They don't know what we do best
It's between me and you, our little secret
But I wanna tell 'em
I wanna tell the world that you're mine, girl
Another week passed and Draco remained the same. Slow improvements like less blood loss and gaining of strength, stronger vitals. But the biggest improvement would be if he woke up.
Hermione finished patrols, exhausted on Friday night at 11 and wanted to visit him shortly before turning in.
She sat down next to him and watched his slow breaths. He was able to lay on his back now that blood loss was decreasing. Without giving much thought, she crawled into the bed with him and wrapped an arm around his stomach careful not disturb his wound.
She inhaled the smell of Draco and felt herself long to talk to him again. Smile with him. What she would give….She didn't even care that they missed their fourth challenge and that Blaise and Neville won, tying them up. She just needed to see him.
"Hermione?" a raspy voice asked. Hermione jerked up and gasped at Draco blinking his eyes with a tired expression.
"Draco! Are you okay? Oh my gosh I've been so worried! Are you hurt? Merlin, Draco took you long enough to wake up, you made me wait to see you again with utter fear! Whatever I'm just so glad to see you." Hermione trailed off grasping his hand tight.
He gave a wry smile. "Tada."
Hermione smiled through her tears. "Don't do that to me again."
"I'll do my best." he grinned squeezing her hand.
"Mr. Malfoy! It's good to see you up. How are you feeling?" Pomfrey asked rushing out.
"Just sore in the back oh fu-" he winced as he attempted to sit up before Pomfrey and Hermione pushed him back down.
"Do you remember what happened?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Just that we made it?" he asked between wheezes of pain.
Hermione retold the events he missed as Pomfrey checked him over and handing him potions.
"What was the challenge?" he asked as he made a face from a potion.
"One hand and ankle from each partner was tied together and they had to rock climb up a tall wall Giurbin transfigured and ring the bell before coming down." Hermione smiled. "Blaise nearly half dragged poor Neville up."
Draco laughed. "Sounds like Blaise. You're not mad about missing the challenge?"
"I don't give a damn about the challenge. I'm just so glad you're okay. Don't you dare scare me like that again." she replied.
"You look so pale. Have you been eating or were you hurt?" he asked eyeing her.
Before she could respond, McGonagall entered followed by Blaise, Theo and Pomfrey.
"We tried to force her mate but she's stubborn. It's your turn to feed her now." Theo drawled coming to clasp Draco's shoulder.
"You should have eaten." Draco said looking at Hermione with disapproval.
"You can only blame yourself mate. You were the reason she was practically living in the freaking hospital dorm." Blaise smirked crossing his arms.
"Well Blaise, I didn't plan on being hit by a spell and going into a half dead half living state." Draco rolled his eyes with annoyance.
"I think he's feeling better." Theo chuckled.
After two days of rest, late in the Sunday evening, Pomfrey had allowed Hermione to escort Draco back to their dorm. He was still on high orders for daily medication and to report back for bandage changing but other than that, he was much better.
As they entered the dorm, they passed people staring at Hermione grasping Draco's hand tightly.
"You're okay with this? The people staring? I mean they all probably know about us." Hermione said once they sat together on the couch.
"I read the papers I missed. People suspect it and after all that….I don't really care." Draco said throwing an arm around her shoulders. "And we still have to be alert for any other death eater attacks."
"Draco I have no problem taking care of myself." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"As your boyfriend, I think I have a right to be a little protective."
Hermione huffed and crossed her arms. Draco smiled slightly and pressed his lips to hers. The longing over the past few weeks was flowing out now and onto his lips. Her hands knotted his hair and he pressed himself closer. A low moan escaped Draco and Hermione felt the lust escape her and she pressed herself even closer.
Late at night, after a snogging session to make up for their loss of each other's presences over the past few weeks, they retired to Draco's room where they fell into bed.
Draco's arms wrapped around Hermione's waist and it felt like almost nothing changed.
The next day, Hermione rushed to class to class but now she was able to go out publicly with Draco. He seemed fine about it too and held her hand as they entered potions.
Whispers trailed after them everywhere they went but after weeks without Draco, Hermione really couldn't care less.
"Happy couple?" Blaise asked as Draco sat next to him and Hermione proceeded to the front. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Draco kick him under the table and she smiled to herself.
