Disclaimer: ::stares in stunned silence:: *ten minutes later* Dude, I don't
own these people....
Last time on LGG:
"So will you come? I promise nothing bad will happen... and Pansy won't be there," he said. "Please?"
"Okay, I'll come... but only if Eglamour can go too." Draco smiled near ecstatically.
"Hell yeah he can. I want him to meet Atrolynn, anyway." Hermione smiled, looking happily up at him. Then, with a sudden movement, Draco captured her lips. Hermione jumped slightly as he did, but got into it soon, kissing him softly, their papers forgotten. Draco dropped his quill and brought his hand to the side of her face, pulling her a little closer. It was quite a while before either of them could find the will to break away, and in the end, it was Hermione.
"We really have to do this," she said, pointing to the still tall stack of papers. Draco smiled and nodded, then moved in to kiss her again. How she managed, Hermione didn't know, but she pushed him away. "Really." With a sigh and a slight frown, Draco nodded again and pulled back, returning to his half finished exam.
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Need for Weed
Draco wrote the final grade at the top of the very last exam and finished it off with a swift circle. He dropped his quill as if it were on fire and straightened up, rubbing gently at his eyes. He paused briefly to stretch before relaxing again, turning to his side. Hermione lay on her arm, which was curled on the table, her eyes gently closed and her features innocently devoid of emotion. Draco smiled. She was so pretty when she was sleeping.
"This is just like in those cliché romance novels," he whispered to her, knowing she wouldn't wake up. He knew for experience that she was a pretty heavy sleeper. "If I were to do this," he continued, raising a hand and brushing her hair behind her ear, then letting his fingers run down it. "It would make it even worse. But then, if I wanted to be really proverbial, I might do this." Draco leaned close and placed a kiss on her soft motionless lips. He pulled away with an amused smile. "I think I like you better when you kiss back," he whispered, then began to firmly rub a tiny circle into her back. "Mione, wake up, we're done."
Hermione inhaled sharply and stirred, sitting up straight and arching her back. Draco smiled.
"What? What time is it?" she asked, struggling to open her eyes.
"I think sometime around two." She groaned.
"Can we PLEASE put Snape back on the list?" Draco laughed.
"I'll think about it. Right now, I'd like to just go back upstairs, if you don't mind." Hermione groaned again.
"That would be great... but we have to finish this," she said, leaning back in her chair covering her mouth as she yawned. Draco smiled warmly.
"I did." Hermione snapped her gaze toward him.
"What? When?"
"You were sleeping for quite a while, Mione," Draco said, standing and organizing the papers a bit.
"Oh," said Hermione. "Sorry. Why didn't you just wake me up?"
"For one, you looked like you needed it, and two, it wasn't as annoying when I had the answer key all to myself," he said with a smile and Hermione returned it.
"Thanks," she said, but he shook his head and held out his hands to her. Hermione placed her hands in his and let him pull her up, standing quite close. The two tired prefects looked to each other for a moment, both smiling. Hermione looked a tiny bit curious and it made Draco's smile grow. He made quick to give another kiss, and was pleased when she kissed back.
"Knew it," he said as they parted again, and Hermione looked even more curious.
"What?"
"That I liked you better when you kiss back," he said with a smile and paused briefly. "Come on, let's go." Hermione nodded and Draco pulled her toward the bookcase. He extracted the same book Snape had and the case moved to the side again. Professor Snape was nowhere to be seen.
"Well this is just wonderful; how are we supposed to get our wands back?" Hermione asked groggily and Draco shrugged.
"Right now, I could care less. We'll get them tomorrow." Exhausted and not thinking clearly, Hermione nodded her agreement and let Draco lead her from the potions room and up to their dorms, practically asleep on her feet. Once upstairs, she parted from him and moved toward her room, much to Draco's disappointment. Then, she stopped dead.
"Shit..." she whispered.
"What?" Draco asked concernedly and she turned back to him.
"If I don't have my wand, I can't correctly measure an amount of potion to take... but I have to take some, or I'll never get to sleep... especially now that I'm freaking out about this," she said, almost frantically, and Draco took a step toward her.
"Whoa, calm down. It's called an alarm clock, Hermione." She took a deep breath.
"Well, I don't have an alarm clock... I always use a charm, and even if I did, if I take too much potion I'll either sleep through it or sleep through class once I get there, and if I don't take enough, I'll wake up early and sleep through detention... again." She crossed her arms. "This sucks." Draco laughed.
"Oh man, you really are something," he said and placed a kiss on the end of her jawbone. "But hey, my door's open if it'll help." Hermione smiled up at him and Draco kissed her softly. "Night' Mya." She raised a quizzical eyebrow and Draco shrugged before turning and heading toward his room, meaning to get ready as fast as possibly, just in case she did need help.
~
Hermione watched Draco go and shook her head, walking to her room. He was being way too nice, that was all there was to it. Sure, it was obvious they had some sort of mutual attraction, but this was just weird... he just wasn't Malfoy anymore. Not that that was necessarily a bad change... maybe he'd just been tired. Firstly, she'd cleaned him of charges and he'd come right back and demanded punishment when they'd been lectured.
She'd done the same, but it really hadn't been fair to let him take all the crap... it WAS her fault. All of it was. The whole idea had been hers, she'd done all the slipping of potions, and they would have gotten away with it, had he not been her knight in shining armor and run back into the field to save her. He must have just had an off day. That wasn't like him at all.
Wanting her to sleep with him...now that was like him... but telling her she could without 'soliciting'? Nope, another strange move. It WAS appreciated though. Hermione smiled and decided. She owed him.
She changed into pajamas that were a little less revealing that the ones from the night before, but still quite scrumptious. They were black, of course. After participating in her bedtime rituals, Hermione crossed the mini-common room and slowly opened the door to Draco's room. She smiled and relaxed a little. He was asleep.
