Summary: In this chapter, we get and idea of Professor Blackburn. Hermione servers her detention, and Draco…comforts her afterwards. O:)
Disclaimer: Don't own them, so please stop asking.
Chapter 6: I'm Falling Even More In Love With You…
Hermione and Ron never spoke to each other during meals. It seemed like the Golden Trio would cease to be. Hermione didn't mind Harry, though. She knew Harry wasn't going to be happy with her, but he at least didn't react as immaturely as Ron did.
A tweak of her ear snapped her out of her thoughts. A Hogwarts owl dropped a letter on her plate and flew away. Hermione made a face as she wiped her hash browns off the back of the envelope and opened it.
Miss Granger,
Your detention will be served tonight. You will be polishing the furniture of Professor Blackburn's office. You begin at 7 PM sharp.
Professor Snape
'Ugh,' Hermione thought. 'Great.' She looked at the Slytherin table and saw Draco looking at her in concern. Their eyes locked and held. But it was Hermione that broke the eye contact. She was disappointed. After the secret he told her, and Draco being her rock since school started, she thought he changed. And then he just…waltzed himself out of punishment. How selfish and hurtful. And now Hermione had to do detention with this creep.
Hermione was surprised with herself. If she didn't like a teacher she'd at least respect them. First Trelawney and now Professor Blackburn.
Hermione decided she wasn't hungry anymore, so she got up and left the Great Hall. She headed in the direction to the Head Girl and Boy common room. But as she walked, she heard her name called out behind her. She turned around and there was Malfoy. She kept on walking.
"Hermione--"
"What do you want?" Hermione asked, her voice cracking.
"I just--"
"Want to apologize for embarrassing me and letting Snape blame everything on me?"
"Hermione, I'm just not…ready for people to know about us yet. And I don't think you are either," Malfoy pointed out.
"Well, now that Snape saw us, people will be finding out eventually!"
"No they won't," Draco said. As they continued walking, they saw a second year Ravenclaw make kissy faces at them. Hermione turned to glare at Malfoy. If looks could kill, Malfoy would be dead on the spot.
"I didn't tell anyone!" Malfoy exclaimed. Hermione was unsure if she should believe him. She turned around and continued walking.
"Hermione!" She whirled around and glared at him.
"Because of you, I have a detention with Professor Blackburn. Because of you and your arrogance and trying to keep up with your smarmy reputation, I have to go to a detention I don't deserve to go to. I thought you changed, Malfoy. I thought you were starting to get it. But you haven't changed. This summer was a tragic one for you, I know," Her voice softened. "But if there's a chance that you want to get to know me better, let me know when you're ready to tell people about us," And with that, she turned around and left, leaving Malfoy to ponder what she just said.
By killing time, Hermione started on her Defense Against the Dark Arts essay. She was dreading this detention. She dreaded any detention, but with the creepy Headmaster…
Hermione wrote furiously on her parchment when the fireplace came to life.
"Granger!" A voice snarled. Hermione, startled at Snape's voice, knocked over her ink. All over her essay. She just stared in disbelief and panic.
"No!" She whined.
"Granger!" Snape barked again. His face appeared in the fireplace, uncaring to her ruined essay. She looked at him, blinking back her tears.
"Yes?" She asked.
"The password for Professor Blackburn's room is 'phoenix'." And that was that. Once the fire diminished, Hermione plunked her elbows on the table, buried her face in her hands, and cried. It wasn't easy being a know-it-all. As she sat there and sobbed, the common room doors opened and Draco walked in. Hermione was too busy sobbing to notice.
"Hermione?" Draco asked tentatively. Hermione stopped crying but averted her eyes.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Draco asked. Hermione tried telling him, but her words weren't very articulate. He could only make out, "Snape…fireplace…essay…ink," Draco noticed her Defense Against the Dark Arts essay covered in ink. He frowned, took out his wand, and tapped the essay, muttering some words. The ink cleared up so that her essay looked as if nothing happened. Hermione's sobs were reduced to hiccups.
"Thanks," She whispered. Draco sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him. She rested her forehead against his chest and steadied her breathing.
