Come on guys, I need more reviews and ideas! I can't write unless you review. All you who are making it a favourite and not reviewing… I am watching you! This is a flash back chapter. It took a little longer than usual cause I wanted to write a really long chapter for you. Also check out my new story, it's called after. Enjoy!
Girl's gowns glistened in the moonlight, and the air was filled with laughter and music. Those sound drowned out the noise of Hermione's tears. She sat on the stairs to the great hall, sobbing quietly. She had only wanted to come here to make Ron jealous, but she had had so much fun with Viktor. Then Ron had gone on with all the nonsense of 'fraternising with the enemy', and Viktor had dropped her for some Beuxbatons girl.
So here she was, on her one night she could actually be a girl, crying because she could never be a girl. She was terrible at being girl. No boy could ever love her; she was an ugly gawky nerd girl, who cared more about books than her appearance.
She wiped her eyes, and looked around at the space around her. It was filled with gaggles of witches, and close nit couples. She felt eyes on her, and she searched for the owner. Over in the corner was a group of Slytherins, and leaning against the wall was Draco Malfoy. He was staring back her, looking over the head of a babbling Pansy Parkison. His usual sarcastic face was vacant of its signature smirk, and instead was a look of… concern?
She mentally shook herself. Draco Malfoy could never take pity on her, she was a muggle born. She looked up smiling at her stupidity to see some confused Slytherins, and Malfoy walking towards her. Her eyebrows creased in surprise as he came stopped after the first step.
"Alright Granger?" he asked.
She didn't know why, but something inside her snapped .It must have been the anger she felt toward everyone at that moment. "What do you want Malfoy," she spat maliciously.
Malfoy just stared back passively, "I'm not so much of a git that I wouldn't help a girl in need" he replied, before turning around.
Guilt took hold of her. He was just being nice. "Wait!" she called after him. He turned, "I'm sorry, you were being nice and I was bitch"
He smirked, and made his way up the stairs, sitting down beside her. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he said, hugging his knees.
Hermione looked at him frowning, "No offence, Malfoy, but… why do you care?" He smirked and shrugged, a strand of his perfect blonde hair falling into his eyes. Wait perfect? What was she saying? It suddenly occurred to her that Draco Malfoy was actually really good looking; his perfect pale skin, his beautiful deep grey eyes. She could actually see why so many girls obsessed over him.
Hermione shrugged, "Alright then. I went to the ball with Viktor to make Ron jealous, but Ron accused me of 'fraternising with the enemy', and then Viktor dropped me for some French slut. So here I am, left alone where only no guy will ever like me" she said and shrugged, wiping her eyes.
Draco cleared his throat. "Alright then" he said, and stood up, holding out his hand.
Hermione frowned in confusion. He raised his eyebrows and nodded towards his outstretched hand.
Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his and he pulled her to her feat. He pulled her through the entrance hall, into the great hall; leaving many confused students in their wake. On the dance floor they were playing a slow song Hermione didn't recognise.
She was suddenly turned around, and found herself face to face with Draco. He put a hand on her waist, and cupped he hand in his. She could feel heat gathering on her face, and where he was touching her. Somewhat awkwardly she placed her own hand on his shoulder, and they began to waltz slowly.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, avoiding his eyes.
"You mean dancing with you?" he replied simply.
"Yes. You are not usually very nice to me, so why do you care. I'm a mudblood after all"
Draco stiffened, "Don't call yourself that" he said and then relaxed again, "I never like to see a beautiful girl not thinking she's not"
It was Hermione's turn to stiffen. "You think I'm beautiful?" she whispered, looking up at his face.
His pale cheeks flushed pink. Did Draco Malfoy just blush? He swallowed, and stared intently at her, no, at her lips. "I do. You're strong and brave and can handle yourself. There is no other girl like you in this whole school. You're special"
Hermione face grew hot, and she smiled shyly, "Thanks" she murmured.
They fell into silence then, swaying gently to the music. The moment was unusual, but incredibly sweet. Hermione didn't want it to end. She liked this side of Draco, she didn't know it existed until now, but she liked it. This side was the boy she could be friends with. Too soon the music stopped.
The band playing stepped up to the microphone. "This is the last song guys. We'll slow it right down." And the music began to play again.
"One last dance?" Draco asked. Hermione nodded and smiled. Instead of taking her hands, he put both around her waist, holding him close to her. Hesitantly, she put her arms around his neck, and once again they began to dance.