Draco was in bed, wearing black boxers and a white t-shirt, covers pulled down to his waist. There was a single candle lit on the bedside table, and it cast an orange tinted glow over the already orange room. Hermione sighed quietly as she crept slowly toward the bed. He looked so different when he was sleeping. She'd never really taken the time to notice before. When she woke to find him sleeping two days ago, she'd only looked for a moment before diving into her thoughts, but now she took acute observations.
She was literally amazed. Draco looked so much younger and... well, nicer when he was asleep. It looked as if he were troubled by nothing, with no concerns at all. Even if she hadn't a purpose, Hermione would have crawled in beside him anyway. And she did, but slowly, hoping not to wake him. She smiled as she took one last look, then blew out the candle and let the room be draped in darkness. He'd finally remembered to close the curtains.
Still moving slowly, Hermione pressed herself close and gently rested her head against the Slytherin beside her. It always felt so much... warmer, safer... darker when she was close to him. It was comforting. Comfort was always a dark feeling for Hermione, but she liked it that way. It was still nice. Bright, fresh, feelings were nice too, but in a different way... she preferred the dark... especially if it was raining.
Hermione sighed contentedly and smiled, gently sliding a leg over his, then she slowly drifted off to sleep. It'd been a long, long day.
~*~*~*~
The rest of the week was somewhat of a blur. For Draco and Hermione, all revenge aside, their days consisted of getting up, going to class, doing homework, going to detention, and getting back so early all they had time to do was go to bed. Hermione slept with Draco every night, but only because they'd charm into their pajamas on the way to the dorms and just fall in bed and sleep, never bothering to let go of each others' hand. Neither minded much, and it was one less bed for the house elves to make.
Snape had given their wands back the next day in class, with a disgusted smirk and a reminder of their next detention. Luckily, he never kept them overnight again.
~
"Mione, wake up," Draco said sitting on the bed and reaching to shake her slightly. Hermione groaned.
"What day is it?"
"Friday," he said with a large smile as she rolled over and buried herself in the sheets.
"Classes start after lunch today; remember? Lemme sleep, damn you," she complained and Draco laughed.
"It's ten thirty; thought you might like to know is all." Hermione groaned loudly and forced herself to sit up. She turned to Draco, blinking the fog from her eyes.
"Suppose you think it's funny, do you?" she asked sourly, noticing the wide smile on his face. Draco held up his hands in surrender.
"Sheesh. Try to do something nice..." he said, rolling his eyes, and Hermione was compelled to smile. She dropped her shoulders and put her face in her hands. "Anyway, sleeping beauty... you got a letter," he said, holding it up. Hermione stopped rubbing her face and looked up at him. No wonder he looked so happy. She was suddenly quite awake and grabbed it from him, tearing the note open excitedly. Draco swung his legs back up on the bed and laid back, arms folded behind his head.
Once Hermione had freed the note from the envelope, she laid back too, leaning against him and letting Draco read over her shoulder.
*Dear Hermione,* had been written, then crossed out and replaced with just *Granger.*
*I do not like you. You are mean, and annoying, and ugly. I hate living next to you, and I wish you'd just go away. Pleese do not talk to me again.
~Malfoy*
Hermione looked up at Draco, holding back her laughter.
"Aw, Draco... that hurts... it really does," she said, mocking a pout.
"It does; they make me sound like an idiot. Look, they misspelled please. Have you taught them nothing?" Hermione laughed. "And it took them a whole week to write THAT?" She shrugged.
"Yes, I'm rather disappointed too. Ha, look," she said and pointed to the bottom of the page.
*P.S. Don't be mad and Harry and Ron anymore. They didn't do anything.*
"Like hell," Draco added and Hermione smiled, closing her eyes and briefly snuggling her head into him, then she sighed and pushed herself up. Draco frowned slightly.
"Thanks for waking me up," she said as she moved toward the bathroom. Draco nodded.
"Sure," he said, but didn't sound more than bored.
~*~*~*~
"What are you doing? That's not the potion you're supposed to be making, Mya... this is the last day we have to work on this!"
"Oh, can it, Drakey. I'm working on The List. Plus, I'm coming to your house; remember? We have just as much time as everyone else." Draco scowled slightly, mostly for the use of the nickname. He'd taken to calling her Mya, simply because it seemed to irk her. She always smiled afterward... but that might be because she always paid him back with a Drakey. Detestable. Detestable Drakey.
It was the last class of the day, Care of Magical Creatures. Fridays were everyone's favorite day. Classes were always cut in half and started after lunch, making for half as much school. It was still almost five o'clock, regardless, and they still had an excruciating detention to look forward to.
"Which aspect of The List?"
"The Potter and Weasley aspect." Draco nodded in understanding.
"Ah; continue, please." Hermione smiled.
"Planning on it."
~
"Done," Hermione quipped excitedly, ladling two or three vials of a reddish purple potion and placing them in her pocket. Draco just stared at her. She was so....simple, yet incredibly complex. On the outside, it seemed there were few things that could please her, but they were all so small. A simple kiss, a little revenge... On the inside... she was like the puzzle form of a picture of green jellybeans. Most people didn't even bother trying.
"Me too... all we have to do is rewrite everything and do that last potion... we won't even have to work while we're gone."
"Thank god. That would spoil the whole 'fun' aspect of being suspended..." Draco cocked his head.
"But we still have all that homework they're assigning for the classes we miss. We'll still have to work a lot."
"Yes, but no damn detention... I feel like I haven't slept in days," Hermione said, sinking to the grassy ground and sitting cross-legged. Draco smiled and came to her side, sitting down as well.
"You barely have," he said, close to her ear, then gave her a small kiss. Hermione smiled.
"Hey," she whispered. "Should I pretend to hate you? Harry and Ron might think their letter didn't work." Draco shrugged.
