Disclaimer time - I am not J.K. Rowling, nor do I own the characters in her Harry Potter series. I'm just borrowing them for a little chaos & dissolute fun & I promise to return them in an only somewhat disheveled state. Sorry for the delay, but I've been suffering from terrible writer's block & I written this chapter abut 5 times now, & I'm still not really satisified, so if you hate it, feel free to let me know (but secretly I hoping you'll like it). So without further ado – here's the next chapter. Enjoy J & of course please review . . .what can I say, I'm addicted to reviews.
I opened my eyes at the sound of his voice and almost laughed when he asked me who he should kill, it was so sweet in a Draco-warped sort of way. When I felt him begin to sweep away my tears with his fingers, I think I lost whatever scraps of my composure I had been clinging to, and buried my head into his shoulder. I couldn't stop crying and he just wrapped his arms around me and held me, promising me the world if only I'd stop crying.
Hmmm, I guess it true what they say about being careful what you wish for since you might get it. As soon as I touched her, she threw herself into my arms. Hermione Granger is finally in my arms, but somehow when I pictured this moment, I never saw her crying as if her heart was breaking. Somebody is going to pay for this, right after I get the name of my soon-to-be-victim. Damn. I hope I'm doing this since comforting crying girls is not exactly my forte. So I just keep talking to her, I guess she'll tell me what happened when she is ready.
I never knew I could cry so much, I don't think I cried this much when I really believed that they were dead, but after a while, the tears started to come more slowly as reality began to sink in. Pulling back from him, it suddenly occurs to me that, "Oh God, I must look terrible."
Sitting back, Draco quirked his head to one side as a smile slowly creeps across his face as he asked in disbelieving voice, "You are kidding me, right?" He pauses for a moment. "That is all you have to say?" Chocking mock tears and with a broken voice he continues, "And . . . I thought we were having a moment . . . and all you can do is think of yourself. You don't even ask how I feel." Looking around quickly, he leans forward to whisper, "I feel fat and you . . . " he whimpers, " you don't even care!"
Hermione just stared at him for a few seconds with a bewildered expression, before opening her mouth to respond. Draco watched with satisfaction as her eyes suddenly lit up with understanding as she broke out in laughter. Only then did he allow himself to finally relax, if he could make her laughter, then whatever this problem was could be solved.
Still giggling Hermione remarked, "I never would have expected that of you."
"What?" He asked with a finely arched eyebrow and apparent confusion in his eyes, before turning silver as he laughed with her, dropping his usual sardonic mask.
She smiled at him, before saying more seriously, "I guess you haven't heard then?"
"Heard what?"
She sighed and the light in her eyes grew a bit dimmer. "Harry and Ron, they're not really dead."
"Fuck!" The expletive fell from his lips and she looked up startled as she watched his eyes change from bright silver into a smoldering iron color and his features hardened. Her hand reached out to touch his arm and his eyes flickered back up to hers and he gave a half smile, merely lifting one corner. "Sorry about that. It just slipped out. She pauses, giving him a searching look for a moment, before telling him all of the sordid details.
Listening to her with only half an ear, I was trying to restrain my growing rage. That bloody wanker, this is so typical, I can't believe I didn't see this coming. I mean I knew he wasn't dead, miracles like that don't really happen, but I didn't think he'd be back so soon. This is not good, this relationship is still too fragile and I know he and weasel boy are going to try to fuck this up for me, and that is not going to happen. Ok I've got to calm down and think this out, the last thing I need is to scare her away. Oooohhhh I'd so love to go after Potter and company, the pain I could cause them, but not yet, there has got to be a way to turn this to my advantage.
"Do you believe that? Half of the damn school knew about this! They told their damn girlfriends, neither of which can keep their mouths shut! And they didn't tell me." Hermione ranted as she paced back and forth. Finally, she sat back down on the grass and looked up at him.
"Draco?"
"Yes, Hermione?"
Her voice was softer now as she asked, "What is wrong with me?"
"Hmmm, I'm sorry what?" Draco sat down next to her, focusing back on the conversation at hand, pulling his mind away from images Potter lying prone on the ground moaning, while he walked off with Hermione.
She laughed ruefully, "Yeah, that's exactly my point." At his confused look, she elaborated in a resigned voice, "I asked 'what is wrong with me?' I mean, I've been "best friends" with Harry and Ron for years, yet they continue to exclude me from things like this whole conspiracy. The only time, I ever dated someone, Krum, they both were pissed off about it, yet neither one of them has ever seriously been interested in them, and even Krum just wanted to be friends. So my question is, what so wrong with me? Is it the way I look, or how I act, what?"
