Title: Dance Fever and Some Bad Dreams
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters are not mine. Nor shall they ever be……*walks off and cries*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 11: Butterbeer, Arm Wrestling, and Kisses?
"Hurry up, Hermsie! We're going to be late!" shouted Parvati on the other side of the bathroom. I had
taken quite some time making my hair curl just a bit. I tilted my head to the side staring at the mirror.
Looking back was almost a completely different person from when I had first arrived at Hogwarts with
bushy hair and hating a certain Slytherin. Now I was practically head over heels for that Slytherin and my
hair was no longer a bushy mess. I took a final look at myself before opening the bathroom door.
The moment I did this Padma grabbed my hand and pulled me out and all the way down to the common
room, then to the portrait hole. But when I came out it was like the bottom of my stomach had dropped
out. There standing before me was none other than Malcolm and some of his Ravenclaw buddies.
His button down shirt was perfectly ironed and tied off at the top with a red and gold tie. His brown hair
had been neatly combed back and there was a moment when I had remembered why my heart always
jumped at his dashing smile,
"You look wonderful Hermione. Positively gorgeous." His eyes traveled up and down me and I managed
to raise the ends of my lips into an awkward half smile and said,
"As do you." Parvati and Padma had already introduced themselves to Malcolm's friends,
"You ready to go Hermsie?" asked Padma positively delighted with the two boys on either side of her. I
nodded, grinning at Padma. We started off down to Hogsmead. And halfway there, Malcolm decided to
sneak his hand around my waist.
This was going to be a long night.
~*~*~*~
Once we all arrived right outside of the Three Broom Sticks Malcolm held me back and called to his
friends, "You guys go on ahead! I just want to talk to Hermione for a minute."
Padma and Parvati grinned at me while one of Malcolm's friends laughed, "Take all the time you need,
Riley!" Padma and Parvati giggled and dragged the boys into the crowed Three Broom Sticks.
Malcolm took my hand in his and lifted me head with his fingers under my chin, "I think this big boy
deserves a sympathy kiss for losing his game." I fought not to push him away. I didn't want to be rude
and hurt his feelings.
So I simply smiled innocently and teased, "Not yet. When I am ready. I will. But not yet." Malcolm's
brows knitted together in disappointment. I felt sorry for his attempts to kiss me and failing. So I strung
up some more words to make him feel a little better, " I will only kiss you when the time is right."
Yeah! Like that would happen! Malcolm grinned and then nodded, "I'll keep you to that." I turned to walk
into the Three Broom Sticks with him. I felt his hand on my back giving me a sickening feeling.
The moment I pushed open the door to the Three Broom Sticks, warmth brushed my red cheeks from the
cold, smells of steaming meals wafted into my nose, the noise of chatter traveled to my ears, and the
golden lighting made everything twice as warm. I had almost forgotten the Malcolm's hand on my back
until I felt the pressure of it pushing me up to a table in the center of the room where Harry, Ron, Parvati,
Padma, Ginny, and Malcolm's friends were sitting.
After scooting another table to the one in the center, we all managed to fit at the joined tables. Once I sat
down, Malcolm rushed to sit on my right. The moment he took his seat he put his arm around my
shoulders. It was like he was afraid someone would come up and snatch me away from him.
I wish someone would.
As everyone else was getting seated and getting drinks for all, I saw Draco sitting at a table near by with
Pansy drooling all over him. He hadn't seen me and looked bored out of his mind. I let out a laugh at
Draco's dull expression. Malcolm looked over and I quickly decided that if Malcolm knew that I had any
sort of interest in his worst enemy there would be trouble. So I turned my head away from Draco and
gave my best smile to Malcolm and lied, " I just remembered the time when I choked on my butterbeer
when you came into this room, last year."
"Did you really?" he asked looking truly smug about this. I flashed him a smile and nodded. He held up
his shoulders looking proud and then looked back down to me, "I'm going to get us some butterbeers." I
nodded as he excused himself.
