Disclaimer: I own nothing but the words... which are conceived in my soul,
born in my heart, live in my mind, and die at my fingertips.
Last time on LGG:
There was only a brief period of complete silence before Hermione dropped her arms and made a small whine in her throat, hoping to get his attention, but Draco just shifted a little. Giving up, she approached him and sat down, wrapping her arms around his chest and burying her face in his shirt. Draco smirked to himself; it worked. He had a feeling it would. To complete his plan, he returned her embrace, comforting her although she cried no tears.
I AM INCREDIBLY SORRY ABOUT THE WEIRD SYMBOLS. IT IS THE FAULT OF FF.NET, NOT ME. SORRY!
~*~
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO: What You Fear and What You Are
Draco, however, was the first to speak.
"I'm sorry," he said honestly, giving her a little squeeze. Hermione looked up, eyes weary.
"Why?" she asked softly, brows knotted in confusion. Draco gave her a half smile.
"I should have done something..." he told her, then turned his eyes to the ceiling. "But I just let him... I just sat there while he..." Hermione shook her head and sat up a bit, resting on her hand.
"No, Draco... what you did was perfect. Trust me, if you'd done ANYTHING to even SLIGHTLY hint onto the fact that you cared at all about me..." she shuddered," I don't even want to know what he'd do to us..." Draco turned his eyes back to her.
"Hermione," he began, "I have some questions that I'm going to ask you... and some of them may be hard, but I think it would be best if you told me the answers." Hermione smiled at him, warmly, as if he were a toddler whom had asked why his little sister didn't stand up when she went potty.
"Draco, he's never raped me. He wouldn't go that far... he just... likes to... play, I guess you could say. Mess with my mind a little," she said and Draco took a moment to take in her words before nodding once.
"Alright, that's one down... why didn't you tell me about that before?"
"I did... I told you about..." Draco shook his head.
"You made it sound like they cowered in your presence and scurried from the room... my impression was no where near what I just witnessed." Hermione sighed.
"Alright... I figured what you didn't know wouldn't hurt you... I honestly didn't expect either of them to show up... and, frankly, I didn't expect to ever see them again, so I saw no reason to alert you to something so meaningless. Are you angry?"
"No, of course not. Why is he so anti-male?" She smiled crookedly.
"Because my mum is 32. I was born when she was 16... and he doesn't want me to get knocked up and pawn off the baby onto him... basically, like she did. That sort of thing would cost MONEY." She shook her head, looking frankly disgusted. "He doesn't understand that had I and if I ever have children, I will NEVER and I mean NEVER allow him within miles of them, much less ask him to buy diapers."
"So if Ewan..."
"I would have dropped out of school and skipped town... country... maybe even continent. I hear Canada is nice in the fall..." Draco frowned. He was having conflicting feelings... had Ewan lived, he'd never have met Hermione... and that thought almost hurt in itself... so, he was, in a way, glad that the baby hadn't lived... but even he couldn't say something like that and not feel guilty. Hermione looked curious and sadly at him. "What?" she asked softly, and Draco shook his head.
"I was just thinking..." She raised and eyebrow and he let a small chuckle, "Yes, it does happen occasionally." Hermione smiled and lay down again, resting herself comfortably against him.
"Enlighten me." Draco turned his head and dug his nose into her hair. He had to stall a few seconds... choose his words carefully.
"If you'd moved to Canada... you wouldn't be in this barn right now," he said and she nodded, still smiling.
"That is very true," she agreed.
"And neither would I..." Draco continued. "Most likely, I'd be six feet below this barn, although not directly." At this, however, Hermione frowned and turned sharply, opening her eyes and studying his face.
"What do you mean, Draco?"
"Honestly, think about it. If I didn't have you... I wouldn't have anything. I suppose I am exaggerating a bit; I doubt I would've killed myself... I mean, my poor mother... but I would have been miserable. Father would still be a bastard... Voldemort would still reign terror... I'd probably be forced into deatheater-ship... I almost certainly would have killed someone else... Askaban is underground too..."
"Draco, don't..." He shrugged, smirking.
"You asked." Hermione shuddered and closed her eyes again.
"Yeah, but..." She stopped short, shaking her head. Draco smiled and placed one solitary kiss in her hair.
"Next question, then... when did you get so good at lying?" Hermione laughed.
"Experience."
"I'm not sure how much I like that... what have you lied to me about?" Where most girlfriends would have nervously replied 'Nothing!' Hermione paused, thinking.
"Well..." she said, surprising Draco, who, also, was expecting a nervous answer. "There was the Froth and Lance thing... but I've corrected that... when we went to Olympus the first time and I told you I wasn't scared... oh, and when I told you the swing wouldn't break... I think that's about it."
"Well then," Draco said, sounding surprised, but Hermione laughed.
"Hey, at least I'm being honest now." He paused a moment, then smiled and gave one nod.
"I suppose I should be grateful for that then, hm?"
"I suppose you should." Draco sighed, chuckling softly.
"Alright then... I think I just have one more... what's with the punkin thing? You flinched every time he said it," Draco asked, spitting out 'he' as if it were a plague. Hermione, true to form, flinched again, but Draco pulled her a tad closer.
"Do you really want to know?" He nodded and she sighed. "Alright... the first time he kissed me... and I mean really kissed me... was on Halloween the year before I left for Hogwarts... and I was too surprised to close my mouth... he told me I tasted like pumpkin pie..." she said, although it didn't seem to bother her as much to tell it as it did for her father to speak of it in petty nickname. Draco paused a moment.
