forehead "What's there to explain? You're with Weasley, I'm with Mione. End of discussion."
At these words, Cornelia couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Don't lie to me Draco, I know she's not your girlfriend."
"How sure are you?"
Hermione looked at Draco in shock. What was he trying to do? Cornelia wouldn't fall for that act!
"Oh please! After that display I just saw, you're telling me that she's your girlfriend?" Cornelia snickered mockingly at Draco and then added. "Do you really think I'm that stupid?"
Draco scoffed out loud and answered. "Why else would I be so unaffected by you and Weasley then? I suppose because I'm still so in love with you... huh? Face it; you just caught us at a bad time. I'm sorry you did, but that's no reason to delude yourself that we're having problems."
Cornelia's face immediately turned red and her eyes started flashing like daggers. "You're lying!" Cornelia then turned to Hermione and gave her a very cold glare. "She can't be your girlfriend... She's not - ," Cornelia didn't continue what she was about to say about Hermione, but instead, turned her eyes toward Draco and then asked in a low angry voice "Why?"
"Look, I'm not the one who went here asking for a chance to explain myself." countered Draco quietly. "I'm just telling you the truth as it is."
"Draco," Cornelia then said in despair. "This can't be happening! You can't do this to me! I'm really not with Ron! I'm just playing him."
At the sound of this, Hermione's ears shut up in anger. She had tried very very hard to be very patient and let Draco and Cornelia's conversation enter one ear and leave the other. But this was just too important to ignore. Hermione felt terrible that Draco was lying to Cornelia through his teeth but as soon as she heard what she just said, she didn't think she felt so bad for her anymore. She deserved whatever hurtful things Draco threw at her - if they really did hurt her.
"Do you remember the last time we talked? You said you needed money? Well, a little after that, I met Ron and he suggested on entering a stupid reality TV show to earn money. I don't know where he got the idea but he said he just lost his job and needed cash. I pitied him so I agreed. I was about to tell you about him but you said you were going to a show with someone somewhere and you'll be gone for 2 weeks. I thought it was just Crabbe or Goyle or something. I didn't know it was this same show. If I had known, I would have told you!" Cornelia looked pleadingly at Draco and repeated "I love you Draco and I would never willingly cheat on you... I swear, I'm just playing him Draco. I'm still yours; I'm still your Connie."
Hermione stared in shock at the spectacle that was unfolding in front of her. Cornelia and Ron's affair was also a fluke? Did that mean only Ginny and Harry were the real couple in this Couples Show? She replayed again and again what Cornelia just said. She let Cornelia's words sink inside her brain and digested it carefully, shredding the bits of information into smaller pieces, comprehending and internalizing it.
For some weird reason, shivers run through Hermione's spine as Cornelia's voice echoed inside her ear. "I'm just playing him Draco. I'm still yours; I'm still your CONNIE."
Suddenly, Hermione leapt to her feet and charged savagely at Cornelia. All civility and good manners left Hermione's head as only one line echoed over and over again in her mind. "I'm just playing him Draco. I'm still yours; I'm still your Connie."
"YOU LIAR!" screamed Hermione as she pushed Cornelia to the ground, messing up her hair and slapping her on the face over and over again. "HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT RON THAT WAY? LIAR! RON WOULD NEVER APPROACH AND ASK A STRANGER TO HELP HIM WITH ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY WITH MONEY!" Hermione tore Cornelia's well sewn gown into pieces and didn't stop until her gown was reduced to rags on the floor. "YOU'RE SUCH A BIG FAT LIAR! LIAR! LIAR! LIAR!"
Cornelia flailed her arms helplessly around her. She covered her face from Hermione's savage blows and shrieked every now and then when Hermione tore her clothes.
"ENOUGH!" shouted Draco pulling Hermione away from Cornelia. He was so shocked with Hermione's sudden outburst that it took all his might to actually say the word enough.
Forgetting the argument they had earlier, Draco held Hermione close to him and allowed her to calm down. Hermione was breathing really hard and Draco could feel her heart pounding mercilessly as he pressed her closer to his chest.
