[BeLieViNG iN You]
Chapter 6: Visions and Interrupted Kisses
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They say that before you die you see your life flash before your eyes. Or at least a big white light at the end of a tunnel. Beware that light. It might be an oncoming train.
Hermione gave up. She just couldn't break through that barrier separating consciousness from body. Instead, her spirit sat sulking in between layers of skin.
"'Mione?" What the? Where was that voice coming from?
"Yuri? Where are you?" Through the blankness of grey, Hermione thought she could see a discernable shadow. The foggy figure drifted a little closer to Hermione.
"'Mione...it's me. Love ya much. I can't stay long. I have to go. Please watch out for Masako. Tell him Tetsuo and Kimura have passed on. Hermione, you must get Masako out of jail...Please!" The voice sounded rushed.
"Yuri! Don't leave me! I'll try Yuri...Yuri, I love you! Don't go..." Hermione was sobbing.
"'Mione, it's not your time yet. Don't follow me. Be smart, like you always were. And you must..."
"What do I have to do? Yuri? Yuri?"
"...beware the Death Eater..." The voice faded as the shrouded figure disintegrated in the swirling mist.
Hermione was sent back to her body with a jolt.
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She could open her eyes now. She could see. Yuri went to the back of her mind instantly.
"'Mione?"
"Herm?"
"Hey," She spoke weakly, grinning. It was overwhelming being able to see once again, to smell, feel, hear.
"Oh my god!"
"Oh darling I was so worried! Promise me you'll never do that ever again!" Her mother crushed her. She could feel Josh holding her hand tightly.
"Ow! Let go Josh! You're hurting me..."
"'Mione!" Jacob tackled her.
Finally they released her, to the vision of her two sulky angels.
"Oh Harry...Draco..." She cried painfully, bitter and happy.
"Hermi, Ron was crying when I told him. He'll be so glad to know you're okay."
"Ron cried?"
Harry nodded.
"He was so upset he couldn't come. Poor guy." Harry fell silent as Hermione's eyes moved from him to Draco.
"Malfoy."
"Her- Granger, you're alright." She laughed shortly.
"Of course I am. I'm the indestructible Mudblood, part of the Dream Team." Harry glanced worriedly at the two.
They stared for a minute, before Hermione broke into a tired smile.
"Come here, you pureblood idiot."
Awkwardly, Draco made his way to the side of the bed, the Granger's smiling and parting to make room for him.
"Thank you, for everything." Hermione spoke, looking at him deeply.
"It was nothing." Draco brushed it aside. Hermione reached for his hand and squeezed it.
"I said thank you."
Draco said nothing, but squeezed her hand again.
Harry wondered once more. What exactly had happened since school break?
A happy family once more (plus two sulking, brooding roosters), the Grangers returned to their home, minds at rest.
All except two. Harry couldn't stop wondering what the hell and why the hell Draco Malfoy was staying with his Herm. And Hermione couldn't stop thinking about Yuri's last words. How on all of earth's planes did Yuri know about Death Eaters?
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The next couple of days were hell. Harry stayed over in Draco's room. *delicious yaoi visions* Hermione was kept constantly awake at night by muffled thumping and shouting from Draco's room.
Example...
"You idiot! Get out of my room!"
"I didn't mean to knock coffee all over your Armani shirt Malfoy, sheesh!"
"Grrr! And stop kicking me!" Draco shoved Harry.
"It's not my fault! You move!"
"Piss off! The bed's too small!"
"It's a bloody king-size bed, Malfoy! What do you want? Just stay on your side!"
"Sleep on the floor then!"
"Why should I?"
After much consternation and argument Draco would kick Harry out to check on Hermione. The whole family seemed to check on Hermione at odd times during the night for some reason. It was trapping her in.
She knew they meant well...it's just...it annoyed her so.
And especially as they all thought they were the only ones doing it.
At ten, just as she was falling asleep Harry would check on her.
At eleven, it was Jacob.
At eleven thirty it was Mum and Dad.
At twelve it was Harry again.
At one it was Draco.
At two, after a night out, it was Josh. She just wanted them to go away so she could sleep and think in quiet. It wasn't like she was suicidal or anything. She'd just cut a little too deep. In honour of Yuri.
Blood sisters, until the very end. When one goes, the only way to release the pain is to just...
let
the
blood
flow away...
__________________________________________________________________________
A shadow fell over the chessboard that Draco had stashed in his room.
"Come with me to the park." Hermione asked, voice soft, eyes distant as she toyed with her hair.
Draco and Harry looked up from where they were seated.
"Both of you." She turned on her heel and walked off.
It was a nice, overcast day. Warm, and breezy.
Hermione sat on the swings, and patted the spare seat next to her. Loping over, Harry grabbed it first. Raising an eyebrow, Draco leant against the support shaft on the frame of the swings.
"Enjoying your stay here, Harry?"
"Yeah, it's much better living with Sirius."
Draco spluttered and lost his composure.
"You live with Sirius Black?"
Hermione and Harry gave each other an uneasy glance. They had forgotten that Malfoy didn't know about Sirius. Draco fumed as they gave each other a look. They were beginning to gang up on him, he felt like he might as well leave or go home.