"If that story didn't have such a sadistic quality... I may have laughed at that," he said, sounding surprised himself, and Hermione laughed out loud, snuggling into him.
"Alright, if you're finished... what did he do to you when I was upstairs? I tried to go as fast as I could, but..."
"Oh, let's see... he called you a bitch, your mother a whore, me a freak... said he'd castrate me if I touched you, mentioned not wanting you getting knocked up, asked me if I knew of any other guys you hung out with... oh, and told me to spread rumor of your female preference in mates," he said, and Hermione laughed, ignoring the darkness of Draco's rant.
"That sounds like Daddy. You didn't say anything, did you?"
"No, I simply agreed with everything he said," Draco said, sounding almost ashamed of himself.
"Good," Hermione said, settling comfortably and closing her eyes. "Although I don't expect you to live up to any of your promises."
"Whatever you want, love," Draco said, smirking. "Oh, and I have one last question."
"Yes?"
"Who are Harriett and Rolanda?" he asked, smirking widely and Hermione laughed.
"Code names for Harry and Ron, of course," she said and Draco laughed.
"Thought so. So, what did you get our friend for HER birthday?"
"Two overnight bags, a wide variety of clothing... one wand, and a box of ice cream," she said and he laughed.
"I can't wait to see what you get me for MY birthday," he said and she smiled.
"I don't even know when your birthday is," Hermione mused and Draco smirked.
"Just as well. Then when I'm really old, I can lie." She laughed.
"I'm not Goyle, Draco. I think I could figure out your approximate age, considering you're about as old as I am."
"Actually, quite a bit older." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know?"
"Because I know that your birthday is, in fact, November second, and I know that my birthday is, in fact, June twenty first." Hermione looked surprised.
"How did you know that? Do I talk in my sleep or something?" Draco smirked.
"Actually, you do, but hardly ever comprehendible. I know because, if you recall, you used to have friends. And they would give you presents. In the great hall. Remember?" Hermione smiled.
"So you DID notice me before this whole conspiracy thing, did you?" Draco gave a half a smirk and a slight nod.
"I'm not blind. You've intrigued me for quite some time. Number one reason it was your compartment I came to when the rest of the student body glared me down that first day of school. Can I not say the same for you?" Hermione sighed.
"Unfortunately, no, you can't. I, unlike you, am blind. Was," she corrected. "Was blind."
"Well, it was a good thing I noticed, hm? Because that date is a little over two weeks away, and had I not known, I wouldn't be so prepared as I find myself now." Hermione lifted her head, opening her eyes.
"Wha'd ya get me?" she squealed and he laughed.
"As if I would tell you," Draco teased and Hermione pouted.
"Please?"
"Nope."
"Fine, then I'll just search your luggage," she said defiantly and Draco laughed.
"Alright... but you won't find it. I sent it back to Hogwarts," he said and Hermione smirked.
"Then I'll search your room."
"Again, you won't find it." She lifted an eyebrow.
"I won't?" He shook his head. "Where the hell did you put it?"
"It is safe within the hands of a trusted individual." She lifted an eyebrow. "A mutual friend," he continued, but she still looked as if she expected more. Draco laughed. "Well I'm not going to out and tell you, am I?" Hermione gave a moan of defeat and rested her head back against his arm.
"You're a jerk," she said, sounding quite random, and Draco laughed out loud.
"Sometimes I just love you," he said, sighed contentedly, and kissed her head. Hermione smiled and snuggled into his chest. There was a brief pause before Draco spoke again. "We should get going..." Hermione frowned.
"Draco, can we please wait until tonight? This is absurd... plus I don't like that invisibility charm... it makes me nervous that I can't see you... I mean, if either of us fell, we'd be done for... you can't catch an invisible person." Draco smiled and opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione turned her head up to look at him and continued before he could utter so much as a syllable. "And if it's my stupid leg you're worried about, then I feel I must tell you that you're going soft, because it's been like that since yesterday afternoon, it doesn't hurt, and it's stupid to rush home just because of it."
"Hermione," Draco interrupted. "Shut up." She smiled. "If you want to wait, we'll wait. I'm sorry I overreacted earlier... I think I was a bit shaken by that whole Grandma Grindle thing."
"Thank you," she said, and pushed up to share a kiss.
"Go to sleep; you're flying, you'll want to stay awake," Draco said, chuckling at the drop in her face.
"Then you sure as hell better sleep too, because if YOU fall asleep..."
"You'll sick Eglamour on me; I know, I know." Hermione frowned.
"Now why'd you have to go and mention him for?" she sighed. "I already miss him enough 'accio' him here... I've never spent the night away from him before..." She gasped. "You don't think he thinks I left him there, do you? Oh, now I'm all worried..." Draco laughed.
"Eggy's fine, Mya. I doubt he thinks that... and if he does, Lynn'll set him straight," he assured, "Sleep." Hermione sighed and settled in, curling up to keep out the slight draft and closed her eyes.
"Alright..." she said, but she sounded unsure. Draco smiled and turned slightly, letting his body blanket hers. Hermione smiled as she drifted off to sleep.
~*~*~*~
"Hermione..." called a soft voice, a firm hand shaking her shoulder. She groaned slightly. "Hermione, wake up."
"Draco?" The blonde beside her smiled, removing his hand and leaning close.
"Hermione, you have to wake up." She took a deep breath and shifted, then felt a pair of lips on hers. As she kissed back, Hermione thought of something. This situation seemed very familiar... As the lips pulled free from her, she realized what it was. This was exactly how that morning with Lucius had played out... she suddenly felt a lurch in her stomach and opened one eye.
"You are Draco, right?" He laughed and kissed her quickly.
