Chapter 4
Hermione was confused. She and Draco shared that amazing kiss the first night of the term, and now two weeks later, nothing. They had all, except two, of their classes together, and he had walked her to each of her classes carrying her books for her, and studied together every night. They flirted endlessly, but no more kisses were shared. Every time she thought, she could feel his eyes on her; she would look over at him only to find his eyes on his parchment or books. He was just so confusing.
Nonetheless, she was very excited finally to have someone to study with, as opposed to someone to help study. She found that she could bounce ideas off Draco and he would tell her if they were good or bad ideas. He was logical and intellectually honest, which were two things Harry and Ron were not.
Another problem Hermione faced was that she was starting to get rude remarks from Salazar anytime she and Draco came through their portrait hole together. She thought that his comments from last night were the most embarrassing yet.
As they entered their common room, he drawled, "Honestly girl! Just kiss him already. I know you students don't wait for a betrothal anymore before indulging in certain things...so what are you waiting for? I thought that you Gryffindors were noted as being brave."
Her cheeks flamed and she was at such a loss for words, after his comments that she all but ran through the common room and slammed the door to her private chambers.
Draco came to her locked door to inquire if she was OK, but she refused to open the door. She said that she was fine and to study without her. She was too rattled by Salazar's comments and was nervous that Draco would know that the founder spoke the truth. Finally, Draco quit trying to get her out of her room about midnight.
This morning, she was still affected by those comments; therefore, she decided to show up late to Charms, ensuring that she wouldn't have to face him yet. When she saw that Charms began five minutes ago, she left her room and ventured into the common room. Stopping in disbelief, Draco was leaning up against the fireplace as if he had been waiting patiently for her.
He took an uncertain step towards her and asked, "Are you OK Hermione?"
"I'm fine Draco for someone who was ridiculed by a painting."
"Why were you embarrassed? Unless, what he said was true. Do you really want to kiss me again, 'Mione?" He now took determined strides towards her, causing her to back up until her shoulders met the wall behind her and could go no further. He put both hands on either side of her head effectively caging her against the wall.
Her eyes looked into his gray orbs and stammered, "I…ummm…I – oh just forget it." Drawing up her bravery, she stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips tightly to his. She reached her arms up and wrapped them around his neck and pressed herself closer to him. She opened her mouth and swept her tongue around inside his.
Draco allowed her to deepen the kiss but was mindful to keep his hands anchored to the wall. He wasn't going to do anything to scare her off this time. It had been torturous to act as if he didn't want to ravish her every minute of the last two weeks. He was getting ready to kill Harry and Ginny thinking that their advice was rubbish, but now he saw that they did indeed know her. Allowing her to make the second move was absolutely on the mark.
Hermione couldn't believe that she was finally kissing him again. Merlin, he tasted so good. She felt his arms starting to tremble. She grabbed his forearms with her hands and pulled his arms around her waist, before putting hers back around his neck and pulling him closer.
Draco tightened his arms around her and he couldn't help it anymore, he rocked his hips against hers letting her feel how much he wanted her. He ran his left hand up her side and back down again before running it back up to cup her breast.
She moaned and pressed herself into his hand, before easing back. She nipped at his lower lip once, twice more before pulling all the way back and looking into his eyes. She smiled sweetly at him.
"Wow, Mione. If I had known you had that pent up, I would have been snogging you every chance we were alone."
"Honestly, Malfoy, must you joke right now. You are just like--" she stopped speaking when he drew his breath, thinking that she was about to compare him to Ron.
"Please don't tell me that you were about to compare me with Ron, Granger."
Draco's beautiful gray eyes iced over and now were the color of cold steel. He dropped his hands from where they were resting at her hips and took two steps back and shot her with a look of contempt. Ignoring the tears welling up in her eyes he began raging at her "I thought that we were getting close these last two weeks. I haven't tried anything, to prove to you that I think more of you than just an easy shag, and then you COMPARE ME TO WEASLEY!" he finished on a roar.
Hermione had tears flowing freely down her face now. "Please Draco, I wasn't going to say Ron. I was just going to say that you were like my friends joking when I am trying to be serious. I…I really like you Draco," she stammered and stepped closer to him "I really wasn't even thinking of him; honestly, you have to believe me," she pleaded.
Draco let out a deep breath and closed his eyes, running a hand over his face. He looked back at her and said "Hermione, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to jump to conclusions. I just—" he broke off and smiled at her. "I really like you too Hermione, and the thought of you comparing me to Weasley, just set me off. I'm really sorry," he finished quietly.
