Just Little Games
LostLoveIsDead
Disclaimer: Still rubbing in the fact that I don't own Harry Potter...
(A.N. I'm sorry, I don't personally think this is the best of all chapters. I wanted to write it now though because I most likely will not be able to update for the next few days... :) I forgot how much I loved fan fiction..ehehe!)
After yet another sleepless night, Hermione Granger awoke shakily to the glow of the morning sun that illuminated the room. She yawned once and stretched her arms out then looked around, remembering her surroundings. She stumbled down the stairs after getting ready, as soon as she did she was greeted by Ginny Weasely.
"Morning Hermione." Ginny smiled walking over to her. The common room was pretty empty.
"Morning Ginny" Hermione smiled. Ron and Harry were no where to be seen.
"No Harry today?" Hermione asked, looking around.
"No, He and Ron went to Hogsmade this morning. To visit Fred and George" Ginny told her.
"Oh I see...." Hermione said. Well great, now I've been ditched even to go visit the Twins. Do I not exist anymore or something? She thought to herself, but then again, she had been shutting herself off from most people lately.
"Want to go for a walk?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah sure" Hermione smiled after glancing at the clock, 12:00 noon, exactly. Both of them walked out of the common room and down the stairs until they got outside. It was a cool day, but quite sunny never the less.
"So where have you been going off to at night? I haven't seen you around too much" Ginny asked Hermione casually. Hermione was silent for a small moment, racking her mind for something to say.
"I've just been at the Library and stuff. Studying." Hermione said as naturally as she could.
"Hermione, Hermione, Hermione! You work too much." Ginny laughed lightly as the two approached the lake and began walking around the surrounding edges.
"I know Ginny, I know" Hermione laughed along as well. The sun reflected off the lake in such a way that made the water almost appear to be stone. Days like these, rarely came by anymore. They walked around just, talking. As they walked around the lake a tall blond boy, was walking in the other direction.
"Hey Weaslebee. Mudblood." Draco spat as he passed by, he made eye contact with Hermione for a minute, a certain spark in his eye.
"Malfoy." Ginny spat as Hermione looked at him as well, the same spark in her eye but to the world, just venom could be found. Once he was somewhat out of earshot Ginny spoke up.
"Hermione! What has gotten into you? You would never just take that." Ginny said walking a little faster in an effort to catch up with Hermione.
"I just... wasn't in the mood to argue today is all." Hermione said plopping down and looking out onto the water. She threw a rock causing a splash that disturbed the peace of the whole surface. Ginny looked at her questioningly as she sat down right next to Hermione.
The day dragged by slowly as after a while of sitting Hermione and Ginny went back up into the castle. Ginny and Luna decided to go to Hogsmade to catch up with Harry and Ron. Hermione on the other hand decided to go back to her room. It was almost six o'clock so she decided to go down to the great hall to get something quick to eat before she went up to finish a little homework, then head off.
There wasn't a tremendous amount of people in the great hall due to it being the weekend. She spotted Neville and a few other people who she had joined for a brief meal. After that, she walked at a decent pace back up to Gryfindor tower she walked into her room that she seemed to live in these days. She rummaged around her room and pulled on an outfit that seemed to be at least somewhat presentable. She looked in the mirror then outside, she pulled on a black beanie and her house scarf and walked out the door. She quietly sneaked down the stairs and out of the common room. This whole wandering the halls waiting to run into each other thing, just wasn't working out.
Hermione searched every corner of the school it seemed. The library, every crevice, out cove, everything. Eventually, she gave up and went outside. She wandered around the lake with her wand dimly lit so she could see where she was going. The sea creatures were humming some sort of melody. It almost seamed surreal, the grass was frosted over due to the cold conditions that the day had. Just then, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Granger" He came up and whispered into her ear before going next to her and walking by her side farthest from the water.
"Malfoy." Hermione turned to Draco who had the same old smug grin on his face.
"And why weren't you bloody inside tonight?" Hermione asked raising her eye brows slightly.
