Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, though I wish I could come up with something amazingly similar so I could be a multimillionare. J.K. Rowling is the author of those wonderful novels. This fanfic is my own invention however. DON'T STEAL IT! hehe :P
Author's Notes: Well, another chapter. Hi, Hi, to all my favourite readers, you have my thanks and gratitude for all your support in the posting of my chapters. This has been amazingly hard but heaps of fun, heaps and heaps of fun, and I hope, even if these future chapters take a while, that you'll stick with me. I don't think you guys are reading my author's notes, otherwise you'd know how old I was. Haha :P
Okay, well I'm 17years old, and I've just finished highschool; university next year, which will certainly be an interesting experience. I'm glad everyone is happy with chapter 3, I wasn't sure, I must admit, if it would be up to the standard that people seem to have set for me. But I'm glad that all my reviewers so far, have liked it. Writing from Draco's point of view was a trial, and it took longer than usual and a lot more effort (I got a headache, trying to work out some of his thoughts :P). It's also difficult because, he's a guy, and I'm a girl, so our thought patterns are slightly different, well probably a bit more than slightly. I'm trying to give you an image of the other character's personalities, as well. So I hope that works well. Anyway, back to the story. This is chapter 4, and it's going to be from Hermione's POV again. Hope you all enjoy it. Cheers, ~Cai~
Chapter 4- READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTES!!
I glance back at him for a moment as I slip through the portrait and Harry steadies me as I stumble slightly in my hurry to leave the antagonizing room.
"Are you sure you're okay, Mione? We met Lavender in the Great hall and she said that you hadn't been looking to well so I thought I'd come up and check on you." He explains quickly, and hesitantly releases my elbow as we continue on our way to dinner. I sneak a look at him through my hair, and find that Harry is not the same boy that I met on the train, seven years ago on our first trip to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His nose is still crooked, after being broken early in sixth year; his face, once more chubby and round, is longer and stronger; and prominent lines of weariness and suffering, surround his mouth, once always ready to be loosened in an easy smile.
Harry Potter, the downfall of Voldemort and the one and only survivor of the Avada Kedavra, is finally beginning to grow up, but who is this young man who towers easily over my five feet and five inches with his six feet. Where is the bright eyed, head-strong boy who rushed right into danger when his friends were at its centre? Where his eyes were vibrant and full of youth, Harry's are light and serious, and he thinks carefully about every action he might take and every response it might make.
The acceptance that came from Sirius' death has produced someone sore of heart, realizing just how lacking he is in family. The loveless childhood that he experienced means only to harden his heart, but still we catch glimpses of the old Harry as he smiles secretly at Ginny, swinging her over his shoulder as they run from Ron. He still treats Ron and I with the tenderness of siblings, had he been blessed with them.
We cross over the threshold for a moment, and I pause as Harry steps forward to be greeted eagerly by our friends, laughing at something Ron says and silently taking Ginny's hand in his. Seamus yells something across the room about the upcoming quidditch match and Harry replies, "On Tuesday, Seamus. I've booked a practice for fours hours; pass it on!"
Ron groans, hanging his head in mock-sadness for a moment, before looking up and seeing me standing by the doorway. "Hermione! Just the girl I wanted to see! Where'd you find her Harry?" Harry and Ginny follow Ron over to me and Ginny quickly hugs me before returning to Harry's side.
"She was in her dorm, Ron, like Lavender said. Malfoy was being an arse." Harry explains to Ron, who grimaces and shrugs to me. Ron is still overly animated when it comes to Malfoy, and it is only he that can provoke Ron into his drama queen production. Fluer, Ron's girlfriend, is probably the only one who can fully calm Ron down after one of his bouts, but then again, Fluer could probably cause anyone to calm down. With one look at her blue eyes, Ron trips over himself to arrest her hand in his and
"Speak of the devil," Ginny suddenly states, and nods her head to a separate door, which also enters the hall, where a familiar head of white hair is just entering. I quickly look away from his person, feeling my cheeks burning with memories of my previous encounters with him. Previous, meaning plural, and almost feel sick about what is going on with him.
