Purely Physical Chapter 10

Hermione thought that maybe this was the end. As if Lucius was the lion and she had just willingly stepped into his lair. He smirked down at her, a smirk that reminded her of Draco and his less appealing ways, and she maintained eye contact to the best of her abilities. Never let the enemy smell your fear… Sirius had once told Harry that. And any word of Sirius was meant to be followed.

Still, it didn't prevent her heart from thumping, or from the fight-or-flee actions kicking in… and she chose to fight. She always chose to fight. She wasn't the type to run away, not with friends like Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, not even if she was fucking this man's son. She'd stay, and if he was going to smite her down, then so be it.

"Miss Granger," he repeated. "What an… interesting surprise." He seemed, for lack of a better word, amused by this situation.

Where was Draco? In what part of this horrifically huge home was he lounging in? I need you… she thought telepathically. Of course, it didn't work, reinforcing her belief that divination was completely a farce. "Mr. Malfoy," she replied softly. What else could she say? She decided it was best to keep silent in a moment like this.

"I presume you are here with my son. There is no other explanation," he drawled. Muttering a quick Sonorus, he called loudly, "Draco!"

There was no way that Draco could have missed that. And in a few moments, looking slightly disheveled, Draco was standing in front of them. If he was surprised, he didn't show it. "Lucius," he said coolly.

"Now what on earth would two Hogwarts students be doing outside of Hogwarts during their school year?" Lucius remarked, as if he was asking a simple question with a simple answer.

Draco didn't stutter in the way that Hermione would if her parents put such a proposition in front of her. Where she would have mumbled something to the effect of, "I can explain…" he simply looked his father in the eye and shrugged. The idiot, Hermione thought frantically, he's going to infuriate Lucius!

"You don't know?" Lucius asked softly. Hermione was pretty sure that he was at this moment, especially dangerous. "You don't know? Tell me Draco, how you are unaware of the… oddity in this situation?"

"I got bored," Draco finally managed, the look in his eyes bordering on savage.

"You got bored. I see. And you managed to bring Miss Granger along with you?" Lucius continued conversationally, although Hermione knew his tone was probably quite deceiving.

Once again, Draco shrugged and looked nonchalant (except for his eyes; they gave him away). Hermione marveled. You could hardly read this boy by his eyes, but here he was, standing in front of the man who sired him, and everything was a dead giveaway. Maybe Draco was reluctant to admit it, but he did seem slightly uneasy with his father.

"Don't want to answer my questions, Draco?" Lucius chuckled eerily. "Well then, I suppose I'll have to turn to Miss Granger."

Hermione trembled, but put on a bold face. She couldn't let him know just how much he terrified her, or anyone else for that matter. It would make him cockier than he already was.

"Miss Granger," he paced inquisitively, "may I ask what in the hell you are doing here with my son in my cottage when you should be in class on your last day before winter break?"

You wouldn't have known he was angry if it wasn't for the small expletive he used. Hermione flinched, but stood strong. "We went out for… a ride," she finished lamely.

"A three day ride, Miss Granger?" Lucius smirked. "Yes, I have been informed of your absence, and…" his condescending smirk grew wider, "what kind of father would I be if I didn't take you both back right away?"

Hermione looked at the ground, finally breaking eye contact. Take her back? But she wasn't ready to go back! Why the thought hadn't crossed her mind earlier, she didn't know. Of course Lucius would take them back. Of course! "Now if you'll excuse us, Miss Granger," Lucius suddenly said, "I mean to have a little chat with my son."

Mumbling, Hermione exited the room and began to walk down the corridor, wondering where she could go. Then, suddenly, she was struck by a horrific idea, an idea that would normally come from the likes of Harry and Ron on a day that they felt particularly daring… to eavesdrop on Lucius and Draco.

It was wrong, she knew it. It was not only a moral faux pas, but if she were caught, she was convinced that Lucius would waste no time in blasting her to smithereens. Still, she had to risk it. She didn't know why she was feeling particularly risky; maybe it was the fact that Lucius hadn't maimed her or anything when he'd caught them there. So she slowly walked back to the room and stood outside, holding her breath and hoping they were too involved in the conversation to listen for the sounds of another person.

