Disclaimer: not mine.
Author's Note: i had fun with this chapter, where reality delves into imagination. however, this is my first written kissing scene, and it's not based on expereience, so i hope it's okay. and don't worry about the crappy ending, there'll be one more chapter to finish it off.
Love is a temple
Love is a shrine
Love is pure
And love is blind
Love is a religious sign
I'm gonna leave this love behind.
Love is hot and love is cold
I've been bought and I've been sold
Love is rock and love is roll
I just want someone to hold.
--Eurhythmics
"Has your date abandoned you already, Granger?" came an all-too familiar voice from behind her.
"Malfoy, don't you dare start right now. I just spent the last five minutes defending Slytherins, you in particular, to Ron."
"A Gryffindor would do that for me? How terribly touching."
Hermione turned around to scowl at him but ended up with a somewhat dumbfounded look on her face as she saw his expression.
He was smiling.
Not smirking; not flashing his charm. Just smiling. His pale silver eyes glinted not with their usual arrogance, but pleasure and a slight hint of mischievousness, the kind Ginny so often had. As she stared unwittingly, Hermione thought of how odd it was to read his emotions- it was generally something of an impossibility. Draco Malfoy was perhaps the most guarded person she had ever met, and it peaked her curiosity. Her eyes, seemingly detached from her cautious, practical mind, resumed surveying the enigmatic boy. His hair fell sharply across his face, contributing to his cold, defined beauty ever so much more since he had abandoned the copious amounts of gel. His outfit- a black suit and Slytherin tie- was simple, yet somehow decidedly elegant. Perhaps it was the way he carried himself; the way he stood with an easy, assured confidence. At the same time though, he was so seemingly detached from the comings and goings of the world around him. He was in charge, but at the same time not really there at all. So the question became, where was he? What was going on in his head? What if- No. Hermione shivered as she forced herself to stay away from the question she suddenly- and so desperately- wanted an answer to. Even if Malfoy wasn't truly a prat anymore, he was still the sex god of Slytherin, and she wasn't quite sure she could deal with that. She began analyzing everything, as she was so prone to do. But thoughts flooded her too quickly; she couldn't think, couldn't understand whatever it was that was going on inside of her; it didn't make any sense! Shivering again, she quickly turned away to flee her confusion, when she felt a different sensation on her skin. He had grabbed her wrist, Hermione realized, and she shivered once more. However, this time it was a different feeling, it was warm and made her spine tingle and her flesh be acutely aware of the sensation of her touch. It excited her and frightened her all at once. She couldn't decide what to do, so she didn't do anything at all.
Almost to her dismay, he hurriedly pulled his hand away. "Why leave?" He commented smoothly, then continued on his earlier tirade. "Interesting color scheme for a Gryffindor's dress, Granger. Why, we even match. Pity you aren't a Slytherin, the green really does bring out your eyes."
Her body a jumble of feelings, she searched desperately for something, anything to say. Unable to locate her once rational self, she resorted back to her usual retort. "Sod off, Malfoy."
He laughed slightly, his eyes returning to their customary unfathomable state. "As you wish." Saying nothing more, he turned and she watched him disappear across the dance floor.
Puzzled by Draco's actions, and everything else that was going on inside of her and out, Hermione took a minute to gather herself. She sighed, putting her thoughts aside to be dealt with later, and wondered where Ron was. Unsurprisingly, he was at the refreshments table, talking to Seamus about Quidditch, she surmised from their wild gestures. Resigned, she went outside. She had wanted to dance, but Ron simply did not dance, and she was therefore without a partner. Oh well, it wasn't an uncommon occurrence. At least it wasn't foul outside like at the Halloween Ball; she could go out and enjoy the night air.
(magical scene change)
"Hey, 'Mione." Ginny said softly.
"Hey Ginny." Hermione mumbled quietly. "What are you doing out here?"
"Harry joined in Seamus and Ron's Quidditch discussion, and while I may love the game, I don't love it that much. Honestly, you'd think that they could manage to avoid the subject for one teensy evening, but no-o," she complained. "Boys. What about you, 'Mione? I haven't seen you and Ron together all evening…"
Hermione decided she might as well tell Ginny. "Gin, I just don't know what to do… I mean I love Ron, but it's like he's my brother. And if you haven't noticed, he simply doesn't dance. Nor does he flirt or tease or notice anything I do. I'm not entirely experienced in the area of feminine wiles, but for Merlin's sake, even Malfoy noticed the dress."
"What?! Malfoy?"
"Well, in the usual way that he comments on things, where you can't tell whether he's making some personal joke or complimenting you, but yes, Malfoy commented on the dress. He's actually paid more attention to me that Ron all evening…"
"You were spending time with Malfoy? I know he's hot, but this is kind of odd for you, Herms." Ginny debated.