"God! He's such a pompous ass!" Ron sneers angrily, upon hearing Harry's words, and turns to me, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze, "You'll tell us, won't you, Mione, if he does anything at all. Harry and I won't hesitate to beat the little shit." Ginny snickers for a moment at her brother's declaration.
"You wouldn't really call him 'little' any more, though, would you? He's basically Harry's height, and he's certainly not a skinny ferret, anymore." She giggles and winks almost knowingly at me, before denying everything as Harry and Ron both give her looks of disgust. "I'm only kidding guys! You know that I think Malfoy's a git." She pats Harry's cheek, shushing him like a little child, before standing on her toes and kissing him on the cheek.
I spare a look at the three of them, Ron gagging at the sight of Harry and Ginny kissing, before storming off to talk to Seamus, with a "God! Get a room you two; I'm her brother for God's sake!" My eyes flitter across the room and unintentionally land on Malfoy, who is standing off to the side, talking quietly to Crabb and Goyle. His cheeks are airbrushed with a faint red paint, and his hair, usually so meticulously shaped is rustled and messed. I remember my fingers grazing through its roots, pulling on them and clamping my small limbs around bunches of it, and suddenly remembers who exactly messed it up.
I feel my cheeks burning at the thought of what was happening just moments before Harry dropped by, and of what might have happened if he hadn't. "Mione? Are you okay?" Harry's thoughts break my centre of thought, shattering it into pieces and I immediately hesitate with what I was about to answer with. I can almost imagine what I must look like to them, how I must appear. My cheeks are still burning, sizzling against my skin, and I lace a hand across my cheeks, as I stutter to find a reply.
"I... I..." I look up from the floor and finally find a familiar pair of piercing, blue eyes, staring intently at me. His eyes wander over my face, and to my pleasure, realizing that I am not the only one, his cheeks flair to life in a mirror of my own. "I think I have to go outside, Harry. I think I must have come down with something." I spring for the door, the words already escaping my mouth, as I notice the look crossing Malfoy's face. It is almost predatorial and I wish that it were directed at anyone but me.
"Will you be alright? Do you want us to come?" Ginny's voice erupts behind me, and I swing around at the doorway and say, "No... sorry... I think I just need to be on my own." Flying from the room, the wind against my cheeks as I streak across the open field to a shadowed area just before the forbidden forest, I pause and rest my head against the trunk of a tree.
Hermione Granger, I think, is not the same girl. Why am I standing under the night sky, trying to extinguish the flame that is burning in my cheeks? I shake my head but gasp as a hand drips fingers across my skin, raising goose bumps as it goes. Who, but he, could have fingers that are so icy cold, in weather that is so abominably hot. I shiver involuntarily and a cackle seems to erupt from inside him, and the sound shocks me so much that I take a step back. Halting my footsteps, I wrap my arms around my waist and twirl to meet him, the curls of my hair whipping around my face in a blur of gold.
He stands before me, his eyes dancing with a dangerous glint, his hair rustling in the night air, and his cheeks dancing with cherry-coloured specks. Unbeknownst to myself, the thought that he has to be the most beautiful looking man I have ever seen flitters into my mind and I blush even harder, words stumbling from my mouth in a cluttered mess. "Wha... wha..." What are you doing here are the words that I mean to say but they don't seem to be making any sense, and I unconsciously reach up and touch my lips, seeming to think that touch will cause some sense to tumble from them. The glint in his eyes seems to deepen their crystal colour and I find myself edging backwards until my back meets the trunk of another tree. In the darkness, his hair is a beacon of white flames, and his eyes shine at me with a dragon's antagonizing stare.
Dragons: Their skin is as hard as steel, their noses pick up scents kilometers away, whilst their eyes are enchanting pools of crystal. If one looks hard and long enough into the eyes of a dragon, they fall beneath a spell of enormous potential, which allows the dragon complete control over the person.
My mind, every piece of information that I've discovered, catalogued in some small part, opens up a single folder and I immediately surrender my mind to this small snippet of detail. Who, but a dragon's son could control me in such a way? I try to blend into the tree as I am captured in his cunning eyes, but find myself shivering as he takes several gallant steps forward until he is right before me.
