A/N: Same as before…blah…still wish I owned Malfoy wistful look -sigh-…anyway read and be nice! This is my first fanfic…if you're mean I will discontinue to write…lol
CHAPTER TWO – WHAT A SHOCK
"Dumbledore left a note in the kitchen saying we're allowed to take our meals up here." Draco announced. He looked down at Hermione, who pulled the shirt down where it had ridden up while stretching. He frowned at her clothes, then asked, "What are you wearing?" Hermione giggled and stood up, the jeans clinging to her hips and legs, then flaring just below her knees.
"They're jeans." She told him, "Jeans and a t-shirt. Quite comfortable. So are hoodies, actually." Seeing the confused look on Draco's face she held up a finger and darted into her room. A second later she came out with a black hooded sweatshirt, which zipped up the front. She shrugged into it and zipped it up, snuggling into it's warmth. The hoodie was rather large, and on the front had two red roses entwined along a silver rapier, and the whole picture was being engulfed in flame. She turned around to kick off her shoes, and Draco saw that on the back there was text that read 'When will the flames, at last, consume us?'. Hermione bent down to pick up her shoes and threw them into her room. She bounced onto the couch again and asked, "So…What do you want to do?" Draco lowered himself beside her, but still at a distance, and sank into the soft squishiness of the couch. She was watching him for an answer, quiet and poised. At length he shrugged, and she sighed. "Ugh." She complained. "You're boring." She leaped up and walked into her room, then returned with what Draco saw was a small, white box looking thing with a split wire coming out of the top. He puzzled at the contraption, and when Hermione saw the look on his face she burst out laughing. Draco, being a Malfoy, did not take kindly to being laughed at.
"I thought, Hermione," He said, emphasizing her name, "That we were going to be KIND to each other?" She stopped laughing and smiled demurely, pressing a button on the white box.
"Ok, Draco. This is called an iPod. You listen to music on it, look," She put one of the headphones in her ear, and moved to put the other in Draco's, but he jerked back, looking at it suspiciously.
"What's that?" He inquired. "What does it do?" Hermione sighed and pushed it into his ear before he could protest, and Draco heard a noise coming from it. He stopped fidgeting and listened in awe as music traveled through the little earbud into his ear. Amazing! He thought, listening to it. Hermione giggled at the expression on his face, and paused it. Draco looked at her in shock and asked, "Huh? Where did it go?" She pressed the play button and it came again, slightly louder. He took the earbud from his ear and turned to face Hermione.
"What kind of magic was that? I've never seen it before!" He asked eagerly. Hermione paused it again and held it out to him so he could see it better.
"It's not magic," She told him. "It was made by muggles." Draco looked up sharply, almost dropping the iPod.
"Impossible!" He exclaimed. "How in the bloody hell could a muggle think of this?" He examined the iPod more closely pressing all of the buttons and scrolling around. Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to take it back when Draco put in the headphones and clicked something.
"Hey! I think I figured it out!" He smiled, and it was the first time Hermione had ever seen Draco genuinely smile. It made her smile as well, and she laughed as she held out her hand for it. "Aren't you just a smart cookie, then? Now can I have it back?" Draco's eyes widened and Hermione caught the strains of music coming from the headphones, which were turned up quite loud. Draco began catching the lyrics and smirked, darting out of Hermione's reach. Wondering what he was listening to she stepped closer, but her question was answered when he grinned and asked teasingly, "So what's YOUR fantasy?" Hermione was confused for a moment then realization dawned and her eyes widened as she knew what he was listening to.
"This Ludacris bloke has rather interesting ideas, doesn't he now?" Draco was purring. "Of course, I myself am wondering since when Miss Goody Two-Shoes Granger has been listening to music blaring how 'in the backseat, windows up, that's the way you like to fuck'?" He grinned wider and shook his finger at her. "My, my Hermione, you sure do listen to some interesting things." He began looking through her song library, reading out all the titles he found amusing.
"Hmm, let's see here…'Ass like That', 'Big Weenie', 'Drop it like it's Hot', 'Fuck it', 'Just a 'lil bit', 'My Humps'?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly at that one, and then continued; Hermione's face growing redder every second.
"And what's this? 'Rape Me'?" He chuckled and Hermione groaned in distress; she had forgotten about that one. She jumped at him to try and grab the iPod, but he had anticipated it and moved out of the way, running from her while reading more song titles.
