10/05/2014

Out of Hand II: A Matter of Time by relativelypositive

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related and I make no money from the use of the characters created by J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 3

Maybe she had said that a bit loudly.

Conversation had ceased around her, and Hermione was afraid to look up from her plate. She could feel everyone staring at her.

"What's a hymen?" Neville asked innocently.

"What's spelunking?" asked Colin Creevey from a few seats down.

"Go back to stuffing your faces!" Lavender ordered. She stood and grabbed Hermione's arm rather forcefully.

"Ow! Lav, let go!"

Lavender bent down to whisper into Hermione's ear. "If they're reinstating the Courtship Mandates, and you don't have proof of purity, Lucius Malfoy can legally kill you."

XXXXXXXXXX

Draco looked up from his conversation with Blaise to see that Hermione had left already. Was she upset about the new dormitories? Draco could understand if she was. He didn't want to sleep in the same room as his new keeper either. He didn't want to meet after breakfast tomorrow to be formally linked to his chaperone. He didn't want his access to Hermione be restricted to glimpses across classrooms and the Great Hall and accidental passes in the hallway. He didn't want the next time he spoke to her to be at their bonding.

If he was truthful with himself, he still loved his mother. But he could…well, not kill her, though that was what popped into his mind. Maybe find some way to punish her somehow.

Why was he wasting his last day with Hermione sitting here thinking about her?

"Where you going?" Blaise inquired.

"Library. Hermione's probably there."

"Yeah, if you plan to fuck her before the wedding you'd better hurry up."

"How do you know we haven't already had relations?"

Blaise snorted a laugh. "Because you're such a sappy fucker. You'd be all 'our souls connected through our loins' and shit. And you'd be making her sit on your lap to feeding her morsels of food with your fingers and giggling."

"You really think that's the way I'd be?"

"You'd be looking for an escape. You'd be dreading nine months of no Hermione and you'd be desperate to save her from the fate your mother has in store. You'd be packing and planning to abduct Hermione, 'cause you know she'd never leave school willingly."

"She did last week!"

"She had the headmaster pushing her out to a safe house, not running away with you to live as fugitives for the foreseeable future. Anyway, that's how I know you didn't have sex. You'd be all melodramatic about being ripped apart from your love and how could you continue in this unfulfilling existence?"

"You're so odd. I'm going to find Hermione."

Draco had only made it a few feet away when he heard Blaise following.

"Wait up. I'll come with you. At the very least I can help you two get some privacy."

A few corridors from the library Draco and Blaise found Harry and Ron yelling at each other and just stood to watch. Ron was carrying an oversized basket full of baked goods and kept eating as he was arguing. It was quite disgusting to see crumbs spew out of his mouth as he retorted.

It took Draco a moment to realize what was happening, then it took an immense amount of self-control to not laugh aloud.

"He was there in time…and just so you know, he's stopped calling her Granger!"

"That's not fair! It's not my fault I went to save Ginny! She was in danger!"

"I've already heard this story. You may have been being noble, but that doesn't change the fact that you weren't there! I can't tell you. It's not safe!"

"Your refusals are making me chafe!"

"I'm sorry if it hurts your feelings, Ron, but it's really best for everyone. Now stop asking and let's go play some chess."

"My best friends and my sister disappear with my twin brothers and I'm left here to guess!"

"I think you're upset that you missed your chance to be with Hermione. Let it go! She's fine."

"So on top of your secrecy I have to deal with the fact that Hermione will never be mine!"

"Stop pretending she spurned you in some way. You've ignored her for years."

"You know I'm not good with all that girly shit! It would have ended in tears!"

"You should be happy I'm in a decent mood, Ron! She told me what you did, and it was awful."

"I just wanted to see if…no. I'm not even going to claim I was doing it for her. I wanted to see if she would waffle."

"You know it isn't a matter of choice! The engagement is permanent! She can't change her mind!"

"I have some ideas! I figure I can still try to get her out of it until the scrolls are signed!"

"She doesn't want out!"

"You keep saying that! You can't blame me if I'm feeling doubt."

"After you see them together you'll understand."

"What could she possible see in him? He's pale, mean, and bland!"

"Your jealousy is coming off you in waves."

"How could she stand him, the way he behaves?"

"I've been thinking about his, especially since I actually get along with him. He surprised me, and I think he'll surprise you, too. He's still snarky, but he's not as mean as he used to be. I think he's realizing his parents' views aren't his own."

"So I'm supposed to just accept him? And spend the rest of my life alone?"

"Don't make me laugh. You've talked about lots of girls. Pick a nice one and get on with your life!"

"I'm not talking about a trifle, I'm talking about a wife!"

Blaise and Draco quickly ran down the hall and turned the next corner before bursting out in laughter.

"Do you think he knows his muffins are cursed?"

"A rhyming jinx in a muffin? That's a first!"

Draco snickered. "At least Potter's keeping his mouth shut."

"Discretion makes sense. If Weasley doesn't accept that I'm sure Hermione will kick his butt."

"Why are you rhyming, Blaise?"

"Don't worry, it's just a phase."

"Seriously, it's really annoying."

"With you I am toying."

"If you don't knock it off I'll kick your ass!"

"Ooh, that's sexy! I like your sass!"

A/N:

Thank you for taking the time to read and review,

Lucifeeer, ASJS, Hexell, tswiftismyhomie, and shaymars!

You'd all think I was schizophrenic if I started writing a super-serious dramatic Puckleberry fic, right? I have this great idea, but it would be such a sensitive subject. I wouldn't start until I was finished with this one, but I don't know how long I'd be away from Dramione writing that one.