"Hermione, you're working too hard," Draco said stroking her hair.
"I have to," She said. "I need to,"
"No," Draco said. "You don't." Hermione sniffled.
"Just look at you," Draco said. He stood up, took hold of her hand, and dragged her in the bathroom. He made her look at herself in the full-length mirror.
"You have dark circles in your eyes. You've lost weight. Hermione, you're overworking yourself. I'm…I'm worried about you," The moment he said those words, Hermione turned around and faced him. No one uttered those words to her before. She looked at Draco and saw his eyes clearly showing concern.
"Hermione…I'm not telling people about us because of my 'smarmy reputation,'" He used his fingers as air quotes. Hermione blushed. "I haven't told people about us," Draco continued, "Because I don't want too much on your plate. You're stressed right now from keeping up with your classes, the responsibilities of being Head Girl, and you're going through a difficult time. It's just…" He sighed and tucked a tendril of her hair behind her ear. "I don't know how everyone would take it. Your friends would be angry, other students would be angry…you don't need anymore stress," Hermione hesitated and nodded.
"But…but why did you run away when Snape caught us?" Hermione asked.
"I panicked. Snape is the very last person I want to find out about us. I got scared," Draco said. Hermione nodded. Draco bent his head down and kissed her. He kissed her with every amount of care he felt for her. Hermione kissed him back. There were kisses like these, where Hermione felt like her knees were about to give in. She felt Draco's hands on her hips. That low curling heat in her belly began to kick in. Her lips parted, and Draco took that as an invitation to slide his tongue inside. Hermione welcomed it, her breathing irregular. She packed herself up against the counter pulling Draco with her. Their kiss became more passionate, but Hermione wanted more. She slid her hands underneath his robes and they came off. Her hands went up his normal shirt. She wanted to feel his chest. Draco's breath faltered as he felt her hands on his abs, traveling up to his upper chest. His lips left hers and he began kissing and nibbling down to her neck. Her body was on fire like she'd never felt. She saw his trousers at full salute and she stopped. She stared at it, biting her lip.
"Hermione," Draco said. His voice was husky, dark, and full of want. Hermione looked at him.
"I'm going to do something right now that you've probably never experienced,"
"Draco, I--"
"No, it's not sex. I know you're not ready for that," He said. Hermione nodded. Draco took off her robes so that she was in her regular clothes. He wrapped his arms around her waist again and pulled her closer. So close that her stomach was settled on his…problem. Hermione thought she was fireworks.
"Draco, I want you," Hermione hissed. She saw Draco's lips curl in satisfaction.
"I know…but it's 6:45," He said, kissing her nose. Hermione's eyes went wide.
"Shoot!" She yelled. She hurriedly put her robes back on, checked herself to make sure she was presentable and moved to leave.
"Wait," Draco said. Hermione whirled around. Draco walked over to her, and gave her a heart-searing kiss.
"I'll be waiting," He teased, and let her go.
Hermione didn't know what to think as she went to the "Headmaster's" office. There would be no Dumbledore beyond that door. Ever since Dumbledore's death, the gargoyles were often crying. She knew how they felt.
"Password?" Asked the gargoyle sadly.
"Phoenix," She replied. And she was in.
The first thing she noticed when she walked in was that all the pictures of the previous Headmasters – including Dumbledore – were taken down. The new pictures that replaced them were…pictures of Lockhart and other famous witches and wizards. Hermione's jaw dropped. What a horrible man. She saw a dusting can and rag. So she'd be cleaning her way. How she cleans at home. She started off with his desk. At least he wasn't in the office. That made things a bit more comfortable for her.
But that comfortable thought flew out the window when the door opened and Professor Blackburn walked in.
"Ah, you're here already," He said.
"Uh-huh," Hermione replied as she dusted.
"Not much of a talker, are you?" Asked Professor Blackburn.
"No, Not really," Hermione said. There was a frosty silence emitting from her.
"You don't like me very much, do you?" Hermione put the supplies down and looked him straight in the eye.
"I do not know why you are our Headmaster. You don't do anything. I come in here, and I see all the portraits taken down and undeservingly famous witches and wizards are replaced. You are disrespectful, and you will never replace Dumbledore," She looked at him with ice-cold eyes and continued to dust ferociously.
