Chapter Five
Special Terms
It was nearing lunch time and the students were bustling down the corridors. None of them notice the badly beaten, trembling Head Girl hiding in the alcove as they passed by. Hermione had managed to clean up the blood she was able to see with a simple charm but desperately needed to get in front of a mirror. As the students seem to filter out Hermione took a deep breath and darted towards the closest bathroom she knew of.
Her robes were torn and her left eye and bottom lip was extremely swollen. She had to make a decision. Hospital Wing or 'wing' it on her own. Surely Madam Pomfrey would suspect something as this was becoming a habit so she decided to wash her face and come up with the best story she could think of. "Peeves….Perfect."
She smiled as she repaired her robes. She walked out of the bathroom and into the Great Hall. No one seemed to notice until she sat down.
"Bloody Hell Hermione! What happened to you?" Ron said as he broke from Lavender's grasp and ran over to her.
Harry and Ginny darted over as well with looks of concern. Hermione laughed. "It looks like Peeves got the best of me. I was walking down the corridor and slipped on an overturned ink bottle…I don't have proof it was him but who else would do such a thing? Well as you can see, my face got the worst of it."
Ginny tugged on her arm and whispered. "Come on, I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey."
"No! I mean no thanks Ginny. It's just terribly embarrassing. I feel fine really. I'm sure the swelling will go down by tomorrow. What's for lunch? I'm starving." Hermione dug into her food as her friends eyed her with unease. After they all went back to their own lunches, Hermione sighed in relief but caught Draco staring at her.
She wasn't sure if she had ever seen him so heated. She could tell by the shaking of his head that he had heard her little story and was enraged by it. She suddenly lost her appetite and left the Great Hall. She ran outside as she was suddenly overcome with emotions. She hadn't cried after Viktor left her lying outside of Hogsmeade that morning. Nor did she cry on her walk back and creeping into the alcove. She hadn't made time for that until now.
She found a bench and dropped down harshly on it. She cried out feeling helplessness and being alone. A chill in the air started to creep through her robes but she tried her best to ignore it. The coldness made her swollen eye and lip sting and eventually go numb. She suddenly felt the warmth of someone's arms slithering around her torso. She knew it was him by his scent. She sighed in relief and grasped his forearms tightly. He rested his forehead on the back of her head as he sat behind her.
Hermione didn't know how long he sat there in the cold holding her. Bringing her the warmth that she swore to herself she would never feel again.
As the sun started to set and turn the sky and mountains orange Hermione squeezed his arms and turned to face him. "Thank you."
He nodded but couldn't speak. Hermione looked down in shame. "I thought if I tried to reason with him he would see that he was rushing things. I told him how much I love Hogwarts and I'm just not ready to leave and be his 'wife'. He told me that he will be getting a room in Hogsmeade in a few weeks so that we can start our family. But I can't let him have that kind of control over me Malfoy! I wanted my first time to be special! I wanted it to be on my terms with someone wonderful. Someone who cared for me."
Draco pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Granger, if you break it off with him then you will have all that and more. But if you stay with him, he will be your first."
Hermione stood crossly and began to pace. "He can't! I won't let him. I can put the abuse behind me but my first time will be remembered forever…At least I wanted it to be. There's got to be someway to prevent it." She slumped down next to him in defeat.
"Yeah, go shag someone else first!" Draco joked.
Hermione shot up again happily. "That's it! That's exactly what I'll do!"
"What? It was a joke Granger!" Draco said in shock.
"No! Don't you see how perfect it is? If I make love for the first time to someone I choose, someone I know won't hurt me…..Someone who cares for me will make sure it's wonderful. Then it won't matter what happens after that will it?" Hermione grinned widely as she twirled her hands in thought.
"Who are you and what have you done with Granger? I can't believe how different you are! You aren't honestly considering this? I thought you wanted your first time to be special?"
"I do and it will be. And of course I've changed. Look what I've been through these past few years. I'm determined to hold on to whatever happiness I have left even if it means going against things I used to believe in."
Draco ran his hands over his face. "Fine. You're completely mad you know that? The easier thing would be just to break up with him. Then you can shag this 'chosen one' as often as you like with no risks involved."