"Er....no, Sirius Green actually. What a coincidence...heh..." Harry always was a terrible liar. Draco narrowed his eyes.
Hermione began to sing some muggle song.
"Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got//I'm still I'm still Jenny from the block//Used to have a little now I have a lot//No matter where I go I know where I came from..."
"Your voice sucks, mudblood." Draco smirked, then nonchalantly took his hands from his pockets and began doing pull-ups on the crossbar. At least he forgot about Sirius.
"If you hate her so much Malfoy, why are you at her house?" Harry asked finally.
Draco's eyes narrowed.
"Got nothing better to do for the summer. It's nice doing something productive."
'Yeah. But I'd hate to see what Malfoy's 'productivity' culminates in...' Hermione thought.
"Break it up you two." she sighed absently. Malfoy raised an eyebrow.
"I mean it. Who's that coming over the hill?" Hermione asked.
Draco squinted, shading his eyes. He groaned. Harry looked at him in surprise.
"Who is it?"
"Its that friend of yours. Eloise and her band of kooky schoolgirls." He resumed doing his pullups.
"One of them's not too bad, actually. There's a bulldyke that might be around your level, Potter." he taunted.
The figures paused, having obviously seen the three. They seemed to be holding a private conversation.
"Stay here you two. Don't wander off."
"Don't give me orders you mudblood. If I want to go to that slut's house I will." Draco remarked somewhat cattily, but Harry noticed the way he sidled closer to Hermione and began pushing her on the swings. Shrugging, Harry began to kick himself back and forth, swinging higher and higher.
The little posse was closer now.
"Hey Granger, heard about your little suicide attempt. Shame it failed, right?" Eloise stood right at the foot of the swings, twirling a lock of hair around her forefinger. Close enough to be heard, but not close enough to get hit by the arc of the swing. Shame.
Hermione slowed down, looking at Eloise as if she could see something everyone couldn't, as Draco's hands came to rest on her shoulders.
"Yeah, I was kinda hoping to be rid of you once and for all."
Hermione shrugged.
"Guess you can't have everything."
Eloise snorted.
"Fat chance, you weirdo bitch. Next you'll be telling me about seeing Yuri on your way out." The other girls snickered as she continued.
"That's right, I know all about your weird little exploits Granger, don't think I don't. Your little brother just happens to be friends with my little brother. You didn't forget that, did you?"
Hermione felt Draco's fingers digging painfully into her shoulders.
"Jacob has an active imagination. You of all people should remember that, Eloise."
"Whatever. Well well, look, another addition to the snob's harem. Been getting higher in society ever since you lost your bushy hair and buckteeth, hey 'Mione? Or did you just decide to...let loose. You know...spread your legs a little." Eloise slunk over to where Harry sat, arms folded on the swing.
"You want me to push you, honey?" She shoved him suddenly, causing him to lose his balance and fall backwards. He grabbed the support chains just in time to prevent an embarassing fall. Not that the situation wasn't bad already, but there was no point in making it worse. She turned back to Hermione.
"Oh! And I see you've had a make-over. Not that any amount of make-up in the world could help you." Draco's hands were almost crushing Hermione's shoulders by now. Abruptly, he let go.
"At least she's not some pathetic playground bully. Got no brains, commoner? At least I would have thought of something a little more creative than pushing Potter off the swings."
"Oh! At last! The beautiful man speaks! I was beginning to think you were deaf, blind and dumb."
"Why ever would you think that, muggle?"
"What the fuck is a muggle? What a stupid word, sounds like something from some stupid kid's book or something. Well I mean, you've gotta be blind to not want this." Eloise threw him a seductive look from under her lashes as she swung on the pole.
"And deaf to not know who she is." One of the other girls piped up.
"Just who are you, Eloise?" Hermione taunted, stepping off the swings.
"Looking for a confrontation Granger? Not thinking you'd win, surely? Oh! You did...that's so...cute..." She smiled cattily.
"Potter, is this as nauseating for you as it is for me?" Draco muttered out the corner of his mouth.
"It's worse. I hope Ginny never ends up like this." Harry remarked glumly.
"Do you want to go home? Coz I do." They both turned swiftly at the sound of a palm hitting flesh. Hermione stood still, a red-mark spreading across her cheek.
"Aw shit. I hate chick fights." Draco muttered under his breath.
"Go for it, Herm!" Harry cheered. Draco watched interestedly. Hermione didn't fight the girl with the same fire and clumsiness that she had when they play-fought. No, with this she was more...cold, calculating. He winced as Hermione's punch connected with a sickening crack. Hermione scowled and shook her hand, as if to rid it of pain.
"Come on boys, let's go home." She drew her leg back and booted Eloise in the ribs.
"Leave me alone. I don't know what your problem is, but you'll get hurt if you play with fire." She spat as she walked off with Harry and Draco.
"Hate to sound cliche, coz that is like, so last season, but you'll get yours, Granger. Just like Yuri." Eloise remarked, her eyes open and distant, a small smile on her lips as she lay on her back and just stared at the open expanse of sky.
