1"Behind Closed Doors" By Kross
A/n: I don't own Harry Potter…I simply enjoy using the characters conjured up J.K. Rowling for my own sweet pleasure.
Pairing: Hermione/Ron and Hermione/Mystery man
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Hermione had been severely startled by what had happened in the baths. It didn't scare her so much that she had been watched. She was most frightened because she didn't feel that someone was in the room with her. Hermione glanced down at her finger, ring on hand. She knew that it was him. Only he had the stealth and patience to go undiscovered. She had spent an hour in the baths; she could only wonder how long he had been in the room with her. Had he been there when she arrived?
When Hermione walked her way back to the common room she didn't even try to look around for him. He could've been anywhere and she wouldn't notice. He was like smoke, light wisps that faded in and out. She swore she saw his eyes here and there, glimmering, dark amber in shadows she refused to approach. Even if he was there to be found, she was unsure if she was ready to confront him.
That night Hermione dreamt of him. This time was different from the many times she had found her dreams focused on him. He wasn't making love to her. He wasn't even in her presence. Instead, she had found him in library. He was in the distance, with books piled around him. Faintly she heard his whispers, spells and incantations. It was Hermione who had the stealth to sneak up on him this time. She tiptoed up to him, quietly, so quietly that his muffled whispers were screams in comparison. She placed light fingers on his shoulder, and he reached up. He laid his hand on hers, slowly turning his head around to see her. She wanted to see his eyes, to let her eyes drift over his lips, luscious and sweet. Blank face. No features. Hollow empty holes for eyes, gaping hole for a mouth.
Hermione awoke, though not in a jolt like she had expected. It seems her dream came to an end just as her internal clock went off. Her eyes flittered open, focusing on the room around her. She could smell the dead fire and see the faint hint of light in the corners of windows whose shades were drawn tight. Ron had disappeared, though a note lay in his place.
Ron confessed his love to Hermione. It was not as sad and drawn out as it could've been; this pleased Hermione. She considered a moment giving up her search for the man; she had all that she needed. But, that was the problem. Hermione had what she needed, stability, a loving man, a good relationship. However, Hermione didn't have what she really wanted deep down. She didn't really want to be kept down in the same place too long. Hermione wanted excitement. She wanted change. She wanted passion, desire and a burning need for another person.
Hermione glanced down at the ring she'd slid over her thumb. This mystery was the excitement she needed right then. It was the only thing keeping her going during drab school days and repetitive Hogsmeade weekends. It was the fuel in her body, the tension in her chest that made her stay awake at night. The clock on the mantle rang out nine chimes, nine AM. It was only twenty minutes until the class she had been waiting for. Potions class was next and every Slytherin boy in her grade level would be there.
Hermione dressed and left Gryffindor common room. She didn't wander to breakfast. She didn't seek Ron out. She went to potions class, arriving an instant before the late bell rang out. Ron was stunned to see her so late. Hermione was usually the first student to arrive in any given class. Harry had assumed that she was taking the class off for the first time.
Hermione sat, ignoring the rest of the class' looks of awe. Hermione was no longer self-conscious. She simply didn't care what the students thought.
Despite the slight level of chaos Hermione had caused, the class continued. Cauldrons were brought out. Fires were lit and ingredients were mixed. Hermione was partnered up with Ron, who was constantly clinging to her. Hermione did not try to fend him off; instead she devoted her attention to seeing who in the room was missing a ring. She watched the hands of the Slytherin boys, while they mixed, while the chopped, while they waved wands about.
Hermione searched intently for the tan lines left behind when someone loses a ring they've worn for years. She scanned the room several times. Not one hand did she miss, no boy was left unsearched. She was satisfied when she found one hand with the tan lines she sought. She wasn't sure if tan lines existed on such pale fingers. Draco Malfoy was missing a ring.
His lonely, bare hand was cutting open lizards when she approached. His middle finger was exposed, no ring and the slight indentation and discoloration where a ring should have been. It made sense that he would have a ring like the one she had found. It was a clear match to his personality. Strong Slytherin pride. He had the money to afford a lavish ring like that.
Hermione drifted over to him, watching his face closely. She found her breathing had hastened and grown deeper. She wasn't sure if she could handle having such desires for the likes of Draco Malfoy. She found herself separated from him only by the cauldron between them.
"Draco…" she began, looking over at him through a somewhat sexy amount of smoke.
"What, mudblood?" He snapped. He wiped the water off of his newly washed hands.
"I, uhh…" she tried to speak but found she had trouble. It was then that she watched his hand slip into his pocket. Out came a ring, one solid silver and engraved with serpentine symbols. He slid it onto his bare middle finger. "What are you brewing?" she quickly covered for herself.
" It's belladonna and boomslang. Why?" he retorted. Suddenly, Hermione felt overcome by the intense odor coming from the cauldron.
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Please review. You'll find out soon. Hey, if you want to read a good fanfic, check out "The beginning as we'll know it" by tkdprincess121. I personally love it and recommend it!
Meg/Kross