"And there are more! 'Shake ya tail feather', 'Sick Love Song', 'The Way You Move', and we're back to 'What's your fantasy'." His eyes sparkled with laughter as he dodged furniture, trying to keep away from a determined Hermione. Unfortunately, Draco's coordination skills weren't as smooth as land as they were on a broom, and he tripped over the edge of the rug. Luckily the iPod stayed in his hands, but Hermione tripped over him, as she was right on his tail. They both landed on the floor; Draco had flipped over when he fell, so when Hermione landed on him they were lying in a rather compromising position, with their faces quite close.
They immediately sobered up, clamoring off of each other and dusting themselves off. Draco cleared his throat and held out the iPod; Hermione, still blushing, took it and looked away. A small sound escaped her lips and her shoulders began shaking violently. Draco, alarmed, whisked her around.
"Hermione? What's wrong? Did I break it? Are you hurt?" He asked wildly. He suddenly realized that she was laughing hysterically, tears streaming down her cheeks. She gasped for breath and collapsed onto the couch, grasping her sides from laughing so hard. Draco, unsure as to why she was laughing, sat next to her, watching worriedly as though she was mentally ill.
Finally she stopped, gasping in big breaths of air. She calmed down for a few minutes, then spoke to Draco.
"I suppose you want to know what was so funny?" She asked, taking in the bewildered look on his face. He nodded and she said, "Well, I just find it rather strange that we could go from complete enemies to almost friends in…what, a few hours?" They sat down and Hermione turned so that she was facing him. "You're not at all the ignorant spoiled brat I made you out to be, you're actually quite normal. It just feels strange to me to be playing around with someone who I thought was my worst enemy. Or at least, rival." She said jokingly.
Draco, however, looked as though he was an entirely different person. The laughter and fun in his eyes had been replaced by a cool look of boredom, and his face was carefully masked. Inside he was thinking, What have I done? I must admit, that was rather fun, but we could never be…friends! My father would murder me! It's a shame, but we can't get any closer! Sighing in defeat, he changed his disposition immediately, from friendly to indifferent.
"Who said we were friends, Granger?" He replied smoothly. "I was just making an attempt to be civil, and I think we should stop there. My father wouldn't approve of me socializing with people of your…social status." He finished smugly. The look on her perfect face as she realized what he meant actually made him feel horrible for leading her on. She looked hurt and angry, and stood abruptly, storming to her room. She paused at the doorway and turned around.
"You know I actually thought you had feelings and were trying to be different. I thought you actually had it in you to try and be mature. But I guess I was wrong to judge you so quickly, you're the same as ever, cold as stone. I'd be surprised if you had any feeling at all. So much for being friends." She fumed, then slammed the door.
As Draco heard the shower start, he felt an emotion he seldom did. Guilt. He felt guilty for making her think her was her friend. He sighed and leaned back into the couch, running a hand through his hair. She really wasn't that bad, after all. For a Mudblood. He felt bad now calling her that. After talking to her and laughing with her she didn't seem like a Mudblood. She seemed…like a regular witch. If he hadn't known already, he would say she was a pureblood for all her magical ability. Also, his father was dead. Killed in battle that summer, but Hermione probably didn't know that. So technically, he could be friends with her now. Groaning in defeat, he stood up and walked over to her door, prepared to apologize. He had messed up. He wanted to be friends, and felt bad about his mistake . He knocked on the door, but it swung open as he touched it.
Hmm, He thought. Hermione must have slammed it so hard it didn't close all the way. He pushed the door open more and ventured into her room, looking for her. He heard a noise coming from the bathroom, and walked toward it. As the door came into view, he felt his jaw drop.
Hermione was standing at the mirror, combing her long brunette hair in a towel, which was wrapped around her so that a generous amount of skin was showing. Obviously not seeing him, she continued combing her hair. When she was done she reached for her nightclothes, which was a t-shirt and flannel pajama pants. Thinking she was alone, she dropped the towel and began pulling on the pajamas. Draco must have made some sort of sound, because Hermione suddenly turned and saw him, which caused her to yell in surprise.
"MALFOY!" She shrieked. "GET OUT!" She quickly finished pulling on the t-shirt and walked up to him, pushing him out of the doorway. "What is wrong with you! Just…Just get out! GO!" She shoved him toward the door and slammed it as soon as he was in the hall. Seething, she hung up the towel she had used and turned out the bathroom lights, then shut the door leading into her room. She sat crossed legged on her bed, reading her favorite book to try and calm her furious nerves.
