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Chapter Eleven: Dreams and Friends
Draco woke with a start, when something soft snuggled close to him. He looked down at the small form curled against his side. Hermione's brown head rested on his chest, lids were closed in a peaceful sleep. 'Well at least she isn't having a nightmare,' he mused.
After a while, Hermione sighed and opened her eyes. Her pillow squirmed beneath her slightly. She looked up and met Draco's silver eyes. At first she was in shock, not knowing why she was in bed with a boy, much less her old enemy. But as her drowsiness wore off, and she continued to look into the steely eyes of the boy, it all came back to her in a rush. Pictures of a concerned Draco rushed through her mind along with others of Dumbeldore and Madame Pomfrey. Draco was concerned, for her?
Draco interrupted her thoughts. "Err…Hermione, could you sit up, now? It seems my arm has fallen asleep."
Hermione sat up quickly, going slightly red in the face. She had been sleeping on his arm. "I'm sorry!" she apologized, blushing to a darker shade of red.
"It's no problem. Really, Hermione," Draco said flexing his arm. He watched as she stretched out beside him again, this time avoiding his arm. She looked like a sleepy cat, gazing at something that amused it.
"Sleep well?" he asked not looking at her but his arm. It had fallen into an almost numb state and was beginning to tingle.
"Umm…well yeah, and you?" Hermione said not looking him in the face. Truthfully she hadn't slept well at all. She didn't have her usual dream though, instead she had another, more troubling dream.
Nelly22 DeMiGoD714 mystified by nature
She was standing on the shore of the lake under a tree, staring out over the cool waters. The moon reflected full on the lake's glassy surface, and its pale light cast everything in a queer magical silence.
Hermione shivered as a cool breeze tugged at her frame, and weaved its way through her clothing. A couple of loose wisps of chestnut hair caressed her pale face. The night air was peaceful and calming.
She was oblivious to the man, who had followed her to the tree. Another breeze chilled her to her core, but the touch that preceded it was warm. Someone had draped a cloak tenderly around her shoulders. She couldn't help appreciating the warmth that radiated from its silver folds.
Turning towards the stranger, she couldn't identify him even then. He was tall and well built; an elaborate mask hid his identification.
"Would you like some company?" he inquired politely.
"Well, yes actually." Hermione smiled up at the boy intriguingly. "Why are you not in the Hall?" she asked inquisitively.
"I thought I would follow you out."
She looked curiously up at him. "What ever for?"
"I didn't think it wise you coming out on your own," he answered straight out. "And may I ask, why you came out?"
"I don't know, really. I just felt like I needed to come out here. There's just too much going on in there at once, and I'm not much for parties any way."
"I know what you mean. I've never been one for all the action and everything, but I do like to dress up."
"Who is your date?" Hermione asked remembering that it was a ball.
"Oh, I came alone."
"Why?" All she could think of is, 'who wouldn't go with this charming guy? He's even able to carry on an intelligent conversation not involving quidditch!'
"The girl I wanted to take was already taken," he answered openly.
She felt sorry for the boy in front of her. "And who, if I may ask, was your choice date?"
There was a short silence before he answered, "Err…well, it was you, Hermione."
Hermione was totally floored by his revelation. "Oh…well…umm…"Hermione was at a loss for words. " Really?"
"Yes." This time his answer wasn't nervous or embarrassed. "Yes, it was you."
Hermione looked up into his invisible eyes searchingly.
Just as a small cloud was moving in front of the moon, he swept down and claimed her lips with his. In the darkness Hermione could still sense the need and passion within the kiss. Her lips parted slightly, letting him have access to the rest of her mouth. His tongue danced with hers, feeling the textures of it, but she met him with an equal curiosity.
When they finally broke apart for air, they both stood there breathless. He had kissed her with such need and feeling, she didn't know what to do. It was like he had wanted to kiss her for a long time, or he had planned to do it when he did go outside.