"Last time I checked," he said, "And if I were anyone else, I'd be kicking my ass right now for kissing you." Hermione smiled. Definitely Draco.
"Alright then, now that that's established," she said, closing her eye again and rolling over. Draco laughed.
"Oh no you don't. We have to go or we won't make it back before dawn," he said and Hermione's eyes opened once more.
"Oh yeah..." she mumbled, forcing herself to sit up. She inhaled sharply. "God, it's freezing... aren't you cold?" Draco merely shrugged a shoulder.
"Not really." Hermione shook her head and rubbed her arms as she stood. Immediately, Draco stepped up to help, aiding her rubbing. He came from behind, pulling her against him as he did so, and placing a few kisses on her neck. "Better?"
"Hm... getting there," Hermione said, closing her eyes and facing the ceiling. Draco continued with the kisses, coming in front of her and letting his hot breath dance along her collarbone. Taking care for her not to notice, Draco slid a hand into her pocket and extracted the gift-wrapped package. He whispered the spell to restore the items to their normal size and was instantly holding a cloak while the other items fell to the floor. Hermione jumped at the sound, but Draco simply smirked at her and she smiled as he wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. He then placed one prolonged kiss on her lips, exploring her mouth as if he'd never been there before. Hermione smiled and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Draco pulled away, smiling, and rested his forehead against hers.
"We should go," he said, "but I'd suggest you find a sweater or something first... knowing how you are with cold." Hermione's mouth opened and she pushed him away in surprise, spinning to nonetheless take his advice and find herself some warmer clothes. Draco shook his head and stepped forward, kneeling with her and finding his wand before standing again and stepping away to prepare the broom.
When Hermione was ready to go, Draco was waiting for her, sitting on the back of his broom and watching as she shrunk all the luggage and again stowed it in her pocket. She turned to him with a smile and stepped closer.
"I get to sit in front this time?" Draco smirked as she seated herself in front of him.
"Well, you're in charge... and I hate a backseat driver..." Hermione laughed, looking over her shoulder at him. She simply smiled for a moment, then jumped slightly.
"Oh!" she exclaimed and began to unclasp his cloak, but Draco stopped her.
"What are you doing? Keep it on, you'll be cold," he said, tying an arm around her waist. Hermione lifted an eyebrow.
"I'LL be cold? Look at you; you'll freeze. Don't be a prat, just put it on," she said, thinking of his thin t-shirt, and broke her hands free of his grip, again struggling with the clasp.
"I'm fine; all I need is you," he said, hugging her close, and Hermione smiled. "Now come on, we've got to get a move on." She gave up on her cloak and took a shaky breath, gripping the broom where she remembered from their numerous trips to Olympus. Draco smiled and moved her right hand slightly up and her left slightly down. Hermione gave a nervous laugh, but he shook his head. "You're fine... calm down, now. I don't know why this still bothers you so much."
"Probably childhood trauma I recall only in my subconscious," she said as if it were pathetic and Draco laughed.
"Know-it-all," he whispered in her ear and she smiled.
"Ferret-boy." In spite, Draco kicked off, startling Hermione beyond reason. He tightened the arm around her waist as she jumped.
"Breathe," he instructed as he let the broom rise a few feet. Hermione tried to obey, holding the broom so tight her knuckles were white. When she calmed down a bit, Draco took away the only Slytherin hand on the handle and added it's conjoined arm to the identical around her waist. He could feel Hermione's heart beating through her back. "Shh... alright?" Hermione nodded, swallowing. "Good," Draco said soothingly. "We're going a step farther this lesson, Miss Granger."
"F-Farther?"
"Indeed. You're going to start us moving." Hermione made the smallest noise of discomfort and Draco smiled. This was one of the rare things that actually made Hermione look vulnerable. To his memory she'd never been scared of anything as much as she was of flying... not even her father. "Go on, then."
"I... I don't know what to do." Draco smiled.
"Just try." Hermione took a breath and gave a slight nod.
"Okay," she agreed, then closed her eyes and willed the broom to move. "Go," she whispered below her breath, but the stupid stick didn't budge. Taking another breath, much to the amusement of the blonde behind her, she tried to push forward with her hips... but alas, nothing. Draco laughed.
"Not quite."
"Well, if you'd just TELL me," she moaned, face sour at his mocking. Draco held her close.
"Alright, alright... all you do is concentrate hard. You control the broom. You are it's superior."
"Well I certainly hope so," she mumbled, and was surprised to find that the broom bucked below her. "Gah!"
"Careful, now," Draco whispered, hand leaving her waist to steady the broom. "You shouldn't say things like that, Mya... brooms can be very temperamental."
"You did that, didn't you!" she accused, but Draco simply smirked.
"Do you trust in believing that?" Hermione said nothing. "Alright then. So, as I said... just concentrate." Hermione closed her eyes and faced the ceiling, trying hard to believe she had control over the broom. "Alright... now lean forward slowly... good," Draco instructed and slowly, ever so slowly, the broom began to move. Hermione felt the light breeze and let out a 'ha!' of surprise.
"We're moving!" Draco laughed.
"Yes, yes we are. Astute observation." He too leaned forward, allowing the broom to pick up some speed, then placed his hand back on her stomach and leaned against her. Hermione ignored his sarcasm and continued her flight, not noticing that Draco had increased their altitude. They flew in silence for a good five minutes and Hermione never opened her eyes.
"Hm... it's not so bad when you're only a few feet off the ground," she mused and Draco snorted. "What?"
"Look down," he said, and Hermione's smile dropped. She didn't like the sound of that.