"Ah, so it's a grievance thing," Blackburn said with a smirk. Hermione just glared and continued dusting.
"Well, let me tell you," Blackburn said.
"I'm listening," Hermione said casually.
"Stop reliving the past. Dumbledore is dead. He is not coming back," Hermione froze. How could he say such a thing? She held back her tears and didn't say another word to him.
It was ten o'clock when she finished.
"Good job," Blackburn said, his eyes surveying the place.
"Thank you," Hermione replied quietly. She did not make eye contact.
"You may leave now," Hermione nodded, turned around, and fled.
She burst into the common room, sniffling. Oh, what a terrible man.
"Hermione, s'that you?" Asked Draco.
"Yeah," Hermione replied. Draco emerged from the d ark. He was shirtless, and his hair was wet.
"How'd it go?" He asked.
"I don't want to talk about it," Hermione told him.
"What happened?" Draco asked.
"I don't want to talk about it!" Hermione repeated.
"What do you want me to do?" Draco asked. Hermione walked to Draco and just hugged him. He was warm. She rested her forehead against his chest. Draco tightened his jaw. It felt good to him. He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"What's he like?" Draco asked. Hermione didn't respond. She pulled her head back, looking up at him. Her eyes searched his.
"Make me forget," She whispered. Her fingertips rested against his chest as she began to kiss his neck. Draco's pulse quickened. He wanted her, there was no doubt about that, but he didn't want to take advantage of her.
"Hermione--" Draco began, but Hermione cut him off by kissing him on the lips. He made a noise in her mouth similar to a growl, and kissed her back. Hermione angled her head a bit, and ran her tongue across his lips. Draco's hands traveled up her hips until he was able to get her robes off. Their teeth clanked together and their tongues danced around each other as their kiss became more amorous. Draco pulled Hermione in and pressed his erection against her. Her breathing faltered, and Draco found the right opportunity to break the kiss.
"C'mon," He told her. He took her hand and led her to his room. He locked the door after closing it, and almost had a heart attack when he looked at Hermione. Somehow, she managed to get most of her clothes off. She was in her bra and panties now. It must have been a spell. Draco walked over to her.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Draco asked. Hermione nodded. Draco bent his head down and kissed her slowly, backing her up against his bed. As they kissed, Draco's hand slid up her back and slowly unbuckled her bra. Hermione sighed against his mouth, which Draco thought as a good sign.
Hermione's hands became active as well as she began to tug off Draco's sweatpants. The pants joined Hermione's bra on the floor. Now the two had only one pair of clothing between them. Hermione broke the kiss for a second to sit down. Draco sat down beside her. He nudged her chin up and began to kiss her neck. Hermione moved back so she was lying down. Draco moved on top of her, shifting his weight. He ran his hands all over her body, feeling every curve. She was so beautiful. He kissed his way down her neck, nibbling and suckling down her throat, and moving down on her breasts. Hermione's breath hitched in her throat as her hands shakily removed his boxers.
As Draco paid attention to her chest, Hermione marveled at his body. He was built like an athlete due to playing Quidditch. She explored his chest with her hands, moving up to his shoulders and down his arms. Tears slowly began to leak down her face.
"Hermione?" Draco looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Did I hurt you?" He sounded concerned. Hermione smiled.
"No," She told him kissing his cheek. Draco nuzzled her neck and not a moment later, Hermione felt the cool air hit her thighs. Her panties were on the floor.
"Finally," She breathed, making Draco chuckle.
"Do you know the anti-pregnancy charm?" Hermione asked. Draco smirked.
"So there is a charm you don't know," He teased. Hermione just glared playfully. Draco grinned and murmured the charm. Automatically, she felt a change in her…body system. She looked at Draco.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
"Yes," She replied. Draco very slowly began to inch his way inside. Hermione gasped. It really did hurt the first time. Draco watched her, his eyes giving off encouragement. He tried it again, inching into her slowly. Hermione lay back and relaxed. Maybe that would help. And as their bodies became one that night, Hermione realized she was falling in love.