Lustful Intentions
By: Le Noirde Adhara
.L.u.S.t.
As things turned out, neither of them got to see each other that week, or the next. Business had Draco turned inside out, what with there being a rumor of fraud going through the company, and Hermione's healing abilities were stretched to the day shift as well as night (the Dragon Pox epidemic in children was quickly turning into a plague). She barely got four hours of sleep each night because of the way things were going.
That did not mean she didn't have any time to ponder her seemingly growing relationship with Draco Malfoy. When she wasn't attending a sick child, thoughts of him filled her.
She often wondered if she had come to trust him too soon. After all, he was once a Death Eater and a Slytherin. He was devious, cunning, sly, and knew how to ly his way out of any situation. What was to say he wasn't conning her at this very moment?
But then, she remembered how sweet he was always being around her, and she couldn't help but think that it was genuine. If he was lying to her, he wouldn't be as sincere as he was being.
But there was still that nagging suspicion.
How did she really feel about him? She thought she used to hate him, but that was before she got to know him. She knew for a fact that she didn't want anything to happen to him; hell, she cared about him! So what did that mean? Hermione knew she wasn't in love with him.
But she needed to get back to her paperwork. This had to be finished by four o'clock today, by which she could go home. Thank Merlin Stacy was back. She would cut the workload in half.
As Hermione signed the last document, she thought about how she had called Draco conceited, and wondered if he had done as she dared him to and cut his hair. While Hermione thought he was very good-looking with it hanging long and his bangs falling into his line of vision, there was no denying that he would look very powerful with shorter hair.
But maybe she was imagining things. Maybe he wasn't planning something dastardly for a change. But there was that matter of what he said to her...
She didn't even know a "Harmony Gueringer". She didn't even know of any Gueringers period. Why did she lie about that?
Hermione decided she was suffering from temporary insanity. Because there was just no other explanation for what she did.
Is she were to be completely honest with herself, she was jealous that he got to be that footloose-and-fancy-free. Hell, if she was being brutally honest, she was disappointed that he hadn't made any moves on her in the last couple of weeks.
But if she admitted that, she'd use the Killing Curse upon her person.
Life wasn't fair. Sure, it could give you looks, money, fame, a boyfriend, love, hatred, but it all boiled down to one thing: if you weren't sure of yourself and your actions, you were up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
She was sure about one thing. She acted rashly. He was a bloody Slytherin. She was a Gryffindor. It would never work out.
But you were almost sorted into Ravenclaw. Surely, that must mean it had a chance.
Hermione snorted and picked up her white coffee cup. It was insane to keep corresponding with him. She would send him an owl in what precious time she had and tell him that she no longer wanted to see him.
A soft hooting noise came from the window of her office. Hermione looked up in surprise. A pretty barn owl was sitting there, clutching a bouquet of what looked to be tulips.
She got out of her chair, took the tulips in her hand, and thanked the owl. She turned her back to the window and fingered the card. Apprehension filled her, making her spine rigid. She put them in a vase, filled it with water from her wand and sat down. She looked back at a chart she was reading. She had red maybe only a paragraph when a flash of light caught her eye.
The tulips were on fire! Oh so they looked at first glance. Then Hermione realized it. They were Everlasting Love Tulips; this type of flower was rumored to keep sparks flowing from the petals only if whoever sent them was still in love with the recipient. Hermione decided to look at the card.
It said, "To the most beautiful witch of all, who could make even the most boring book (cue History of Magic's textbooks) come alive with a touch. I'll see you later on this week or early next week. Owl me when you get a day off, and we'll make plans."
There was no signature. Hermione could do nothing but stare at the parchment. Slowly, her tension about her almost-relationship with Draco Malfoy seeped out of her, as if it was the cold from a winter's day leaving her body as she slipped into a hot bath. Slowly, she allowed herself to allow her mistrust, self-doubt, and what ever hatred there was left leave her. She knew that she did trust him at last.
.L.u.S.t.
Sorry, guys, but I couldn't write anymore. It'd ruin the chapter if I did. This is just under a thousand words, but the next chapters will (hopefully) make up for it.
I wish I could give you guys straight answers about the prophecy, and everything else, but it'd spoil everything if I did.
I am going to say this: You've hit many foul balls so far. I'm not going to say "Expect the unexpected," because the expected is what will happen for the most part in this story. I can only say be on guard for a few surprises, the main one being the prophecy.
Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what Hermione's reaction will be like when she finds out there might be a prophecy?
Le Noir de Adhara
