Only Fools Rush In
*Disclaimer – I *do not* own anything except my original characters, my story and plot lines and my scenarios, even though they've probably been used, mauled and distorted before. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME!!! And, also, please don't sue me for any of the copyrighted things in here (like music and songs) unless they're my own or if I added or changed a line, that line is MINE!. [Scratches head sheepishly.] Okay! Enjoy!* {I mean, really, c'mon, I were JKR, would I be posting these on this site?}
A/N: Yea, Uh, this is a note for Kel: Yeah, I did do major typos on the height thing, lol! Draco is supposed to be 6'1" (slippery fingers ;P) and Harry's supposed to be 5'9" (again with the butterfingers!) But it's all due to lack of beta! *Sniffles*. And Kari-demon, I'll tell you right now; I'm sadistic. I LOVE TO SEE YOU SQUIRM! Lol. And for all you linguists out there, I warn you that the other languages in here have been done ROUGHLY. I am studying these languages but still, sadly, am not able to speak them yet. Please, bear with me. I AM YOUR SLAVE! I WRITE WHAT YOU WANT! Well, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Nice long a juicy for you, since you had to wait sooo long!
Chapter 6 – I Will Be Waiting: Amazing
Hermione's POV
I wanna love you like I never loved you tonight
If it's alright
I wanna tell you things I've never said in my life
I'm gonna hold you when the sun refuses to shine
I wanna show you that I'll always be by your side
I woke up stiff; it felt as if I hadn't moved at all during the night. And it became evident that I hadn't because of the locked arms that held me against a warm chest. I involuntarily licked my lips and my tongue came in contact with skin. Delicious, I thought wickedly.
I buried my head into the soft expanse of chest and rubbed my face against it to try and rid myself of the weariness I felt, eliciting a contented sigh from him.
"Draco, wake up." I urged. "C'mon, Draco, I really need my arms!"
"Hmmphm…"
"Draco, c'mon, please? I know it's Saturday, but you have practice!"
"Mmph… Don't… hmph… Care…"
I gave an exasperated sigh and laid quietly for a few more minutes, my body numbing more and more. I could feel the pins-and-needles sensation hitting the back of my neck. I sighed again and was suddenly hit with an idea.
"Draco," I said as huskily as I could muster. "Draco, c'mon. you don't have to go to practice, but I do really need you to wake up so I can give you a proper good morning…"
His eyes shot open and his grip immediately loosened. I giggled and muttered about the predictability of men.
"You know, you're very cruel," he remarked whilst stretching on my bed. I was going around my room looking for clothes to wear.
"That's me in a nutshell," I replied, repeating my answer from the previous night. "What should I wear today?"
"Something in green."
"You'd like my reflection."
"Huh?"
"Last night my mirror told me that I would look better in green."
"You would," he said, coming up behind me and engulfing me in his arms.
"Fine. I know what to wear today."
"What is it?"
"My silver velvet pants thingy. And you can lend me your green rave sweater," I said triumphantly as we rocked on the spot.
"Rave sweater? I don't think I own one of those," he replied slowly.
"You do. It's that thick knit turtleneck one. Or the not turtleneck one. Well, one of the thick knit sweaters. That's a rave sweater."
"Sure, whatever. Just as long as you don't shrink it. I think you'd look good in something long and baggy. Um, I think what muggles call…" I looked at his face, contorted in concentration. "Pug or hug style?"
"Thug," I corrected. I giggled. "No, I'm not going thuggette. I'm going more rave and jungle styles."
"Rave? Jungle? Care to enlighten me?"
I laughed at the incredulous look on his face. I guess when I said jungle, he was thinking along the lines of Tarzan. That thought just made me laugh harder.
"A rave is a type of big dance party with techno music. Jungle is sort of the same, only with jungle music. Like heavy bass beats and stuff."
"Whatever," he repeated as we made our way to the bathroom, me summoning my clothes and jewelry from the wardrobe and Draco actually going into his room to scrounge out clothes to practice in.
I started a bath (lemon-lime water) and tapped the wall, muttering an Italian charm I learned, 'Musica giocatore'. An old nineties song came floating through the air, one of my favourites, D-Cru's 'I Will Be Waiting'. I started singing along to it.
"You know, you have a great voice, bella," Draco said from the doorway of his room.
"Italian? You speak Italian and French?" It was my turn to look at him incredulously.
"Si, mi bella."
"Quien dignidad haber pensamiento!" I smirked at his bemused/amused expression. "L'español, mi amor." (Who would have thought! Spanish, my love.)
"Evidentemente, cara mia," he replied, his turn to smirk at me. (Evidently, my dear.)
"How about we stuck to English, hmm, mi amor? It's easier for both of us to understand. But I'm still waiting for the French lessons."
"I wouldn't put it past you to forget, bella."
"Then come on in," I said slipping off my bathrobe and stepping into the warm water. "The water's fine."
"I'll take your word for it."
Draco's POV
Bath time took the better part of an hour. Which I really didn't mind, except for the fact that she made us get out and go for lunch.
"But that was fun," I whispered in her ear as we walked hand in had through our common room. I slid one hand down the small of her back and she shivered. "I know you definitely enjoyed it."
"I did," she managed to choke out. "But we do have lives."
"Fine, be that way." I pouted, wanting to see if she could resist. One glance at me and she giggled.
"Fine, fine," she sighed as her arms found their way around my neck and mine around her waist. "I'll make it up to you later, Draco. I promise."
"I'll take you up on that, Mia," I replied as I leaned down to kiss those soft, pink lips.