As the class continued on, it grew loud with conversation as Slughorn seemed to be working off a hangover.
"So Granger, dating Draco now are you?" she turned around to see the scowling face of Pansy.
"Yes Parkinson, how dim can you get?" she asked as she focused on chopping her roots.
"You don't deserve him. He's a freaking Slytherin Sex God and you...I bet you're still a virgin." she sneered. Hermione blushed and that gave Pansy all she needed to know.
"Our relationship is really none of your business." she fired back.
"Do you know how many girls he's gone through? He and I were going strong and Merlin can he make you scream." Pansy continued on heartlessly. "You're just another one of his flings." she hissed.
Hermione felt her impatience wear thin as she gripped her knife firmly against the roots. How dare Pansy go this far.
But the words hit home. All along she'd been worried he was the same as his old self. And she had heard many rumours about his constant flings and it disgusted her, it still disgusted her. But he was different now.
"Draco? Oh bloody hell he is one master in bed." Daphne Greengrass said in a dazed voice.
The bell rang and Hermione felt herself rushing out. Was he really that experienced and had he really gone through that many girls? Compared to him, she was very inexperienced.
After her last class of Arithmancy she blew past Draco and raced to the Gryffindor commons to grab Ginny and storm to the girls dorm.
"Hermione! What's wrong?" Ginny asked in alarm at Hermione's frightened face.
"Draco. Ever since we went public, girls have been blabbing off about how much fun they've had with him in bed. And you've heard the rumours in the past of how many sluts he went out with. I'm so inexperienced." Hermione gasped.
"You're kidding me." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"What?" she demanded.
"You said Draco changed, and that means he's done with all those girls. He changed because of you and your his girlfriend now. So you have nothing to worry about." Ginny said a little impatiently. "Now go see your boyfriend. I have to go write to Harry." she said shooing Hermione out.
Hermione slowly walked back to her own commons and when she entered, she was not surprised to see Draco sitting on the couch starting homework.
"Hermione are you alright? You flew out of Arithmancy like the devil was chasing you." Draco said standing up.
"I'm fine." Hermione said a little too quickly. "I'm fine." she said again.
"Are you sure?" Draco asked narrowing his eyes.
"Yes." Hermione assured with a weak smile before rushing to her room and shutting the door.
McGonagall had tasked them with planning their next ball for Valentine's day. She always hated Valentine's day. It was a day for frilly romance that was all cheesy and fake.
She met Draco in the common room to plan and he seemed to study her carefully.
After an hour of planning they decided to sleep in Draco's room again.
They always slept better when they slept together. They seemed to ward off each other's dreams.
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Draco asked when he climbed in to join her.
"Nothing's-"
"Great. Now what's really bothering you?" Draco asked holding her close.
She took a deep breath. No denying it now. "Pansy was telling me-"
"Oh just 'Pansy' starting off a sentence means nothing good." Draco said with a disgusted face.
"Do you want me to tell you or not?" Hermione asked a little grumpily.
Draco laughed and motioned for her to continue.
"She was telling me all about your past…..dating/sex life." Hermione said blushing bright red.
"Hermione-"
"I know it's not happening now. I was just feeling embarrassed because compared to you and all those other girls, I know nothing on that whole matter." she said still bright red.
"Mya that was my past for a reason. I changed not only because I wanted to, because I had to, but you showed me I could be something else. And my past is going to come back but I don't live it anymore." Draco whispered holding her tighter.
She nodded and felt more relieved than ever. "I love you."
"Love you too." he replied and she could tell, that he really meant it.
"You're taking a break from quidditch right?" Hermione demanded the next night after the hardships of their classes. McGonagall had even got them to write a practice N.E.W.T. from previous years.
"Yes Mother. I do know what's good for myself. And that's not saying no to you." Draco smiled as he began a charms essay.
"Smart boy. And I think as your girlfriend I have a right to be worried." she smirked as she picked up a D.A.D.A book.
"You look very Slytherin doing that." Draco commented with a hint of pride.
"Don't flatter yourself." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I probably shouldn't spend so much time with you."
"Nuh uh. In fact, I think we should spend more time together." Draco said slyly. "Be my Valentine to the ball?"