"Didn't they ever teach you, Mudblood, that anything can happen, if you stand outside in the dark by yourself." He remarks, looking over my shoulder and at the dark lake, which lays only a few metres away. One of his hands is laid flat against the wood beside my face, whilst his other plays with a strand of my hair which lies across my cheek. My own words suddenly spring to the front as his hand trails to the hollow of my neck, where it sends shivers through my spine. "Leave me well alone, Draco Malfoy, or a swear you'll regret coming near me. Just leave me be!" What am I doing? I'm standing here in the shadows playing handsies with Draco Malfoy and insanely enjoying it. I whip my head up to meet his eyes and they swivel slowly till they are poised and ready to strike down on me. "What are you doing, Malfoy? What is all this?" I hiss at him through pursed lips and he smirks, his eyes darting from my lips to my eyes, where they widen ever so slightly. He lowers his head till its rested in the crook of my neck and I shudder silently, compelling myself not to moan, as one of his arms wraps soundly around my waist.
"I have no idea," he trails off, his mouth moving delicately and lightly against my skin. He pulls me tightly against him, and I stand stock still, tense and ready to brandish my wand if he does anything else, but as his lips suddenly kiss the sensitive hollow of my throat, I find my wand slipping from my fingers like water. His other hand trails the hem of my skirt against my thigh as his lips blow a silent symphony against my bare skin and I brace myself on his shoulder, the fingers of one of my hands clenching the top of his robes, whilst the other hangs lifeless by my side.
"Why?" I manage to mumble through my tightened lips, and he shifts his advancements until his forehead is placed gently against mine. His eyes are heavy lidded and his hand ceases its caressing motions upon my thigh as he stares hazily at me.
"Why, Mudblood?" He whispers, his voice sounding shocked almost. "Why, she asks." He growls, against me, and I can feel his breath hot against my face, making me dizzy. "At first, you just seemed so perfect and so proper. You were asking for all this, but now. Now that you're standing here, I can't seem to pull myself away..." he whispers against my face, his lips grazing mine lightly several times during the spiel. "What spell have you put on me, faery; that anything you ask, I would give to you on my knees?" He seems almost limp in my arms as he nuzzles at the corner of my mouth and I exhale softly, completely mystified by his behaviour.
"Malfoy? Please, stop this. Stop this now! I don't like games and I refuse be a player in this one." I moan into his lips as he moulds mine to his. My mind is shooting radars at me from above telling me to cease this lip-lock, but I can't seem to control what is happening anymore. My eyes are wide and glued on his face, as he kisses me, his tongue pushing through my lips until it reaches mine, and suddenly my own is returning his attention. His arm around my waist tightens even more so, and my eyes slide shut as I tell myself 'I am waiting this out, and then I will leave.'
Malfoy says something against my lips, and I drag myself away, "I can't seem to stop playing. Your lips are bruised like cherries, and cheeks are red as fire but all I can find to do with myself is extinguish them. Tell me, Mudblood," he pauses, and suddenly grips my face in-between his two hands, "why this all started as a simple game and I'm now left picking up the bloody pieces on my own?" For some reason, I find myself angry at his comment, how dare he kiss me with such reckless abandon, but call me such terrible names.
"Perhaps," I wrench my face from his grips and stagger backwards, "it's because you're a jerk! How... how dare you call me a mudblood as you stand here kissing me until... until I can't speak right?" I cry angrily, tears suddenly spilling from my eyes and onto my cheeks. "You're picking up the pieces, Malfoy, because mummy and daddy aren't here to pick them up for you, and I sure as hell aren't going to help you!" I stagger backwards and suddenly find myself falling back into the lake, where I land ungraciously with a splash.
Water sprays around me like a fountain gone wrong, and I can feel the water soaking through my white shirt, making it cling precariously to my skin. I squeal in astonishment, finding the water unbelievably cold, but whilst raising my hand to push my hair from my eyes, I find it grasped in another and then I am pulled upwards. I land firmly against Malfoy and uncertainly look up at him. "How can you call me Mudblood, when you so willingly kiss m..." I don't finish my sentence as his lips descend on my cheeks and I find him kissing and licking the droplets of water, which are dripping from my hair. "Don't Malfoy..." I trail off endlessly, as his mouth hovers just above mine, his breath mingling intoxicatingly with mine. "Malfoy, don't!" I manage to mumble against his too-close face, as I struggle to free my arms from the constraints that his chest has placed upon them, and he suddenly pauses in his ministrations and smirks down at me.
