Thank you guys so much for all the reviews! You guys make my day :) Once again, none of the characters are mine.
Hermione sighed against his lips; those wonderful, heavenly lips. She was not aware of where she was, holding solely on the fact that she was finally in his arms and kissing him. Hermione felt like she was on a rollercoaster- her head was spinning, her stomach churning with a mix of butterflies and the sensation of dropping quickly from a high point; she felt so blissful that she felt nauseous.
Suddenly the outside world was no longer there. There was only Hermione and Draco in her world; bodies tightly pushed against each other, breathing in each other's scent. Suddenly Hermione didn't care about Voldemort, the great war, Harry's opinion or even Ron. She knew that later on, there would be hell to pay for this kiss, but right now all she cared about was that the great war that was happening in her head for the past number of days was finally resolved. She had given in and it was the greatest, single most splendid surrender in history.
Draco held her tightly as she buried her head in his shoulder. He breathed in the smell of her hair and left a lingering kiss on her head. He couldn't believe that this was happening, that he was actually kissing Hermione Granger. It was the best, most dangerous feeling he had ever felt. He could only imagine what would happen if his father ever found out, but at the same time, he wanted to kiss Hermione until the sun no longer shined and the oceans were all dried up.
However, Draco's head began to pull itself out of the clouds and pushed him back into reality because of course, that would never happen. Of all the girls Draco had been with, flirted with and dumped, he never ever thought that he would flirt with, be with and have to dump Hermione, especially when only two of the three things happened. He had seen the guys in his House with their girlfriends, and he knew that he would and could never be like that with Hermione for various reasons. One being that he would never have the time, second being that she is a muggleborn who is best friends with Harry Potter, and third being that if his father ever found out, World War III wouldn't even begin to explain the explosion that would happen at home.
With those three thoughts floating around in his head, Draco painfully straightened up and pushed Hermione back to hold her at arm's length.
"I..I apologize. That was very unorthodox and presumptuous of me, I shouldn't have kissed you." Draco said firmly, staring into her confused eyes, his own heart weighing painfully in his chest for having to tell these lies.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione inquired, "I-I know this is very uncharacteristic of the both of us but presumptuous? What would make you think that I didn't want to kiss you?"
Draco dropped his arms and ran a hand through his hair, then covered his face in his hands. Sighing deeply, he muttered, "I apologize, this will never happen again."
Hermione watched speechless as Draco muttered those last few words then stalked up the stairs. Seconds later she heard the door upstairs slam shut.
The warmth she had felt earlier faded abruptly and was replaced with a wave of hurricane like panic. What has she done? How could she have been so utterly stupid? Numb to the bone, Hermione wrapped her arms around herself and sank into a nearby couch. She had risked everything in the heat of the moment. She cheated on Ron, thinking that Draco had wanted her, and now that she had a taste of him, she knew that she could never be truly happy with Ron again. Sooner or later, she would have to break up with Ron and then the Golden Trio would be no more. To avoid seeing Ron, she would also have to see less of Harry and Ginny. Furthermore, to salvage whatever was left of her pride and dignity, she would have to try to avoid Draco for at least a good couple of weeks. All the while, Draco had no interest in her.
"Oh, dear Merlin, what have I done?" Hermione whispered as tears of frustration and hurt seeped through her closed eyelids. Of course he had no interest in her. She was his slave for the rest of the year. This was probably just a way to satisfy his sick, twisted humour.
Kicking the leg of his bed as hard as he could, Draco let out a grunt of anger. His eyes ablaze and his hands in a tight fist, Draco breathed noisily through his nose. How he hated the Malfoy name; he had never hated it more than this moment. Having to tell Hermione those lies, those filthy, filthy lies and watch as Hermione's face, which had been glowing only a moment earlier turn pale made Draco feel like he was less than scum.
Draco slid to the ground and sat with his back on the leg of his bed and his head in his hands. Still breathing heavily, Draco wondered if Hermione believed him. Chuckling at his own stupidity, Draco shook his head. Of course she did. He could tell from the look on her face. Besides, why wouldn't she believe him? After all, they only shared one kiss, even though it was a kiss that made all other kisses seem like the flame of a candle stick. But nevertheless, it was only a kiss. For a moment, Draco had deluded himself into thinking that what they shared was something more. Perhaps it was something more on Draco's behalf, but he had no way of knowing what it meant to Hermione. If he could, Draco would take back those lies and kiss her again and again. However, what's done was done, and not any amount of regret could change it, so Draco could only look forward from this point.