"If you want to," he said, moving slightly away, just in case that's what she chose. The feeling of loss she felt as he did this made up Hermione's mind and she smiled.
"No... I've got a better idea." Draco raised an eyebrow and Hermione grabbed his tie, pulling him forward and onto her lips. Both heard the chorus of gasps as their connection was noticed, and smirked into each other as they deepened the kiss.
It wasn't until two inhumanly large hands were placed on their heads, forcing them apart, that Draco and Hermione even thought about stopping. The obvious reaction they were getting was enough to keep them together for hours. Both prefects looked up at the burly CMC instructor, and Hagrid looked down upon them like scum.
"Please, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger. No public displays of affection," he said icily and let them go, walking back to his desk. They looked to each other, then laughed. Hermione then snuck a glance at Harry and Ron, only to be met with disappointment. The two Gryffindor were nowhere to be found. She turned back to Draco.
"Where are Potter and Weasley?" she asked and he dropped his smile, looking toward their usual table. Draco made to shrug, then he paused and curled his lips into a smirk.
"You never gave them anything to get rid of the antidote," he said and Hermione straightened in understanding, looking toward the castle.
"Oh," she said before she burst out laughing and Draco smiled.
"Gee, that's REALLY pathetic. Not only did it take them a whole week to write that crappy letter, it took them a whole week with no women to write that crappy letter. I'm seriously disappointed. I always knew you were the brains behind that operation, but damn..." Hermione shrugged.
"Whacha gonna do?" she asked and he smiled, shrugging.
"Under normal circumstances, I would have kissed you, but unfortunately, there is a very large and very intimidating man glaring at me as if I were holding a gun to Dumbledore's head, so I'm tossing the idea." Hermione laughed.
"Good plan, Drakey."
"I learn from the best, Mya."
~*~*~*~
"I can't believe this... this is unbelievable..." Draco mumbled that night at detention and Hermione laughed.
"Any more witty complaints?"
"Stuff it, Granger." She shook her head.
"Better idea, you shut up and just do it."
"I am NOT going in there." She shrugged.
"Fine, but YOU'RE the one who'll be dealing with Snape," she said, pointing over his shoulder to the potions master who was following them slowly. Draco sighed and took off his cloak, tossing it on the ground. He turned to her.
"You first." Hermione shrugged her shoulders and turned toward their destination.
"Whatever," she said and waded into the lake. "Holy shit... it's fucking freezing in here..."
"Language, Miss Granger. What are you waiting for, Malfoy, a written invitation?"
"No, I was waiting for Hermione to catch hypothermia so I could take her to the hospital and get out of this bogus detention," he answered before he could stop himself and Snape glared.
"Watch your tongue boy," he said and gave Draco a push, causing him to fall face first into the water. When he came up, Hermione was giggling.
"Damn, you weren't kidding," he said shakily, teeth chattering as he stood and pulled some seaweed from his hair. When Draco noticed Hermione's amusement, he splashed her.
"Hey!" she scolded and he shrugged his shoulders, smirking.
"Um, Professor?!" Draco called and Snape appeared, looking down at them.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Bubble charms, Sir?" Hermione quipped and Snape rolled his eyes, casting a charm on each of them. Hermione smiled and turned to Draco. "Okay, let's go." She dived down and Draco followed her.
"Why are you so damn excited about this?" he asked, his voice echoing slightly in his bubble. Hermione shrugged.
"There're mermaids down here."
"But we're not after mermaids, Mya. We're after guillyweed."
"I know, Drakey, but we have to ask them where it is... that is, unless you know?" Draco sighed.
"Fine; lead the way." Hermione smiled broadly and swam deeper, Draco following behind her.
"Arviragus!" she called into the vast space and Draco looked curiously at her. Hermione seemed not to notice. "Oh, Arviragus!"
"Hermione?" called a new voice and she shrieked excitedly.
"Yes! Where are you?" The voice didn't answer, but a figure swam up to greet them. It was a merman, a teenager with dark hair and beautiful black fins. "Arviragus!" she called again and opened her arms. Arviragus swam to her and accepted her embrace.
"Hermione! Isn't it a bit early for you to visiting? You must be freezing!" the merman said as he released her and Hermione smiled.
"Hell yeah, but Snape sent us on a mission for guillyweed," she explained and Arviragus nodded, then looked curious.
"Us?"
"Oh, hey Draco, come here for a second!" A bit hesitantly, Draco approached. He'd been watching from a distance for a while, trying to decipher why he felt funny when Hermione hugged her friend... if it was jealousy, he'd kill himself. This guy was a frickin fish. Why was he threatened by a fish? And it wasn't as if he owned her... they weren't really more than friends with benefits... were they? "Hey, this is Arviragus. Arviragus, my good friend Draco."
"You've never brought a friend before, Hermione..." Arviragus said, swimming around and eyeing Draco curiously.
"It's his detention too," she explained, smiling amusedly at Draco, who seemed to feel pretty uncomfortable. Understandable, really... there was a male fish checking him out... creepy.
"I've never seen a male of your species before. Mother made me stay inside that time all those people came down here... thought they were dangerous."
"She still doesn't trust me very much," Hermione said, nodding and Arviragus laughed.
"That's an understatement," he said and continued observing Draco while the human watched nervously. When Arviragus reached to touch him, Draco backed away.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa; I'm not a freaking potions experiment, okay?" he said somewhat icily and Arviragus jumped back a bit.
"It can speak!" Hermione laughed and Draco turned to her.
"What the fuck have you been telling them, Mya?" She shrugged.
"I've been know to exaggerate slightly on the despicability of the non- female portion of the human race while venting... but I think that's understandable, considering it was always about Harry and Ron. However, that's not the point. Arviragus, can you hook me up with some guillyweed? I'll take as much as we can carry."