"Mia?" she said in between kisses. "Where… Did… Mia… Come… From…"
"My little nickname for you. Short for cara mia. It sounds cute."
She laughed. "I never, ever, in a million years, thought I'd hear Draco Whatever-You-Middle-Name-Is Malfoy say the word cute."
"Draco-Francis Quintus Malfoy, for your information. And… well, there you heard me say it."
"Francis-Quintus? So… Latin!"
We walked through the wall where the portrait had just dissolved.
"No, it's Draco-Francis. One name. Then Quintus. Because I'm the fifth Draco-Francis from Octavian Malfoy, my great-grandfather about seven times over."
"Oh, so classy," she joked.
"Yeah, well, it's less Anglicized than Hermione Bethany-Anne. You sound like the all around British home-girl, Mia."
"I know, I hate my name, too. Don't rub it in."
"Then Mia is much better, no?"
As we walked past, people started staring and pointing and whispering behind their hands. Once we had passed the fifth or sixth group of people doing this I stopped Hermione.
"Oi, you little gits, what's goin' on? Is there some sort of boil on the back of my head? Or a kick me sign?"
"N-n-noo, sir, M-m-mist-mist-er Mal-l-fo-fo-foy!" a third year turd managed to sputter.
"Then clear off!" I yelled down the hall. "THE NEXT PERSON WHO I FIND HAS A STARING PROBLEM WON'T HAVE EYES TO STARE WITH, GOTTIT?"
"Draco, calm down. I just think word's gotten out," Hermione said quietly. "I just didn't think it would this quickly."
"Yeah, it's just the fact that people stare and everything that gets to me, Mia. I mean, I am not an animal put here for show!"
"Yeah, I guess your right," she replied slowly. We walked the last few feet to the Great Hall and I pulled her aside for a goodbye kiss just in front of the doors. I had leant down, her face in my hands, lavishing her lips in luxury, when I felt a small breeze. Letting her go with a soft goodbye, I walked forward just to stop again. The doors to the dining hall were wide open, all eyes on us.
"Just great," Mia muttered behind me. "More prying eyes."
"I know. And I think they just got a show."
"Well, here goes nothing. Hasta luego, mi amor."
"Ciao, bella."
She walked in a few paces ahead of me and sat in between the Weaselette and one of the Manchester twins. They greeted each other and started talking like nothing happened. I managed to tear my eyes away from her and walked over to my table. I took my seat sandwiched between Crabbe and Goyle. As I sat, Pansy, Millicent and Blaise shot to the opposite bench, obscuring my view of the Gryffin-dork table.
"Draco, how could you?"
"Yes, Draco! With a Mudblood!"
"And a Gryffin-dork!"
"Oh, your father's going to have a conniption when he hears about this!"
"And your mother! Poor, Auntie Narcissa!"
"She'll die from heartbreak!"
"Oh, will you three shut up? You sound like old, hopeless biddies at work," I snapped. They gasped.
"Draco!"
"Oh, go away. You don't run my life you three worthless hens. Now scrub off!"
"What if we stay? What then? You'll hex us? You'll tell Lucius? You'll get Professor Snape? Well, Draco, those aren't options!" Blaise screamed.
"The hexing one is, you stupid little bitch. Now get out of my way before I do something I might regret."
"Then do it, Draco," Pansy sneered, standing up beside Blaise and Millicent. "Do it and never regret it. Remember our training, never regret. No regrets, Draco."
"Well," I said simply, taking out my wand, "you told me to. To distraho!"
The three of them were blasted away a few feet. They were dazed when they managed to stand again. Millicent tried yelling at me but a zipper appeared over her mouth. Then Pansy tried her luck. A shoed appeared in her large, loud orifice. Then Blaise tried, the stupid girl, and she suddenly started spitting Galleons.
"Hey, Millicent, zip it! Talk about putting your foot in your mouth, Pansy! And Blaise, remember the phrase put your money where your mouth is?"
Everyone in the Great Hall erupted into laughter. The three girls ran to the staff table, managing to free their mouths and yelling at Dumbledore to do something.
"I'm sorry girls. Only Mr. Malfoy can take the spell off. If you try to talk to him in any way shape or form, you will somehow be… Ah, at a loss for words. It seems that Mr. Malfoy has decided to break all associations with you."
The laughter in Great Hall was even louder.
"Now, if everyone will please get back to their meals, we can have a full day," Dumbledore said after the hilarity died down, a moping trio of Slytherin girls conversing between themselves.
Hermione's POV
When you call my name
And you need me there
Girl you know that
I will be waiting for you
When you close your eyesAnd you see me there
Don't you know that I will be waiting
I just fell off my seat in laughter when Draco said the words to the hex. I knew what that curse did. Draco certainly did have a creative mind. I decided to go congratulate him.
"Hey, Gin, hold my place will you? Just gotta go talk to Draco for a min."
"Sure, no problem, 'Mione. Just get back quick before Harry and Ron kill you with their stares." She gave me a knowing glance. I just raised my eyebrows.
I made my way over to the Slytherin table amid the stares of at least 150 people. It felt like forever, but I managed to reach Draco the long way, avoiding Pansy, Blaise and Millicent.
"Bonjour, Mia. What's up?" He turned in his seat and gave me a quick peck on the lips. I felt a blush creep to my cheeks.
"I'm fine, mi amor. Just wanted to applaud you." I gave a small clap against the heel of my palm. "Congratulacion y yo amo tú, mi amor. Congratulacion."
"Run that by me again? In English this time?"
I laughed. "Congratulations and I love you. Happy?"
"Oui, je suis joli. Merci beacoup."