Both Harry and Draco turned, grabbing one of Hermione's arms each as she turned to leap at Eloise.
"C'mon Herm, let's go. She's crazy."
"For once I agree with Potter." Inside, Draco shuddered. That vacant smile on Eloise's face brought back a memory he'd sooner forget. Keeping a cool, ice-like exterior, Draco strode off towards the Granger's estate.
__________________________________________________________________________
"Hey sweetie, you're home! Dinner's just about ready, Daddy and I have to go out for a last moment dinner affair and all that ra-ra. We'll be home later, you should be fine with Draco and Harry, Jacob's gone to stay at Caleb's house and Josh and Daniel are home." Mrs Granger was busy checking her reflection last-minute in the hallway mirror.
"Okay." Angelina caught Hermione's eye in the mirror.
"Are you okay, 'Mione? You seem awfully quiet."
"No, I'm fine. Thanks mum."
"Okay. Well, I'll have my phone with me if you need anything at all, ok?" Hermione nodded.
"Good girl. Well we're running late, oh my look at your father, isn't he handsome?" Mr Granger descended the stairs slowly, fastening his tie as he went.
"Okay, well we've got to go, take care you three. You should be just fine. Bye sweetie!" Angelina kissed Hermione's cheek, leaving a smudge of red lipstick and ruffled Harry's hair on her way out the door.
"Bye Draco!" She waved, as Draco held up his hand in a lazy wave.
They watched the car disappear into the distance.
"Okay...now what's for dinner? I'm starving!" Josh tumbled down the stairs.
"Ahh! Stuff it, let's have pizza! Katrina's not here anyway." The puppy, name as yet unknown to Harry and Draco, followed quickly, by a figure sliding down the banister.
"Daniel!?" Harry asked, in surprise as the figure fell off the banister.
"Harry?" Daniel was equally surprised. Draco narrowed his eyes. Ah, it all came together now. Strong family resemblance.
"You two know each other? Ah, stuff it, I'm too hungry to care. So, what shall it be tonight, ladies and gents...BlackJack or Russian Roulette? Ah, hello, I'd like to order an extra large Hawaiian with double pepperoni please..." Daniel was already on the phone.
Hermione just rolled her eyes.
"C'mon, let's go upstairs until dinner's ready."
"If you don't mind, Herm? I just wanna talk to Daniel for a bit." Hermione nodded, and motioned Draco to follow her up the stairs.
__________________________________________________________________________
"Mudblood."
"I thought you weren't going to call me that anymore."
"Consider it...a nickname. Or in an affectionate tone. Oh c'mon, I haven't called you anything else for bloody six years, I can't drop it that easily!"
"You could at least try." Hermione sighed.
"I'm too tired to argue, Malfoy. I'm going to my room."
"Wait." Draco put his hand out to stop her. He hesitated.
"I need to talk to you."
Hermione stopped in front of her door. Silently, she opened it, and let him in.
He walked in. It really was a very nice room. Those muggle 'fairy lights' which actually didn't resemble anything of the sort decorated it tastefully. The bed was a little smaller than his own, and a large window with a large balcony was outside. She had a number of books actually, about as numerable as Pansy's teddy bear collection.
Now what to do? His head was fighting his heart, his mind was spinning over the last week. All the fear, all the panic and suppressed paranoia he had before coming here was pushed ever further back into the deep and dark recesses of his mind.
"Malfoy?" She enquired, looking at him with a curious and innocent expression.
"I'm sorry. It's just too much." He muttered, sinking onto the bed as he ran a hand through his hair. She closed the door, and came to sit on the floor before him.
"What's too much?"
"This! EVERYTHING!" he exploded.
"First you. First you're nice, then you're a bitch. Then you're smart, and then you're weak. And then Potter! Bloody Potter turns up in the middle of nowhere because you tried to commit suicide! Because your friend Yuri died! Which is a tidbit of information your close friends should know and not something I should know! But you weren't actually suicidal, you just like to bloodlet every now and again! Which, again, isn't my business! But I know! I know, and I actually care, and that is the most confusing part right now. There are so many fucking questions, Granger, and I have no idea where to start." He took a breath. Hermione didn't say anything, just watched him solemnly.
"And your family! Nothing like what I expected! They made me weak! I turn up in a bloody mess outside your house, I figure you take me to a hospital, I recover, I go back home, and we speak no more. But your bloody mother...she's just so nice and caring and...and...do-gooding," he spat. "...She's just like you. And now I can't leave and I won't leave because it feels like home. Too much like home. Or what it should be, however that is." He mumbled. His face twisted in anguish, he was just so frustrated. He'd have cried if he could remember how.
"Oh, Malfoy. Don't you think how this is for me? I'm trying to keep you safe from Harry and his questions. It was _my_ best friend that died, and I don't know how. She wants me to get her brother out of jail. And you turn up on my doorstep with some weird story of your father being a lycanthrope hybrid. And now I have to keep you and Harry from tearing each other apart, find out and sort out Eloise and her little gang and deal with...this thing...that's changing the way I look at you." Hermione's voice was more controlled, less of a torrent of rage, her thoughts more orderly, yet the anguish on her face was the same.
