**A/N: For some this may go without mention, but this story is completely AU. Therefore, some characters and situations may be entirely original. And as usual, I do not own Harry Potter or the rest of the characters in the franchise. I am not making any money from this story nor do I plan to. I simply enjoy seeing what my mind can throw at our favourite lovable characters.
Hermione had been walking with Ron for fifteen solid minutes listening to his deranged ramblings about Harry and the Triwizard Tournament a few days after the encounter with Malfoy. She secretly hoped something would get her out of listening to him. You would think he would notice that she wasn't even paying attention but since she nodded her head each time he turned back to get her approval on some stupid thing he said, he couldn't be bothered to notice the eyeroll each time he turned his back to her once more. Her mind began to wander to her night with Draco as they rounded the corner near the classroom that now held a special memory for her. For a while now, her thoughts had almost centered around Draco anyway. The encounter really cemented him in her mind.
Almost like a flash, Draco's goon Goyle pushed Ron into a nearby closet, much to his protesting. The big lug was laughing as Draco pulled Hermione into the classroom with a smirk as he said, "I thought I'd step in since you were looking so damn bored with the red headed weasel."
She smirked, "I like blondes better, they're far more interesting."
"Yeah, they are." He replied as he stole a kiss from her lips once more before saying "I have a free period, and I know you have a free period as well. How about we have some time to ourselves?"
She smiled at him, "I would like that." She walked over and sat on the empty teacher's desk.
Draco nodded as he brought a chair in front of Hermione and said "Sorry about the smoke in the potion the other day, but even after being covered in smoke, you still looked quite stunning."
"I was expecting something rotten, so it really didn't surprise me all that much. And thank you, I'd have to say you always look quite handsome yourself." She said her face blushing slightly.
"Glad you think so. In any case, I suggest making up with Harry soon. He'll need you, and Weasley can be brought back into your group later." Draco stated simply.
She looked at him and nodded, "I will do my best. Hopefully he's not too angry at me still. I haven't done anything wrong. I just tried not to take a side in the fight with Ron and Harry."
"Neither boy likes that you didn't choose them. Personally, I would've chose Potter. If any of the rumors around him are true, and from what I've heard, he's a tough bastard." Draco replied as he sat next to her.
"I chose to distance myself out of fear. When they are angry, they frighten me. They get really volatile and reckless. I didn't want to be in the middle of their inane argument," She said with a serious face.
"Guys can be idiots." Draco said simply with a chuckle to try and lighten the mood.
She laughed, "Especially Ron. For Merlin's sake, he can't honestly think Harry figured out a way to out this name in that awful cup. Can he?" she moved to sit on Draco's lap.
"Probably not. I doubt that he could. Plus the only person who would enter this tournament would have to be extremely narcissistic or in desperate need of attention. That's why I took a shot at it. Needless to say it didn't work." He replied.
She burst into a fit of laughter. "You Did Not!" She choked out through her bouts of laughter.
"Oh I did, I made sure to try while Snape was in the dungeons, but half the school was watching. I found a spell in a book in the Restricted Section that allows a person to slip past age lines for a moment, but it didn't last long enough. I got thrown back like some poor sap trying to cut down the Whomping Willow. It was rather embarrassing. Like I said, half the school saw, but no one stopped me," He said with a sheepish smile.
She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, "That's what I'm saying, no one was able to pass the age line that Dumbledore drew." She said pausing for a moment in thought. "Do you think your father would put Harry's name in the goblet?"
"Probably, not him personally, but a Death Eater probably. Someone who was in the school during the time between the announcement and the last night of entries," he said thoughtfully.
"Hmm, well let's not focus on that for the moment were supposed to be focusing on us," She said looking up at him a bright smile on her face.
"Okay then, when did you start liking me?" Draco asked suddenly slightly embarrassed.
Hermione blushed as he asked her this, "I would have to say about half an hour after I punched you in third year." she responded to him with a girlish giggle that made her blush, "I began to feel bad after as my hand started to throb and my temper cooled. I couldn't stop thinking about you for hours. I thought I'd stop thinking about you after the pain in my hand went away but I was wrong. If I saw you in the hall or in class, I started thinking about you again. Then when I saw you this year, my heart would beat faster when I saw you. I knew that you were a bit different. Still a prat, but you didn't outright target me, unless it was a part of a bigger plot. The encounter a few days ago was really a good thing otherwise we would have danced around each other for ages due to blood status."
