Story: Hermione and Draco that aren't really what who we thought they were - they've both been putting on acts for years. Somewhere in-between these acts they manage to find a relationship. Based very loosely on Gainax's Kareshi Kanojyo no Jijyo.
Rating: PG.
Readers: I would really appreciate reviews. To flamers, I would like it if you could leave a constructive critique telling me what you didn't like, and suggestions as to how I could improve it.
Disclaimer: This is a non-profit story. The characters and terms relating to Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and other associates (Bloomsbury, Raincoast, WB etc.) Kareshi Kanojyo no Jijyo is owned by Gainax.
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Her View
Coming home was definitely a strange trip. Although travelling by floo meant only a few seconds, I really had a lot of things running through my mind. How could he say all of that? When I was so angry! At the moment, I just really don't know what to feel anymore.
It went on like that for about three weeks. Although I seem to know everything, trust me, I don't know a thing about relationships, love or any of that. Sure, there was Viktor in my Fourth Year, but it really felt more of a friendship for the both of us – that was how we broke up in such good terms. I wanted to forget about Draco so I kept myself busy by actually going out places with Celine and Rena, writing continuous notes to Ron and Harry and packing for my trip to the Burrow – tomorrow I was leaving.
"Hermione dear! Oh, you're finally here!" Mrs. Weasley followed up her excitement with her trademark sure-to-stop-you-from-breathing hugs,
"Honestly Mum, hug her any tighter and whole torso will be broken before she even has a chance to see Harry and Ron." I looked over to see Fred and George with grins on their faces and looking very well off indeed. Instead of their usual thread-bare, torn jeans, they stood in new muggle clothing. I managed to get a look at Mrs. Weasley, and sure enough, her faded robes were now a deep sheen of brand new colour.
"Well you two are ones to talk. Honestly you two, with all the explosions I hear when I visit your flat, I'm surprised I haven't come over with bits of you two all over the place!"
Things were definitely back to normal again. From the bickering of the three, it would seem that Fred and George still visited the Burrow frequently and vice versa. From all these years of knowing them, it seemed as if Fred, George and Mrs. Weasley showed their love or kept their relationship together by their bickering. After standing in silence, they seemed to finally notice that I was in the room.
Mrs. Weasley looked a little embarrassed before smiling and saying, "Oh sorry about that Hermione dear. Harry and Ron are up in their room. Go ahead dear."
"Thank you Mrs Weasley. It's great to see you Fred and George."
"Likewise Hermione dear. Do visit us at the store sometime." They both said that together. It must be a twin thing. Grinning at them and smiling at Mrs Weasley, I went up to see my two boys.
Now, it's true that I put up that nice, polite girl act around the neighbours and other elders. But when it came to the Weasley family and the other friends I've made in the wizarding world, it was all genuine.
I passed up the many stairs; I had a look at the rooms I passed. Fred and George's room still had two beds except the decoration was mostly gone. Their desks remained with stacks and stacks of parchment, order forms and official looking letters. Ginny's room had gained more of a touch of femininity but was still dominantly decorated of a boy's room – Quidditch posters hung around as well as tons of 'samples' of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes lay on her desk.
Percy's room was left as it was. After the confirmation of Voldemort's return, it seemed likely that he would come back apologizing. On the other hand, he seemed too ashamed to return home. The summer of our fifth year, Mr. Weasley would say that Percy would sometimes pass him, sometimes giving him sad smiles, sometimes just walking pass him silently. Mrs. Weasley would go to his place, only to find herself talking to the door. Percy's only words every time was that he couldn't go back home, not after all he's done. Those were the only words, every single time. During a Hogmeade trip during their sixth year, Death Eaters had run around wreaking havoc. Ministry wizards, Aurors and Order members appeared to stop them. One of the Death Eaters had snuck behind Ginny and cast the Avada Kedavra when Percy pushed her out of the way and took the blow himself. His body was returned to the Weasley family where he was given a proper burial.
And that was only one of the many stories of Voldemort ripping families apart.
"Honestly Ginny, he's much too old for you!"
"Ron, he's only a year older than me!"
"That's OLD!"
"That's your age you idiot."
I smiled. Ron and Ginny were having another row about Ginny's boyfriend for over a year, Dean Thomas. I came into the room nonchalantly saying, "Ron, let's try to not ruin the beautiful love shall we?"
This seemed to catch their attention. Ron and Ginny looked at me as if a bikini-clad Fleur Delacour came in the room saying she wanted Ron. Harry, who had been watching the whole incident with much enjoyment grinned at me. At once they all exclaimed, "Hermione!"
"It's been so long since I've seen you…"
"Spiffy to have another girl in the house…"
"But it's just not right that they're…"
The Burrow. My second home.
His View
"Thinks he's so bloody great…"
"As if he's got the world on his finger."
My 'friends' were at it again. Even though my dad had managed to get out of the Azkaban due to his influence over the Ministry, they weren't so lucky. Their hatred of pretty much everything seemed to have increased, more so towards the so-called Golden Trio. Now they were at Ron.
"Barking mad, the whole lot of them."
"What's the mother's name again? Prewett? Yes, I believe my father was one of the Death Eater's that took care of her brother."
"Those blood traitors deserve what they get."
"And let's not forget the mudblood."