"Don't cut yourself, Granger. It's too cliche. It's overrated." Draco leant forward, and took her chin in his hand.
"I have to. And life is a cliche, is it not?" Hermione watched him. His face slowly moved closer to hers, her lips murmuring something.
"These tears of blood will set me free. Under starry night I think of thee. The moon will wash and cleanse my blood. If I die I die for love." Her lashes lowered, she felt his cool breath on her lips.
"I cut to release the pain, let the anger free. With each scar is a memory I keep. The wounds and then scars will eventually heal. And away into the night the pain do I seal." His voice was hoarse as he felt her lips brushing his with each word he said.
"Kiss me."
And so she did.
And, predictably, the door burst open.
"Hey, Herm...oh. Malfoy you bastard, get off of her!" Harry stood at the door, the horror on his face so clearly etched that it was comical.
"This meant nothing to me, of course. Just to define your place in society, mudblood, am I making myself clear?" Draco stood up, brushing himself off.
"Does anything mean anything to you? Does your life itself, have no meaning, Malfoy?" Her voice caught him unawares.
He paused, then continued out. They heard his door slam.
"Hermione..."
"Don't start, Harry. Isn't Daniel downstairs?" Harry almost said something, but caught himself in time. Hermione turned to look out the window, and a hooded look passed over Harry's eyes.
"Yeah. Yeah, he is. I'm going home tonight Herm. I'll see you round, I guess. Call me if you need something." He turned and walked out the door without looking back.
"Harry-" but he was already gone.
__________________________________________________________________________
There was no warning as the door flew open and rebounded with a resounding bang.
"I'm on my way out."
"Fine." Harry strode in and began to gather his stuff.
"Potter..." Draco spoke hesitantly.
"What, Malfoy?"
"Come here for a sec." He sat up on the bed, swinging his legs so they rested on the floor.
As Harry came nearer, Draco reached out with one arm and grabbed his shirtfront tightly.
"What are you doing, Malfoy? Get offa me!" Draco silenced his protests effectively by pressing his mouth against Harry's.
Draco was a good kisser. Domineering, soft, gentle and skillful.
Harry moaned, causing Draco to break away.
"Good god Potter, are you a faggot or something?" Harry gasped in outrage as Draco drew the back of his hand across his own mouth.
"Who kissed _me_!?" Draco dropped Harry.
"Not to say I enjoyed it. You obviously did, you homo sonofa..."
"Fuck you Malfoy!" Harry tackled him onto the bed, hitting in a blind rage.
"Why did you do it then, hey? Why?" Draco grabbed Harry's wrists, holding them away from his face. They made a strange picture, both breathing heavily, Harry straddling Draco's narrow waist.
"To see if I felt anything. To see if I was suddenly developing a fetish for do-gooding little fags."
"Because you fell for a mudblood do-gooding bitch."
"That's right." Harry slowly clambered off of Draco.
"Well did you?"
"No. And that's what scares me."
"Why?"
"Potter you really are mundane sometimes. If it's not a fetish it means..." Draco pulled a face but forced himself to go on.
"It means I might actually end up having...feelings for her."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Well that was unexpected........damn I just went and saw LOTR!!!!!!! I LOVE LEGOLAS AND ARAGON! *sigh* they are soooo hot! The movie was epic...LMAO Me and my friend held a running commentary through the whole thing...*twitch* poor people behind us
ANNONYMOUSE
Wow, cool, thanks for reading FD! Could've reviewed...*mutter mutter* Yes I know I'm ungrateful...*sigh* Read your fics and reviewed I think, so thanks much!!!
LONELYGER
That is really cool! I'm glad you like! Any comments for me to improve...and by the way, I'm posting this late at night...so sorry if it's a bit slipshot
KELLY
LOL I hope you like and review my other stuff too! :) But thanks for always being there and reading this, *hugz*
*KARLY*
Well I wrote more....she didn't mean to kill herself..................it was kinda...well it's explained in this chapter, if you still don't get it e-mail me at dijitalkitty@tokyo.com.... :)
CHAOTICSLYTHERIN
Mwahahaha....that's right, damn Harry...*shifty look* Ahhh i love Draco...almost as much as Legolas and his epicness....*sigh* Thanks heaps for your awesome review! It's one of my favourites (because it's so long, it makes me feel loved, I know I know, I know I'm sad....*sigh*) MC and Happy New Year to you too! (even if they're over, but I couldn't get this up in time... :( )
TRIGEMINI
LOL *giggles* I know, I hate stories like that and I always want to say errr...so predictable she won't die, they'll fall in love and blah blah blah...but then if it's any other way I complain and don't like...so we'll see about this.... :) So Mione's better now.......
but what else will develop? Remember, there's lots of loose ends here...thanks for reviewing!
p/s
DRACO IS NOT GOING TO BECOME GAY!!! Sorry, but I can't write shounen ai...and the thought frankly makes me squirm.
