Typing their life with my fingers
Changing their fate with my words
Stealing them softly is all wrong
Using them boldly is so wrong
Hoping that J.K. will stay calm
Try not to sue me for my wrong
Author's Note: I am SO sorry that this chapter took so long to write. I'm already penning out the next chapter, so hopefully it won't take as long as this one to be posted. Exams are coming up soon, so I'll write as much as I can now before the middle of April hits me hard. Anyway, that aside, hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter Four: Uptown Girl
Hermione sighed and looked at the clock again. She couldn't wait to get out of Snape's class, and she couldn't figure out why. Maybe it was the fact that she had never enjoyed his class very much before. Or maybe it was the fact that he kept looking at her in class, almost as though to make sure that she was still there. Frankly, she found it a little unnerving. But she shrugged it off as worry from yesterday's episode. She had gone to the library last night to catch up on all her classes that she missed that day. The boys had teased her for a good half hour about how she still manages to make her daily trip to the library, even though she had been (as Charlie put it) "staring death in the face and making fun of the hood that he's wearing because he is obviously balding". Draco had laughed, but then after they had all calmed down and dissipated, Draco offered to walk her to the library and pick her up when she was done. She looked at the clock. It was now midnight, and the library was closing. Gathering up all her books, she headed towards the door.
Suddenly she felt a hand around her waist. "Excuse me miss, I was hoping you could help me with something."
She spun around from the contact. "What do you--..."
Draco grinned. "I was hoping you could help me find a book. I'm interested in taking out something."
She sighed and placed a hand lightly on her chest. "You startled me. I thought you were someone else."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Hermione shrugged. "Just somebody else. Someone else who wouldn't normally put their hands on my waist."
Draco smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "Anybody else who does will have to answer to me."
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So I guess I should warn Neville then?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Like you would even look at Longbottom."
"You mean, why would I look at Neville when I have you?"
Draco smirked. "Yeah. Something like that."
She smiled and slowly brought her mouth closer to his. "Oh, different things."
Draco grinned. "Like what?"
"His taste in books."
Draco smiled and gave Hermione a quick kiss. "Well that is actually what I'm here for. I am here to take something out of the library."
Hermione smiled. "Okay then," she said, walking in between two aisles close to the back of the library. "Have any particular genre?"
Draco shrugged and cast a glance up and down the aisle. "I was actually looking into the romance genre."
Hermione looked surprised. "Really?"
Draco nodded, letting his eyes roam over her face. "Yeah. Are you available?"
Hermione looked at him for a moment, then blushed and smiled. She brought her gaze to the floor, grinning. "I don't know."
Draco cast a look down the aisle, then returned his attention to her. "Well, I looked through the library while you were still studying..."
"You mean you were spying on me."
"... and the only thing I want to take out of this library is you," he said, pretending not to hear her comment. She grinned at him. He gently brushed his hand up and down her bare arm. "So what do you think?"
Hermione grinned at how vulnerable Draco could seem sometimes. Sometimes he was this cocky, smug teenager who was just asking to be put in his place. But other times, it was as though he was still nervous around her, always wanting to say the right thing. She laughed and he looked at her, unable to read what she was thinking.
"Did I say something funny?" he asked, smiling, but Hermione could see the hesitation and... possible nervousness behind his eyes.
She smiled. "No. Nothing."
He shoved his hands into his robe. "So? What do you think?"
"Well, I'm not sure. See, the word is that I'm on reserve for someone."
A look of possible hurt crossed Draco's face. Hermione continued.
"Yeah, maybe you know him? He's uh, young, arrogant, proud, a wonderful kisser, and a great singer. His name is Draco Malfoy."
In an instant the potential shy Draco was gone and cocky, proud Draco had taken over. He gave her a lopsided grin. "A wonderful kisser, huh? Better than this?"
He brought his lips to hers, and she instantly responded, brushing herself against him and wrapping her arms around his neck. She felt herself melting into him and pulled him closer as the kiss became more passionate. Finally they parted for air, and Hermione smiled.
"I guess you win," she said grinning, kissing him lightly.
