Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter's world. That is the property of JKR, a most talented woman. So, don't sue me.
Plot: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger are normal talented wizards who, on their 16th birthdays, learn otherwise. They are now burdened with family secrets that no one can ever know. They return to Hogwarts and struggle to get their lives back on track. However, both vows to find out one another's secret when they notice something different about each other.
A/N: I just now decided to follow the lunar system. That means Hermione and Draco's meeting in Chpt. 4 was not on an actual full moon in August. Also, I am using the 2004 and 2005 calendars to keep track of days.
As to a reviewer's question, Hermione was just trying to stall for time. She didn't know exactly what she (i.e. me) was going to ask.
The Moon's Call
Chapter Seven
His fingers drummed a speedy beat as he listened to Dumbledore's annual boring pep talk. How the hell did he come up with these things to say?
Draco shook his head. He always knew the Headmaster was a crazy old coot. The old man should have been put out of his misery a long time ago, or at the very least, been replaced with someone who actually lives in this century.
"Draco," whispered Pansy. "Will you stop that? It's giving me a headache."
He only drummed faster and a bit louder. What did he care if she was getting a headache? Annoying her was the only way to get her back for wearing too much perfume. Really, he had felt like he was going to suffocate on the train.
"Draco."
He kept it up.
Sighing, Pansy turned away and clearly tried to block him out. A self-satisfied smirk made its way onto his face.
Besides, he felt restless. Why he had all this energy eluded him. He had no idea how that happened. Actually, he had an idea, and it had to do with Granger.
He had recognized something in her when he stared into her eyes. What it was, he didn't know, but he recognized it and acknowledged it. Experience had taught him to not discard anything right out of hand, for it may be important in the future.
In his usual spot at the Slytherin table, Draco could see the entire hall. His back to the wall, Draco could relax, but not really. The low buzz of whispering was whining in his ears and there were some things he just did not want to hear.
His gaze swept across the sea of students and settled on Granger's bushy head. He had a good view of her as she was facing him. She looked strained, constipated almost. Her face was set as she resolutely focused on Dumbledore's speech. The Weasel was sitting on her left. He was trying to get her attention. Her eyes rolled skywards before she pasted a slight smile on her face. Turning towards Weasel, she nodded her head to whatever it was he was asking.
Draco nearly gagged when Weasel awkwardly put his arm across her shoulders as he leaned in to whisper again.
But he didn't miss Granger's expression and the tension that radiated from her being. Another small smile and she discreetly shrugged off his arm to dig into the food in front of her.
Very smooth, Granger, he thought. Draco piled his plate with meat. Then a juicy, rare cut of beef caught his eye. His fork jabbed into it just as someone else decided to claim it across the table.
Looking into brilliant blue eyes, Draco forced back his reflexive growl. "It's mine, Zabini."
Blaise Zabini stared seriously at him. "No, it's mine."
Draco narrowed his eyes. Zabini did the same, but his mouth drew back into a snarl. Draco did not want to back down. He was not someone to mess with now.
Zabini's eyes darkened to midnight blue. Draco blinked. He sniffed the air cautiously. Zabini did the same at the exact time.
Curious, Draco asked, "Zabini, when is your birthday?"
"The 17th of July."
"You get any…unusual gifts?"
"Like what?" asked Zabini warily.
"I don't know…maybe an insight into the wild side of life?"
Zabini cocked his head at Draco. "Perhaps. You?"
He didn't even ask if Draco had a birthday. He just asked.
Draco said, "Perhaps."
As he asked Zabini these questions, Draco managed to get the piece of meat he wanted. Zabini looked at the platter and loudly said, "HEY! That was mine."
Shrugging, Draco cut into it. He stabbed a piece with his fork and slid it into his mouth. The juices collected in his mouth and he chewed slowly, relishing the taste and texture. He cut the meat in half and tossed one half onto Zabini's plate.
Confused, Zabini looked from the meat to him and back to the meat.
"What are you waiting for, Zabini? An invitation? Eat the damn thing," growled Draco.
Narrowing his blue eyes, Zabini went to work on the meat. Draco shook his head and continued to eat.
It wasn't long until dinner was over and they were allowed to leave. Zabini found an excuse to pull Draco to the side and ask, "Are you…what I think you are?"
"And what would that mean, Zabini?"
"You look different, more sure of yourself, but not in a smug way. You smell different than the others as well."
Draco merely looked at him.
Softly cursing, Zabini looked around quickly and then asked, "Does the moon rule you?"
"No, and hopefully, it doesn't rule you either," Draco said.
"Fuck no! Pureblood through and through."