"'Course, Hermione. Be right back," Arviragus said, looking nervously at Draco. "I'd let you come but... it might scare the locals," he explained, pointing and Draco scowled, crossing his arms. Hermione laughed.
"Charming friends you have here, Mya." Draco said once Arviragus had disappeared. She smiled and swam closer to him.
"I'm sorry, but I really DON'T bring friends. He's nice, though, Drakey... just curious." Draco scowled slightly.
"Anyone who calls me 'it' is somewhere near the bottom of my list of intellectuals." Hermione laughed and slid her arms around him.
"Bloody hell, I'm freezing," she said, burying her head against his chest. Draco smiled and wrapped his arms around her. She hadn't done that to Arvira...whatever.
"You'll be a whole lot colder when we get out of here," he said, looking up and Hermione shivered.
"Please, please, please let me put Snape back on the list! I won't do anything TOO bad... like the glue... let me glue him to something," she pleaded and Draco laughed, holding her closer.
"Hermione? Where'd you go?" called the voice of their merman friend and Hermione laughed, breaking away from Draco.
"I'm still over here Arviragus! For a fish you certainly have no sense of direction," she called back, not noticing the frown Draco gained. Arviragus swam toward them, smiling brightly.
"Sorry; I don't get out much in the winter," he said, shrugging, then handed Hermione a small sachet. "456 lbs. of guillyweed, m'lady. All I could find in the castle pantry."
"Arviragus! I didn't need the entire kingdom's supply!" Arviragus shrugged.
"They never keep it more than a few days, anyway. The harvesters are due back in a few hours; I think we'll manage." Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks," she said, then turned to Draco. " You know, Snape isn't expecting us back for like an hour... but if we go up now he'll be all pissed off and suspicious again," she said, raising an eyebrow. Draco was a little irked about her kiss, but shrugged and smiled slightly.
"Whatever you want, Mya." Hermione thought for a moment, then turned back to Arviragus.
"I think I'm gonna go, Gus. Thanks for this," she said, holding up the sachet. "I'll come back when it's a little warmer." Arviragus smiled brightly and Hermione kissed his lips, taking a little longer to break away than either of the boys would have liked, then she grabbed Draco's hand. "Come on, Drakey," she said and swam upward, Draco following behind. A few feet up, she turned back down and waved to her friend, then continued upward, noticing Draco's grumbly persona, and smirking.
A/N: I dunno what to say about this chapter... I liked it, I guess. The Merpeople thing was kind of cool, I guess... and I liked the title ;o) Snape's such an as... more fun 2 come!
PFR:
Silent Fire: Exactly. Glad you understand. :o)
Sleepy-kitty: Lol. Sorry to your dad for makin him all worried, but he should know by now that we girls just... CRY. All the forking time. Usually for no reason. Yeah, lol. I updated MPES, I don't know if you saw... gee... I wonder what happens xoP
Cytosine: Thanx; I worked hard on some of those.
Tainted Black: Oh yeah... that song IS in lady and the tramp... isn't it? I was thinking Grumpier old men... lol, but that works too. I know. I'm WAY too good to Hermione... but don't worry. They won't spend the WHOLE two weeks at his house. I've got plans... which you should already be assuming. :oP
Amora - Ryuko: Lol, yes... it should be interesting...
Crystalline Lily: Thanx, and I try!
Tigerbrat88: Lol... yeah, I know, I'm mean to poor Mione... but hey, she gets to go to Draco's house, right? WE never get to go to Draco's house! ::pouts!:: Lol.
Crystal-kitty2003: Lol, glad you think so O:o)
Silver Dragon Goddess: Sorry about the puckering; don't know what came over me! ;o) And yes, I am HONORED you check my story daily. Thanx. And yes; Pansy shouldn't be ALLOWED in anything but a port-a-potty.
Starry Skies: WAAA!!! I'm soooo incredibly jealous! I want that movie so damn much!!!! It's so unfair! ::runs to room and slams door... which is difficult, because there is no door... so she slams the bathroom door once she gets inside.::
Fred And George Weasley Are Gods: Lol, thanx Fred and George... and please, try to stay off eachother, hm? I know it's hard, but really.... what would your mother say? Oh, and sorry for what I said about your dad ;o) (back in 'sleeping alongside Mr. Weasley) And if you want to know, she is a she!
KittyKat589: Yeah... at least they got to make out! Lol. Pansy freaks me out in many many ways... Snape is an ass... and lets just see how many time- outs Lucius DOES get, shall we?
Little Witch: Lol, I want Draco to beg ME. Hell, he can solicit me if he wants... I might even let him put a gun to my head and order me around ;o)
Jade-snake: Well, thanx for reviewing. Glad you like it so much, lol
MoshiMoshiQueen: Your FAVORITE? ::sniff:: that is SOO sweet! ::blows nose...:: excuse me, please... ::turns to Draco and sobs into his shirt.... while he stands like the cardboard cut-out that he is:: ;o)
Erilyn Rose: Lol, you make it sound like its just her and Lucy... Draco's still gonna be there... and seriously; Draco Malfoy asks you to come to his house for two weeks... who gives a shit who else is there! Can you honestly say you'd say no? I didn't think so... lol.
Chrissy (also known as George): Lol, probably some kitty-love... I think ;o)
FilatheRyuuzoku: I'm sorry... I'll try to make Ron dumber in the future: lol.
Francinator: Okay... ::steps bag from writer loving creepy girl:: lol j/k. Thanx. No body's ever LOVED me b4 ::sniff:: but anyway... Lol, thanx. I like it too... and Harry and Ron are too stupid for hijinks I think... lol. Hey...::eyes reviewer curiously:: did you get that onion/cake thing from Shrek? Yes. I do occasionally venture from my computer to watch TV. Last night I watched One Hour Photo.... creeptastic. Lol. Thanx again.
