Secrets
Chapter Fifteen: All In The Name of Love
(Disclaimer: I own no HP titles, but I do own the original plot and characters I made…)
"Where have you been, Hermione?" I heard Harry say the moment I walked into the common room. He stood up from the couch and walked over to me.
"I was studying in the library for a while, then I had to mail a letter to my parents." I lied about the letter…
"Oh," Harry said.
"Well, I'm exhausted, I'm going to go to bed." I declared.
"Hey, 'Mione, wait." He said, grabbing my arm and spinning me around to face him. "Will you go back out with me?"
I really really didn't want to, but anything to keep Draco and I together. "Yes." Harry smiled and pulled me into a light kiss. I was thankful he was being so gentle tonight…
"Goodnight, Hermione."
"Night, Harry."
XxX
Well, it was official. I'm going out with Harry and Draco. One, I might say I hate, and one I'm in love with. Could this be any more wrong? I knew love wasn't meant to be kept secret, yet I was thankful that I had Ron to confide in when I was feeling lonely. Harry just couldn't give me what Draco could, and I was sure that Draco would never hurt me like Harry did or be as short-tempered.
As I was heading to Potions the next day, I ran into Draco (I'm sadly cursed to running into the most random people…). As I went toppling to the ground, I felt something furry against the bare skin of the upped thigh. I jumped up to find a mouse sniffing around and scurried inside of my bag. I let out a scream and took as few more step back.
"Deep breath, Granger, it's only a mouse…" Draco said, a satisfied smirk on his face. He bent down and emptied the contents of my bag, mouse and all. After he had all of my things sprawled about the floor, he stood up and smirked at me once again. "There, problem solved." The mouse scurried away.
I suddenly felt a searing pain and dizziness swim around me. Colors all blended together to form one giant black world. The only thing I felt after that was the cold stone ground and sleep. Warm, welcoming sleep.
XxX
When I woke up I found myself in the Hospital Wing, lying on a bed covered in white sheets. I saw Draco sitting next to me sleeping soundly. What was he doing here? Harry or someone –anyone- else could walk in at any moment and find us together. Madam Pomfrey walked in with a bottle containing a repulsive brown mixture inside.
"Good evening, Miss Granger," She said, setting down the potion on a table beside me. "You passed out a few hours ago and Mr. Malfoy –she waved to him- stayed with you. He insisted on staying."
"Why?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"I don't know, ask him when he wakes up." She briskly walked away. I let out a sigh and assumed I was to drink the disgusting potion lying next to me.
A few minutes later, Draco began stirring. I nervously watched him, willing him to wake up with everything in me. I almost cheered when he opened his eyes and looked at me, trying to get his vision in focus.
"Malfoy," I said, hiding the pain it felt to call him that. "What, may I ask, are you doing here?"
"Waiting to see if you were going to die or not."
"I just passed out, but if you care for me that much…" I looked at him and saw he had his curtain of ice around his eyes, only letting out a tiny twinkle, letting me know that he was just pretending.
He snorted and leaned in towards me. At first I thought he was going to kiss me, but when he returned to his full height, I saw that he was holding a mouse up by its tail. I let out a small yelp before he walked over to the window and dropped it outside. "Have a small fear of rodents, Granger?" I pretended not to wince when he said my last name.
"Obviously."
"Why did you pass out?"
"Why do you care?"
"Curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat, you know." I remarked.
"Can you not stop being so difficult and just tell me?" He snapped.
I let out a triumphant sigh. This was sort of fun… "I guess I've been in a way stressed lately."
"Is Potter bugging you?"
I looked at him oddly for a moment before cautiously answering. "No more than you are night now, Mr. Nosy Ferret Boy."
Draco seemed to get the hint. "Well, see you in Potions, Granger." He leaned in to my ear and whispered, "I love you." I smiled graciously back at him and watched him exit.
