Leather and Libraries
AN: Wow! I actually finished this chapter on Sunday afternoon, but decided to look over it because I was just typing without thinking! Here are my replies to your reviews:
BlackPearl07 – Cardinals? Do they play baseball? Teach me your American ways! Lolz
shexyclevayollop – Why thanks you! Yeah, it was pretty fun. Oh, and btw, it does not matter!
Evilevergreen – Good point! I just assumed they all knew, but I'll drag that in there someday!
Shrimp5391 – I know their never going to get together in the books, so I ship big for them outside! Their such a hopeless couple!
Lisi – Yeah, but I felt the need because I cannot stand constant Draco/Hermione. I'm sooo sorry about the typos, I just looked through and realised how many there were! And I'm hopeless at grammar because of damn public school! I can't even spell grammar! Thank yooooooou spell check!
silvereyedelven( ) – Why thank you for the yummy candy bar! You actually caught me writing Chapter 10 :P Thanks for the cred and yes, I felt mega bad writing Harry like that, but I reckon he's at his best when full of angst!
And to everyone else who reviewed – thanks a bunch! It really means a lot to me as it is my first fan fiction, even if my grammar sucks! You've all been really nice!
And now to the main event!
Summary: After an incident in the library, Draco and Hermione begin to realise they have more in common than just books.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Harry Potter and his wonderful world... You will know if I made something up.
Chapter 9 – Stinging Kiss
Soon another week had passed since our last intervention. Nothing had really happened, except Dean slipping a Devil's Tongue, Weasley Wizard Wheezes' new product, into an obnoxious 7th year Slytherin's potion, causing the boy to have licks of fire on his tongue constantly which left him screaming around the room thinking that his tongue was going to burn out. Dean got a fortnights' worth of detentions with Professor Snape.
Draco and Hermione's assignment had gone relatively smoothly, with only three arguments per session and no-one stormed out.
The day to hand it in approached with Hermione feeling particularly nervous.
Hermione sat on her desk next to Draco with her hands clenched, awaiting her mark.
"Oh god I shouldn't have out that pathetic diagram in there," Hermione said out loud.
Draco groaned at his partner's persistent outbursts. "Shut up Granger or I'll go insane." The talking between them stopped, but the tension rising.
She glanced over at Ron, who gave her the thumbs up, showing the mark Professor Flitwick had just given him, an E. Smiling, she looked at Draco who was holding their assignment in his hands.
Hermione took a deep breath and said, "So? Are you just going to stare at it or tell me what we got?" He looked up at her and showed the front page, which displayed a red circle, in the middle of it a-
"O?! You have to be kidding me? Us two – O – crap diagram!" She squealed with excitement that caused Draco and a few others to stare at her. "Sorry." She grinned and scanned through it, looking for Flitwick's notes.
"Now class, settle down," Professor Flitwick squeaked from his desk. The class went silent steadily. "Now, the marks I have given will go towards your final grade for your Charms OWL. We will start the next assignment next lesson. Class dismissed."
There was lots of murmuring while the people packed away. Most were chatting excitedly about their grades and how they might celebrate.
"Bye," Hermione muttered to Draco, taking her book bag.
"Wait. You better have this since you probably want to go through it," Draco said, handing their report to her.
"Thanks." She gave a small smile and their hands touched for a split second, causing their eyes to meet. Of course their hands had touched before, but as utterly stupid as it may sound, there seemed to be something there. Draco looked as if he was about to say something, but was interrupted by a voice.
"Hermione!" Ron called. "Lunch is ready."
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"Okay," She replied laughing. She walked away from the platinum haired boy and to her two best friends.
Hermione was at the Gryffindor dinner table, still astounded by her grade. She had spent her time talking to various housemates and eating, so there had not been any time to look over the report. Everyone was lively and bubbly, talking about anything and everything.
"So when Snape asked if I wanted to clean it up, I just sat back with a 'What?' look on my face!" A 5th girl laughed, trying to rival any troublemakers since Fred and George's 'departure'. The group around her also laughed, surprised at the young girl's bravery.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Hermione stay out of it," Ron whispered, grinning.
"What made you think I was going to say anything?!"
"The look on your face. It's her choice, not yours. So stay out!" He pinched her on the cheek.
"Yes Daddy," Hermione said in a mock baby voice, sucking her thumb. They both laughed.
They continued with this kind of idle conversation until the bell went for next lesson, everyone getting up and going through the Great Hall doors.
Ron and Harry went to their next class, while Hermione wandered back up to Gryffindor Tower. She didn't have a lesson next, and planned to use the quietness of the common room to look over her assignment so she could plan for the next one.
She said the password (Squiddledee) to the Fat Lady and went through the portrait, immediately heading towards her favourite armchair in front of the fire. She dumped her bag on the floor and got out the project, reading it word from word and reading the added notes.
Hermione turned the page into the centrefold, a short introduction on who did what in it. But on it, was a piece of folded parchment that had not been there before. She was intrigued by it, thinking it was an additional piece of parchment Flitwick always used to put his final notes on.
