Author: The Spangled Pandemonium
Title: Stronger than Desire
Chapter Title: Talk to Him
Tugging gently on my thick brown hair, I sat on the bleachers overlooking the Quidditch field with a foul feeling in my chest and a scowl on my face.
I had been glaring at Malfoy for the past thirty minutes.
Desire and Draco Malfoy shouldn't even be used in the same sentence! Much less seen in the Mirror of Erised. Sure, the wanker was –attractive– but Draco's appearance didn't create the same inane chittering from Parvati and Lavender as Harry's did!
Erm, wait, now that I think of it... Ick.
I rubbed my tired eyes fitfully, wanting desperately to erase what they had seen the night before.
"I knew I was good-looking, Granger, but you don't have to be so obvious about it."
Predictably, a chorus of ill-bred snorts and giggles bubbled up from a group of Slytherins floating nearby. I looked up from my fingers to see Malfoy sneering at me from his broomstick. The light breeze rumpled his flying robes and blew back his flaxen hair—hair that was as disheveled as it was last night in the mirror. Inwardly, I winced at my own thoughts.
I opened my mouth, ready to spit out a witty retort, only to see him speeding away again.
"I knew you were arrogant, Malfoy, but you don't have to be so unrealistic about it!" I shouted at his retreating back.
Groaning, I shook my head. That sounded so much better in my head. The bugger didn't even bother to turn around. At least he had learned since third year, I thought gloomily. That kind of attitude was sure to receive a slap, and a hasty retreat before the actual fighting was better than sporting a red mark on your face for an hour or two.
I huffed and puffed for a while, wriggling uncomfortably in my seat. I was painfully aware of the stares and snickers thrown in my direction. But what did I expect? I was a lone Gryffindor watching a Slytherin practice!
Not only is that unheard of, it was a surefire way to get yourself insulted. What was I—some kind of a masochist?
Neither the crisp smell of dew, nor the pale, watery light of early morning sun was much comfort to me. Biting my lip perplexedly, I thought of what I had seen last night and involuntarily shivered.
It defied logic, that Mirror did. I told myself that the Mirror had made a mistake; that surely, if I gazed into it once more, it would show me graduating from Hogwarts as the valedictorian. Or an important member of the Ministry. Or standing over the dead corpse of Voldemort laughing my head off. Or eating apple pie, for heaven's sake. I mean, wasn't that the reason I spent so much time studying? Wasn't that the reason I even bothered to stay up last night, working my butt off on some useless parchment for Professor Binns? Wasn't a successful, busy, pie-eating future my heart's desire?
Common sense told me one thing, but the Mirror told me another.
I shot a glance at the field again, and saw the Slytherin team spiraling downwards to land. Grabbing the well-worn schoolbooks that I had forgotten to study, I lifted the hem of my robes as I rushed down the steps.
Impatiently, I waited for the players to disperse before I pounced on Draco. Despite my so-called Gryffindor courage, I felt quite uneasy. The lack of Ron and Harry was never felt as strong as it did right then. It made me jittery, but not as jittery as I would have been if I had told the boys what I had seen last night.
"Malfoy," I called out, as he strode away, flanked between Crabbe and Goyle. He found enough patience in his big heart to cast one scornful, carefully practiced look at me before strutting down the path to the castle.
I cursed under my breath as I ran to catch up to him, "Malfoy, I need to talk to you."
"And why is that?" He asked, smirking at Crabbe as the oaf not-so-subtly attempted to trip me.
"I can't tell you," I said, unceremoniously kicking at his lapdog's foot.
He stopped all of a sudden, causing Goyle to bump into him.
"Then why exactly are you here, Granger, if you insist on talking to me but you can't tell me what for?"
"I can't tell you just yet," I replied primly, staring meaningfully at his friends, then back at him.
Clouded over with malice and suspicion, his faded gray eyes were narrowed as he scrutinized me. Resisting the urge to run the other direction, I held my gaze to his.
Finally, he turned to Crabbe. "I'll see you two at the Common Room," he said, watching them freeze, grin stupidly, and walk away. I heard faint whispers and one large guffaw echo down the hall—then silence.
"Now that you've proven to me you've become completely bonkers, Granger, lets hear it."
"Me? Bonkers! I—"
"Stop behaving like a prat and tell me what you want. I don't have all day, you know"
"I'm not sure how to phrase this—"
He crossed his arms and made a face.
"Umm, I need you to meet me somewhere tonight," I said awkwardly.
He grinned. Amazingly, he grinned, "Well, I guess I wasn't being 'unrealistic' about my looks after all."
I stepped back, horrified, "No!"
An eyebrow raise.
"No," I repeated for emphasis, "I just wanted to show you something."
