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. I really did. I go to settlement in November.
AN: I did some research on the moonstone gem and it turns out that it works really well in my story. Go figure. Some background, the moonstone stands for/imbues serenity, balance, calm, seeing what's not obvious, and flashes of inspiration. It is used in spells for divination, grounding, love, protection, sleep and oddly enough dieting. The moon is used in rituals of love, healing, peace, and compassion. Water is also used in the same rituals. I find that highly interesting. Not that I believe any of that mumbo jumbo (no offense to those who do) but I thought a little background info would help us all.
To my reviewers: dramaqueen72: I'm not sure exactly what's up with the necklace. The idea is just coming to me. Myrna: Thanks and I'll email you. g: I'm going, really I am. Desiree K Troy: Thanks, I'm interested to know what the moonstone does too! ;) Mannick: Ohh, I'm glad you liked it. Sparks are good. Danny: Actually, Snape would say that Hermione is the most promising student, they both know it and in my story their relationship has changed enough to allow for that exchange. In reality, Snape would never say it but who said this was reality. I certainly didn't. I don't like reality one bit. Nrsgrl: It's about time you did. I expect more support from my sister. Jo-Marie: Thanks. Dumdumditz: Thanks. I like being an oddball. Shippo303: You are the second person to call chapter 10 weird. So that means it probably was. I'll try to not be quite so weird.
Chapter 11: Call Your Name
At some point Draco had come out of the bathroom but Hermione couldn't remember when as she was still focused on the kiss they had shared. Her hand strayed from her lips to her cheek and down to brush over her necklace. It wasn't that she had meant to kiss him but in that moment something swelled within her that it was the right thing to do. She felt uneasy knowing that Draco lay in his bed only a few feet away. Something told her that she would sleep much better were she lying in Draco's arms. What a foolish idea, Hermione thought. Draco's actions can easily be explained, she knew. It was obvious that there were times when Draco could fight his father's control over him. Instinctively she knew that the necklace he'd given her, specifically the moonstone set in it had something to do with it. She wasn't surprised when Draco's mumblings brought her out of her reverie.
She is a conquest, nothing more. That's all mudbloods are good for anyway.
No! I love her. I will not be your servant any longer father. I will not serve the Dark Lord.
Father is right. Mudbloods are useless and all those who support them should be disposed of. Father knows what is best for me and the Dark Lord knows my abilities. I have no doubt he will call for me soon.
Over my dead body will I serve the Dark Lord. The bastard can rot in a special hell for all he has done and my father with him.
I will do as my father commands. I will do as my father commands. I will do as my father commands.
No! No, I will not.
I will do as my father commands. I will do as my father...
Hermione! Help me! Hermione!
Draco shot up out of his bed and Hermione watched as he tried in vain to slow his breathing. Beads of sweat rolled down his neck and Hermione rose up to catch his eye as he struggled to control himself. Hermione saw the recognition in his eyes and the apology right before his father resumed control of his mind and his pupils dilated. Hermione watched as his face shut down and rolled over in her bed to face the other direction before he could say anything. Hermione listened as the bed creaked and then the door to Slytherin house opened and slammed shut. I will do everything in my power to help him, Hermione thought.
I will do everything in my power to ignore her, Draco thought as he pressed his back against the door that separated them.
The same strategy Hermione had used the first weeks of school to keep her distance from Draco was being used against her. Draco spent almost no time in their room. There were even times when she noticed him sneaking out in the middle of the night and going to the Slytherin common room. His bed would often be empty when Hermione would wake in the morning. There were no more conversations during patrols, no more study sessions, and certainly no more run ins with half dressed roommates. Draco had even taken to not even acknowledging her presence when he came back to the room. Hermione wasn't sure what upset her more, the fact that she knew how Draco felt about her or the terrible truth that she missed his company. Even her friends had noticed the changes. Although not usually a talkative person, Hermione had stopped speaking almost entirely even in class. Several teachers had noticed their normally active student had become quite subdued. Of course Harry, Ron, and Ginny had questioned her strange behavior. Harry and Ron had believed her when she said she was just anxious about the fast approaching N.E.W.T.S. Ginny, however, suspected that something else was going on. Not being one to mince words, Ginny cornered her friend in the library one day two weeks before the examinations were to begin.
"Mione, we need to talk." Ginny said abruptly when she found her friend in a secluded part of the library.
"Ginny, I'm busy studying. You should be studying too." Hermione answered and rubbed her temples with the heel of her hands.
"You aren't studying. You've been staring at the same page for almost 30 minutes. Now, you can either tell me what's wrong or I'm going to get Harry and Ron."
"Don't" Hermione whispered and closed her eyes.
"Mione, please tell me what's wrong? I know all this can't be from the exams. You've stopped eating and I'll bet you aren't sleeping well either."
"Yes, and my head hurts so much I want to shove my wand through it! Are you happy now?" Hermione said with full of desperation.
"Oh, Mione. I'm so sorry, I had no idea. Is there anything I can do to help?" Ginny said full of concern.
"No." Hermione said flatly.
"It's Draco isn't it?" Ginny asked. "Every since the ball you've been different. I'd never seen you so happy as right before the ball. I had hoped..." Ginny trailed off.
"So had I." Hermione said in a tiny voice. Ginny slid down the wall beside her friend and put an arm around her shoulders. Ginny could feel the tension vibrating through her shoulders.
"Mione, how can I help? There's got to be something I can do. You can't keep doing this all yourself." Something inside Hermione broke then. Like a release lever on a dam, the emotions came rolling out. Her shoulders shook as she tried to control the sobs that racked her body. This wasn't a crying jag, this was an exhaustive, emotional experience. Ginny could hear Hermione mumbling as the tears rolled down her face. Ginny held tight to her friend hoping that Hermione would make it through this in one piece.
Later when Hermione had cried herself out and her body could take no more she slumped against her friend. In a quiet voice, Hermione told Ginny everything. Everything, from the very beginning; her theory about Draco and the Imperious curse, the effects of the moonstone, her concern for Draco, and the kiss. Ginny was shocked into silence but her mind began to whirl with possibilities. Whispering her support, Ginny helped her friend to her room and rushed back to her own dorm to consult a book. It wouldn't do to get Hermione's hopes up now only to be crushed because she remembered something wrong. Blast, Harry and her idiot brother, they just didn't understand why Hermione needed to do this. What are friends for if not to help you in your darkest times?
AN: Ok. This chapter didn't want to be written so I can't say it's my best ever. Plus my brain is about to explode if I don't write a Pretender fic. There will be two more chapters or three at the most.