"Why don't you let people see this side of you?" Hermione asked, sifting her hands slightly.
Draco was silent for a few moments. "Because that's not the boy my father raised. He raised a pureblood Slytherin boy who hates mu-muggleborns" He replied finally.
Hermione nodded against his shoulder. "That's horrible" she whispered.
"You know, I really do think you're beautiful" he said, leaning back to look at her face.
Hermione went to reply, before she realised how close he was, and her breath caught. His lips were inches for hers, his breath hot on her face. They lingered like that for a moment, their breath mingling. They weren't dancing anymore, they stood frozen, and when the music stopped, Draco's lips touched hers.
His lips were soft against hers, a tickling brush, but when he pulled her further towards him, the kiss grew more intense. She found herself kissing him back; with the same ferocity he was kissing her. A fire she didn't know she had ignited in her chest, and she ran her fingers through his hair. Gasping for air, they broke away.
Draco smiled at her, and stroked her cheek. In an instant it all became too much. Hermione turned away, and picking up her dress sprinted out of the great hall, leaving a very confused Draco in her wake.
Hermione's eyes flew open. Her head was throbbing and her arm ached, but she was smiling. The dream about Draco left her tingling with the memory of their first kiss. She placed her hand over the locket, and traced her lips with the other. The tingling was replaced with an ache. A yearning ache to replay the kiss they had shared, as well as the many others.
"Hermione!" the door to her room flew open and Ron and Harry came bursting in.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked concern etched upon.
She yawned at sat up slowly. "Yeah, just a little sore" she said rubbing her eyes.
They sat down on either side of her bed, "You sure" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded, "Just a little tired I guess"
"Well, we're going to see the goblin, we need to know why Bellatrix freaked out when she thought we stole they sword"
"You think there's something else in there?" Hermione asked
"Yes" Harry nodded.
Draco entered the dimly lit library and began searching the stacks. It was dark, and many people were leaving, but he knew she'd be here; it's where she went to avoid him.
Draco had made several attempts to talk to Hermione about what happened at the ball, but she had practically run away from him. He had let that go on for a week, but he couldn't anymore. He couldn't stop thinking about the kiss.
He heard a thump as someone drop a book.
"Ow! God damn"
He knew that voice. He walked towards sound. Rounding the corner to one of the larger stacks, he saw Hermione sucking her finger, whilst a very large book sat on the floor.
"Ow, ow, ow stupid bloodly book" Hermione hissed, shaking her fingers.
"Never thought I'd see the day when Hermione Granger would call a book, stupid" Draco smirked, walking towards her and picking up the book.
Hermione turned, a sarcastic comeback ready, however when she saw who it was, the façade melted away. She let out a very un-Hermione like squeak.
"Draco what are you doing here" she whispered.
"I came to find you" he said, slowing getting closer.
He handed her the book and he took it, studying him suspiciously. She put the book on the shelf, and replied softly, "why?"
"Seriously, you're me that?" he said, taking another step forward, as she stepped back.
"Look, Draco, what happened at the ball-"
Draco stopped her, "Before you talk, let me say this. I haven't stopped thinking about, and I won't. That kiss was the best thing that ever happened to me. If you want to forget about it, fine. But please, just don't forget about what I am saying. When you punched me in third year, when I was a bastard little git, I pretended I hated you. But I couldn't lie to myself for young. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met Hermione. I-"
He fell silent. Hermione had leaped forward and kissed him. Draco felt like his whole body had on fire, dizzy with happiness, he smiled against her lips and pulled her closer. Their lips moved simultaneously, like they had been made to perfect fit each other. If he thought the kiss at the ball was amazing, this was something else entirely.
He pushed her back against the bookshelf, three books falling to the ground around them. He moved his lips down and began kissing her neck. She gripped his hair as she sighed.
"Alright, all of you off the dormitories, it's getting late" Madame Prince's voice rang out.
Draco pressed his forehead against Hermione's and held his fingers against his lips.
"Meet me in the room of requirement tomorrow" he breathed. She nodded softly. Draco stroked her face before pulling away from her and walked through the shelves, out of the library.
Draco woke suddenly. He cursed under his breath. That was the best thing that had happened to him all year. He smiled as he remembered the dream. After the night in the library, when they met in the Room of Requirement, they had talked about everything and anything, they had kissed, and she told him about her passing feelings for Ron. He had been jealous at the time, but a week she told him she only felt that way about him. The only horrible thing about that night was the promise to keep it a secret.