Hermione's brilliance kicked in a few seconds later, when she cast a quick Silencio on herself to make sure that even her breathing was not heard. Too bad she didn't have Harry's invisibility cloak. "Disappointed," Lucius was saying.

"Why, Lucius," came Draco's sarcastic reply, "I didn't know you cared enough."

Lucius growled in what Hermione presumed was anger. "I may let you do your own little things, Draco, but one day your mistakes will catch up to you. Mark my words. Relationships with mudbloods and skipping school! I'm appalled, but you may sort this mess out by yourself. Do not turn to me for help."

Hermione shuddered. How could Draco ever disobey a man like this?

"I won't," Draco shouted heatedly. "I'll never turn to you. Never."

"Good," Lucius said scathingly. "Now let's get that little friend of yours and go back to school. And if you don't stay there till the end of term, don't expect me to take you back. If you want to ruin your life, go ahead. What's it to me?"

Hermione let out a gasp and ran down the corridor and into a random room. She quickly removed the spell and glanced wildly around. Oh, good, good, it was a sitting room. Believable for her to just have sat down and waited, right? She sunk into an armchair and hoped that they didn't know.

The Malfoy family had a lot more problems than she had originally thought, especially between father and son. Narcissa seemed to be out of the loop. "Hermione," she heard someone call and she sprang up, her heart still beating with the knowledge that she had just eavesdropped on one of Lucius Malfoy's conversations. Well, she'd like to call it overheard, but the truth was that she had done it all very deliberately.

"Right here," she replied nonchalantly. They couldn't sense it in her voice, could they? Don't be silly, she chided herself, Lucius wasn't unnaturally perceptive; he couldn't smell dishonesty…or could he?

"Come on," Draco motioned, a sullen look adorning his face, "we have to go. I suppose my father will Floo us there."

"Oh, okay," Hermione sighed, feeling awkward. "Don't forget your broomstick, and stuff."

"Oh yeah. Thanks," he departed the room in search of the abovementioned items. Hermione looked forlornly after him for a second and was then distracted as Lucius entered the room.

"Miss Granger," he began silkily, "I do advise you to keep your distance from my son. Bad things will come of bad company."

She was shell-shocked. He hadn't just insulted his own son, had he? He laughed mirthlessly at the expression on her face. "Oh, don't worry, darling. I was rather referring to your…perfect reputation at school, correct? Those grades, we wouldn't want them slipping, those friendships, we wouldn't want them breaking, would we?"

"No, we wouldn't," she finally managed to force out. "Not in the least." Draco, please come back here quickly, she prayed, feeling utterly useless. If the need came up, she would hex him, no doubt of it.

Just at that instant when the tension was getting to a point called unbearable, Draco sauntered cheekily into the room. "Ready, Lucius?" he asked with a small smirk.

"Indeed," Lucius sneered back at his son. "To the study, please."

Hermione followed the father and son duo through the halls and into what was deemed Lucius's study. It wasn't nearly as large or beautiful as Hermione had expected; perhaps this was a makeshift study as of course his real one would be at the house. It was still lavishly furnished, making obvious that it belonged to a very well-off owner. "Never could resist showing off, could you," Hermione whispered to herself. Luckily, neither Malfoy picked up on it.

"Draco, why don't you go first," Lucius said innocently. Hermione trembled in fear. He always did want her alone, the bastard…

Draco shrugged and did so, obviously not sensing anything. Or if he did, he certainly didn't seem to want to interfere with any of it. "Once again, Miss Granger, I do warn you to stay away," he smoothly insisted as he put his hand on her shoulder.

It took all of her willpower not to shrug it off. "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Malfoy," she retorted with a frosty air of formality.

And before he could say anything else, she took a pinch of Floo powder, took a deep breath, and hurtled her way over to the Hogwarts' Headmaster's fireplace.

The sight in front of them was one which Hermione would have laughed at in any other circumstance. Dumbledore's face was an expression of absolute shock, and never had she seen her Professor at such a loss for words. Shortly after she stepped out of the fireplace, the same fire spit out Lucius Malfoy. "Ah, Professor," he grinned. "Two missing students, I believe, have found their way back."

