Disclaimer time - ok . . .blah, blah no, I do not own Draco (much to my great dismay), Hermione or any other characters you may recognize, if I did the movies would get far more interesting, trust me. I have no intention of abandoning this story and the next chapter is nearly ready to be beta-ed so that should be posted in about a week. And of course, any typos & grammatical errors are, as usual, my fault . . . sorry. Anyway, let's skip the AN & get back into the story . . .
Chapter 21 – Believe None Of It
Hermione slipped into her seat with a guilty expression on her face, staunchly ignoring the whispers and looks of her classmates, instead choosing to focus her attention on the animated woman standing at the front of the classroom. Infinity graced her with a curious smile, before introducing herself and explaining that she was their new Arthimancy teacher for the year, due to Professor Vector's abrupt "leave of absence." Hmmmm, so that's what they're calling it now, Hermione mused to herself. More observant that the average Hogwarts student, she knew there was a little more involved than the professors were telling them. From what little she discovered, she suspected that he had been involved in that Deatheater attack at Hogsmead over the weekend, but everyone, even Hagrid, was tightlipped about the details.
What she couldn't figure out was why Dumbledore was keeping the information a secret from the students and out of the press. Maybe Draco knew more. She could always ask him later, during detention, but that thought opened up an entirely new set of problems for her to contemplate. She sighed, wondering not for the first time exactly where she went wrong in her life that everything was so complicated. Shaking her head, she realized that the new professor was still talking, so she decided to ignore the Draco situation and to tune back into reality.
"As I was saying, it's been a while since I took this class, because it's not exactly a skill that you use on a regular basis as an Auror. To make matters even more interesting, Professor Vector wasn't able to tell me exactly how far you've gotten along this semester. So you'll have to be a bit patient with me. Which brings me to my next question: who wants to tell me what you were working on last?" Infinity hopped onto the nearest desk, looking at her new class expectantly.
The classroom fell silent as the students looked at each other, no one wanting to be the first to speak up. Sighing, Hermione waited a moment before finally raising her hand to answer. Professor Owens, or Infinity as she preferred to be called, ran her class differently than Professor Vector, Hermione noted. Despite her earlier misgivings, she realized that she was enjoying the more free wheeling discussion based atmosphere and was surprised to see the time had passed so quickly. Gathering up her things, she began filing out of the room with the rest of her classmates.
"Miss Granger, if you could just wait for a moment." Hermione turned around to see Infinity walking towards her. "As you know, my appointment was a bit of a last minute affair, and to be honest, one I wasn't sure I was actually qualified to accept, but there was no one else available. Headmaster Dumbledore suggested that I look into getting an assistant to help ease me into the position and he specifically recommended you." Seeing the hesitant look on Hermione's face, she quickly added, "I'm sure you're very busy studying for the NEWT's, your prefect duties and your normal course load, so whatever time you could spare would be more than appreciated. Naturally, I'd be giving you extra credit and house points for your assistance . . ." Infinity's voice trailed off as she held her breath, hoping the younger woman would accept the carrot she was holding out.
Hermione swung her bag onto her shoulders, her expression thoughtful as she mulled over the pros and cons of accepting Infinity's offer. It would probably take up a sizable chunk of her already rare spare time, but on the other hand, considering the current chaos that was her personal life that might not be a necessarily bad idea . . . 'sorry, Harry, no time to talk, I've got to and work with Professor Owens now,' and she gave a slight smirk at that thought. This might give her a chance to satisfy her curiosity about what really happened to Professor Vector and why Dumbledore elected to replace him with an Auror, and that convinced her to accept. Besides helping out would certainly guarantee her with an A for the term, not that she was worried and extra house points were always a nice bonus. "Well, I am very busy, but I think I could spare some free time . . ."
"OK," Infinity quickly agreed, "I know you have to get to your next class, so I'll let you go and we can discuss scheduling times later . . . maybe after dinner or after the next class?"
"Sure, that'll be fine." Hermione smiled as she hurried out of the room on her way for Hagrid's class. In her rush, she never saw the triumphant smile cross Infinity's face.