"I love you and all, but you know I hate Valentine's day." Hermione said wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"Is that a rejection?" Draco asked a little disappointed.
"Never been rejected? But no, I just thought we could skip and hang in the dorm." she replied nonchalantly.
"This doesn't have anything to do with Pansy and her lot does it?" he asked watching her carefully.
"I don't care what she says. I've had practice ignoring." she responded not looking up from her book.
"Well then come. Be my Valentine." he whispered snaking closer to her on the couch.
"Draco…..we have homework." she reminded as he kissed her neck.
"And I have the most beautiful girl in the dorm alone with me and we're alone and it's the most beautiful girl...did I say alone already?" Draco continued his distracting kisses.
"You will most certainly be alone soon if you don't let me study." she laughed as he scowled and sat up. She pecked him quickly on the lips before returning to her homework.
"Did you take the sword and cup out of my vault!?" she screeched into her ear.
"No! Please...I didn't...stop...please." Hermione begged. She felt a sharp splinter of her skin breaking as blood came pouring out. She screamed and thrashed as the blood dripped onto the floor.
"You filthy mudblood! How dare you lie to me!" Bellatrix shrieked sending ripples of agony onto Hermione as she screamed again. Out of her blurred vision she spotted Malfoy, the familiar pale and pointed face stand there emotionlessly and watched as Pansy gripped his arm and led him away. Her only hope….leaving.
A scream tore through her once more.
"Hermione! Shhh it's okay. You're okay." Draco whispered stroking her hair as they sat huddled on her mahogany coloured bed.
"I'm fine." she said in a raspy voice not looking at him. It would be all too real.
"You were screaming." he added looking hurt.
"I know." she said looking at her hands.
"You screamed 'Don't hurt me. Draco.' and I….used legilimency on you, to see what's going on and...I'm so sorry Mya." Draco said not touching her anymore.
"It wasn't you-" Hermione protested feeling abashed. "I just...I was reliving a memory except Pansy was added to it."
"I'm so sorry. Get some sleep Mya." Draco said clearly ending the conversation. He lay down and turned on the other side. She sighed and hugged her knees before laying on her back, wishing he wasn't a skilled legilimens.
They spent the day a little to polite and formal around each other and Hermione couldn't bear it anymore so she fled to the library after dinner.
Finally at 10 she nervously returned to see Draco sitting up waiting for her on the couch reading a potions book, although he didn't look like he was reading much.
"Studying?" she asked lightly. He nodded, avoiding looking at her. She sighed and wished he wasn't so talented in legilimency to have seen that particular dream.
They went to bed without a word and the next day parted awkwardly.
Hermione was in her room the next afternoon jotting down notes for History of Magic when she decided to get some water. She headed down her side and heard voices in deep discussion.
"I don't know what to do. Seeing Bellatrix's reign of terror from her point of view was even more horrible." Draco spoke sadly.
"You did what you had to." Blaise said rather gently.
"Which was nothing." Draco said dully.
"You couldn't have done anything-"
"Her screams Blaise, her screams….and I…..It's so awkward with us now. And before Pansy, that slut, went blabbing nonsense off to her and I just….things aren't looking good." Draco sighed rubbing his head.
Hermione retreated to her room and felt terrible about how he was feeling but it wasn't like it was any brighter for her either.
"Hermione we need to talk." Draco said as Hermione exited her room Friday morning.
"Draco I just need a little space-" Hermione said weakly.
"You've had space for like 3 days and I'm losing patience. We need to talk." Draco said firmly.
"About what?" Hermione asked dreading the answer.
"That dream. I know you've been having it and I don't blame you but did you really see me as just a heartless jerk watching? And then Pansy came in and I know you're still pretty annoyed about that." Draco explained guilt threaded into every word.
"It's not your fault. And yes, Pansy was in them, so what? Just recent event slipping in. And well….we were enemies, of course I had hope that you would interject but I understand. You couldn't have done anything." Hermione spoke softly.
"You have to know that that was one of the most horrible moments of my life and that I would do anything to change it." he whispered. She grasped his hand and pressed it to her face. The feeling of him on her again was bliss.
