Author's Note: Hello everyone! This chapter (I think) is my longest one yet. I hope it has enough drama to satisfy you all P. I'd really appreciate your feedback on it, so I can feel good about myself and continue on with the story ;). If there are any questions, feel free to leave a review with it and I'll definitely respond ASAP. Except if you start asking me about things that I haven't or can't mention, you won't get an answer, but I'll be happy to tell you again that I can't tell you . I'd like to thank all of those who reviewed my last chapter, and I hope you all (and more of you!) review this one. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Shades of Grey
Draco was holding his cup and saucer delicately in his hands as he sipped the hot beverage slowly, savoring the liquid carefully on this tongue. The blond youth knew that Snape had placed a calming drought into his drink and he silently thanked his godfather for the small gesture.
It seemed as though every time he dealt with either Potter or Granger, his nerves were always shot to hell afterwards. Funny how they both had Muggle ancestry. And Gryffindors. And always pissed him off to no end.
Draco was starting to notice a pattern.
"I don't suppose you'd like to skip the conversation and just add some brandy into this tea," Draco said, only half jokingly, staring longingly at the shelf that held Severus' alcohol mixtures behind where Snape was now sitting.
A slight flicker of a smile graced Snape's mouth.
"You know Draco, carrying on a conversation with Potter, quite loudly I might add, in the Slytherin dungeons may have not been one of the best of your ideas."
Draco rolled his eyes. "We bumped into each other. And we were having a heated argument about—well, I'm sure you heard the whole thing anyway, since you've dragged me here to actually discuss it." Draco's face twisted slightly in disgust, as though the idea of discussing what he had just talked about with Harry with his godfather was a sickening thought.
"As your godfather, I find it my responsibility to look after you, as your father and mother are now currently dealing with other matters."
"You mean dining with the Dark Lord," Draco muttered spitefully. He took a large sip of his tea, enjoying the slight burning of his tongue to take away from the dull ache in his head.
"Your parents are running many risks to spare your life, Draco. You may want to show a little more respect for what they're doing."
Draco's featured melted into the scared, anxious adolescent that he actually was.
"I can't…can't think about them, doing Merlin knows what, and it's all because of me. What the hell am I worth? They should just give me up to the Dark Lord and be done with me. I'm so…worthless." Draco's voice cracked and tears formed at the corners of his eyes, as he looked everywhere in the room but at his godfather, ashamed at his own feelings.
Snape did not answer until he saw Draco collect himself.
"You know your own worth, Draco. You will be of great service to the future wizarding world, but you must be patient, as well as faith in your parents, as they both know precisely what they're doing in ensuring your safety and separation from the Dark Lord."
"I still don't understand why we can't let Dumbledore know," Draco said, feeling lost as he stared down at his tea, as though the answer might appear before his eyes.
"It is only a matter of time before I inform him. He will appreciate the caution I have undergone in refraining from telling him. When the moment comes, all shall be revealed."
Draco nodded slowly, trying to force himself to accept that both Severus and his parents knew what they were doing. But he couldn't help but wish that Dumbledore knew of his worth, so that perhaps…
Draco shook the idea from his thoughts. It was too soon to wish to be close to the Gryffindor Trio now. For the time being, Draco was resolved to be the Malfoy that his father had raised him to be. To show his worth, he must remain in his role and never stray. No matter what the cost.
"Now Draco, onto your…more adolescent…problems," Snape said hesitantly.
Draco couldn't help but smile at the ridiculousness of the situation.
"Hell, what else is there to say? You knew last year I was up to something during the Christmas holidays…I'm sure you've already figured out what that something was."
Snape's face held no traces of reaction, but his eyes looked extremely serious.
"I'd prefer if you told me exactly what happened."
Draco sighed and looked longingly down at the tea induced calming drought.
So much for that.