"In quite the predicament, aren't we, Granger?" He whispers against my face, his breath melting the tears that fall down my cheeks, instead causing them to flare to life like a fiery demon. "You set the illusion that you're so flawless and so innocent; so inexperienced and unknowing, but I see you for what you truly are." His lips graze mine, and one touch makes me want to groan for more. His lips seem to be the only thing to quench my thirst, which erupts from the burning in my cheeks. "You've weaved some spell on me to make me yours and I can't fight it." He pauses again and stares deeply into my eyes, his eyes glazed over with something of a lust-based emotion and I can't help but reply.
"I haven't done anything..." I whisper to his face, and it contorts almost angrily.
"Haven't done anything?" He screams to me, the air so hot with the summer breezes that the humidity seems to absorb his words that they go no further then me. "How could you not have done anything? How can you stand there and deny that you've cast such a spell? Of course you've done something..." he wrenches himself away from me, and stands there breathing haggardly, his hair miserably messed and his eyes a fighting confusion of emotions. I almost feel sorry for him as I look at him through wet strands of hair. Usually so sure of himself, Malfoy is no longer that. He stands before me, his voice creaking with shameless confusion, his eyes unfocused and his mouth, so well known for its ability to fold into a sneering smile is tense and drawn closed.
"I can't stand you, but... but I can't seem to leave you alone! It's not even a day and I've spent more time around you than I have any other girl!" And suddenly he has gripped the tops of my arms and he has pulled me to him.
"I haven't done anything to you, Malfoy!" I say this, but my body, pressed tightly against his, knows that he's performing just as strong a spell over mine. Had it not been so, I would already be in the hall, spurting to Harry the whole occurrence, and urging him to defend me. But... I am not... I am here, in the shadows of the forbidden forest, clenching and unclenching my fists as my enemy holds me firmly against him. I would already have broken away, but now... I can't...
"Kiss me, Granger." He hisses against my cheek, where his lips furiously burn a cunning brand. I turn my head, meeting his eyes with mine, and the encompassing blue of their pits immediately enraptures me.
"No..." I whisper, and his eyes widen even more so. "No, Malfoy. This may be the first time you've heard it before, but it won't be the last!" I ease myself from the gradually lessening grip that he has on my arms and take several steps back until he is partially hidden behind the first line of trees, his hair being the only beacon for receiving my words. "I... I won't play these games anymore. Find some other whore to play with; they're much more willing, because I may be some middle-class, muggle-born witch, Draco Malfoy, but I will not be known as yet another number on the Malfoy's conquering list." His whole face is shadowed by the darkness of the overhanging branches, but it does nothing to hide the image of Malfoy's confused face.
"Good evening, Mr Malfoy." And with that I walk away, back to the laughter of Ron that I hear emanating from inside the glistening hall, back to the squeals of Ginny, which erupt from her as Harry chases her out of the building and back to Harry with his easy smiles and trust...
~*~ Read Authors Notes Now and Then REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!
Gosh! This took quite a while to write. Sorry to all my reviewers who wanted this posted sooner, I know I did a terrible thing by getting your hopes up by posting really quickly at first, but this chapter was quite difficult to write, because I hade to try and figure out where this story was going. But now, hopefully, I have a slightly better idea of what's happening. Also, Christmas is tomorrow, so shopping has been a terrible hazard and I've been away and working constantly, so I've been pretty busy. Also, the computer kept eating the first page of writing, so I had to keep re-writing it. Can you say masochist! It was the most awful experience; every time I tried to write something, it would eat it munch, munch and then, I would go and re-type it.
Thank you to: Danish Girl, TribeGirl17, Angel Gurl, Tristanlover59, a fan, NDNHoney, Reviewer, Anabelee, Crushette, dabalittlelove, ghost, Blanche DuBois, Miyashiko, sosweet22. I will try and write individual replies, but I thought I should get this posted as soon as possible, so I will say thanks to all my reviewers!! You guys are fantastic, and great for reading this story and having so much faith in my ability. You comments have been great encourgament :) Remember to read the Authors notes at the beginning!
