Draco and Hermione: Lust or Love?
..Lonely..
………………………
Hermione sat at the tiny wooden table in the kitchen, her thought elsewhere than in the little cabin. The cabin was in the middle if nowhere, lonely, and very boring. the cabin was homey, but still very small. It contained a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom and a tiny living room with a couch and book shelf.
Hermione was going to have her first work load come today. Professor Dumbledore would bring all her work once every month.
"Miss. Granger?"
Hermione shook her head and peered around the room, wondering if she was going crazy and hearing voices..
"Miss. Granger, over here."
Hermione spun around in her wooden chair. Professor Dumbledore was in the fireplace, his friendly face smiling.
"Professor! How are you?"
"Oh, not too bad, Hermione, dear. How are you doing? I've hear about all those frightening things that have happened to you. I do hope you're okay?"
"I'm aright, actually."
"That's good to hear. I will be coming over soon enough to drop off all of your work. Is that alright with you?"
"Sure, it is."
"All right, dear, I'll see you soon."
"Bye."
Hermione stared into the fire, her mind blank.
"You might as well un-pack," Hermione mumbled to herself. She went to her room and found that the bed was nicely made and the bed was nice and big. The bathroom that was attached to her bedroom was really big compared to the house. The tub was big and looked comfortable.
Hermione unpacked her things and went into the living room to look at the books. Half of them were books having to do with spell, charms and potions. The rest were enjoyment books.
Sighing, Hermione grabbed a book and laid down on the couch.
Hermione awoke with a jolt.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"Professor! I'm sorry, I must have dozed off."
"That's alright. Here's all your homework," he said, patting the tiny brief case and Hermione knew that there were lots of books inside. "The teachers have written letter and have made instructions for you. Ron and Harry have written letter for you. You may read them soon enough. You can use your wand freely even though you are only seventeen."
Professor Dumbledore went on explaining things and Hermione nodded her understanding. He left shortly and so Hermione read the letter. Her heart finally easing from the pain.
………………………
Draco lay on his bed in thought. His thoughts were on Hermione. He wondered if she was scared in the cabin alone, or if she missed him. Hell, he hoped she missed him. He was aching for her. All he wanted to do was hug her and make sure she was okay. His chest had an ach behind his lungs, as if his heart was having trouble beating. His mind was always racing and his eyes hurt as if he had to cry. His throat got a lump as he thought about her.
The common room was empty having only him there. Soon enough, they'd find a new head girl and she'd take over Hermione's room.
Draco got the first week off to gather himself and get caught up but he went back to classes after the first day because he found that he could only think about Hermione.
The first three weeks went by without Hermione, and Draco was starting to get used to it. The new Head Girl, Abigail was nice but very loud. She was a Ravenclaw and Draco didn't have the heart anymore to be mean so they right away got along.
"Draco!" She called up and she came into the common room. "What're you up to?"
"Nothing. I'll be right down."
"Okay. But hurry, we need to make plans," she shouted up.
"Plans?" Draco questioned. "Plans for what?"
"The ball, duh!"
Draco rolled off of his bed and went down the stairs. Abigail was sitting before the fireplace, her beautiful copper hair vibrating with colour from the flames of the fire.
"I though we were done that though."
"Nope." Abigail stared at him, question in her eyes. "What's wrong with you, Draco? You've been out of it lately."
"Sorry," Draco muttered and sat down beside her.
"We need a theme and then were done. We still haven't though of one."
"How about . . . Murder theme?"
"No!" Abigail objected. "Defiantly no. How about curious?"
"Curious? As in like, secrets?"
"Yeah, why not? We can be whatever we want but have a mask of some sort on."
"Okay, but we need a time when we can take the masks off."
"How about eleven since the parties start at eight and end at one."
"Okay. Is that all cause I really need to do my homework before supper."
"Sure, I'll give the plans to Professor Dumbledore. See ya at supper. By then you'll have at least ten girls ask you to go with them."
"Whatever, Abigail."
"Bye, Draco."
Draco shook his head and though of which girl he'd like to take to the dance. Right now he wasn't really interested in any girl. When he though of a girl, he still though of Hermione. He had to get her out of his head.
Draco got to his feet and went to his room to do his homework. But he didn't get his homework done, he never got anything done when Hermione was on his mind.
Draco dropped the feather he was writing with and flopped down on his bed. Dumbledore said she probably wouldn't be coming back until graduation. That was way too far away!
Draco decided that's maybe if he went out with another girl then he'd forget about Hermione. Yeah, he'd do that.