"Um, if I knew how to say 'you're welcome' in French, I'd say it. But I better get back to my lunch now. Just yell when you and the team are ready to go, okay?"
"Sure. You might want to bring a book or something though. I know you're not that interested in Quidditch."
"I'll survive somehow," I replied with a grin. I kissed him on the cheek and made my way back to where I was sitting before.
"Hermione, you're so lucky!" Asia gushed when I sat again. "I mean, Draco Malfoy! How to die for!"
"Yeah, I think I am going to die for him today," I remarked wryly. "He asked me to sit in on the Quidditch practice. You know how much I hate Quidditch."
"It can't be that bad. I mean, look what Draco's wearing: a white muscle shirt. And you know what happens to white when it gets sweaty, girls!" Sueyeng said in a loud, sing-song voice.
"It goes see-through!" all the girls around us cried as reply. I just laughed at the looks all the other tables were giving us.
"I swear, you guys are so… Hey!" I said, realizing something. "That's my boyfriend your talking about!" We all erupted in a fit of giggles.
Lunch went on uneventfully unless you call Ron and I exchanging dirty looks and me silently casting the Distraho charm on the three girls myself eventful.
"Mia! Let's go!"
I stood up. "I'm off then, girls!"
"Mia? Did he just call you Mia?"
"Yeah," I replied, wiping my mouth with my napkin and pulling on his sweater over my thin, silver velvet jacket. "I'll explain later. Hasta luego, amigas!"
"C'mon, Mia! Let's go! We're waiting!"
"I'm coming, Draco!" I said as I sprinted across the front of the Hall, stopping to catch my breath when he had his arm wrapped firmly around my waist.
"So, you ever learn to fly, Mia?"
"Uh-oh," I said aloud. "Don't even think about it, Draco. I'm not good on brooms, you know that."
"Oh, don't be such a wet blanket, Mia!"
"Draco!" I whined, trying to get my point across with as little words as possible as the remainder of the Quidditch team was surrounding us. They were lacking two players as they had managed to graduate last year. Draco, upon being made captain, was now responsible for filling the slots for two missing Chasers.
"Just come up with me for a practice lap around the pitch once or twice, babe! It's not so bad when you get used to it."
"Draco, no. Please?"
"I won't go very high, Mia. Please? Do this for me, okay?" He pouted and I couldn't resist. I saw that I wasn't going to win this battle any time soon, anyways. I sighed.
"Okay, fine. Just promise me you won't do anything… Too daring."
"I promise, Mia." And he turned his head away from me for a moment to address the team. "Okay, everyone! Three laps clockwise and then three counter-clockwise around the pitch for warm-up!"
Everyone lined up, brooms levitating before them.
"Mount your brooms!"
They mounted their brooms.
"FLY!"
They flew. I giggled at the fact that they all acted like Pavlov's dogs. Of more like Malfoy's.
"Coming, Mia?" Draco's deep, masculine voice brought me out of my reverie.
"Uh, yeah," I replied shakily. "Draco, are you sure about this?"
He pulled me into an embrace then as me on the broom, arms still around me, holding on to the broom itself. I grasped his hands.
"Yep. Let's go!" I felt him tap the broom with his foot and we shot up. I stifled a scream and he apologized for the quick start.
"Sorry, Mia." He kept us hovering in the air while I calmed down and then he steered us around the pitch, gradually adding to the speed until it all just felt natural to be sitting here in his arms, whizzing away. The time seemed to go by too quickly.
"Okay, everybody down!"
They all landed gracefully, even Crabbe and Goyle. I tried to stifle another giggle as I stood and walked over to the stands, sitting at the highest seat in the Slytherin box.
Draco commandeered the team effortlessly, like he was born for the job. An hour and a half into the practice he suddenly got frustrated and threw his sweat-soaked shirt on the ground. I ran down the stands worriedly.
"Draco?" I called, running over to him and massaging his shoulders.
"Thanks, babe," he whispered, rolling his head, trying to loosen the muscles in his neck. "Crabbe, Goyle, you idiots! I said try to visualize the opponent trailing our teammates, not visualize our opponents as the teammates! I swear, I don't understand how you managed to get this far for being so damned dense!"
"Er, sorry," they managed to sputter lamely.
"Sorry doesn't cut it! Just… Just try and act like you understand next time! Okay, practice over! We meet Wednesday night for tryouts for our new Chasers! Now clear off!"
"You okay?" I asked timidly, trying to calm him down enough to not break something.
"Yeah, just a little frustrated at those two idiots," he replied, dropping his gloves and broom on top of his shirt. He pulled me against his body, kissing me softly, almost in askance. His lips were soft, tender, tired. I sucked on his bottom lip and I heard him groan. I stopped and pulled away.
"Feel better yet?" I teased, jumping up and locking my legs around his waist so I could gain more height.
"Maybe one more," he said, grinning. "You know, just to make sure."
I leant forward and gave him another kiss, this one less chaste and more passionate, my tongue making its cameo.
"Hey, you two! Get a room!"
I pulled away and tried dropping my feet but Draco suddenly wouldn't let go. I hissed at him but his head was turned at our heckler. Ron.
"How about getting a girlfriend before you give out relationship advice, Weasley? It might do you some good!"
"Weasley, just leave us alone," I called as the whole Gryffindor team approached. "Hey, Ginny! Hey, Harry!"
I waved at the rest of the Gryffindor team as they came.
"Draco, if you'd let me down now…"
"Oh, sorry, Mia. My fault." He gave me a quick kiss and set me down, picking up his things as he bent over. "Potter, Ms. Weasley. Come for practice?"