Cheers ~Cai~
Author's Notes: Well, another chapter. Hi, Hi, to all my favourite readers, you have my thanks and gratitude for all your support in the posting of my chapters. This has been amazingly hard but heaps of fun, heaps and heaps of fun, and I hope, even if these future chapters take a while, that you'll stick with me. I don't think you guys are reading my author's notes, otherwise you'd know how old I was. Haha :P
Okay, well I'm 17years old, and I've just finished highschool; university next year, which will certainly be an interesting experience. I'm glad everyone is happy with chapter 3, I wasn't sure, I must admit, if it would be up to the standard that people seem to have set for me. But I'm glad that all my reviewers so far, have liked it. Writing from Draco's point of view was a trial, and it took longer than usual and a lot more effort (I got a headache, trying to work out some of his thoughts :P). It's also difficult because, he's a guy, and I'm a girl, so our thought patterns are slightly different, well probably a bit more than slightly. I'm trying to give you an image of the other character's personalities, as well. So I hope that works well. Anyway, back to the story. This is chapter 4, and it's going to be from Hermione's POV again. Hope you all enjoy it. Cheers, ~Cai~
Chapter 4- READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTES!!
I glance back at him for a moment as I slip through the portrait and Harry steadies me as I stumble slightly in my hurry to leave the antagonizing room.
"Are you sure you're okay, Mione? We met Lavender in the Great hall and she said that you hadn't been looking to well so I thought I'd come up and check on you." He explains quickly, and hesitantly releases my elbow as we continue on our way to dinner. I sneak a look at him through my hair, and find that Harry is not the same boy that I met on the train, seven years ago on our first trip to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His nose is still crooked, after being broken early in sixth year; his face, once more chubby and round, is longer and stronger; and prominent lines of weariness and suffering, surround his mouth, once always ready to be loosened in an easy smile.
Harry Potter, the downfall of Voldemort and the one and only survivor of the Avada Kedavra, is finally beginning to grow up, but who is this young man who towers easily over my five feet and five inches with his six feet. Where is the bright eyed, head-strong boy who rushed right into danger when his friends were at its centre? Where his eyes were vibrant and full of youth, Harry's are light and serious, and he thinks carefully about every action he might take and every response it might make.
The acceptance that came from Sirius' death has produced someone sore of heart, realizing just how lacking he is in family. The loveless childhood that he experienced means only to harden his heart, but still we catch glimpses of the old Harry as he smiles secretly at Ginny, swinging her over his shoulder as they run from Ron. He still treats Ron and I with the tenderness of siblings, had he been blessed with them.
We cross over the threshold for a moment, and I pause as Harry steps forward to be greeted eagerly by our friends, laughing at something Ron says and silently taking Ginny's hand in his. Seamus yells something across the room about the upcoming quidditch match and Harry replies, "On Tuesday, Seamus. I've booked a practice for fours hours; pass it on!"
Ron groans, hanging his head in mock-sadness for a moment, before looking up and seeing me standing by the doorway. "Hermione! Just the girl I wanted to see! Where'd you find her Harry?" Harry and Ginny follow Ron over to me and Ginny quickly hugs me before returning to Harry's side.
"She was in her dorm, Ron, like Lavender said. Malfoy was being an arse." Harry explains to Ron, who grimaces and shrugs to me. Ron is still overly animated when it comes to Malfoy, and it is only he that can provoke Ron into his drama queen production. Fluer, Ron's girlfriend, is probably the only one who can fully calm Ron down after one of his bouts, but then again, Fluer could probably cause anyone to calm down. With one look at her blue eyes, Ron trips over himself to arrest her hand in his and
"Speak of the devil," Ginny suddenly states, and nods her head to a separate door, which also enters the hall, where a familiar head of white hair is just entering. I quickly look away from his person, feeling my cheeks burning with memories of my previous encounters with him. Previous, meaning plural, and almost feel sick about what is going on with him.
"God! He's such a pompous ass!" Ron sneers angrily, upon hearing Harry's words, and turns to me, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze, "You'll tell us, won't you, Mione, if he does anything at all. Harry and I won't hesitate to beat the little shit." Ginny snickers for a moment at her brother's declaration.