"Its nice out. Plus, I need to keep Mrs. Brainiac guessing." Draco smirked.
"Very funny." Hermione said sarcastically. "But it is very nice out." she agreed, despite the cold.
"Indeed." He said then stopped before he said anything else, he had his hands buried into his pockets. He was wearing a simple black suit with a white shirt underneath, much like what he wore almost every day. Although, he as well had his Slytherin scarf tied around his slender neck. Draco picked up a rock and threw it at the water, it landed with one big splash.
"No, you do it like this." Hermione said taking stone next to her and putting it in his hand.
"You just bring it back and-" She pulled his hand back then flung it forward in such a way where the rock skipped along the surface and sunk after a few yards.
"Well aren't you so great" Draco said, in a sarcastic, yet friendly way.
"Draco..." she trailed off, finally saying his actual name. He looked up at her, his stone cold face seemed a little bit softer under the moon light, but still had the harshest angles.
"Why are we here?" She asked him as she sat down onto the ground. He fallowed and sat down right next to her.
"I don't know." He answered, pretty bluntly. There was a long drawl with out any noise as they both looked into the water.
"Hows Weaslebee?" He asked, breaking the silence.
"I don't want to talk about it." She said looking down to her feet.
"Hows the dark side?" she mocked.
"I don't want to talk about it." Draco said to her, looking down as well.
"Why does everything have to be so complicated all the time?" Hermione asked, more to herself then anyone else.
"Its just how it goes" Draco said, picking up another rock and managing to skip it across the water.
"Why do we do this?" Hermione asked him.
"Do what?" He asked.
"This. We just sit here, make awkward conversation then leave... What's the point?" She asked.
"Do you not enjoy it?" He asked.
"I never said that." She said.
"Well listen here and listen now because, I'm bloody Draco Malfoy and I will never say this again." He paused as she looked up at him, her round brown eyes glowing with interest.
"I might happen to enjoy your company." He shrugged.
"Well, I might... maybe.. enjoy your company to." She said, slowly.
"Then what's the problem?" He asked.
"Because this isn't me, I feel like I'm two different people here" She said putting her hands into her lap, to keep them warm. Draco grabbed them from her and held them in his hands.
"Well maybe this is you." He said tilting his head, the same smirk was back.
"Well is this you? Or are you the Jackass I saw this morning?" Hermione questioned, not pulling her hands away.
"I don't know." He shook his head. It was silent again for a moment.
"Hermione?" He asked.
"What?" She said surprised, even after the past two days, she wasn't expecting him to open up... in the least. She went with it, just for the time being.
"Thank you." He said quietly, almost incoherently. She looked up at him.
"Every day I am willed to hex people and kill the innocent. Every day I loose more and more of myself. Every day I am told by my father or by Voldemort what to do and when to do it. You're the only ounce of freedom I have right now. Your my escape." He said, not completely sure of what he was saying. In light of the current situation he just talked.
"Draco-" Hermione went to say but was get again cut off.
"I see you every night because I need someone to talk to. I see you every night because every waking moment of my day is devoted to serving for a cause I don't stand by. I need you to listen, and swear not tell a soul." Draco said breathing somewhat heavily, his icy cold breath could be seen.
"Draco..." Hermione trailed off.
"Promise me." He basically commanded.
"Draco I promise, I'll be here to listen...I'll be here to help." She said, this, this was a man she had never seen before. Draco Malfoy, was a hopeless case. He needed help. Hermione was always a generous person... She knew he needed help. She knew, she wanted to.
As soon as she said so, he collapsed. He just started talking, telling tales of things unknown. Of fates no one deserves. Of all things that just seemed to be torture, like walking in and out of death every day. He leaned his head on her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him... comforting the emotional wreck that sat before her. The supposedly cruel snake, had just crumbled into a meak soul. Someone who only came out at night. Someone who during the day, could possibly rip her heart to shreds. An awkward friendship, that would somehow manage to work. This was the beginning, of a very- very long ride between a cold snake, and a lonely lion.