"Well, you spoke to me last year about why I always seemed so tired and not myself. Happier even. One evening, at the beginning of the holidays, I sort of…found Potter. In an interesting position. Of which I won't go into details…this is embarrassing enough as it is. The rest followed from there. "
"We…had an affair of sorts, I suppose. In the beginning of the year, you asked me what was wrong constantly…I was having a sexuality crisis. Girls just didn't cut it for me. When I found Potter…I never felt anything more incredible. I swear…I think I might have actually started liking him. You know, that way. But he told me that I wasn't gay. He said I was just drawn to things that made me feel alive. Feel like I could be more than what I am. And he's right…I always felt that with Potter. I always wanted to be more because of him."
"But recently…Fred and George created this personality altering lipstick and gave it to Hermione. She kissed Potter, Weasley and myself. I didn't know it was a spell at the time…but I felt this…pull towards her…and I don't think Potter felt it, because he seemed almost unaffected by it. Maybe it's because he's gay. Maybe I'm just imagining things. But I swear it was probably the strongest thing I've ever felt for a person. I think even stronger than Potter, and believe me, Potter was an amazing fuck—" Draco stopped abruptly, his face flushing bright red at the look on Snape's face when he had said that.
"Uh…sorry, that was probably too much information…"
"Perhaps. But I understand what you mean."
Draco took that as a sign to continue.
"Well, Hermione's kiss really threw me and I've no idea what to make of it, because it could have just been the spell. But now I can't get her out of my mind. I think I can feel her constantly. I think I'm actually beginning to develop feelings for her."
"The fact that you're continually referring to her by her given name says as much."
Draco smacked his forehead. "God, Potter called me on that too."
"Potter isn't as thick as you and I have both made him out to be these past few years."
Draco looked at Snape as though he had grown two heads.
"What the hell? I thought you both hated each other! You've been insulting him for years—"
"I've been watching him very closely the past year and a half. I've noticed a change in him too. He's very withdrawn, perhaps even more so when he first entered Hogwarts. I have also noticed, and have discovered from many other teachers, that his aptitude for learning has improved greatly. He has always excelled in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but now his abilities have reached to Transfiguration, Charms, and yes, even Potions."
"Well, that's mostly because of your remedial Potions help," Draco said, as though it were nothing.
"On the contrary. Those so called remedial Potions that everyone believed him to be taking were in fact Occulmency lessons. Potter has learned to block the Dark Lord from his mind and has now taken it upon himself to use every means available to him to increase his chances against him."
Draco looked impressed. "I always admired Potter's ability with a broom and a wand, but I guess I never knew the git actually could use his head."
"I'm actually surprised that you haven't admired the use of his head too. When he'd give it to you, I mean."
Draco almost fell off his chair; his eyes had gone unnaturally wide.
"Did you just…just…ju—"
"Make a sexual comment about what you and Potter obviously got up to during the Christmas holidays last year? Why yes, I suppose I did."
"I think Potter would be completely horrified if he knew that you knew."
"Not if he knew that I wasn't horrified by it."
Draco could only stare.
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Hermione had been in library during the hour which Harry spent in the dungeons with Malfoy. She was looking through every book she could find on personality alteration that occurred through the use of a rose petal chemical. She had the lipstick with her, and it sat, unopened, on the table beside her books. She still had half a mind to owl Mrs. Weasley informing her of her sons' most recent prank. The anger would most likely be tenfold compared to her usual reactions, as this one specifically involved Hermione, Ron, and Harry. And of course…Malfoy.
She'd probably break a few things over their heads if she was within reach.
Hermione scribbled a few notes down onto a piece of parchment that she was using. She tapped the end of her quill against her chin, wondering what on earth had possessed those twins to slip her something potent.