The nerve of him! She thought angrily. Just walking in like that! Now that I think about it I really don't want to be his friend. Maybe he's changed a little, but not enough for me. With that thought firmly in mind Hermione continued reading until she was tired, and then reached to turn out her light, but was stopped by a knock at the door. Knowing it was Malfoy; she called loudly, "You can't come in!", and turned out the light. However Malfoy had made up his mind and opened the door.
Light splayed across Hermione and the bed until Draco flipped on the light switch on the wall, flooding the room with light. Hermione sat up in bed, quite disgruntled. "I told you not to come in, ya know." Draco sighed.
"Yeah, I know. But I came in here to apologize." He muttered. Whatever Hermione was about to say she didn't, instead she just stared at the blonde boy, her mouth gaping like a goldfish. "What?" Draco snapped. Hermione closed her mouth and smiled, slowly shaking her head.
"Wow." She said, still smiling. "Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Prince, apologizing to Hermione Granger, the lowly Gryffindor Mudblood." She finished rather sarcastically. "I never thought I'd live to see the day." Glaring at him, she asked, "Is that all?" Draco shrugged and looked at her again.
"I just wanted to sincerely apologize. That was uncalled for earlier. I'm just so used to my Father's ways, that it's a kind of built-in knowledge that I'm not supposed to associate myself with Mudbl—Muggleborns." He corrected. "And well, obviously you don't know, my Father…er, he died this summer." He looked into her eyes and saw pity.
"Don't pity me, Granger! I'm glad he died! I loathed the man!" Draco said angrily. Exhaling he held out his hand and walked over to her. "Look, what I'm trying to say is that the life my father chose for me is one I didn't want, and now I'm free of it. I just don't know how to shape my own now that all the influence and decisions were made by him. Now that I'm free I'm allowed to be your friend, and I would like to be. So can we start over?" He asked hopefully.
Hermione studied his face carefully for any hint of a lie, but she couldn't detect one. Deciding she may as well give him a second chance, she took his hand and shook it. As their hands touched, a strange bolt of electricity went through each of them, but neither asked if the other had felt it. They did, however let go, and Draco went to the door. He flipped of the light and stood in the doorway for a moment.
"Goodnight, Hermione." He said softly, then closed the door.
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"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"
Hermione's alarm clock screeched. Groaning tiredly she pointed her wand at it and it stopped abruptly, cutting off in the middle of 'you lazy son of a…'
"I swear," Hermione muttered. "When I see Ron I will murder him for getting me that! Some gag gift…damn Wealseys." She trudged into the giant bathroom to brush her teeth and shower, but someone was already in there. She gasped and turned quickly as she saw Draco standing at the sink brushing his teeth, clad in boxers and not much else. When he heard her gasp he spit into the sink and turned to where Hermione was standing, facing the wall.
"Draco," She began, "Would you perhaps mind putting on some pajama pants so we can both brush our teeth?" She asked hopefully. Draco rolled his eyes.
"What, Hermione, are my abs going to distract you that much that you won't even be able to brush your teeth?" He asked, raising and eyebrow. Hermione turned around, glaring at him, and marched to her sink. She squeezed some toothpaste onto her toothbrush and began brushing so hard that Draco burst out laughing. He wrapped a hand around his side and bent over in fits of laughter as Hermione spit into the sink and looked at him indignantly.
"What?" She said hotly. "I'm brushing, aren't I?" She gestured to the toothbrush, yet her eyes wandered over the general vicinity of Draco's chest and stomach. Thinking he was still laughing too hard to notice, she shamelessly surveyed his abs, all the while liking Quidditch more and more.
"I KNEW IT!" Draco shouted triumphantly as he caught her line of sight. "See?" He told her, smirking so wide she thought his lips would split. She scowled as he teased her, dancing around in his boxers as her face turned red with embarrassment. Sensing her discomfort, Draco stopped and crossed to his door where a black silk robe was hung. He shrugged into it and walked over to Hermione.
"I'm sorry, Hermione." He said, still smiling slightly. "I just find it amusing that after 6 years of fighting we've solved our differences…for the most part…and that you find my abs…appealing." His eyes glittered with laughter, and Hermione couldn't help but smile. A small chuckle escaped her lips, and before she knew it, she was laughing as well. When they could finally calm down enough to talk, Draco was the first to speak.
"Well, I'm glad we're friends after that -- Bloody hell!" He yelled. Hermione whipped around immediately, expecting a teacher to be in the room, but Draco was saying loudly, "We have 10 minutes to get to breakfast!" He darted out of the room and Hermione could hear him banging drawers and opening his closet to find some clothes, but she very calmly went to her room and put on the outfit she had picked the night before, and threw her school robes over it. She quickly pulled her hair into a pony-tail and put on some eyeliner, then walked out to the living room and sat on the couch for about 5 minutes before Draco came puffing out. He was tugging on his robe as he spotted Hermione, all put together and sitting on the couch in perfect silence.