The class was gathered in a loose circle around Hagrid and the newest creature they were studying, a fire crab. Hermione was all too aware of the looks being cast her way, from nearly every direction – Draco standing directly across from her, Pavarti was somewhere where roughly between them on her left with Lavender and Ron in tow, while Harry was on her right, inching ever closer past the other students. Hagrid was enthusiastically praising the fire crab and it's ability to shoot fire when provoked, but no one seemed to be paying much attention, to the lecture at least. Hermione sighed; if there was ever a day to take Fred and George's "get out of class" candy, then today was certainly it.
"Hermione . . . Hermione . . ." Harry urgently whispered in her ear, leaning in closer to her unresponsive figure. She resisted the impulse to roll her eyes.
"What do you want, Harry?"
Draco's eyes narrowed as he intently watched Potter try to talk to Hermione, silently cursing the fact that he was too far away to hear what they were saying. Pavarti was practically growling in her frustration. Harry had successfully managed to evade her all morning and now he was cozying up to Hermione? In front of her? She could feel her blood boiling, especially when she heard Lavender giggling to Ron somewhere behind her. Hagrid faltered for a moment as he cast a confused glance around him, sensing a strange undercurrent of tension among the class, but just shrugged his shoulders and launched back into his discussion on the dietary habits of the fire crab.
"Hermione, are you still mad at me about this morning? I already explained that and I thought we were cool again."
"No, Harry, I'm mad at you for several things, this morning didn't even make the top five. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to actually pay attention, a novel concept for you, I'm sure." Hermione bit back in a saccharine sweet tone, moving a few feet away.
"Come on, Hermione, give me a break, will you?" He continued as he followed her, "You know I hate it when we fight."
"Well, you should have thought of that earlier. You betrayed me, Harry. Me, the one person who has always been on your side and for what?" She hissed angrily back at him, giving him a long, hard stare. "You really fucked up this time." She shook her head in frustration for a moment, before she carefully made her way around the circle to stand next to Draco.
"Everything ok?" His quiet voice soothed her frayed nerves, calming her down enough to take a deep breath as she nodded in response.
"Yeah, Harry was just bothering me for the second time today."
"The second time?"
"Oh, right, I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier," Hermione sighed. "This morning when I got back to me room, I found him asleep in my bed."
Draco tilted his head towards her, arching an eyebrow. "Your bed?" His voice dropped even lower in an implicit demand for details. Seeing his eyes darken into a stormy gray, Hermione stepped even closer to him, slipping her hand covertly into his, instinctively seeking to reassure him.
"Nothing happened, of course. He wanted to talk to me last night and snuck into my room. I think he just fell asleep waiting for me." She held her breath for an uncertain moment until he gently squeezed her hand in response. A smile unconsciously graced her lips as she could feel his body begin to relax from that rigid state of tension that had gripped his body from before she had even walked over to him.
"Well, we'll discuss that unfortunate business later . . . " Hermione gave him a sidelong glance, smirking, before turning her attention back to Hagrid and his lecture. Draco smiled to himself in amusement, as he held Hermione's smaller hand in his own. Apparently his note had been more effective than he had anticipated or Potter was just driving her insane. Whatever the cause, he was more than pleased by the end result, Hermione was beginning to depend on him, to look to him for, if not protection, than at least as an alternative to Potter and the Weasel. His smile broadened as he watched Pavarti stalking towards Potter furiously. The look on his face was priceless as she grabbed his arm and began dragging him off to the back outer edge of students.
As the class drew to a close, Hermione and Draco lagged behind, taking their time as they approached the gated opening of the enclosed ring. Off in the distance they could hear Pavarti loudly berating Harry. "Damn that girl is a horror. I almost feel sorry for him," laughed Draco.
"Don't feel too badly for him, as far as I'm concerned he deserves all that and more." Despite her attempts to stifle it, Draco detected a distinct note of glee in her voice. For a moment, his lips curled into a fond smile, before dropping back into his usual smirk. "So . . . " he drew the word out into three syllables, "you were going to tell me something about finding Potter in your bed this morning?" Draco arched his eyebrow, waiting expectantly. She looked at him, as if hesitant to speak. "Oh come on, Hermione, if you can't tell me, who can you tell?" He kept his tone light, teasing but also cajoling.