The book she was currently reading (Magical ingredients and their effects!) discussed the use of the rose petal as one of the founding ingredients in various lust potions. Its effects included slight dizziness, increase in body temperature, tingling in the hands, continuous distraction, and an extreme focus on sexual acts…
Hermione blushed at the thought of the last one, wondering if she still had traces of the lipstick in her bloodstream. She decided that the only way she could find out is if she took the lipstick to Professor Snape, so he could analyze the content distribution and inform her of all the included ingredients.
She then wondered how embarrassing it would be in all honesty. She'd be asking him an academic question, and maybe she could even get Professor Snape to give those two idiots detention!
Wait a minute Hermione thought, hitting her forehead. I'm the head girl. I can give them detention!
With that in mind, Hermione gleefully continued scribbling notes onto her parchment. Opening another book (Maladies that Result from Unknown Ingredients!) Hermione glanced at the table of contents and found the familiar lust potions and flipped through the textbook to find the ingredient in question. She found the page that listed rose petals and began to skim down the page. She found, much to her disappointment, basically similar information that she found in the other books. Just as she was about to close the textbook, her eyes registered, in smaller font, a warning about the ingredient.
She looked closer and began to read the barely legible font.
Beware this ingredient when dealing with those who have already been magically bound. The resulting circumstances will be the development of a soul bond – the equivalent of a life bond and an overpowering aphrodisiac.
Hermione was puzzled at the mention of a previously existing magical binding between two individuals. She had no idea what that entailed, and would have immediately sought out another textbook, had it not been for Madame Pince telling her quietly that she better make her Head Girl rounds.
When Hermione gathered up her things, making a mental note to come back tomorrow to find the meaning behind a magical binding (It could mean any type of magical binding!), she hurried out of the library, ready to make her first after curfew rounds.
Then, before she had time to catch her breath, she remembered who the Head Boy was.
Malfoy.
-------------------
Draco's mouth was wide open as he stared at his godfather incredulously.
"What do you mean if he knew you weren't horrified by it? How could he know?"
"There are a great many things you are unaware of, Draco. This is obviously one of them."
Draco's knuckles, which had been previously relaxed before, now let out a loud crack when he curled his fingers into a tight fist. His tea had already gone cold, and sat forgotten on Snape's desk. His mind and body were a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions as he regarded his Professor and godfather. Of course he realized there were 'a great many things' he was clueless of – but about Potter?
Something was obviously wrong.
"What exactly are you saying?" Draco asked, floundering at the ridiculousness of it all. "That Potter has come to you? And spoke to you about…us?" Draco had half a mind to rip Potter to pieces.
Snape's lip curled derisively.
"Actually, Draco, it was your loud argument that shed light upon Potter's mystery lover—you. What Potter confessed to me was on an entirely different subject altogether." As he spoke, he stood from his chair and began walking towards the door that led back to the dungeon hallway.
Draco was up out of his chair immediately and strolled after the older man, his face a series of pointed features, distorted into harsher lines, his anger getting the better of him.
"WHAT other subject? What the hell are you talking about?"
They reached the door, and Snape turned to face Draco, looking down his long nose at him, disdain etched into every feature.
"Why…the man whom Potter is in love with."
Burning. Hot. Rage.
"He TOLD you! Why in Melin's name would he tell YOU? Unless—" Draco chuckledh darkly, "Unless he—" but the smirk on Snape's face interrupted his thought. He reeled backwards immediately, his face a strong mixture of horror and disbelief.
"No…there's no possible way—"
"If I may make a suggestion, Draco," Snape drawled sarcastically, guiding the blond boy out of his private chambers, "You better leave or you'll be late for your rounds with Ms. Granger." And with that, Snape closed the door in his godson's face.
Draco stood there, gaping like a fish, feeling as if the entire world had turned upside down.
Potter couldn't love Snape. The sentence itself was a contradiction. He hated him…didn't he? And Malfoy had been so sure that it was Fred whom Harry was in love with…
As he forcefully dragged himself from Snape's door, he heard Snape's voice echoing in his head, "What Potter confessed to me…" In that moment, Draco Malfoy felt as if he had lost all control in his life. But as he ascended the stairs, turned three corners, and walked down two deserted hallways, he began to feel the familiar tug around his naval. He watched, through his mind's eye, as all traces of his anger faded away and was replaced by a single thought.
