CH. 5 - Ron-less Week
A/N: So, this chapter has no Ron in it per se. It shows how the Slytherins feel about Draco's relationship as the first four focused on Ron/the Gyffindors. Anyway read, enjoy and review.
The group walked into the Infirmary, by now they had been frequent visitors usually as a result of the opposing house individual's actions. Madam Pomfrey looked up from her desk as the group approached.
"Yes darlings, what can I do for you?"
"I think I may have bruised my wrist, could you take a look?" Hermione asked the elderly witch.
A small smile of compassion, graced the nurses' features. "Of course dear, have a seat."
Madam Pomfrey then proceeded to cast a revealing charm from her wand, it shown a light blue. The smile was back. Draco, Harry and Ginny all watched the examination with curious looks.
"Well Hermione dear, there is no damage, no broken bones or bruising. There is however a large hand print outlined on your wrist which would suggest you were grabbed or jerked quite suddenly."
Hermione looked toward the floor. Madam Pomfrey sensing a heavy air about to descend, as the others had also turned away, decided not to probe.
"In either case, you just need to take it easy the rest of the day, no potions will be necessary."
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said as she tested her wrist and smiled at the old witch.
"You're quite welcome, dear." She turned and went back to her desk.
As the group began to leave Madam Pomfrey heard a collective sigh escape from them, a bigger one coming from Draco Malfoy. She smiled at the Ministry nursing paperwork in front of her as she heard the door to the Infirmary close.
(***)
The couple of weeks was spent Ron-less, it seemed that Ron was avoiding her. In Potions he sat two seats away with Colin Creevey. During meals he sat with the Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas. He avoided looking at her in the common room or even being there any longer then was necessary. It suited Hermione just fine, after what he did she wasn't exactly ready to be chummy with him again any time soon. However, it seemed that he was avoiding Harry and Ginny just as much. And that bothered her.
Over breakfast during the first week, Hermione decided to bring this up with Harry and Ginny.
"Has Ron been avoiding you guys too?"
"Unfortunately," Harry said subdued, he missed his best mate, but wasn't about to stop protecting Hermione, his surrogate sister.
"I think he's up to something," Ginny said suspiciously, "I mean if anyone has the right to avoid someone it's you, not him."
"Maybe he feels guilty," Hermione stated emotionless.
"He better feel guilty, he's lucky I didn't hex him or worst, tell Mum."
Don't worry Hermione, Ron will come around," Harry said believing that Hermione brought up Ron because she missed him too.
"Oh, it's fine by me if he remains a bit distant, I'm not quite ready to forgive him yet. Not until he accepts my relationship with Draco or at the very least tolerate it without looking like a volcano about to erupt."
"Hermione you don't mean that," Harry said quietly.
"I do Harry, he needs to grow up."
"Hear, hear," Ginny toasted.
(***)
The Ron-less weeks was definitely a relaxing time for Draco. He didn't have to constantly be on guard against the Weasel. He and Hermione spent more time together, happy and content. There was just one incident regarding his relationship with a certain curly-haired brunette genius. His mates Theo Nott and Blaise Zabini.
"So Draco," Theo began, as the three walked to Herbology, "Just how close are you and Granger?"
"Why do you ask?"
Grinning as he looked at Blaise, "Because we just wondering if you've... what the muggle saying," he feigned thought, "oh yeah, 'made it home', yet?" He chuckled.
Draco stopped dead in tracks, turned to face the two of them, "What did you say?" He said in a low growl.
"You know, we're just wondering if you've seen more of Granger than just House robes," Blaise supplied.
Draco was silent for a long time; thinking, calculating, a part of him trying to figure out if there is a dismemberment spell for use after he'd Stupefy the two idiots in front of him.
"Draco, Draco," Blaise shook him out of his train of thought. "You all right?"
Instead of answering he leaned in to the two Slytherins and whispered in dangerously low and slow voice, "Let me make one thing crystal clear to you two and you can pass this along to anyone who will listen," Blaise and Theo grinned thinking he was going to spill the goods; instead, "If you either of you or anyone else insinuates that Hermione Granger is easy or is anything but herself, I will have your balls hacked off and strung up on the Quidditch pitch to be used as windsocks, do I make myself clear?"