She tenderly opened it and read out loud:
Granger,
Meet me up in the tower tonight at 7:30, no questions.
Signed, Draco Lucius Malfoy.
Hermione was confused at this, wondering why he needed to see her if there was not another assignment until next lesson, which was on Wednesday.
"I'm not going to go," Hermione decided straight away.
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Despite what she had said, she found herself getting ready for the night ahead at 6:19. She was now scouring through her wardrobe, looking for something to wear.
"I must be mad," She said, throwing many clothes onto her four-poster bed. "I shouldn't care what I look like for a stupid Malfoy." She winced at her choice of words, just realising how stupid they sounded. She let out a groan of frustration and grabbed a pair of jeans and a satin camisole top that she had only wore once to a muggle party. She put away the other clothes and then went into the adjoining bathroom, wondering what to do with her hair. She tried putting it up, down, half up etc. She had become so aggravated, that she wondered it was a possibility to shave it all off. She put it up in a messy ponytail with a few strands of curls hanging down so that they framed her face.
"What the hell am I doing?!" Hermione nearly shouted. "I'm going to meet my worst enemy and I'm actually being all girly about it." She shook her head in disbelief and applied the lightest amount of make-up, which was the same as always. She did not need to become a tart for one night for the sake of a boy who had treated her like dirt of six years.
She went back into the dormitory and put on her necklace and bracelet, noticing that the time was 7:09.
Hermione gave a deep sigh. "One chance to turn back." But instead, she walked out with her wand and walked to the 7th year boys dormitory, hoping no-one was in there. Her prayer was answered, as it was deserted. She found Harry's trunk and took the Invisibility Cloak, carefully holding it.
Hermione then rushed to the place, accidentally bumping into a timid 1st year.
"Sorry," She gushed, helping him back up. Rushing, she gave a quick smile and carried on.
She got to the Hidden Tower with a red face and stitch in her side. Not the best entrance, but a sort of dramatic entrance at that. She sat down and looked around in the darkness, trying to find him.
"Oh bloody hell, this better not be a joke," Hermione moaned, taking deep breaths.
"Fortunately, it's not Granger," A voice drawled form the archway. Hermione looked up and saw Draco Malfoy, looking particularly pleased.
"So you came?" He said, sitting down in the chair next to her.
"Yes, but only out of intrigue," She snapped, rolling her eyes. "Is there a point of this meeting? Because if there isn't I can go." She stood up.
"Yes, I've got dinner."
Hermione blinked in disbelief. "Draco Malfoy actually being nice? It's poisoned. Oh no, wait, I'm on candid camera!"
"Shut up Granger. I'm just showing the sort of things a mudblood misses out on."
"That's it. I don't have to put up with you!" Hermione went to walk out, but could not get past the archway. "Why the hell are you keeping me here?! You don't even like me so let me go!"
"Your temper is getting the better of you again. And temptation just gets too tasty." He approached her.
"Piss off Draco!" She covered her mouth and realised she had called him by his first name. She fell to the floor and wrapped her arms around her legs. That was a big change because she had always found it hard, but then it just slipped off her tongue.
Draco stopped, wondering what she was doing. When the heard the faint sound of crying, he walked towards her again, but this time wrapping his arms around her. At first she was surprised by him, but fell into his arms.
While her mind was screaming 'What the hell are you doing?!' her heart was just healing over the fact that she may not be held like this by a boy other than Harry and Ron, until she died.
"Hermione?" Draco said tenderly.
She looked up with surprise in her face. "Yes?"
"I – I'm – I'm sorry okay?"
Hermione smiled faintly and nodded her head. "I'll make a mental video of that."
Draco seemed to smile and lowered his head, sweeping Hermione into a kiss. She gasped slightly, but returned the kiss. Their lips moulded together as they sat there in the autumn evening darkness. She felt the butterflies gather in her stomach and wrapped her arms around him, playing mildly with his hair. He was surprised at her advance, but still retained the kiss. Draco stroked her face, pressing his lips more forcefully against hers. And when she nibbled his lower lip, he groaned with pleasure. But as he used his tongue to part her lips, Hermione was forced back down to earth.
She quickly got up and wiped her moth hastily, trying to get rid of his germs. She dragged him up and slapped him hard. "Who do you think you are?! I was feeling venerable and you used that against me!" She ran towards the exit and found the force field still held her in there.
"Let me out you bastard!" She screamed, turning around.
He waved his wand and muttered 'Retractio Patefacio', so that Hermione could leave. She ran out, without a backward glance.
"Never look back."
AN: Longer one! Woot woot! This chapter seems a bit random in the interaction but Draco was really getting out of character! You just gotta love the jerk side of him! And I just realised why the hell did I make Hermione cry over something like that? I'm sorry if there's any grammar, I can't seem to find any but I know they'll be some hiding someplace...
Anyhow, keep a look out in my bio for updates and what do you all think of a Harry/Hermione fic?
Star x