He took her hand and drew her over to one of the couches and pulled her down to sit with him. "I think I should be honest with you. You see, I have liked you for a long time, and it has not been easy, to not only keep it bottled up, but also seeing you with the Weasel. It may take me some time to not jump to hasty conclusions thinking that you are comparing me to him. Plus, for Merlin's sake, you are Hermione Granger, the brains of the 'Golden Trio' – the infamous saviors of the Wizarding World. I am the son of Death Eaters and will never be good enough for you and—"
He stopped short when Hermione interrupted him and said, "I think I am the only one who can decide if you are good enough for me. I don't waste my time with people that aren't good enough for me. If I think you are good enough, then you are. Yes, you are the son of Death Eaters, but they gave help to the Ministry to end the war, and besides, you never took the Dark Mark. Plus, you are practically best friends with two of the 'Golden Trio,' so how can you think that anyone will say anything? Furthermore, why do you even care what other people think of you?"
"Hermione can't you understand? You haven't had to prove to everyone that you were never a Death Eater. You never had to live in the same house as the vilest creature ever to walk the Wizarding World; you aren't responsible for Dumbledore's death. It haunts me that I am responsible for him being dead." Now, Draco was the one with tears running down his face. He was vividly remembering his trial and his time with Voldemort.
She moved closer and pulled his head to her shoulder. Her arms were already wrapped around him, she allowed him to calm himself, all the while running her hands through his cap of silky hair. "It wasn't your fault Draco. Harry told you what he saw through Snape's memories, Dumbledore was dying, he made Snape promise to do it, so you were not responsible for his death. No one blames you for it.
When he finally calmed himself enough to pull away from her comforting grasp, he said softly, "But I still blame myself for it 'Mione. I don't think I will every completely forgive myself for it. I treated him horribly, and he still cared enough to save me from myself."
"That is the point Draco; Dumbledore thought you deserved to be saved. He thought highly enough of you to save you from that fate. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain. He wouldn't want you to blame yourself for his death. And you are wrong, you know, the entire time I have been a part of the wizarding world I have had to prove myself to everyone. Why do you think I always studied so hard, I had to prove to everyone that I deserved my magic?"
Hermione stopped talking at the sound of a knock at the portrait and looked down at her watch wondering who was knocking while the first classes of the day were in session. She looked down at her watch and exclaimed, "Oh Merlin Draco, it is 11:30! We missed transfiguration too!"
Draco quickly got up to answer the knock. "Oh, Hello Headmistress, please, come in."
Professor McGonagall swept through the portrait, and looked closely at Draco's drawn face. She saw the tear streaks evident on both their faces, before saying, "I trust you are both OK?"
"Yes, Professor, I am terribly sorry, but you see, I wasn't feeling well last night and Draco waited for me to come down this morning. We didn't mean to miss classes, I will go and get our assignments from Professors' Flitwick and Weasley."
"That won't be necessary Hermione, I have them here. Neither Mr. Malfoy nor yourself have missed many classes before, so naturally your professors were both worried enough to send word to me that you had missed this morning's lessons. I trust you are feeling better Miss. Granger, and that you and Mr. Malfoy will be in this afternoon's lessons?"
"We will professor, I promise," Hermione promised solemnly.
"Actually, professor, I wonder if we may be excused from lessons today. You see, Hermione was actually trying to help me, I have not been able to deal with my feeling of guilt over my association with the Dark Lord, and my role in Professor Dumbledore's death," said Draco. "She has really been helping me sort through it all."
McGonagall looked at Draco, really looked at him, and continued in an uncharacteristically softer voice, "I think that can be arranged Mr. Malfoy, but you really should talk to a healer about it. I know that there are healers at St. Mungo's that specialize in traumatic stress, and they would be perfectly willing to help you sort through your feelings."
"Thank you Headmistress, but I think that I am going to be OK now." He smiled at Hermione and continued, "All of my new friends have helped me tremendously."
"Very well Mr. Malfoy, why don't you and Miss Granger join me down in the Great Hall for lunch?" Gesturing to the door, they knew that they should proceed with her to the Great Hall.
During their walk, Professor McGonagall excused them both from lessons that day. Once in the Great Hall, she went so far as to cancel the afternoon's lessons for the whole school, announcing that they should all seek comfort from their friends, so that the healing process from the war could truly begin at Hogwarts.
After lunch, Hermione and Draco went for a walk around the grounds. Everyone saw their Head Boy and Girl holding hands as they walked around the lake, chatting amicability with each other. Thus, the rumors immediately started to spread. Some said that Malfoy was only using Hermione to clear his name. Others were whispering that Hermione was using Draco to further her standing in wizarding society. Although that particular rumor was quickly stopped when Susan Bones pointed out that, the Malfoy name did not carry very much influence, since the war. Nonetheless, this development brought a smile to most faces, except for two. They looked at the Gryffindor and Slytherin holding hands and felt only hate in their hearts.
A/N: So sorry that this update took so long. Thanks once again to my Beta Buffy XO for the brilliant editing. You are awesome.