"Yeah," Harry said. I was amazed. The two of them were acting civil! "We're short a Chaser and a Keeper."
"Thought you had a Keeper," Draco ground out, trying his hardest. I placed my hand in his and squeezed.
"Well, we've been doing some shifting around," Harry said evenly. "But, no mean to be rude or anything, but we've got a practice to attend. See you later?"
Harry stared at both of us expectantly, I nodded along with Draco. I let go of his hand and gave Harry a quick hug.
"Thanks for being okay with all this, Harry," I whispered before going back to where Draco was standing, broom, gloves and shirt in hand.
"No problem, 'Mione. Later."
We gave our goodbyes and left, heading straight for our tower. I leaned on him while we walked.
"Eugh. You stink, Draco."
"Well, sweat, dirt and Weasly don't exactly mix," he replied with a grin, pulling me closer as I tried to move back. I we fussed for fun all the way to the doors.
"Draco, put on your shirt," I said suddenly. "I want you to myself, no sharing."
"Greedy, now are we, Mia?"
I smiled smugly up at him. "Very."
Draco's POV
After a quick shower, I slid down my banister and jumped on the couch where Mia was studying intently.
"You're not going to repeat yesterday, are you?" she asked without setting down her book ('Numerus Venenum Liber Libri: Volume I').
"I will if I have to," I said, pulling the offending text out of her hands and throwing it on the floor.
"Hey! I was reading that!"
"Whoops…" I whispered carelessly, almost re-creating the scene from yesterday. She backed away, retrieving her book in the process.
"Draco, caro, no! I was researching our Potions project!"
"But I'm feeling a bit randy, Mia!" I whined.
"Yeah, too bad. Now either grab a book," she pointed at the stack on the table, "or go take a cold shower!"
I sighed and bent over to grab the book on the top stack. Numerus Venenum Liber Libri: Volume II.
"So, refresh my memory, cara mia," I said, flipping open the cover and skimming the table of contents. "We're doing the Mind-Body-Spirit Binding Potion and the Odore Scoprire Potion, right?"
"If by odour Scope-rear you mean Aura Potion, then yes." I laughed out loud.
"Scope-rear? Is that a word?"
"No clue." She grinned cockily, winking at me.
"Well, it's Odore Scoprire, Miss Supposed-To-Know-Everything-Granger. The Aura Reveal Potion. Some Italian guy by the name of… Crap, can't remember his name… Something like… Grendadyer DiMilo."
"Shut up, Malfoy," she said in mock-disgust.
"Oh, that hurts, Mia" I said, rolling my eyes.
"Okay, okay, relax, Draco. Anyways, which one do you want to research? I mean, there is two, so we could take one each."
"Yeah, it's up to you, Mia. I don't really care about what that overgrown bat from Hell says, anyways."
She just giggled and went back to her research, quill on parchment being heard every few minutes. I joined in the research, starting on the Odore Scoprire potion.
'Odore Scoprire: Commonly known as the Aura Revelation Potion, Odore Scoprire was first discovered by Greeks in ancient mythology, depicted as halos on the pictures of their gods. Fully developed by the Italian Grenadier DiMiMichi, the Odore Scoprire is used to show and share emotions between the two people who ingest the potion.
'Originally known to just show when the bonded partner is feeling emotions towards or about their significant other, DiMiMichi improved it to show the array of emotion the partner is feeling at one significant time when the other wants to view. The collection of colours and shades reflects on the emotion, playing on old Muggle colloquialisms: red for anger, blue for jealously, green for envy, violet for tranquility, yellow for happiness, pink for elation, orange for absolute ecstasy or delight. The two abstracts, white and black, can only be seen if the bond between the two people is originally strong, black and shades of grey showing depression, sadness, and confusion. The shade white can only be seen when the two people are meant to be, or, mythically, soulmates.'
"Interesting," I intoned, hand whizzing over parchment involuntarily.
"What is, caro?" She looked up from her notes, elegant black eagle feather quill slipping across the parchment, leaving a long, baby blue ink line in it's wake. Wait… Baby blue?
"No, nothing," I said quickly to cover my curiosity over her current choice of ink. "I was just looking up something about the Odore Scoprire potion. Says here that the only shade of colour that you can't see is white because it's only meant for soulmates. Interesting, neh?"
Mia's eyes flashed quickly, just long enough for me to catch what was going through her mind: longing. I looked at her tenderly and understood fully. She was wishing that she'd meet her someone, her meant to be, her soulmate. Hell, I was too; who wasn't? But what I really wanted was, I know it sounds foolish, but I wanted my soulmate to be her. She was everything I wanted, and more. At first I thought it was just teenage hormones running amok, but… Well, I wanted to be the one to hold her when the sun refused to shine. I wanted to be the one who'd love her like never before. I wanted to be the one waiting for her. Little did I know that she was thinking along the same lines.
Hermione's POV
I wanna kiss you like I'll never kiss you again
If it's okay
I can't imagine loving any other this way
I wanted to ask him so badly. I wanted to ask him everything and nothing. I wanted to ask him if…
(Darling, do think out what you want to say before you say it, please.)
I haven't said a thing!
(Well, try to un-muddle your thoughts a touch, at least.)
I looked up at Draco to find him looking at me with softened features. He dropped the quill, parchment and book to the floor, leaving his lap empty. I wanted so badly to just crawl into his lap and never have to get up and leave the comfort, the security, of his embrace.
"Come here, Mia," he said softly, as if reading my mind, giving me permission. I hesitated for a second then made my way over to his lap.
"Don't think about it now, Mia… It'll happen when it happens. It doesn't matter what, I'll still love you."