Hermione took her comment as a cue to explode. "How do you know what's odd for me? Why does everyone think my life centers around textbooks and grades and practicality!?"
Ginny stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
"I'm more than a bookworm, Gin. You see bits and flashes of that sometimes… like at Pavarti's birthday." She giggled.
Ginny grinned- Hermione had surprised everyone, by not only showing up for Pavarti's birthday, but by actually getting slightly drunk as well and playing truth or dare. Or course, it hadn't been Hermione who had poured actual liquor into her butterbeer, but still.
"I know it's odd, but half the reason I hated Malfoy wasn't so much that I despised him… it was that I didn't. He didn't bother me nearly as much as he should have… I actually came pretty close to laughing a few times when he insulted Harry and Ron. I was afraid I might become attracted to him if I didn't throw up a wall."
"I did laugh a few times he insulted Harry and Ron. Silencing charms are your friend."
Hermione wondered a bit about Ginny's comment, trying to decide exactly what she had meant by it. "Anyways, I'm pretty sure he was flirting with me earlier… and it was nice, having someone pay attention to me, to realize that I'm useful for more than help with homework. But it also kind of scared me, Gin. I'm not really sure about myself… about what I might do if… Well let's just say there's a reason I avoid getting drunk when any of the boys are around."
"Hermione… I think you'll find, as you always do, that an answer comes to you when you need it."
The two sat in silence for a little while, admiring the night, until Ginny got up to leave.
(magical scene change)
"So?" Harry questioned his girlfriend.
"What do you mean, so?"
"Come on, Ginny, please?" Ron pestered.
"I am NOT telling you the intimate details of a private conversation between Hermione and I!"
Harry pouted.
"Oh, fine! But it'll probably scare you shitless…" she muttered. "Apparently she's mad at you because you don't pay her any attention, and now she's considering snogging Malfoy." With a flourish, she turned and left. It was so much more fun to leave them stunned and in suspense.
(magical scene change)
Hermione was leaning against the stone railing, not really caring what happened to her dress. She could fix it with a charm. It didn't really matter. Nothing really mattered when it could all be fixed with the wave of a wand. Except for, of course, that nagging problem- she couldn't find love, no matter how hard she searched.
Draco Malfoy took Hermione's lack of attention as an opportunity. She gasped in surprise as she felt the cool, smooth fingers run down her spine. Normally, she would have spun around to see who it was, but she wasn't feeling very typical. Besides, it felt so good… both passionate and gentle… the hands were very experienced. They worked their way up her spine, making her back arch slightly, and then the hands blessed by the gods ran down her arms, caressing her skin. And when she thought she couldn't stand it any longer, the hands turned her around, and lifted her face up into a tender kiss. She kept her eyes closed the entire time, wanting to make it last for as long as possible. Hermione wasn't entirely sure it was real… no one could taste this good… this… perfect. His lips were sweet, with a faint taste of almond. Later, she would decide this was probably from the cookies being served, but she was a bit too preoccupied to notice it then. She wanted to taste more, but the lips wouldn't let her- they left her wanting more. She almost felt parched. She didn't want more- she needed it, desperately. Hermione had no idea someone could leave her so seemingly pitiful. She was glad that her hands had clasped themselves around the boy's neck, pulling her so close she could smell him, and feel every part of his body, pounding against hers. If she pulled away, she didn't think she would be able to stand on her own. It didn't really matter though; Hermione was quite content. Finally, she parted her lashes, and looked up into the face of Draco Malfoy. She thought she ought to be concerned with the fact that she was ardently intertwined with a Slytherin, but she really wasn't. It occurred to her that the Gryffindors might be more than a little annoyed- the boys at least- but she'd deal with them later. Besides, she could hex them in twenty different directions if they gave her a reason, a thought that made her grin.
Harry and Ron decided to check on Hermione at that precise moment. "Hermione?! What are you doing?!" Harry asked frantically.
Ron decided to add in his two bits. "Are you bloody bonkers? That's Malfoy you're sno… you're… bloody hell."
Hermione pulled away from Draco, anger and a small amount of malicious intent giving her the strength to stand. "Ronald Weasley, I can kiss whoever I damn well want to. And you Harry… don't you dare say a word. If you do, I'll curse your arses off, the both of you. And Ron, get used to it. Besides, how do you know all I'm doing is snogging him?" her eyes glinted evilly up at Draco- she now understood how much he enjoyed this.
Draco grinned too- Hermione had such a way with words. "Hermione, love, I think we'd better we going."
"Yes, I do think you're right, Draco. Harry and Ron look a bit peaked." With that, Hermione took Draco's arm and they walked back into the Great Hall together, looking like quite the elegant couple.
Harry and Ron continued to stand there, gaping. This was just too much.
"May I have this dance?" Draco put out his hand.
Prehaps that was what Ginny had meant when she said I'd find an answer, Hermione wondered, saying "I'd love to."