Last time on LGG:
"So will you come? I promise nothing bad will happen... and Pansy won't be there," he said. "Please?"
"Okay, I'll come... but only if Eglamour can go too." Draco smiled near ecstatically.
"Hell yeah he can. I want him to meet Atrolynn, anyway." Hermione smiled, looking happily up at him. Then, with a sudden movement, Draco captured her lips. Hermione jumped slightly as he did, but got into it soon, kissing him softly, their papers forgotten. Draco dropped his quill and brought his hand to the side of her face, pulling her a little closer. It was quite a while before either of them could find the will to break away, and in the end, it was Hermione.
"We really have to do this," she said, pointing to the still tall stack of papers. Draco smiled and nodded, then moved in to kiss her again. How she managed, Hermione didn't know, but she pushed him away. "Really." With a sigh and a slight frown, Draco nodded again and pulled back, returning to his half finished exam.
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Need for Weed
Draco wrote the final grade at the top of the very last exam and finished it off with a swift circle. He dropped his quill as if it were on fire and straightened up, rubbing gently at his eyes. He paused briefly to stretch before relaxing again, turning to his side. Hermione lay on her arm, which was curled on the table, her eyes gently closed and her features innocently devoid of emotion. Draco smiled. She was so pretty when she was sleeping.
"This is just like in those cliché romance novels," he whispered to her, knowing she wouldn't wake up. He knew for experience that she was a pretty heavy sleeper. "If I were to do this," he continued, raising a hand and brushing her hair behind her ear, then letting his fingers run down it. "It would make it even worse. But then, if I wanted to be really proverbial, I might do this." Draco leaned close and placed a kiss on her soft motionless lips. He pulled away with an amused smile. "I think I like you better when you kiss back," he whispered, then began to firmly rub a tiny circle into her back. "Mione, wake up, we're done."
Hermione inhaled sharply and stirred, sitting up straight and arching her back. Draco smiled.
"What? What time is it?" she asked, struggling to open her eyes.
"I think sometime around two." She groaned.
"Can we PLEASE put Snape back on the list?" Draco laughed.
"I'll think about it. Right now, I'd like to just go back upstairs, if you don't mind." Hermione groaned again.
"That would be great... but we have to finish this," she said, leaning back in her chair covering her mouth as she yawned. Draco smiled warmly.
"I did." Hermione snapped her gaze toward him.
"What? When?"
"You were sleeping for quite a while, Mione," Draco said, standing and organizing the papers a bit.
"Oh," said Hermione. "Sorry. Why didn't you just wake me up?"
"For one, you looked like you needed it, and two, it wasn't as annoying when I had the answer key all to myself," he said with a smile and Hermione returned it.
"Thanks," she said, but he shook his head and held out his hands to her. Hermione placed her hands in his and let him pull her up, standing quite close. The two tired prefects looked to each other for a moment, both smiling. Hermione looked a tiny bit curious and it made Draco's smile grow. He made quick to give another kiss, and was pleased when she kissed back.
"Knew it," he said as they parted again, and Hermione looked even more curious.
"What?"
"That I liked you better when you kiss back," he said with a smile and paused briefly. "Come on, let's go." Hermione nodded and Draco pulled her toward the bookcase. He extracted the same book Snape had and the case moved to the side again. Professor Snape was nowhere to be seen.
"Well this is just wonderful; how are we supposed to get our wands back?" Hermione asked groggily and Draco shrugged.
"Right now, I could care less. We'll get them tomorrow." Exhausted and not thinking clearly, Hermione nodded her agreement and let Draco lead her from the potions room and up to their dorms, practically asleep on her feet. Once upstairs, she parted from him and moved toward her room, much to Draco's disappointment. Then, she stopped dead.
"Shit..." she whispered.
"What?" Draco asked concernedly and she turned back to him.
"If I don't have my wand, I can't correctly measure an amount of potion to take... but I have to take some, or I'll never get to sleep... especially now that I'm freaking out about this," she said, almost frantically, and Draco took a step toward her.
"Whoa, calm down. It's called an alarm clock, Hermione." She took a deep breath.
"Well, I don't have an alarm clock... I always use a charm, and even if I did, if I take too much potion I'll either sleep through it or sleep through class once I get there, and if I don't take enough, I'll wake up early and sleep through detention... again." She crossed her arms. "This sucks." Draco laughed.
"Oh man, you really are something," he said and placed a kiss on the end of her jawbone. "But hey, my door's open if it'll help." Hermione smiled up at him and Draco kissed her softly. "Night' Mya." She raised a quizzical eyebrow and Draco shrugged before turning and heading toward his room, meaning to get ready as fast as possibly, just in case she did need help.
~
Hermione watched Draco go and shook her head, walking to her room. He was being way too nice, that was all there was to it. Sure, it was obvious they had some sort of mutual attraction, but this was just weird... he just wasn't Malfoy anymore. Not that that was necessarily a bad change... maybe he'd just been tired. Firstly, she'd cleaned him of charges and he'd come right back and demanded punishment when they'd been lectured.
She'd done the same, but it really hadn't been fair to let him take all the crap... it WAS her fault. All of it was. The whole idea had been hers, she'd done all the slipping of potions, and they would have gotten away with it, had he not been her knight in shining armor and run back into the field to save her. He must have just had an off day. That wasn't like him at all.
Wanting her to sleep with him...now that was like him... but telling her she could without 'soliciting'? Nope, another strange move. It WAS appreciated though. Hermione smiled and decided. She owed him.
She changed into pajamas that were a little less revealing that the ones from the night before, but still quite scrumptious. They were black, of course. After participating in her bedtime rituals, Hermione crossed the mini-common room and slowly opened the door to Draco's room. She smiled and relaxed a little. He was asleep.