"I'm surprised you started liking me so quickly, especially after what I said about the hippogriff. But, I'm glad this isn't difficult for you. There will still be times when I have to "force" myself on you for appearances when I know Snape will look. So, wanna talk some more or do something, else?" He asked her with a knowing smirk. He had been holding her hands and running his fingers through hers, and with each pass of his fingers they went further up her arms, causing her to shiver.
She leaned up and kissed him passionately, "Does that answer your question?" She asked with a seductive smirk on her face.
He rolled his eyes before pulling her in for another kiss, he knew the spells set on the room when his father was here, had kicked in since this was supposed to be an interrogation/submissive room for Hermione. His father had set the door to lock automatically when it was closed and no sound to be heard from the outside. In any case, he moved his hands to her waist.
She deepened the kiss as she shifted to straddle his lap, her skirt lifting to expose her thighs to him.
He began moving his lips downward toward her pale and vulnerable neck, sucking and leaving slight bite marks down it as hands rubbed her thighs.
Her breath grew more erratic as he nipped her neck, stirring up a wonderful sensations inside her. Her hips began to grind against his lap as she began to seek friction.
His fingers traced up her skirt and latched onto the edge of her knickers and slid them to the side, testing her wetness with the tip of his finger. She hissed at the contact and stood up quickly and removed the offending garment. He took the knickers from her and put them in the pocket of his robe.
She sat back on his lap and looked into his eyes as she reached her hand down between them and touched his erection through his trousers. Her face began to blush slightly at the brazenness of her action, but her smile never faltered.
He groaned at the contact as he pushed her off his lap and onto the teacher's desk behind her. Draco flipped her skirt up and spread her legs further to have a clear view at her dripping
She blushed a deep crimson as he looked at her so intently, her body responded to his touch in ways she never thought possible.
He got on his knees and ducked his head between her legs, tongue out in preparation for the meal he was about to feast upon, before giving a long and deliberately slow lick to her slit.
Hermione gasped as his tongue ran across her womanhood causing her to squirm around on the desk, small moans escaping from her lips. "Oh Gods Draco!" She moaned softly.
Not letting off, he dug his tongue inside of her; circling her clit and swiping her folds gently. He nipped her clit, just enough to jolt her close to a climax than she thought possible without penetration.
She moaned louder as he lapped at her juices, her nails digging into the edge of the desk. "Oh Draco! I want you inside me," she cooed when she felt as if she'd combust at any moment.
"I can't really hear you, I suggest begging more and much louder. Don't worry, no one can hear you," He replied after removing his tongue and began thrusting his fingers inside her, her juices splashing onto his shirt as he did.
"Oh fff- Draco! Please! I need to feel you inside me!" She screamed upon feeling his finger being thrust inside her.
"There it is," he removed his fingers and began undoing his pants. His erection was very prominent as he licked the juices from his fingers. She eyed him with curiosity and arousal. The anticipation of having him inside her was killing her.
He noticed her watching him and smirked, before grabbing his cock with one hand and pumped a few times before lining up with her dripping slit. He thrust into her, both moaning as he filled her. Draco pulled out and thrust back in quickly and deeply. He thrust faster and faster, seeking release. Within minutes they were both incredibly close.
"Will you come with me, Hermione?"
"So close," she reached between them and flicked her clit once, twice, three times and came with a scream. The sight of Hermione touching herself and feeling her orgasm surrounding his cock caused him to spill his seed inside her with a animalistic moan.
She laid there, him still on top of her as she held tight to him once again not wanting the moment to end. Her breath was coming in short, ragged pants as she attempted to catch it, from all of their exertion. She looked into his eyes a brilliant smile on her face. "I don't want to leave this room." She said plainly to him.
"Me either, but we have a plot to stop." He replied as he checked the window, the sun was going down fast so it had to be at least 4 PM, they were in the room for hours on end. "Hey, when is the next time you have astronomy?"
"Umm, later after dinner." She said smiling at him. "Why do you ask?" She asked.
"You need to get in Potter's good graces. I had Astronomy last night, and I think there's a partner project coming soon. I suggest using that to do so. He is key to our plan to thwart my Aunt's plot." He replied simply
She nodded her head as they heard students rushing past the classroom.
"It must be dinner time." She sighed, "I guess we had better make an appearance."
Draco nodded once more as he quickly found his pants while also listening out into the hallway.
Hermione straightened her skirt, casting a cleaning spell between her legs, and stood there waiting for him to decide when it was a good time for them to make their exit. The fact that he had pocketed her knickers was forgotten..