Draco rolled off his bed and went down to the great hall, knowing he wasn't going to get any of the homework done.
Supper would start soon and so Draco went down to the great hall. On the way down, Draco had seen at least twelve posters talking about the dance.
"Hey, Draco," Amanda purred on his arm as he stepped off the last stair leading to the great hall.
"Hi."
"So, Draco," she started. "Have you heard about the dance?" Draco looked down at her. He could tell that she was trying to hit on him and . . . he didn't like it. She was a whore and Draco didn't want to go with her.
"Yeah, I have," Draco answered.
"And?" She asked, batting her eyes. Draco looked down at her as if he didn't know what she meant. "Who are you gonna take?" She asked.
"Not you if that's what you're asking," Draco returned.
She glared at him and stomped off with her nose in the air.
"I told you," Abigail mocked from behind him. "What did I tell you, Draco? I knew that the ladies would be all over you."
"Thanks, Abi."
She smiled and linked her arm through his. "Let's go eat. You need to get your mind off of the ladies and think of the food."
Draco smiled at her and nodded still worried about what to do with the dance.
Draco was done all the food he could eat, which was barely anything. He took a breath and knew what he had to do.
Draco went over to the Gryffindor table and took a deep breath.
"Hi," Draco greeted nervously as he stood in front of the table. Ron and Harry looked at each other and then back to Draco.
"Hey, Malfoy. What can we do for you?" Ron asked. Ron was being polite and Draco knew that he really didn't want to talk to him and Draco couldn't really blame him.
"I was wondering if you guys know how Hermione is."
"She's okay."
"Really? Like she's not sick or lonely or . . ."
"Or?" Harry prompt.
"Scared?" Draco asked, peering down at his feet.
Ron and Harry didn't say anything and so Draco looked up at them. Finally Ron sighed and shook his head.
"We're sending her a letter in a few days. If you want to see how she's doing, you'll have to ask her."
Draco knew it took a lot for Ron to say that and Draco was so glad he could of gave them both a hug. But, this was Draco, that'd be just . . . wrong. So Draco nodded and thanked them both, making sure they knew he was grateful.
Draco walked back out of the great hall door and up the a few staircases looking for an empty room to think in.
With his head down, Draco walked the empty and dark corridors. Without noticing the girl ahead of him he walked smack right into her.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" she cried, scurrying down to her books.
"No, it was my fault. I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention." Draco bent down as well, collecting her book as well.
"You're Julie, right?" Draco asked, peering into her face.
She looked back her eyes open wide and Draco noticed the odd colour of her violet eyes a little blood shot and swollen. "Yeah. And you're Malfoy."
Draco smiled at her. "Again, I'm really sorry about the this."
"No problem, I'm a total klutz."
"Are you okay?" Draco asked.
They both stood up and she nodded. "Yes. I'm okay. I think I can handle the fall."
Draco shook his head. "I wasn't talking about that. It just looked like you were crying."
Julie shrugged. "I'm fine. Just a small fight with a friend."
"Boyfriend?"
"We were. We just broke up and he wants me back because the girl he left me for dumped him."
"Are you going out with him?" Draco questioned, his eyes dark as he held his breath.
"No! I am not!"
"Good." Draco let the breath out and sighed. "Could I ask you something then? A favour?"
"I can try."
"Will you go to the dance with me?"
"What?" Julie asked, taken back.
"No, not like that!" Draco answered hurriedly. "I meant as friends. We both seem a little down and I can talk to you easily."
Julie nodded and told him alright. They both went their separate ways but they both had higher spirits.
…………………
Hermione smiled at the letter. Harry was doing great with his grade but Ron was more worried about the ladies than with his grades.
Harry talked about Ron. He was on a steady relationship but still liked to flirt. His girlfriend didn't like it and Ron was slowly getting the obvious hints. Hermione had asked him last time about Draco and so Harry went on about him. He wrote that he hung around that Abigail a lot and with Julie more than anyone. Draco wasn't very talkative but hung in the middle of crowds. He had no close friends but the two girls and seemed to be satisfied with only their company. Draco was found snogging any girl he'd want but it was mostly Julie that Harry had seen him with. Harry ended it with how much he missed her and hoped she was okay before he finished the letter.
Ron's letter was mostly about how much he missed her and her grumpiness. Ron said that he had nobody to pick on and that he was really scared for her. Ron went on talking about his girlfriend and how much he liked her and how she looked, smelled, and how smart she was. Then Dominic Johansson came up. Ron had said that they found him in a shack bruised and bloody. Apparently he was held prisoner and then escaped but Ron didn't know the exact details. Ron went on about worrying about her and then ended the letter.