Hermione gestured towards her face. "Does it really look that easy to you? I do plan to break it off but not until everyone I love is safe. I can't protect anyone here. After school is out I will move my family away and he'll never be able to find us. I worked it all out last night."
Draco shook his head and grasped her hand gently. "Well at least Potter or Weasley will get what they've wanted after all these years." He stood and stretched.
Hermione tilted her head as she stared at him. "What do you mean get what they wanted?"
"Well I assume you'll be asking one of them to do the deed. They are your best friends aren't they? Isn't that what best friends do for each other?"
Hermione burst into laughter. "NO! Well not exactly." She frowned as she crossed her arms. "I can't ask Harry. I would never do that to Ginny. And Ron just got back together with Lavender and they seem so happy. I don't want to ruin it….Wow, I guess this will be a lot tougher than I thought. Who do you think I should-"
"And that's why I don't have best friends! You're on your own with this one Granger. I've already given my advice and it doesn't pertain to this crazy idea in the least."
Hermione sighed with an embarrassed tone. "You must think I'm a terrible person for considering this."
"Terrible no. Misguided yes. But I can't judge you, look at my past. If this is what you feel you have to do then do it. But just be careful about it Granger. Choose someone you can trust. We should get back inside."
Hermione nodded with a thoughtful expression. "We should….WE SHOULD! You and I-"
Draco threw his hands up and backed away. "Now would be a very good time for you to have that guard up Granger. You don't want me to be your first! I'm terribly cruel and heartless remember? I'd be no better than Krum. Have you forgotten how dreadful I've been to you all these years? No one has gotten it worse from me than you! I'm actually trying to turn things around for myself and it wouldn't be a very good start to shag the girl I formerly knew as Mudblood." Hermione toppled over in laughter. "What's so funny Granger?"
She wiped a happy tear out of her eye and smiled flirtatiously. "What if I let you pull my hair and call me Mudblood? Then will you do it?"
Draco backed away further and shook his head. "NO!"
"Relax Malfoy! I was only joking. It was a silly idea. Forget I even mentioned it. But will you help me choose someone?"
"Not a chance!"
"What about Seamus?"
"Too short!"
"Dean?"
"Too skinny!"
"Justin?"
"Too weird!"
"Zacharias?"
"Too whiney!"
"Crabbe?"
"Too fat!"
"Goyle?"
"Too stupid!"
"Snape?"
"Too greasy!"
"Trelawney?"
"Too blind! Wait, did we just move on to faculty members? Isn't Trelawney a woman?" Draco said in confusion.
Hermine laughed. "Of course! I just wanted to see how long you wouldn't help me choose.
"Did you really consider Crabbe and Goyle?" Draco said with a sickened expression.
"No of course not. I didn't think you were actually paying attention….What about Blaise?"
Draco's face became reddened as he clenched his fists but then he sighed. "If that's who you were considering…But don't expect me to go and ask him for you Granger! It's your shag not mine!"
"I don't know though. He's a Slytherin after all and I just never imagined myself with one. Especially my first time." Hermione bit her lip in concentration.
Draco shivered as he watched intently at her nibbling her lip. "As I recall, you've already kissed one and you seemed to come out okay in the end. Had you forgotten already?"
Hermione blushed. "How could I forget it? It was the most passionate kiss I've ever experienced. I dreamed of it last night."
"You did not." Draco said hoping she'd prove him wrong.
"I promise I did. We were lying in a field of tulips and you were kissing me as gently as you did that night. I ran my fingers through your hair as you kissed my neck. Your touch was warm but still caused my entire body to shiver. It felt like you kissed me all night. I haven't slept that good in a while."
Draco's jaw dropped but when Hermione looked into his eyes he shook his head quickly and cleared his throat. "I uh-Weren't we going inside? Happy hunting Granger. Be sure to not let me know how it turns out."
Hermione laughed as they walked inside. She now had a plan which gave her hope that she was still running her own life and things would turn out okay in the end.
The next day in Potions Hermione arrived early finding Blaise sitting alone and reading at his desk. Hermione plopped down next to him with a smile. "How are you?"
Blaise nodded without removing his eyes from the book. "Fine Granger, and you?"