I felt someone tap on my left shoulder. I turned my head to meet the brown eyes of Ginny Weasley, "Oh.
Hey, Ginny!" I said. But all she did in return was squint her eyes at me. Finally she muttered, "You don't
like him, do you." It was more a statement than it was a question.
I looked down at my hands and mumbled, "Well……I don't love him or anything." Ginny's eyes went
back to normal and she shrugged and took a sip of her butterbeer. Weird.
Malcolm came back with two foaming butterbeers in hand, "There you are m'lady." He said pushing it
under my nose,
"Thanks." I said. After Malcolm had done his good deed of the day he went on with Harry and Ron about
Quidditch as if I didn't even exist. Not that I wanted him to be swooning all over me. It was in the back of
my mind that I could hear Malcolm going on about Quidditch,
"So anyway, people don't realize this. But you need a lot of strength when you're on a broom and out on
that field!" Harry and Ron nodded agreeing with Malcolm. But Draco on the other table was about to take
a sip of butterbeer before he snorted and laughed, " I wonder how he got onto the team then." Loud
enough for Malcolm to hear.
Malcolm glared at Draco, who was a table away, "Hey, Malfoy! Why don't you come over here and say
that to my face!"
Draco looked up, "Me?" he asked innocently,
"Yea, you!" Malcolm snapped. Draco shrugged, drank the last of his butterbeer in a gulp, stood up, and
walked around to Malcolm who stood up as well. Once Draco was a foot away from Malcolm he spoke to
Malcolm as if he were a child, "How did you get on the team when it requires strength?"
All the people in the Three Broom Sticks were now fixated on the to boys.
I swiftly jumped up out of my seat between the boys. I faced Malcolm and muttered, "You're not being
very good."
Malcolm looked down on me and sighed, "You're right." He then faked a polite look toward Draco,
"Malfoy, you think you're stronger than me?"
Draco sneered, "Yes, I do."
Malcolm grinned wickedly and asked, "How bout we have a little arm wrestling contest to prove who is the stronger one?"
Draco's eyes narrowed and he stood there for a moment thinking about this. He made up his mind and
growled, "You're on, Riley."
Malcolm nodded to his group of friends to clear the table. They escorted Parvati and Padma to another
table. Malcolm sat down on one side of the table. Draco took his time taking off his cloak, tossing it over
the back of his chair, unbuttoning his cuffs, and rolling up his sleeves to behind his elbow. All through
Draco's preparation, there whispers of wages going around the room.
When Draco sat down, Malcolm said, "Something doesn't feel right. How about we have a trophy for this
contest?" Malcolm turned his head up to me, "A kiss perhaps? Yes a kiss will do. From Hermione
Granger."
So he thought he could just use me as a trophy?! What the hell! But when I caught Draco looking at me
with those warm eyes my fury melted away. I would do anything for a chance to kiss him. Anything. I
smiled and repeated Malcolm, " A kiss."
I thought I saw a corner of Draco's lips curl up but would be impossible to know. For, he went back to
glaring at Malcolm. They both put their right elbow on the table and their hands met.
Draco smirked, "To the Kiss."
And then it began.
~*~*~*~*~Draco's POV~*~*~*~*~
Malcolm began trying to push my arm back. He was strong. But I knew I was stronger. I too pushed with
most my strength and focused everything bit of my will power on slamming the back Malcolm's hand on
the table.
People were calling out either my name or Malcolm's and were shouting things like,
"Go! Go! Go!"
"Come on! You're doing great! Just give it the final push!"
"Hang in there!"
But nothing could distract me. My eyes were glaring and locked on Malcolm's. I could tell he was already
losing strength. His face was as red as a strawberry. I put more pressure on his hand and his eyes broke
away from mine. And then a pain shot through my shin.
My focus broke as I cursed in pain. The bloody bastard had kicked me! That prick! But my break in focus
caused my pressure on him to loosen and Malcolm took this chance to slam my hand on it's back.