Draco was in bed, wearing black boxers and a white t-shirt, covers pulled down to his waist. There was a single candle lit on the bedside table, and it cast an orange tinted glow over the already orange room. Hermione sighed quietly as she crept slowly toward the bed. He looked so different when he was sleeping. She'd never really taken the time to notice before. When she woke to find him sleeping two days ago, she'd only looked for a moment before diving into her thoughts, but now she took acute observations.
She was literally amazed. Draco looked so much younger and... well, nicer when he was asleep. It looked as if he were troubled by nothing, with no concerns at all. Even if she hadn't a purpose, Hermione would have crawled in beside him anyway. And she did, but slowly, hoping not to wake him. She smiled as she took one last look, then blew out the candle and let the room be draped in darkness. He'd finally remembered to close the curtains.
Still moving slowly, Hermione pressed herself close and gently rested her head against the Slytherin beside her. It always felt so much... warmer, safer... darker when she was close to him. It was comforting. Comfort was always a dark feeling for Hermione, but she liked it that way. It was still nice. Bright, fresh, feelings were nice too, but in a different way... she preferred the dark... especially if it was raining.
Hermione sighed contentedly and smiled, gently sliding a leg over his, then she slowly drifted off to sleep. It'd been a long, long day.
~*~*~*~
The rest of the week was somewhat of a blur. For Draco and Hermione, all revenge aside, their days consisted of getting up, going to class, doing homework, going to detention, and getting back so early all they had time to do was go to bed. Hermione slept with Draco every night, but only because they'd charm into their pajamas on the way to the dorms and just fall in bed and sleep, never bothering to let go of each others' hand. Neither minded much, and it was one less bed for the house elves to make.
Snape had given their wands back the next day in class, with a disgusted smirk and a reminder of their next detention. Luckily, he never kept them overnight again.
~
"Mione, wake up," Draco said sitting on the bed and reaching to shake her slightly. Hermione groaned.
"What day is it?"
"Friday," he said with a large smile as she rolled over and buried herself in the sheets.
"Classes start after lunch today; remember? Lemme sleep, damn you," she complained and Draco laughed.
"It's ten thirty; thought you might like to know is all." Hermione groaned loudly and forced herself to sit up. She turned to Draco, blinking the fog from her eyes.
"Suppose you think it's funny, do you?" she asked sourly, noticing the wide smile on his face. Draco held up his hands in surrender.
"Sheesh. Try to do something nice..." he said, rolling his eyes, and Hermione was compelled to smile. She dropped her shoulders and put her face in her hands. "Anyway, sleeping beauty... you got a letter," he said, holding it up. Hermione stopped rubbing her face and looked up at him. No wonder he looked so happy. She was suddenly quite awake and grabbed it from him, tearing the note open excitedly. Draco swung his legs back up on the bed and laid back, arms folded behind his head.
Once Hermione had freed the note from the envelope, she laid back too, leaning against him and letting Draco read over her shoulder.
*Dear Hermione,* had been written, then crossed out and replaced with just *Granger.*
*I do not like you. You are mean, and annoying, and ugly. I hate living next to you, and I wish you'd just go away. Pleese do not talk to me again.
~Malfoy*
Hermione looked up at Draco, holding back her laughter.
"Aw, Draco... that hurts... it really does," she said, mocking a pout.
"It does; they make me sound like an idiot. Look, they misspelled please. Have you taught them nothing?" Hermione laughed. "And it took them a whole week to write THAT?" She shrugged.
"Yes, I'm rather disappointed too. Ha, look," she said and pointed to the bottom of the page.
*P.S. Don't be mad and Harry and Ron anymore. They didn't do anything.*
"Like hell," Draco added and Hermione smiled, closing her eyes and briefly snuggling her head into him, then she sighed and pushed herself up. Draco frowned slightly.
"Thanks for waking me up," she said as she moved toward the bathroom. Draco nodded.
"Sure," he said, but didn't sound more than bored.
~*~*~*~
"What are you doing? That's not the potion you're supposed to be making, Mya... this is the last day we have to work on this!"
"Oh, can it, Drakey. I'm working on The List. Plus, I'm coming to your house; remember? We have just as much time as everyone else." Draco scowled slightly, mostly for the use of the nickname. He'd taken to calling her Mya, simply because it seemed to irk her. She always smiled afterward... but that might be because she always paid him back with a Drakey. Detestable. Detestable Drakey.
It was the last class of the day, Care of Magical Creatures. Fridays were everyone's favorite day. Classes were always cut in half and started after lunch, making for half as much school. It was still almost five o'clock, regardless, and they still had an excruciating detention to look forward to.
"Which aspect of The List?"
"The Potter and Weasley aspect." Draco nodded in understanding.
"Ah; continue, please." Hermione smiled.
"Planning on it."
~
"Done," Hermione quipped excitedly, ladling two or three vials of a reddish purple potion and placing them in her pocket. Draco just stared at her. She was so....simple, yet incredibly complex. On the outside, it seemed there were few things that could please her, but they were all so small. A simple kiss, a little revenge... On the inside... she was like the puzzle form of a picture of green jellybeans. Most people didn't even bother trying.
"Me too... all we have to do is rewrite everything and do that last potion... we won't even have to work while we're gone."
"Thank god. That would spoil the whole 'fun' aspect of being suspended..." Draco cocked his head.
"But we still have all that homework they're assigning for the classes we miss. We'll still have to work a lot."
"Yes, but no damn detention... I feel like I haven't slept in days," Hermione said, sinking to the grassy ground and sitting cross-legged. Draco smiled and came to her side, sitting down as well.
"You barely have," he said, close to her ear, then gave her a small kiss. Hermione smiled.
"Hey," she whispered. "Should I pretend to hate you? Harry and Ron might think their letter didn't work." Draco shrugged.
