Title: Dance Fever and Some Bad Dreams
Disclaimer: Not mine (Sorry Draco)
Muse's Note: YAYYYYYYYY! Believe me I'm JUST as happy for an update as you guys–I've been bugging her for weeks! lol oh, I edited this at 1 in the morning, so it might not be perfect, but I wanted all you faithful read and reviewers to get it as soon as possible. ENJOY! 3 Liz
Chapter 19: Protect Her
I woke up the next morning to see that Draco was not in bed, slightly to my disappointment. Instead, I heard running water coming through the bathroom door. I sighed and let my head fall back down on his soft pillows.
Why was it, I always got the best sleep when I was with him? Was it the warmth, the bed, maybe it was the sense of security and protection I had when I was with him? I sighed into his pillow and thought that perhaps it was the smell. I breathed into the pillow and laughed at my own foolishness.I pondered my question until I heard the knob on the bathroom door open.
I watched him step out of the bathroom with his black t-shirt and pants already on and slightly damp from the moisture in the bathroom. But the thing I noticed with worry striking my heart like a hammer, were the familiar dark circles under his eyes.
When he saw me he made his best attempt at a nonchalant smile. I sat up and started biting my lip in worry. One he saw my nervous lip chewing action he sighed and walked over to me.
He stood towering me as I sat on the edge of the bed looking up at him.
"What's wrong, pet?" He asked with his arms crossed as if he hadn't looked in the mirror at all this morning.
I stood up raised my right hand so I brushed my thumb across the circle under his left eye. It was then that I could have sworn that his eyes let the smallest bit of worry escape. But no sooner that it had appeared, it was gone to be replaced with a grin and a shrug,
"We don't all have 'all-through-the-night' sleeps like you, darling."
Still, I stood there for a moment longer staring up at him,
"Are you sure nothing happened last night to keep you up?" He nodded and smiled,
"Nothing at all." He responded before turning away all too soon and heading over to the door, "I think we should go now before everybody starts waking up."
Giving up the small bickering session, I grabbed my bundle of clothes and followed Draco out the door.
All the while we walked down to the Great Hall I felt cut off from him. There was no doubt that he was keeping something from me. The simple yet obvious signs screamed 'I'm hiding something!"
As we got closer to the Great Hall Draco slowed and looked ahead with a look I had never seen on his face. His eyes were almost blank in a wide stare and the ends of his lips were turned down ever so slightly.
Then it hit me like someone threw a pile of bricks on my stomach.
It was fear.
I turned to face the Great Hall, wondering what he could possibly be afraid of. I heard him moving away as he muttered,
"I forgot something in my room...so I'll see you...later..." I snapped my head to look at him backing away with his eyes still glued to the Great Hall doors. I hated not knowing things, especially when they were about people I really cared about.
Out of a mixture of frustration, worry, and desperation to know the truth, I reached out my hands, grabbed his robes and pulled him down to me and allowed my lips to have another taste of what I always craved.
He was stiff at first but slowly began to break down as he raised a hand to my cheek and gently stroked it according to the slow rhythm of the kiss.
But there was something there that wasn't there before. His fingertips were barely touching my skin, as if he thought I would break from the pressure. This new touch took me by surprise and I allowed my eyes to slightly rise while we kissed, to see his eyes closed rather tightly and his brows slanted as if he were in pain.
My confusion deepened as I closed my eyes again and slowly pulled away. Once my lips were apart from his I stared up at him as he cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, trying to clear his mind from whatever was bothering him.
I didn't buy it,
"Draco, tell me what's wrong." Draco frowned and shrugged,
"Nothing." He muttered bluntly, "I just need to go back and get that thing in my room. I'll see you later." He began to turn away once again before I grabbed his hand and stopped him. He turned his head to me with a serious face. I knew then that I wasn't going to be able to get it out of him at this point but soon...
I brought the palm of his large hand to my cheek and smiled at him. His stern expression softened into a slight smile. I brushed my lips to his palm and murmured,
"Draco...when something is hurting you it's hurting me. Please...please tell me what you're so afraid of."
He said nothing. Instead his eyes were fixed on my hand holding his. All at once he blinked to stared at me blankly and he muttered,
"That, love, is precisely why I don't want to tell you."
He took my hand and kissed it before turning around and striding back to the Slytherin Common room.
This is completely unfair! Why would he need to keep something from me? What was he hiding? Why was he so hesitate to come to the Great Hall? Was it something I did? What is he so afraid of?
More and more questions flooded my head as I slipped into the Great Hall and took my seat between Ron and Harry. I took no notice of the food in front of me but zoned out looking up at the ceiling which showed the snow falling gracefully.
"Hello, Herms." Said Ron through his pancakes, which were packed in his mouth. I nodded in return and glared at my golden plate.
"Whoa, Harry! We have just been witnesses to the first time Hermione did not complain about open mouth chewing!" When Ron got no cheers from Harry, he threw a bread roll at Harry's head.
