Title: Remember When It Rained
Author: Kathea
Pairing: Draco/Hermione
Rating: Somewhere between PG-13 and R.
Summary: A new and completely different take on how Hermione and Draco could get together.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Harry Potter world and it wouldn't be a good idea to sue me because I just bought a house and therefore have no money.
AN: So basically the whole reason for this story is that I was tired of reading stories where Draco and Hermione fell in love in about a week. It's just not feasible. I'll explain why in the story. I'll probably switch from 1st to 2nd person every now and then because I like change. This will probably be a multichaptered fic so bear with me on the posting.
To My reviewers: shippo303, thanks for being the first I promise to update as soon as possible. Vbabe11, only 10 house points? Thanks for the encouragement. Desiree K Troy, not to sound mean but the whole point of fan fiction is to take a story and do it your own way. I wouldn't even try to write like Rowling, because I don't like the way she writes. I know that's sacrilege but I prefer Andre Norton. Hopefully with the next chapter you'll be more interested in the story than my writing style.
Chapter 3: No Way
"No way. There is no way this is going to work." I sputtered. The room before me was not at all what I was hoping for. Oh, it was a large and spacious room but it was what was in the room that bothered me. On one side of the room was a large, roaring fireplace with two couches placed before it. Under one window was a large study table and chairs. The closed door on the far side of the room had to go to the bathroom. Just inside side the door to my left were two twin sized beds. There were no curtains, no dividers, just two beds, out in the open. If Dumbledore thought I was going to share a room like this with Malfoy, he was nuts. They don't even do co-ed rooms in muggle schools! I huffed and stomped over to my bed and flopped down on it. I could see Malfoy out of the corner of my eye roaming about the room. I noticed him opening four doors on the opposite side of the room. Each door had a different crest on it. They must lead to the common rooms of the four houses. At least I'll have a way to escape when I want to kill him.
"Isn't this just so excited, Granger?" Malfoy laughed too happily. "It's like a slumber party every night."
"Urgggg." I mumbled. "I'm going to be now. I don't care what you do as long as you leave me alone." I grabbed my night clothes out my trunk and walked into our bathroom. It was bare with two sinks, a toilet and one shower stall. I carefully locked the door behind me and quickly changed clothes. Malfoy is enough to give anyone a complex under normal situations but this is more than even an insane person could take. I mean here he is my worst enemy being nice to me on purpose. How weird is that? It makes you question all kinds of preconceived notions and perceptions. I don't like having to deal with that so I won't. I'm just going to ignore the little prat and enjoy my seventh year. Now I'm not in enough denial to miss the fact the we will have to work together on certain projects during the year but otherwise Malfoy will not exist in my world. Coming to this realization had me calmly stepping through the door and heading straight to my bed. I turned off my light and resolutely turn my back on Malfoy who was already in bed and reading. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was in a world where Malfoy didn't bother me and it was really quite pleasant.
AN: Ready for a change of view???
Hermione was sound asleep. With both arms shoved under her pillow and face down on the bed. The morning sun was just beginning to peek in through the window and paint the room with light. Draco Malfoy was crouched next to her bed on eye level with her head. He could hear her breathing change as she slowly woke up. Her brown eyes flickered open and as soon as they could focus she emitted a scream that would have woken the entire castle had it not been for the sound proofing in their rooms. Suddenly a hand came darting out from underneath a pillow and took a firm grasp on Draco's neck. The grip could hardly kill him but it was tight enough to get a very distinct point across.
"If you ever, ever even think of doing that to me again I will turn you into a ferret permanently." Hermione whispered. Releasing Malfoy's neck from her grasp and rolled off the other side of the bed and quickly entered the bathroom. After locking the door, Hermione turned on the shower spray and stepped under the warm water. Malfoy was going to drive her crazy. First, he has a complete attitude change and then he decides that being nice is the new mean. It's enough to make anyone question their sanity. Starting right now, Hermione thought, is the beginning of my ignore Malfoy plan. I will not talk to him, about him, around him or with him unless required by my Head duties. I will not acknowledge his presence unless circumstances require me to do so. With a determined shake of her head, Hermione stepped out of the shower and wrapped a large red towel around her wet body. She approached the mirror to stare contemptuously at her body. If I could only wear my hair soaking wet all day long, she thought, as this is the only time when it isn't fluffy. I am so pale, she thought. I really should have spent more time outside in the sun this summer. Unlike most girls who tended to blossom into their adult form, Hermione growth had come in fits and starts. Her legs had lengthened but her chest had yet to follow suit with the rest of her body. She sighed and turned away from the mirror. You'd think that being a part of the "Golden Trio" I have more going for me that my magical abilities, she thought bitterly. I am destined to be average looking for the rest of my life. Unthinking, Hermione reached for the door and pulled it open before remembering her living arrangement. To her relief Malfoy was no where to be seen and so Hermione dressed hurriedly and went to meet her friends for breakfast.
"Heerrmonnnee!" was Ron's muffled greeting as he tried to welcome his friend with a mouthful of food. Ginny was glaring at her brother for his gross lack of manners and patted a spot on the bench next to her for Hermione to take.
"Morning, Mione." Harry said as Hermione plunked herself down. "What took you so long? We were sure you'd beat us here."
"Well, I had a rude awakening this morning and that just threw off my whole day start." Hermione answered dryly.
"So what are your dorms like? Are they as lavish as we are lead to believe?" Ginny asked excitedly while Hermione picked at her breakfast.
"Yeah, about that. Evidently, Malfoy and I are the recipients of a little inter-house relations experiment of the Headmaster. Not only do we share a common room but we share a...a bedroom." Hermione finished quickly.
"What???" Was the chorused reply.
"Our common room is our bed room. We have doors to all the house common rooms, a study area and fireplace. A bathroom and our beds are in the common room."
"How did Malfoy take it?" Harry asked concerned.
"Surprisingly well, he thinks this is all a bunch of fun. He's going to drive me crazy. Do you know what he did to me this morning?" Hermione asked starting to get angry. "He was crouched next to my head just staring at me waiting for me to wake up. How bizarre is that?" Hermione ended in a huff.
"Do you want me to do something about it, Mione?" Ron asked with menace in his voice.
"No, Ron. Get this, Malfoy's new plan is to kill me with niceness. He told me so himself. So I'm just going to ignore him. I figure once he realizes that he's not going to get a rise out of me, he return to his normal self, which I can handle."
"Ok, if that's what you want." Harry said before Ron could speak.
"Come on guys, we've got Double Potions. See you later Ginny." Hermione said as she pulled Harry and Ron from the breakfast table but not before Ron grabbed one last muffin. Ginny laughed at her brother but snuck a quick look out of the corner of her eye at the Slytherin table across the Great Hall. Sure enough, there was a platinum blonde head there surrounded by his normal crew. From this distance everything seemed to be normal but Ginny was sure something was up.
AN: Okay, so pardon me for not making Hermione into a raving beauty. Every single story I've read has Hermione do this flash transformation over the summer into a supermodelesque girl or a goth, neither of which is understand. That really doesn't happen, or at least not to anybody I know. I know I mentioned earlier that I don't like Rowling's writing style, that comment is not meant to be disparaging of her writing but is my opinion only.