He looked at her for a moment, cocking his head to the side. "Are you serious?" At her nod, he sighed and got to his feet. "Come on," and he started walking away, only to get a few feet, before he realized that she was still sitting down. Walking back impatiently, he reached out an arm and roughly jerked her to her feet.
"Hey that hurt," she complained rubbing her arm.
"So what? Deal with it," was his unsympathetic response.
"What the fuck is your problem?" She demanded to know.
"At this moment? You."
"I don't believe this. You know, I should have known better then to try and confide in you, Malfoy. You can be such a bastard. I'm out of here." Hermione felt like crying again, but she was damned before she would do it in front of him.
"No, I really don't think so," he deftly caught her caught her arm and swung her around until she was in his arms and with his free hand, reached her into pocket and pulled out her wand. "We're not finished until I say so. You asked me a question and you are damn well going to listen to my answer. Understand?" He glared down, shaking her a bit as he ended.
This is not good, Hermione. You're outside, at night, alone with Malfoy and nobody knows. And he had been so nice lately, she thought wistfully. Looks like he's now back to being an asshole.
Sighing, Draco tried once again to regain control of his temper; I can't believe she is letting him off the hook, when he is sssssssoooooooo clearly in the wrong. Shaking his head, he looked down into her frightened eyes, which set him off again. Dammit, now she's made and scared. Brilliant Malfoy, got to get control of this situation, before you totally alienate her and she forgives Potter and then you'll never get another chance.
"Why are you so mad at me, I didn't do anything wrong here?"
Of course, she'd ask that question. "But you see, you did, Hermione." At her puzzled look, he tried again. "Think about it. Why are asking me what's wrong with you, when you should be asking what is wrong with Potter and the Weasel? I mean, they are the ones who betrayed you. They lied to you, used you, caused you great amounts of pain and guilt, and didn't even have the decency to make sure it was worth it, by actually completing what they set out to do. And you blame yourself." He stared intently into her eyes, "You should ask, what is wrong with them, that they can't see all the wonderful and amazing things in you, that I do." Oh fuck, why did I say that? I didn't mean to say that, it's too soon and with this Potter disaster. . . Fuck.
"What? What are you saying? Draco", she questioned again, but he didn't seem to hear, I wonder if he's talking to himself, she wondered. Did he mean, what I think he meant?
"You know, Granger, for someone so smart, you really can be bloody dense sometimes. Look all I'm saying is that this isn't your fault, this isn't because of any lack or fault in you. Potter and the Weasel are too involved in "being heroes" to recognize that out of all them, you were always and still are the best. But it's late and we had better get back to our respective common rooms before someone notices that either one of us is missing or even worse – together. He grabbed her arm and started half walking and half dragging her back to Hogwarts.
"Hey," she squealed," wait up! You have to walk a little bit slower, remember you're legs are a bit longer then mine, so for every step you take, I have to take two. You're practically dragging me along and I'd like to retain the use of my arm, ok?"
"Oh, I'm sorry." He looked down at her distractedly, but did slow down to a more manageable pace for her, "but it's later then I thought." Finally, the Gryffindor Tower! "Ok, you'd better go in. Just . . . do me a favor, ok?
"Um sure Draco. What?"
"Tomorrow, when Potter and the Weasel start pestering you, as I know they will, just remember what I told you, ok?" He paused for a moment, debating, "and this." Draco reached out and slipped his hand around the back of her neck, and pulled her in for a kiss. Hermione gasped in surprise, allowing him to slip his tongue inside her mouth. Just as relaxed into his embrace, he broke away and briefly rested his chin on her hair. "You'd better go now," he whispered to her, and he turned to start walking away.
TBC . . .
AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH Why can't I post this?!?!?!?!
Here's the list of those very wonderful people who continue to read & review me.
allee kat (who has to be my most faithful reviewer – thank you ;), Hermione, Caitie, DaZeD, Linnie, caD, sandy, Book-Lover-210, Megan, scythe_fire, Alanna, Angel, ViEiRA, hdsagjyaf (my very first reviewer ;), Sucker For Romance, Madame Padfoot, Jackie, Ally-sama, Caroline, Linnie, hermioneG89, Redundant Goddess, imlosnoches, Em, SugarShortys23, DrAcO*AcErbuS, Selena, Cascade of Darkness, mousie, & lastly wearenotamused (Hi Ellen ;). J
Once again, thank you all so very much . . . & please continue to read & review (assuming, of course that I will be able to upload this sometime in the near future) ;)