ChapterTen: On Chances
A/N: THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS FOR CHAPTER NINE! And..Finally, chapter ten! I've changed my mind since I last wrote, and there will at least be twelve chapters in all. I'm sorry for the long wait..laziness and writer's block is not a good combination - But I have finally overcome that (and have already written a quarter of chapter eleven!)! . Anyway..this is only Draco's POV, the next will be Ron's POV. So..read and enjoy!
Draco's POV
Ha. I'm a bit elated at the fact that all she managed to say to Weasley was thanks. It meant that she didn't love him. Yet.
Still, that didn't exactly mean that she loved me, either. But should that matter to me? It's not like I love her..it's just that I care about her a little more than I would usually care about anyone. That's a difference.
Anyway, I guess she is going to go on a date with my fellow chum Ron and me. Sounds to me like it's a contest. A contest that I'm sure I'm going to win. I mean, who isn't better than Weasel? Even Potty is better than him. Weasley is just a git. He'd had his chances with Hermione, and I think that they're all used up. In fact, he'd had too many chances. And I've really only got one, since if she chooses Ron, she'll officially be in love with him..if we leave the island, that is. Well, I'll just make the best of this one chance.
Now to come up with a clever idea for a date. I'm not sure if Hermione is more of the romantic type or not. Or what kind of things she would enjoy doing. What brings her joy, anyway? Books?
But unfortunately, I can't give her that here. And besides, that would be boring. Reading books together in a library? I'm stealing Hermione's phrase here, but honestly. But what else does she enjoy? I can't seem to think of anything..except for arguing. Yes, well...I don't seem to know her all that well.
And that leads me to a very important question: what is it that we even had in common? I'm in Slytherin, she's in Gryffindor. I'll have to admit that I'm probably against the good forces of this world, whatever the good forces may be. And she's most certainly with the good forces..once again, whatever that may be. Probably something to do with Potter and You-Know-Who. I wouldn't exactly want to be an ally to the Dark Lord, but I would also most definitely not want to be an ally to Potter. If that's the good and evil forces of this world today, that is. Who knows?
But wait- we do have something in common, at least. We're both quite intelligent, if I do say so myself. That's a good reason for her to be with me, instead of Weasel.
Well then..straying from the point. What am I to do for our date? Even though it's an island, it seems as if the choices are limited. I mean, you can't even get a decent meal out of this place. That spot I had taken her to earlier, the cliff over the sea..that would be nice. But I think the romance in that place would be ruined, after the argument we had there. And after Weasley had found her. So I suppose that wouldn't work. But what else could we do? Without a wand, I don't have any way to use any magic-
Brilliant. Magic! I'm a wizard, Weasley's a wizard, Hermione's a witch..how stupid could I have been? We can all use magic, whether we have wands or not! Only, it's very difficult. Makes simple magic almost advanced. But I'm more than capable at performing magic without a wand. Haven't done it, but I know I can. Afterall, I had gotten nine "Outstandings" in my O.W.Ls..also one "Acceptable," and a "Poor." The "Acceptable" was in History of Magic..whoever listens in that class, anyway? And there was the "Poor" for Defense Against the Dark Arts..It's not as if I waste my time trying to defend myself against dark magic. I'm the one casting the dark magic, afterall!
Anyway, that should prove that I can use magic without a wand. I'm at least able to use magic without wording it out loud..with a wand, of course. But that's harder than the usual, isn't it?
So what should I do, then? The greatest date I can think of is apparating us both away from here, leaving Weasley behind. That would be fantastic..if only we could apparate. Stupid curse.
I'm guessing that Weasley won't be clever enough to know that we could use magic. So he'll go for something more mysterious and romantic. Who knows? He'll probably take her on a walk or something. Something similar to them walking their rounds together. Ha. The time that I interrupted, and ended up here? But somehow, I'm beginning to think it was all worth it.
Well, I should at least think of something a bit more exciting than that. Maybe..
Aha. Food. We haven't eaten in ages. Not like we need to here..but it would be a nice change. A picnic, perhaps? Sounds sort of cheesy. But I guess it would have to do. Let's hope I am capable enough to use magic without my wand. But what am I thinking? Me, doubting my abilities? I'll be fine. It'll work.
