Disclaimer: Kelly Clarkson...well the name belongs to her. Can't Help Falling in Love belongs to Elvis Presley. Breaking the Habit belongs to Linkin Park. Lean on Me belongs to Bill Withers.
A/N: Wow! I have never written such a long chapter! Well I hope you love it as much as I do!
"TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs as she flew across the ice, her voice echoing around the dome.
PAUSE
Lets back up for a second. Every summer since before Hermione could remember she had always gone to America, New York to be exact, to visit her favorite cousin in the whole wide world: Tom. He was a boy, muggle obviously, with brown hair that he had finally changed from that old mushroom cut to spiky hair. Tom after being very short when he was younger had grown to a height of 6 feet, 5 inches in American measurement. Anyway, it was the last day of Hermione's visit and Tom wanted to do something different than going in the pool, so they decided to go ice skating. You're probably thinking, what's so special about ice skating? Well, before Hermione went to Hogwarts she could come to New York in the winter too and she had always loved when they had gone ice skating in Central Park. Tom wanted to give Hermione a blast from the past before each went through their last year of school (Tom: High School 18 Hermione: Hogwarts 17). Well it wasn't Central Park because it was Summer, but it was close enough.
Tom was an ice hockey player and Hermione was really good, but was always a little rusty (it had been what…lets just say a long time). He decided she was going too slow, playfully grabbed her waist, and began to push her with him holding her of course. Ah! Here we are!
PLAY
After flying halfway around the ice Hermione fell to the ground out of Tom's grasp on purpose. She hit the ice hard and when Tom noticed what had happened he glided back to her.
"You okay, Hermione?" questioned Tom.
"No!" Hermione sobbed.
"Here, ya need a hand," laughed Tom as he reached down to pull her up, but as soon as she took his hand she pulled him down.
"Who's laughing now?" giggled Hermione.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the mudblood," sneered a cold all-too-familiar voice.
Hermione turned around to see, "MALFOY! Why the bloody hell is a bastard like you here?"
"Bastard?" questioned Tom not used to Hermione using her English slang.
"And who are you?" inquired Malfoy.
"I…" started Tom
"That's none of your business and you still haven't answered my question!" snapped Hermione.
"I'll answer your question if you answer mine. And watch that tone Granger," replied Malfoy smoothly.
At the last comment Tom began to stand up staring at Malfoy fists clenched, but Hermione held him back. She mouthed, "Wait, I'll take care of this."
"This is my cousin," muttered Hermione.
"About time. Well not that it's any of your business, but I come here to think. You know get away from my father, etcetera," replied Malfoy.
"But why would you want to get away from your wonderful Death Eater of a father and your Malfoy Mansion?" retorted Hermione.
"Well I don't want to follow in the footsteps of the old bloke, yet don't really have a choice now do I," told Malfoy.
H: I'm having a civil conversation with Malfoy! And he doesn't want to be a Death Eater! Could this get any stranger?
D: Why am I telling Granger all this? She sure has shaped up over the summer. Look at those curves and her…
"Malfoy can you stop gawking at me already!" scolded Hermione.
"Why would I stare at a filthy mudblood like you?" responded Malfoy
Hermione slowly got up, took off her right glove, and…
WACK!
Slapped Malfoy right across his right cheek.
Rubbing his cheek gingerly he inquired, voice cracking, "What was that for!"
"For being your cold-hearted, snobbish, pure-blooded self!" shouted Hermione as her and Tom skated away in a cloud of ice.
As Hermione skated away she heard none other than: Pansy Parkinson.
"Drakey! Did the mean ole mudblood hurt you?" cooed Pansy.
"I'm fine, Parkinson and how many times have I told you not to call me Drakey!" shouted Malfoy.
"Why are you wearing those muggle skates anyway? You could of skated away really, really fast and got ice all over them. We can buy you some magical skates now if you want!" added Pansy.
"You know what would be great, Parkinson? If you'd just fuck off! And the whole dating thing we were doing is over," hissed Malfoy.
"About time," Hermione said to herself.
"About time, what?" questioned Tom.
"Oh, nothing," answered Hermione.
Memories consume
Like opening the wound
I'm picking me apart again
You all assume
I'm safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again
H: Ah, Linkin Park, Tom's favorite.
"I don't want to be the one. The battles always choose. 'Cause inside I realize. That I'm the one confused," sang Hermione with her beautiful voice.
"I don't know what's worth fighting for or why I have to scream. I don't know why I instigate and say what I don't mean. I don't know how I got this way. I know it's not alright, so I'm breaking the habit. Tonight," Tom sang the chorus.
They skated and hummed to the wrest of the song.
Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again
I hurt much more
Than anytime before
I had no options left again
I'll paint it on the walls
'Cause I'm the one at fault
I'll never fight again
And this is how it ends
I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
But now I have some clarity
To show you what I mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So I'm breaking the habit
Breaking the Habit
Tonight
The next song came on, a much smoother, slow one.
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
"Couples only! All others get off the ice!" yelled a Rink Guard.
As Hermione turned towards the exit Tom stopped her, "Couple means two and plus this song has a storge feel to it not eros."
"Greek, I'm impressed. Lets see familial love not romantic. Your right! Let's skate!" agreed Hermione.
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
At the end all the people without a partner came back on the ice. When suddenly over the loud speaker a voice boomed, "We are so glad to have Kelly Clarkson in are midst! All skaters are going to be in Miss Clarkson's new video! Her choreographer is going to put you into pairs and tell you what to do."
"Tom, did you know about this?" asked Hermione.
"Maybe…" Tom replied teasingly.
"What did you do?", Hermione asked, yet another question. She could tell he was up to something by his sly tone of voice.
"Let's keep it a surprise shall we…" stated Tom.
