A/N: Hey guys! First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers! ((Gives each of you a Mars Bar. King size!)) (Don't you just love Mars Bars? Lol!) You guys really inspire me to write more, and if I don't write more for a while, your reviews make me feel so guilty because I've let you all down and so I end up writing heaps more to make it up to you guys! Anyway, here's the fourth chapter of my story, and don't worry, the plot is slowly going to emerge in the next few chapters. In these first few chapters, I'm trying to establish the mood, the characters, and the relationship (or rather, the chemistry!) between Malfoy and Hermione. Don't worry, my title, "Hogwarts At The Zoo", will soon come into play...that's the part that's really going to be funny, interesting and full of DM-HG romance...or so I hope!
Disclaimer: If I really owned the Harry Potter series, I'd be sitting back and lazing around in that big old mansion, watching the money rolling in. Unfortunately for me, I don't own the books; J.K. Rowling does, so I don't get to watch the money streaming in. Anyone pity me? I guess not, huh? Oh well...on with the story! Enjoy, most wonderful readers who will, naturally, be kind and review!!!
Hogwarts At The Zoo
Chapter Four: Sweet Punishment
"Well, well, looks like the Mudblood has run out of places to run to and hide. Ready to apologise yet? If you do, I won't be quite so harsh in my punishment." He smirked at her balefully, eyes narrowed to slits of silver. 'If looks could kill, I'd be dead three times already.' Hermione thought uneasily, backing away from the taller and much more powerful boy in front of her. He just laughed cruelly and stepped towards her, eyes glittering in triumph as he savagely grabbed her arm and wrenched her towards him.
x.::.X.::.x
Hermione gasped as she felt Malfoy's hand wrap tightly around her arm and jerk her towards him. Panic swam through her as she screamed and attempted to kick her way free. 'He's going to kill me! Hermione, you really are an idiot, who else would just stupidly decide to hit Hogwart's psycho Ferret Boy!' He laughed cruelly at her and slammed her up against the wall. Hermione panted heavily as she looked into his molten pits of silver. For the first time in her life, she was afraid. Desperately, she tried to slide past the blonde boy, towards the door. He smirked at her as he casually leant his hands on either side of her on the stone wall. Hermione was sorely tempted to bite his hand and run off, before remembering that physical violence was what had landed her in this predicament in the first place. Realising her mouth was poised to bite, she hastily snapped it shut.
He leant over and murmured in ear, "Didn't I tell you, Mudblood, if you apologised I wouldn't be quite so harsh? I can't hear you yet."
Hermione forgot she was trapped between Malfoy and his bedroom wall, and instead looked up at him, eyes blazing indignantly. "I would never apologise to an evil, horrible ba-" She stopped suddenly as she felt teeth nip at her neck. "Wh- what are you doing, Malfoy?"
"Punishing you, Granger. Now do me a favour and shut up."
"Excuse me? How dare you-"
"You're excused. Now shut up."
"What?!" Hermione wasn't amused by his joke. She was, to put it mildly, seriously angry. And confused. 'Why is he doing this? He hates me, I hate him. Simple.' Malfoy trailed kisses along her neck and up her jawline. Hermione bit her lip, wincing as she drew blood, to stop herself from moaning out loud. She struggled against the iron arms now around her waist, but to no avail. He smirked against her neck and moved his lips up to her own. Her hands stopped pushing against his chest and ever so slowly came up to circle Malfoy's neck. He abruptly took control of the kiss, first running his tongue across her lips, tasting her blood, then, when she didn't open her mouth, he bit her lip. Hermione gasped, but it was muffled as his tongue plunged into her mouth.
"Mmmphh!" she managed to sound out indignantly, furious at the blonde Slytherin. He smirked against her lips, and then deepened the kiss, almost savagely. Hermione's knees suddenly buckled as she was swamped with a rush of emotions and feelings, sending her brain spiralling downwards and away into bliss. Malfoy caught her, holding her limp form in his arms as he continued to kiss the living daylights out of the brunette. He dragged his head up, eyes swirling with molten silver, heaving in a ragged breath. Hermione panted, her eyes closed as she tried to bring her mind back into focus.
The rational side of her, the part that was screaming at her to stop, to push him away, was suddenly smothered under a layer of desire as Malfoy once more lowered his head and devoured her lips. His tongue ran impatiently across her lip, demanding entrance. Hermione opened her mouth willingly, gasping before losing herself in the kiss as his tongue explored her mouth. She suddenly wanted more, more from him, and returned the kiss with full force. He let her tongue slip into his mouth, dancing with his own, before taking control once more. One hand slid up from her waist to massage her back, whilst the other trailed upwards to bury itself in her hair. Malfoy pulled away slightly, and buried his face in her hair, noticing briefly that it smelled like fresh, sweet fruit. 'Strawberries, to be exact.' he mused hazily.