Draco turned to Hermione and noticed the marks on her neck, "I need to glamour your neck so no one notices the many love bites there." He pulled out is wand and cast the charm, effectively hiding the fact that they had just had sex in an abandoned classroom.
He motioned for her to leave before him. When she had been gone for two minutes, he walked into the hall where he noticed, Harry Potter was battling a proverbial war on all sides. To the public, he was an attention seeking empathetic misanthrope. Gryffindor house thought he was a liar, his friends spurned him at every turn while he prepared for the first trial that was in less than a week. However he would soon find that all was not lost, but he ate alone, at the end of the house table, in complete silence, hoping to become invisible. He almost wished he could get by with wearing his invisibility cloak to meals.
Hermione sat closest to Harry as anyone, but there was still a gap between them. She placed food on her plate, when she saw Draco walk in. She held her usual look of irritation as he walked by as a front for her housemates, but in her heart it hurt. She looked away and began to eat, finishing quickly and left early for the Astronomy Tower. She set up her things and waited for Harry to make his way in slowly like he usually did.
The Boy Who Lived walked into the tower early since food was ash in his mouth with the whispers and constant rumors among the foreign students and among the Hogwarts students became unbearable. He sat next to Hermione in complete silence.
She opened her mouth then snapped it shut once more as she was unable to find words to say to him. Her mind was whirling with things she needed to say.
After a few minutes of contemplating, she looked at him. "Harry?"
"Yeah, hey Mione. How's it been?" Harry greeted her as there were visible bags under his eyes and his eyes darted around, skittish and afraid of being attacked yet again.
"I'm sorry Harry." She said. She hated seeing him like this. "I should've spoken up. I know you didn't put your name in that cup. But, when you and Ron get into arguments like this, you sort of, well, frighten me. And I figured I'd just stay out of it. I never knew it would go this far," She finished wanting so desperately to hug her best friend.
"You shouldn't be afraid of me Mione, you're my best friend. Ron. I really don't know, at this point I would rather bury the tosser than anything." Harry replied as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Harry, just give him some time. He'll come round. Everyone will see that you didn't ask for this," she said softly as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Really, I hope he doesn't. I thought we were friends, but now I'm rethinking it. I think he latched onto me, hoping for some fame or something," he replied as he rubbed Hermonie's head softly
She hated that they were at such odds with each other, and she missed having fun with both of her friends. It felt so strange. She wrapped her arms around him, truly at a loss for what to say. "I really am sorry Harry," she whispered just before the other students began to file into the classroom.
"I know." He whispered back softly, taking comfort in the first kind words and touch he had received in days, as the class began to shuffle in.
Later that night, after going on a short walk before curfew, she walked up to the portrait of the fat lady and whispered the password. The portrait swung and open she could hear the sounds of yelling, andat first thought it was just her housemates bring their normal rowdy selves. Upon entering the common room she saw an entirely different story.
Harry was standing in the center of the common room with his trunk as a group of Gryffindor boys was behind Ron as he spoke out from the balcony they were standing on. "Get the hell out of here Potter! You're no longer apart of this house. You are a shame on the Gryffindor name."
Hermione furrowed her brow at the boys. Wondering what in the world she'd missed. "What the bloody hell are you on about?!" She shouted as she rushed to Harry's side.
"We can't have any liars here. I convinced everyone in our dorm to kick him out. He doesn't deserve to call himself a Gryffindor!" Ron said proudly.
"What!? You can't be serious! You guys can't really think Harry Potter his name in that cup! Ron this is insane! You also don't have the authority to do that. Whatever power trip you are on, needs to stop. I am going to make sure Professor McGonagall knows," she screamed back at him, now fuming.
"Why am I crazy?! He's an attention grabber and this proves it!" Ron explained with a frown.
"Oh for Merlin's sake Ron, he didn't do it! I'm sure of it! Harry wouldn't have been able to do it, just like Fred and George couldn't do it. He wouldn't have been able to pass through the age line Dumbledore drew around the cup. Please think logically Ronald!" She said rolling her eyes at the childishness he was displaying.
"You always do this Hermione; you always pick his side even when the evidence is right in front of -"
"I'll leave." Harry interrupted Ron's rant as he grabbed his trunk in silence and the entirety of Gryffindor house watched. The portrait hole closed behind him with a clang.
"Harry! No! Ronald how could you!" She screamed at him. "This is by far the the most idiotic thing you've ever done! He's been your best friend since we got here, your absolute closest friend, and you're hurting him doing this! You're a bully! And where the hell is a prefect when I need one?" She finished as she turned to rush after Harry.
