Romancing The Stone: Chapter 7

Stuck Together

By Iridian

Harry was almost at his wits end. It had been happening every day and every meal for the past week and a half. Draco would always arrive earlier to meals than Hermione, due to her own compulsive talks with teachers discussing the finer points of newt anatomy and its uses in Pepperup Potions. Draco would sit with Harry, Ron, and Ginny for the first part of the meal. As soon as he saw Hermione walk into the Great Hall, he stood up, made a snide remark about having his fill of Gryffindor fluff for the day and strut off to the Slytherin table.

Hermione would never remark on his disappearance, even after all the arched eyebrows, subtle nudges, and even wild gesturing. Harry's own eyebrow was beginning to cramp severely, giving him a permanently confused look, and he was far past any subtlety.

So, he had taken certain precautions to make sure their albino Slytherin friend didn't leave the table.

As if right on cue, Hermione walked into the Great Hall, looking rather harried by her gargantuan bag of books.

"I think you all have soaked up enough of my brilliance for now, I'll just be-."

Harry smirked inwardly, because he was far too self-preserving to do it in public. Draco had fixed a death glare, and well, this might be Draco's influence as well, but he rather liked his face as is.

Hermione sat down practically on top of Draco, mumbling about potions and hexes and she promptly started with a jump, but found herself stuck down. Draco's face met her own as she turned around to see whose lap it was her pleasure to be sitting in. There faces ended up far too close for either, and Harry smirked in amusement.

"Rather brilliant Harry. I'm so glad someone finally got a move on about them," said Ginny briskly, dusting off excess crumbs. Her plate disappeared promptly as she stood up.

"Wicked brilliant, mate." Then directed at Hermione and Draco. "Have a good time."

Harry, Ginny, and Ron began trotting away.

"Perhaps we can give them one of those one word couple names. Remember that one you told me…Bennifer? That rather voluptuous Latin woman and her American boytoy?"

"Hmm…Hermco?"

"Good God Ron, that sounds just like that muggle gas stop…"

"Dracone?"

Hermione's upper parts were in danger of catching fire and her friend's voices drifted farther away.

"Former friends…" she snarled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"So….since we're here…uhh. How have you been Draco?"

"Fine I suppose. Yourself?"

"Peachy."

Long pause.

"About…"

"About…"

"You go first."

"No please, ladies first."

Hermione huffed in exasperation. "I just wanted to say that the jester's little prophecy probably wasn't true. I mean, Dumbledore got rid of him, so he must've been evil, and was probably lying to us to try to provoke something."

Hermione felt Draco's legs shift underneath her, his chest expanding and blowing out a sigh.

Mm…his legs are very nice…

"Yes…that's what I wanted to say as well."

"That's the end of it then."

"I suppose."

They both shifted uncomfortably.

"I think I can move off the chair now," said Draco, a leg lifting up off the bench.

Hermione shifted slightly.

"I don't think I can," she replied.

Draco let out a short bark of laughter. "Potter is smarter than I thought. Well, I'm leaving, and well, since you're going in the same direction and all…"

He got up, sweeping her up into his arms, her entire side glued to his front.

Hermione squeaking in surprise. "Wait…Get my bag."

Draco sat down in a squat. "Grab it."

She grabbed her bag, cradling it in her lap.

Death glared bore into her. Some eyes burning with anger, others getting misty.

Draco shifted her up in his arms, resulting in his own clothes shifting upwards, revealing a wide swath of skin all around his middle.

Hermione's left hand left warm skin on her fingertips, her hand immediately jolting back as if burned.

She would never say she felt anything, but his skin was warm and smooth, and she had felt the hardness of his abs underneath her fingertips. She would never say, but her fingers still felt warm after she had pulled them away.

Draco had been marching like a soldier on the run through the hallways. His fair skin flushed easily, and he would rather die than have Hermione think that Draco Malfoy, Casanova, was embarrassed by this. Especially since she had definitely expressed non-interest before. Draco had never had to chase after women in his whole life. He was not going to start now.

When they got to the portrait, Rowena and Salazar hadn't even muttered a greeting when both of them called out the password urgently.

Both of them had smirks on their faces as they surveyed their young charges.

"Good evening to the both of you," said Rowena.

"Carrying her over the threshold already Draco? Good going," said Salazar, eyes lighting up wickedly.

"Just doing the lady a favor," replied Draco smoothly.

"Open the door please," implored Hermione.

"So eager to leave your young man's arms, dear? Or is it so that you two can have some more time in private?" said Salazar, the portrait swinging open.

Draco quickly stepped through the hole, finally feeling some give on his clothes, and he tried experimentally to put Hermione down.

As soon as she felt her feet on the ground, she immediately scrambled away, only to have whiplash draw her back at the same time as Draco stumbled forward.

Hermione felt her back make contact with Draco's chest, her hands immediately grabbing at any support, and she managed to grab onto the arms he had instinctively wrapped around her waist to steady her.

"Looks like we're stuck together," said Draco.

"Let's just go sit down over there ok?"

Both of them tried to move forwards towards the sofa, but as soon as Hermione took a step forwards, Draco was tugged hard forwards.

Draco sighed. "Let's just do it this way, ok?"

He picked Hermione up, bridal style, walking over to the large plush sofa in front of the fireplace.

He sat down, plopping her down in his lap, her head resting on the armrest of the sofa, and he was leaning up against the side.

"I don't think…"

"Is there any other way?"

"About before…"

"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"For Merlin's sake just let me talk!"

Draco quieted down, his quicksilver eyes resting on her face, waiting for her to speak.

Hermione gulped audibly.

"Well, I did some research…"

Draco scoffed at this.

"And I found out that no matter the nature of a mirror, they are unable to lie."

Draco's brow furrowed. "Then why did you…"

"It was easier to dismiss everything that way," replied Hermione quietly.

"I see."

"Hermione-."

"Draco-."

"No, me first," said Draco. "I do think I may have feelings for you. Not just consensual friend feelings either. I don't know about you, but from what you've told me, I think the feeling is mutual."

His silver eyes were dull now, she noted, a muted pewter grey.

"Yes."

Light flooded into his eyes now, she realized, and it was a hazy shimmering pool of color.

I did that…she thought dazedly.

"I knew you couldn't resist my charms," said Draco, a wicked smile curving his lips.

"Oh yes, I fell for the arrogance, posturing, disregard for public decorum, always walking into the bathroom half-clothed in the morning…" replied Hermione.

"You mean the confidence, outgoing personality, and I bet you quite liked the last one."

Hermione looked away, a light pink colour diffusing from her cheeks.

"I'll never tell."

Draco chuckled softly, Hermione feeling the low rumble rock her gently, also feeling the rush of heat that pooled into her stomach at the sound.

"It's ok. I already knew."

"But if you would like to return the favor at any point, you're more than welcome to do so."

"More than welcome, huh?"

"If there was one bad habit you must pick up from me, I suppose that would take the proverbial cake."

Hermione only laughed.

Harry, Ron and Ginny cautiously opened the door that lead from the Gryffindor common room in the Heads common room.

"How long did the charm last?" whispered Ginny.

"It doesn't end, but I read in Hogwarts: A History, that charms get negated as you walk into the Heads room because it was needed to be a peaceful…"

Harry trailed off as he felt both Ron and Ginny's eyes on him.

"What?" he said weakly.

Sorry about the huge wait…I'll try to get the next chapter out faster. But in the meantime, enjoy and review!

Iri

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