He closed his eyes, and imagined that Hermione was lying beside him in his bed. Her hair was messy from sleeping. He imagined her waking up, smiling and reaching across to kiss him. He imagined holding her close to him, hugging her to his chest. His arms felt empty and cold without her.
Oh god how he wished he knew where she was knew she was okay, and alive. He just wanted to see her, once. Just see her beautiful face, sleeping peacefully. He sighed. He wanted to go to her so bad.
Where was she? Oh, he remembered hearing Dobby say where they were going, but where? He lay down on his bed and rubbed his eyes. He knew he would never remember, so why bother. He settled himself down in the covers and closed his eyes. Hours later his eyelids began to droop, and sleep seemed to finally take him up in its warm embrace…
He shot up, a thought zapping through his mind.
Shell Cottage.
Hermione woke with a start. She blinked, unsure of what had woken her. Rubbing her eyes she listened for a noise in the quiet night. She heard a series of clatters, then a voice, cursing.
It was a man's voice.
Hermione froze, fear seeping into her stomach. She groped for her wand lying on her bedside table. She could hear footsteps, heavy masculine ones, on the creaking staircase. She pulled back her blanket, her feet slipping onto the ground. Shakily, she pointed her wand at the door. The handle rattled, twice, before the door slowly creaked open. Hermione repositioned her grip.
The door was pushed open-
"Draco!" Hermione squealed, her wand clattering to floor.
"Shhhh" he whispered, as they flung their arms around each other. Hermione closed her eyes, and held him tight.
"How?" she whispered.
"I needed to see you" he said, kissing her hair.
She smiled, "But how are you here?" she said, leaning back to look at his face.
"I heard Dobby say something about Shell Cottage. I was missing you so badly I had to see you" he said, pressing his forehead against hers.
Hermione bridged the distance between their lips. Draco leaned back, closing the door. Draco pulled her closer to him, and she ran her hands through his hair. Hermione reached up towards Draco's collar, and hesitantly began to undo the buttons.
Draco pulled away "No, Hermione. We can't. Not here"
Hermione closed her eyes and nodded.
"Hang on a minute" Hermione said, placing her hands on his chest "You. You took away my pain"
Draco looked sheepish; "Maybe" he said giving her a crooked smile, and going back down to kiss her.
"No" Hermione said, pushing him away, "You shouldn't have done that! You had no right!" Hermione said frowning.
"No right!" Draco hissed back, "You were being tortured, and you expected me to just sit and watch?"
"Yes! I had to see you in pain instead"
Draco laughed, "We're fighting now" he shook his head.
Hermione's anger melted away as she saw the humour in it. "Oh my god" she giggled "I'm sorry" and kissed him. They backed up and fell onto the bed.
"I have to go soon. They'll notice I'm gone" he stroked her cheek.
"No" Hermione whispered. Draco smiled, and began to reply when a Hermione's door began to open. Both of them jumped. Hermione shoved Draco off the bed and curled herself up under her sheets.
Ron stepped into the room. "Hermione" he hissed, "Are you awake?"
Hermione kept her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
"Hermione?"
When it became clear to Ron she was asleep, he left the room, closing the door with a click.
Draco popped up beside her. "Who was that?"
"Ron" she whispered.
Draco rolled his eyes and jumped on the bed beside her.
"Stay with me, for a little longer?" she asked, pushing his hair out of his eyes.
He kissed her softly, "Of course".
Hermione pointed her wand at the door. "Muffilo" she whispered.
"Hermione what are you doing?" he asked.
She answered him by sitting on top of him and yanking off her shirt "Hermione" Draco said.
"Draco" she said, "What if something happens in this war, what if we don't get to do this?"
Draco took a deep breath, "Her-"
Hermione cut him off, kissing him, her hair making a curtain around them. Draco kissed her back, his hands gripping her waist. Hermione began to unbutton his shirt, and he reached down, undoing his trousers.
Know half naked, he flipped, so she was under him. He began to kiss her neck, and she raked her fingers along his back.
"I love you" Hermione breathed.
"I love you more" Draco breathed back.
Next door, Ron tried to sleep, but couldn't. His mind was filled with the thoughts of Hermione, her beauty and bravery. He smiled and rolled over, oblivious to the moans of pleasure next door.
This chapter was a little raunchy, but kinda cute. Now, I need an opinion here, and I am not updating till I get some. Should Harry and Ron find out about the two of them now, or at the very end :/. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review. Oh, and Harry Potter Geek, PM me please!