My ears perked up at this. It was half out of curiosity and half out of anger at the conversation.
"Stupid know it all mudblood…"
"Trust me, that mudblood will be killed by the Dark Lord himself, I just hope some good torture will be in on it too."
"Draco, you've been quiet this whole time. Is something wrong?"
Yes something's wrong Pansy. It's wrong how you all act out of prejudice. It's wrong that I'm forced into this. The only thing that's right is that you're all a bunch of simpering idiots.
I sneered. "Like those three are worth a word from our mouths. I'm really tired by the way. I'd suggest you all go home so I can rest."
That was about the only good thing out of this fake relationship. They absolutely seemed to worship and follow my every wish.
I really don't know why I came out and confessed to Hermione like that. I just ruined it all. Now I bet that when we go back to school she'll just ignore me or even worse, join Potter and Weasley in their ridiculing towards me.
School. The one thing I'm definitely not looking forward too.
Her View
Now today is the last day before school starts. Ron and Harry had informed me at the traditional huge Weasley dinner that there hadn't been any attacks or weird, unexplained disappearances and that the Order is thinking that Voldemort was planning something really big.
You'd think by now, with that information and spending nearly a month without seeing him that I would've forgotten about Mr. Bloody Git Malfoy. On the contrary, no, it hasn't been like that at all. Every time I was alone to my thoughts, for example, before going to sleep, I would start thinking about that day again.
"I wanted to spend time with you."
"I noticed straight away that there was something different you."
"You've always been beautiful…"
"I really like you Hermione."
All of those words just kept coming back to me - over and over again. Maybe it's the fact that the fact that he actually has an idea about my whole act.
"Something about your words that didn't seem quite right."
"…you acted in a way I didn't know."
"This made me realize that there really was something about you. Maybe good, maybe bad…"
I knew it ran deeper than that though. You know what I realize? I like him. Yes, I like that idiot! Him, of all the other possibilities – possibilities that doesn't come with a horrid history and can get along with my friends.
Should I act on this mess of a situation or not? Good grief, I can't believe I said 'I hate you'! Couldn't I just have said, 'I don't like you'?!!
I already know I'll end up acting on impulse. One thing for sure though, I am not looking to going to Hogwarts.
His View
"Draco honey, today's the last day before Hogwarts. Make sure everything's been packed."
Ah, crap. Maybe I can sneak off to the Shrieking Shack or a cave when we arrive at Hogsmeade and live my new life as a… hermit. Funnily enough, I spent most of the night thinking of my escape route and my Operation Never-Face-Hermione-Again. I really was hurt when she told me she hated me. The more I tried to forget, the more it came out. Now I'm reduced to a coward who can't face a girl. How great.
I can lie down all night thinking of stupid things. But I know that I have to face this.
Platform 9 and ¾
As I boarded the train, I saw a glimpse of her. She was in her school robes, it's fit accentuated her body. Her hair, now back in its bushiness was set in a high ponytail which really made her hair look better. With her hair up, her face stood out, her eyes were bright with laughter from the jokes she was sharing with her friends. Her lips were in a smile. She looked like a pure angel.
I could've stared at her all day, but as soon as it was 11 o'clock, it was time for the meeting. Great. Just great. I looked at the familiar sixth year prefects and the new fifth year prefects. Then came the seventh year prefects arrived. Hermione came in with Ron and the meeting was underway.
Her View
I remember coming in with Ron, then there he was - with that seat for me to take beside him. He sat there in his robes, platinum blonde hair playing about his face and making him look ethereal, and his face impassive. I don't know if I took a lifetime glancing at him or just a second. Nervously I took my seat beside him.
He stood up.
"Welcome new and old Prefects. It's another year for us at Hogwarts and…"
I think I melted at hearing his voice. It was like the whole package came. I could remember the (very few) times we spent together and how I'd like it again. I thought about how I liked him, and how he must still like me.
That's when I took action. From underneath the table, I took a hold of his hand. I couldn't look at him – especially with the other Prefects, especially Ron around. Draco's body seemed to tense up for a second, then relaxed then intertwined his fingers with mine.
I've just changed our lives, but at the moment I knew I didn't care, and I felt as if he didn't either. All I knew was that we were together and we liked it like that.
A/N Crikey, for a decently long chapter (I hope), this took a long time to write! I started at 9:40 and it's 1:40! I'm really trying to characterize the feelings of others in this book, so bear with me. Sometimes it might seem a bit slow and not enough Hr/D.
Also, I really don't know if this will come out as another short chapter. It seems like a lot to me, I'm writing 3-4 pages every time on Word but when I put it on it's suddenly short! In any case, I'll try to make the chapters longer.
XxGuMmYbEaRxX – thank you so much for your ongoing support. Yes, I did leave quite a cliffhanger there didn't I? Well I hope this chapter had done something for you. =)
Precious – the story isn't over yet! I have a romantic chapter that's been in my mind since I restarted this that'll pop up sometime.
TheItalianBanjoist – thanks for being there since the beginning. I said that I've been updating everyday, not I'll be updating everyday. ;) I will definitely try to though. Keep in mind, I work on the weekends and it's nastily busy so I come home usually half dead!
Also, thanks to: blackiebrens, blackdragonofdeath13 and thefaerie. You guys all rock with a –wk (that's rawk =P).