It was like he was reading my mind. Then it hit me. Did he just say…?
"Draco?"
"Yeah, Mia?"
"Did you just… Did you just say that you…" she swallowed. "That you love me?"
He stopped, literally. I felt him hold his breath, exhale, then repeat the process.
"Yeah, you know, Mia? I really reckon I do."
I turned to look at him in the eye. His usually hard, stormy eyes held nothing but soft almost tangible tenderness in a shade that was indescribable.
He leaned down to kiss me and I closed my eyes, waiting for the flurry of passion that usually came. But no. this was different. This wasn't the torrent of emotions that I usually pleasantly assaulted with. This was almost like a gentle breeze during a summer night in France, right after the wine season has finished its peak.
I felt him caress my cheek and whisper the name he had given me.
"Oh, Mia… What would I ever do without you?" he leaned down again, the same tenderness and more flooding through our bodies, the urgency of passion returning slowly.
He pushed me down so I was laying on the couch, him on top of me, leaning on an elbow so as not to flatten me with his weight. He pulled away, panting for breath, and surveyed my flushed face, which made me flush even more. I felt the fingers of his free hand trace my cheek, along my cheekbone and then my lips. Their trail left tails of fire running along the contours. Then I felt a tug of a lock of hair.
"You know, Mia, I sorta miss your curly hair…"
"What? So you can tease the hell out of me about it?" I asked in mock-hurt, opening my eyes and 'accidentally' licking his hand.
"It's for me to know, darling…"
We resumed our activities until I felt a sharp, cold gust of wind sweep over me. I paid little mind as my shirt and bra were off, leaving me in all my half-naked glory.
"Ahem."
I sat up, pushing Draco up into a kneeling position in between my knees.
"Professor Dumbledore!" I managed to squeak as I glanced around, looking for my white peasant top, strapless bra and Draco's green sweater. As I hugged them to my chest, I felt like crying into Draco's arms, which were now wrapped around me, trying to cover me as much as they could.
He was standing against one of the side doors, the one that lead straight to his office. I could see the twinkle in his eye and the obvious smirk on his face. Ohh, how much I wanted to wipe that smirk off the old man so badly that moment…
"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy," he said with a nod. "If you two will be so kind as to step into my office for a moment." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
"Uhh, yes, sir," I replied shakily.
"Yes, sir. As soon as we make ourselves presentable."
I looked at Draco with a horrified expression on my face. Had he just said…? How could he! I was mortified. But then I saw the defiance in his eyes and I calmed a bit. Little prat, I thought, grinning.
"As soon as possible, if you can." Then the headmaster disappeared through his door.
"I could kill that wizard," I seethed through gritted teeth, dropping the shirts and shrugging myself into the white cotton bra. "What right does he have to barge in without knocking? We do need our privacy, even if we are about a few centuries younger than him!"
"Yeah, well, it's Dumbledore. You won't hate him forever."
"I suppose," I agreed, pulling myself into my top then the heavy sweater. "C'mon. Let's go. He is waiting."
We walked over to the eastern wall, opening the heavy mahogany door and stepped through, immediately stepping into the Headmaster's office even though the inside of each door looked black.
"Professor," I said curtly, nodding my head and sitting in the chair furthest from him, Draco following suit in the chair next.
"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy," he replied. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything?" he looked expectantly as we shook out heads. "Very well. Sour Patch Kid?"
"Thank you," I said picking up about six in my hand. Draco just shook his head and muttered a quiet 'no, thank you.' I popped an orange one in my mouth and sucked on it before chewing.
"Now, I'm sure you both well know that we've left it up to you to handle most of the going on's here this year. I'm sorry I haven't been able to talk with you earlier, but I'd now like to hear if you've thought of anything special or new."
I smirked as Draco looked at me and I gently placed a green sour candy into my mouth, chewing it methodically. I knew Draco was panicking. He hadn't done much to do with his Head duties at all. But I was prepared, not to worry.
"Yes, Professor, we've thought about it." I felt Draco's stare. "We were thinking, since the Governor's Board has changed the curriculum to make it as challenging for our students as possible, we should have a few special events taking place throughout the year, more than usual. We were thinking along the lines a dance for the older students once a month and a whole school activity or event."
"Interesting. And may I ask, why?"
"If I may ask in turn, sir, with all due respect of course," Draco said, "Why what?"
"Why would you want to do these activities? We could always just go on as we've done."
"Well sir," we both started in unison. We glanced at each other. His stare told me 'I'll do it. Let me so I don't seem totally useless.' I hushed myself and waited, ready to correct him when the chance arose.
"Well, sir," he repeated without me, "Hermione and I were thinking of these activities as something to look forward to, almost as a reward to all the hard work they've achieved. We've even thought as to only let those students who are doing well in their studies, say at least 70 percent, participate. With given permission, of course.
"We see these activities as rewards and opportunities to get to know more people from other houses. Something like finding new friends, rediscovering old ones and, hopefully, discovering ones' self."
Amazing, I thought, obviously impressed and delighted at the fact that that he was oh so adept at spinning believable, convincing lies than I was.
(Oh, darling! He's so smart!)
"Very good, Mister Malfoy." Dumbledore then looked at both of us, his eyes twinkling madly. I held back the urge to conjure up a vat of eye drops and submerge his whole head in them, beard and all. "Now, I presume that you've written some of these ideas down?"
Oh holy fucking bloody shitty hell, I thought. Now what am I going to do?
(Just nod your head and repeat after me, Hermione, dear.) I nodded my head.