"Really now?" His smile grew wider.
I still cannot believe I did this, but I stomped my foot. Talk about childish! "Malfoy! Quit being a ferret and meet me in the trophy room at midnight!"
"I don't trust you," He said simply.
I gritted my teeth, "And why not?"
"I seem to recall one incident during first year in a Trophy Room at midnight—"
"Sod off it, Malfoy," I hissed, rolling my eyes, "It was you who snitched on Ron and Harry. I wasn't even friends with them then! I followed them and almost got expelled, thanks to you."
"Still," He said grudgingly, crossing his arms, "Give me a reason why I should."
"Let's see," I pretended to think. "Here's one: I won't watch you in Quidditch practice anymore." I muttered, my voice dripping sarcasm.
"Give me your word that this isn't a trick."
"Hey, I'm the one who should be wondering whether you'll—"
"Give it."
"I swear," I said disdainfully.
"This had better be worth it, Granger. Your word isn't worth much anyway, so I wonder why I even bothered. And please be reminded that I cannot be seen in public with a Mudblood."
Then he was gone.
I plodded through the morning with a kind of weary numbness. I submitted my thrice-damned (one 'damn' for each night I spent working on it) History paper and joined my friends. As we usually did on weekends, Harry, Ron and I went to Hogsmeade. However, when Harry actually noticed I was napping on the fine wooden table instead of drinking my butterbeer (I had barely slept a wink last night) they sent me off to the girl's dormitory to sleep the rest of the day off.
I was startled awake when Lavender tripped over her trunk in her attempt to get to bed.
"What time is it, Lav?" I groaned, shoving my mop of brown hair away from my face.
"It's almost midnight, Hermione, and don't call me that!" She sat on her mahogany four-poster bed tiredly. "You didn't eat dinner… I knew you were dieting!" She mumbled triumphantly, "Gosh, Hermione, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Bloody hell!" I jumped up and nearly toppled over to get my watch. "Lavender, it's only eleven! I—"
She was fast asleep.
I stomped around the room, trying to find where I had hidden the Invisibility Cloak. After locating it under my bed, I brushed my teeth and washed my face, properly alert for the first time that day. As I left the dorm, I passed my desk. The notes for my submitted paper lay discarded on it, a grim reminder of what was yet to come.
After a brief stop at the kitchens, I walked to the trophy room only to find Draco there already, sitting on the thickly carpeted floor, reading a novel of some sort under the light of his wand.
For once, he didn't look so angry, so guarded. He actually chuckled at something, perhaps something in the book he held. I had never thought Draco to be normal, and I didn't like it a bit.
I threw off my Invisibility Cloak.
"Bugger!" He yelled, jumping approximately two inches off the floor, "What the hell, Granger, you don't just do that to people!"
"Get up," I said abruptly, "Do you want to use the Invisibility Cloak too, or not?"
"Have you ever tried to get to your feet with a sprained dignity?" He asked, dusting off his robes, "You're Head Girl. Why do you need it?"
"Even though I am Head Girl, I'm still not allowed to go sneaking around the library after hours, am I?"
"We're going to the library?" Draco asked, groaning. "Do you make it a habit to take innocent people to strolls around the library?"
Innocent!
"No," I paused, "It's a precaution in case Filch comes along."
"Filch?" He snorted. "No wonder the man's a janitor. He's a Squib if I ever saw one. They're nearly as bad as Mud—" The words died on his lips when he saw the nasty look on my face.
"Follow behind me," I told him. He chose not to, preferring to walk by my side. I got the impression this was a boy that was used to walking in front of people, not to mention on them. He made almost no noise upon the floor he trod upon it.
I turned my thoughts to the task at hand. I weaved through the dark hallways, muttering to myself as I tried to recall the way back to that empty classroom. For the most part, he stayed silent, but when we reached the door to the empty classroom without any disturbance, he spoke.
"What's in there?" He whispered.
I pushed the door open and went in with him, locking the door behind us.
The room was the same as last night, musty and lit only by the light of the moon. Draco got out his wand, saying a quiet "Lumos." I copied him, and walked to where the Mirror of Erised was propped up.
I looked at my reflection—still the boy's fingers danced upon my arms. I withdrew from the carved frame.
"Malfoy!" I called sharply. "Come over here."
He stared as he walked towards me. "You sound like a drill sergeant."
His eyes were the same color as the silver of the Mirror. Furious at myself, I shook my head and took another step back.
"What do you see?"
Author's note: Cliffhanger! WOOT! I'm sorry for the horribly long delay. I hope this chapter reached your expectations... This is going to be a full-fledged story. Thanks for all your beautiful reviews. I love you! Enjoy! Please tell me your comments and suggestions. They would be muchly appreciated.