LOVE YA FOR REVIEWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need at least 4 reviews before I write the next chapter! :)
Chapter 6: Visions and Interrupted Kisses
____________________________________
They say that before you die you see your life flash before your eyes. Or at least a big white light at the end of a tunnel. Beware that light. It might be an oncoming train.
Hermione gave up. She just couldn't break through that barrier separating consciousness from body. Instead, her spirit sat sulking in between layers of skin.
"'Mione?" What the? Where was that voice coming from?
"Yuri? Where are you?" Through the blankness of grey, Hermione thought she could see a discernable shadow. The foggy figure drifted a little closer to Hermione.
"'Mione...it's me. Love ya much. I can't stay long. I have to go. Please watch out for Masako. Tell him Tetsuo and Kimura have passed on. Hermione, you must get Masako out of jail...Please!" The voice sounded rushed.
"Yuri! Don't leave me! I'll try Yuri...Yuri, I love you! Don't go..." Hermione was sobbing.
"'Mione, it's not your time yet. Don't follow me. Be smart, like you always were. And you must..."
"What do I have to do? Yuri? Yuri?"
"...beware the Death Eater..." The voice faded as the shrouded figure disintegrated in the swirling mist.
Hermione was sent back to her body with a jolt.
__________________________________________________________________________
She could open her eyes now. She could see. Yuri went to the back of her mind instantly.
"'Mione?"
"Herm?"
"Hey," She spoke weakly, grinning. It was overwhelming being able to see once again, to smell, feel, hear.
"Oh my god!"
"Oh darling I was so worried! Promise me you'll never do that ever again!" Her mother crushed her. She could feel Josh holding her hand tightly.
"Ow! Let go Josh! You're hurting me..."
"'Mione!" Jacob tackled her.
Finally they released her, to the vision of her two sulky angels.
"Oh Harry...Draco..." She cried painfully, bitter and happy.
"Hermi, Ron was crying when I told him. He'll be so glad to know you're okay."
"Ron cried?"
Harry nodded.
"He was so upset he couldn't come. Poor guy." Harry fell silent as Hermione's eyes moved from him to Draco.
"Malfoy."
"Her- Granger, you're alright." She laughed shortly.
"Of course I am. I'm the indestructible Mudblood, part of the Dream Team." Harry glanced worriedly at the two.
They stared for a minute, before Hermione broke into a tired smile.
"Come here, you pureblood idiot."
Awkwardly, Draco made his way to the side of the bed, the Granger's smiling and parting to make room for him.
"Thank you, for everything." Hermione spoke, looking at him deeply.
"It was nothing." Draco brushed it aside. Hermione reached for his hand and squeezed it.
"I said thank you."
Draco said nothing, but squeezed her hand again.
Harry wondered once more. What exactly had happened since school break?
A happy family once more (plus two sulking, brooding roosters), the Grangers returned to their home, minds at rest.
All except two. Harry couldn't stop wondering what the hell and why the hell Draco Malfoy was staying with his Herm. And Hermione couldn't stop thinking about Yuri's last words. How on all of earth's planes did Yuri know about Death Eaters?
__________________________________________________________________________
The next couple of days were hell. Harry stayed over in Draco's room. *delicious yaoi visions* Hermione was kept constantly awake at night by muffled thumping and shouting from Draco's room.
Example...
"You idiot! Get out of my room!"
"I didn't mean to knock coffee all over your Armani shirt Malfoy, sheesh!"
"Grrr! And stop kicking me!" Draco shoved Harry.
"It's not my fault! You move!"
"Piss off! The bed's too small!"
"It's a bloody king-size bed, Malfoy! What do you want? Just stay on your side!"
"Sleep on the floor then!"
"Why should I?"
After much consternation and argument Draco would kick Harry out to check on Hermione. The whole family seemed to check on Hermione at odd times during the night for some reason. It was trapping her in.
She knew they meant well...it's just...it annoyed her so.
And especially as they all thought they were the only ones doing it.
At ten, just as she was falling asleep Harry would check on her.
At eleven, it was Jacob.
At eleven thirty it was Mum and Dad.
At twelve it was Harry again.
At one it was Draco.
At two, after a night out, it was Josh. She just wanted them to go away so she could sleep and think in quiet. It wasn't like she was suicidal or anything. She'd just cut a little too deep. In honour of Yuri.
Blood sisters, until the very end. When one goes, the only way to release the pain is to just...
let
the
blood
flow away...
__________________________________________________________________________
A shadow fell over the chessboard that Draco had stashed in his room.
"Come with me to the park." Hermione asked, voice soft, eyes distant as she toyed with her hair.
Draco and Harry looked up from where they were seated.
"Both of you." She turned on her heel and walked off.
It was a nice, overcast day. Warm, and breezy.
Hermione sat on the swings, and patted the spare seat next to her. Loping over, Harry grabbed it first. Raising an eyebrow, Draco leant against the support shaft on the frame of the swings.
"Enjoying your stay here, Harry?"
"Yeah, it's much better living with Sirius."
Draco spluttered and lost his composure.
"You live with Sirius Black?"
Hermione and Harry gave each other an uneasy glance. They had forgotten that Malfoy didn't know about Sirius. Draco fumed as they gave each other a look. They were beginning to gang up on him, he felt like he might as well leave or go home.