Harry sat on his trunk in silence in the hallway outside of the common room, his fingers twisted and flipped around his wand, his raven hair falling into his eyes.
Hermione rushed out of the common room and into the hallway, sliding to a halt in front of him. She sighed thankful he hadn't gone far, "Harry, I'm sorry. He's such an arse." She said, letting her angry tears spill over as she crouched down in front of her friend.
"It's fine, this isn't the first time I had to sleep outside, so I don't mind really. Thank you for sticking up for me though. Now go back inside and get some rest.." Harry said as he began wiping away her tears.
"Harry this isn't right. They shouldn't be allowed to do this!" She shouted, "We have to tell Professor McGonagall. He is out of control. This can't be allowed to continue."
"It's not gonna work. None of the teachers will care." He replied softly as he got up and held his hand out for her to take.
She looked at him, knowing he was right, as she took his offered hand and allowed him to help her up. The teachers all seem to turn a blind eye to anything students did to one another unless there was blood involved. Even McGonagall hadn't cared when Harry was hexed right in front of her. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. "I wish it was him leaving." She whispered into his shoulder.
Harry wrapped his arms around her taking consolation from his only friend. With all the shite coming at him from all sides, he definitely needed a friend.
"I'll be fine Mione. I'll see you in the Great Hall for breakfast." He replied softly with a small smile
"You're sure?" She asked, now looking extremely conflicted. "I can find McGonagall."
"Yeah, I'm sure. I know warming charms and it might be nice not to have to protect myself from my roommates while I sleep," He replied softly as he hugged her once more before grabbing his trunk and walking down the hallway.
She stood there watching after him, anger raging within her. 'How could Ron do something so stupid and mean?' she thought to herself as Harry rounded the corner and out of her sight. She hung her head and turned to the portrait. Saying the password she opened it and walked back in. She thought it telling that even the Fat Lady didn't commented on what she had seen. Normally she would be full of useless advice. She would probably gossip to the other paintings as soon as she could.
The room was still full of most of Gryffindor house. As she walked in the room seemed to stop what they were doing and stare angrily at her. Hermione's face lit on fire with a furious blush as she made her way across the common room and to the stairs making her way up to her room. She knew better than to engage with such badly informed people.
Harry made his way to the Owlery,Hedwig took off from her perch when she saw him enter the owlery. He opened his trunk and quickly found a pre-inked quill and a small bit of parchment. He quickly scrawled a note to Sirius, telling him of the events of the night. Harry turned toward the field beside the Black Lake and opened his trunk, rummaging around for something when he heard someone approach. .
Daphne was out on her routine late evening walk. As she walked toward the Black lake she saw Harry Potter with his trunk. "Potter? What are you doing out here?" She asked, in a cold and even tone. She was a Slytherin afterall, and could easily hide her shock.
"I'm looking for something to put on the ground for me to sleep on. The entirety of Gryffindor Tower, with the exception of Hermione, threw me out tonight. Evidently, I'm a lying, attention seeking git.," Harry replied as he pulled out some spare robes and transformed them into a sleeping bag.
She looked curiously at the boy in front of her. "I was unaware that was possible." She said as she looked up into the night sky.
"Join the club." He replied as he slicked back his hair before sitting down.
She looked down at him in wonder. She'd never seen him look so downtrodden. She adjusted her expensive clothes and sat beside him.
"If it's any consolation, I don't think you put your name in the cup. I think that someone is out to get you. I think you have more enemies than He Who Must Not Be Named," she said as she looked calmly up at the sky.
"Well, you're in a small group there. Most of the school thinks that way, and most of the public listens to the Prophet and are on their way to becoming sheep, following the loudest voice, even if it is false,." Harry replied softly.
She scoffed at the thought. "I prefer to use my own reasoning and logic to see what's right in front of my nose."
"Well, for the foreseeable future, this is my bedroom," Harry said as he decided to slide into the sleeping bag.
"What are you' going to do when it gets colder out?" She smirked, curious as to what he would say.
Harry thought for a moment before answering her seriously, "See if I can bunk with Hagrid." A mirthless chuckle fell from his lips at the sound of his defeated voice.
Harry saw the appalled look on her face as she said, . "Hagrid? Really? Hmm... Maybe we figure something, uh, out between now and then. I'll help you. Okay?" She stated rather than asked.
"Uhm thanks but no. You probably need to get to bed anyway." He replied softly as he looked at the blonde girl. He noticed that she was rather pretty and was shocked that he had that thought, especially of a Slytherin.
