This chapter goes out to Bloodress because there truly is nothing better in this world than Draco Malfoy in a trench coat. Well, I suppose Draco Malfoy professing his undying love to me, in a trench coat would be better than that but, we'll just have to settle, right?
By the way, I would like to know your ages, when you review. Just to see what kind of audience I have. I just turned fourteen, so you know. If the more, intimate moments seem amateur, that's because I've never been kissed, so I've not got a clue what I'm writing.
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"Draco, I insist that you get your arse out of bed immediately" chuckled an amused Blaise Zambini, shaking his friend awake.
"What gives you the right to be animated this early in the morning?" asked the lethargic young man from his sheets, "Did you sleep through the clamor coming from Theodore? Well, I guess one man's nuisance is another man's narcotic."
"Do stop your babbling-I slept in the common room. Get up, get dressed, we need to go down to the hall. Breakfast is almost over."
"So go down alone, Blaise! First you're all into hearing Theodore have orgasms, and now you're obsessed with me? I'm beginning to reconsider this alliance of ours."
"You're babbling again. I have something I'd like to discuss with you. Meet me in the hall in a few minutes." And with that, the Slytherin left his chamber. Draco was about to go back to his slumber when he heard a call that left him with no other options but to wake.
"If you're not down, I will not hesitate to send Pansy and her crazy girlfriends after you, you know."
After hurrying to perfect his attire, he swept out of the common room to catch up with Blaise.
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As we walked in the hall, a few eyes were on us. Not many more than usual though, what with our insane appeal to women. Someone once told me that the two of us are especially handsome when we travel together, because of the contrast. My ghostly complexion and hair next to his dark qualities make us physical opposites. Like night and day. A little ironic, for me to be considered day, in any sense.
But we're quite alike internally. We're both elegant, we're both debonair, and we both know it. We have been given possessions and opportunities on a silver platter. We have our pride, and we've both got our prejudice. We do things our own way. We do things the Slytheirn way.
Blaise and I have been linked since we were first introduced as children. We don't go around holding hands and saving the world like some other friends tend to do, but we are, none the less, friends. The assumption that we use each other to gain power or that all we do is conduct evil schemes together is a fallacy in the average mind. Just because we're in a darker house doesn't mean we don't have just as strong of friendships. We just use these relationships in different ways.
As I sat down next to him, I noticed a certain girl from across the hall. She smiled secretively at me and I gestured to my neck, to ask about the scarf. She blushed and then started to cough, as an excuse for her lack of attention to Weasley.
Blaise arched an eyebrow at me. I could have sworn he wasn't looking! It would do me best to never forget that as long as I'm Draco Malfoy, someone is always watching.
"I wanted to inquire you on your whereabouts last night." Blaise said in a businesslike manner.
"I went out for a walk."
"Why did you come back so late?"
"I got distracted."
"By what? Or, by whom?"
"The library. I stopped there for a bit."
"Were there any females occupying said library?"
"Perhaps. Why is that relevant?"
"Because it obviously has to do with why you came in so late."
"Why do you care about what the ladies and I are doing in the library late at night?"
"Since the ladies became Hermione Granger."
There was a pause.
"Why do you think that?"
"Do you know of any normal girls who hang out regularly in the library in the dead of night? Do you even know any other girls who hang out in the library, ever?"
"A few."
"Allow me to rephrase: Do you know of any other attractive girls who go to the library?"
"You think Granger's attractive?"
"I'm not going to let blood blind me from recognizing beauty. However, I'm not the one on question."
"Okay. Granger and I conversed last night."
"I knew that."
"Then why did you ask?"
"To get you to tell me something more, damnit!"
"I'll have to let you figure the rest out on your own, mate."
We may be close, but do not forget, we're still Slytherin. We've all got our secrets. Blaise checks out muggle literature when he thinks no one is looking. Pansy is a closet fan of some musical group called the Backside Boys or something of that ridiculous manner. My secret is just a little different. My secret is in the frizzy, feisty form of Hermione Granger.
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"He grows stronger, Albus. I don't know how much longer the students are going to be safe!" said a discontented potions master.
"I have been taking in the help of some ancient magic, but I'm afraid Severus is right. No matter how much protection I give them, there will come a time when we will be fighting for our own. In times of war, age is only a number. Most of the teenage students have been forced to grow up quickly; already they have made among themselves enemies. The more subtle moves of this war have already begun, can't you see? They're severing our school from within. One by one children are choosing sides, preparing themselves for this battle. They're destroying friendships and distracting teachers. I have come to believe that when the time has come, the final battle will occur here, on the grounds."
"So, will you let students who wish to participate do so, Albus?" asked a worried Mrs. Weasley.
"Parents will not be kept in the dark. Some students will be shipped home, and there is nothing I can do from stopping those inclined to fight from doing so. They all deserve to be there, to see it for themselves. It is not only our battle. We have all lost things, and as long as this goes on both sides will be losing. They will forget what it means to be young."
