On the Differences Between Soulmates and Lifemates
disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters therein belong to J.K. Rowling and are borrowed by the author. Any other, original characters belong to the author. Don't take them they'll run away and come back home to me.
Chapter 2: On That Strange Night
Hermione dreaded going to Malfoy's rooms that evening. She appreciated that she wouldn't have to find out what he knew and how he knew it in public, but she was afraid of being alone with him. He was muscular, taller than her, stronger, linked to dark wizards, and, according to rumor, he had a liking for firewhiskey and the ladies when he was drunk.
"Well, perhaps he'll curse me and I won't have to worry about Ron and his wacky soulmates ideas," Hermione thought aloud.
"Now why ever would I do that, Miss Granger? As if Potty and the Weasels aren't ready to kill me as it is?" Draco appeared behind Hermione and she gasped at how close he got before she had realized he was there. She leaned back, catching her breath from the fight, but he was right behind her, and she lost her balance and fell against his sturdy chest. "Watch it, Granger. If someone sees this, I don't care if Weasel is a flaming faggot, he'll hunt me down and kill me. I have plans for what's left of my life, thank you."
"Like what?" Hermione said as Draco came out from behind her and opened the charm on his rooms. She could have sworn he had said 'what's left of my life', but she wasn't sure; it would be awfully strange of him to put it that way. BR: yes, it would, but I love doing really cheesy foreshadowing sometimes. AN: Sometimes?
"You don't have the right to ask that, do you?" Draco said sharply. Hermione followed him into the room and let him charm the locks on the door after her. She felt him put a silencing charm on the room.
"What are you doing that for, Draco?" Hermione asked, suspicious.
"Why do you ask, Hermione?"
"Why'd you use my first name, Malfoy?"
"Why'd you use mine?"
"Argh!" Hermione dropped her bag and threw her hands up in frustration. "Why did you ask me here tonight?"
"Because you're no longer with Weasley, and who better to see to affirm the split than me?" Draco was trying to be suave, but his amusement at her being put out was making him smile.
"So this is just to rub Ron's nose in the fact that he and I are no longer in a romantic relationship?"
"Are you still fucking him?"
"How could you ask me something like that? I don't ask you questions like that!" Hermione screeched, suddenly grateful that Draco had silenced the room.
"That's right. Because you don't ask me questions. In fact, you don't talk to me at all," Draco said loudly, his voice rising as she continued to verbally poke him.
"Well, let's eat dinner and then I can leave. Or perhaps my behaviour has annoyed you to the point where I can leave without recourse," Hermione said triumphantly, sure she'd talked her way out of the situation. If she left now and went to Ron, perhaps they could salvage their romance, even if it would be cooler.
"Do you honestly think that Ron would take you back, Hermione? You've already spent twenty minutes with me, and I'd bet that you spent most of the day thinking about what would happen up here," Draco said viciously.
"How can you be such a skilled Legilimens," Hermione said, more to herself than to him.
Draco stiffened and straightened up, motioning for Hermione to take a seat at the small table laid with plates and silverware. He pushed her chair in for her before seating himself next to her.
"Aren't you supposed to sit across from your dinner-date, Draco?" Hermione said coldly.
"I'll bet no one knows you're having dinner with me. What excuse did you give them?" Draco asked, his eyes intent on hers.
"I said I was tutoring someone," Hermione whispered. "How do you know these things?"
"Because I know you, Hermione. We're far too much alike to spend all our time fighting, don't you think?" Draco said softly.
"So, you're randy, and think I'm easy? Some bint, like Pansy?" Hermione said venomously.
"NO. Damn it, girl, you make it awfully hard to be nice to you, you know that? I understand why Ron left," Draco leaned back in his chair, running his hands through his hair.
"No, you don't know why we separated. You couldn't know. You don't even have a soul!" Hermione shouted, tears in her eyes.
"Bloody hell. Hermione, stop crying. The food is here. I even made a house-elf bring it up! Yell at me. Scream. Just not with the crying, please," Draco begged. It was one of the few things his mother had taught him that his father hadn't been able to wipe out: if a girl cries, even if you didn't do it, you've got to fix it. Awkwardly, Draco put his hand on Hermione's shoulder, then slipped his arm around her shoulders and held her while she cried herself out.
"'Ere ya go, Mister Malfoy, sir. Dobby hopes you like it. Dobby even brought up Miss 'Ermione's favorites. I had to ask Mister Potter, but 'h was more'n 'appy to 'elp. Wanted to know why you wanted to know, but Dobby said young mister Malfoy 'ad 'is reasons, Dobby did. 'Ere ya go, and please, Miss 'Ermione, stop cryin'. Dobby hates to see Potter's Weasy and 'Mione cry," Donny set the food on the table, promising to be back when Draco called to remove the dishes.
Hermione sniffled. "Was that Dobby, Draco?"
Draco paled visibly, his face a sick shade of green against his silvery blonde hair. "Yes, Hermione."
"And he asked Harry what my favorite foods are? This means Harry and Ginny know where I am. And Ron, too. I'm done. We're both dead. Ron'll kill you, and Ginny'll kill me. I wish I could say that its been nice knowing you, but I try not to lie," Hermione said weakly.
"Tuck in, you've had a long day. Merlin knows you'll just crow over tutoring Draco Malfoy."
"I wouldn't do that. If I have to say anything, if you want me to lie, I'll tell them we have a Potions assignment together. Besides, I'll have the weekend to set everything and the assumptions aright."
"Why? Won't you be here?" Draco half stood up.
"No, we four are going back to the Burrow for the weekend. It's the first weekend we've had the ability. Draco, I really hope Harry didn't say anything to Ron. It would hurt him terribly. I couldn't do that to him. I love him."
"But you're separated."
"But we're soulmates."
"Come again, Granger? You just broke up!"
"How can I explain this? Ron and I talked, and figured out that soulmates aren't necessarily the ones you spend the rest of your life with, romantically speaking. More like siblings, but closer. Meant to be, but meant to be friends and partners."
"So what do you call your lover? Your lifemate?"
Hermione stuck a piece of her hair in her mouth and chewed on it thoughtfully. "I think you're onto something. Soulmates are your eternal best friends, and your lifemate is your eternal lover. They can be one in the same, but not for Ron and me."
"So now you look for your lifemate? What happens if you find out that he really is both to you? You're 16 how could you know for positive or negative at this age?"
"Perhaps you're right. Can we just eat? I'm really very tired."
"'Cause you fucked Weasley one last time."
"That's for me to know and you to masturbate over."