"Why? Draco, how high are we?"
"Oh, I'd say about thee... three hundred fifty feet." Hermione tensed considerably. "Come on, look down." Hermione shook her head.
"Are you insane?"
"Mya... what you fear is what you are and what you are is beautiful. Open your eyes." Unable to argue with such a well-composed set up, Hermione slowly fluttered her eyes open and gasped at the breathtaking scenery.
"It's..."
"Beautiful." She nodded and he tightened his arms around her. "Like I said..."
~
Hermione was asleep again before they made it half way home. As she was steering, she was able to manage a landing on her own, and turned around. Hermione wrapped her legs around Draco's waist and held him like a giant teddy bear. He knew she was tired, and he didn't blame her. They'd only slept for maybe an hour, and it was getting on one A.M... so, he agreed and decided to go the rest of the way by himself. The one good part about Hermione's slumber was that he could go as fast as he wanted and she wouldn't know the difference. Of course, Draco kept it under control, and held her safe and tight against him.
They arrived back at Malfoy Manor at approximately four A.M., and Draco landed silently in front of the door. He paused a moment, savoring the feeling of her in his arms, simply holding her.
"You know what?" he asked in whisper, looking down at her sleeping face. "I think I love you most when you don't know I'm loving you." Hermione didn't stir and he chuckled. "Hermione," he said a little louder, rubbing her back. "Hermione." This time, she woke up much better, having had a few more hours sleep. "We're home," Draco informed her, grinning, and Hermione sat straight, smiling up at him. She looked into his eyes for a moment, then pushed up to give him a good morning kiss. Their lips barely touched, however, as Hermione pulled away quickly, looking concerned.
"Draco, you're freezing..." She sighed. "I told you. Didn't I tell you?" she asked, untying her legs and climbing down from the broom, shaking her head. Draco laughed.
"Hey, that's not fair..." he complained, dismounting his nimbus and stepping toward her. Hermione spun around.
"What isn't?" He kissed her, long and deep.
"Just because I'm cold, doesn't mean I shouldn't get my kiss, does it?" Hermione smiled and Draco placed a hand on her back, leading her to the front doors. She let her arm snake around his waist, walking beside him with her head on his shoulder, still drunk with sleepiness. The moment they stepped silently inside, however, Draco stopped cold. The entry room was completely dark, only a few dim candles still lit... but one bright red light stood like a beacon above the MP3000.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, feeling him tense, and Draco swallowed.
"The red light is on..."
~*~
A/N DUN DUN DUN DUN! What's this red light all about? Hm... I suppose we'll find out, won't we? :oD
PRF: Haven't done these in a while. I'm only going to answer the one's with actual context. If you wrote 'Great job, update soon!' don't expect a response ;o)
To everyone: I totally agree... Mr. Granger is an arse. We'd all like to break his... 'wand' ;o)
LynXkitty: Draco asks the same question (why was nothing said?) in this chapter... and Hermione answers. In case you didn't understand, she didn't tell him because she didn't think it was that important that he knew. This is their seventh year... meaning afterward they're of age and can do whatever they want on their own. Hermione assumed she'd never see her parents again, so alerting Draco to the fact that they are not so loving... wasn't necessary. She obviously doesn't like being fussed over... :oD
Harmonic Sakke: Yeah... that's partially why she was harry and Ron's friend... we always tend to rebel against our parents, don't we? And I used to call her Herm-ee-own when I first started reading the books... but the movie came out soon after, so I was corrected quickly :oD
Atra Luna: That whole part you pasted in? Lol... I was actually going to make Hermione concerned about him... but then there's the part after that where Draco is all, omg I can't believe I left you there... and I'm like, that's too much overreaction for one chapter. So now, Hermione thinks it's funny :oD and it is funny... I would have laughed as soon as I found out he was okay :oD
Crissy the Amazing: Yes, that's why she was friends with Harry and Ron... and I'm sure at some point Draco will insist they put Mr. Granger on the list... but I'm thinking Hermione will be all 'forget it, I don't want to go back just for that' but I have a plan of action as in HOW to get him back :oD so they will... yes. And I called Hermione that too until the movie came out and I'm like, Hermione? Who's Hermione? Maybe it's Hermyown's twin sister... funny how they never mentioned her in the books :oD
Crystalline Lily: I hope your father isn't exactly like Mr. Granger! My god! Lol. He fricken kissed her... that's sexual harassment... and child abuse... and could be considered statutory rape if it went a little farther.... ::shudder:: and Mrs. GRINDLE (yes it was in that chapter) calls Hermione Harmony cause she's old and senile. :oD
Someone: 'obstinate slagheap that sired her' lol, that was great! Mr. Granger never screwed her though (as she reveals in this chapter) and I highly doubt she'd cheat on Draco with a duche bag like Froth. And if she slept with Lance, I'D Have to kill her. I suppose they could have raped her, but she's away from the muggle world now, heading back to Malfoy Manor... they're not figuring out how to get there. Sorry! No pregnancy! Or at least, no Jerry Springer worthy pregnancies :oD if she gets pregnant, she'll know whose it is.
Vanya Edhel: Lol, that was some rant. I hear castration is a tricky field... :oD and yes, I meant for people to hate him.
GoldenSNitch: Well, I imagined this would clear up quite a few things :oD Mr. Granger is evil, Draco is a scared-y cat, but for good reasons... and Hermione most definitely is depressed. PRF stands for Personalized Reviewer Feedback. It's my thing; I made it up :oD
Sereph: This actually happened to me; a bee crawled up my pant leg, stung me, and then they got infected. I made this happen to Hermione so that Draco would have a reason for them to go home early.