"Well, it seems at last we have something in common, Zabini," murmured Draco. Zabini, while a fellow Slytherin and pureblood, had never really attempted to follow Draco as the others did. For that, Draco was slightly grateful and slightly irritated.
Blaise Zabini was an odd one. He never badmouthed another person of some other House unless they provoked him to it, nor did he engage in the many antics characteristic of Slytherins. The wagering, scheming, backstabbing and double-crossing, he took part in none of it.
Blaise Zabini was as smart and cunning as Draco and caused Draco to give him wide berth…and a long leash. Draco's father had cleared the path for his inevitable rise to lord over his fellow Housemates. Zabini never caused trouble, but that didn't mean he was not capable of it. For his reticence, Draco never cared enough to get to know Blaise Zabini, but their sudden "gift" was something that could forge a bond stronger than just being friends.
Lucien had told Draco something called "pack instinct". The need for a pack was deep and innate. It was what created so many Beta wolves in the first place.
"To belong and feel the closeness of family is something of a wonder, Draco, boy," Lucien had said. It was the only time Draco had heard the calm and composed Lucien sound wistful. Perhaps his reclusive uncle was with feeling after all. "The pack bond is the strongest bond you will feel until," Lucien chuckled, "you find a mate."
Zabini's voice broke through his thoughts. "Malfoy, we've much in common. You just never bothered to look."
Draco narrowed his eyes in warning. "Careful, Zabini. You…wouldn't want to ruin your pretty face."
"The same could be said for you, Malfoy," Zabini replied.
A few seconds passed before they both broke out in grins. Somehow, they had reached an understanding of sorts.
Walking together, they slowly started to ask one another questions about their families. They ignored the stares they received from the other Slytherins. It was known that they did not "hang out", and their sudden friendship was enough to be remarked upon, but not to their faces, of course.
Talking in hushed voices, they did not see the group of girls turn a corner and crash into them. Screams rendered the air and Draco winced. He took pleasure in seeing the same expression on Zabini's face.
Turning to yell at the girls to watch where they were fucking going, Draco stopped. They were Gryffindors. A sneer settled on his face as he realized they were also fourth years. He started to say something in character, but Zabini nudged him.
Zabini caught his eye and nodded towards the far end of the corridor. Draco turned and spotted the Golden Trio heading towards them. His gaze settled on Granger. Her face was determinedly set. Her eyes were also on him.
The fourth years scattered, leaving he and Zabini to face the Keepers of Gryffindor alone. When they were close enough, Draco drawled, "Well, well, if it isn't the pussycats of Hogwarts."
"That is enough, Malfoy," Weasley said. "I will not have that sort of talk in front of my girlfriend."
Draco looked at Hermione quickly for her reaction. She looked upward as if for deliverance from Weasley's blunt comment about her. And it was about her. He knew that instinctively.
Zabini looked at Weasley and then Potter. "I should have known Potter would have been the bitch."
Draco leaned close to him and said in a stage whisper, "You owe me five galleons then, Zabini."
He watched Potter's face turn a blotchy red and his hands fist at his sides. Weasley, on the other hand, did not even know he was insulted.
"What do you mean about Harry being a bitch?" he asked stupidly. "I wasn't even—oh. HEY! Take that back, you fuck."
Draco and Zabini looked at each other and again faced the other boys with nearly identical smirks. Zabini said, "I can't take back what is true."
"Why, you…" Potter lunged forward, hands outstretched.
"Harry!" Granger yelled.
Draco, who was quite expecting Zabini to be choked to death, took another look at Potter. His hands were six inches away from Zabini's face. He leaned to the side and saw Granger was hanging onto the back of Potter's robes. Slowly, she pulled him back.
"They're just trying to provoke you, Harry," she said heatedly. Potter looked down at her to say something back.
Draco caught Zabini's eye and nodded towards her. A mischievous gleam lit up Zabini's eyes as he nodded.
Before Potter could say whatever it was on his mind, Draco shoved him back into Weasley, away from Granger. They both fell onto the floor. He and Zabini circled her.
"And what would exactly provoke you, Granger?" Draco said.
Zabini nudged her backwards towards the wall. Draco did the same. Together, they separated her from her friends.
"Neither of you scare me," she snapped.
"We're not trying to scare you, Granger," murmured Zabini. He touched her cheek lightly.
Draco clenched his jaw unconsciously. Then he asked, "Gr—Hermione, have you ever had sex?"
What the hell was he doing asking her that?
Zabini shot him a surprised look.
Granger seemed to have frozen. Her breathing was starting to seize. A faint flush worked its way up her face.
Then Zabini continued the questioning. "Come on, Hermione, it's a simple question. Just answer it."
"Leave her alone, you jerks!"