(If you'll hold on a moment, Headmaster,)
"If you'll hold on a moment, Headmaster,"
(I'll just go grab them from my office desk.)
"I'll just go grab them from my office desk."
"Very well, Miss Granger."
Thank you, I told my evil ego.
(No problem. Remember, Whenever you get in trouble, I do, too.)
I got up and went through the doorway again, appearing in the common room in a few short seconds. I crossed the room to the west side of the wall where the stairs were that led to my bedroom. I stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked for the portrait of myself. I stopped in front of it when I found it.
"Having fun?" I asked my painted doppelganger.
"Well, you haven't come to work for the past few days," she replied with a shrug. I returned it.
"Been busy."
"Right. Draco and I have seen you and Draco at it on the couch. So don't lie. And, plus, we've gotten together ourselves." I, er, she looked smug.
"Just let me in, will you? They're waiting for me."
"Gods, I'm not dim. I'm you. Password, of course."
"Gods… 'Bethany-Anne'. Happy?"
"Yes, very." And with that she stood, exited the picture and it swung open away from me. I stepped in behind it, looking at my neat little office.
"Okay," I breathed aloud. "What do I do next?"
(Chill out, girly. Go grab those pre-measured sheets of parchment, just three.) I did as I told myself. (Now, lay them one on the other on the desk,) Done… (And now wave your wand and repeat after me: 'Commusmo mei mens mentis in te'.)
"Of course! Why hadn't I thought of that!" I smacked myself on my forehead then composed myself. I laid the thin stack neatly on my desk and placed the tip of my wand on it. "Commusmo mei mens mentis in te!"
The sheets changed bright white, somewhat like regular muggle 8.5" by 11" bond paper sheets, then returned to their normal state. God love the witch who came up with the 'Perfection On Paper' spell.
I grabbed the sheets then ran out my portrait hole, giving a hasty goodbye to myself in the picture frame. I sprinted to the door on the opposite end of the room and stopped in front of the door. I didn't want to show that I was panting so I calmed my breathing. I took one last breath, hoping that this stupid scheme of mine would work, and I stepped into the darkness to be received into light.
Draco's POV
When you call my name
And you need me there
Girl you know that
I will be waiting for you
When you close your eyesAnd you see me there
Don't you know that I will be waitingI shifted uncomfortably in my chair. I hated being alone with this man. I didn't necessarily like him but I knew that the feels were returned… In opposite. I used to be politically against him, I was able to standup to him, never feel… Like this. But it all seemed to change. Hermione, where are you?
I opened my mouth to speak. But what was I going to say? Nice weather, Professor! Oh yeah, so sophisticated! He save me that problem.
"So, Mister Malfoy, how are you and Miss Granger getting along?" Surely this man couldn't be that dense! I mean, it was common knowledge in the school that we were dating. Hermione and I had even walked in on some of the teachers gossiping about it in the staff room one evening!
"Quite well, sir. The living quarters are also quite, um, pleasant," I finished lamely. I needed to catch myself. "On both mine and Mia, er, um, Miss Granger's behalf we thank you for giving us this extremely wonderful chance."
"Thank yourselves, Mister Malfoy. You both deserved it." He gave me a meaningful, knowing look. The he whispered something.
"You deserve each other." I could swear that was what he said.
As I opened my mouth to say something, Mia stepped in with a small sheaf of parchment.
"Here, I have them!"
"There you are, Miss Granger!"
Thank you, Mia! I silently praised. She handed us each a clean looking sheet of parchment. I looked at her with a bemused expression. She just looked like she found the potion for immortality.
"Mia," I hissed, "these parchments are empty!"
"Chill, Draco," she hissed back the turned her full attention to our host. "Now, Professor, I've charmed these papers to show the ideas as we discuss them, so that we may make changes when needed. Now, first order of business, this month."
She looked down at her parchment casually. I did too, to find out what she was looking at. Out of nowhere her scrawl was now rapidly appearing starting with the main heading: 'Activities & Events For The Coming Year'. Underneath by about two lines the a sub-heading 'For October:'. Yet, underneath that were three points separated by an amount of substantial note-taking space that read 'Fifth-years & up dance', 'School scavenger hunt', and 'Halloween festivities'. Mia launched right into her explanations.
"We were originally thinking that we'd have these all done on Halloween or something. But then We realized that it would all quashed into one time frame. So with the dance, we wanted that to be on Halloween, in the evening." The bullet containing the dance then disappeared from its place on the paper and placed itself underneath the 'Halloween festivities' point, as an indented sub-point. Then the contents moved themselves up, 'School scavenger hunt' now taking the first place.
"And with the school scavenger hunt we thought we'd start it soon, something like next week, since that is the first full week of October. What would happen is that we'll make up four lists of items, one for each house. As each week ends, the lists will automatically tally whose found what and shorten the list. Once that has finished, we'll add ten new items on the list. Then, on the Halloween Feast, we shall announce the winning house."
"Excellent. Now, for the prize. I'm sure I cannot expect the students to take 'a job well done' to heart as their prize." He looked at me with a gentle smile. I grinned back at him.
"Well, we were thinking that the staff could come up with something, sir," I replied, knowing that Mia was going to have a hard time trying to answer that one.
"Well, very good then. We'll begin discussion on the rest of the year later. Thank you for your presence on such short notice." Dumbledore nodded his head and we stood, bidding him a good evening and heading through the door back to our room.
"Amazing, Mia," I said as I stepped through the door after her.
"Thank you, darling," she replied saucily over her shoulder and winking. I growled. She giggled. I took four long strides and reached her, spinning her around so that she fell into my open arms.