Hermione's rational senses suddenly returned as she realised with dawning horror that she had just willingly kissed her arch-nemesis. Albeit a highly attractive enemy, but still a deeply hated enemy. 'Harry and Ron are going to kill me! That's if I don't kill myself first! What's wrong with me? Since when do I go around kissing guys? ...And is he smelling my hair?' Abruptly, she shoved her hands against Malfoy's chest, desperate to get away from him and the disturbing thoughts he caused in her. He smirked at her as he spun her around and slid his arms around her, leaning over to breathe into her ear. "Did you like that, Granger?" he laughed softly as he felt shivers going up and down her spine, and heard her small intake of breath. He bit her ear, and then trailed his mouth downwards to bite her neck and kiss the pain away. "Too bad, I'm only doing this for fun, and you actually thought I seriously liked you, right, Mudblood?" She felt him sneer next to her ear. "Just remember: you mean nothing to me, absolutely nothing. Today has just proved you're just like all the other girls. You're just another play toy for me. Poor Potter and Weasel – they don't know what they're missing out on. Too bad; you're mine to do with as I wish now, Mudblood." He released her, shoving her towards the now open door leading into the hallway.
She stumbled past the doorframe before turning to scream out at the arrogant boy. "I hate you! And you don't own me!" He slammed the door in her face. "Aaaarrgghhh! You are so annoying! You horrible, insufferable, evil, furry..." A pause. "...Ferret!" she announced triumphantly to the wooden door. Silence greeted her from the other side. She suddenly frowned. 'No response...I need to work on my insults...it wasn't really that bad, was it?' Hermione sighed and trudged to her Head Girl room, her fingers unconsciously lifting to trail across her swollen lips, a dreamy expression on her face.
x.::.X.::.x
Hermione burst through the doors leading into the Great Hall, a ridiculously cheerful smile on her face. Harry and Ron looked at each other for a moment, disturbed.
"D'you think it really is PMS?" Ron asked dubiously, looking at Hermione.
Harry shrugged. "Well, her moods have been erratic...then again, maybe she just managed to get in a good jinx or two at Malfoy last night...I bet Hermione would know how to turn him all fluffy and white again!" Ron sniggered.
Parvati and Lavender swivelled around in their chairs to watch Hermione's bouncy approach. They looked at each other knowingly, exchanging winks.
"Looks like our Hermione has finally grown into a woman." Lavender giggled. Parvati laughed along with her.
Ron and Harry edged away from them slowly, dragging their chairs with them.
"What the heck are they talking about?" Ron asked, perplexed.
"No idea. You know they're insane gossipers, Ron, who really cares what they say?" Harry murmured, eyes on the brown haired Gryffindor girl.
Hermione smiled brightly at the two boys as she sat down. Seizing a plate, she piled pancakes on it and dribbled maple syrup liberally over the four cakes. Humming to herself, she transfigured two globs of butter into two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Satisfied, Hogwart's famous Gryffindor bookworm dug into her hearty breakfast. Harry and Ron stared. And stared some more. The boys shook their heads, sending Hermione incredulous looks as they finished their own breakfasts.
Unnoticed by all three, a pair of slate grey eyes watched Hermione carefully, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. 'You're all mine, Granger.'
x.::.X.::.x
"Double Potions." Harry groaned as he trudged down to the dungeons with Hermione. "Great way to start off school with a bang."
"Honestly, Harry, you know that you need Advanced Potions in order to be an Auror, so stop complaining. It's not that bad."
"Not that bad? Have you completely forgotten how Snape treats us? Hermione, we're the only Gryffindors left who are stupid enough to take Potions for an extra year! It's going to be hell!"
"Well, I suppose so, but if you would just try not to aggravate Snape, he might not be so horrible –"
"Well, well, well, what have we here? The Mudblood and her master, Saint bloody Potter." Malfoy sneered. "Looking forward to Potions, are we?" he motioned to Goyle and Crabbe, who shoved Harry aside rudely. Malfoy imperiously swept past them, purposefully bumping into Hermione with his shoulder. He leaned over, his blonde hair brushing her neck lightly. "I think you'll enjoy this lesson, Granger. With me. Or maybe only the Slytherins will enjoy this lesson." He laughed as he saw her face pale slightly and strutted into the dungeon classroom, black robes billowing out behind him. With one elegant finger, he beckoned to his lackeys. They gave Harry one last shove before following the blonde boy inside.
Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances, before hurrying into the classroom after spotting Snape behind them. Apparently, something bad was going to happen in their first class for their seventh year, according to Malfoy. And while Hermione hated to admit it, Malfoy was always right.