A few minutes later Ron walked in and hurriedly kneeled down beside me. "Hermione, I wanted to talk to you before Harry came, and he's on his way now." He took a deep breath. "I really don't think it's safe for you to be dating Harry again. I trust Draco now that I've seen how happy you are with him, but I can't say I totally trust Harry. If you ever need anything," He pulled out a box and opened it, revealing a silver bracelet with charms dangling from it. "Give one of the charms a squeeze and I'll find you. You can also write me whenever you like." He kissed me on the cheek. "I love you Hermione, and promise me you'll be careful."
I took the box and gave him a hug. "I promise." I heard footsteps coming rapidly. "You better go now, we both know how Harry gets around other guys… I love you, too." Ron ran quickly from the hospital wing as Harry emerged from the doorway.
"Hello my love…"
"Hey Harry…"
"How are you feeling?" He asked, sitting down in the chair next to me and watching my intently.
"Better, I've just been… stressed."
"Do you want me to ease you mind?"
"Not with Madame Pomfrey around." I replied hastily. I was really uncomfortable around him… he started to remind me of Max...!
"Suit yourself." He said with a shrug. "Look, I've got to go, I'll see you in class tomorrow, okay?"
"Right."
XxX
I scurried up to the Astronomy Tower at midnight in a hurry to see Draco. I had cast an invisibility charm on myself so there was no way I would gets caught- carefully avoiding Mrs. Norris, that is. When I arrived at the tower, I took the spell off and gazed around, excepting Draco to be here already. Minutes flew by until they turned into an hour. Draco was an hour late… maybe he wasn't coming… maybe he slept over it… maybe he was with an other girl… No! Draco wouldn't ditch me for another girl. Not on one of our intimate nights we planned. He just probably wasn't feeling very well…
At 2:30 I put the charm on myself again and went back down to my room, locking the door behind me. (Just as a reflex.) As I lay down on my bed, I felt a body next to mine and I let out a muffled scream. I whipped out my wand and whispered, 'Lumous,' sending a yellow-ish shadow across the room. I pointed my wand to my bed and let out a relieved sigh when I found Draco soundly sleeping in my bed. I smiled and was thankful he was so loyal to me. I walked over to my nightstand and found a note waiting for me;
Hermione, My Love,
I came here shortly after twelve, and I don't think I could've made it to the Tower. I think I may have sprained my ankle or something, but I was unable to fix it with my wand. I willingly came here, knowing that I would be in trustworthy hands.
All my love,
Lubby
I quickly retreated to my closet, clutching my wand in front of me. I pulled open the cedar doors to find about five shelves filled with potions and ingredients for potions. I grabbed a few items and sat at my desk, concocting a pain-relieving potion followed by a bone-healing potion. And, not to go tooting my own horn, these potions were pretty advanced stuff… I walked over to the bed and set the to bottles on the nightstand and knelt in front of Draco on the floor.
"Draco," I whispered. He groaned softly and his eyes fluttered open.
"Hello, Hermione, I'm sorry-"
"I know, love, I got your note."
Draco smiled handsomely. "Thanks for not spazzing out."
"I made a few potions for you, if you're willing to trust me, that is…"
"Are you kidding?" He mocked. "I trust you more than anything else."
I handed him the two bottles. "Drink up."
Draco grabbed the first potion, pinched his nose, and chugged it down, trying not to gag. "I know they don't taste very nice, but they help…" After demolishing the second vial, I took the two empty bottles back to my closet and shut the door, locking them back up. I returned to Draco's side.
"Do you want to go back to your room, love?" I asked, running my fingers through his silky blonde hair.
He merely closed him eyes, shook his head and leaned into my hand. I changed into my pajamas and hopped into bed next to him, snuggling up to him as if he were my favorite teddy bear. (Well, technically he is…) He turned over and put a warm arm around my waist, sending butterflies through me. After making sure my alarm clock was set an hour earlier, I went off to sleep snuggling close to my beloved Draco.