Ron successfully hit his target but did not get the reaction he wished for. Instead, Harry recoiled with,
"Go stuff yourself, Ron!"
"Damn, Harry, I knew Hermione has that PMS stuff, but you?" Harry rolled his eyes and went back to shoveling the food around his plate.
A few minutes past and I couldn't help but feel a pair of eyes fixed on me. I looked up in the direction of the Slytherin table but saw that Draco still hadn't come. I stared back down at my plate and mentally shook myself.
He's probably getting fed up with me not really wanting to go public just yet. But there would be so many new complications if we were to let the school know. Harry would be more than furious. And Ron...oh Ron would be very likely to attempt to kill Draco.
I felt the eyes on me again and I immediately glanced up at the Slytherin table.
"Who you staring at, Herm?" asked Harry in a low voice almost right in my ear.
I jerked back in my seat and stared at Harry with what I hope wasn't a face of guilt,
"Oh nothing, Harry. I was just zoning out. I didn't get much sleep last night." I was surprised at how easily lies were sprouting from my lips. But somehow I was also angered by it.
Harry blinked and nodded. Every second that passed by I got even more uncomfortable under his gaze. I was about to say that I needed to go to the library to get a book when Dumbledore stood up and raised his hands for silence.
"Good morning, all. I beg pardon to you all for interrupting this fine meal but I have just a few announcements to make. First, today is the day that the schools will be arriving-"
At this the Great Hall burst into excited whispers and turning heads. Dumbledore waited patiently while silence was restored, "...and I ask you to behave most accordingly while they are with us. Make sure to help guide them to their classes with you for they will be expected to attend classes for the next week with us. You may also see some of the other schools teachers teaching some of your classes. And I hope we are all excited for the ball tomorrow night!"
Another explosion of thrilled whispers took hold of the Great Hall. While the hushed chatter flowed on, a teacher slipped through the Great Hall doors and walked swiftly up to Dumbledore and spoke in a low quiet voice. Dumbledore nodded his thanks to the teacher and proceeded with his announcements.
"I have just been informed that we will not have to wait out in the cold since, our visitors are already here, it seems."
When I heard his words I felt my heart skip a beat, my throat run dry, and my stomach do a somersault. My eyes darted to the giant doors of the Great Hall which began to open. I began to feel more then light headed when the Durmstrang and Beauxbaton students began to fill in the Great Hall and find seats. Then at the end of the strong flow the teachers began to stride in and up to the head table.
I felt myself shaking in my seat as I stared at the door bracing myself for the blow of Krum walking through. And finally I saw the familiar rugged face and dark hair of Viktor.
He had grown in height, there was no doubt. His nose was still slightly crooked but it was always a feature that somehow made him seem manlier. His shoulders were now held back which improved his clumsy walking. Those eyes lined with long dark eyelashes that had captured me were still just as breathtaking as they had been. As I studied him, my mind was swimming in old memories and the emotions that came with them. I swallowed hard, attempting to regain the wetness in my mouth.
It was when he was only a few feet from pacing my place at the table that he caught my eyes with his, smiled lightly, and nodded all in a matter of seconds before turning his focus back on the head table with the other teachers.
I felt a hand on my back rubbing my shoulders, "Its ok, Herm." I heard Ron whisper. I felt my back stiffen under his fingers. It wasn't ok.
I made a motion to get up when I felt another hand on my arm pulling me down. I glared at Harry's hand and then at his face, which wasn't even staring at me. Instead his eyes were directed to the Slytherin table where Draco had slipped in without my knowing...and he was staring straight at Harry's hand on my arm.
My eyes shot back to Harry with no trace of anger but with panic and fear. This time Harry looked dead into my eyes,
"Come with me." He muttered dropping his hand and rising from the table. He didn't even need to check that I was following him. He knew, as I did, that he had me cornered at that moment.
I dared not look anywhere near Draco in fear that Harry might see and I'd dig myself into an ever deeper hole. Nothing seemed to be going right today.
I found myself following Harry into an abandoned classroom. Once we were both completely inside, Harry turned and locked the door,
"What's wrong, Harry?" I asked trying to hide the truth, "Really, Harry, I think we should go back to the-" but my words fell short when Harry spun around with a face of fury I had never seen.
"What the hell are you thinking, Hermione?" he asked in an all too calm voice. When I didn't answer he carried on with his disbelief, "I mean, are you trying to prove something?" He began to pace back and forth across the door, "Is this to get back at Riley?" He looked up at me wanting an answer.
I didn't give him one.
"Damn it, Hermione!" he shouted, "Tell me why! What the hell are you doing!" He crossed from the door over to me and grabbed me by my shoulders, "Why Malfoy? Why that little fuck!" he shouted into my face. I felt my throat tighten as I felt the corners of my eyes burn with trying to hold back tears.