It would be better for Hermione anyways, if they both just put this ordeal behind them. So Draco decided that he would act like the kiss never happened.
Draco entered the Great Hall the next morning and the first thing he did was look over at the Griffindor table only to find that Hermione was not there. Draco knew that Hermione was trying to avoid him. He had heard her get up at 5:30 in the morning, shower and leave the Heads Dorm.
Draco dragged his tired body to the Slytherin table where Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy and Blaise were waiting for him.
"Oh, Drakey! How was your night? Did you sleep well? Did that mudblood cause you any trouble?" Pansy showered him with questions the second he sat down, her high bubbly voice ringing through his ears. I don't deserve this so early in the morning. His head throbbed from the loud screeching of Pansy's voice.
"Fine." Draco replied coldly and grabbed some food.
Pansy looked hurt; her big brown eyes watered up and she began making choking sounds that resembled sobbing noises only by the fingernail.
Draco looked up from his food, disgusted. He wanted nothing more than to shut her up. People from the other houses were beginning to look over and Draco could hear some people snickering.
"Kind of makes you wish she had a mute button doesn't it?" Blaise asked, while finishing off his eggs. Draco nodded, grateful that somebody understood how he felt.
Draco looked down at his food and saw a few eyelashes scattered over his scrambled eggs and bacon. Draco put down his fork; he had officially lost his appetite. He prayed that this wasn't going to happen at every meal, or else he would sure lose a lot of weight.
"I wonder what Snape is going to do to humiliate the Griffindor's today!" Pansy giggled, "Maybe he will pick-"
"It doesn't matter what Snape does," Draco interrupted irritably, annoyed with the fact that he had to stop eating his breakfast. "They win the House Cup every year."
For the second time that morning, Pansy looked like she was going to break down in tears.
As Draco walked to Potions at the end of the day, he wondered where Hermione was. He was anxious about being in the same classroom as Hermione. Would she acknowledge him? Should he acknowledge her? A fine line had been crossed and now Draco did not know how to act anymore.
To his relief, he spotted Hermione's busy brown locks at the front of the classroom sitting by her lonesome self. Potty and Weasel where sitting three seats away from her.
Hermione could feel Draco's eyes on the back of her skull but she refused to give into the burning desire to look back. She had never felt lonelier than she did today. Ron was still angry with her; Harry of course, had to stay by Ron's side for he was the more ill-tempered one who needed a friend constantly, and she was too humiliated to even look at Draco.
"Well, well, well" Professor Snape drawled as he entered the classroom and walked past Hermione. "Sitting alone today, are we?"
"Yes." Hermione whispered with a defiant glare at the professor.
"Hmm," Professor Snape smirked. "Today's class is about a very special potion. It soothes the nerves of the person who consumes it, especially after a shock, trauma or emotional turmoil such as writing their OWLs or NEWTs, can anyone tell me what it is?"
"Calming draught, Professor."
Snape's eyes slithered to Hermione. "Ten points from Griffindor for speaking without raising a hand. Can anyone tell me what the main ingredient is?"
Hermione glanced around the room to see the only other hand raised beside hers was Draco.
"Yes?" Snape called out to the back of the room.
"Peppermint."
Hermione heart ached at the sound of his silky smooth voice. Had she no defense against him?
The remainder of the class went by smoothly. Snape restrained from adding to Hermione's misery. As she was putting away her ingredients, a hand reached over and grabbed her cauldron. Hermione's heart almost stopped, thinking it was Draco, only to find it was Harry.
Hermione managed a small, but grateful smile. "Thanks, Harry."
Harry gave her arm a squeeze in return. "I'm committing high treason for being around you like this, you know."
"He's still angry with me?"
"Yeah," Harry mumbled. "Why can't you go talk to him, I'm sure that if you would just-"
"It's more complicated than that."