"Oh, thank you my manly man," she said, rolling her eyes and righting herself. "I'm going to dinner. You coming?"
"What?" I asked, confused. I looked across the room at one of the many clocks. It read 6:00, the small hand reading 'Dinnertime'. "Already?"
"Yeah," she said, looking around the area we occupied earlier for something.
"Whatcha looking for, Mia?" I asked as I draped myself over an armchair.
"Jewelry," she answered simply. "Gotta look good if I'm going to make a public appearance."
"Ew, so superficial. You're starting to sound like Lockhart. Hopeless, really."
"Shut up."
"You."
"No. You."
"No. You."
"No. Yo- Wait! I found them!"
I just laughed as she bent over to a glass coffee table, picking up some silver pieces.
"Damnit," she swore softly. "Accio glasses!"
A thin tube came flying out of nowhere. She caught it and I watched, interested. The light teal opaque case as then opened to reveal a pair of twig-small glasses with barely bigger frames. She unfolded the arms and perched the glasses upon her nose.
"Do you know how sexy you look, Mia? In an intelligent, sexy, smart, sexy way."
"Thank you, Draco." She was still bent over the small table, examining her jewelry for some reason.
"What's wrong?"
"Need new pieces. My old platinum and silver is getting dirt. And two of my sapphires fell out of one of my pieces."
"Hmm. Now that's a problem."
"Definitely. And these sapphire crowned silver pieces were from my parents on my seventeenth birthday."
"Sapphire? When you birthday?"
"September. Last month. Why?"
"Oh." I felt bad. I had just passed her birthday without incident. "When? I mean, what day?"
"Nineteenth."
"Right then." Now I felt like plain shit. I needed to make it up to her.
I saw her straighten up and conjure a mirror in front of her. She placed a simple small, silver band on her middle finger, put on a set of earrings and then placed her hand longingly at her neck, I suppose where the necklace should've been. She fingered her glasses then left them in place. She looked at me as the mirror disappeared.
"Ready?"
"I was born ready, Mia," I replied, standing up. "If you want, we can go to the jewelers next week. It's a Hogsmede weekend."
"Sure. I just don't know if four hundred Galleons would cover up repairs and some new pieces."
"Don't worry about it until then, babe. Just think about now." I walked over to her and placed my arm over her shoulder. She reached up and grasped my hand and then, with her other, grasped my free one. We walked out to face the world.
Harry's POV
"Malfoy was being very civil, Ron!"
"Yeah, Gin. Let's just forget all those years of torment he caused us. And the way he took Hermione from me." Ron rolled his eyes. Ginny grasped my hand harder under the table and gave me a pleading look.
"Ron, I respect her decision. Whatever makes her happy." I decided not to point out that Hermione wasn't an object to be played with or fought over.
"Stuff it, Harry. You liked her, too. You wanted Hermione as much as I did."
"I hear my name!"
I turned to see Hermione at the doors, tangled in Malfoy's arms.
Ginny let go of my hand and jumped up, waving her over.
"'Mione! Over here!"
Hermione gave Malfoy a kiss and jogged over to us, slipping in the seat next to Ginny. My heart gave a small tug, like being pulled into my stomach. Suddenly, the shepherd's pie didn't look all that appetizing. But I shoved in a mouthful before waving hi.
Remember, Ginny's your girlfriend. You gave up Hermione when you found out Ron was in for her. She's nothing but your sister and best friend now. I sighed.
"Hey, 'Mione," I said after swallowing exceptionally hard. I noticed she was wearing a minute pair glasses. Then she grinned at me and I came back to reality.
"Hey, Harry! Hey Gin-And-Tonic!" The two girls giggled madly at the quick nickname for Ginny. I felt there was some sort of hidden meaning to that. I lifted my right hand to rest on the table, staring at the small heart-shaped scar with an 'H' in the middle. Hermione looked at me for a second then looked below the table.
"Okay! What's with the Q-U-I-E-T? I mean, like, talk!"
"Sorry, Ginseng," Hermione said, looking up again and sticking her tongue out at the girl. "I'm just tired. Studying all afternoon after Draco's Quidditch practice."
"Studying what?" Ginny asked, amusement in her voice, smirk on her face and eyebrows up a mile high.
"Oh, stuff and the rot. Potions, Anatomy…"
"Anatomy?" Ginny and I looked at her, confused, as I voiced myself.
A look of comprehension then dawned on Ginny's face. "Ohh!"
A smug look crossed Hermione's face. She then looked away and piled her plate high with food.
"Anyways, you guys will love what we've got planned! It's going to be so much fun!"
"Please let mention the word 'dance' and 'monthly' in the same sentence!"
"Does it have to be in that order, Gin? I'd hate to tell you that we're going to be having a monthly dance."
"Yes!" Ginny squealed, jumping up. The whole hall went quiet as eyes stared at us.
"Er, sorry everyone. Go back to your dinners…" Ginny seated herself and cowered into my chest.
"Don't worry, Gin," I whispered into her hair.
"I'm an ass."
"No, you're not."
"Hey, Mia! What's going on?" I heard Malfoy's honey-dipped voice come from behind. Hermione was twisted in her seat, giggling.
"Nothing, caro. Just eating dinner with a little bit of excitement."
"Without me?" He fake pouted.
"Yes, darling, without you. I can't believe I'm dating the biggest, conceited git in the school!"
"Be proud, ma cherie," He answered. He dipped down, kissed her and whispered a few words in her ear. As Hermione giggled, he bade her goodbye, traveling across the hall and resuming his seat.
"What do you see in him, Hermione?" Ron spat, talking to properly her for the first time since the day before.