Looking up at him, Hermione debating whether or not she wanted to get into this discussion or the other, wincing at the thought of bringing that up. Carefully reading the expression on her face, Draco could almost see the wheels turning in her head and decided to take the initiative and slant the conversation his way. Opening up his eyes very wide, he leaned against the fence, propping his chin on his fist, "Now, you know you want to tell me."
Hermione arched her eyebrow at this overly innocent expression, before laughing despite herself. She knew exactly what he was attempting, of course, but decided to go with it and let the other discussion drop for now. Giving the argument between Harry and Pavarti that was growing increasingly louder a quick glance, she grabbed Draco's hand again to lead him off back toward the school. "Well, there really isn't too much to tell. I got back to my room and found him sleeping in my bed, apparently he wanted to talk again last night and fell asleep, waiting for me to return. I'm pretty sure he must have been dreaming, because he was acting very bizarre, when he woke up and had the audacity to demand where I had been. I just told him that I had been studying in the library, then I reminded him that Pavarti was due back any moment and he ran out."
"Well, in that case, you'd be smart to have the house elves change your bedding instead of just making your bed. Merlin only knows what Potter might have caught from every bloke's favorite Gryffindor, Pavarti."
"Draco . . . ewwwwww," Hermione grimaced at the very thought.
"What?" He raised his hands innocently. "Do you even know how many people that she's slept with? I'm talking about more than two thirds of the male population at Hogwarts, not just our class, but all grades combined."
"Ok, Draco, stop right there . . . there are certain things that I never want to think about and that is one of them. You have now officially squeaked me." He just laughed at the expression on her face, as they continued walking towards Hogwarts.
Meanwhile poor Harry was trying to tune out the rantings of Pavarti as he watched Hermione walk farther away with him. What the hell had happened while he'd been away with Ron that had Hermione being so friendly with Draco fucking Malfoy and how was he supposed to figure it out, when she so adamantly refused to speak with him. Didn't she realize that she was "his" friend? Despite what she might think, he wasn't stupid – he damn well saw her walk away him and over to that smug bastard. She even held his bloody hand! What the fuck was she thinking?
The more Harry thought about the two of them together, the angrier he got. He knew it was irrational, but he couldn't help it. Hermione just didn't belong with him, with Malfoy! It was just wrong. So why can't she see that, she has to know that she belonged with me - . . . His mouth fell open at the thought and his eyes dropped to the snow-dusted ground below his feet as the realization suddenly struck him. Remembering his dream from the night before seemed to only drive the point further home and confused him further. Oh my god, was he actually in love with Hermione?
"Dammit Harry, remember me, your girlfriend? You can at least pretend to pay attention when I'm talking to you!" Pavarti's petulant demand finally penetrated through his rambling internal monologue and Harry stared at her in complete bewilderment for a moment, then looked past her to see Hermione laughing with Malfoy, nearly inside Hogwarts. As he continued to watch, once again oblivious to Pavarti's ever growing sense of indignation, he couldn't help the sudden spike of rage that flowed through him, when he saw Malfoy all but mauling her . . . IN PUBLIC, no less!!! If he had the gall to act like this with her where anyone could see, then what the fuck was he doing to her when there was no one else around?
And GODDAMMIT why the hell wasn't she fighting him? Ok, so he was bigger than she was, but she could pull out her wand, scream or at least kick him where it'd hurt – she didn't even look like she was trying to get away from him and his grubby hands. He must have her under some sort of spell, maybe one of those love potions or the Imperious Curse or something. God only knew how far she'd allow this to continue, if he didn't do something fast.
"HARRY POTTER!!!" Pavarti all but screeched at him. "Fuck, can't you listen to me for five minutes, without being obsessed by your 'precious Hermione.' You have serious psychological problems, are you aware of this?"
"Sorry Pavarti, but I just don't have time for this at the moment, I'll talk to you later on, ok?" He spoke quickly, his words tripping over each other as he ran off, without even waiting for her response.
