Umm… Hi. Not much I can say here, since there's really no good reason I haven't updated this in so very long. I feel bad! Don't hate me! Pretty please? I'll promise you precious time with Draco or Hermione, whichever one floats your boat if you don't hate me!
So I had totally lost this fic, which is one of the reasons (yes I know I just said I didn't have a good reason, shush.) I hadn't updated. Every time I tried to search on the site for my penname or story name, nothing was found! And then today, suddenly, there it was! And I totally didn't have a backup on my computer as I have a completely different one since I began this story.
Anyway, here's a new chapter – I made changes to how the characters and myself speak as after re-reading the fic, I did find it somewhat confusing. I plan to go back and edit the previous chapters to follow the same method in the next few days.
The xxxxxxx are cuts between the storyline and the interaction between myself and the characters. I wanted to use cute little asterisks, but they don't transfer over when I upload! Grr.
Disclaimer: Not mine. (pouts) It's really unfair. I work hard and am nice and kind to everyone, including small animals, but do I get to own them? No. It bites.
Haven't I read this somewhere before?
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Hermione: …Welcome back.
Author: OMG! Hi2U! Where have you been? I've been worried sick about this fic, you abandoning both it and myself! I'm so disappointed in you Hermione; really, I thought you were more responsible than this!
Hermione: WHAT??? I didn't abandon anything! You're the one that took off and vanished, you selfish little prig. You get all kinds of nice reviews, people asking kindly for a new chapter, not to mention you bloody well promised more chapters were incoming soon, and you go off to who knows where for what, like 3 years? Nice. Very, very nice.
Author: I know, I know, I've been a bad, bad girl. I must be punished… Oh Master Draco, where are you? Your little slave has been naughty!
Hermione: Good Lord you're disturbed.
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Hermione went back to her room after her bath. Poor Crookshanks followed behind her, mewing piteously, still damp after his accidental slip into the water.
"Hush you" said Hermione. "It's your own fault, you startled me, I can't be blamed that I swatted out at you in self defense!"
Entering her room after whispering the password to the portrait guarding it, she put her toiletries back in their proper places. Her eyes turned to the window, hearing a light tapping coming from outside. Going over, she saw an owl fluttering its wings, looking for entrance. Quickly, Hermione opened the glass panels and the owl flew inside, dropping a letter in her hands. Hermione rubbed the silky feathers on the birds glossy head and offered it a bite of marzipan candy she had brought from home. After pecking at it, the owl flew back out the window; presumably back to whichever owl post office it had come from.
Hermione turned over the letter, her eyes widening when she saw who it was from. Her twisted step-uncle, who had molested her all summer, leading her into a world of pain, from which she could only escape by cutting herself. Without even opening the letter, she stumbled over to her trunk, pulling out a wooden intricately carved box from within. Opening it, she gazed almost lovingly at the razor sharp dagger nestled in the black velvet lined interior, her finger unconsciously going to caress the blade. Quickly she pulled up her sleeve, and with tears running copiously down her fair cheeks, she drew the blade across her already finely scarred arm.
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Hermione: Twisted step-uncle? Has this suddenly turned into some trashy Gothic romance book? And cutting myself? Really Just A Reader, what do you take me for? I certainly have more intelligence than to do something like that. Do I look like some attention starved Emo child to you?
(Author's note: To any Emo children reading this – please take no offense, I certainly have nothing against being Emo, but to those Emo's that do cut themselves, really, it's honestly stupid and dumb and moronic and idiotic – and any other term meaning the same thing. Not to mention so very not cool and potentially extremely dangerous. I'm not sure how cutting ever became stylish and romantic.)
Author: But it's just filler to explain your newfound moodiness and the darkness that somehow permeates your being and what attracts Draco to you!
Hermione: There's no darkness, there's no attraction, there's no self inflicted scars. There will however, be Hermione inflicted scars on you if you don't give up this idea right now.
Author: Ha! Moodiness, see?? And violent tendencies! Oh yes, major plot bunny hopping along the path right now! Aww, it's so cute and cuddly! Hi little rabbit!
Hermione: That's Crookshanks. I think you need your eyes checked.
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Hermione turned over the letter, and seeing it was just a bill for her subscription to the Daily Prophet, she carefully filed it with her other important papers, and made a note in her journal to pay it at her first opportunity.
Glancing at the clock on the fireplace mantel, Hermione saw that it was after curfew. Her eyes lighting up, she dashed over to her closet and pulled out her black leather biking outfit. Over the summer, she had discovered the joys of motorbike racing through the darkest London alleys, and had accumulated quite a stash of winnings. She was acknowledged as the best free-lance racer around, and everyone wanted to best her. No one of course knew her true identity, she was known only as "Night Phoenix" in reference to the flaming bird on her helmet, the only spot of color in the sea of black leather that covered her like a second skin from head to toe.