As soon as Draco removed Hermione away from Cornelia, Cornelia stood up and backed up to the wall sobbing. She was so taken aback with what Hermione just did, she didn't even find it in herself to fight back and defend herself.
"LIAR!" repeated Hermione now also reduced to tears while Draco cradled her in his arms. "She's lying!"
Draco rubbed her back with his hand and comforted her as well as he could. "It's okay, it's okay." he soothed. Draco had never seen Hermione lose her composure like that. He was actually scared and proud of her at the same time. It was a side of her he had never seen.
Ignoring Cornelia who was backed up in the corner crying her eyes out, Draco led Hermione to her bed and made her sit down.
When Hermione calmed down, she directed icy glares at Cornelia and then started talking looking at Draco as she did so. "The day I saw you at the Leaky Cauldron, the day we entered in this Reality Show, do you remember that?"
Draco nodded and listened attentively at Hermione.
"I met up with Ron that day and he rushed out on me saying that he had a date with a certain CONNIE." She looked at Cornelia and had a sudden urge to slap the lights out of her again. "So you see," said Hermione turning again to Draco. "She's making up stories, making Ron look bad, and making you look foolish."
Without another word to Draco, Hermione suddenly stood up and marched to the door. "Get out! You disgust me!" she ordered looking straight at Cornelia.
Cornelia however seemed to not hear Hermione. She just sat there in the corner still sobbing.
"Do you want me to drag you out?" threatened Hermione anger slowly oozing inside her again.
At these words, Cornelia quickly stood up and made her way toward the door. She paused for a moment and looked at Draco guiltily. "I just didn't want to lose you Draco. It was a stupid mistake I made. I'm sorry."
Draco was unmoved. "You lied to me, you cheated on me. Do you expect me to take you back?" asked Draco as he motioned Cornelia out the door.
"Well, you also cheated on me," reasoned Cornelia suddenly coming up with a nerve to challenge Draco. She looked threateningly at Hermione and sneered at her "You really believe he loves you? In case you're forgetting mudblood, he doesn't like your type."
"Never call her a mudblood!" seethed Draco in anger. "You were the one who lied to me first; you were the one who cheated on me first... Besides, we both know out relationship is going nowhere. I have someone else now. Get out, never show yourself to me again." continued Draco enunciating every word.
Cornelia scowled at Draco and mocked him saying. "Don't act like you're all good Draco. I know you'll still come running back to me after some time." She then turned her heel and marched outside. She then turned around and looked at Hermione straight in the eye to offer her final insult.
Cornelia however didn't have the chance to tell Hermione what she thought because Hermione, as soon as Cornelia was out the door, quickly slammed the door brutally on her face.
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A few minutes later, Draco stood up from his bed and went for the door. Hermione who was also sitting quietly at her bed suddenly stood up and followed him.
"Where are you going?" asked Hermione walking towards Draco.
"Outside. I can't stand being here." answered Draco quietly, making a point to avoid Hermione's eyes.
"I'm sorry about Cornelia Draco; I truly wanted you both to talk. I didn't think it would end this way. Please don't be mad at me."
"How else did you think it was supposed to end? In reality, you're no different for her. You lied to me too." said Draco bitterly.
Hermione's eyes stung at Draco's words and she felt a tug at her heart. "I just did what I thought was best for you Draco. I didn't want you to be hurt."
"I already am."
At that, Draco opened the door quickly and went out, not waiting for Hermione to answer back.
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I know there's a lot of emotions involved here... It's kinda heavy when you think about it. What do you think of it, anyway? Was it crappy... confusing?
I didn't finish their stunt because it wasn't the center of the story anyway, but just so you know, Draco and Hermione were the ones who won because Draco was so stubborn that he waited until the last minute to tell Hermione to release the parachute.
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Thanks to all of you who reviewed last chapter... I so appreciate it a lot! I won't be able to make personal messages today because I'm just out of time... I promise I'll make it up to you guys next chapter!!! Hope you guys liked this chapter though!
Just a quick shout out!!!!
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