"You wouldn't really call him 'little' any more, though, would you? He's basically Harry's height, and he's certainly not a skinny ferret, anymore." She giggles and winks almost knowingly at me, before denying everything as Harry and Ron both give her looks of disgust. "I'm only kidding guys! You know that I think Malfoy's a git." She pats Harry's cheek, shushing him like a little child, before standing on her toes and kissing him on the cheek.
I spare a look at the three of them, Ron gagging at the sight of Harry and Ginny kissing, before storming off to talk to Seamus, with a "God! Get a room you two; I'm her brother for God's sake!" My eyes flitter across the room and unintentionally land on Malfoy, who is standing off to the side, talking quietly to Crabb and Goyle. His cheeks are airbrushed with a faint red paint, and his hair, usually so meticulously shaped is rustled and messed. I remember my fingers grazing through its roots, pulling on them and clamping my small limbs around bunches of it, and suddenly remembers who exactly messed it up.
I feel my cheeks burning at the thought of what was happening just moments before Harry dropped by, and of what might have happened if he hadn't. "Mione? Are you okay?" Harry's thoughts break my centre of thought, shattering it into pieces and I immediately hesitate with what I was about to answer with. I can almost imagine what I must look like to them, how I must appear. My cheeks are still burning, sizzling against my skin, and I lace a hand across my cheeks, as I stutter to find a reply.
"I... I..." I look up from the floor and finally find a familiar pair of piercing, blue eyes, staring intently at me. His eyes wander over my face, and to my pleasure, realizing that I am not the only one, his cheeks flair to life in a mirror of my own. "I think I have to go outside, Harry. I think I must have come down with something." I spring for the door, the words already escaping my mouth, as I notice the look crossing Malfoy's face. It is almost predatorial and I wish that it were directed at anyone but me.
"Will you be alright? Do you want us to come?" Ginny's voice erupts behind me, and I swing around at the doorway and say, "No... sorry... I think I just need to be on my own." Flying from the room, the wind against my cheeks as I streak across the open field to a shadowed area just before the forbidden forest, I pause and rest my head against the trunk of a tree.
Hermione Granger, I think, is not the same girl. Why am I standing under the night sky, trying to extinguish the flame that is burning in my cheeks? I shake my head but gasp as a hand drips fingers across my skin, raising goose bumps as it goes. Who, but he, could have fingers that are so icy cold, in weather that is so abominably hot. I shiver involuntarily and a cackle seems to erupt from inside him, and the sound shocks me so much that I take a step back. Halting my footsteps, I wrap my arms around my waist and twirl to meet him, the curls of my hair whipping around my face in a blur of gold.
He stands before me, his eyes dancing with a dangerous glint, his hair rustling in the night air, and his cheeks dancing with cherry-coloured specks. Unbeknownst to myself, the thought that he has to be the most beautiful looking man I have ever seen flitters into my mind and I blush even harder, words stumbling from my mouth in a cluttered mess. "Wha... wha..." What are you doing here are the words that I mean to say but they don't seem to be making any sense, and I unconsciously reach up and touch my lips, seeming to think that touch will cause some sense to tumble from them. The glint in his eyes seems to deepen their crystal colour and I find myself edging backwards until my back meets the trunk of another tree. In the darkness, his hair is a beacon of white flames, and his eyes shine at me with a dragon's antagonizing stare.
Dragons: Their skin is as hard as steel, their noses pick up scents kilometers away, whilst their eyes are enchanting pools of crystal. If one looks hard and long enough into the eyes of a dragon, they fall beneath a spell of enormous potential, which allows the dragon complete control over the person.
My mind, every piece of information that I've discovered, catalogued in some small part, opens up a single folder and I immediately surrender my mind to this small snippet of detail. Who, but a dragon's son could control me in such a way? I try to blend into the tree as I am captured in his cunning eyes, but find myself shivering as he takes several gallant steps forward until he is right before me.