"Yes. Well then, enjoy your sky,"she quickly stood and with a small, exquisite smile she turned walked away.
Harry sighed as he wandered around the school grounds as he used his robe to cover himself from the falling snow. It had been a few days since the first trial. He had managed to use his broom to survive a dragon, a fucking Hungarian Horntail, one of the fiercest of the breed, to capture an egg. The egg supposedly had clues as to the next task, but he couldn't open it without damn near going deaf. However, instead of rejoining Gryffindor House for a party after his victory, he decided to leave to everyone's surprise. It really shouldn't have surprised them though, seeing as they had kicked him out. He figured that was what they had wanted. In any case, Harry now had to find a date for the Yule Ball. Maybe he could ask Hermione. This was going to be fun.
Daphne had been on her usual nightly walk, even though it was cold, when she spotted Harry. She couldn't fathom why he'd still be outside after winning the first trial. She made a bee line for him.
"Hey, Potter. What are you doing out here?" She asked when she reached him.
"Walking around, I've had about three Gryffindor girls, four Hufflepuff girls, a Ravenclaw girl and a guy, all try asking me to the Yule Ball. I just got away from the guy an hour ago," He replied in a joking manner to Daphne. Due to Daphne's frequent walks, they had spent quite a lot of time talking with one another and had formed a sort of friendship.
She smiled at the thought of Harry being asked by another guy to the Ball. A small giggle then escaped her beautiful lips as she covered her mouth, "well, I do believe you seem to be missing some females from a certain house." She said with her head held high and a grin on her face.
"I thought Slytherins stuck together, at most you guys tolerate Ravens." Harry replied as more snowflakes fell from the sky "Why did you bring that up?"
She began to fiddle with the hem of her expensive skirt. "I... Umm... Nevermind it was nothing just a passing thought, She blushed furiously as they continued to walk. She was glad it was dark, and he wouldn't be able to see her face.
"Did you wanna ask me to the ball?" The Boy Who Lived asked the Greengrass Heiress with an eyebrow raised. He had stopped and grabbed her elbow to stop her as well. He planted his feet, to show he wasn't moving until she answered..
"I was hoping you'd take the hint and... Well... Ugh... Yes, Harry, I'd like you to go with me, would you attend the Yule Ball with me?"
"Surprisingly, you are the seventh girl who has asked me, but the first that wasn't laughed at or drug away. Ginny was drug away by Ron for asking me. The twins apologized for his behaviour, but sure, I would love to attend with you," Harry replied with a sheepish smile.
Her face brightened. "Thank you, I'm so glad, Harry. I wanted to ask you before I asked anyone else because there aren't any guys in Slytherin worth asking. Truly you are the only person in my life worth asking to attend the ball with me. Did you know that Slytherins can be so dull?Plus, I know that you can hold a conversation with me. I really enjoy our talks." She said, excitement coloring her voice.
"Well, that's good. So uhm I guess, I gotta find better robes now." Harry said with embarrassment, this was his first date after all and with a Slytherin nonetheless. Why hadn't dress robes been on the supply list?
"I guess so. Maybe we could go to Hogsmeade on Saturday, together?"
"I think going to Hogsmeade would be fun, but can we go secretly? I don't want to fight anyone in Slytherin because I am seen with you. Also, Snape would probably see it as a chance to take more points from Gryffindor," Harry replied with a soft smile.
"Harry, everyone is going to see us together at the Ball. It'll be okay. I know things haven't been the greatest this year for you. How about, we enjoy Hogsmeade frivolously and ignore the rest of the damn world. When we are old and grey, this will be just a small blip in our lives. Are you up for ignoring the rest of the world with me?" She asked hoping he'd be up for just flat out ignoring the world for a while, with her.
Harry scoffed at her, "have you not seen the world lately?" he paused, thinking, "you are right., Maybe I should just say screw the world for a bit. Let's do this then, I'll meet you in the village." Who knows maybe going to Hogsmeade with a cute girl would help boost his confidence. It couldn't hurt, right?
She nodded her head to him a small, smile on her face. "Alright, see you Saturday then. We'll meet at Honeydukes and go from there. Is ten ok?" She asked as she started to turn to head towards the castle having finally had enough of the cold. "Night, Harry."
"Night Daphne. See you at ten on Saturday," He replied as he began walking away and towards his campsite near Hagrid's hut. The snow was falling, and he knew by the morning, it would be pretty deep.