But before she could say anything, he found her hand in the dark and pressed his lips to her knuckles. "Good evening, Hermione." And with that, he turned and left.
When the moon was once again visible, Hermione was standing there alone. In complete surprise, she turned and headed back to the castle. The cloak was forgotten, though it was still draped across her shoulders.
Draco and Hermione were sitting in Charms, practicing the Disillusionment charm. It had been almost a week since they had slept in the Hospital Wing. Hermione's nightmares had returned full force when she was alone. For several nights Draco was woken up by her screams of terror.
The professors noticed the silent and weary forms and spoke to Madame Pomfrey of it. At the insistence of the nurse, Hermione began to take Dreamless Sleep potion. So they both began to catch up on their sleep and no longer looked downtrodden.
Dumbeldore had contacted Hermione's parents the night of her memory jump. The elderly man was concerned about Hermione's nightmares and had nearly forbid Poppy from giving her the potion. He believed that she could learn from her dreams and take caution from them, but once he saw the tired far off looks of the students, he decided to let fate take its course.
Draco glanced at Hermione almost pleadingly for a Malfoy.
"What is it, Draco?" she asked laughing at his protruded lip and sulky demeanor.
"It's not working!" he exclaimed perturbed, "I've tried four times already!"
"Patience is a virtue," she said teasingly, but he shot her an ugly look so she said, "Oh alright, how are you pronouncing it?"
He tapped his wand on the top of his egg and said, "Dissimulio." All he succeeded in doing was cracking his egg and causing a mess.
Hermione was giggling at his temper. "Draco, that's how it's supposed to feel not look!"
He looked livid at his fifth try and glared at her in silence.
She stopped laughing at his charm, when she saw the anger starting to flash in his eyes. "Sorry, Draco. You pronounced it wrong, anyway. It's Dissimulo, not Dissimulio."
Hermione demonstrated for him, tapping the top of her egg with daintiness and rolling the charm off of her tongue easily. The egg immediately changed its color to match everything behind it, giving it an almost invisible look. The only way to tell it was there was the distinct rounded form that caused everything beyond to look larger.
"Well done, Miss Granger. Twenty-five points to Gryffondor!" piped the tiny Charms teacher, who was standing on a chair beside Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnegan's table.
Hermione blushed slightly, while Draco rolled his eyes behind her back. He turned to a new egg that had been conjured up by Hermione and performed the charm again. This time he got the desired effect; a smirk flirted on his lips at his triumph.
She was looking around the room, when she heard Draco put his head down wearily. Looking over at him, she couldn't help the small giggle that came. His head was rested directly beside his enchanted egg. To see him, Hermione had to look through the egg to see his face. He looked as if he were looking into a spoon. His forehead went large and his cheekbones went extremely wide. His distorted features amused her into laughter.
"What's so funny, Granger?" he asked, causing his face to distort further. Hermione only giggled louder.
"Look, Draco," she said putting her book title in front of his egg. He looked through at the indistinct writing on the cover. A smile played his face over. "I still don't really get it," he said untruthfully. He was just waiting for her to put her face in front of it.
"Yes you do," Hermione said knowingly rolling her eyes. 'Really! Does he think I'm that stupid?'
Draco made a face of innocent disagreement, before his clever smirk spread out again.
"Class dismissed!" the small Charms Professor piped loudly.
The class headed out for break happily. Harry and Ron caught up with Hermione as she started to walk out the door.
"Hey, Mione! Wait up!" Ron called from his desk he shared with Harry.
Hermione stood in the door waiting for them impatiently. As Draco went by, he gave her a small smile. Smiling back, she turned to watch her friends slowly making their way to the door.
"What was that all about?" Ron blurted as soon as he reached the door. Harry grimaced at his side. They had agreed to ask her about it, but approach it smoothly. Obviously, Ron did not know the word smooth.
"What was what about?" she asked with raised brows. Hermione caught Harry's look of disgust that was thrown at Ron. She knew them both well enough by now to know something was up.