"Hey, get back here . . . we need to talk about this weekend at Hogsmead," her voice trailed off, "not to mention your growing number of issues. Why is he always chasing after that dammed bitch?" Pavarti pouted for a moment, well, if he thinks that he is getting any tonight, then he is sorely mistaken. But something has to be done about their beloved Gryffindor prefect, Pavarti had always disliked her for a variety of reasons, but now that she had finally captured "The Boy Who Lived," there was no way that she was going to loose him now and certainly not to her, of all people.
Hermione had fallen silent, before demanding in deceptively light voice, "hey, wait a minute Draco . . . you did say 'every bloke's favorite Gryffindor,' right? Is there something you want to tell me?" She turned to look at him, quirking an eyebrow up high.
Draco stumbled for a moment, before looking down at her, disbelief obvious on his face. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me! I've never been desperate enough to touch trash like that. Besides, you damn well know that you've always been my favorite Gryffindor." He saw out of the corner of his smile the brief smile at his words, before she quickly caught herself, and smirked at her show of jealously. They had reached the outer wall entrance to the castle, when he leaned in close, placing his palms flat against the wall, his arms on either side of her, effectively imprisoning her between his body and the wall behind her, under the overhanging walkway. Draco knew that few people would be outside at this hour, but quickly took a brief surveying glance around just to make sure they had a modicum of privacy, before deciding it was safe enough for a moment or two. "Would you like me to prove that fact to you yet again?" Hermione let her head fall to rest on his shoulder at sudden press of his body against hers that was an all too vivid remembrance of last night and earlier this morning.
She knew exactly what he was trying to do, but she refused to allow herself to become distracted by him yet again, trying to ignore the physical sensation of being so close to him after her brief moment of weakness. Instead she took a deep breath, only to realize that only made her control that much more precarious as she inhaled the light scent of him. She gasped for a moment, closing her eyes as her head tilted back, exposing her vulnerable throat. Smirking, he stepped forward, insinuating one of his legs between her own and leaning in that much further until he could feel her begin to arch against him, right there. Taking advantage of her unconscious invitation, Draco lowered his lips to her throat, finding that sensitive point right where her neck met her shoulder that he had already marked, as his hips began to gyrate slowly against hers, setting a slow rhythm until she began to move against him.
He let one of his hands slip between the wall and her back, sliding down to cup her ass, drawing her further into him, while his other fell to tease her breast. Draco knew he couldn't go as far as he'd like, hell he was pushing all boundaries as it was, already, considering how out in the open they were, but he couldn't resist the chance to make her loose a little bit of that control she fought him so hard to keep. It was a high like nothing else he'd ever felt. Besides he had plans for later tonight and keeping her in such a state of readiness would only be to his greater benefit in the long run. Nibbling on that bruised tendon, he couldn't help but smile as she began squirming and she let out a soft moan. Hermione felt herself melting inside as she felt her teeth sink into her bottom lip, her hands which had been resting on his shoulders, slid down to his chest in a weak attempt to push him away, only to falter as she felt his fingers sharply twist her nipple and her hands involuntary clench his robes as she felt her knees begin to give way.
Draco held her on her feet, as his hold around her gentled, until he was only hugging her against his body. "Shhhh, it's ok, babe. I've got you and I'm not letting go, anytime soon." He whispered against her throat, his breath calming against her aroused flesh.
Hermione laughed faintly, "ok? Ha! You know very well that I'm only in this state because of you. Damn, Draco, I never knew you were such a tease."
"So sorry, my dear, it's just something you bring out in me," he smirked, watching the light flush slowly fade off her cheeks, as he gently rubbed his thumb along her defined jaw line.
"Yeah, right. Blame it all on me, why don't you?" She asked sarcastically, but her smile took the sting out of her words.
"All right, if you insist," biting back his laughter, as she rolled her eyes at him.
Draco took the opportunity to look to his left and resisted groaning as he saw Potter frantically running after them, and made the decision to spare Hermione the rapidly approaching confrontation. "So what do you have next?"