"Didn't they ever teach you, Mudblood, that anything can happen, if you stand outside in the dark by yourself." He remarks, looking over my shoulder and at the dark lake, which lays only a few metres away. One of his hands is laid flat against the wood beside my face, whilst his other plays with a strand of my hair which lies across my cheek. My own words suddenly spring to the front as his hand trails to the hollow of my neck, where it sends shivers through my spine. "Leave me well alone, Draco Malfoy, or a swear you'll regret coming near me. Just leave me be!" What am I doing? I'm standing here in the shadows playing handsies with Draco Malfoy and insanely enjoying it. I whip my head up to meet his eyes and they swivel slowly till they are poised and ready to strike down on me. "What are you doing, Malfoy? What is all this?" I hiss at him through pursed lips and he smirks, his eyes darting from my lips to my eyes, where they widen ever so slightly. He lowers his head till its rested in the crook of my neck and I shudder silently, compelling myself not to moan, as one of his arms wraps soundly around my waist.
"I have no idea," he trails off, his mouth moving delicately and lightly against my skin. He pulls me tightly against him, and I stand stock still, tense and ready to brandish my wand if he does anything else, but as his lips suddenly kiss the sensitive hollow of my throat, I find my wand slipping from my fingers like water. His other hand trails the hem of my skirt against my thigh as his lips blow a silent symphony against my bare skin and I brace myself on his shoulder, the fingers of one of my hands clenching the top of his robes, whilst the other hangs lifeless by my side.
"Why?" I manage to mumble through my tightened lips, and he shifts his advancements until his forehead is placed gently against mine. His eyes are heavy lidded and his hand ceases its caressing motions upon my thigh as he stares hazily at me.
"Why, Mudblood?" He whispers, his voice sounding shocked almost. "Why, she asks." He growls, against me, and I can feel his breath hot against my face, making me dizzy. "At first, you just seemed so perfect and so proper. You were asking for all this, but now. Now that you're standing here, I can't seem to pull myself away..." he whispers against my face, his lips grazing mine lightly several times during the spiel. "What spell have you put on me, faery; that anything you ask, I would give to you on my knees?" He seems almost limp in my arms as he nuzzles at the corner of my mouth and I exhale softly, completely mystified by his behaviour.
"Malfoy? Please, stop this. Stop this now! I don't like games and I refuse be a player in this one." I moan into his lips as he moulds mine to his. My mind is shooting radars at me from above telling me to cease this lip-lock, but I can't seem to control what is happening anymore. My eyes are wide and glued on his face, as he kisses me, his tongue pushing through my lips until it reaches mine, and suddenly my own is returning his attention. His arm around my waist tightens even more so, and my eyes slide shut as I tell myself 'I am waiting this out, and then I will leave.'
Malfoy says something against my lips, and I drag myself away, "I can't seem to stop playing. Your lips are bruised like cherries, and cheeks are red as fire but all I can find to do with myself is extinguish them. Tell me, Mudblood," he pauses, and suddenly grips my face in-between his two hands, "why this all started as a simple game and I'm now left picking up the bloody pieces on my own?" For some reason, I find myself angry at his comment, how dare he kiss me with such reckless abandon, but call me such terrible names.
"Perhaps," I wrench my face from his grips and stagger backwards, "it's because you're a jerk! How... how dare you call me a mudblood as you stand here kissing me until... until I can't speak right?" I cry angrily, tears suddenly spilling from my eyes and onto my cheeks. "You're picking up the pieces, Malfoy, because mummy and daddy aren't here to pick them up for you, and I sure as hell aren't going to help you!" I stagger backwards and suddenly find myself falling back into the lake, where I land ungraciously with a splash.
Water sprays around me like a fountain gone wrong, and I can feel the water soaking through my white shirt, making it cling precariously to my skin. I squeal in astonishment, finding the water unbelievably cold, but whilst raising my hand to push my hair from my eyes, I find it grasped in another and then I am pulled upwards. I land firmly against Malfoy and uncertainly look up at him. "How can you call me Mudblood, when you so willingly kiss m..." I don't finish my sentence as his lips descend on my cheeks and I find him kissing and licking the droplets of water, which are dripping from my hair. "Don't Malfoy..." I trail off endlessly, as his mouth hovers just above mine, his breath mingling intoxicatingly with mine. "Malfoy, don't!" I manage to mumble against his too-close face, as I struggle to free my arms from the constraints that his chest has placed upon them, and he suddenly pauses in his ministrations and smirks down at me.