"You and Malfoy were practically flirting with one another!" Ron exclaimed pouring oil on dynamite's fuse.
Harry rubbed both hands down his face pulling it stretched. When was he going to learn?
"Where the hell do you get off saying that?' the girl screamed in the redheads face. Her amber eyes danced with an angry flame. She was so sick of Ron's big mouth.
"You laughed with him! That's how!" Ron's red face turned victorious. He looked at Harry for agreement, but got none. His friend just shook his head warningly, green eyes looked flustered.
"You stupid prat! I laugh with you all the time! Is that some how a new miraculous way to flirt?"
Ron's face fell, at her words. It stung him to hear her say it. "Well, are you and Malfoy friends or what?" he croaked out disappointed.
"Yes, we are. Do either of you have a problem with it?" Anger wasn't letting her keep her mouth in control.
"I do!" yelled Ron disgruntled, "And I bet Harry doesn't exactly support it either!"
"If I could talk to you two, I wouldn't have to had found someone else to talk to!"
Hurt washed across both of their faces. Blue and green eyes closed at the truth.
"I find him a far more capable friend than either of you have been." Turning to Harry, she said, "I'm not directing all of this at you Harry. You tried to listen most of the time." She glared at Ron with anger.
"I'm sorry, Mione…" Ron started feebly. He'd never heard her this angry.
"No, Ron…No," Hermione said softly pulling her hair in her small fists, "I'm sorry. I said too much…too much that I didn't mean. So much has happened this year, ya know?"
Ron looked a little happier at her apology, but Harry just stood there lost in deep thought. "Do you think it has began, Mione?" he asked curiously.
She a small smile came from his question. "Yes, Harry. I do."
Both boys grinned at her playfully. "So, I guess this won't be a dull year, eh?" Ron prodded teasingly. They all knew the consequences that flirted with their adventures.
"Sure will," she said meekly looking up at the two boys who had been her friends for so long.
They piled on her in a fierce bear hug, only releasing her when she claimed a cracked rib.
Hermione entered the common room with a small sigh. She had a peaceful thirty minutes to herself ahead. Laying her book on the chair on her side of the large desk, she rearranged the item on top with pernickety precision.
A knock sounded suddenly from the outside of the portal. Surprised Hermione opened the portrait to Pansy Parkinson. "Uh…hello?" Hermione said uneasily.
"Hi. Is Draco around?" the other girl asked trying to peek around her shoulders.
For the past two years, Pansy and Hermione regarded one another with silence. Both felt after fifth year that shooting insults and being rude was far too childish. Now, when conversation would be forced, Hermione didn't know what to think.
"No, he hasn't come up that I know of. You can come in and wait for him, if you want." She moved aside for the slightly taller blonde girl to walk through.
"Whoa! Ya'll hit it big, didn't ya?" Pansy exclaimed breaking some ice. Hermione smiled behind her. "This is gorgeous!"
"Yeah, I guess we did."
Pansy had changed over the years. She finally grew into her pug-like nose, so the part in question was turned up cutely at the end. Her long blonde hair hung in loose curls around her pale face. Her eyes were a sea greenish blue.
Hermione directed her towards the couches, while she stood organizing all the books and parchment she had already used on the desk. She would be able to leave with a lighter bag.
Finally she gave into curiosity and asked, "So, are you and Draco…"
"Oh, no," Pansy interrupted quickly, "He's just like an older brother. That would be just gross!" Hermione felt a small amount of relief wash over her at the girl's words.
"Are you and Ron?" was the question from Pansy. Both girls noted the usage of first names curiously, but decided not to comment.
"No," was Hermione's short reply.
"Oh, so it's you and Potter, then?" Pansy asked relief was evident in her voice.
"No, why?" Hermione asked with a small frown. She wasn't intending to turn this small information test into a catfight.
"Well, as long as you've three been together, everyone figured you were dating one or the other."