"Wha…whe…HOW!" He demanded as she grabbed his arm and pulled him out through the portrait. She sighed and shook her head.
"It's a female thing, Draco, never you mind." She let go of his arm and they walked to the great hall, where almost the whole school was already seated. Pausing at the door, Draco let Hermione go in first, so no one would suspect anything they shouldn't. Not that they would, He thought. He glanced at Hermione as she sat down to eat with Potty and Weasel, then joined his own cronies. He wedged himself in between Blaise and Pansy, and grabbed a plate.
"So, mate," Blaise began, "How was your night with the Mudblood?" Draco tensed as he heard Hermione called that, but forced himself to cool down and play along.
"Horrible." He said indifferently. "Now let me eat without being questioned, I'm quite tired from having to put up with her all night." He shoveled some eggs and bacon onto his plate, along with a scone and some butter to put on it. As he was pouring a glass of pumpkin juice he felt Pansy attach herself firmly to his arm.
"Oh, poor Drackie-Poo!" She simpered, groping at him. She crossed her legs so that Draco could see exactly what she was wearing under her skirt, which he was pretty sure wasn't school dress code. Prying her fingers off of his arm he looked at her coldly, and she shrunk away slowly.
"Pansy, despite your sick fantasy that you are my girlfriend, I would like to bring to your attention the fact that we are not, and never will be, dating!" He went back to eating, but Pansy just didn't get it. Taking his hand and placing it on her thigh she cooed, "Oh I'm sure you don't mean that, Drackie-Poo…"
Wrenching his hand back in disgust he got up and moved to the other side of Blaise, where he could eat in peace. When he had gotten his meal down he burped contentedly and slouched down, glad to be away from Pansy. God, he thought savagely, I wish the ugly cow would leave me alone already! How many hints do you need! He noticed Dumbledore stand and focused his attention on the old man for whatever announcement he was about to make.
"Students!" Dumbledore called, not needing to be very loud for the entire hall to go silent. "I would like to bring to your attention a few changes for your schedules. But first, I shall need you to be able to view them." He clapped his hands and each students' plate was cleared, with their schedule instead in the middle. Draco picked his up and studied it, noticing with some annoyance that almost all of his classes were paired with Gryffindor.
"The change I would like to bring up is that Divination has a new teacher as of this morning. I am sad to reveal that Professor Trelawnly's illness has become rather serious, and she will not be able to teach this year at all. Taking her place will be Narcissa Malfoy, who is an accomplished seer, though many do not know that. Now, you all have about one hour before your first class, so I suggest you go back to your dorms and do whatever is needed. That will be all" He sat down again as the students began getting up.
Draco jumped in his seat and looked towards the staff table where, sure enough, sat his mother! I wonder why she didn't tell me! He thought as he left the table. He wandered through the halls until he came to the portrait of Erik and Christine, where he could hear someone piano and singing. He assumed the singer was Christine, for it was a soprano voice, high and clear. Hating to interrupt them, Draco hesitantly cleared his throat. Erik and Christine stopped to look over, and upon seeing him Erik stood to welcome him back.
"Was your breakfast agreeable?" The man asked pleasantly. Draco nodded and said the password, so the portrait would admit him. He climbed inside and pulled off his robes, getting prepared to take a shower, since he hadn't had one last night. He didn't see Hermione anywhere, but just to make sure he glanced in her room. Satisfied that she wasn't there, he scribbled a quick note and muttered a quick spell so that the paper hovered in the air in front of the door, ensuring that it was the first thing Hermione would see upon entering. Draco pulled a pair of black slacks and a dark green button up shirt from his closet, and laid them on his bed so he would have them ready. Pulling off the rest of his clothes, he wrapped a towel around his waist and ventured into the bathroom. Upon seeing the bathtub already full, he stopped to make sure Hermione wasn't in there with him, but didn't see her. Figuring the house elves must have filled it, he dropped the towel and waded into the water, which was just the right temperature, and covered in some sort of purple bubble that smelled like peppermint. He trekked as far as about 5 feet, leaving a good foot of his 6' 2" frame exposed, mainly his muscular shoulders. He sighed contentedly and submerged himself, and when he came up for air he was met with quite a shock.