He turned and walked toward the gardens, leaving the two boys speechless and looking at their crotch area with concern before running to catch up to the blond.
"Draco, wait up!" Blaise called.
"We were only teasing mate, no need to dole out threats," Theo added once they caught up.
"I take everything that has to do with Hermione seriously. Remember that." He stated looking straight ahead and with an even tone.
"Right we're sorry, mate." Blaise said, eyeing Theo.
"Yeah, sorry," Theo said quickly.
The rest of the way Draco was walking two steps ahead. Theo and Blaise had slunk back and were now whispering to each other.
"Honestly, I didn't expect that response from him," Blaise whispered.
"I know, I thought that when he threatened Pansy and Millie and by extension the entire school he did it for show only."
"Guess he's serious about Granger."
"Guess so," Theo said.
Suddenly Blaise grinned, "Who would have thought, the one to defrost the icy Slytherin Prince's heart would be the Gryffindor Golden Girl?"
Theo smiled, "Don't let him hear you say that."
(***)
The end of Ron-less week for Hermione was extra special because of a few surprises from her favorite Slytherin.
The first surprise happened on Friday after dinner. Draco had managed to procure the use of a pair of muggle devices called a film projector and projection screen and the use of an empty classroom.
"Draco," Hermione laughed, as she let Draco lead her blindfolded into a room after dinner, "where on Earth are you taking me?"
"You'll see."
Once he had shut the door behind them, came up behind her, "Ready?"
"Always."
He lifted her blindfold. What Hermione saw made her gasp. The classroom was transformed into a muggle movie theatre. There was a large projection screen in front and a film projector in the back.
She turned to face him, "Surprise." Draco said with smile, a smile he reserved only for her. "I thought tonight we'd what is it that you said you always do with your parents on Sundays," he thought for a second, "Oh that's right, go to the movies."
"How?" Hermione gestured to the setup.
"I'm a Malfoy, I always get what I want."
She smiled at his cockiness.
"Now then my lady, would you care to join me?" He looped an arm.
"Of course good sir," she said as she grabbed onto it.
They sat in the back, as Hermione said those were the best seats.
"So Draco, what are we watching?"
"Your favorite, Casablanca."
She smiled, he remembered. She had told him about her favorite movie when he had visited her and her parents in the summer.
The film began to play, Hermione rested her head on Draco's chest as he wrapped a loving arm around her.
They watched the movie in quiet, comfortable, companionable silence until they reached the ending scene where lIsa says goodbye to Rick. At which point Hermione spoke softly, "Draco if I had to leave, would you let me leave like llsa?"
"Where is this coming from?" Draco looked at his girlfriend with a soft expression.
"Nowhere, just hypothetically."
He pondered this for minute, "No, hypothetically or not. I'm never letting you leave, you're stuck with me." He smiled at her.
She smiled and leaned up to give him a peck on the lips which he quickly deepened.
(***)
The second and third surprise came on Sunday while Hermione was in the library studying when a First Year Ravenclaw came up to her.
"Here some boy told me to give this to you." The girl said as she handed Hermione the gold envelope.
"Thank you."
The girl walked away without as much as a 'goodbye'.
Hermione opened the envelope, and began to read.
Dear Hermione,
You've been cooped up in the library far too long for a Sunday and that is unacceptable, no girlfriend of mine will be hidden away, especially one as beautiful as you. Therefore, you better be ready and waiting on the Astronomy Tower balcony within 10 minutes or else the surprise I have will will be shown and given to Pansy (and I know neither of us wants that).
Love Yours Always,
DM
Hermione read the letter and internally squealed with delight, on the outside she only let a small smile play over her face as she gathered up her belongings and headed toward the Gryffindor common room to drop off her things.
As she walked toward the Astronomy Tower, she felt oddly nervous. She loved when Draco would surprise her, it was more of his romantic side seeping out and slowly she was becoming more accustomed to it. When she made it to the Tower, there was no sign of Draco. She must have been early, she thought. She waited. Five minutes turned into ten then into 15 and then 20, but still no sign of her beloved boyfriend. This she thought was odd because if there was one thing about Draco that she knew it was that he was always on time, to the exactly second for things that were important. Classes, however didn't count as he thought those were a waste of time. And since they started dating, Hermione, has been the most important thing to him, so his tardiness made the butterflies that were already in her stomach double in size and quantity.