"I understand." she murmured lowering his face to meet hers. The feeling of his lips moving with hers sent spirals of joy through her veins. Just as Draco was about to deepen the kiss by pressing her closer and against a wall, Hermione broke it.
"We have to get to class." she smiled. He rolled his eyes but held her hand and exited the dorm together.
"You're not attending the ball?" Ginny asked incredulously Friday evening.
"Ginny you know I hate Valentine's day." Hermione reminded as they sat on two armchairs in the Gryffindor commons.
"But you would go with Draco. And you could snog and all that in public now." Ginny said almost as if she were hanging bait in front of Hermione.
"I just don't feel like dressing up and going to this fancy party. I'd much rather lounge in my commons, with Draco." Hermione said packing her stuff up.
"Well tomorrow's Hogsmeade. Let me know if you change your mind and want to go dress shopping." Ginny said with a glint in her eye.
Hermione shook her head and returned to her dorms to find it empty. She dropped her bag on her chair and found an envelope folded neatly.
Inside was not a letter but rose petals. In confusion she looked around and spotted a bouquet of red roses on her desk.
She then noticed the rose petals trailing from the desk to outside into the commons. She narrowed her eyes and followed the trail that led to Draco's room.
She opened the door carefully to see more petals littering the floor and it finally ended at a pair of neatly polished black dress shoes. Her eyes followed up the shoes to see black slacks followed by a fitting tux that was worn by a nervous Draco. He held another bouquet of roses and his hair was askew. It looked like it was combed but had been run through with nerves.
"Draco?" she asked in wonder. She walked over to him and he wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I know you hate Valentine's day. But I am asking you to come to the ball with me and be my date. If it's rumours or the past that's bothering you, I'm going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. To that ball, now that it's out, I want the whole school to know that I am the luckiest man because I have you by my side." Draco murmured softly into her ear, his lips just brushing her ear.
She really didn't want to go. But that mini speech, Draco just said to her, was melting her. She felt her spirits rise as she met his unblinking grey eyes watching her.
"I'll go to the stinking ball with you. But only because you're taking me." Hermione smiled locking her arms around his neck. She kissed him hard and he dropped the flowers to wrap his arms around her back. His hands were warm through her robes and her hands gripped his hair. His tongue prodded her lip and she granted him access and she dove herself into the kiss. He pressed himself closer and she felt herself wrapping a leg around his leg.
This surprised him so, that they toppled onto his bed. Hermione sat on his lap and continued kissing him. She pushed him onto his back as her hands roamed his body.
"I'll go anywhere with you." she murmured.
"Did you know he was going to make a grand gesture about it?" Hermione demanded to Ginny as they walked in the winter storm to Madam Malkin's.
"I may have heard of it." Ginny grinned.
"Ginny!" Hermione said in shock. "But why did he tell you? I mean you're not all buddy buddy."
"He told me about that hag, Pansy, and as your best friend I have a right to know and can't imagine why you didn't tell me, but I intend to make you even more irresistible than you are that Pansy will never open her damn mouth again." Ginny beamed.
Hermione gaped. "Well you don't have much to work with." she muttered.
"Don't be stupid Hermione. Beneath the books you have a lovely body and with your tame hair and stunning eyes, you are simply beautiful." Ginny said ignoring Hermione's protests.
She was dragged into Madam Malkin's by Ginny and looked with disinterest at the gowns as Ginny towed her along.
"Gin I think I found one for you." Hermione paused at a teal green gown that matched with her pale complexion nicely.
Ginny nodded wordlessly as she took the dress and tried it on. She came out and they decided it was perfect for her. She bought it instantly and seemed set on finding Hermione one.
"I have my Yule ball gown, I can place an enlargement charm and-" Hermione said after an hour of searching.
"No. We're finding you a gown if it's the last thing I do." Ginny insisted darkly.
After another half an hour, Ginny resurfaced with a triumphant gleam in her eye.
"Found it." she said wiggling a dress in front of Hermione's eyes.
It was Wednesday and Hermione and Draco were returning to their dorms after an intense D.A session.
"I can't believe you used levicorpus on me." Draco grumbled.
"You offered to be my example." Hermione reminded. "Blaise and Theo took keenly to being part of the D.A." she commented. They had introduced Blaise and Theo to the rest of the members, promising they were just like Draco. Everyone seemed doubtful at first but became more polite at the end.