Across from him in the tub was a pretty face, framed with dark brown locks. Apparently, Hermione had been there the whole time. Her eyes were closed, so Draco figured she hadn't seen anything, but he didn't want to take a chance.
"Hermione?" He called. She didn't stir so he went closer, until he was about two feet away. Wanting to keep some decency between them, he reached out his hand to tap her lightly on one bare shoulder. "Hermio – Bloody Hell!" The shoulder he had touched was ice cold, and he lifted her chin quickly, to make sure she was breathing. As he studied her face he noticed she was deathly pale and shaking, and she wasn't waking up. Panicking, Draco forgot all previous thoughts of common decency and lifted Hermione in his arms bride style, careful not to touch her anywhere but where he needed. She inched closer to the heat of his body, but was still asleep. He sat her on the steps of the bath, and quickly got out to wrap himself in his robe. Turning back to Hermione he realized that the only was to get her up was to pick her up, and she wasn't wearing anything. He sighed and thought glumly, So much for a relaxing bath. Knowing something could be really wrong with her, he swallowed and grabbed a towel and draped it over his arm, prepared to cover Hermione with it when he picked her up. He quickly lifted her out from the water and covered her in the towel, then carried her to her room.
He laid her carefully on the bed and pulled a blanket over her until he could find something warmer for her to wear. Noticing the clock on her bedside table, he saw that he only had about 35 minutes, so he looked faster. He finally found the flannel pajama pants she had been wearing the night before, as well as a t-shirt and a sweatshirt. Knowing he would have to dress her, as she was obviously in no state to dress herself, he grabbed his wand. Wanting to preserve as much of her modesty as possible, he spelled her under garments onto her, then proceeded to dress her in the clothes he had found.
When she was dressed and bundled beneath the heavy velvet comforter, Draco grabbed her hand and noted with worry that it was still freezing. He decided that it was seriously enough to go to the infirmary, so after draining the bathtub and properly dressing himself, he picked her up again and walked out to the main area, where he pushed open the portrait. Hermione moaned and shifted slightly in his arms as he hurried through the hall, and Draco was rather surprised at how light she was.
Rounding the corner he almost dropped her as two bodies almost collided with them. Not even attempting to place who they were, Draco continued toward the infirmary when he recognized the voice behind him.
"OY!" Harry shouted. "You bloody Ferret! What have you done to her?" Beside Harry, Ron's face was turning crimson with rage, and his hands had balled into fists at his sides. Draco, seeing the looks on their faces, quickly told them.
"Potter, Weasley! I found her like this, she's freezing and shaking and she won't wake up! I need you to run ahead to Pomfrey and tell her, okay?" He said, still walking so as not to loose time. He turned around when he didn't heard footsteps behind him. "For Merlin's sake! Is this how you react to help your best friend?" Harry heard the genuine panic and worry in Draco's tone and began running towards the infirmary wing, tugging Ron behind him. Draco lingered behind, with Hermione carefully held in his arms.
As Harry and Ron ran ahead through all of the winding corridors, Ron said, "Do you think the ferret is really worried about her?" He asked darkly. "For all we know he poisoned her to get rid of her!"
"RON!" Harry panted, as they turned a corner "I don't think he's kidding. She looked really ill and there was panic in his voice. Something's wrong." Ron suddenly skidded to a halt in the middle of the hall and stared at Harry.
"Blimey, mate," He gasped, "I think she's going through the change!" He broke into a run again and the two of them burst through the infirmary doors, much to Madame Pomfrey's annoyance.
"Potter! Weasley! What in the name of –" She was cut off as Harry said quickly, "Hermione's coming and she's quite sick! She's freezing cold and she won't wake up!" As soon as he said that Draco walked through the doors carrying Hermione's limp form.
Madame Pomfrey gasped and turned down a bed, motioning for Draco to lay her down in it. He did gently rested Hermione onto the cot, and she moaned as the heat of his body left her, trying to grasp onto him to stay warm. With a quick spell Madame Pomfrey muttered Hermione stopped shivering and Draco pulled the covers up over her. Then, before Madame Pomfrey could say anything, he bolted out the door to fetch Dumbledore.
A/N: Many thanks to the people who reviewed, and yes, I changed Hermione's middle name, I know. But it' s my story, so get over it smiles sweetly and the whole Phantom thing was because I'm tired of her running of with the Fop, so I wanted to make it so that in real life she stayed with Erik. shrugs I dunno. I'm weird like that…Anyway, next chapter soon! Reviews help…nice ones, if you please.