Hello hello! It's been a while, way too long, and I do feel bad about how long it's been. Trust me, I do.
First off, OMG, there are 700 people following this story now? OMG. I freaked out when I saw.
I know this chapter is a bit short, but my muse has not been co-operating for this story at all lately. At least not for where we are currently in the story. I have written quite a bit of the next chapter, so hopefully I'll be able to get that out soon. I do hope you all like this chapter.
Please leave a review and let me know what you think ;)
My tumblr: indiebluecrown. tumblr. com
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.
Flashback
Sunday, March 2nd, 1975
Entrance Hall
"This is a horrible idea, you both know that, right?" Remus asked Sirius and James, who were both grinning at their ingenious plan. Draco was standing next to the doors to the Great Hall, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and his right foot bent and resting against the wall. Peter was on Remus's other side, looking anxious yet still excited.
"Well it's too late, we already did it," James shrugged, a broad grin on his face as he threw an arm around Sirius's shoulders.
"Did what?" a wary voice came from their right and Sirius and James both flinched sharply, having not heard her come up beside them.
Remus however had know she was coming for a while, he had been able to hear her footsteps and the smell of vanilla and honey had wafted into his nostrils several moments ago.
"Nothing," Sirius smirked, shaking his head slightly so that his lustrous, raven locks caught some of the light that was filtering in from the window behind them all.
"Sirius Black," Hermione narrowed her hazel eyes, her own raven curls piled into a messy bun on her head.
"That's my name Miss Potter, please don't wear it out," Sirius winked.
Remus heard a group of heavy footfalls coming towards them hurriedly, and turned his head in time to see the other Gryffindor girls running in their direction, Lily at the front.
"Why are we all standing outside?" Lily asked when she reached them-slightly out of breath, her bright green eyes sparked with interest-with Kira, Nancy and Alice joining her. The girls all looked tired, and he recalled that Hermione had mentioned they were going to start studying for the test they had in the middle of the week.
Their answer came shortly thereafter, when an emerald green skinned student burst out of the Great Hall. Remus's eyes widened as he noticed that they were wielding their wand and they looked furious. He recognised him as Avery, one of Snape's friends.
None of them had anytime to react before he had cast three spells, one missing James's by a hair's breath. The other two however landed their mark. Remus saw a flash of red light and then darkness.
Shit. Draco pulled out his wand a split second too late, thankfully Avery had only been using stunning spells, or this could have been a completely different story.
Draco easily disarmed and then stunned Avery, just in time for McGonagall to exit the Great Hall and stare them all down. "Mister Potter, if you would kindly assist me in levitating Mister Black and Mister Lupin to the Infirmary," she said through pursed lips.
Hermione was already at Remus's side, and she was about to say something, but as soon as she felt the strong pulse in Remus's neck, and then saw Sirius's chest rising and falling, she seemed to be a bit more at ease.
Draco sighed heavily, the cool Spring breeze blowing in from the open Entrance Hall doors was rustling through his hair. They both strode away, cloaks flowing out behind them, with McGonagall's shoes clipping across the floor, and his two unconscious friends levitating behind them as they moved.
Present
Sunday, March 2nd, 1975
Gryffindor Tower
Fourth Year Boy's Dormitories
Draco ducked back into the boy's dormitories, careful not to make too much noise as he rifled through James's trunk for his Invisibility Cloak, his wand already tucked back into the waistband of his pyjama pants.
Standing up, he tucked the Invisibility Cloak under his arm, and headed back over to his bed, the cold floors nipping as the bottom of his feet.
Shirt, Draco grumbled internally, shirt, shirt, shirt. Draco turned on his heel, ruffling his hand through his hair and letting out a ragged breath. He spotted a shirt he'd worn earlier to lounge out in, but had stripped off before he went to bed, as good as it's going to get, Draco thought as he strode forward.
Draco shifted the Cloak to in between his legs as he pulled the shirt over his head, putting his right arm through its' arm hole as his head went through its' hole. Shaking his hair out of his face as he pulled his left arm through its' arm hole.
He retrieved the Cloak from between his thighs and threw it over his shoulder.
With a few quick strides he was back by the door, and as silently as he could, he opened it and was once again faced with an impatient red fox.
Carefully and cautiously-moving slowly as he did-Draco gathered Hermione into his arms. She made a low sound in her throat, and since she hadn't clawed at him or bitten him, he assumed she was alright.
Where can I take her? I need somewhere to calm her down. She's probably stuck like this since she most likely freaked out, Draco's mind was racing at a mile a minute, and in a split second it dawned on him as he ran down the staircase to the Common Room.
"Of course," he mumbled aloud, bare feet moving across the warm, soft carpet as he headed for the exit.