Draco tucked in his lips, tasting them with tongue. He kissed her again. "You taste wonderful. Rapsberries?"
Hermione smiled. "Yes, actually. I thought I would try it instead of the strawberry lip gloss."
Draco smirked. "Can't tell you which I like better. I might have to test again."
Hermione swatted him playfully. "You've had too much testing for one day."
Draco smiled. "There's no such thing as too much testing." He gently kissed her neck. "NASA is always testing their rockets."
She giggled as he kissed her neck. "Are you comparing me to a rocket ship?"
He smiled and placed his forehead against hers. "Only in the fact that both of you get me flying high."
She shook her head at him, grinning. "What is going on with you today?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I missed you?"
She laughed. "I haven't gone anywhere!"
"I know, but we haven't had a lot of private time lately."
She nodded. "That's true."
He smiled. "So? Let's do something tomorrow. My treat. I'll take you out."
Hermione smiled. "Okay. But only if I'm done my potions write-up."
Draco frowned. "Snape is now determining whether or not I get to spend time with you?"
"Not necessarily. Not if I finish it," she said. "And you know, the more time we spend doing this now," she said, kissing him, "the less time we have to do this later."
Draco grinned. "Fine, I'll let you work on your write-up all day tomorrow. But tomorrow night, you're all mine.
Deal?" Hermione nodded. "Deal."
*********
"What the hell are you talking about? You are a disgrace to the name of Weasley! I can't believe that you're sticking up for that... that... thing!"
"Oh no? Look at you Mr. Everybody's-opinion-is-worse-than-mine! You know, I ought to hex you!"
Hermione looked up from her paper. She had to get this finished before tonight's date.It was early afternoon, and the mad rush of students from lunch had dissipated from the Great Hall. Though the madness hadn't quite left just yet...
"Hex me, huh? Go ahead and try, ya pansy!"
"Alright! You asked for it you ponce!"
Hermione stood up. "Hey!... You two!..." she tried to get their attention. Then she had a thought.
"The lottery is up to two billion!"
Both boys instantly stopped and turned to Hermione. "What?"
"How much?"
She smirked to herself, an unconscious lesson from Draco. "Mention anything about money and they hand you their attention"
She picked up her book and notes and walked over to the two boys. "Is it safe to sit here, or are you two not quite finished yet?"
One of the boys grinned at her, then motioned to the other boy. "Time, please Fred."
Fred Weasley checked his watch. "Two minutes and fifteen seconds."
Hermione crossed her arms, pretending to look stern. "What is this?"
Fred grinned. "We were trying to determine just how long it would take to get your attention and get you to come over and sit with us."
George smiled. "Which, as we had hoped, was under five minutes. Congratulations! You've been had."
Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down. "Nice job guys."
Fred gave her a small frown. "You're not sore, are you 'mione?"
"Yeah, cause we were only joking," George added.
Hermione shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
A look passed between the two. "Nothing. It's just that after your fall..."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Guys, I'm fine! It's not that big a deal anyway."
Fred smiled. "So what happened? Malfoy sweep you off your feet and forget to catch you?"
"Yes, that must have been it..." she said, sarcastically.
George punched Fred in the shoulder. "Serious though, what happened? Did you black out, or..."
Hermione smiled. "No, actually I was sitting right there, when..."
Tackled to the ground.
A dark figure on top of her.
Can't breathe.
Energy slipping... falling...
No one there to catch her...
So alone...
"Hermione... Hermione?"
Someone was lightly tapping her on the shoulder. Hermione snapped out of her reverie.
"Huh? What?"
Fred and George looked concerned. "Whoa, what happened? You kind of left us there for a minute."
Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry... what were we talking about again?"
George held her arm. "Are you sure you're okay? You started to talk, but then stopped."
Hermione shrugged. "Nah, I was just... dizzy, that's all. I'm fine. I was just over there and I fell."
Too weak to move.
Life slipping away...
"So... what were you talking about?"
Fred shrugged. "Before when we were trying to get your attention or the topic just now?"
Hermione shook her head. "No no... before. When you were trying to get my attention. What thing were you talking about?"