"Ummm, Transfiguration. Why?"
"Well, it is a bit late, right? Maybe you should hurry?" Draco made sure to add that extra note of concern in his voice.
"Is it really?" Hermione made an instinctive gesture to look at her wrist for her watch that naturally wasn't to be found, before shaking her head. "Bloody hell, I've got to run then." Draco leaned down to quickly brush lips lightly over hers. "See you later at detention." She smiled at him before running off.
"Count on it, Hermione." He was quiet as he leaned against the stone wall, half blocking the entrance, as he watched her slight figure rush across the courtyard. His stance was deceptively causal and the smile on his face belied the hard glint of his eyes. Behind him he could hear Potter panting as he arrived. Just as he was about to walk past him, Draco's arm suddenly barred his path. "Don't you think that you should be off fucking your girlfriend or something, rather than bothering Hermione for the umpteenth time today, Potter? Because I'm pretty sure that she wants nothing to do with you and this display of desperation is really beginning to become quite nauseating."
"Get out of my way, you bastard," Harry snarled as Hermione grew further out of his sight, his hand sliding down to securely grab his wand.
Sighing dramatically, Draco turned around to face him, wand already out in his hand. "Now what makes you think that I would ever follow an order you gave?" He answered in a voice laden with contempt that he didn't even bother to try to hide. He smirked, "Let go of your wand Harry, I could curse you long before you could ever pull it out, so don't tempt me," barely holding back his laughter at the expression of sheer frustration on Potter's face. Ahh . . . he treasured moments like this; the only question left was how far could he push him. "You know if you insist on this continued harassment of Miss Granger, then as a prefect I will have no choice but to start deducing house points. As the person involved with her, it will be my pleasure to take a more personal interest in this matter, like kicking your ass."
" 'Person involved with her,' are you insane? Person trying to fuck her over, more likely," Harry scoffed in disbelief. "You know that she is going to see through you, sooner or later, and when she does, you'll be left behind like the trash that you are."
Draco's eyes narrowed dangerously, "You mean like she did with you? Get this straight, Potter, I'm not you. I take care of what belongs to me, instead of carelessly throwing it away."
"You son of a bitch! She doesn't belong to you, Malfoy. She's not something you can own." Harry snarled back, his fingers once again reaching towards his wand.
"You really do want me to hurt you, don't you?" Draco asked rhetorically, twirling his wand lightly. "Besides, as I recall, I owe you one after that little stunt you pulled in the Potions room."
"Go ahead, it'll only prove my point that you're messing with Hermione's head to get to me. She will see the truth sooner or later."
Draco laughed, "you're so fucking dense, you wouldn't know the truth even if I told you and by the time you figure out what is really going on here, it will be far too late for you to do anything about it. You seriously need to learn to leave her alone, Potter."
Harry glared at him, hating that smug tone in his voice, "Fuck off Malfoy, you think I didn't see you with your fucking filthy hands all over her? You're the one who needs to learn to leave her alone. She deserves someone better. Keep pushing me and I'll be the one to show it to you." he ground out.
Draco forced himself to restrain the feral rage that welled up inside him. He clenched his wand so tightly he was surprised that it hadn't snapped yet at that implicit threat. "You mean someone like you, you self righteous bastard? Trust me, I will never allow that to happen. Before I'm through with you, Hermione will see you for the weak leach that you are, without her you never would have lasted as long as you have and you damn well know that. You've used her for the last time Potter. You've already lost this war, so have the decency to fuck off."
Harry opened his mouth to retaliate, but fell silent as he caught a glimpse of an eavesdropper with a distinct tint of green glinting off her hair. Damn, it was that new Arthimancy professor . . .
"Is there a problem here?" Infinity cautiously asked, casting a hard glance between the two. She was uncomfortably aware of the nearly visible arc of tension running between them and all too wary of Draco's raised wand and Harry's twitching hand.
Breaking the moment of silence, Harry shook his head in a resounding negative, before biting out, "I was just on my way to class," and abruptly pushed past Draco, whose eyes narrowed angrily, but made no comment.