"No, we've never dated," she replied shortly. Hermione still wanted to know about her interest in Ron. "They're brothers to me, like Draco is to you." Hermione's nose scrunched up as if the entire thought were appalling.
Pansy laughed in her light musical voice.
"Well, I see you two are getting along," came Draco's voice from the exit. He was surprised to see Pansy in the common room, much less talking to Hermione civilly.
"Oh, yes. We were just having a little chat," Pansy said throwing a smirk at Hermione. It was returned fully with a mischievous wink.
"Oh, and what would that be about?" asked Draco, catching the smirk mid way.
"Girl things, dear boy. What else?" Hermione said slyly, slipping easily into the game.
"What's included in these 'girl things'? I've never heard either of you talk about them before."
Pansy glanced at Hermione at the mentioning of her ever talking to Draco. "Well, Dray, I don't believe you are on the females' side of the battle. So therefore, you will never know."
Hermione caught the glance but continued the charade they were pulling the poor boy through. "It's not like a girl can talk about girl things with her inferior male friends."
"So, we were catching up on intelligent conversation, while you were gone." Pansy gave him a dashing smile.
Draco stood there dumbfounded. A blank expression folded over his face. Then, both girls burst out laughing, which didn't really help Draco in his current state of confusion. "Are you two bloody nutters?" he asked shaking his blonde head in misunderstanding.
"I'm sorry, Dray. We were just teasing," Pansy apologized still giggling.
"The look on your face ruined it all!" cried Hermione between her fit of giggles. Tears started to swim in her amused amber eyes.
"Well…" was all he said before a sheepish grin smoothed his lips. He ran a hand through his long hair, "Why are you here, Pans?"
"Oh, yeah! I nearly forgot! Will you go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend? I need to buy a costume," she answered putting on cute pout.
"Yeah, sure. I haven't got mine either." He smiled at her glad to have someone to go with. "Who are you going to the ball with?"
"Blaise," Pansy said blushing, "He asked me last night. It was so romantic." She sighed happily.
Hermione smiled a girl's knowing smile, but Draco frowned. He was about to say something when Pansy catching his expression intervened; "You aren't about to go all big brother on me again, are you? Cause I like him, Draco, and you aren't going to scare him off like you did Saber Firestone!"
Draco sighed. Then he said, "Sorry, Pans. I just don't want you hurt."
"'S alright, Dray. See you later then!" she skipped off towards the portal, but turned just before she left, "We need to talk more often."
Hermione nodded in agreement, "Yeah, you're welcome here anytime you want to be."
"Sure." Pansy nodded back and stepped gracefully out. Her blonde head disappeared as the portrait swung closed.
Hermione flopped down the couch with a sigh. A nap sounded so good, just for the remaining fifteen minutes of seventh year break, but one doesn't always get what one wants.
"Did you and Pans just get along?" interrupted Draco's deep voice.
"Mmm hmm," Hermione replied with her eyes closed. 'Why does he always have to ask questions when I'm not sure about something myself?'
"Why?" Hermione's eyes rolled and then opened to look at the boy.
"I suppose we both never have gave the other a chance, so didn't know we could." Thinking he would leave her alone, she closed her eyes again.
"Hermione?" Draco asked coyly, sitting down beside her slender form.
"Yes?" she sighed sitting up abruptly. When she opened her eyes, a small squeak of surprise escaped her small mouth. Her sitting up brought Draco's face within inches of hers. She was looking straight into his silver eyes.
Draco, not flinching from the closeness of her face, continued, "Who are you going to the ball with?"
"Harry, I believe. It's just as friends, though. He doesn't like having to ask for a date." She didn't catch the disappointment in his eyes. "Who are you going with?"
"Oh, no one. I think I'll make this a solo for me," he said quietly. This Hermione caught.
"Oh, do you want me to find a date for you?" she asked concerned.
"No, that's all right, Hermione. I don't have to sit there and think about trying to match a girl's costume."
"Well, we'd better be off to class," Hermione said as the end-of-break bell rang.
"Yeah, right."