George grinned. "It's funny that you mention that. It's actually quite fascinating."
"Well, I heard someone was insulting someone else's thing, which didn't sound any better coming from you guys as it did coming from me just now. So what exactly was the endearing topic of discussion?"
Fred and George grinned. Fred looked at Hermione. "You really want to know?"
Hermione smiled sweetly. "Why else would I be asking?"
Fred shrugged. "Ready?"
"Yes."
Fred took a deep breath. "Pastries."
Hermione stopped and frowned at him. "Pastries."
Geroge grinned. "Yep."
Hermione looked perplexed. "That's how you got my attention? Talking about breakfast food?"
"Ah ah ah... they're not always considered to be breakfast food though. A lot of people make that assumption."
"Is there really anything else to assume?"
Fred smiled. "Actually, you'd be surprised. They work wonders as semi-harmful projectiles. For example, if one were to throw a jelly-filled doughnut, it is basically the equivalent of pastry-oriented self-detonating grenade!"
Hermione stared at both of them. "I cannot believe that I am actually having this conversation with you two right now. I can't believe that I'm involved in this."
George grinned. "Why not? It's perfect. No one would suspect. And that way, you get your food and your vengeance in one fell swoop."
Fred smiled and stood up. "Here's another example."
He circled his wand above the table until a croissant appeared. Picking it up, he chanted a couple words over it.
"Ready Hermione?"
Hermione shrugged. "Ready for Freddie."
He grinned. Swinging his arm back, he threw it away from the table towards the far end of the Great Hall. Instead of falling, it spun, cutting through the air.
"Please don't tell me that is what I think it is."
George grinned. "What? A Croissant Boomerang?"
Fred nodded. "Or a Croissanterang. We're still deciding on a name."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but suddenly looked at the Croissanterang. "Uh... guys? Why is it coming back?"
Fred smiled. "It's supposed to."
"Yeah, but at top speed?"
Fred and George looked at the croissanterang that was now hurtling towards them at top speed. Fred attempted to catch it, but it was as though the croissant had a mind of its own, and flew just out of Fred's grasp. George pulled out his wand and aimed at the croissant, now circling around for a second time.
"No! You can't shoot it down!"
George shrugged. "I may have to."
Fred shook his head. "No! You can't! Marcel!"
Hermione looked at Fred. "Marcel?"
He nodded.
"Marcel the Croissant?"
Fred nodded again. "He's French."
Hermione wrapped her arms around herself. "Is this just an insanity condition? When you name inanimate or soon-to-be-eaten objects?"
"Hey, I'm not the only one who does it!"
There was a light thump. The two turned to see George putting away his wand, the croissant resting in one piece on the table. Fred grinned. "He's alive!"
He turned to Hermione. "And no... I'm not the only one who does it."
"Really? So it's a family thing?"
"No, it's a friend thing."
"Well the insanity must have transferred from you to her. Why? Did she name soon-to-be-eaten objects?"
"Yes. She had a particular favorite."
"Really..."
"Yes."
"Did it have a name?"
"Bob."
Hermione groaned. "Let me guess... the bagel?"
Fred smiled. "How did you know?"
"I'm psychic."
George tilted his head and grinned. "Oh yeah? How's that working out for ya?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Just fine." She stood up and collected her book. "Anyway boys, I gotta get going."
"Yeah okay. Have fun with Draco tonight."
Hermione spun around. "How did you know about that?"
George grinned. "Let's just say that an individual, namely me, was looking for a particular book last night in the library. Say around... midnight?"
Hermione groaned. "Of all the times for you to be in a library."
George smiled. "Yeah. Don't think I'm going back again for another trip any time soon. He winked at Hermione.
She rolled her eyes. "God, is nothing sacred?"
"Hah! Not around here. You want sacred? School is the last place you want to go for that."
Hermione frowned, and even looked slightly upset.
George brushed her arm gently with his hand. "Don't worry 'mione. We won't tell anyone. Your secret is safe with us."
She grinned. "Thank you boys. I'll see you later, okay?"
Both boys nodded and wished her good luck for the night. She smiled and felt the butterflies in her stomach as she headed to her room.
