Chapter 10 – Shadows
Hi loves I'm back again ( smiles apologetically). I know this fic is sporadically updated so I'm extremely grateful to all of you who have been stuck to me throughout this whole time. Thank you for your support. Every time I find some time to check on my story (which is not frequent unfortunately) I find some reviews that urge to return and it rekindles my inspiration. This time it was MinkaEsparaza05, Lena2244, HoneyDukesCandy. I couldn't DM you personally and thank you for your support so I'm adding this little note in the beginning of the chapter. As I said before as long as even one person wants to keep reading this story I'll keep updating , it will not be abandoned. This time also I'll try to update more than one chapter and hopefully longer chapters.
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Hermione tried to smooth the imaginaries wrinkles on her robes for the tenth time, as she walked through the halls of dungeon. Her wand was held tightly in her hand. Though she would never admit even in front of torture but patrolling the dungeon after curfew did make her quite nervous, especially now after the Malfoy incidence . After all lioness or not she was in a snakes' pit full of vipers, who hated her. "So are your parents even coming this year Mallary?" a sneering voice was heard as she rounded the corner. " Don't be dumb Paul! When have they ever? Like they care for this little shit here, like anyone would care!" – another voice sneered. Hermione could see two bigger boys towering over a small boy. The boy was afraid, his hands fisted on both sides of his robes but his face didn't betray a single emotion as he stared up at them. "Right! His parents don't love him."-the darker boy laughed with glee.
Her hand tightened on her wand. Hermione started to move forward to ward off the bullies. Suddenly a cold drawl rang out behind them – " Five points from both of you and detention with Flitch." Draco Malfoy came out of shadows with a bored mask adorning his face. Hermione immediately backed into the darkness. " The two boys spluttered suddenly coming face to face with the head boy. Hermione watched as they murmuring an apology ran towards their dorm. The boy, who was being bullied stood alone. Draco didn't look at him. He walked past as if he hadn't seen him but suddenly stopped. " Grow some balls. If you let them bully you and tell lies then they will. If you don't, they won't dare." Suddenly the little boy spoke up startling Hermione with his words. " what if they tell the truth?". His words were emotionless as if talking about something else not his parents. Still a faint tremor ran underneath his emotionless tone. " Then understand that you are not alone with daddy issues and you should not care about these petty problems. You are more than enough." - these words were spoken equally coldly and emotionlessly or more so, as the head boy walked away.
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Hermione watched him through her eyelashes. It was one of the rare days when she had joined him in their common room in evening. Today when she had strolled in the room with a heavy tome, he had merely raised an eyebrow and then had resumed his reading. Hermione watched him stretched on the couch with another transfiguration book. His cropped blonde hair was messy and cuffs folded. Suddenly his muscles stretched under his shirt caught her eye as she unconsciously turned and laid on his back. Hermione felt her throat go dry. She would not deny Draco Malfoy was one of the most handsome boys in the Hogwarts. She would be blind to not notice that. However with his hatred towards muggleborns she had never even thought about his look goods or brains. Even last term when they had fallen into a kind of routine, she could never think about having a friendship with him. Then his attractiveness was glaringly obvious. But she never once had entertained the thought of being romantically involved with him. It's not that she was not confident about herself but he was too perfect for her. Hermione couldn't fathom how did the situation change so fast. In such a short span of time she had snogged Malfoy so many times still it was astonishing to her. She still could not believe Malfoy wanted her as he thought she was the best. It was plain weird. She couldn't help but remember his words to the boy. It reminded her of a night last term. Once again she had woken up hearing Malfoy falling in the common room, shutting the portrait door after midnight. Hermione had rushed and as usual had found him drunk and beaten. She remember, that night, when she had settled him on the couch, unconsciously she had brushed his hair from his forhead. But he had jerked her hand away and mumbled – "why now? You never came when he gave me away. You stood behind him proudly. Whenever he tortured me you were ashamed of me. Why now? Don't touch me, I hate you!" Hermione had wondered if he was talking to his mother. Today suddenly it felt true. Sadness crept into her heart watching him. Is that why he has turned into this? She could not imagine her life without her parents' love. Harry too had a hard life but having parents and thinking they don't love him, realising they are not satisfied with him. Hermione couldn't even imagine how would that feel. She lifted her eyes and suddenly found a pair of stormy grey eyes studying her. She went still, as Malfoy gracefully sat up while gazing at her. Hermione shivered as for a second his eyes travelled downwards and took in her shirt and short pyjamas, she wears in her room. She hurriedly pulled up her neckline and tucked her bare knees under her. Draco's eyes returned to her face "What are you playing at Granger? I could feel your eyes on me since the moment you came in." Hermione shifted. She hurriedly contemplated her answers, suddenly he urged "What?". Hermione flinched at his tone and blurted out "how are your parents Malfoy?" Immediately she regretted and cursed herself for being so nervous around Malfoy. Draco's shifted and turned hard like stones. "What about it?" his jaws clenched as he sneered angrily. Hermione could feel his rising ire but she had already poked the sleeping dragon, hadn't she? " I remember last term. I never knew what was happening with you. Your parents knew though, didn't they? And they gave full consent."
Hormone screeched as in a blink Draco was on her. He pressed one knee on the wide couch, that she had been sitting on, successfully trapping her between his body and backrest. His one hand again entangled in her curls at the nape of her neck tugging her head upwards to meet his eyes while his other hand braced the backrest caging her. "Don't you dare interfere in everything Granger!" Hermione shivered as he hissed the words an inch away from her lips. His cinnamon scented hot breath fanning her lips. For a moment she thought he would again give her a punishing kiss, bruising her lips. But he released her hair and got up. Hermione stared wordlessly as he retreated into his room, closing the door with a bang.
Draco stared at his bleeding hand. Hermione's words still hung in the air. Why the fuck did she had to bring them Draco cursed. It's been months he had talked to them without being asked to do so or without using monosyllables. He really could do without this extra baggage. His kitten has gotten wind of something and if she started digging further, he was doomed. He really doubted Hermione would keep her mouth shut if she gets the wind of her marking. Though he had progressed somehow about her, Draco contemplated. At least that's what he liked to think. She had understood that he was physically stronger than her and neither she was getting rid of him easily. He knew the wheels in her head were turning trying to find the solution for this problem but she had also somehow gotten used to this situation. Draco smirked as she remembered the last time, when Hermione had moaned in his mouth and ran away mortified when he released her. She was indeed getting lax with her attempts to dissuade him. Though he knew whatever happened he would never force her. No, he wanted her to want him, need him not terrified of him. Then there was task as well. He was getting nowhere with it. If it remained unprogressive threats would again start to come. He punched the wall again, harder this time taking another swig of firewhiskey as frustration swelled in his heart.
So here is another chapter. I hope you guys will like it. Please leave reviews to let me know about your thoughts. Another chapter is coming soon hopefully (smiling and running away) Another thing ,things are going to get more steamy from this point on. However I'm terrified and clueless about how to write steamy parts. If you have any suggestions or advices for me. I'll appreciate it. Love you all.