Dumbledore seemed to recover instantly. "Ah, yes. Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger. Simply wonderful. I trust that you, Lucius, were able to accomplish this?" Although Dumbledore was always polite, Hermione wondered what his true feelings towards Lucius Malfoy really were.

Lucius nodded. "Yes. I am most disappointed in Draco; I do hope he is given the harshest punishment possible."

Hermione caught the look of loathing Draco sent his father. "Now, now, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore hastened, "no need to get worked up; your father simply wants the best for you. Anything else, Lucius?"

"I'd be careful with these two, Albus. They seem to have developed some nasty habits," Lucius bid his strange adieu and stepped confidently into the fireplace. Within a moment he was gone.

Dumbledore turned his usually sparkling blue eyes on the two of them, but right now those same eyes were looking rather somber. "While I am very relieved to see you both back here, safe and sound," he began, "I am also greatly disappointed in the two of you."

Hermione hung her head in shame. This was like a nightmare come true for her, being scolded by one of the professors. And this just wasn't one of them, this was the Headmaster himself! She looked over to see how Draco was taking it. Well, he certainly wasn't looking down; he stared the headmaster in the eye and had once again regained that neutral expression in which it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"However," Dumbledore continued on a lighter note. "I am sure your disappearance was not just a mindless act of rebellion. I wish to speak with you both individually. Mr. Malfoy, will you please leave the room for a moment?"

Draco opened and closed his mouth, shot a steely glance at Dumbledore and finally slowly made his way to the door. Hermione was pretty sure he was right outside, intent on hearing what Dumbledore had to say to her, but the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes told her otherwise. "Just a moment, Miss Granger," he smiled and flicked his wand towards the door.

Anti-eavesdropping charm, Hermione marveled. An extremely difficult but extremely useful thing. "Miss Granger," Dumbledore spoke low.

Hermione's brows furrowed in confusion. What was this? She had expected a lecture, perhaps a warning, maybe even (and this thought had been niggling at the back of her mind) the shame of being stripped of her Head Girl badge… but it seemed like Dumbledore wanted to speak of none of that. "Professor?" she asked, the curiosity evident in her voice.

"I trust that Mr. Malfoy did not… harm you in any way? He did not… speak to you about his father's…activities…dabbles in the dark side, perhaps?"

Hermione went numb. For a few seconds, she couldn't react, and then the rage began to seep slowly into her veins and she turned to her beloved Professor with a fiery glare. "No," she replied vehemently. "Of course not. And I refuse to say anything more," she added as an angry afterthought.

Dumbledore looked relieved. "Now for lighter matters… it pains me to see a top student like you shirk away from her duties. I understand that everyone needs some time off, and I do hope you've been able to collect yourself on your departure from the school. I advise you to rest today… and then tomorrow is your first day of winter break. As usual you are welcome to stay at the castle or return to your home. You may go."

She stumbled out of the room, not even gracing Dumbledore with a backwards glance. She couldn't explain the fury that she felt at his question; the audacity of it all! How could they accuse someone as innocent as Draco Malfoy of something sinister like his father? Draco was still a child, a child, and they refused to accept that? Draco talked about school and sex and drugs and all those other hazy things that teenagers liked to do; he didn't talk about murder and death and Voldemort and evil he was just a normal…she let her thoughts trail off as she walked dejectedly to the Gryffindor common room, wondering what Dumbledore would have to say to Draco.

Hermione muttered the password (fwolda the foul) and entered the common room, suddenly exhausted. Thankful that it was empty, she sank into a sofa and closed her eyes, wishing that none of this had ever happened. Before she could properly fall asleep, however, a familiar voice greeted her ears. "Hermione!"

Her eyes flew open and absorbed the sight of two very surprised teenage boys. "Hermione! We were so worried," Harry sighed in relief at the same time as Ron pulled her off the couch.

"It's really her, blimey, we thought Malfoy'd abducted you…"

"Honestly with all the rumors you've been dead twice, mutilated, raped, and fed to the death eaters… are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she spoke, and suddenly felt dizzy from Ron pulling her up so fast. She sank back into the couch as the blood rushed to her head. "I'm fine," she repeated firmly. "I…look, I just got awfully… fed up with it here and just…left for a few days."