It wasn't until Hermione had waited for 45 minutes did he finally show up, running and out of breath.
She wasn't too pleased to say the least.
"Where have you been? Ten minutes, your letter said, it's been bloody close to an hour!"
"Hermione," Draco grabbed her had pleadingly, "I'm sorry, please forgive me, I was on my way to you when something... happened."
She how wore a concerned look, "What?" Her voice was soft and quiet like his. When he was like this—vulnerable, she couldn't help but forgive him, since he didn't show that side too often despite, being in a relationship with her.
Draco took a deep breath, "In a word: Pansy."
Hermione's face suddenly reddened with jealous rage. How dare that pug-faced harlot still try and flirt and get touchy with Draco despite the Semper Amamus spell. All right, it's not like the spell wrote 'He's mine, back off' on Draco's forehead, but considering the amount of time Hermione and Draco spend together, plus his threats, you would think she could put two and two together and back off.
"Okay so what happened?"
"Hermione, before I tell you I want you to promise not go off the hinges, can you do that?"
Hermione nodded.
"Okay so, I was headed to the Tower when Pansy, Millie and the Greengrass sisters ambushed me. They tied me up with enchanted rope and levitated me back to the Slytherin common room. Once there, they proceeded to lock all entrance to the common room, and then they each began to psychologically torture me, calling me names like 'blood traitor'; telling me how they would attack and kill you in excoriating detail once I'm locked away somewhere in the castle. They called it, purification." He finished with a shudder.
Hermione listened with terrifying eyes, eyes which were brimming with tears. "So how did you escape?" She asked after several minutes, softly.
"After they each finished their probable accounts of murder, they each decided to give me a kiss to remind me what pureblood girls are like. They didn't know about the Semper Amamus spell or its protective ability, so one by one they tried and unlike your encounter with Weasley, where he was just blown back every time; each time a girl came up to try and kiss me she was knocked out. So once the four were, knocked out, I Accio'ed my wand, broke the spell, reported the incident to Snape and Dumbledore then came running to you as fast as my legs could carry me."
She listened to his story with a gloss of sadness on her face, for what he had to endure.
"One thing I don't get is why was the spell's protection of you different from me?" Hermione asked.
"According to Dumbledore, who I told about the spell to, its infidelity protection is based on the severity of the situation they are in. You could in theory run away, while I was incapacitated."
"Makes sense." Hermione then walked over to her boyfriend and wrapped him in a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry you had to endure that, Draco," she softly sobbed into his robe.
Draco ran his hand through her hair trying to calm her, "Shh, shh, I'm all right. It'll take a lot more than 4 angry, ugly girls to keep me from you."
"Still...,"
He lifted Hermione's chin, "Hermione look at me, I told you, I love you and I'm never going away, you're stuck with me."
Hermione gave a half-smile.
"I love you, too," Hermione said as she returned her head to his chest.
They stood in the Tower in the embrace, neither saying a word, neither moving an inch. This was their moment and nothing could make them break away unless they themselves wanted to. Finally, however Draco did release Hermione.
"All right, enough boo-hooing on what happened, I promised you a surprise and there is still time to give them to you," Draco said trying to refocus on the original reason why they met up.
Hermione brightened, the smile Draco was so accustomed to seeing was now back albeit with a lesser glow.
"First," Draco began, "I spoke with Father and Mother a couple of days ago, and while Father is still only begrudgingly accepting of you, for the time being, Mother is completely onboard with our relationship, that's why she gave this to me," he took out a pendent box and presented to the now blushing brunette.
"Oh Merlin, it's beautiful," Hermione said as she looked at the heart-shaped platinum silver pendent with an emerald heart-shaped cut stone embedded in it along the Malfoy family crest etched inside the stone.
"This pendent has been in my family for six centuries, it is given to the first-born son to bestow on the one woman he believes is his 'one and only'. Hermione you're my one and only, I truly believe that, will you accept this as a token of our ever-lasting love?"