********
She gave a quick glance at the clock. She had half an hour to dress, and do her makeup and hair.
No problem.
She decided to do her makeup first. After all, what would happen if she got it on her dress? Aside from use a spell to take it out...
She shrugged and pulled out her makeup. Sitting down at her desk, she slipped on a pair of headphones around the back of her head to rest on her ears. She gently pushed play and pulled out an eyeliner pencil.
Uptown girl
She's been living in her uptown world
I bet she never had a back street guy
I bet her mama never told her why
I'm gonna try
Hermione grinned as she gently brush pale blue color onto her eyelids. Charlie had teased her once, calling her an uptown girl, but Hermione corrected him, pointing out that technically, Draco was an "uptown boy". Charlie had laughed.
"Draco? An uptown boy? Hah. Girl, that boy is trying to get as far away as possible from that lifestyle. He's as downtown as they get."
Hermione stopped applying her makeup. She had never realized just how far Draco had come from their first meeting until now. He was a completely different person, and had successfully separated himself from his own wants and the wants that his family lifestyle and its limitations had imposed on him.
She smiled. She was proud of him. He was living the life he wanted.
For an uptown girl
She's been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she's looking for a downtown man
That's what I am
Draco glanced in the mirror again for the eighteenth time in the past two minutes. He decided to get back to pacing, a bad habit that Charlie would probably break his legs for. He sighed.
Hermione was such an amazing person. No one had ever treated him the way she had. Like he was an actual person. Like he wasn't just "someone who used to be the enemy".
He gave a slight frown. As much as he tried to hope, he knew that there was no way that he could ever be good enough for her. She was like...
Draco smiled at the thought of Charlie (the die-hard rock fan) prancing around singing "Uptown Girl" all afternoon. This led to Draco having to leave the room for a couple minutes. When he came back, Charlie and Hermione were in a discussion.
And when she knows what
She wants from her time
And when she wakes up
And makes up her mind
He smiled, remembering how he leaned against the doorframe, watching Hermione and Charlie discussing whatever. How her eyes lit up when she laughed. How she used every inch of her face for expressing how she felt. How, when she got really excited, she would grin and wave her arms.
Hermione seemed to know what she was doing. Draco, on the other hand, seemed to have a hard time of wrapping his head around the idea that Hermione actually liked him. That she wanted to spend time with him.
He smirked to himself. "God, what a softie I turned out to be."
He could practically hear his brain laughing. "That's because you love her."
She'll see I'm not so tough
Just because
I'm in love
with an uptown girl
You know I've seen her in her uptown world
She's getting tired of her high class toys
And all her presents from her uptown boys
She's got a choice
Hermione smiled to herself as she applied her mascara. She had always had an idea of what she wanted a guy to be like. And even though Draco had been a lot of things, she was nothing like she had pictured a boyfriend to be. Of course, both the way she though and the way he acted had changed. She smiled to herself.
She knew what she was doing. Draco was her choice.
She'd had boyfriends in the past, of course. But none of them had ever been like Draco. They had tried to put her on a pedestal, and keep her as more of a trophy, a possession. They had treated her like something fragile, something breakable. Something stupid. Something that needed to be taught how to behave, had to be taught how to think. Then Draco had come and turned her world upside down. Treated her the opposite. Granted, he hadn't been the nicest guy before, but he had sent Hermione a wake-up call.
She had realized that there were guys who wouldn't put her on a pedestal. Draco, of course, straightened his ways, and helped her find the perfect combination of both. Spoken to and treated like an equal. Like a partner. And loved like a princess.
Loved like... an uptown girl.
Uptown girl
You know I can't afford to buy her pearls
But maybe someday when my ship comes in
She'll understand what kind of guy I've been
And then I'll win
Draco waited at the foot of the stairs leading up to their bedrooms. He'd known that she would be late- women always were... "fashionably late". He'd asked her to be ready earlier than he actually wanted, taking into account the fact that she would be late anyway.
He considered pacing, but decided to sit down instead. He rested his elbows on his knees, hunched over like a football player on the bench. He took a deep breath. He silently prayed to a higher being to help him and not let him screw this up.