Bloody hell. I feel as if I just ran a marathon! The whole idea of using magic without a wand was a bad one. But then, I did manage to summon up a picnic basket, along with a blanket. Wearily, I brought the basket and blanket with me to the pond and waterfall. It made good scenery. Carefully, I spread out the blanket, then placed the basket on it. There. Overall, it looked pathetic. But I'm hoping that she'll be too impressed with my talent and see that I'm original. Right..but now what? Should I go and get Hermione? Or would she come here? I don't think she knows where I am, though. So that would be a problem.
I guess I'll have to go back to the cave and get her, then. I had better not run into Weasley along the way..or I might just beat him to a pulp. If only I weren't so exhausted.
Eventually, I make it back to the cave. I walk inside, and look around. She was in here, sleeping. She looks quite peaceful when she's not awake. I take a deep breath, and say aloud to myself, "I can do this." Because I can. It's just a date, afterall. Only a date. But why am I suddenly so nervous? I'm not even exhausted anymore..my exhaustion has been replaced with reckless energy, as if I were ready to bounce off the walls. What if she didn't like this date? What if her date with Ron turned out to be better? What if she didn't like me at all? What if she chose Ron!
But I can't think like that. Must think positively. She'll choose me..I'm sure of it. I take another deep breath, then gently shake her, until she wakes up. Did I ever mention that this was my first date with anyone? I've had friends with benefits and such, but I never have been in an actual relationship with anyone. Dating is just so strange. What if I'm too inexperienced? What if..what was I thinking! I didn't even summon up flowers! Girls like flowers! Flowers are always given on dates! I could've at least picked some flowers in this stupid forest..what an idiot I am!
Hermione slowly sits up and blinks a few times, her eyes eventually focusing in me. "I guess I fell asleep," She says, stating the obvious. Well, at least it saved me from speaking first.
"Yes," was all I say. Right then would have been a good moment to say something witty, or at least something better than that!
"So..are we on our date now?"
"Yes." I repeat. I'm really showing a lot of personality right now. "Follow me," I add.
She looks at me strangely. "Are you feeling okay? You aren't..you don't have your usual cool demeanor about you."
"I'm fine."
She continues to look at me strangely, but then suddenly grins. "You're nervous!"
"No I'm not!" I say, quickly.
"I knew it! But what to be nervous about? You've spent time with me before. It's no different than that." This wasn't fair! She wasn't nervous about this at all? Did that mean that she didn't feel the same way about me that I felt about her? That's a little discouraging.
"But- you aren't nervous at all?" I blurt out. Damn. I basically just admitted that I was nervous.
"Well..sure I am." She suddenly looked uncomfortable. "But that's because I have to choose either you..or Ron." Right.
I put on a fake smile and say, "Why don't we just forget about all of that right now? Let's just enjoy ourselves on our date! Then you can think about all of that later." If only she could forget about Weasley entirely.
She returns the smile, but it looks a bit strained. But then, I'm sure that's how mine looked, too. "Yes. Let's just go on our date, then." I took her hand in mine, and led her along the way to our picnic.
"So.." I say.
"So." She replies. Why wasn't conversation as flowing as usual? Could it have been because this might be our last conversation as a would-be couple? I'm worrying about this all way too much for my own comfort..
"Why is it that you were out that night when Ron and I were on our rounds?" Hermione asks, suddenly.
I shrug. "I always wander around Hogwarts. It's a fascinating place. Besides, I'm a prefect. I don't get into trouble when I choose to meander. Which is usually every night." Well, at least the conversation is flowing.
"What, you don't sleep?"
"It's pointless to sleep when you have better things to do."
"Wandering around the castle doesn't sound better."
"Not like you haven't wandered around before though, eh?" The numerous times that Potter, Weasley, and Hermione have wandered around the place!
"So you like Hogwarts then?"
"Mostly. Why?"
"I remember you once saying that you would rather go to Durmstrang." How does she remember that? I don't even remember saying that.
"I don't recall," I reply, then chuckle. "What a name..Durmstrang. Do you know the term "Sturm and Drang?" It's German for "storm and stress," but literally means passionate turmoil."
Hermione laughs. "I doubt they meant passionate turmoil when they came up with the name of their school. Much more likely storm and stress. That school sounds so..dreary."
"Obviously the students weren't as dreary as the school, then. I remember you and Krum were close."