Harry's grip lessened and I sensed his eyes on me, watching me cry. He tried again with a much softer voice, practically a whisper, "Please, Hermione, just tell me why. Explain why." At this I glared at him and yanked away from his hands to back up against a desk.
"Why should I?" I choked holding onto the desk behind me for support, "Why do I need to explain my reason for being with him!" Harry seemed to have regained his fury and stepped closer to me.
"Because, Hermione, he's..." Harry's eyes searched the ceiling as though his thoughts were stuck up there, "He's a Muggle hater, Pureblood, Slytherin no less! He doesn't have the compassion to care for anyone but himself!"
I cringed at Harry's foul words but knew that they were not true. Draco had shown me more compassion then I thought was in a man. I shook my head at Harry's words and wiped away my cold tears.
"There's more to him than you think, Harry." I demanded in a firm voice, "He cares for me like no one else does."
Harry blinked and seemed to start calming down,
"He's not hurting you, is he?" He asked
"No, never." I answered knowing that Harry cared for me as a friend and only wanted what was best,
"Good..." Harry reached out and held my head up with his finger under my chin and stared me straight in the eyes, "As much as I hate the bastard, I can see that you care for him the same way I care for Cho. And I know that if anyone ever took her away from me...I...I don't know what I would do..." Harry drifted off for a moment. He then returned with, "...But if he hurts you, Hermione, in the slightest way, I am going to disregard everything you told me and I will give him the beating of his life."
I laughed at this, so overcome with relief that he was giving Draco a chance. Harry pulled me into a tight hug and warned in my ear, "I won't tell anyone but you better do your best not to let Ron find out...He's a bit more hot headed than I am."
I let him go and nodded, "Now go on, I thought I saw the little prick waiting for you by the stairs." Harry muttered. I rolled my eyes at Harry's reference of Draco. But then again I couldn't expect Harry to change all his views on Draco.
I was about to open the door when I turned around and asked Harry, "How did you find out?" Harry looked up at me with a grin,
"I just kept seeing you two staring at each other from across rooms. Like in the Great Hall, Dance class, Potions...you know the list goes on. You guys should really try to do something about that."
I smiled, "So you never saw us...you know...kissing or-" Harry wrinkled up his nose,
"Ugh, Hermione, no! And I'm still getting used to the fact that you guys actually look at each other. Gross, Herm!"
I rolled my eyes and grinned at Harry. I opened the door a crack before I heard Harry ask,
"Does he love you?" I looked over my shoulder and thought for moment. I nodded,
"Yes." Harry smiled slightly. I felt something warm fall over me before I waved bye to Harry and walked out the door.
It was when I was walking up the stairs to my room that I felt a hand grab mine and pull me into a dark corridor,
"Are you ok?" I heard a familiar voice murmur in my ear while gently brushing his hands against my cheek, seemingly checking for anything that Harry may have inflicted on me.
"I should be asking you the same question." I murmured surprised to see him again so soon. He shook his head and gently pulled me closer to him;
"Does he know?" Draco asked while touching my hair. I nodded. His neck stiffened when he heard my answer and I felt him about to back away. I stepped closer and looked up at him in his stormy grey eyes,
"He understands." Even in the shadows I saw the outline of a surprised look on Draco's face, "It took convincing. But Harry cares about me and trusts me."
"Maybe he's not such a pecker after all." Draco teased softly. I grinned and rolled my eyes at him. But my grin weakened when I remembered him keeping his secret from me. I began to back up when his hands held me from going.
I frowned up at him,
"Then tell me Draco. " I stood my ground waiting for him to tell me whatever it was that he was hiding.
He shook his head.
"No." he responded just as firmly. I frown turned into a glare as I slipped out of his hands and crossed my arms,
"So you are hiding something from me."
"Don't be like that, pet." He retaliated.
"But you are, right?"
"That's not fair, Herm." He grumbled,
"Answer the question, Malfoy." I watched in guilt as he flinched from my past name for him.
"Yes there is." He mumbled.
I stood there beginning to realize why he wasn't telling me,
"Right then, well once you realize that I don't need protecting, I'll listen."
I tried to make eye contact with him but he seemed to want to look anywhere than at me.
What had I expected? Draco had always been stubborn. I was about to turn around when he caught my arm and directed me back to him, he leaned down so that his lips were nearly on mine and he murmured,
"Hermione, I... This is my problem. You've already done too much for me."
I knew he was trying to give me an explanation, but for some reason right then, I didn't want to listen
"See you at Potions." I whispered. I chewed my lip before turning and heading to the common room to get my books, feeling my day slowly sliding down the drain
Hopefully Draco would realize that there is nothing that he needs to protect me from...
First of all...I AM SOOO SORRY for not posting in FOREVER. Isn't school a bitch? Alright and if anyone didn't understand it, the person who was in the library was not Harry so you guys still don't know who it is. Teehehehehehee. Anywho, im gonna hop on the next chappy right now! Please review! Lots of love! Genski