Suddenly, he heard a door open. He slowly glanced up, letting his gaze crawl up the stairs step by step. She stood at the top of the stairs, a calf-length black skirt worn below a shimmery (not to mention see-though) blue blouse, tied just above her waist, with a white tank top underneath. Her neck was bare, curled locks of her hair gently grazing. Her make-up had been applied expertly, carefully, and her hair was worn half up, piled gently on top of the head that housed the intelligent brain of the most amazing woman he had ever met. Ever loved.
His breath caught in his throat. He stood up as she came down the stairs. He smiled.
She was beautiful.
The epitome of perfection.
And when she's walking
She's looking so fine
And when she's talking
She'll say that she's mine
His smile made her feel light-headed as she came down the stairs. If she were to lose her balance, she knew that he would catch her. He always would.
She gazed at him as she descended the stairs. His hair seemed as though he had given up trying to style it, resulting in a few strands grazing his cheek and trying to hide his beautiful grey eyes. His green shirt brought out the flecks of green hidden in his eyes, difficult to see unless you had been looking into them more than once. She glanced at his black dress pants, the matching jacket having been tossed on the chair, now forgotten. He smiled at her.
"You look beautiful, Hermione," he said.
She felt herself blush, and simply smiled at him. He felt his heart race.
"Thank you," she responded.
He felt his heart jump. He was hooked.
She'll say I'm not so tough
Just because
I'm in love
With and uptown girl
She's been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she's looking for a downtown man
That's what I am
He reached out his hand. "May I?"
She smiled and gave him her hand. He bent over and kissed the back of it gently, his eyes never leaving hers.
He had always listened to his mother talk about things like true love and the feeling of pure bliss that comes from simply being in the presence of the person you adore. He had always agreed to make her feel better, but he had never truly believed it. Never thought that he could care about someone so much with every fibre of his being, not caring whether or not protecting her would throw his own life into jeopardy. That everything he did in life, everything he tried to be, he would do for her.
He never thought that such a girl existed for him. That was, until he met Hermione.
He felt himself become humble by simply being in her presence.
He loved her that much.
Uptown girl
She's my uptown girl
You know I'm in love
With an uptown girl
He gently led her down the remaining stairs, his hand never leaving hers. She smiled at him.
"You look nice."
He grinned. "I'm glad you approve. You... you look..."
She tilted her head. "Beautiful... still?"
He grinned. "... like a dream."
She smiled, hiding the small feeling of dread creeping over her. He motioned towards the door.
"Shall we?"
She nodded, and allowed herself to be led by Draco out the door. Even though it was smaller with the presence of Draco, the fear and dread of the memories that came back to her while in the Great Hall still lingered.
She smiled and shrugged it off. He didn't need to know about her dreams. As long as his were all taken care of, and as long as he would take care of her, she would be fine.
This uptown girl was safe in the arms of her guy, downtown or not, and she silently prayed for it to stay that way.
My uptown girl
You know I'm in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I'm in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
*********
Author's Note: I know, I know, could I have put ANY MORE fluff into this chapter?? I know. I kind of got off track. But hey, I now know where I'm going for the next couple of chapters, so nobody panic! [*Charlie runs in waving his arms: "Listen to her! Nobody panic! Okay, calm down. The exits are located here (motions) and here (motions again). Okay, thanks for listening. I'll let you get back to Atellix now. Sorry for the interruption Al"*) S'okay Charlie, no worries. Anyway, I'm sorry if it had a little too much fluff, but you'll thank me later. And I can't believe that I made Draco out to be such a softie! Anyway, review and let me know what you think! (P.S. The whole Weasley scene was an inside joke from a reviewer-- You know who you are!!!)
My review song is "All that She Wants" by Ace of Base (I know the poem isn't as original as it should be, but at least it is repetitive and persistent and gets the point across. Lol.):
All that she wants is another review,
She'll post tomorrow but,
All that she wants is another review, heyeh
All that she wants is another review,
She'll post tomorrow but,
All that she wants is another review, heyeh
Horray, a hopeless romantic and an original review song. Next chapter will be better, I promise.