-sigh-
My plans for this weekend fell through.
Fortunately I have pizza-and a great reviewer!
Thank you to fawn! And even though I'm probably not supposed to personally respond, this is stuff that all y'all that read and don't review should hear anyways!
1. the m rating wont take place for a while-this story isn't for smut but I am planning on a lemon later on, unless I get reviewers that say no! (which I doubt, but hey maybe then I'll get more than four-even though all the ones I've received have been heartwarming, thanks so much!)
2. This chapter... I'm not sure how I feel about it. As an author I try not to involve myself in my work but after discovering what I had made Hermione do in this chapter (and no she doesn't fuck malfoy) I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate to change it around, so this 'situation' may be temporary! If you've read the chapter and still dont know what I'm talking about, go to the homepage on my profile and check out my picture!
3. I have just written my most heartbreaking chapter, and
4. I went through my 'stats'. My story has 1179 hits, 2 favs and 3 alerts. So I'm browsing through my readers and very few have written stories. So I'm thinking that maybe you guys don't understand that writers need feedback or else they discontinue their story or kill off their characters. And since I've just reach a climax in the story, it could make a lot of sense to give this story an unhappy ending.
So please review! I'm a miserable despondent teenager that can't get a job! (But I love all my readers anyways, especially if you like my story )
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Hermione glanced into the mirror at him. "Why should you care?"
"So that you don't hunt me down when you regret it."
She shrugged. "You don't have to if you're too weak." She smirked, she knew that would work.
They were in Hermione's room, before her unused vanity. This was the first time Malfoy had been in her room since her passionate makeover- and he didn't know if he liked it. Every stroke of paint… was each an expression of Granger's emotions- and he didn't support such open passion.
When Malfoy did not respond to Hermione, Hermione looked into the mirror and found that Malfoy was doing the same. It was actually a bit of a sight, to see them together like that. For as much as they seemed to compliment each other, Malfoy was the embodiment of royal, stuck up pride… and Hermione, with her bushy hair and kind expressions- was only the opposite.
Falling into character, Malfoy sneered. "You'll look even worse afterwards."
Hermione smirked, understanding the role she had to play. "Vanity isn't the point-but you wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"
Malfoy half smiled, steadied his hands, and took the scissors to her hair.
-
When Hermione arrived at lunch, alone, the hall somehow seemed to silence on impact.
But she did not stop in her pursuit.
Among the whispers about her newly shaved head, Hermione headed to the table she shared with Malfoy and Zeus- previously ignored.
Seating herself next to Zeus and across from Malfoy, the whispers turned into full blown gossiping, and she could see many students rising out of their seats to get a better look at her.
Malfoy only sneered half-heartedly at the attention given to her, but Zeus seemed struck.
The first words out his mouth were- "I do hope you donated your rare locks?"
Hermione gave him a small smile, speaking softly. "Of course."
Malfoy snorted. "I don't think even they want it."
Zeus ignored him and beamed at Hermione as he leaned over to plant a kiss on her prickly head. "You still look positively regal."
Things were not perfect, not really. But for the first time in a week, Hermione had some kind of hope that something, something was going to work out, for herself. Some kind of strange independence was welcoming her, allowing Hermione to welcome herself. Draco still pretty much ignored her, Zeus flirted amiably, and she was aware that the three people she had always expected would be beside her side at a time like this- were doing their best to ignore her- all for different reasons.
But she was going to try and figure things out. And if she didn't succeed, if things didn't work out, she could be stronger without it. She was alive right now, wasn't she?
-
Draco wasn't really sure why he had done it. Why he had helped her when it was so obvious she could just break.
But seeing her rejected by Weaselette, someone who should be her best friend… it struck a chord in him. And for the entire idea that she was weak, he could not stand the fact that she might just drop out of a window. And then he could never know…
He could never know what went through her head when she thought of him.
He would not be able to understand if he should bother considering this a worthy pursuit, to discover what exactly made her an enemy.
The people he loathed… were not quite his enemies. Potter, Weasley… they weren't threats. They weren't equals. The bald girl in front of him… she was a challenge, but he needed to know if it was possible for someone to think like he did.
If there was no one, then he would remain stoic and alone.
But should she mimic his train of thoughts, the thoughts that keep him up all night…
Then it just might be necessary for him to consider her an equal, even if she was still a rival. To consider the fact that she also thinks she is alone.
So he was going to devote his time to figuring out if she was worth his time…
Malfoy frowned to himself and instead bit into his sandwich. He didn't have any answers. That was why he was doing this in the first place.
-
She didn't really want to make a big deal out of it. Hair was a nuisance to her… While she was lucky she had a well shaped head, she feared the responses she would receive from her parents, teachers… she knew it would grow back, she had nothing to fear.
With such an easing thought in mind, Hermione glanced to Draco, who seemed to enjoy sneering at the attention givers, which, Hermione supposed, was something he was rather used to doing.
As if the attention were directed at himself. Hermione would have to admit that his behavior changed something for her, something was negated from her fears and she found herself telling him to 'cut it all off, all of it,' feeling a need to dispel herself from any superficial pursuits, and this was just the first of many obstacles she had overcome. Vanity.
Shaking her head, hoping she would get used to the feeling of air reaching her scalp and neck, Hermione rid herself of her fickle thoughts, focusing on a question she was sure to encroach.
Why she had done it, she didn't care for, and surely that would be the most popular question. But why she had been able to, a question of her fears and inhibitions and abilities…
For this she glanced to Malfoy again, who had seemingly grown bored with stretching his mouth to resemble disgust, for he was now fully consumed in keeping the white frosting of his carrot cake from coating his mouth, such a ravenous speed at which he ate.
Hermione allowed herself a small smile she didn't notice, the first of many that would be caused of noticing Malfoy's aberrant behavior, and brought the word to mind again.
Fear is what should be associated with Voldemort, early morning Monday tests, and the outcome of encounters with your old best friends, like the one she was sure to face tonight.
Fear would no longer have any connection to the wizard in front of her…
Displacing her attention to her own food, Hermione questioned this thought that should ease her mind.
Malfoy was her… he was… Malfoy was no longer hostile because he wanted to know of her as an enemy, because it intrigued him.
Hermione frowned deeper. Then why all this? Won't this ruin his experiment?
Don't we have to be enemies? Isn't that the point?
Had something changed?
Before she gave herself any more time to think, Hermione blurted her thoughts, only just remembering not to let the rest of the pondering school hear her inquiry.
"We're not friends are we?"
Malfoy's disbelief matched her own. His mouth remained agape momentarily, then he wiped his mouth and looked back to his food.
"No. No, Muddy, I'm not so sure we could ever label our connection as something so insignificant as friendship. You should know that."
He said nothing else, for things were just that simple for him, and he continued to eat.
Were they so for her?
Although Malfoy was not looking at her, Hermione faked a smile, feigning being reassured, relieved, and ate her food, trying not to remember not to expect anything.
No attachments, no obligations.
Zeus glanced back and forth between them, a snarl drawing onto his face. Glancing around at the curiosity of the Great Hall, he could hardly hide his contempt, hard as he tried.