"In quite the predicament, aren't we, Granger?" He whispers against my face, his breath melting the tears that fall down my cheeks, instead causing them to flare to life like a fiery demon. "You set the illusion that you're so flawless and so innocent; so inexperienced and unknowing, but I see you for what you truly are." His lips graze mine, and one touch makes me want to groan for more. His lips seem to be the only thing to quench my thirst, which erupts from the burning in my cheeks. "You've weaved some spell on me to make me yours and I can't fight it." He pauses again and stares deeply into my eyes, his eyes glazed over with something of a lust-based emotion and I can't help but reply.
"I haven't done anything..." I whisper to his face, and it contorts almost angrily.
"Haven't done anything?" He screams to me, the air so hot with the summer breezes that the humidity seems to absorb his words that they go no further then me. "How could you not have done anything? How can you stand there and deny that you've cast such a spell? Of course you've done something..." he wrenches himself away from me, and stands there breathing haggardly, his hair miserably messed and his eyes a fighting confusion of emotions. I almost feel sorry for him as I look at him through wet strands of hair. Usually so sure of himself, Malfoy is no longer that. He stands before me, his voice creaking with shameless confusion, his eyes unfocused and his mouth, so well known for its ability to fold into a sneering smile is tense and drawn closed.
"I can't stand you, but... but I can't seem to leave you alone! It's not even a day and I've spent more time around you than I have any other girl!" And suddenly he has gripped the tops of my arms and he has pulled me to him.
"I haven't done anything to you, Malfoy!" I say this, but my body, pressed tightly against his, knows that he's performing just as strong a spell over mine. Had it not been so, I would already be in the hall, spurting to Harry the whole occurrence, and urging him to defend me. But... I am not... I am here, in the shadows of the forbidden forest, clenching and unclenching my fists as my enemy holds me firmly against him. I would already have broken away, but now... I can't...
"Kiss me, Granger." He hisses against my cheek, where his lips furiously burn a cunning brand. I turn my head, meeting his eyes with mine, and the encompassing blue of their pits immediately enraptures me.
"No..." I whisper, and his eyes widen even more so. "No, Malfoy. This may be the first time you've heard it before, but it won't be the last!" I ease myself from the gradually lessening grip that he has on my arms and take several steps back until he is partially hidden behind the first line of trees, his hair being the only beacon for receiving my words. "I... I won't play these games anymore. Find some other whore to play with; they're much more willing, because I may be some middle-class, muggle-born witch, Draco Malfoy, but I will not be known as yet another number on the Malfoy's conquering list." His whole face is shadowed by the darkness of the overhanging branches, but it does nothing to hide the image of Malfoy's confused face.
"Good evening, Mr Malfoy." And with that I walk away, back to the laughter of Ron that I hear emanating from inside the glistening hall, back to the squeals of Ginny, which erupt from her as Harry chases her out of the building and back to Harry with his easy smiles and trust...
~*~ Read Authors Notes Now and Then REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!
Gosh! This took quite a while to write. Sorry to all my reviewers who wanted this posted sooner, I know I did a terrible thing by getting your hopes up by posting really quickly at first, but this chapter was quite difficult to write, because I hade to try and figure out where this story was going. But now, hopefully, I have a slightly better idea of what's happening. Also, Christmas is tomorrow, so shopping has been a terrible hazard and I've been away and working constantly, so I've been pretty busy. Also, the computer kept eating the first page of writing, so I had to keep re-writing it. Can you say masochist! It was the most awful experience; every time I tried to write something, it would eat it munch, munch and then, I would go and re-type it.
Thank you to: Danish Girl, TribeGirl17, Angel Gurl, Tristanlover59, a fan, NDNHoney, Reviewer, Anabelee, Crushette, dabalittlelove, ghost, Blanche DuBois, Miyashiko, sosweet22. I will try and write individual replies, but I thought I should get this posted as soon as possible, so I will say thanks to all my reviewers!! You guys are fantastic, and great for reading this story and having so much faith in my ability. You comments have been great encourgament :) Remember to read the Authors notes at the beginning!
Cheers ~Cai~