Disclaimer: ME: Twinkle, twinkle, little Draco, I wish I owned you. Up

above

The world so high, like a hero in the sky. Twinkle,

twinkle little

Draco.

Harry: Scary!

Me: I know, huh? Anyways I'm not making money

from this story.

Feelings Denied

During the night, Malfoy heard a sobbing in one of the bedrooms. It was

Hermione's bedroom. He pushed the door open, to find Hermione trying

to muffle her sobs in her pillow. She was so distraught she didn't

even realize Malfoy coming in.

'Are you okay?' he asked, for the first time in his life,

showing his weakness. He couldn't bear to see anyone crying. His

face had a look of compassion, integrity and caring.

'Malfoy? How could you care? Your father is a Death Eater;

you've been against me for six years. You call me a mudblood every

morning at breakfast! How could you care?' These words shook Draco

so much. This was why he was sorted into Slytherin: he wanted to prove

himself to this beautiful woman he really liked, since forever!

'I just do. Granger, in this world, you are always searching for a

reason! So let me request you do something. Let life live. Let

yourself live. Quit looking for a reason, and just enjoy the time you

have! Then, you will really enjoy it!'

Hermione felt confused. This was something she had pondered on for

years! She had been trying to just decode it for years, and here comes

Draco and makes it so easy in his own complicated way.

'If I said that you could show me how, what would you say?' She

was desperate, no doubt. She wanted so hard to do what he was

suggesting, but it seemed so hard.

'That depends. Would you ask me in front of other people, or

alone?' He was afraid that she hadn't made up her mind; he was

afraid his reputation would be ruined because of a mudblood. He was just

plain afraid!

'You are unbelievable! Get out! GET OUT!' she shouted, louder

than a mandrake. Malfoy regretted his words instantly.

'But-'

'No buts! This is my room so GET OUT!' She sobbed into her

pillow again. This was what she was afraid of- trusting someone and

getting hurt. She had finally let someone in, but they had stabbed her.

She kept sobbing until she collapsed into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning she awoke to a fresh aroma of strawberries. Wasn't

she supposed to be cooking breakfast? She wandered into the kitchen,

yawning every so often.

'Morning Granger,' Malfoy said, without even looking at her. He

took a bite of his strawberry jam toast.

'Malfoy? Wasn't I supposed to make breakfast?' she asked,

hoping he'd let her do the work.

'You didn't get up early enough, so I tried to make myself some

toast. Tried being the main word. It tastes terrible!' Malfoy

grimaced as he took another bite.

'Let me see that.' She snatched the toast out of his hand and

wiped off the thickly spread jam. 'Malfoy! What did you cook this

in, the oven?' She gestured towards the large stove, smelling

something burning.

'Oh, is that what that thing is? I thought it was the

dishwasher.' He shot her a sheepish grin. She suppressed a laugh

and instead sighed with annoyance.

'Okay, so what did you cook the toast in?'

'Um. That thing,' he said, pointing towards the microwave. She

sighed.

'Malfoy, the point of this class is learning how to act like a

muggle, and realize how hard it is for House Elves! I'll show you

how to use these things, but you'd better pay attention!'

First she showed him the toaster, how to switch it on, make toast and

how much jam to put on it. Then they took the plates and cups out of

the oven and she showed him how to cook a roast.

Draco kept procrastinating, hoping to keep her away from the microwave.

It was a steamy mess by the time they got to it. She raised her

eyebrows at him. He winced as she found her copy of Hogwarts: a History

on fire. She glared at him and grabbed the fire extinguisher.

'Malfoy, I can't believe you! Why, on Earth did you put my book

in the microwave!'

'Um. I tried to cook a chocolate bar, but it exploded and I grabbed

the thing nearest to clean it. Then I heard you coming downstairs and I

jumped and accidentally made it start.'

'Oh well, you burned my four hundred and fifty fifth copy. At least

I have other copies I can read.'

'What is the point of having 455 copies of a book?'

'I believe we just witnessed the answer, Malfoy. So you can read

it, even if someone ruins a copy.'

'Yeah, but 455 copies is a bit much.' He was greeted by a grin

and a slap in the face. He rubbed his nose.

'That's it! I am your master you know! Go get Blaise for

me!' Hermione smirked and obeyed. When she returned, Malfoy had an

evil grin on his face, like a Cheshire Cat.

'Zabini, get your camera. You'll take a photo of us in a

private position. Publish it in the Hogwarts's Horizon

newsletter.'

Zabini ran as Hermione asked a question.

'Which position do you mean?'

'You are going to kiss me. Normally, I'd be disgusted at the

prospect. But you have proved to be a bad servant. Therefore, I am

going to punish you.'

As soon as Blaise had the camera and the situation was explained to him,

he poised the camera. Hermione bent in for the kiss.

No one knew it, but Hermione had never kissed anyone before. Suddenly,

a sunset of possibilities revealed as a small electric spark of warmth

tingled in her toes and grew through the rest of her body. Unaware of

what she was doing, she deepened the kiss, running her hands through his

surprisingly soft, smooth hair.

Was he kissing her back? A feeling she'd never felt before seemed

to envelope itself in her stomach. Suddenly, she heard a click and saw

a flash. She remembered her punishment and abruptly stopped the kiss.

A cruel, yet shocked expression played on Malfoy's face. She

smirked.

'Bet you've never had a kiss as good as that one, huh? Anyway,

you'll never have one as good again, you absolute GIT!'

'Take that photo to the printer immediately. Then bring me a

copy!' He sighed. It had been a very long day.