"What happens if we don't triumph?" said Tonks, from a corner.
"Ah, Nymphadora, at the end of this I am sure either Harry or Voldemort will be left standing, but either way, neither side really triumphs. We will all lose people we love; some parts of ourselves might perhaps die with them. We are fighting for the muggles and their children, but never would I call our success winning."
"And if we don't succeed?"
"We will cross that adverse bridge when if we meet it."
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I was scribbling down notes in Professor Vector's class when a tiny scrawl began to transpire on my paper.
Midnight. Cejamy's Rock.
Cejamy's Rock was a large boulder near the lake that very few students know about it. I am only familiar with it because of the text I read about it in Hogwarts: A History. I guess I'm not the only one who read the book.
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After dinner, I got ambushed on my way to my dormitory.
"Hermione, get over here!" said Harry, dragging me into the common room.
"Sit." Ron said, pointing to a sofa in the corner.
"I've just got another letter from Lupin and he says that the Order is working on ways to prepare students."
"What do you mean, prepare students? Prepare them for what, NEWTS? I've been telling you that for AGES!"
"No Hermione, not the NEWTS. I'm talking about the war. You know the big war. Dumbledore thinks it's approaching and that we should resume DA meetings with everyone who will come."
"I can't believe this! The death eaters-here-at Hogwarts! We're only sixteen, Harry. We're supposed to be obsessing over robes and couples and homework. We're not supposed to be strategizing for a bloody war! People die in wars, guys. People kill in wars. Oh my god, what if we have to kill someone? I can't do that!" I hiccupped, furiously wiping tears from my face.
"If it's too much Hermione, you don't have to fight. None of us would look down on you for it." Said Ron, stroking my hair for a minute, then resting his hand on the small of my back.
"Not fight? Don't be ridiculous. I would rather die than stand behind and watch you all risk your lives for the sake of mine and other muggles. It's just so damn scary,"
I began, looking at my best friends "things like this are not about being clever. Things I've read in books won't help me in a war! It's about thinking on your feet, it's about skill. What if one of you is murdered? What will become of us?"
"I don't know, Hermione. But we'll go into this together, like we always have been. And hopefully, we'll come out the same way." Said Harry, putting an arm around my shoulder.
And so there we were, the Golden Trio, as they dubbed us, afraid of being broken. I don't know how long we sat there in embrace, trying to ease each others pain, fighting our own demons.
It wasn't until midnight that I left the common room. There was no use in lying to the boys anymore. I told them I was going out and they understood exactly what I meant. We need each other to get through this war. We have no secrets.
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She arrived a few minutes late but as here shadow approached I could not care less. When I saw the crest shimmering in the moonlight, I swept her into my arms and kissed her briefly.
"You know, Draco" she said to me as we pulled apart, "that is a wonderful way to greet someone."
I smirked at her, quite pleased with myself and she mirrored the expression. I should have known then something was off.
She pulled me by the collar down the dock, kissing me sweetly.
"You'll have to tell me how the water is at night; I've never gone swimming in this lake." She said breathlessly.
I held my ground, not quite comprehending what she said until a moment to late. With a gentle shove on my shoulder, I lost my balance and fell into the lake. However, a Malfoy does not fall alone. I instinctively grabbed onto the closest thing I could find. By my own scarf, I pulled her down into the water with me.
"Draco! I'm cold you nitwit!" she said, glaring at me.
"Oh don't play that game, you pushed me first." I said.
The water was up to her shoulders and she was evidently freezing. I pulled her up a little by the waist and kissed her softly. To keep herself above water, she encircled my body with her legs as the kiss deepened. I pulled away, and examined the adorable girl in my arms. I could feel her heart palpitating against my chest as I looked down at her sadly.
"I can't loose this, Hermione."
"What do you mean?" she said, taken aback.
"My father, he owled me today. A few other Slytherins and I are starting to prepare for the battle. It's drawing closer."
"You mean, you're still fighting on their side?" she asked, looking hurt.
"I care for you, Hermione, but I am who I am. That much has not changed."
"It's not fair Draco," she said, a single tear rolling down her flushed cheek, "we've only just found each other. We don't have enough time."
"If our paths cross on the battlefield, I want you to kill me." I said, catching her off guard.
"What? No! I couldn't do that!" she said.
"Well I'm sure as hell not going to kill you!"
"Then we'll go our separate ways. Neither of us will harm the other."
"Okay, but I cannot say the same for your friends. What must be done must be done."
"The same for yours."
"I think we need to seize what's left of our time here, at school. We need to enjoy the time we've got left, before things get serious."
"I think you're absolutely right," she said.
And we were out until dawn, acting like completely and totally juvenile. It was like a page from someone else's life, that night. We forgot about our strings and remembered what it felt like to be young.