Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of its' characters, names, or settings.
Chapter 16- Stopping Herself From Feeling
Thanks for the reviews. . .
nay, Stacy, InsanitySquirrel321, Emma Knight, hothunnies16. And. . .
gazy: K, this may seem like a little long, but I have to reply to all of your really great reviews. Thanks a lot gazy, for constantly reviewing my story. Look, forget about that last review you sent me with all of the criticism in it. It's no big deal, cuz it happens. When someone makes a lot of mistakes in their story, ppl start itching to point them out. (I do that too!) Anyways, to answer your questions, Pansy knew, cuz she could see it in his eyes, and she obviously knows Draco very well, since they are going out. About the drama thing. . . don't worry about it, cuz he is going to get a lot of drama in more then one way. And, I also have no idea about the whole fiction press thing, so I'm choosing to just ignore it. Maybe somebody will explain it to us some day. I hope these answered your questions, and gazy. . . I really appreciate all of the reviews you always send me. . . makes my time worthwhile. Hope you're still not upset about what that stacy's mom person said. . . just go along with your story (which by the way, is awesome!). I missed you guys too when I was sick, but in the meantime, I'll try to update as much as I can, now that it's the holidays.
GEmory: Yah. . . I kinda thought so too. I'll have to improve on that, and thanks for the review. A lot of my focus, is making it as realistic as possible, so it's not far-fetched, cuz then readers won't believe what they read.
Shatsui: Thanks, and I'm only going to say that there will eventually be some more fluff as the story goes on.
Chach-A-Lot: Are you sick too! Aw. . . so am I. . . coincidence? I think not! (lol)
Typical-Teen: OMG! Thanks a lot for your review, but I choose to not share my age right now. English isn't my native language, but I practically speak only that. I just have a lot of practice, cuz I write a lot, and the teachers in my school make us write a lot too. To answer your question, Draco and Pansy are still together, but they just realized that something might be going wrong in-between them. Hmm. . . maybe I should've added more detail on that. . .
Sparcle girl: Want you to know that you are helping me out a lot with all of your suggestions, cuz they put more and more newer ideas into my head. Your ideas are not stupid, so keep them coming if you want, and thanks a lot for your review.
It was September the third, and this was already the second day of school. It was a warm, bright, but slightly humid morning, and Hermione Granger had just stepped into the shower, as she got ready for the day ahead of her.
The hot steaming water that washed down on Hermione, felt the same to her as all of the events that occurred last night washing over her now.
As the witch started to lather up tangerine shampoo into her hair, she observed the sunrays that streamed down from a small window built high in the shower wall. The light lit up the washroom, as the rays bounced off the white tiles that were embedded into the floor and the walls of the Head's washroom.
She washed out the heavily scented shampoo from her long brown hair. As Hermione watched the suds being swept away with the water down into the drain, she thought to herself sadly, 'I feel terrible for losing my temper so often yesterday. I honestly don't know what has come over me. Maybe it's too much stress, but I really shouldn't overreact to things and let situations bother me so much.'
By situations, she specifically meant the whole Ron and Harry conflict.
'I'll try harder to stay patient, but I especially feel bad for what I said to Malfoy yesterday. I wonder why my comment bothered him so much. You would think that he would take it as a compliment that he is becoming more and more like his father, even if I did mean it in the rude way. But, I don't even know him, so how can I say that he is becoming more and more like Lucius Malfoy?'
By now, Hermione was finished washing herself up as she turned the metal knobs in the shower, stopping the flow of the water. She wrapped a fluffy blue towel around her as she stepped out onto the tile floor. Standing in front of the fogged up mirror, Hermione wiped out some of the steam, so she could see herself through it. As she squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush, she thought to herself.
'Now that I think about it, how can Draco possibly become more and more like his father if he has changed completely? He isn't the same, because it kind of seems like he's respecting people more. I haven't heard him call anyone a mudblood once this year, and he hasn't made any snide remarks about me yet, which is all very strange. If I didn't know better, it really does seem like he's becoming less and less like his selfish father, and more and more a better person.'
Rinsing out her mouth, she thought in amazement, 'I think I like him so much better now. I kind of think he's the nicest Slytherin I know of, and that's actually saying something, since we've been enemies for like 5 years now. I don't know if I can handle these changes of me not hating him anymore.'
Hermione washed her face and dried it up with another towel that was hung up in a nearby hook. She combed out her hair and blow-dried it, when she suddenly realized something.
'I think that his changes are actually making me like him as a person. I mean, every time I see him, he gives me some kind of a smile, and he no longer disrespects me, Respect was the only thing I had always asked from him in the past 5 years, and now he's finally giving it to me, though somewhat strangely. I can't just continue hating him now. I'll have to also show him respect.'
By now, Hermione had finished with all of her morning routines. Now all she had to do was to change and head out for the Great Hall to eat breakfast. As she headed toward the door of the washroom, she wondered out loud, "I wonder how he's going to react towards me today."
As if on cue, Draco Malfoy was standing right outside the bathroom when Hermione opened up the door. Although it was quite early in the morning, he looked wide-awake as he stood there wearing a pair of black boxer shorts and a white t-shirt. At the sight of Draco, she slightly blushed, toning her skin to a light pink. Draco's face however, looked calm and unreadable, but his wild captivating gray eyes observed the towel-covered Hermione in mild surprise.
Hermione was now feeling very self-conscious. As she slipped by him, she spoke softly, "Hi. . . the bathroom's now free. Sorry I took so long."
"No problem," he replied calmly, as he looked straight at her, before walking in and closing the door.
A normal comment, and a normal reply. . . but. . . Hermione was not feeling at all normal.
She could feel her legs shaking like mad as she made her way towards her bedroom, and closed the door behind her. Leaning herself back against the door, she closed her eyes, and a sigh escaped her lips.
Hermione felt totally flushed, confused and bewildered. Her heart was beating rapidly, and her skin was still pink. Her head felt giddy, and for some reason she felt slightly breathless.
'Oh my God!' she thought in utter confusion. 'What the hell is going on with me! It's only Draco, and so he's seen me in just a towel. . . big deal.'
But, she knew herself that it wasn't only JUST Draco, and she knew it WAS a big deal.
She finally understood why she was trembling. It was because it was the first time she had ever looked directly into his eyes. Hermione knew now that if she looked any deeper, she would get completely lost.
'Wow,' she thought, completely shocking herself. 'His eyes could say a thousand words. He looks so nice today, even without his robes and just normal clothes on.'
After taking some deep breathes and regaining herself, Hermione walked away from the door, and slipped into her school robes. After applying some light make-up and grabbing her backpack, she shook her head before walking out of her bedroom.
'Hermione, do NOT think like that about Draco Malfoy,' she told herself with all of her inner strength. She did not want to tell herself this next, but she knew she had to, for is she didn't, it would destroy her. 'You are allowed to, but you are not going to, for I won't let you. You are going through already too much, and now all you need is more confusion added. I will NOT let you. . . ever. . . '