He stopped, and slowly raised his eyes from the ground.
Hermione.
--------------------
Harry sat miserably on the couch in front of the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room. He wore a black sweater that Mrs. Weasley had knitted for him for his birthday that summer. As he sat there, he debated on retiring upstairs after his dramatic exit from the dungeons.
God, I'm such an idiot thought Harry, raking his fingers through his hair, tugging extra hard, trying to distract himself.
It really wasn't any of Malfoy's business anyway. Fred was the only other person who knew the identity of the person he was in love with. Well, and…
Did it even matter? Who was he kidding anyway….ever since the end of summer, Harry felt more and more ill at ease. Harry knew that by the time they got back to school, everything would change. Hell, it already had.
What with Ginny dating like mad, Fred and George practically teachers, Ron falling all over himself over Hermione's new looks, Hermione's 'intense' brush with her own sexuality, Malfoy suddenly being interested in Hermione…and he could no longer talk to Snape about any of his problems!
Harry sighed. He couldn't believe he was admitting it—but he missed the asinine bastard.
"Oy Harry – I was wondering where you were." Harry jumped, startled at the intrusion and turned around to find Ron looking at him with a curious expression. Harry smiled at him tiredly.
"Yah, don't think I'm up for sleeping right now."
Ron immediately plopped down into the seat next to him, handing Harry a long piece of parchment, giving him a lopsided grin. Harry looked down at it, his eyes widening ever so slightly.
It was a schedule—for both Harry and Ron, that described when they would practice Quidditch, go to class, study, have DA meetings, and of course, eating, sleeping and even 'lolling about' was shoved into it accordingly.
Harry would have automatically assumed it was Hermione's work, had it not been for the obvious "Ron Weasley" scrawl written all over the page.
Harry couldn't help but be deeply impressed.
"Bloody hell Ron, when did you have time to make this?"
"Well, I needed to wait for McGonagall to give us our class schedules—s'probably why I was so tired that day in Muggle Studies—I had stayed up most of the night working on it."
Harry goggled at him.
"You missed out on sleep to make a schedule?"
"Oy, I take great offense to that. I told you this past summer that I planned on making a great many changes. This just happens to be one of them. I was hoping you'd be more supportive!" Ron's face contorted in false hurt and anger, the slight upturn of his mouth giving him away.
Harry grinned.
"It's brill Ron. Thanks."
Ron beamed. Harry went on looking at the schedule.
"I dunno if we'll continue with the DA meetings—with Umbridge gone, I think it only makes sense to open the whole thing to the school. Get everyone involved."
"Are you mad? Even with Dumbledore back, opening the doors to Death Eater kids ain't right. I mean, they'd be learning from you—and if we're up against a bunch of yous, Harry, we'd be dead before any of us had drawn our wands."
Harry had to bite down hard on his bottom lip to keep from laughing loudly at the ridiculousness of that statement.
"Ron you prat—I'd be teaching all of you guys too, remember? So as you, ridiculously, put it—there'll be hundreds of Harry Potters running around—so we'd be on equal footing, according to your logic. But! You're forgetting something very important."
Ron looked at him as though waiting for him to say something even more ridiculous.
"You have the REAL Harry Potter on your side!" Harry grinned cockily at the red head.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Ah huh, how could I forget? The original Harry Potter alone could take out TEN Voldemorts with one hand tied behind his back." Harry punched Ron's shoulder playfully, proud.
"You said his name!" Harry exclaimed.
Ron gave a half grin, shrugging one shoulder.
"Yah I suppose I've been a bit of a prat about that too. I mean, it's not easy being your best mate, you know."
Harry smiled ruefully. "No. I suppose not. But you love every minute of it."