Hermione smiled but then found another letter behind Ron's. Slowly she took the letter out of the envelope and opened it. She was surprised to find that it was from Draco. Hermione slipped the letter back into the envelope and set it on the table.
Hermione got to her feet and walked over to the fireplace to warm her body up since she got a deep chill that went right through her body since she saw the letter with Draco's bold writing on the front. Hermione shook her head and went back to the table, picked up the letter and went over to the garbage.
Hermione swallowed and threw the letter into the trash. Walking back to the fireplace Hermione wondered why Ron and Harry let Draco send a letter to her.
Maybe they felt sorry of him, maybe they felt sorry for her! Maybe they thought that she was so lonely, they begged Draco to write her a letter.
Hermione raced back into the kitchen and snatched the letter from the waste. She opened the envelope and started to read Draco's bold looped writing.
…
Dear Hermione.
I hope that you are doing alright. I have missed you here
in the castle. This place seems empty without your voice
and happy laughter. I wish to hear it, Hermione. I have
been doing alright but I am very concerned for you. I hope
that you are coping with what has all happened. I fear
that you are lonely and terribly scared. I have talked with
Dumbledore and he told me that you may not be coming back
for two or more months. I miss you so much, Hermione and
I hope you miss me also. Please stay healthy and take care.
Draco.
…
Hermione stared down at the letter, her eyes getting blurry with tears. Had he meant this? Hermione touched her lips lightly with her fingers, remembering Draco's mouth and his touch. That night, Hermione thought he had cared deeply for her but maybe it was just all lust. He didn't know love between lust and Hermione knew she was in love. When she thought about Draco, her heard would beat faster and she felt a sharp pain in her chest.
"Oh, Draco," Hermione whispered, "I miss you." Hermione looked down at the letter with sorrow. Draco didn't miss her. As Harry had said, he had seem Draco kissing other girls. How could he do that and would he really think that she would still care for him?
Hermione shook her head. She'd care for him no matter what. But that should stop her from doing anything with him. She should ignore him when she got back to the castle. Hopefully she had to stay here until graduation and then she'd be free to do as she wished. Hermione knew that wouldn't happen. She'd need her friends and she'd need Draco.
……………………
Draco held Julie in his arms as they danced to the soft music. He could feel Julies soft breath on his neck and could smell her sweet scent.
"This feels so nice," Julie whispered.
"Mmm."
"Draco? Are you alright?" she leaned back to peer into his face.
"Yes. I'm fine," Draco told her, his smile not quite getting to his eyes.
"No, Draco, you aren't." Julie grabbed his hand and let him away from the dance floor. "Lets go outside and talk about it."
Draco followed her out and they sat down in the gazebo. The nights were getting warmer since it was now February but there was still snow on the ground and still cold out. The gazebo was magically warmed and so neither needed a cloak.
"Tell me what's wrong," Julie said, grabbing Draco's hand and squeezed it.
"It's this girl," Draco began.
"Hermione?"
"Yes. Hermione. She gone somewhere in a cabin by herself-"
"Yes, I know her. She was one of my friends. What about her?"
"Well that last night I was with her, we slept together. It was her first time and I was so gentle. I'm sorry, you don't need to know this."
"You just tell me what you want, Draco. I'll just listen."
"Well I remember the night so clearly and now she's gone. I've never missed anyone this much and I don't know what to do with myself. I fear that I've been using you to get over her but I know I can't just get over her. I feel like I know her so well but I got a letter from her saying she didn't want me to worry and waste my time sending her letters. I feel so afraid for her. And I . . ."
"You what?"
"I ache to just hold her," Draco whispered. The gazebo was silent then he let out a harsh laugh. "I sound pathetic."
"No, Draco, you don't. You care for her very much. You should tell her this. Tell her how you feel and I know it's not easy but I understand. I know you've been using me and I want to help you. But Draco, I can't. You love her. You can't and I can't change that.
"But-"
"Tell her how you feel, Draco. I'm sure thins will work out, you'll see. I'll be here for you anytime, Draco. Let's get back to the ball, I want a brownie."
Draco smiled and nodded, having Julie grab his hand and led the way back towards the happy music.
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Hey. Sorry it took so long. I have done the next chapter so I'll update in a week or so.
Please Review and give suggestions or anything you like.
Thanks,
Chebetta.