Right before he stepped through the Portrait hole, he unfurled the Cloak from his shoulder and with a bit of shimmying (since he only had one free hand) he managed to get it over himself. Satisfied that it was covering him properly, he stepped outside.
It was a short bit away, so it didn't take him too long to get to his destination. He made his way quickly and silently, veiled with invisibility. Not even acknowledging the soft pants he heard from a dark alcove as he passed by. Chalking it up to a couple of prefects that had neglected their duties for a midnight romp, or a pair of students that had snuck off to have a shag. For their sake, he hoped whoever it was didn't get caught.
Draco rounded the corner and sighed in relief as he came to a halt in front of vast stretch of wall before him.
Closing his eyes he thought, I need a place to calm Hermione down. I need a place to calm Hermione down.
Draco opened his eyes and saw that a wooden door, a few feet taller than he had appeared. It was thick and heavy looking, dark stained wood, and the wood looked worn, and it was splintered at the bottom.
Stepping forward, Draco twisted slightly on his side and pushed against the door with his left arm. With a groan and light protest, the hinge relented and the door slowly moved inwards with him.
He exhaled deeply when he stepped into the room, bare feet warm against the plush carpet.
Draco barely heard the door creak closed behind them as he removed the Cloak, letting it pool on the ground next to him.
Hermione didn't wait for him to release her, she hopped out of his arms on her own accord. Draco hissed as her tail slapped him in the face on her way down.
It was a simple room, one armchair-which was facing a red brick fireplace, and there was a small wooden footstool in front of the armchair. Its upholstery was a faded green colour. The carpet was cream and Hermione was a bright shock against it. The ceilings were fairly high so it didn't feel cramped or tight.
She trotted across the carpet as if she owned the place, pausing by the footstool before she pounced upwards and landed on it gracefully. She turned in a circle before hopping onto the armchair.
"Oi, you can't sit there!" Draco protested as he headed towards the armchair.
Hermione however had already curled up, and she looked as if she would actually bite him this time of he attempted to move her, if her bared canine was any indication.
Draco sighed heavily when he reached the armchair, rolling his shoulders backwards and deciding to sit down on the footstool instead.
It went a small jolt up his spine since he sat down a moment too quickly, and he glared at Hermione. If she hadn't sat in the armchair, none of this would have happened.
"So. You shifted-" Draco started, hitting his hands softly on their respective knees, "-and you're stuck."
A low growl rumbled in the fox's throat, and Draco snorted, raising his hands in surrender.
"Sweetie, I was merely stating facts," Draco smiled mockingly, eyes narrowed slightly.
Hermione's whole body seemed to vibrate as she began to pant quickly. Shit, now she's panicking.
"No, it's fine. Um. Shit. Well. Hermione, calm down," Draco inched closer, and with earnest eyes and a delicate hand, he began to gently stroke the length of her body from her neck to just before her tail.
He didn't know why, it was the same as when he had had to calm Peter down, he simply started talking. This time however, it wasn't of great, powerful wizards. This time it was about him, or more accurately his childhood. He wove tales of the happier parts of his childhood, of his Mother's love and his Father's pride. Of days in the gardens with Theo, Blaise and Pansy. Of flying through the air on training brooms with his friends. Of days when Greg and Vince were simple and happy to pick flowers and laugh as they snuck out of stuffy parties and played games.
Draco didn't notice how entranced Hermione was, nor did he see her towards the end of it, since his eyes were shiny with unshed tears.
A soft hand touched his cheek and he flinched back, blinking, hard. Looking up he saw that Hermione was now sitting in the armchair, wild curls positively unruly, a few leaves stuck in them, and her hazel eyes were bright with something he couldn't quite make out.
"Didn't think that would work," Draco swallowed thickly, his throat dry and his lips chapped from speaking for so long.
"Well it did," Hermione smiled softly, "thank you."
It was only then that Draco noticed that Hermione was in a purple satin and lace nightie, it brushed her curves on the way down, and the swell of her breasts was exposed slightly. He felt another part of him realise that as well, and he swallowed again, thinking of anything else.
"We should get back," Hermione said after a few moments, and Draco nodded dumbly. Her hand moved from his cheek to take one of his in hers, and she got up carefully.
Hermione tugged him behind her, pulling him up off the footstool with a bit of a stumble, and soon they were both walking towards the exit. Draco made sure to nab the Cloak on their way out.
They threw it over them when they got outside, and they meandered back to the Gryffindor Tower. In a comfortable silence, warm hands interwoven, footfalls in sync and barely a whisper against the cold stone. Somehow, something changed in that moment, and they both knew that no matter what, everything was going to be okay.
Thank you all for your support, I love you all,
Indieblue xxx