Ron punched his shoulder in reply.
---------------------
When Hermione had realized that she had to meet Malfoy, she seemed to increase her pace, as though dreading that he would mock her for being late. The blood was pounding in her ears as she ran, but not from exertion—she was actually nervous.
But why? It was only Malfoy. And yes, he could be incredibly annoying, ignorant and troublesome, but that's all he really was—a bully. A bully who happened to have a beautifully sculpted face, hair as light as an Angel's, and eyes that pierced right through her very being.
She knew this for certain, as she was suddenly staring right into them.
Hermione's pace had slowed considerably when she neared their pre-arranged meeting place to begin their Head duties. When she had rounded the corner, she had become distracted by the moonlight that poured in from the windows along the hallway. She had walked, trancelike, staring out of the windows, captivated by the beauty of Hogwarts in the evening.
When she stopped suddenly and turned her head, she saw him standing in the centre of the hall, staring at her, as though he too had just woken from a dream.
They stood there, staring at each other. Hermione began to walk towards him feeling a tug that forced her to continue to walk closer to the Slytherin, despite the slight twist of anxiousness in her stomach. The sound of her footsteps echoed loudly in her own ears as she walked, but she remained captivated by his gaze and trapped by the pull between their bodies.
When she finally stopped in front of him, the feeling faded and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Moments passed, and the atmosphere was then broken by the movement of Malfoy's mouth.
With that movement, and as Malfoy stepped forward into the moonlight, the image of an Angelic being disappeared and was replaced by a glacial Lucifer, whose eyes flickered dangerously. Malfoy's eyes had always been frozen pools of ice, and seemed to glint maliciously at anyone who dared to cross him. Yet the eyes that gazed upon her now were liquid silver, and they seemed to burn with an intensity that Hermione felt to her very core. She would have turned and fled had it not been for her Lioness courage that flowed through her veins.
The Lioness inside her, however, did not feel like roaring, ready for battle.
In fact…she could feel it purring.
"Lost track of time, Granger?" Malfoy drawled, his mouth forming into his trademark smirk.
"What are you talking about Malfoy? I'm right on time," Hermione said, the annoyance clearly in her voice, her eyes narrowing at him in anger.
The blond took a step towards her, towering over her small frame. He watched her shoulders rise and fall, her lips parted slightly, and her cheeks were flushed. He lowered his mouth close to her ear.
"Then why do you seem out of breath?" He whispered heatedly, his words causing her pulse to quicken and her breath catch in her throat. She began to feel unbearably warm and stepped backwards, trying to gain control of her breathing.
Draco could feel the extreme heat between their bodies and his hands longed to rip the clothes that she wore from her body and press his body flush against her bare skin. Every nerve was on fire and he did everything in his power to keep himself in check, but his eyes were already hazing over, and he could feel himself being lost to whatever power he was under.
"Malfoy, we need to start our rounds. You should take the Slytherin dungeons and Ravenclaw, while I do Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. We'll meet in front of the Great Hall doors when we're through."
"Whatever, Granger. See you in front of the Great Hall."
Draco walked off in the other direction, while Hermione took the time to clear her thoughts.
She couldn't understand what was going on between them. She was starting to get the impression that Malfoy was actually interested in her. Didn't Malfoy realize that she had been under a spell? Or was he as clueless as Ron?
Hermione shook her head as she made her rounds to Hufflepuff, not bothering to linger any longer than she had to. Hufflepuffs rarely ever ventured out of their rooms after hours.
When she reached Gryffindor Tower, she happened upon three couples kissing, two boys trying to find their way to the Slytherin dungeons to pull a prank, and a lone girl sitting behind a statue, crying.
Hermione didn't have the heart to take points from her. She bent down beside the girl and spoke to her very quietly.
"Hello, my name is Hermione. What's your name?" The girl had looked up at her, startled, and her eyes were bright with fresh tears.