I had lost.
And I wasn't even angry because I had lost the stupid arm wrestling match. But I had lost me chance to
kiss Hermione.
Those who had rooted for Malcolm yelled with delight. And those who had been rooting for me started
getting out their moneybags in disappointment. Had no one seen the prick kick me?!
Malcolm stood up with his arms raised in the air in triumph. Then he turned to Hermione whispered
something in her ear, and then crushed her into him and kissed her right on the mouth.
I clenched my hands into tights fists. I couldn't watch this. The girl that I had wanted to kiss for so long,
now I had my worst enemies
My blood ran cold as I watched Malcolm's lips on Hermione's. I could plainly see Hermione trying to push
away. But Malcolm held the kiss for longer than I could bare.
I jumped up from my seat took two swift steps to Malcolm, grabbed the back of his shirt collar, ripped
him from Hermione, and punched him in his already crooked nose. He staggered back looking shocked
for a couple of seconds. Then his shock turned into raging fury. He charged at me and tackled me in my
stomach, which was close enough to my ribs to hurt more than when the Bludger had first hit me.
I shouted out in pain when we both bumped into groups of people than crashed into a table that broke
beneath us. The people we had bumped into started falling on other people who started punching the
person who had bumped into them. And pretty soon the room had broke out into a battle zone.
I threw Malcolm off me and stood over him. I was about to give him the punch of his life but just as I
raised my fist, I saw Hermione being pushed from person to person, out of the corner of my eye.
I lowered my fist and pushed past fighting groups of people to get to Hermione.
"Hermione!" She looked around the crowd and once she found me she began working her way towards
me. We were a couple feet apart when someone bumped into her from behind. This sent her falling into
my arms. She looked up at me with those precious chocolate eyes of hers and smiled. One that reached
all the way to her eyes.
I smiled back but noticed a little bruise blossoming to the right of her forehead. I helped her steady
herself and took her hand, "Come on. Let's get you out of here." We finally reached the door and I guided
her out first.
The bitter cold bit at my bare forearms. I had forgotten my cloak inside the Three Broom Sticks. There
was no way I was going to go back in there. I looked back to Hermione whose teeth were chattering. Yet
she was smiling at me.
She had the sweetest smile I had ever seen. It was touching to see the light from her smile, reach all the
way up to her eyes. I took a step closer. I wanted to hold her so badly. Like I had in the Library and in the
Hospital Wing. Just touching her soft cheeks would be more than an honor. But she was probably
disgusted with me for punching her 'almost boyfriend', Malcolm. So instead of embracing her into a kiss I
used the will power I had left to ask, "Can I walk you to your Common Room?"
Her smile seemed to fade for a moment but then came back as she beamed up at me and nodded,
"Please do."
~~~~~Herm's POV~~~~~~
Just walking next to Draco made me feel warmer. We were walking up the Hogwarts steps. I didn't know
how he could stand it. It was freezing out and yet he had his sleeves rolled up and wasn't even shivering.
And me? I was all wrapped up in my cloak and I was still freezing. Once we reached the warmth of the
castle and started up the stairs to the Gryffindor Portrait hole.
I had wanted so much for him to kiss me outside the Three Broom Sticks. And still he didn't. What did
this mean? Did he think I was upset with him? I saw Malcolm kick his shin to win the game. Surely Draco
had known that. Malcolm fully deserved what he got. Why in Heaven's name hadn't he kissed me?!
I had hardly noticed that we had arrived at the Fat Lady portrait because I was so consumed in my own
thoughts. I looked around at the Fat Lady, who was sleeping soundly in her portrait and then to the
armored knight standing a little ways away, making a dark shadow across the corridor. Then my eyes
wandered back to Draco's. He stepped forward and held his hand up to my cheek and then touched my
bruise tenderly and I saw concern in his beautiful eyes.