Last time on LGG:
There was only a brief period of complete silence before Hermione dropped her arms and made a small whine in her throat, hoping to get his attention, but Draco just shifted a little. Giving up, she approached him and sat down, wrapping her arms around his chest and burying her face in his shirt. Draco smirked to himself; it worked. He had a feeling it would. To complete his plan, he returned her embrace, comforting her although she cried no tears.
I AM INCREDIBLY SORRY ABOUT THE WEIRD SYMBOLS. IT IS THE FAULT OF FF.NET, NOT ME. SORRY!
~*~
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO: What You Fear and What You Are
Draco, however, was the first to speak.
"I'm sorry," he said honestly, giving her a little squeeze. Hermione looked up, eyes weary.
"Why?" she asked softly, brows knotted in confusion. Draco gave her a half smile.
"I should have done something..." he told her, then turned his eyes to the ceiling. "But I just let him... I just sat there while he..." Hermione shook her head and sat up a bit, resting on her hand.
"No, Draco... what you did was perfect. Trust me, if you'd done ANYTHING to even SLIGHTLY hint onto the fact that you cared at all about me..." she shuddered," I don't even want to know what he'd do to us..." Draco turned his eyes back to her.
"Hermione," he began, "I have some questions that I'm going to ask you... and some of them may be hard, but I think it would be best if you told me the answers." Hermione smiled at him, warmly, as if he were a toddler whom had asked why his little sister didn't stand up when she went potty.
"Draco, he's never raped me. He wouldn't go that far... he just... likes to... play, I guess you could say. Mess with my mind a little," she said and Draco took a moment to take in her words before nodding once.
"Alright, that's one down... why didn't you tell me about that before?"
"I did... I told you about..." Draco shook his head.
"You made it sound like they cowered in your presence and scurried from the room... my impression was no where near what I just witnessed." Hermione sighed.
"Alright... I figured what you didn't know wouldn't hurt you... I honestly didn't expect either of them to show up... and, frankly, I didn't expect to ever see them again, so I saw no reason to alert you to something so meaningless. Are you angry?"
"No, of course not. Why is he so anti-male?" She smiled crookedly.
"Because my mum is 32. I was born when she was 16... and he doesn't want me to get knocked up and pawn off the baby onto him... basically, like she did. That sort of thing would cost MONEY." She shook her head, looking frankly disgusted. "He doesn't understand that had I and if I ever have children, I will NEVER and I mean NEVER allow him within miles of them, much less ask him to buy diapers."
"So if Ewan..."
"I would have dropped out of school and skipped town... country... maybe even continent. I hear Canada is nice in the fall..." Draco frowned. He was having conflicting feelings... had Ewan lived, he'd never have met Hermione... and that thought almost hurt in itself... so, he was, in a way, glad that the baby hadn't lived... but even he couldn't say something like that and not feel guilty. Hermione looked curious and sadly at him. "What?" she asked softly, and Draco shook his head.
"I was just thinking..." She raised and eyebrow and he let a small chuckle, "Yes, it does happen occasionally." Hermione smiled and lay down again, resting herself comfortably against him.
"Enlighten me." Draco turned his head and dug his nose into her hair. He had to stall a few seconds... choose his words carefully.
"If you'd moved to Canada... you wouldn't be in this barn right now," he said and she nodded, still smiling.
"That is very true," she agreed.
"And neither would I..." Draco continued. "Most likely, I'd be six feet below this barn, although not directly." At this, however, Hermione frowned and turned sharply, opening her eyes and studying his face.
"What do you mean, Draco?"
"Honestly, think about it. If I didn't have you... I wouldn't have anything. I suppose I am exaggerating a bit; I doubt I would've killed myself... I mean, my poor mother... but I would have been miserable. Father would still be a bastard... Voldemort would still reign terror... I'd probably be forced into deatheater-ship... I almost certainly would have killed someone else... Askaban is underground too..."
"Draco, don't..." He shrugged, smirking.
"You asked." Hermione shuddered and closed her eyes again.
"Yeah, but..." She stopped short, shaking her head. Draco smiled and placed one solitary kiss in her hair.
"Next question, then... when did you get so good at lying?" Hermione laughed.
"Experience."
"I'm not sure how much I like that... what have you lied to me about?" Where most girlfriends would have nervously replied 'Nothing!' Hermione paused, thinking.
"Well..." she said, surprising Draco, who, also, was expecting a nervous answer. "There was the Froth and Lance thing... but I've corrected that... when we went to Olympus the first time and I told you I wasn't scared... oh, and when I told you the swing wouldn't break... I think that's about it."
"Well then," Draco said, sounding surprised, but Hermione laughed.
"Hey, at least I'm being honest now." He paused a moment, then smiled and gave one nod.
"I suppose I should be grateful for that then, hm?"
"I suppose you should." Draco sighed, chuckling softly.
"Alright then... I think I just have one more... what's with the punkin thing? You flinched every time he said it," Draco asked, spitting out 'he' as if it were a plague. Hermione, true to form, flinched again, but Draco pulled her a tad closer.
"Do you really want to know?" He nodded and she sighed. "Alright... the first time he kissed me... and I mean really kissed me... was on Halloween the year before I left for Hogwarts... and I was too surprised to close my mouth... he told me I tasted like pumpkin pie..." she said, although it didn't seem to bother her as much to tell it as it did for her father to speak of it in petty nickname. Draco paused a moment.
"If that story didn't have such a sadistic quality... I may have laughed at that," he said, sounding surprised himself, and Hermione laughed out loud, snuggling into him.
