Oh my god I'm sooo sorry it took so long for me to update! I should have started typing this up as soon as I finished the other one… but I was really busy with school and my job (yes I'm only 13) and I had to dissect pigs eyeballs… I know that doesn't really relate to anything but still… thanks to Kaichai, I'm glad I turned your opinion around on the whole Hermione/Draco thing, and I think I'm going to make this story about how they are in school, and they defeat Voldemort (I think everyone saw that coming) and then a little after maybe when Draco and Hermione's relationship gets concluded. Or maybe it gets concluded before… I'm not sure yet. PaRTy-GiRl089 I'd like to thank you for your demanding review… it love to get reviews! Gentileschi thanks for your review! And yes, Harry is okay! He's just feeling a little depressed... But that will be all solved up in later chapters… (Oops have I said too much?) Princessdza I would like to thank you for your wonderful review as well. And last but certainly not least, thanks to MIDNIGHT-PIXIE! Your reviews are always looked upon with such favor (well so is everyone else's) a lot of people (like friends and stuff) have said that this chapter is really good! See now, I have actually dived into the story too! Everyone wants to be Hermione, Kara, but there's nothing no one can do about it sigh. Lol well those are my shout outs everybody, so read them and feel happy… and try to enjoy my next chapter!
Hardships
Chapter 5
The sun was beautiful the way it descended across the sky at dusk. At first it started out bright, and then it went less and less luminous, casting the world into shadow. The sky then turns colorful; the pinks and purples, oranges and yellows painting the sky, until there is no sun and everything goes into sleep.
Hermione sat on the window seat in her room staring out at the awesome view of the sunset. She realized that the setting sun was just liked her hatred for Draco Malfoy; at first it burned with such a hot intensity, and then it ebbed away, leaving a whole new personality beneath it. And suddenly, there was no more hatred, only a great attraction.
And then the stars come out, showing the secrets of the night; the secrets of Draco, the things that resided in him that even Hermione never thought could have possibly been there. It scared and amazed her just how much she could actually like someone. And trust her, she liked Draco a lot. Alone with her thoughts, Hermione tried to figure out where things might head between them. Would they still have this "attraction" between them at Hogwarts? Or would he shun her and return to his stupid slytherin friends? She hoped it was the former. Harry seemed to be okay with the idea; Ron however was not. That was going to be a problem.
How could she be best friends with someone who loved her – in what was defiantly NOT a platonic way? It was near impossible. Hermione had a feeling that in the future, Ron was NOT going to let things drop. She bet all her money that Ron would come up to either her or Draco and let his feelings fly. That's the way it was with Ron. He was full of emotion that seemed to always be bubbling over his cauldron.
Deciding that it would just be best to try to let things lay the same way they fell from the tree – at least for now – Hermione padded her way to her bath room to take a long hot bath with lots of bubbles to relax the stress that had diagnosed her all afternoon. It was then that 2 owls flew through the window.
Hermione found that the first one was delivered from Harry via Hedwig. Quickly unfolding the note tied around leg, she read the note:
Hermione,
So exactly what is with you and Draco? Ron has been fuming all afternoon about how the two of you were right cozy. I know you already said that you were kind of trying things out but Ron was really hurt… and with Draco? The biggest prat in the world? Do you really believe his story? I mean… come on Hermione! He called you a mudblood every time he saw you at Hogwarts. Are you really going to forgive him? Send your reply back with Hedwig.
Harry.
Hermione read and reread the note several times until she finally sat down at her cherry mahogany writing desk and wrote back a lengthy reply:
Harry,
Me and Draco are getting along really well because he HAS changed. I can see it in his eyes, and the way he acts. I mean even if he were playing around with me, what would he get out of it? And how can you blame me for Ron's behavior? Are you honestly going to tell me that I have to love my best friend back the exact same way that he loves me? It's just not fair! I didn't do anything to make him fall in love with me did I? Up until a few hours ago I thought he just loved me platonically! AS A FRIEND! I have forgiven Draco one hundred percent. If I hadn't… do you really think that I would have kissed him! Just because you don't have anyone special in your life doesn't mean that I can't have someone special in my life Harry Potter! You can tell Ron that when he cools down his temper he can talk to me, and if he ever tries to physical make me follow him again there will be consequences!
Love, Hermione.