"Are you sure you don't want me to take you to the Hospital Wing?" I shook my head slightly. The only
thing that hurt was the fact that I hadn't felt his lips on mine. My heart was even aching, as I was unable
to look away from his silver blue eyes. Though it pained me to see such dark circles under around the
pools of silver and blue.
I took a step closer and lifted my hand and gently ran my fingers around the dark circles, "How do you
not sleep?" I asked softly. Malfoy brought the hand he used to touch my bruise to my fingers, which were
tracing the dark parts around his eyes. He entwined his fingers around mine and said in barely a whisper,
"It takes practice." He pulled me closer wrapping his free hand, under my cloak and around my waist.
The very touch of his hand sent heat up my back. My face was now just as close as it had been that day
in the library and just today in the Hospital Wing. Again, I felt his warm breath on my cheek. He had
brought his hand that was entwined with mine up to his shoulder and let go of my hand only to bring his
hand to my neck. I let my hand rest on his shoulder. I took one last memory of what he looked like so
close to my face and then closed my eyes in front of him for the third time, hoping, praying, and pleading
nothing interrupt them. I felt his breath get warmer as his lips came closer to mine.
And then it was like a curse……
I heard the footsteps and laughter of Padma and Parvati coming closer. No! This was not happening!
I felt Draco starting to pull away in panic. No! I would not let this happen again! So thinking quickly I held
onto Draco and dragged him into the shadows of the armored knight and slid my hand, which had been
on his shoulder, around his neck and pulled him in……
……and our lips met. All at once a rush of heat enveloped my entire body and a wave of passion flooded
my lips. Draco was kissing me back. Not only that but his tongue had parted my lips. His kiss was filled
with more care then I had ever felt. He tasted so much better that Malcolm. Draco tasted sweet from the
remembrance of his butterbeer and something else as well. I buried my fingers in his hair almost scared I
would lose this feeling he gave me. But sooner or later we were bound to come up for air and we did.
Draco held me close and whispered in a ragged voice, "Thank you."
I couldn't suppress a tiny smile. I let my hands slip away from his neck and his hand tucked the hair that
had fallen in my face back behind my ear. From they way that he had just kissed me I found it safe to
assume he wanted this kiss just as much as I had.
I peered up to his silver blue eyes and gave him one last soft kiss, savoring the last taste of his lips.
Once we drew apart I felt the cold of fall coming back to my cheeks and hands. He took my hand in his
and brushed his lips over it. Then backed away and said in a deep voice, "Until tomorrow." I returned his
good by with my warm smile that had once belonged to Malcolm.
Grinning he turned and started off towards the stairs. He turned around and gave me one last heart
throbbing smile then began his way down the stairs and out of sight. I clambered through the portrait hole
and dashed up the stairs.
"What's with you?" Padma asked coming out of the bathroom with her pajamas on and a toothbrush
hanging halfway out of her mouth. I sat up and grinned at her,
"He kissed me!" I sighed. Padma smiled and walked back into the bathroom when Parvati came out of
the bathroom with a mask of green goop smeared all over her face,
"Of coarse he did!" She rolled her eyes and giggling at my excitement. Had they seen us behind the
armor?
"How did you know?" I asked curiously. I heard Padma spit out the remains of the toothbrush bubbles
into the sink and she called from the bathroom, "Well he did kiss you in front just about the whole 7th
year! Now everybody knows Malcolm has got his eyes set on the you! You guys make such a cute
couple!"
They were talking about Malcolm. And it was true the whole 7th year now thought that I was together with
Malcolm when who I wanted was Draco. People would expect me to hold hands with Malcolm, sit next to
him in class, to go with him to the winter ball, which was coming up……
This could lead to some problems……
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~______________________~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND THERE IS THE KISS!!! I hope you liked it. I tried to make it very special. And in the following
chappies, stay turned for preparations for the Winter Ball…….
Read and Review!!! PLEASE!!! Remember I luv you all!!!