"Well, ok then," she began, but by then he already stalked off. Turning to face Draco in the sudden vacuum of space, she continued in a more relaxed tone, "Draco Malfoy, I don't believe we've met in person. I'm Infinity Owens, the new Transfiguration professor. I've heard quite a bit about you from both Professor Snape and Headmaster Dumbledore."
Startled, he looked at her for a moment until her words registered, his attention still securely focused on that damned Potter. Shaking off his now violently inclined mood, he quirked up an eyebrow. "Snape and Dumbledore, hmmm? Well, that must have been a mixed bag of information at the very least, I'm sure. Believe none of it."
Infinity smirked, "don't worry, they told me nothing but good things."
"Really?" Draco seemed honestly taken aback by that bit of news, "now, I'm wondering if perhaps you're the one who can't be trusted," and instantly wanted to smack himself. Bloody hell, he let Potter get to him, even more than he had originally thought only to be surprised yet again when she broke out into a ringing laughter.
"Yep, definitely a Slytherin. And as to my trustworthiness you can ask any number of people – Professors Snape or Lupin, Headmaster Dumbledore, of course, and even the Gryffindor prefect."
"Hermione?" Draco's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he took a slight step back to take a more measured look at this new Professor. There was a strange emphasis, an air of deliberate casualness, on her last few words that tripped a certain sense of awareness in him. She was making a point of mentioning that connection to Hermione to him, but why?
"Oh yes, that's her name. She's going to be an assistant of sorts for me." Infinity repressed the instinct to smile, mentioning Hermione to him had certainly set off something in him. She only wished had she could have over heard a little more of that argument between him and Harry Potter. She did know that it involved Miss Granger, but only because that same look had lit up in Draco's eyes again.
"I don't mean to intrude, but I couldn't help but notice the argument you were having with Mr. Potter. I just wanted to let you know that if there was anything I could do for you – "
But Draco quickly cut her off. "I appreciate your concern, but that is a long standing personal matter. There is no need for anyone else to get involved." He hoped his words sounded as neutral as he was aiming for, the absolute last thing he needed was this woman getting involved in his ever complicating relationship with Hermione, especially when he already had now Potter gunning for his head.
"Hmmm, ok, if you're sure," her voice was tentative. Infinity mused, an independent one, I see. Well, that's a Slytherin for you, bloody difficult bunch to get to open up at all. "Well, if you decide to change your mind, I'm always available to talk and might know more about your situation then you might think. Anyway it's time for me to get going, but I'm sure I'll see you around later." She don't expect him to take her up on it at first, but the way things are likely to play out, he's going to need all the friends he can find. And at the very least, she thought to herself, she had hopefully given him one or two things to think about.
"I'll keep that in mind," he replied dryly, refusing to make a commitment one way or the other.
Right . . . I'm sure you will, Infinity thought to herself as she started back to the school. Hmmm, perhaps she should go find Severus and to see what he thought of all this.
Draco was left standing at the castle wall, wondering, not for the first time, when everything began spiraling out of his control. Running a distracted hand through his already tousled hair, he began walking back towards the dungeons. He needed some uninterrupted time to figure out how to cut Potter off at the pass. Of all the times in the world for him to start to wise up, it had to be now . . . typical. Sighing, resisted the urge to punch into the nearest wall as he headed down the staircase. There was no way he could deny that look in Potter's eyes, he was finally beginning to realize what Draco had figured out months ago that he was in love with Hermione. Now it was only a matter of time before Potter dumped that stupid bint he was with to make a play for her and that was simply unacceptable. He had no choice now but to speed things up a bit, before all hell broke loose.
Ok . . . once again, if you've left me your email, I added you to my brand new mailing list for this story, so you get a happy little email each & every time I update, if I didn't get one, well obviously I don't have your email or I missed it somehow. If you review this chapter & leave your email in the review or I can get it off your profile, I will gladly add you. Once again, I'm really sorry about the delay, like Draco, things got out of my control. I promise if you continue to review & show interest in this story, I will definitely continue to write it. Don't forget reviews are like candy & I'm nothing if not a sugar addict. So please, read, enjoy & review ;)