Though it only lasted a second or two, the kiss felt like it had gone on forever. Definitely NOT to my liking.
Or so I told myself repeatedly.
Tom pulled back rather quickly, as though burned, and he stared at me with a look of deep loathing and immense confusion. The only reason he stared was because he was obviously running through a ton of evil, degrading insults to throw at me. But he couldn't form them at the moment. He opened and closed his mouth several times, but nothing came out. I should have said something like, "Wow, Tom, I know I'm irresistible, but you could have asked…" but he looked to be on the edge. And besides, I couldn't really find my voice at the moment either.
Snow had begun to fall just then. It was really gorgeous, the scene in which I was in. Flurries of snow were falling and clinging to Tom's hair. His eyes were still fixed on me, glaring. And I realized something that unsettled me greatly.
He looks kind of cute when he's angry.
I took a step backwards, into the wall, because the small amount of space between us was rather uncomfortable, made even more so by my thought process. I think he took offense to that, because his scowl deepened. After another second of (nothing), he abruptly turned and ran down the stairs.
I smoothed out my hair, staring off blankly as a shower of snowflakes fluttered down from my head. I leaned back against the wall and slid down onto the cold stone floor, melted snow seeping through my robes.
Why did he do that? I asked myself over and over again, long after the moon rose into the sky, but not the slightest hint of an answer graced my mind. My stomach was flipping around inside me, causing a rather irritating sensation. My wet clothing threatened me with hypothermia, but I didn't even notice then. I just couldn't understand what drove Tom to do that. He couldn't possibly have feelings for me. Well, feelings other than hatred and irritation. And what if he did? I don't have feelings for him in return.
…Do I?
No. No, no, no. Uh-uh. Never.
…?
The whole time I had been in the past, I disliked Tom. And I was perfectly okay with that. Sure, I had considered him a friend, and I tolerated him, but deep down, I despised him with every fiber of my being. And I was positive the feeling was mutual. Until now.
But maybe I'm just thinking into it too deep. He's a guy, and his hormones are probably just as raging as any other teenage boy in the school. That doesn't mean that he has any romantic interest in me. But really, considering who he is, you'd think he'd have some control over his hormones.
You know what? I think he just slipped on some melted snow and fell into me. That's why he looked so confused. Yes, that has to be it. He slipped, and I'm being stupid... Thinking about Tom... Pfft... I guess I can stop now... Yes, here I am, on the astronomy tower, definitely NOT thinking about Tom…Ahh! I can't believe I just kissed a future psycho-killer! Voldemort! What is wrong with me? No more thinking…
I stood up, my clothes soaking wet, and started the trek to the common room. Lost in un-thought. I was thinking so hard about not thinking, that I found myself standing before the painting of the Fat Lady.
"Venomous Tentacula," I stated absentmindedly, not even looking up.
"Incorrect! And you are a Slytherin! What are you doing here? Get back to your correct common room!" The Fat Lady spouted off angrily. I started at the outburst. Slytherin? Wha--? Oh. Yeah.
I turned off in another direction and ran. I didn't stop running until I had reached the entrance hall. I collapsed at the bottom of the stairs, exhausted and feeling rather cold. My clothes were still wet. I giggled a little bit at the fact that I was having trouble getting up. I pulled myself up against the stair railing, and stumbled to the door that led to the dungeons, feeling faint. It was past curfew, so if I were to get caught, I'd be in loads of trouble. I pulled open the door and, not expecting anyone to be there, gasped, jumping a little into the air.
Tom was standing in the doorway, about to make his nightly rounds. His face was completely lacking expression, and he just stared blankly at me. I made my face as stony as possible, and I walked around him, not caring that I shoved him out of the way as I did so. I heard the door close behind me, and I figured he had gone the other way. I sneezed a few times, and I staggered a little, as the corridor drifted around me. I felt like I was on a boat. Or, locked inside a stuffy boat in the arctic ocean with no heater. And I was sweating. A lot. I don't think that's a good sign, but at the time, I was so focused on getting away from him that I didn't care.