XxX
At 6:30 the next morning the shrill ring of my alarm clock woke me up. Me, but not Draco. I tried shaking him, talking to him, everything- nothing worked. Then I remembered Ginny once telling me that sexual touch can sometimes waken a man's spirit, and, at this point, I was willing to try anything. First I stroked his cheek with a few of my fingers. Didn't work. I pressed my lips lightly against his. Didn't work. I snapped the elastic lining to his boxers. That worked.
"Ow!" His hands went flying down towards where I snapped him and grabbed my hands as they were making their escape. "Hermione, are you feeling naughty?" He asked, smirking and raising an eyebrow.
"It depends- are you?"
"Not particularly at six in the bloody morning…" He muttered rubbing his eyes and plopping his head against the pillow.
"Come on, love, you have to get back to the Slytherin dorms…"
"Oh, right…"
"Would you like me to escort you there?" I raised an eyebrow back.
"I'm a big boy now, love." He kissed me lightly. "Let me live a little."
I felt a little hurt, but I let him go after he promised me to meet me tonight at midnight.
I started getting ready for the day, gathering my notes and books and getting dressed. As I was brushing my teeth I almost fell asleep. I quickly made myself a Pepper Up potion and drank it down, ignoring the putrid and foul taste. About an hour later, I was ready to go, having another hour before we were suppost to be in our classes. So, as I always do, I headed off to the library to study for upcoming mid-term finals.
I was so developed in my books and studies that I didn't see Harry coming over to me from my left, carrying a goblet in his right hand. "Hermione," He whispered. I jumped.
"Oh, Harry, you scared me!" I scolded him. "What do you need?"
"Does a boyfriend need a reason?"
"When his girlfriend is trying to study."
An awkward silence followed my retort as I returned to my work, jotting down notes I'd need. Harry shoved the goblet in my face after a few minutes.
"Here, Hermione, drink it."
"What?"
"Drink it."
"What is it?"
"Pumpkin juice." Harry let out a sigh. "I figured you'd be thirsty."
I reluctantly took the goblet and peered into it, sniffing it discreetly. I smelled some sort of potion's smell- not at all like the smell of normal pumpkin juice. It was more of a… tart smell. Not wanting to infuriate Harry, I drank all of it, ignoring the very obvious fact that there was a potion inside. I set it aside after gulping it all down and returned to my books. Harry left without a word.
XxX
"Now, who can tell me the difference between a unicorn hair and a centaur hair?" Snape asked later that day in Potions. My hand shot up, but, as usual, he ignored me. "No one?"
"Please sir!" I said, slightly out of breath.
"Five points from Gryffindor for speaking out of place. That's also a week's detention starting tonight." Snape smirked along with all of the other Slytherins –including Draco, playing his role- muttered a few thins like 'mudblood got what she deserved' and 'Snape knows how to take care of filth.'
"Yes, sir." I mumbled, putting my hand down. Ron shot me a sorrowful glance.
After what seemed like hours of brewing the Sight-Altering potion, the bell finally rang. As I was leaving, Snape called me to his desk.
"Granger, you said that you and Draco are broken up?"
OH, my God, could my professor not stay out of my love life? "Yes…" I muttered through clenched teeth.
"I see… Would you say you hated him?"
"Something close to that."
"Very well, you may go."
I hurried up to the Gryffindor common room, dropped off my bag and went down to the library, eager to find out what potion Harry not-so-discreetly gave to me this morning. I looked through about five potion books before coming across the one potion I really wish Harry wouldn't have picked.
The Love-Seeing Potion
One who gives this potion to another has the gift to see whom the taker is touching when someone touches him or her. Spell can only be taken off after three day's time. Ingredients-
So, Harry's is peeking into my love life, eh? Well, I'll refrain myself from touching Draco –yeah, it'll be hard- for three days to prove to Harry that we're not back together. All in the name of love.
XxX