"Yes, I understand but-"
"I just-" Hermione took a quick look around to make sure that no one was listening and nobody was, everybody was busy cleaning out their cauldron or getting their books together. In a hushed voice, Hermione continued. "You can't tell Ron this. You've got to promise me that."
"Hermione, Ron's my friend you can't expect me to keep something important from him."
"But I'm your friend too, Harry. You haven't asked me once how I was; you've been so busy catering to Ron. All I'm asking you to do is to honour our friendship."
Feeling trapped and guilt-ridden, Harry nodded.
"I don't know how I feel about Ron anymore." Hermione whispered. "I just- I don't know if he's right for me and I don't know if I'm the best for him. It's our last year here, there's so much stress I don't know if I would be a good girlfriend... Oh don't look at me like that Harry, it's not like you haven't had your fair share of ladies."
"To be honest," Harry said quietly while handing Hermione her books, "I've been expecting this for quite a while now."
Hermione smiled. "How is Ron lately? I do worry about him he can be such a chil-oof!"
Hermione spun around to face the person who had pushed past her so roughly.
"Oops, guess I didn't see you there, although you're kind've hard to miss with all that hair!" Pansy burst into a fit of giggles. Behind her stood Malfoy with one hand in his pocket and the other loosening his tie.
"You should get that," Draco said, his face emotionless, gesturing a hand towards the spilt books on the floor.
Hermione's face turned red. Of course, this was such typical Malfoy behaviour. She must have been crazy to have ever wanted to kiss this git, but still, she couldn't repress that feeling of longing. As Hermione bent down to gather the books and shove them into Pansy's arms, she saw Malfoy out of the corner of her eyes and she could swear he looked terribly burdened.
"You should learn to be more careful." Said Draco as he turned to leave, his eyes as cold as ice. "People don't appreciate people like you touching their stuff."
Hermione stood with her mouth open. She could hardly believe he had just said those things, yet at the same time she had fully expected them. Grabbing her bookbag, she muttered a goodbye to Harry and ran out of the dungeon.
Hermione fought to keep her tears at bay as she ran through the hallways clustered with people. When she finally reached an empty hallway she flung her bookbag to the floor and wept with her head in her arms, which were wrapped around her legs. Why was this happening to her? All she wanted was to graduate and win the Student of the Year award, she did nothing to deserve this.
No, I'm stronger than this. I'll not give into his bullying. I've suffered through his taunts and insults for 6 years already, what's one more year? Hermione angrily wiped away the rest of her tears.
"Ms. Granger? Are you alright?"
Hermione looked towards the sound of the voice to see Professor McGonagall standing at the end of the hallway, wearing a look of concern on her face.
"Yes, Professor." Hermione stood, "Stress." She muttered as an explanation to her closeted meltdown.
"Very well then," replied Professor McGonagall with a look of unbelieving on her face. "I have a task for you, please come with me."
Hermione followed Professor McGonagall through numerous hallways until they finally reached her office. Inside, she saw that Malfoy was already there, sprawled out on the chair with his tie undone,shirt un-tucked and looking very annoyed.
"Please, sit. Now, this is a very important task I am about to entrust upon the two of you. Every year, Hogwarts holds a Christmas ball-given that that's not always its name. I know it's still early but such a big event requires a lot of time. By next month, I would like the theme of this year's ball, please. Do either of you have any questions?"
Draco sighed. "No, can I go?"
Professor McGonagall shot him a look of reprimand and turned to Hermione.
"Will we be getting help?"
"Yes, it's tradition that the Prefects help out with the planning. We also have a very dedicated committee of students who also help out every year. However, it is always the Head Boy and Girl who chooses the theme of the ball, since it is their last year. Anything else?"
"No, Professor, thank you."
"I guess we should start brainstorming soon." Hermione said quietly once she and Draco were back in their Heads Dorm. "Professor McGonagall said it'll take a lot of time and-"
"I know what she said I was there." Draco interrupted without even looking at her. "It's just a stupid ball. Pick a theme and be done with it, I'm going to bed I'm tired."
Once again, Hermione stood speechless as she watched Draco walk away from her. She had been silly to think that that kiss ever meant anything to him.
I know it was a short lived romance but it will blossom later on I assure you. Hopefully this was entertaining enough to keep you all! Please leave me a review, thanks dears!!