"Just left? Hermione you missed class!" gaped Ron.

"Snape was absolutely awful these last few days, you're lucky…" Harry stated grimly.

She held up a hand for silence. "I don't really want to talk about it, okay? I needed a break, I took one, and now I'm back. I'm going to go to my room," she pushed through the boys and stepped towards the portrait hole.

"Hermione, wait," commanded Harry. "You still haven't told us where exactly Malfoy fits in."

She sighed and told them the absolute truth. "I don't know where he fits in. But he just does."

And with that she left the two flabbergasted boys behind and stalked up to the Head Girl rooms.

Exhausted she entered the Head Girl's room, looking much cleaner than she'd left it on that chilly night. Apparently the house-elves had come in and cleaned things up. She was partly angry, but her anger dissipated into sheer fatigue and she lay back on her bed and promptly fell asleep.

And then the dreams started.

She was hurtling through empty space, and somewhere a voice she had become very familiar with over the last semester kept calling out to her. "Come here, Hermione this way…"


She wanted to follow him, no doubt, but somewhere a willpower she didn't know existed was blocking her way. The voice of reason argued that she couldn't really trust him. But I love him, she thought inanely. I love him I love him I love him I love him…

Shut up! She'd reached a pathway through a beautiful garden. He was standing there, his face lit up with one of his rare smiles. "Hey, I want to show you something, love."

He called her love! She was elated, and didn't think twice as she began to follow him through the twisted path. "It's pretty," she commented. "It's really pretty."

He turned around and she expected him to agree, but instead of his cherubic face she was met with a sight so hideous she could barely describe it…and then he moved closer…

Hermione woke up clutching her sheets. So vivid, so real, and so terrifying… his face… only one word came to mind. Evil. She felt absolutely silly turning such idiotic notions over in her mind, but it had been true. He hadn't looked like some monster with a white face and red slits or anything, he'd looked the same as always… only… evil. And that's what had made it so damn scary.

Pushing the dream away as some silly symbol from her subconscious, Hermione decided there was really only one thing to do. It was something she'd been meaning to do since her realization; there was just no way that she could continue this physical relationship. No bloody way. Quickly she freshened up and stepped into the halls. Checking her watch she saw it was already dinner time and the Great Hall was full with students. Nervously she made her way in and at once the whispers reached her ears.

She caught bits and pieces of them; with words such as 'whore', 'slut', 'bitch' reaching her ears she decided that the rumors were a lot worse than Harry and Ron had claimed. They were awful. The students were a mob and she was being devoured.

Embarrassed, she still held her head high and scanned the crowd for pale blonde hair. He wasn't there. Damn it! She turned to go and at that moment came face to face with the boy in question. "Hey," she breathed.

"Hey," he responded, although he looked distracted. He seemed to be looking beyond her.

"I've got to speak with you," she stressed, and dragged him out by the arm. She could practically feel the eyes of every single person in the Great Hall on her as she dragged him out of the place and into the nearby corridor. "Look, this is important."

He looked at her and Hermione could see he was genuinely interested. "We… can't do it anymore, okay? This little… friends with benefits, I don't know what it is sort of thing. I'm not doing it anymore."

For a second she thought she saw a stricken look on his face; a flicker of surprise, but as soon as she saw it, it was gone. She thought he was going to ask why; instead, he pulled her to him and kissed her forehead softly. With that he made his way back into the Great Hall, not looking back once.

She was left staring at him in utmost surprise. Out of all the things she would ever expect him to do, that was certainly not on the list. It was too tender for him, too soft… and he was rough, like sandpaper.

But if you rubbed sandpaper hard enough, it lost its jagged quality…

A/N: Well, here you go. Chapter 10! Thanks so much for your amazing reviews, everyone, you guys have really made this worth it. There are some questions that I intend to answer; I can't say anything right now because it will give stuff away, so just wait. The question, or, er, thing that you guys have been pointing out to me, will be answered in the next chapter (I know. That sounds so confusing).

Anyway, review the chapter, tell me what you thought, and once again, thank you.