I held on to the grooves in the wall as I made my way down the corridor, slowly. I tripped over my feet and fell down to my knees.
'I wonder what would happen if I died here,' I thought deliriously as I pulled myself back up. 'Would they send my body to the future?"
I don't know where that thought came from, but it made me laugh hysterically for some reason. I was getting really sick and delirious, but I was too far out to notice that I was. I wasn't even making sense to myself. It was a good thing Tom wasn't there to see.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Granger?" said a voice behind me.
Damn. Spoke too soon.
"Nothing at all, Riddle!" I laughed, spinning around. "What's wrong with you?"
"Something is the matter," he stated, sounding a bit irritated. "Why are you dancing around like a four-year-old?"
"Because I am four!" I giggled, prancing clumsily down the corridor to the common room, Tom following close behind. He grabbed my shoulders and turned my around to face him. I tried to break free, to dance some more, but he was rather strong. I pouted, still bouncing around where I stood. "Aww, Tom, you ruin all my fun. You're such a bore!"
"Granger, have you been drinking?" He asked, his grip a little tighter than before.
"I think so," I said, placing a finger thoughtfully on my chin. I looked down at my robes and wrung some of the water out of them. "My clothes are all wet. I suppose I spilled my drink on them. Oh, how clumsy of me!"
His grip let up, and he looked really…angry. I giggled and pulled free of Tom's grasp. I spun around once, and fell down. All of a sudden, I felt really tired. I tried to hoist myself up, so I could go to sleep in my bed, but I couldn't regain my balance and I fell again.
"Ouch…" I muttered as I tried to get up again. I felt a strong pair of hands pull me up again, and I batted them away. "I don't need your help, Tom! I can make it to the common room on my own!"
"No, you can't," he said, his voice tinged with…something. I couldn't tell what it was, in my present state. "You need to—"
"Oh, don't tell me what I need to do," I told him, a bit angrily. I wanted to sleep, and he was stopping me. "I need to go to sleep. And if you keep this up, I won't be able to."
I sneezed several times during this, and each time made me more and more exhausted. I slumped down against the wall purposely, ad leaned my head against it.
"Good night, Tom," I mumbled sleepily. "I'll see you in the morning."
"No, Granger," he said, crouching down in front of me. He shook me a little, to keep me awake. "I need you to tell me where you just came from."
"The Astronomy Tower," I whispered, my eyes sliding shut. Tom shook me again. He leaned in closer, his warm breath lessening the cold on my face. The heat from his body made me feel a little less cold, but much more tired than before.
"You were there all that time?" he asked, his voice becoming a little panicky. "Is that why you're all wet?"
I half-closed my eyes again and giggled.
"You're awfully close to me, Tom. Are you going to kiss me again?"
He pulled back at that. I was a bit sorry that the heat from his breath was gone from my face, but I ignored it for the moment. I opened my eyes a little, and saw that he was looking directly at me, a look of irritation etched on his handsome features…(What? I was delirious!)
And then he reached out his hand and placed it gently against my forehead. His face displayed concern when he removed his hand.
"Granger, you're sick," he said softly. "You have a fever, and I need to get you to the hospital wing. Come on."
He lifted me up and cradled me. He started off quickly out the door, and his gentle manner changed dramatically as my eyes began to close.
"Granger, you idiot!" he whispered angrily to me. "Don't go to sleep! Stay up! Come on!"
"But I'm…so…tired," I muttered, sleep nearly taking over me.
"You can't sleep! You'll die!" he continued frantically, bouncing me in his arms. That kept me awake for a little bit, but soon it just felt like I was being rocked to sleep. "Granger, come on!"
We were nearing the hospital wing, and I was fading pretty fast. Not thinking clearly, I looked up at Tom.
"Tom?" I said weakly.
"What is it Granger?" he replied, obviously relieved that I wasn't asleep.
"Don't kiss me anymore," I said, my eyes closing. "It kind of hurts my head, and I think that's why I'm sick now."
"Erm…Alright then Granger," he replied, looking at me with an amused, but slightly panicked, expression. "I won't."