"Er....no, Sirius Green actually. What a coincidence...heh..." Harry always was a terrible liar. Draco narrowed his eyes.
Hermione began to sing some muggle song.
"Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got//I'm still I'm still Jenny from the block//Used to have a little now I have a lot//No matter where I go I know where I came from..."
"Your voice sucks, mudblood." Draco smirked, then nonchalantly took his hands from his pockets and began doing pull-ups on the crossbar. At least he forgot about Sirius.
"If you hate her so much Malfoy, why are you at her house?" Harry asked finally.
Draco's eyes narrowed.
"Got nothing better to do for the summer. It's nice doing something productive."
'Yeah. But I'd hate to see what Malfoy's 'productivity' culminates in...' Hermione thought.
"Break it up you two." she sighed absently. Malfoy raised an eyebrow.
"I mean it. Who's that coming over the hill?" Hermione asked.
Draco squinted, shading his eyes. He groaned. Harry looked at him in surprise.
"Who is it?"
"Its that friend of yours. Eloise and her band of kooky schoolgirls." He resumed doing his pullups.
"One of them's not too bad, actually. There's a bulldyke that might be around your level, Potter." he taunted.
The figures paused, having obviously seen the three. They seemed to be holding a private conversation.
"Stay here you two. Don't wander off."
"Don't give me orders you mudblood. If I want to go to that slut's house I will." Draco remarked somewhat cattily, but Harry noticed the way he sidled closer to Hermione and began pushing her on the swings. Shrugging, Harry began to kick himself back and forth, swinging higher and higher.
The little posse was closer now.
"Hey Granger, heard about your little suicide attempt. Shame it failed, right?" Eloise stood right at the foot of the swings, twirling a lock of hair around her forefinger. Close enough to be heard, but not close enough to get hit by the arc of the swing. Shame.
Hermione slowed down, looking at Eloise as if she could see something everyone couldn't, as Draco's hands came to rest on her shoulders.
"Yeah, I was kinda hoping to be rid of you once and for all."
Hermione shrugged.
"Guess you can't have everything."
Eloise snorted.
"Fat chance, you weirdo bitch. Next you'll be telling me about seeing Yuri on your way out." The other girls snickered as she continued.
"That's right, I know all about your weird little exploits Granger, don't think I don't. Your little brother just happens to be friends with my little brother. You didn't forget that, did you?"
Hermione felt Draco's fingers digging painfully into her shoulders.
"Jacob has an active imagination. You of all people should remember that, Eloise."
"Whatever. Well well, look, another addition to the snob's harem. Been getting higher in society ever since you lost your bushy hair and buckteeth, hey 'Mione? Or did you just decide to...let loose. You know...spread your legs a little." Eloise slunk over to where Harry sat, arms folded on the swing.
"You want me to push you, honey?" She shoved him suddenly, causing him to lose his balance and fall backwards. He grabbed the support chains just in time to prevent an embarassing fall. Not that the situation wasn't bad already, but there was no point in making it worse. She turned back to Hermione.
"Oh! And I see you've had a make-over. Not that any amount of make-up in the world could help you." Draco's hands were almost crushing Hermione's shoulders by now. Abruptly, he let go.
"At least she's not some pathetic playground bully. Got no brains, commoner? At least I would have thought of something a little more creative than pushing Potter off the swings."
"Oh! At last! The beautiful man speaks! I was beginning to think you were deaf, blind and dumb."
"Why ever would you think that, muggle?"
"What the fuck is a muggle? What a stupid word, sounds like something from some stupid kid's book or something. Well I mean, you've gotta be blind to not want this." Eloise threw him a seductive look from under her lashes as she swung on the pole.
"And deaf to not know who she is." One of the other girls piped up.
"Just who are you, Eloise?" Hermione taunted, stepping off the swings.
"Looking for a confrontation Granger? Not thinking you'd win, surely? Oh! You did...that's so...cute..." She smiled cattily.
"Potter, is this as nauseating for you as it is for me?" Draco muttered out the corner of his mouth.
"It's worse. I hope Ginny never ends up like this." Harry remarked glumly.
"Do you want to go home? Coz I do." They both turned swiftly at the sound of a palm hitting flesh. Hermione stood still, a red-mark spreading across her cheek.
"Aw shit. I hate chick fights." Draco muttered under his breath.
"Go for it, Herm!" Harry cheered. Draco watched interestedly. Hermione didn't fight the girl with the same fire and clumsiness that she had when they play-fought. No, with this she was more...cold, calculating. He winced as Hermione's punch connected with a sickening crack. Hermione scowled and shook her hand, as if to rid it of pain.
"Come on boys, let's go home." She drew her leg back and booted Eloise in the ribs.
"Leave me alone. I don't know what your problem is, but you'll get hurt if you play with fire." She spat as she walked off with Harry and Draco.
"Hate to sound cliche, coz that is like, so last season, but you'll get yours, Granger. Just like Yuri." Eloise remarked, her eyes open and distant, a small smile on her lips as she lay on her back and just stared at the open expanse of sky.