"Alright, if you're finished... what did he do to you when I was upstairs? I tried to go as fast as I could, but..."
"Oh, let's see... he called you a bitch, your mother a whore, me a freak... said he'd castrate me if I touched you, mentioned not wanting you getting knocked up, asked me if I knew of any other guys you hung out with... oh, and told me to spread rumor of your female preference in mates," he said, and Hermione laughed, ignoring the darkness of Draco's rant.
"That sounds like Daddy. You didn't say anything, did you?"
"No, I simply agreed with everything he said," Draco said, sounding almost ashamed of himself.
"Good," Hermione said, settling comfortably and closing her eyes. "Although I don't expect you to live up to any of your promises."
"Whatever you want, love," Draco said, smirking. "Oh, and I have one last question."
"Yes?"
"Who are Harriett and Rolanda?" he asked, smirking widely and Hermione laughed.
"Code names for Harry and Ron, of course," she said and Draco laughed.
"Thought so. So, what did you get our friend for HER birthday?"
"Two overnight bags, a wide variety of clothing... one wand, and a box of ice cream," she said and he laughed.
"I can't wait to see what you get me for MY birthday," he said and she smiled.
"I don't even know when your birthday is," Hermione mused and Draco smirked.
"Just as well. Then when I'm really old, I can lie." She laughed.
"I'm not Goyle, Draco. I think I could figure out your approximate age, considering you're about as old as I am."
"Actually, quite a bit older." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know?"
"Because I know that your birthday is, in fact, November second, and I know that my birthday is, in fact, June twenty first." Hermione looked surprised.
"How did you know that? Do I talk in my sleep or something?" Draco smirked.
"Actually, you do, but hardly ever comprehendible. I know because, if you recall, you used to have friends. And they would give you presents. In the great hall. Remember?" Hermione smiled.
"So you DID notice me before this whole conspiracy thing, did you?" Draco gave a half a smirk and a slight nod.
"I'm not blind. You've intrigued me for quite some time. Number one reason it was your compartment I came to when the rest of the student body glared me down that first day of school. Can I not say the same for you?" Hermione sighed.
"Unfortunately, no, you can't. I, unlike you, am blind. Was," she corrected. "Was blind."
"Well, it was a good thing I noticed, hm? Because that date is a little over two weeks away, and had I not known, I wouldn't be so prepared as I find myself now." Hermione lifted her head, opening her eyes.
"Wha'd ya get me?" she squealed and he laughed.
"As if I would tell you," Draco teased and Hermione pouted.
"Please?"
"Nope."
"Fine, then I'll just search your luggage," she said defiantly and Draco laughed.
"Alright... but you won't find it. I sent it back to Hogwarts," he said and Hermione smirked.
"Then I'll search your room."
"Again, you won't find it." She lifted an eyebrow.
"I won't?" He shook his head. "Where the hell did you put it?"
"It is safe within the hands of a trusted individual." She lifted an eyebrow. "A mutual friend," he continued, but she still looked as if she expected more. Draco laughed. "Well I'm not going to out and tell you, am I?" Hermione gave a moan of defeat and rested her head back against his arm.
"You're a jerk," she said, sounding quite random, and Draco laughed out loud.
"Sometimes I just love you," he said, sighed contentedly, and kissed her head. Hermione smiled and snuggled into his chest. There was a brief pause before Draco spoke again. "We should get going..." Hermione frowned.
"Draco, can we please wait until tonight? This is absurd... plus I don't like that invisibility charm... it makes me nervous that I can't see you... I mean, if either of us fell, we'd be done for... you can't catch an invisible person." Draco smiled and opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione turned her head up to look at him and continued before he could utter so much as a syllable. "And if it's my stupid leg you're worried about, then I feel I must tell you that you're going soft, because it's been like that since yesterday afternoon, it doesn't hurt, and it's stupid to rush home just because of it."
"Hermione," Draco interrupted. "Shut up." She smiled. "If you want to wait, we'll wait. I'm sorry I overreacted earlier... I think I was a bit shaken by that whole Grandma Grindle thing."
"Thank you," she said, and pushed up to share a kiss.
"Go to sleep; you're flying, you'll want to stay awake," Draco said, chuckling at the drop in her face.
"Then you sure as hell better sleep too, because if YOU fall asleep..."
"You'll sick Eglamour on me; I know, I know." Hermione frowned.
"Now why'd you have to go and mention him for?" she sighed. "I already miss him enough 'accio' him here... I've never spent the night away from him before..." She gasped. "You don't think he thinks I left him there, do you? Oh, now I'm all worried..." Draco laughed.
"Eggy's fine, Mya. I doubt he thinks that... and if he does, Lynn'll set him straight," he assured, "Sleep." Hermione sighed and settled in, curling up to keep out the slight draft and closed her eyes.
"Alright..." she said, but she sounded unsure. Draco smiled and turned slightly, letting his body blanket hers. Hermione smiled as she drifted off to sleep.
~*~*~*~
"Hermione..." called a soft voice, a firm hand shaking her shoulder. She groaned slightly. "Hermione, wake up."
"Draco?" The blonde beside her smiled, removing his hand and leaning close.
"Hermione, you have to wake up." She took a deep breath and shifted, then felt a pair of lips on hers. As she kissed back, Hermione thought of something. This situation seemed very familiar... As the lips pulled free from her, she realized what it was. This was exactly how that morning with Lucius had played out... she suddenly felt a lurch in her stomach and opened one eye.
"You are Draco, right?" He laughed and kissed her quickly.