"Yes, of course," she cupped her hand over her mouth and stifled an onslaught of tears, which worked for the most part save for a few stray ones.
As Draco placed it around her neck, Hermione gave a laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"My robes say 'Gryffindor' but my heart screams 'Slytherin' and this pendent is further proof."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Draco chuckled.
"It's not, my heart had already belonged to a Slytherin well before this pendent."
Feigning jealousy, "What? Who is it Blaise, Theo or Merlin forbid Crabbe or Goyle," Draco said with a twinkle in his silvery orbs.
Hermione laughed. "It's none of those, the Slytherin I fell for is tall; incredible handsome; menacing, but sweet; is incorrigible sometimes, a prat others; but above all else he loves me for me and is willing to do anything for me and I feel the same way towards him."
Draco then wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and lowered his lips close to hers and just before kissing her with a passion whispered, "And don't you forget it."
"Come on, time for part two."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, there was more?
Silently a Firebolt levitated toward them. Hermione's eyes went wide.
"Draco," She said as she took a step back, "Just what exactly are you planning?" Her voice was shaky.
He smiled, "A broom ride, of course."
"No, no and no. Not happening. Sorry, wrong number. I won't. I refuse."
"And why not, my brave little bookworm?" He grinned.
"I don't like to fly, and there nothing you can do or say that convince me otherwise."
Draco's grin grew larger, "Oh challenge accepted, Hermione," he said in a low, throaty tone.
Oh Merlin, I'm in for it now, she thought.
He stared at her, almost as if he was sizing her up, but she knew better. Her only chance to make run for it. So she did, she dashed by him as quickly as she could, however he hadn't moved an inch. This caused her to stop at the threshold opening. He was just standing there, a wicked, plotting smile on his face, but he was still just standing there. She decided to no ask and just run. She had only taken three steps when he appeared in front of her. This caused her brows to scrunch up in confusion.
"What? How?"
"You didn't honestly think you're the only one with knowledge of advanced spells in this relationship, did you?" He asked as he took a step forward, she taking a step back, repeating until she was up against a wall.
He took both her hands and held them above her head, with his free one he slid it up the side of her thigh, cupping his hand under her knee letting it rest there as he leaned in. His piercing silver eyes darkened as he looked into the fiery brunette that was in hands and under his control. Hermione, for her part was now trying extremely hard not to get turned on by what was happening, but to not avail. Her chocolate brown eyes fluttered and darkened at his stare and a smirk was creeping onto her lips.
"Last chance, Granger, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way you're getting on that broom." he said his voice low, as he leaned into his girlfriend further.
"The hard way. I'll never make anything easy for you Malfoy," she said with a sultry low growl.
"Tsk, tsk, Granger, you could have saved yourself the trouble but, no matter."
Draco leaned in his lips ready to devour hers. Hermione licked her lips seductively awaiting the onslaught. When it happened she was taken to an entirely new place. Every kiss with Draco was passion-filled, and felt like the first time. Oh Merlin, the first time he kissed her, it made her knees weak, lips red and swollen, eyes aflutter, and the man actually had her seeing stars afterwards. That was what this kiss was, their first multiplied by a hundred. There was no resistance by either party; lips and tongues battled for supremacy in each others mouths'; hands delving into each other's hair; soft and loud moans echoed through the empty tower; his hands soon cupped her perfectly formed bottom after wandering around her delicate, perfectly curved figure; hers traveling the the length of his bare chest and torso after going under his robes, feeling every muscle that came as a result of being a Seeker. This was far and away the best kiss either has had ever and it was after several short breaks for air and then immediate resumption of their snogging activities that Draco and Hermione both agreed to pull away.
"So, Miss Granger, what do you say now to broom ride?" Draco's voice was low, throaty and still searching for air.
"Yes, as long as we can do that again sometime," Hermione's was a barely audible whisper, as she still recovering from hands down the greatest kiss in Hogwarts history. She was seeing constellations not stars, her knees felt like putty, and she was pretty positive her lips were so swollen that she could they be mistaken for balloons.
"That can be arranged."