"I'm good but I need to ask you for a favor." Hermione said as he closed the book.
"Sure Granger, what is it?" Blaise said casually.
Hermione blushed. "Well it's going to sound crazy but I just need you to pretend to be interested in me….Flirting with me would be very helpful."
Blaise gave a confused look. "What for? Or should I say for whom?"
Hermione giggled. "I just want to see how Malfoy reacts to it….I know I'm not your type but it should only be for a little while. Would you do that for me Blaise?"
Blaise smiled widely. "I only said that I have a thing for redheads. Didn't I tell you I thought you were gorgeous? I'll do it….This should be fun."
Hermione turned around with a grin as the other students piled in. Draco winked at Hermione before he sat down. After Snape asked them all to begin reading and he walked into his office, Hermione turned around and smiled widely at Blaise.
He raised an eyebrow and whispered. "Something on your mind Granger?"
Hermione bat her eyes bashfully. "Actually yes." Draco tried to lean in inconspicuously but Hermione noticed immediately. "I know you have a thing for redheads Blaise but I was just wondering if…..Well, do you think I'm pretty?"
Blaise smiled. "You know I think you're gorgeous Granger. I'm not that wrapped up in redheads to notice. Why?"
Hermione shook her head shyly. "I just wanted to know. Maybe we could study together sometime?"
Blaise nodded. "I'd like to do a lot more than studying with you…If that's not to forward of course." Draco broke out into a coughing fit causing his face to turn red.
Hermione tried to stifle a laugh. "Not to forward at all Blaise. You read my mind actually."
Blaise hit Draco on his back. "You all right there mate?"
Draco cleared his throat and scowled at Blaise. "I'm fine. Tell me Blaise, how's Susan doing?"
Blaise's jaw dropped. "Eh fine. Why do you ask?"
Draco shrugged indifferently. "Oh I thought maybe you and she had a fight or something."
"Why would you think that?" Blaise said angrily.
"Well seeing how you and Granger are getting on I just figured you weren't with Susan any longer." Draco said happily.
Hermione sneered at him as Blaise shook his head. "Just following in your footsteps mate. Why tie yourself down with only one girl? Isn't that what you always say?"
Draco gave him a dangerous look. "Pity if she found out that you think that way."
Blaise smiled daringly. "If you find it necessary to tell her then be my guest. Seeing how you've already been through all the Slytherin girls and more than half of the Ravenclaws…It would seem fitting for you to start on the Hufflepuffs wouldn't it? As long as you leave the gorgeous Gryffindors to me…I've heard they're incredible in the sack."
Just as Draco was rising from his seat with a look of fury, Snape walked out and gestured for him to sit. Hermione's cheeks were red and her heart began to pound. She hadn't intended to start a fight between them. Just a bit of jealousy. After the bell rang Hermione heard Draco whisper something in Blaise's ear and they both stomped out of the classroom. Hermione hurried out after them and found them shouting in the hall at each other. She ducked behind a suit of armor and watched them argue.
Blaise had an intrigued smile as Draco paced in anger. All the other students had hurried off to their next class ignoring the row. Blaise stepped forward. "Out with it Malfoy. What's the problem?"
"You know damn well what the problem is! Didn't I make it clear last night to stay away from her no matter what she says to you?" Draco's knuckles were turning white.
Blaise leaned against the wall. "You didn't say why though. You've never cared what happens to any girl here. Why is she so different?"
"It's none of your business Zabini! She's not thinking clearly and you need to ignore what ever she says."
"Actually Malfoy, it's none of your business who I talk to…But! Since we've always been friends….I'll try and ignore her even though it will be hard." Blaise said with a hint of malice in his voice.
"What's so hard about it? It's Granger were talking about!" Draco said furiously.
"If it's so easy then you try it….Go on, I'd like to see you go an entire day without bringing her up even once. Or better yet, try and stop staring at her all the time."
Draco stepped closer and yelled. "I don't stare at her!"
Blaise chuckled and spoke calmly. "Sure you don't mate. Sure you don't." He pat Draco on the shoulder and they both walked away together.
Hermione shook her head in confusion and realized that this was her personal mission and trying to tease Draco Malfoy wasn't part of her agenda.