"Last time I checked," he said, "And if I were anyone else, I'd be kicking my ass right now for kissing you." Hermione smiled. Definitely Draco.
"Alright then, now that that's established," she said, closing her eye again and rolling over. Draco laughed.
"Oh no you don't. We have to go or we won't make it back before dawn," he said and Hermione's eyes opened once more.
"Oh yeah..." she mumbled, forcing herself to sit up. She inhaled sharply. "God, it's freezing... aren't you cold?" Draco merely shrugged a shoulder.
"Not really." Hermione shook her head and rubbed her arms as she stood. Immediately, Draco stepped up to help, aiding her rubbing. He came from behind, pulling her against him as he did so, and placing a few kisses on her neck. "Better?"
"Hm... getting there," Hermione said, closing her eyes and facing the ceiling. Draco continued with the kisses, coming in front of her and letting his hot breath dance along her collarbone. Taking care for her not to notice, Draco slid a hand into her pocket and extracted the gift-wrapped package. He whispered the spell to restore the items to their normal size and was instantly holding a cloak while the other items fell to the floor. Hermione jumped at the sound, but Draco simply smirked at her and she smiled as he wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. He then placed one prolonged kiss on her lips, exploring her mouth as if he'd never been there before. Hermione smiled and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Draco pulled away, smiling, and rested his forehead against hers.
"We should go," he said, "but I'd suggest you find a sweater or something first... knowing how you are with cold." Hermione's mouth opened and she pushed him away in surprise, spinning to nonetheless take his advice and find herself some warmer clothes. Draco shook his head and stepped forward, kneeling with her and finding his wand before standing again and stepping away to prepare the broom.
When Hermione was ready to go, Draco was waiting for her, sitting on the back of his broom and watching as she shrunk all the luggage and again stowed it in her pocket. She turned to him with a smile and stepped closer.
"I get to sit in front this time?" Draco smirked as she seated herself in front of him.
"Well, you're in charge... and I hate a backseat driver..." Hermione laughed, looking over her shoulder at him. She simply smiled for a moment, then jumped slightly.
"Oh!" she exclaimed and began to unclasp his cloak, but Draco stopped her.
"What are you doing? Keep it on, you'll be cold," he said, tying an arm around her waist. Hermione lifted an eyebrow.
"I'LL be cold? Look at you; you'll freeze. Don't be a prat, just put it on," she said, thinking of his thin t-shirt, and broke her hands free of his grip, again struggling with the clasp.
"I'm fine; all I need is you," he said, hugging her close, and Hermione smiled. "Now come on, we've got to get a move on." She gave up on her cloak and took a shaky breath, gripping the broom where she remembered from their numerous trips to Olympus. Draco smiled and moved her right hand slightly up and her left slightly down. Hermione gave a nervous laugh, but he shook his head. "You're fine... calm down, now. I don't know why this still bothers you so much."
"Probably childhood trauma I recall only in my subconscious," she said as if it were pathetic and Draco laughed.
"Know-it-all," he whispered in her ear and she smiled.
"Ferret-boy." In spite, Draco kicked off, startling Hermione beyond reason. He tightened the arm around her waist as she jumped.
"Breathe," he instructed as he let the broom rise a few feet. Hermione tried to obey, holding the broom so tight her knuckles were white. When she calmed down a bit, Draco took away the only Slytherin hand on the handle and added it's conjoined arm to the identical around her waist. He could feel Hermione's heart beating through her back. "Shh... alright?" Hermione nodded, swallowing. "Good," Draco said soothingly. "We're going a step farther this lesson, Miss Granger."
"F-Farther?"
"Indeed. You're going to start us moving." Hermione made the smallest noise of discomfort and Draco smiled. This was one of the rare things that actually made Hermione look vulnerable. To his memory she'd never been scared of anything as much as she was of flying... not even her father. "Go on, then."
"I... I don't know what to do." Draco smiled.
"Just try." Hermione took a breath and gave a slight nod.
"Okay," she agreed, then closed her eyes and willed the broom to move. "Go," she whispered below her breath, but the stupid stick didn't budge. Taking another breath, much to the amusement of the blonde behind her, she tried to push forward with her hips... but alas, nothing. Draco laughed.
"Not quite."
"Well, if you'd just TELL me," she moaned, face sour at his mocking. Draco held her close.
"Alright, alright... all you do is concentrate hard. You control the broom. You are it's superior."
"Well I certainly hope so," she mumbled, and was surprised to find that the broom bucked below her. "Gah!"
"Careful, now," Draco whispered, hand leaving her waist to steady the broom. "You shouldn't say things like that, Mya... brooms can be very temperamental."
"You did that, didn't you!" she accused, but Draco simply smirked.
"Do you trust in believing that?" Hermione said nothing. "Alright then. So, as I said... just concentrate." Hermione closed her eyes and faced the ceiling, trying hard to believe she had control over the broom. "Alright... now lean forward slowly... good," Draco instructed and slowly, ever so slowly, the broom began to move. Hermione felt the light breeze and let out a 'ha!' of surprise.
"We're moving!" Draco laughed.
"Yes, yes we are. Astute observation." He too leaned forward, allowing the broom to pick up some speed, then placed his hand back on her stomach and leaned against her. Hermione ignored his sarcasm and continued her flight, not noticing that Draco had increased their altitude. They flew in silence for a good five minutes and Hermione never opened her eyes.
"Hm... it's not so bad when you're only a few feet off the ground," she mused and Draco snorted. "What?"
"Look down," he said, and Hermione's smile dropped. She didn't like the sound of that.
"Why? Draco, how high are we?"