Draco forced down a growl. Weasley always had the most despicable timing ever. Well, enough of harassing her. Draco nodded to Zabini, and as one, they left her side. Weasley's botched reassurances gave them the opportunity to slip away before Potter and his sidekick could turn their sights on them.
A few corridors away, they stopped and laughed.
"God, Malfoy, what on earth possessed you to ask her that?" Zabini gasped out.
"I don't know. I just wanted to throw her off, that's all."
"Weasley makes it so easy, it's almost no fun." Zabini ran a hand through his dark hair. "That was good exercise."
"Yeah." Draco took a moment to feel out his energy. There was still too much. "Do you want to go for a run?"
Zabini quirked an eyebrow. "Here? Now?"
"Why not?"
Zabini took a moment, then grinned. "Yeah, why the fuck not? Let's go…Draco."
The way Zabini had tentatively said his name made Draco feel…happy. As if he had actually made a real friend. "Sure thing, Blaise."
It was hours later that he and Blaise came back into the castle. It was hours after racing through the forest chasing each other and small animals. Drowsy and sated from the exhilaration of running together, they stumbled towards the Slytherin House dormitory.
Draco and Blaise reached the stairs leading down to the dungeons. Blaise continued down, but Draco's ears picked up light footsteps coming his way. He looked down the stairs. Blaise was walking normally and didn't look back. Then he disappeared from sight, but Draco knew he was still heading to the dormitory.
He must really be tired, Draco thought. He looked in the direction the footsteps were coming. He tilted his head up to scent the air. A moment later, he growled low in frustration. He couldn't get a scent and didn't know who it was. For all he knew, it could be a professor.
But curiosity got the better of him. It was very late. Who could be wandering around this time of night?
Draco crossed the hall and pulled one of the tapestries aside. He started to go under it, but he reminded himself that he was a prefect. He didn't have to hide. So, Draco went back to the stairs and stepped down one step. He leaned against the wall and prepared his story.
Whoever it was about to come into view. He waited in a state of half anticipation and half nervousness.
He chuckled silently when Mudblood Granger walked into view. She stopped when she saw him. He could smell the anxiety roll off her.
"What are you doing out of bed, Malfoy? It's after curfew," she whispered, coming closer.
Draco waited for that strange energy between them to flare up, but it didn't. A feeling of relief flooded him.
"I heard talk of people sneaking out to party down by the lake," he lied smoothly. "It is my duty as a prefect to prevent my peers from breaking the rules."
Granger snorted derisively. "Like I would believe that for a second, Malfoy."
He raised his eyebrows in challenge. "I'm determined to have Slytherin win the House Cup. Do you actually think I would do something to jeopardize that?"
She studied him. "I should really report you and Zabini for sexually harassing me earlier."
"Why didn't you?"
"I was occupied with stopping Harry and Ron from going after the two of you for saying what you did."
A mocking smile emerged. "Oh, yes, dear Ronald. How did that happen?"
She shot a glare at him. "That's none of your business, Malfoy."
He pushed off the wall and walked towards her. "You don't want to be with him, Granger. I can tell." Her fear filled his nose. He felt a heady dose of power go through him. Could he push her further? "Why are you with him? Did you ask or did he?"
Granger was breathing shallowly. She licked her lips as she tried to speak. He focused on her mouth, making her even more nervous. "Th-thatS doesn't concern you, so stay out of my life, Malfoy."
"Tell me, Granger. Who asked first?"
"I'm not going to tell you." Her fear changed subtly to anger. "It is none of your business what a mudblood and a blood traitor do."
"If there's a chance you two procreate, then it's my business."
Shock and disgust showed on her face. "Ew! You're sick to think that I would actually allow myself to-to-to…" she shook her head when she couldn't finish her sentence. "Look, just go back to your guard duty."
Granger started to walk off, but Draco stepped in her way. She sighed in exasperation. "Get out of my way, Malfoy."
"No." This was so much fun. "I'm guessing it was the Weasel who asked, wasn't it?"
She ignored that and tried to get around him, but he blocked her. "Don't make me report you."
"I'm so scared," he replied dryly.
Throwing her hands up, Granger said, "Fine. You just stand there. See what I care."
With that, she turned back the other way and left before Draco could react.
She's fast, he thought. I guess I'll have to be faster next time.
Next time?
Draco savored that phrase. He knew instinctively there was going to be a next time. There was something off about Granger. True, there was always something weird about her to begin with, but there was something else.
As much as he admired her defiance, she had to go. Too bad, so sad.
There wasn't that much action in this chapter and if ya'll were looking for it, sorry! But other than that, what did you think? Drop me a line.
--TG oooxxx