Both Harry and Draco turned, grabbing one of Hermione's arms each as she turned to leap at Eloise.
"C'mon Herm, let's go. She's crazy."
"For once I agree with Potter." Inside, Draco shuddered. That vacant smile on Eloise's face brought back a memory he'd sooner forget. Keeping a cool, ice-like exterior, Draco strode off towards the Granger's estate.
__________________________________________________________________________
"Hey sweetie, you're home! Dinner's just about ready, Daddy and I have to go out for a last moment dinner affair and all that ra-ra. We'll be home later, you should be fine with Draco and Harry, Jacob's gone to stay at Caleb's house and Josh and Daniel are home." Mrs Granger was busy checking her reflection last-minute in the hallway mirror.
"Okay." Angelina caught Hermione's eye in the mirror.
"Are you okay, 'Mione? You seem awfully quiet."
"No, I'm fine. Thanks mum."
"Okay. Well, I'll have my phone with me if you need anything at all, ok?" Hermione nodded.
"Good girl. Well we're running late, oh my look at your father, isn't he handsome?" Mr Granger descended the stairs slowly, fastening his tie as he went.
"Okay, well we've got to go, take care you three. You should be just fine. Bye sweetie!" Angelina kissed Hermione's cheek, leaving a smudge of red lipstick and ruffled Harry's hair on her way out the door.
"Bye Draco!" She waved, as Draco held up his hand in a lazy wave.
They watched the car disappear into the distance.
"Okay...now what's for dinner? I'm starving!" Josh tumbled down the stairs.
"Ahh! Stuff it, let's have pizza! Katrina's not here anyway." The puppy, name as yet unknown to Harry and Draco, followed quickly, by a figure sliding down the banister.
"Daniel!?" Harry asked, in surprise as the figure fell off the banister.
"Harry?" Daniel was equally surprised. Draco narrowed his eyes. Ah, it all came together now. Strong family resemblance.
"You two know each other? Ah, stuff it, I'm too hungry to care. So, what shall it be tonight, ladies and gents...BlackJack or Russian Roulette? Ah, hello, I'd like to order an extra large Hawaiian with double pepperoni please..." Daniel was already on the phone.
Hermione just rolled her eyes.
"C'mon, let's go upstairs until dinner's ready."
"If you don't mind, Herm? I just wanna talk to Daniel for a bit." Hermione nodded, and motioned Draco to follow her up the stairs.
__________________________________________________________________________
"Mudblood."
"I thought you weren't going to call me that anymore."
"Consider it...a nickname. Or in an affectionate tone. Oh c'mon, I haven't called you anything else for bloody six years, I can't drop it that easily!"
"You could at least try." Hermione sighed.
"I'm too tired to argue, Malfoy. I'm going to my room."
"Wait." Draco put his hand out to stop her. He hesitated.
"I need to talk to you."
Hermione stopped in front of her door. Silently, she opened it, and let him in.
He walked in. It really was a very nice room. Those muggle 'fairy lights' which actually didn't resemble anything of the sort decorated it tastefully. The bed was a little smaller than his own, and a large window with a large balcony was outside. She had a number of books actually, about as numerable as Pansy's teddy bear collection.
Now what to do? His head was fighting his heart, his mind was spinning over the last week. All the fear, all the panic and suppressed paranoia he had before coming here was pushed ever further back into the deep and dark recesses of his mind.
"Malfoy?" She enquired, looking at him with a curious and innocent expression.
"I'm sorry. It's just too much." He muttered, sinking onto the bed as he ran a hand through his hair. She closed the door, and came to sit on the floor before him.
"What's too much?"
"This! EVERYTHING!" he exploded.
"First you. First you're nice, then you're a bitch. Then you're smart, and then you're weak. And then Potter! Bloody Potter turns up in the middle of nowhere because you tried to commit suicide! Because your friend Yuri died! Which is a tidbit of information your close friends should know and not something I should know! But you weren't actually suicidal, you just like to bloodlet every now and again! Which, again, isn't my business! But I know! I know, and I actually care, and that is the most confusing part right now. There are so many fucking questions, Granger, and I have no idea where to start." He took a breath. Hermione didn't say anything, just watched him solemnly.
"And your family! Nothing like what I expected! They made me weak! I turn up in a bloody mess outside your house, I figure you take me to a hospital, I recover, I go back home, and we speak no more. But your bloody mother...she's just so nice and caring and...and...do-gooding," he spat. "...She's just like you. And now I can't leave and I won't leave because it feels like home. Too much like home. Or what it should be, however that is." He mumbled. His face twisted in anguish, he was just so frustrated. He'd have cried if he could remember how.
"Oh, Malfoy. Don't you think how this is for me? I'm trying to keep you safe from Harry and his questions. It was _my_ best friend that died, and I don't know how. She wants me to get her brother out of jail. And you turn up on my doorstep with some weird story of your father being a lycanthrope hybrid. And now I have to keep you and Harry from tearing each other apart, find out and sort out Eloise and her little gang and deal with...this thing...that's changing the way I look at you." Hermione's voice was more controlled, less of a torrent of rage, her thoughts more orderly, yet the anguish on her face was the same.