There that ought to do it, Hermione thought as finished her letter. Now that her feelings were out, there was no point trying to cover them back up. She turned to the next owl which Hermione knew would be her new school list. But opening it, Hermione got the second biggest shock of her life; the first being today's events. She scanned the parchment a second and third time just to make sure that she was reading it properly… I was made the Head Girl! Oh mom's going to flip! A shiny silver page fell out of the envelope. Hermione picked it up and glared at it… there was the large initials HG stamped across it in bold letters. She suspected it stood for Head Girl and not Hermione Granger.
Just then, much to her surprise, another bird flew in the open window. This one wasn't an owl, but what appeared to be a very well trained Falcon. It rested on the sill, and held out its leg. Hermione untied the note attached there. It was from Draco; Come meet me at the meadow at 12:00 sharp tonight. Since our picnic was ruined earlier… I thought we could have another one. Hermione smiled and checked her watch; 11:30 pm. Guess she wasn't having that hot bath after all.
Hermione descended the marble staircase clad in jeans, and a large hunter green sweater. But to her horror, she encountered her mother on the way down.
"Oh Hermione dear where are you going this late at night?" Her mom asked.
"Oh, just out for a walk mom," Her cheeks started to pinken.
"Hermione you stay out of trouble with that boy you hear?" her mother said with a teasing yet motherly tone, and then she walked away with her cleaning box. Hermione was left dazed. She stood there for 10 minutes just trying to figure out how her mother could POSSIBLY know that she was going to see him...? But then what teenage daughter doesn't sneak out of the house to go see her boyfriend?
Boyfriend… that word did strange things to her stomach.
Draco was already waiting for her on top of the hill, the tree's graceful limbs and Draco's fleece blankets offering shelter from the cold wind and frosty air.
"Hey HerMYone," Draco greeted with a teasing grin.
"Hey Ferret," Hermione shot back, just seconds from bubbling over with laughter- which would seem rather odd since there really wasn't anything that funny. That was just the effect Draco had on her; he made her feel giddy.
Draco patted a spot on the blanket next to himself, so Hermione sat down beside him. He wrapped a blanket around her, and then went to light a fire. It took him all of 5 seconds, and then he was back in the blankets with her; he ended up wrapping another blanket around them both. Hermione felt as snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug. Then he placed his strong arm over her shoulder and pulled her close into his chest. I could sit here forever.
They just sat and talked for a long while until finally Draco decided it was time to bring out the goods. Sitting up and grabbing the bag he brought with him, he pulled out canvases, paintbrushes, acrylic paints, sketching pencils, and a mirror.
"Hey, do you think that you could draw a picture of yourself?" Draco asked casually, so as not to give away the fact that he wanted a picture of her.
"Well, it depends… do you want me to draw it now?" She asked, eyeing the art utensils.
"Hmm… well the stuff is all here… and I have a mirror; you want to give it a try?"
"I suppose… but you have to hold the mirror up." And Draco did as she asked, tilting the mirror so as to let the fire and the tree in the background.
She first sketched a rough picture of herself; and then she redid another one only with paints. She swirled red and orange for the fire, black, grey, and a deep shade of green for the tree. Half of Hermione's face was shrouded in darkness, the other half in light; so orange beams of light bounced of half her face giving her a mysterious look. The picture was really starting to take shape, Hermione thought, surprised at how well she was doing considering she had to keep studying her reflection every 10 seconds or so. She painted her curly hair that was blowing gently in the wind, her full, bright pink lips that just demanded attention, and her whiskey eyes. She even drew the cinnamon flecks. Her pert nose and high cheekbones set off the rest of the picture, making it absolutely gorgeous. It's the best picture I've ever drawn.
The color and the artistic ability that the picture showed stunned and amazed Draco beyond repair. The painting was exactly like Hermione; it was as though he had taken a picture with a camera. He wondered why she never chose to tell anyone of her surreal talent.
"Hermione, that picture is amazing. You are really talented." Draco didn't mention that he also thought she was beautiful, and the picture showed that. He wondered why he had never noticed just how special she really was. But then again, his father had literally forced Draco to ignore her.
"Do you really think it's that good? I mean I personally think it's the best I've ever done… I can't believe I actually painted that!" Hermione exclaimed.
Draco studied the picture once more. Hermione had even managed to catch the firelight dancing in her eyes, and it seemed almost as if her hair was actually moving. "Oh, it's better than good; trust me." His mother had never in her entire life painted anything that even came close to the quality in Hermione's work of art. Come to think of it, the picture she had drawn of him before was nothing compared to this. He had never seen anything like it. It picture was Hermione in every sense of the word. Strong colors, a delicate frame, darkness and light, amazing talent, phenomenal beauty.