I slipped into sleep just then, so I don't know what happened afterwards.
I'm sorry to say that I didn't make it through the night, and I died peacefully in my sleep.
Ha, kidding. But you knew that, right?
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((A/N: Short, yes, I know. But so is Daniel Radcliffe, and he's still hot. I'm really sorry it took so long. I just couldn't decide whether I wanted to continue with it or not. But I decided that I will, obviously. And I may even create a sequel! Actually, I probably won't, but let me know if that's what you guys want. Keep in mind that it will be another ship. Namely, Draco/Hermione. Okay then…I got SO MANY reviews! Sure, most of them were angry outbursts because I said I wouldn't continue the fic, but they were reviews all the same. Thanks guys! If any of you would like to contact me, my AIM is (Poikaer) and my MSN is Alrighty then, here are my replies…))
Amaranthine.Amour: Well, here's your early birthday present! Woot!
dark lord shock: "OMG" is right! Lol. I was shocked at how well that cliffy turned out. I've never written one before…
sailorsuns: (bows) Oh, thankyou!
Setsuna Bu: Yep, there's action. And there's more where that came from!
Jess: Yes, I know. Everyone hates cliffies. I do too. But I thought it was appropriate.
CareBearErin: Wow, so deep! I didn't really think too hard on the presents. I just decided on random stuff. And Malfoy didn't know that she had to go back in time. He was just toying with her to get on her nerves. He knew that, as head girl, she would be inclined to follow him to find out what he was up to. I was fate that led her into that corridor. Not Malfoy. And I liked the fact that he kissed her as well. Except that I wish it was me…(sigh) Thanks for the review!
Yummyguitars: Glad you liked it! And my screen name is Poikaer, as you already know.
I x am x Nobody: Aww, I'm touched! I'm glad you reviewed, because it makes me feel special. Lol.
Sakuya Kaleido: Yep, Tom definitely knows she's from the future.
ShepStep: YES! I'm always happy to convert people to the best ship of all time. And thanks for the compliments. You're making me blush.
Black-rose23: Eh, that's okay. You probably won't find this one for a while, too. Heh. Hope you liked the reaction.
ThingsMakeMeHappy: Please don't cry! It's up, it's up! Lol! Malfoy will not change at all. Nothing will. This was all destiny. Ai, I don't think I'll explain this again. You'll find out more in the end.
Gywnn-Potter: ? Okay then…Just email me or AIM me if you have that many questions. I'm online nearly every day.
Hermione Charlotte Granger: Not quite August 8th, eh? Hope you liked it! Don't worry, I'm obviously not quitting the story. You can breathe again!
Learson: I'm continuing it. Don't worry.
Dracodolenz: Okay, okay! Now there's only 4 authors who did it!
vla1diva: You're right. Actually, it was really your review that made me realize that it doesn't really need to coincide with the book. So, all my reviewers can thank you, and another reviewer who emailed me personally.
Nicole: I know! Wasn't it sad? I cried for about an hour after I finished it! JK Rowling is sooo mean! But she didn't stop me. Though it came close…
BellonaBellatrix: First of all, I despise you penname. I'm sorry, but Bellatrix isn't my favorite person at the moment. Nothing personal. Moving on, though, I will not discontinue this story. I promise.
L'amour Doux: Was it you that emailed me a long list of reasons as to why I should keep writing? If it is, then you have yourself to thank for me continuing this story. You and "vlaldiva." Thanks for the review!
Lilac: I'm glad you like it. I'll continue it.
Heavenly Grace: Refer to above
Livethroughtheatre: Refer to above
Ocean Queen Kai: refer to above
dark lady shock: refer to above (except, you need mental help. And your sister needs anger management…)
Gallaz: Woot! Thanks!
Hpfanf: You're very welcome! I love all this support, guys! It makes me feel all warm inside!
Zenya Taki: I'm glad you liked it!
mors4caudices: Okay, it's going.
Shi-Sha Hariken: Just a bit of foreshadowing there… ; ) No, not really, they won't get married.