"Don't cut yourself, Granger. It's too cliche. It's overrated." Draco leant forward, and took her chin in his hand.
"I have to. And life is a cliche, is it not?" Hermione watched him. His face slowly moved closer to hers, her lips murmuring something.
"These tears of blood will set me free. Under starry night I think of thee. The moon will wash and cleanse my blood. If I die I die for love." Her lashes lowered, she felt his cool breath on her lips.
"I cut to release the pain, let the anger free. With each scar is a memory I keep. The wounds and then scars will eventually heal. And away into the night the pain do I seal." His voice was hoarse as he felt her lips brushing his with each word he said.
"Kiss me."
And so she did.
And, predictably, the door burst open.
"Hey, Herm...oh. Malfoy you bastard, get off of her!" Harry stood at the door, the horror on his face so clearly etched that it was comical.
"This meant nothing to me, of course. Just to define your place in society, mudblood, am I making myself clear?" Draco stood up, brushing himself off.
"Does anything mean anything to you? Does your life itself, have no meaning, Malfoy?" Her voice caught him unawares.
He paused, then continued out. They heard his door slam.
"Hermione..."
"Don't start, Harry. Isn't Daniel downstairs?" Harry almost said something, but caught himself in time. Hermione turned to look out the window, and a hooded look passed over Harry's eyes.
"Yeah. Yeah, he is. I'm going home tonight Herm. I'll see you round, I guess. Call me if you need something." He turned and walked out the door without looking back.
"Harry-" but he was already gone.
__________________________________________________________________________
There was no warning as the door flew open and rebounded with a resounding bang.
"I'm on my way out."
"Fine." Harry strode in and began to gather his stuff.
"Potter..." Draco spoke hesitantly.
"What, Malfoy?"
"Come here for a sec." He sat up on the bed, swinging his legs so they rested on the floor.
As Harry came nearer, Draco reached out with one arm and grabbed his shirtfront tightly.
"What are you doing, Malfoy? Get offa me!" Draco silenced his protests effectively by pressing his mouth against Harry's.
Draco was a good kisser. Domineering, soft, gentle and skillful.
Harry moaned, causing Draco to break away.
"Good god Potter, are you a faggot or something?" Harry gasped in outrage as Draco drew the back of his hand across his own mouth.
"Who kissed _me_!?" Draco dropped Harry.
"Not to say I enjoyed it. You obviously did, you homo sonofa..."
"Fuck you Malfoy!" Harry tackled him onto the bed, hitting in a blind rage.
"Why did you do it then, hey? Why?" Draco grabbed Harry's wrists, holding them away from his face. They made a strange picture, both breathing heavily, Harry straddling Draco's narrow waist.
"To see if I felt anything. To see if I was suddenly developing a fetish for do-gooding little fags."
"Because you fell for a mudblood do-gooding bitch."
"That's right." Harry slowly clambered off of Draco.
"Well did you?"
"No. And that's what scares me."
"Why?"
"Potter you really are mundane sometimes. If it's not a fetish it means..." Draco pulled a face but forced himself to go on.
"It means I might actually end up having...feelings for her."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Well that was unexpected........damn I just went and saw LOTR!!!!!!! I LOVE LEGOLAS AND ARAGON! *sigh* they are soooo hot! The movie was epic...LMAO Me and my friend held a running commentary through the whole thing...*twitch* poor people behind us
ANNONYMOUSE
Wow, cool, thanks for reading FD! Could've reviewed...*mutter mutter* Yes I know I'm ungrateful...*sigh* Read your fics and reviewed I think, so thanks much!!!
LONELYGER
That is really cool! I'm glad you like! Any comments for me to improve...and by the way, I'm posting this late at night...so sorry if it's a bit slipshot
KELLY
LOL I hope you like and review my other stuff too! :) But thanks for always being there and reading this, *hugz*
*KARLY*
Well I wrote more....she didn't mean to kill herself..................it was kinda...well it's explained in this chapter, if you still don't get it e-mail me at dijitalkitty@tokyo.com.... :)
CHAOTICSLYTHERIN
Mwahahaha....that's right, damn Harry...*shifty look* Ahhh i love Draco...almost as much as Legolas and his epicness....*sigh* Thanks heaps for your awesome review! It's one of my favourites (because it's so long, it makes me feel loved, I know I know, I know I'm sad....*sigh*) MC and Happy New Year to you too! (even if they're over, but I couldn't get this up in time... :( )
TRIGEMINI
LOL *giggles* I know, I hate stories like that and I always want to say errr...so predictable she won't die, they'll fall in love and blah blah blah...but then if it's any other way I complain and don't like...so we'll see about this.... :) So Mione's better now.......
but what else will develop? Remember, there's lots of loose ends here...thanks for reviewing!
p/s
DRACO IS NOT GOING TO BECOME GAY!!! Sorry, but I can't write shounen ai...and the thought frankly makes me squirm.
LOVE YA FOR REVIEWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need at least 4 reviews before I write the next chapter! :)