"Do you know what partner I'm getting?" inquired Hermione.
"Nope," chirped Tom.
"Then what is it? Tell me!" begged Hermione.
"Nope," Tom repeated.
"Ah, let us see…Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger," beckoned what Hermione assumed was the choreographer reading from a list, "It's so wonderful to have two professional figure skaters from England for the video! Thank you so much for applying!"
"TOM!"
"PARKINSON!" yelled Hermione and Malfoy simultaneously. Both raced over to the name they had yelled.
"Well, Drakey…you see…I applied for the other skater, but I guess the filthy mudblood took my spot! And please don't get mad. I told you to wear magical skates and it's not my fault!" sobbed the pug-faced girl.
"First of all, since when do I need magically enhanced skates! Second why did you stalk me from the manor to New York! AND STOP CALLING ME DRAKEY!" Malfoy said yelling the last part.
Calming down Malfoy muttered, "Okay I'll do it, but only to prove to you I can skate without any help."
"'Mione, you're such a good skater and…well when I go to college who knows how often we'll see each other. So what I'm trying to say is it's sort of a…goodbye present," Tom finished lamely.
"Don't use that puppy dog face!" Hermione playfully cried as Tom looked at her with his big brown eyes.
"Okay I'll do it, Tom," Hermione laughed, "You know you can be so persuasive at times!"
"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy I don't know that many skating terms, so bare with me. But I want you to do a double axel, followed by the spinney thing you do while trying to touch your toe, and finish with you both skating hand in hand making the shape of a heart," declared the now all-too-familiar voice of the choreographer, "The names Michael by the way."
"What!" exclaimed both Hermione and Malfoy.
"Let me remind you you're being paid," chimed Michael.
"How much?" asked Hermione.
"Ten thousand," answered Michael.
"Ten thousand…whats?", Hermione questioned.
"Dollars," he replied.
"For skating in a circle!" inquired Hermione.
"Yup," chirped the man.
When he finally skated away Hermione whispered to Tom, "I haven't done those moves in years…"
"It's all in the skates; trust 'um Granger," said a silky voice out of nowhere.
"Did I ask for an opinion, Malfoy?" Hermione asked.
"No, but I gave you one," Malfoy replied as he skated away.
"You! Tall guy with brown, spiky hair! And you! Short girl, who looks like a pug!" yelled the choreographer.
PAUSE
I wish! But sadly it didn't happen that way.
PLAY
"…Short girl, with blond hair!" yelled the chorographer.
"Tom you're stuck with Parkinson! Ha Ha!" mocked Hermione.
"Okay! Pairs go to the edge of the rink with your partner, hold hands, and skate around the edge of the ice together. Draco and Hermione stand on opposite sides on the circle in the middle. Good! Now that we're ready cue lights, cue music, and cue Kelly!" directed Michael.
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
After Kelly sang the first two lines of the song Michael pointed to Malfoy and moved his hand from shoulder to shoulder. This was his cue to skate and do the double axel. At the same time he did the same, except pointing to Hermione and moving his other hand from his opposite shoulder to the other. Simultaneously, Hermione and Malfoy flew across the ice and landed on the spot the other skater had been on.
H: Trusting the skates who knew Malfoy could be right.
Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you
Michael now using his pointer finger made a circle quickly going around again and again. Malfoy and Hermione both started doing "the spinney thing you do while trying to touch your toe" as Michael liked to call it. Hermione felt the old feeling that had long been locked inside her come back. She felt free and all she could do was hear the music, skate along the ice, and see Draco's face…
H: Wait! Draco! Since when is he Draco and why can I only see his face!
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
Now (feeling very dizzy might I add) Malfoy and Hermione took each other hand in hand. Malfoy had such grace when he had interlaced fingers with her. A grace that she had liked…which caused a bubbly sensation in the pit of her stomach.
H: Wait! What the hell! Well he is pretty hot…ARG! Hormones be damned!
As the pair finished the heart Ms. Clarkson bellowed out the last lyrics:
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you
As Hermione and Malfoy reached the dipped in part of the heart (Kelly on the end part closer to the camera) the song ended. Something then unexpected happened. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy's faces came together. Draco kissed passionately with a sweet twist and a bit of longing. Not the sharp, power hungry kiss Hermione had expected. Not that she had thought of it or anything…
"And that's a wrap! Perfect! Wonderful! I don't even think we need another shot. Pull apart all ready you two," yelled out the choreographer.
Color in both teenager's cheeks (more on Hermione's part) they both pulled away and skated off the ice.
Before Hermione knew it she was in front of the Apparation Plane. This was a way of transportation that only licensed apparaters could take, so they wouldn't be dizzy traveling so far, yet it still only took seconds.
"Tom, you're the older brother I always wanted! I love you. Well you know what I mean…Storge. I like the sound of that. Well I'm gonna miss you! Think of me when you don't know what to do, when you have a problem, or when you just need a friend," said Hermione as she pulled Tom into a breath-taking hug, eyes gleaming with tears.
"Ah, 'Mione ya gonna make me cry too! Your like my sister, Mi! I love you, too. My Storge. When you need help rub the heart on the bracelet I gave you all those years ago. Do you still have it?" said Tom.
"Of course I do! I wear it everyday!", exclaimed Hermione showing him the bracelet on her wrist.
"I'll miss you!" Tom shouted as Hermione climbed up the stairs to the plane. He was crying though he would never admit it.
"I'll miss you, every day I'm not here!" cried Hermione.
"Storge!" yelled Hermione.
"Storge!" repeated Tom.
"Forever and ever!", Tom shouted sincerely. And with that Hermione stepped onto the plane.
A/N: REVIEW! PRETTY PRETTY PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE!