"If you want to," he said, moving slightly away, just in case that's what she chose. The feeling of loss she felt as he did this made up Hermione's mind and she smiled.
"No... I've got a better idea." Draco raised an eyebrow and Hermione grabbed his tie, pulling him forward and onto her lips. Both heard the chorus of gasps as their connection was noticed, and smirked into each other as they deepened the kiss.
It wasn't until two inhumanly large hands were placed on their heads, forcing them apart, that Draco and Hermione even thought about stopping. The obvious reaction they were getting was enough to keep them together for hours. Both prefects looked up at the burly CMC instructor, and Hagrid looked down upon them like scum.
"Please, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger. No public displays of affection," he said icily and let them go, walking back to his desk. They looked to each other, then laughed. Hermione then snuck a glance at Harry and Ron, only to be met with disappointment. The two Gryffindor were nowhere to be found. She turned back to Draco.
"Where are Potter and Weasley?" she asked and he dropped his smile, looking toward their usual table. Draco made to shrug, then he paused and curled his lips into a smirk.
"You never gave them anything to get rid of the antidote," he said and Hermione straightened in understanding, looking toward the castle.
"Oh," she said before she burst out laughing and Draco smiled.
"Gee, that's REALLY pathetic. Not only did it take them a whole week to write that crappy letter, it took them a whole week with no women to write that crappy letter. I'm seriously disappointed. I always knew you were the brains behind that operation, but damn..." Hermione shrugged.
"Whacha gonna do?" she asked and he smiled, shrugging.
"Under normal circumstances, I would have kissed you, but unfortunately, there is a very large and very intimidating man glaring at me as if I were holding a gun to Dumbledore's head, so I'm tossing the idea." Hermione laughed.
"Good plan, Drakey."
"I learn from the best, Mya."
~*~*~*~
"I can't believe this... this is unbelievable..." Draco mumbled that night at detention and Hermione laughed.
"Any more witty complaints?"
"Stuff it, Granger." She shook her head.
"Better idea, you shut up and just do it."
"I am NOT going in there." She shrugged.
"Fine, but YOU'RE the one who'll be dealing with Snape," she said, pointing over his shoulder to the potions master who was following them slowly. Draco sighed and took off his cloak, tossing it on the ground. He turned to her.
"You first." Hermione shrugged her shoulders and turned toward their destination.
"Whatever," she said and waded into the lake. "Holy shit... it's fucking freezing in here..."
"Language, Miss Granger. What are you waiting for, Malfoy, a written invitation?"
"No, I was waiting for Hermione to catch hypothermia so I could take her to the hospital and get out of this bogus detention," he answered before he could stop himself and Snape glared.
"Watch your tongue boy," he said and gave Draco a push, causing him to fall face first into the water. When he came up, Hermione was giggling.
"Damn, you weren't kidding," he said shakily, teeth chattering as he stood and pulled some seaweed from his hair. When Draco noticed Hermione's amusement, he splashed her.
"Hey!" she scolded and he shrugged his shoulders, smirking.
"Um, Professor?!" Draco called and Snape appeared, looking down at them.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Bubble charms, Sir?" Hermione quipped and Snape rolled his eyes, casting a charm on each of them. Hermione smiled and turned to Draco. "Okay, let's go." She dived down and Draco followed her.
"Why are you so damn excited about this?" he asked, his voice echoing slightly in his bubble. Hermione shrugged.
"There're mermaids down here."
"But we're not after mermaids, Mya. We're after guillyweed."
"I know, Drakey, but we have to ask them where it is... that is, unless you know?" Draco sighed.
"Fine; lead the way." Hermione smiled broadly and swam deeper, Draco following behind her.
"Arviragus!" she called into the vast space and Draco looked curiously at her. Hermione seemed not to notice. "Oh, Arviragus!"
"Hermione?" called a new voice and she shrieked excitedly.
"Yes! Where are you?" The voice didn't answer, but a figure swam up to greet them. It was a merman, a teenager with dark hair and beautiful black fins. "Arviragus!" she called again and opened her arms. Arviragus swam to her and accepted her embrace.
"Hermione! Isn't it a bit early for you to visiting? You must be freezing!" the merman said as he released her and Hermione smiled.
"Hell yeah, but Snape sent us on a mission for guillyweed," she explained and Arviragus nodded, then looked curious.
"Us?"
"Oh, hey Draco, come here for a second!" A bit hesitantly, Draco approached. He'd been watching from a distance for a while, trying to decipher why he felt funny when Hermione hugged her friend... if it was jealousy, he'd kill himself. This guy was a frickin fish. Why was he threatened by a fish? And it wasn't as if he owned her... they weren't really more than friends with benefits... were they? "Hey, this is Arviragus. Arviragus, my good friend Draco."
"You've never brought a friend before, Hermione..." Arviragus said, swimming around and eyeing Draco curiously.
"It's his detention too," she explained, smiling amusedly at Draco, who seemed to feel pretty uncomfortable. Understandable, really... there was a male fish checking him out... creepy.
"I've never seen a male of your species before. Mother made me stay inside that time all those people came down here... thought they were dangerous."
"She still doesn't trust me very much," Hermione said, nodding and Arviragus laughed.
"That's an understatement," he said and continued observing Draco while the human watched nervously. When Arviragus reached to touch him, Draco backed away.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa; I'm not a freaking potions experiment, okay?" he said somewhat icily and Arviragus jumped back a bit.
"It can speak!" Hermione laughed and Draco turned to her.
"What the fuck have you been telling them, Mya?" She shrugged.
"I've been know to exaggerate slightly on the despicability of the non- female portion of the human race while venting... but I think that's understandable, considering it was always about Harry and Ron. However, that's not the point. Arviragus, can you hook me up with some guillyweed? I'll take as much as we can carry."