"Everything I didn't see in you," she hissed dangerously. "Ugh. I hate to waste all this food, but I think I just lost my appetite. If anyone needs me, I'm in the library."
She stood up, the little dark blue stones glittering against their platinum captives in her ears. She walked off, head high, throwing a dirty look at Ron before heading off.
"Ron, you great, stupid prat!" Ginny yelled.
"Keep your voice down, stupid! Gods, she deserved it!" He threw up his hands then looked at me expectantly. "Well, aren't you going to say something?"
"No," I replied simply. I was sick of this, sick of being in the middle of their everything, when I wanted to be the one with Hermione on my arm. I couldn't help it, but I was jealous of Ron and Malfoy!
"A-fucking-mazing! Just fan-fucking-tastic!"
"Watch your language, Ron," Ginny said quietly.
"Fuck the language thing, Gin! I mean, MY LIFE IS RUINED, if you can so plainly see! I lost my girlfriend to a ferret and now I've lost my best friend! How would you react?"
"I'd leave," she said angrily, slamming her napkin down on the table as she stood up. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do now. Just remember, Ron, when everything in your life is gone, you'll have nothing to lose: no friends, no family, no one who cares about you."
She up and left as dramatically as Hermione had done, the large doors making a thunderous sound as she exited the now quiet hall. Ron looked at me again, this time sourly.
"Well? Should I say something or can you make your dramatic exit all by yourself?"
"I think you just said it, Ron," I retorted, shoving my plate away and running after my best friend and my girlfriend. "Just remember what Ginny said."
As I jogged to the doors, I stopped at the Slytherin table and looked at Malfoy pointedly.
"You coming or what?"
He just nodded, placed his napkin on the table and stood.
"You know, you can eat during the dinner show," he called out loud to everyone in the hall. The he turned on his heel and followed me out.
As we walked down the hall to the library, I couldn't help but feel extremely empty. I had this feeling that I had just walked out of Ron's life for awhile. I couldn't help but feel that I had just walked out of my old life into something totally new. And I didn't like it, not one bit.
Draco's POV
So what you wanna do
I wanna be with you
I know that you like my style
So why don't you stay a while
And when you want me to
I'll wait for you…
I had watched the whole scene play out. I was tempted to go after Hermione, but then I realized that she'd have hexed my to oblivion and back if I followed her right away. But when Potter came, I knew I had to go. Potter and I ran down the halls, towards the library.
"Why didn't you go after Hermione right away?"
"Because, you of all people should know her. Mia would've hexed me into hell with her current temper."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
Once we reached the library, I started sprinting to the back, oblivious of Madame Pince's yells. I knew where Mia hid at times like these. God only knows how many times I had found her there, crying, just so I could humiliate her for my own personal benefit.
I found her and the Weasley girl there. The red-head was cowered in a chair while Mia was throwing anything and everything in her grasp.
"Mia! Mia, calm down!"
She wasn't listening to me. Her eyes were fire, as mine were ice. I understood. I placed my wand tip on my chest and said three simple words: 'Lingua per flamma'.
"Mia? Mia! Aquietar, Mia! Escuchar!"
She stopped and looked at me.
"Draco? L'español? Non!"
"Si, cara. Aquietar. Acercarse."
I sighed as she dropped the vase she was holding and she walked, mesmerized, to me. 'Lingua per plebs plebis'.
"Mia, are you okay…?"
"Si, caro. Solamente frustrado…"
Shit… I can't understand her…
"Shhh, it's okay now…"
"Non. Tu falso…"
"Mia, darling, English. Remember our promise?" I whispered, holding her close as she cried.
"Non… Non hablas inglés…"
"Yes, you do, darling… Deep breath…"
She took a deep breath and swallowed. "Draco…?"
"Yeah, darling? You're fine now…"
"No, I told you already. I'm not. Nothing's fine, look what I've done…"
I properly surveyed the little area for the first time. Books were scattered and littered everywhere, pages torn, covers ripped. Porcelain, glass and ceramic lay on the thick carpeting, almost as if it was new flooring in an odd pattern. Ashes, embers and logs from the fireplace decorated the walls, floor and ceiling like snow. I turned my attention back to her. She had her hands placed flat on my chest but the palm of her left was open.
"See this?" she said, motioning to s small scar in the centre. It was a heart with a small 'H'.
"Yeah. What about it?"
"Two summers ago, when Sirius died, Harry was devastated. There's this Muggle ritual where two people make small cuts in themselves and press the wounds together, blood siblings, sharing the same blood. This is mine and Harry's. I suggested it because I wanted Harry to know that I'd always be there, no matter what.
"But after we did it, I read that there was some actual magic behind that. So now me and Harry have been bonded together for better or for worse, through thick and thin. It almost acts as our own personal dark marks."
"'Blood is thicker than water…'" I replied absently, wondering who exactly the hell Sirius was.
"Yeah. Exactly."
I don't know how we ended up on the floor or how long we had been there, but Potter came over to us and gave us a reality check.
"Hey, are you two okay?"
I looked up at him then down at Hermione. She was sleeping.
"I am. Now really sure about her, though." I lifted her up in my arms and she stirred then rested her head on my shoulder, arms snaking around my neck.
"What about the other one?" I asked as I walked to the exit with Potter. Pince was gone, a note left in her place, telling Mia to turn everything off and to lock the door.
"Who, Ginny? I already took her back to her room."
"Right then."
We walked in silence as we approached my portrait. Once we were there, I turned to him, trying not to jostle Mia.
"Thanks, Potter."
He just nodded and walked off, but not before planting a small kiss on the back of Mia's head.