"Any excuse to whip one another off their feet." Draco shrugged.
They entered their commons for an hour rest before they had patrol from 9-10:30 then had to wake again at 6:30 and patrol to 8.
"We have a lot of homework." Hermione sighed as they began their homework.
N.E.W.T.'s were wearing hard on all 7th and 8th years. Hermione was already highlighting and underlining notes.
"Excited for the ball?" Draco asked casually once they made their way for patrol.
"I suppose. Besides the frilly decorations and ridiculous fantasies of it all, going with you shouldn't be too bad." Hermione said holding her wand out to illuminate the way.
"Oh trust me Mya, going with me is going to be a blast." Draco smirked.
"I'm sure it is." Hermione couldn't help smiling a little. It would be nice to relax a bit before the hard core studying and spending time with Draco anywhere really, was always interesting.
She found herself suddenly being spun around and pushed against the wall as Draco's lips came down on hers. His tongue plunged into her mouth and despite being on patrol, Hermione couldn't help locking hands around his neck and playing with his tongue.
His hands gripped her waist firmly and pressed her against the wall and she could feel every inch of his body against hers. A moan escaped her and she ran her hands through his hair.
A shuffling came from somewhere and Hermione gasped and held his shoulders tight as she dimmed her wand and walked forward.
Draco moved beside her extinguishing his light completely and pressed them both into a small alcove.
More shuffling came as someone walked passed them. Despite Draco's arm trying in vain to pull her back, she stuck her head out and spotted a dark shadow creeping down the hall.
"Stupefy!" she cried aiming her wand at the figure.
"Expelliarmus!" Draco shouted next to her. There came a sound of banging as the figure tore away.
"We have to split up." Hermione said panicked. "Give chase." Draco looked like that was the last thing he wanted to do but nodded reluctantly and moved down the opposite way to search.
"I'll find a teacher. The teacher's room is just a little ways down." he said before giving her a last look and racing down the corridor.
Hermione tore down the corridor in hot pursuit of the figure. She could hear a ruckus being made in a few corridors over and raced towards the sound.
A scared first year was stunned and lying on the floor in a heap. She muttered the counter-spell and freed the poor first year and instructed the first year to stay in the abandoned classroom right behind them before locking it so only she could open it before continuing her search.
The petrified first year pointed a wobbly finger towards the disappearing figures at the end of the hall. There were two apparently. And they were running through the castle, somehow.
She winded the corner to see the cloaked figures shooting spells at her. She ducked a green one and blocked the red. When a crossroad of corridors came ahead, they separated and the one on the left created a tumble of rocks blocking her way. She growled and continued after the one on the right who didn't.
She was panting as she chased the figure shooting spell after spell, trying to stun him or rid him of his wand. But the figure was running in crazy patterns and in turn, fired more violent spells back. She was just on his tail when he stopped and to her surprise Draco stood on the other side pointing his wand at the figure. Hermione aimed her wand too and heard Draco disarming him and Hermione quickly stunned him.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked worriedly as he shoved past the death eater.
"I'm fine. Are you? You just got off an injury." Hermione panted gently brushing his back.
"I'm just a little tired. There were two. Did you get the other one?" he asked.
"He blocked off the hallway and I tore after this brute. The other one….he got away?" she asked feeling her spirits sink.
He nodded solemnly as they binded Macnair and bumped into a flustered McGonagall, Flitwick, Sinistra and Slughorn.
The stunning spell was wearing off and the death eater began cursing under his breath. They were waiting in the headmistress' office waiting for the ministry when McGonagall unmasked the death eater revealing the ugly scowl, she recognized of Macnair. The executioner for Buckbeak.
"Filthy mudblood and mudblood lovers. Vengeance is a promise that will be served, I promise you that, mudblood and mudblood lo-"
Macnair didn't get to finish because McGonagall silenced him as ministry members rushed in.
She felt Draco's arm tighten considerably around her waist.
Author's Note
In case anyone thought the whole Draco-slut thing was kinda cheesy and the events thereafter, I just wanted to show that they came from VERY different pasts and backgrounds.
And I plan on making chapters longer :) Thanks for support.
Reviews?