She rolls her eyes. "I remember how you and your cronies told Rita all about our little love triangle." We're entering less amusing subjects now. Better come up with a better topic.
"I was stupid then. Besides, I didn't know you all that well." But if only I had. I would've had you sooner.
"Oh well," she sighs. "That was then. Anyway, are we wherever we're supposed to be yet?"
"Nearly.." I say, then we take another few steps and make it to the waterfall. "There! I came up with a picnic."
"A picnic? But how?" She looks at me, confused, then a look of horror appears on her face. "What did you do! Steam bugs!"
I laugh. "Of course not! I used magic to conjure up a picnic basket with food."
An expression of awe replaces her look of horror. "You didn't! How could you? We don't have our wands.."
"Nope."
"Then..you used magic without a wand?"
I nodded.
A huge smile spreads across her face. "That's brilliant!"
I just give her a modest smile and reply, "Thanks." Although, inside, I'm rather pleased.
She looks around, and spotting the blanket, rushes over to it. "I can't believe that you really did this. But it's practically impossible! Beyond N.E.W.Ts, even!" Then, without a moment's hesitation, she opens up the basket. She withdrew two plates, along with silverware and two wineglasses.
She looks inside the basket again, but looks up, confused. "I don't understand. I just got our plates and silverware, but there is no food in it."
I join her on the blanket and reply, "You have to close it again and think of the food that you want."
"Oh..right. I knew that." She closed the lid of the basket, then opened it again. She took out pork chops, along with mashed potatoes, carrots, pumpkin juice, Yorkshire pudding, and treacle tart.
I raise an eyebrow and say, jokingly, "Mighty hungry, are we?"
"Considering I haven't eaten in days..yes!" Then, without further ado, she tucks in. I open the basket, and take out a burger, along with chips and butterbeer.
"American food?"
I shrug. "I've developed a taste for it," I answer, then take a huge bite out of my burger. The smell of the burger and the greasy chips..delicious.
We don't say much during the time that we ate, for we were both quite ravenous. I had seconds, then thirds. And even though we didn't really need the food to stay alive here, it still tasted rather good.
Eventually, I feel laid back and comfortable, finally full from eating, but still nimble on a pumpkin pasty. "Hmm. This would be better with some Firewhiskey." I open the lid of the basket and retrieve a shot of whiskey. I ate the remainder of the pasty in one bite, then downed the whiskey. It burned all the way down, and would continue to burn in my stomach for quite a few hours. But they didn't call it Firewhiskey for nothing.
"Er, is Firewhiskey good?"
"What, you haven't tried any?"
"No. I've had champagne once, though."
I roll my eyes. "Champagne is nothing compared to whiskey. Try some!" She looks at me, but then opens the lid and withdrew a shot of Firewhiskey.
She looks at it for a bit, and then suddenly downs it. Her face grew red, and she clutched her throat. I laugh, but get a glass of water from the basket and hand it to her. She takes and drinks it all.
"You didn't tell me it burns! And it's still burning," She moans.
"It isn't called Firewhiskey for nothing! Besides, it was better that I didn't tell you. Otherwise you wouldn't have tried it."
"I guess, but I doubt I'll ever be drinking that again." She glares at her empty shot glass. I smile, and shake my head. Someday, she'll want Firewhiskey again. It helps at times. Our gazes met. My smile faded. I loved her eyes. And now I realize..I loved her, too. She felt the same way, too. I know she did. I could feel it. Could see it in her eyes. I don't know why we didn't leave the island there and then, but it's like the island knew that she still had to officially choose. But not now. Later. After her date with Weasley.
I tore my eyes away from hers, and stand up. It was dusk, now. "I think it's best for me to take you back, now. Wouldn't want to keep Weasley waiting."
She only nods. Hmph, passionate turmoil. How fitting.
A/N: The idea that Draco can use magic without a wand may not be completely true. I know wizards can use magic without a wand, but I'm unsure if they can intentionally do that. Also, I got the "Sturm and Drang" part from a romance novel (I think it was "Again The Magic," by Lisa Kleypas. I don't remember. I was at a period of time where I was reading nothing but romance novels, lol). No idea if that's how Rowling came up with that title for the school. Haha. Once again..sorry for taking ages to update. Hmm..so if there is anyone still reading this..REVIEW!