Opening her window, she stepped out carefully, and nodded with satisfaction, seeing that the ivy covered trellis would be easy enough to climb down. Once on the school grounds, she darted from shadow to shadow, heading towards the broom shed where she had secretly stowed her beloved bike, concealing it with an illusion charm so that it just looked like an old pile of broomstick ends.
Smiling with excitement, Hermione thought about the race scheduled for tonight. It was almost legitimate, there was even going to be coverage from a few of the biking magazines there. And the pot was huge; it would be her largest win yet! And win she would, she had no worries there. Her self confidence once she was on her wheels seemed to grow to unmeasurable amounts, until the bike and she were practically as one. In fact, some of the race organizers around London swore up and down that it was as if some primeval force took over her, making her one with the metal and leather.
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Hermione: Do you really think I spent my summer doing that?
Author: It could happen!
Hermione: No, it couldn't. I spent the summer with my books, preparing for this year, my most important year. You do realize that after this year, I have to make some extremely important decisions as to the rest of my life? I did not have time for any kind of extracurricular activity!
Author: But that's boring! I can't write about that!
Hermione: Does it look like I care?
Author: Waaaahh! Why are you so mean to me Hermione!? I'm not gonna be your friend anymore if you keep up with this kind of attitude, I mean it!
Hermione: Oh noes! Whatever shall I do if that happens!
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Hermione went to bed. She woke up early, and went down to the Great Hall for the first session of breakfast. She ate a sensible morning feast comprising of toast with jelly, 2 eggs (scrambled) and one slice of bacon. She also had a cup of coffee and a glass of juice.
She attended all her classes with a promptness and attention that was almost alarming in its exactness. She made no unnecessary sound while the teacher was talking unless it was to ask a question, and even then, she carefully raised her hand and waited until acknowledged before speaking.
Hermione carefully followed all school rules to the finest details, even going so far as to put herself in situations where the rules would arise, so that she could do the right thing and obey them.
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Author: See? It's horribly horrifically boring! No one would read that! Can you really blame me for wanting to put a bit of excitement into your drab dreary existence?
Draco: She's right, Granger – you are probably the most boring, useless person in Hogwarts.
Hermione: Shut up Malfoy. Go suck on a Blast ended Screwt.
Author: Draco!! Hi there cutie pie! And now, now, no talking to the secret love of your life like that! We all know it's carefully plotted to mask your true feelings which would be so very wrong to everything that you've been told as you were brought up… OMG I KNOW THE NEXT PLOT LINE! NO MORE TALKING, MUST WRITE!
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Draco tossed and turned in his bed, unable to get the thoughts of Hermione Granger out of his head. He knew it was wrong to be feeling like this, he knew he risked his very life, and hers with these emotions he was having, but he couldn't help it. If only there was some way he could see her and not have the threat of his fathers or Voldemorts reaction to a relationship between the two of them.
Suddenly he sat up, an idea popping into his head. He could write to his father, saying that he planned to infiltrate Potter's trio by ingratiating himself to the Mudblood. Draco cringed inwardly at even having thought the word. How could he have ever used the term, it was so awful, so very wrong! Anyone could see that Muggles were equal to Wizards, the whole idea of pureblood was laughable if only people would step away from the prejudices they were raised with. Getting back to the plan, he jotted down notes. He would go immediately to Dumbledore, that was a definite, as he had been planning to do so regardless of his feelings for Hermione. He would be needing the powerful Wizards help.
So, after having convinced his father he was only seeing Hermione to get access to Potter, he'd be free to follow his heart. He knew that she felt something towards him, or he hoped she did at least. Draco fell back on his bed and sighed happily. Things were looking up – he was on the right side finally, and happier than he had ever felt in his life. If this is what love did for a person, they should bottle it and sell it!
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Draco: What the hell was that? I'm a freaking pureblood, there's no way I'm going to have any sentimental crap thoughts like that. I can hardly even stand to be in the same room as the Mudblood here, I'm only doing it to save myself from your maniacal writings.
Hermione: Like I'd ever return any of those feelings anyway.
Draco: Did I not just say I don't and will never have those feelings towards you? God Granger, and I thought you were supposed to be the intelligent one in your little ménage a trois.
Author: Do I sense some sexual tension?
Hermione/Draco: NO!
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So many clichés, so little time! My humblest apologies for stopping writing for so long, I've missed it and always meant to come back to it, but I'm a terrible procrastinator. Hopefully I'll have another chapter up in less than 3 years this time. Read and review?