"'Course, Hermione. Be right back," Arviragus said, looking nervously at Draco. "I'd let you come but... it might scare the locals," he explained, pointing and Draco scowled, crossing his arms. Hermione laughed.
"Charming friends you have here, Mya." Draco said once Arviragus had disappeared. She smiled and swam closer to him.
"I'm sorry, but I really DON'T bring friends. He's nice, though, Drakey... just curious." Draco scowled slightly.
"Anyone who calls me 'it' is somewhere near the bottom of my list of intellectuals." Hermione laughed and slid her arms around him.
"Bloody hell, I'm freezing," she said, burying her head against his chest. Draco smiled and wrapped his arms around her. She hadn't done that to Arvira...whatever.
"You'll be a whole lot colder when we get out of here," he said, looking up and Hermione shivered.
"Please, please, please let me put Snape back on the list! I won't do anything TOO bad... like the glue... let me glue him to something," she pleaded and Draco laughed, holding her closer.
"Hermione? Where'd you go?" called the voice of their merman friend and Hermione laughed, breaking away from Draco.
"I'm still over here Arviragus! For a fish you certainly have no sense of direction," she called back, not noticing the frown Draco gained. Arviragus swam toward them, smiling brightly.
"Sorry; I don't get out much in the winter," he said, shrugging, then handed Hermione a small sachet. "456 lbs. of guillyweed, m'lady. All I could find in the castle pantry."
"Arviragus! I didn't need the entire kingdom's supply!" Arviragus shrugged.
"They never keep it more than a few days, anyway. The harvesters are due back in a few hours; I think we'll manage." Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks," she said, then turned to Draco. " You know, Snape isn't expecting us back for like an hour... but if we go up now he'll be all pissed off and suspicious again," she said, raising an eyebrow. Draco was a little irked about her kiss, but shrugged and smiled slightly.
"Whatever you want, Mya." Hermione thought for a moment, then turned back to Arviragus.
"I think I'm gonna go, Gus. Thanks for this," she said, holding up the sachet. "I'll come back when it's a little warmer." Arviragus smiled brightly and Hermione kissed his lips, taking a little longer to break away than either of the boys would have liked, then she grabbed Draco's hand. "Come on, Drakey," she said and swam upward, Draco following behind. A few feet up, she turned back down and waved to her friend, then continued upward, noticing Draco's grumbly persona, and smirking.
A/N: I dunno what to say about this chapter... I liked it, I guess. The Merpeople thing was kind of cool, I guess... and I liked the title ;o) Snape's such an as... more fun 2 come!
PFR:
Silent Fire: Exactly. Glad you understand. :o)
Sleepy-kitty: Lol. Sorry to your dad for makin him all worried, but he should know by now that we girls just... CRY. All the forking time. Usually for no reason. Yeah, lol. I updated MPES, I don't know if you saw... gee... I wonder what happens xoP
Cytosine: Thanx; I worked hard on some of those.
Tainted Black: Oh yeah... that song IS in lady and the tramp... isn't it? I was thinking Grumpier old men... lol, but that works too. I know. I'm WAY too good to Hermione... but don't worry. They won't spend the WHOLE two weeks at his house. I've got plans... which you should already be assuming. :oP
Amora - Ryuko: Lol, yes... it should be interesting...
Crystalline Lily: Thanx, and I try!
Tigerbrat88: Lol... yeah, I know, I'm mean to poor Mione... but hey, she gets to go to Draco's house, right? WE never get to go to Draco's house! ::pouts!:: Lol.
Crystal-kitty2003: Lol, glad you think so O:o)
Silver Dragon Goddess: Sorry about the puckering; don't know what came over me! ;o) And yes, I am HONORED you check my story daily. Thanx. And yes; Pansy shouldn't be ALLOWED in anything but a port-a-potty.
Starry Skies: WAAA!!! I'm soooo incredibly jealous! I want that movie so damn much!!!! It's so unfair! ::runs to room and slams door... which is difficult, because there is no door... so she slams the bathroom door once she gets inside.::
Fred And George Weasley Are Gods: Lol, thanx Fred and George... and please, try to stay off eachother, hm? I know it's hard, but really.... what would your mother say? Oh, and sorry for what I said about your dad ;o) (back in 'sleeping alongside Mr. Weasley) And if you want to know, she is a she!
KittyKat589: Yeah... at least they got to make out! Lol. Pansy freaks me out in many many ways... Snape is an ass... and lets just see how many time- outs Lucius DOES get, shall we?
Little Witch: Lol, I want Draco to beg ME. Hell, he can solicit me if he wants... I might even let him put a gun to my head and order me around ;o)
Jade-snake: Well, thanx for reviewing. Glad you like it so much, lol
MoshiMoshiQueen: Your FAVORITE? ::sniff:: that is SOO sweet! ::blows nose...:: excuse me, please... ::turns to Draco and sobs into his shirt.... while he stands like the cardboard cut-out that he is:: ;o)
Erilyn Rose: Lol, you make it sound like its just her and Lucy... Draco's still gonna be there... and seriously; Draco Malfoy asks you to come to his house for two weeks... who gives a shit who else is there! Can you honestly say you'd say no? I didn't think so... lol.
Chrissy (also known as George): Lol, probably some kitty-love... I think ;o)
FilatheRyuuzoku: I'm sorry... I'll try to make Ron dumber in the future: lol.
Francinator: Okay... ::steps bag from writer loving creepy girl:: lol j/k. Thanx. No body's ever LOVED me b4 ::sniff:: but anyway... Lol, thanx. I like it too... and Harry and Ron are too stupid for hijinks I think... lol. Hey...::eyes reviewer curiously:: did you get that onion/cake thing from Shrek? Yes. I do occasionally venture from my computer to watch TV. Last night I watched One Hour Photo.... creeptastic. Lol. Thanx again.