"Can I keep the picture Hermione?" Draco asked; seriousness could even begin to describe the tone of his voice. It was almost as though he was pleading.
"I guess… if you take really good care of it…" Hermione said warily. She was reluctant to let it go. But if Draco wanted it… well lets just say she was more than happy to give it to him.
Draco tentatively took the painting out of Hermione's sweater clad arms, and placed it carefully into his burlap bag. As soon as he got home, he would frame it with a golden frame, and plaster it onto the wall of his bedroom; that way he could look at Hermione whenever he wanted. He turned to find that Hermione had another canvas ready in her hand, pencil poised.
"Now I get to draw one of you." She sketched out his muscular features as he sat on the fleece blankets. She decided she would paint this one. She mixed and dipped the paints with her paintbrush; Draco's platinum blonde hair that shimmered in the bright firelight, his muscular neck and torso, his stormy silver grey eyes that reminded her of molten metal, and finally his expression. It was one of utter amazement and possession, and it confused Hermione.
"What's with that look?" Hermione had to repeat herself four or five times as he was deep in thought. He shook his head as he snapped back to the real world, and Hermione groaned. "You weren't supposed to move your head!"
"Sorry…" and he tried to move his head back to the same position. It was hard staying in the same spot! "Are you almost done?"
"Give me five minutes to make touchups."
Draco sighed. He had been thinking about Hogwarts. He had to talk to Hermione about that. He wanted them to keep their relationship out in the open in stead of hiding it. Even if Gryffindor and Slytherin didn't get alone at all, that didn't mean that he and Hermione had to push their growing attraction back into the closet. He actually no longer wanted to be in Slytherin, but there was obviously nothing he could do. He studied Hermione intently, as if to try to see her point of view on the whole situation. What Draco felt for Hermione was more than a simple attraction, and it went far beyond a crush.
He wanted... What he wanted scared him beyond control. He didn't know how he could have been around her for 6 years and not realize it. She was the most important thing in his life, and they had only been on this level of their relationship for 3 days.
Hermione drew with as much of her talent as she could. This picture rivaled the one she had drawn of herself. She had managed to capture the studious look on his face, the amazement, the wonder, and the confusion. As soon she got home, she was framing this piece of artwork and hanging it on her wall. And then, she decided, she was going to bring it with her to Hogwarts. Just the mention of the school made her face fall. Would they still be together like this at Hogwarts? She wanted their relationship to be known to other people. She had never felt this way about anyone else before; not even Victor Krum. She felt proud about this relationship; if it ever dissolved, Hermione didn't know what she would. Even the thought brought tears to her eyes. And Draco noticed.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" he was so caring. A tear slipped down Hermione's cheek, and Draco knew for sure that all wasn't right in her world. He grabbed the pallet and canvas out of her lap, barely acknowledging the painting that she herself had created. He tugged Hermione onto his lap and held her close to his strong chest; she felt so protected and secure in his arms. "Baby, tell me what's wrong," Draco soothed, and gently tilted her face up to look into her eyes. What he saw there nearly ripped his heart out; her eyes held pain and loss, and something else; something called longing. "What's wrong?" he repeated in a whisper.
Hermione stared into his questioning eyes. She took a deep breath and she began; "I don't exactly know what this is between us… but it scares me and I don't know what to do." She paused. "I really want this… thing between us to grow stronger, but at Hogwarts… you'd still be a Slytherin and I'm still a Gryffindor. And the house rivalry… and I don't know where that's going to put us… I mean… are we even going to be together like this? Or this is something that just happens for a week and then we forget about it… because I know that I will never be able to forget it." Another tear escaped her sad eyes. Draco looked at a loss for words.
Finally he said, "I don't want to end this either… at Hogwarts I want to be together like this with you… and I don't care what anyone says; we'll put up with it no matter what. And we have each other if thinks get bad don't we? I don't want to lose you," he added in a whisper so quiet Hermione could barely make out his words. She smiled a little, and Draco knew he had said the right thing. He gathered her close, and they sat there for what seemed like hours. He was about to pull away – reluctantly I might add – when he realized that Hermione had fallen asleep. His mouth quirked up on one side. She looked so cute, eyes closed, lashes resting about her smooth skin. Her lips seemed to be in a pout, and her curls mussed up all around her and Draco's shoulders. Not wanting to wake her, he set her gently on the blankets, and he lay down beside her. He flung his arm around her waist and snuggled into her back, setting her head under his chin. Draco lay there in silence for a long while just watching her sleep until he to, lay in slumber.