"Oh, I'd say about thee... three hundred fifty feet." Hermione tensed considerably. "Come on, look down." Hermione shook her head.
"Are you insane?"
"Mya... what you fear is what you are and what you are is beautiful. Open your eyes." Unable to argue with such a well-composed set up, Hermione slowly fluttered her eyes open and gasped at the breathtaking scenery.
"It's..."
"Beautiful." She nodded and he tightened his arms around her. "Like I said..."
~
Hermione was asleep again before they made it half way home. As she was steering, she was able to manage a landing on her own, and turned around. Hermione wrapped her legs around Draco's waist and held him like a giant teddy bear. He knew she was tired, and he didn't blame her. They'd only slept for maybe an hour, and it was getting on one A.M... so, he agreed and decided to go the rest of the way by himself. The one good part about Hermione's slumber was that he could go as fast as he wanted and she wouldn't know the difference. Of course, Draco kept it under control, and held her safe and tight against him.
They arrived back at Malfoy Manor at approximately four A.M., and Draco landed silently in front of the door. He paused a moment, savoring the feeling of her in his arms, simply holding her.
"You know what?" he asked in whisper, looking down at her sleeping face. "I think I love you most when you don't know I'm loving you." Hermione didn't stir and he chuckled. "Hermione," he said a little louder, rubbing her back. "Hermione." This time, she woke up much better, having had a few more hours sleep. "We're home," Draco informed her, grinning, and Hermione sat straight, smiling up at him. She looked into his eyes for a moment, then pushed up to give him a good morning kiss. Their lips barely touched, however, as Hermione pulled away quickly, looking concerned.
"Draco, you're freezing..." She sighed. "I told you. Didn't I tell you?" she asked, untying her legs and climbing down from the broom, shaking her head. Draco laughed.
"Hey, that's not fair..." he complained, dismounting his nimbus and stepping toward her. Hermione spun around.
"What isn't?" He kissed her, long and deep.
"Just because I'm cold, doesn't mean I shouldn't get my kiss, does it?" Hermione smiled and Draco placed a hand on her back, leading her to the front doors. She let her arm snake around his waist, walking beside him with her head on his shoulder, still drunk with sleepiness. The moment they stepped silently inside, however, Draco stopped cold. The entry room was completely dark, only a few dim candles still lit... but one bright red light stood like a beacon above the MP3000.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, feeling him tense, and Draco swallowed.
"The red light is on..."
~*~
A/N DUN DUN DUN DUN! What's this red light all about? Hm... I suppose we'll find out, won't we? :oD
PRF: Haven't done these in a while. I'm only going to answer the one's with actual context. If you wrote 'Great job, update soon!' don't expect a response ;o)
To everyone: I totally agree... Mr. Granger is an arse. We'd all like to break his... 'wand' ;o)
LynXkitty: Draco asks the same question (why was nothing said?) in this chapter... and Hermione answers. In case you didn't understand, she didn't tell him because she didn't think it was that important that he knew. This is their seventh year... meaning afterward they're of age and can do whatever they want on their own. Hermione assumed she'd never see her parents again, so alerting Draco to the fact that they are not so loving... wasn't necessary. She obviously doesn't like being fussed over... :oD
Harmonic Sakke: Yeah... that's partially why she was harry and Ron's friend... we always tend to rebel against our parents, don't we? And I used to call her Herm-ee-own when I first started reading the books... but the movie came out soon after, so I was corrected quickly :oD
Atra Luna: That whole part you pasted in? Lol... I was actually going to make Hermione concerned about him... but then there's the part after that where Draco is all, omg I can't believe I left you there... and I'm like, that's too much overreaction for one chapter. So now, Hermione thinks it's funny :oD and it is funny... I would have laughed as soon as I found out he was okay :oD
Crissy the Amazing: Yes, that's why she was friends with Harry and Ron... and I'm sure at some point Draco will insist they put Mr. Granger on the list... but I'm thinking Hermione will be all 'forget it, I don't want to go back just for that' but I have a plan of action as in HOW to get him back :oD so they will... yes. And I called Hermione that too until the movie came out and I'm like, Hermione? Who's Hermione? Maybe it's Hermyown's twin sister... funny how they never mentioned her in the books :oD
Crystalline Lily: I hope your father isn't exactly like Mr. Granger! My god! Lol. He fricken kissed her... that's sexual harassment... and child abuse... and could be considered statutory rape if it went a little farther.... ::shudder:: and Mrs. GRINDLE (yes it was in that chapter) calls Hermione Harmony cause she's old and senile. :oD
Someone: 'obstinate slagheap that sired her' lol, that was great! Mr. Granger never screwed her though (as she reveals in this chapter) and I highly doubt she'd cheat on Draco with a duche bag like Froth. And if she slept with Lance, I'D Have to kill her. I suppose they could have raped her, but she's away from the muggle world now, heading back to Malfoy Manor... they're not figuring out how to get there. Sorry! No pregnancy! Or at least, no Jerry Springer worthy pregnancies :oD if she gets pregnant, she'll know whose it is.
Vanya Edhel: Lol, that was some rant. I hear castration is a tricky field... :oD and yes, I meant for people to hate him.
GoldenSNitch: Well, I imagined this would clear up quite a few things :oD Mr. Granger is evil, Draco is a scared-y cat, but for good reasons... and Hermione most definitely is depressed. PRF stands for Personalized Reviewer Feedback. It's my thing; I made it up :oD
Sereph: This actually happened to me; a bee crawled up my pant leg, stung me, and then they got infected. I made this happen to Hermione so that Draco would have a reason for them to go home early.