"Isabelle. I know you…you're the Head Girl. Please don't give me detention! I couldn't stay in my room; I didn't want the other girls to hear my crying. I didn't want to sit in the Common Room, because I knew someone would see me. I didn't know where else to go…"
Hermione patted her arm gently. "It's alright Isabelle; I'm not going to get you into any trouble. But I will have to take a few points away, but no one will notice them. Do you mind if I ask why you're crying?"
The girl sniffed and Hermione pulled out a handkerchief for her. The girl blew into it carefully, trying not to make too much sound.
"There's this boy in Slytherin and he always makes fun of me for being Muggleborn. He always manages to find me alone, and he tugs my hair. He tries to make me cry, but I never do it in front of him. I have to wait until night time, when no one can hear me."
Hermione immediately decided that she would find this boy and straighten this whole mess out. The girl seemed somewhat reluctant about it, but finally agreed. When Hermione helped the girl out from behind the statue, she finally got a good look at her.
She looked to be in third year; she had medium length brown hair and violet blue eyes. Hermione gave her a hug and when she pulled away, the girl was smiling happily. Hermione noticed how pretty the girl was.
This boy must be out of his mind she thought, escorting the girl back into Gryffindor.
Hermione made her way down to the entrance doors to the Great Hall, and found Malfoy there, his back against the wall, his arms crossed, looking extremely bored.
Hermione walked up to him and asked if he had found anyone.
"Yah, a few kissing Ravenclaws, and a few fucking Slytherins." Draco grinned wolfishly at her, pushing off from the wall. Hermione made a face at him.
"Honestly Malfoy, can't you Slytherins control yourselves?"
"Not when we've got a craving for fresh meat."
"Ugh. You're barbaric."
They began walking up the stairs, as they carried on their whispered conversation.
"How is it barbaric? We know what we want. When we see something we want, we go after it." Hermione couldn't help but notice the very pointed once over Malfoy gave her body. She shivered, feeling as though the robes that she wore were not enough.
"Wait, why didn't you go back to the dungeons? We've finished our rounds."
Malfoy raised an eyebrow at her.
"Are you daft Granger? The Astronomy Tower, remember? If you think what we found tonight was bad, wait till you see what's roaming around up there."
Hermione's stomach twisted. She really did not want to see any two people having sex.
When they got up there, sure enough, there were couples lurking behind statues, in deserted classrooms, and some were just in plain sight. The amount of sexually active students was ridiculous, Hermione felt, telling a couple (from Hufflepuff!) to get back to their dorms immediately.
Draco was having a great time catching kissing couples and telling some of them they looked like they were sucking each other's faces off.
"10 points from Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Get back to your dorms and for gods' sake, learn how to kiss!"
Hermione walked over to him after she cleared her side. She watched the couple he had hissed at scurry out of the Tower, looking mortified and embarrassed.
"Malfoy, was that really necessary? We take points from them because they're out after curfew, not because of their kissing technique."
"Where's the fun in that? The only way to get them to stop doing it is to embarrass the hell out of them. That way, we're less likely to find the same couple up here kissing."
Hermione was amazed at the logic behind that statement.
"But then again, who's to say we won't find the same people with another partner." Draco said immediately afterwards, looking amused.
Hermione glared at him in disgust.
"Not everyone is as sex crazed as you make them out to be, Malfoy."
"Oh no? What makes you so sure about that Granger? Sure you were under a spell, but that doesn't mean that you didn't enjoy every minute of it."
Well, that certainly proved that he had known. And didn't seem to care.
"Don't be ridiculous Malfoy. Fred and George changed my personality with that lipstick. It is not me."
"You say that rather defensively, as though it were a bad thing."
"Of course it's a bad thing! I don't go around…kissing guys!"
Draco smirked at her. "That's not all you did, Granger."
Hermione almost toppled over backwards at the memory of giving Ron a hand job.
"Oh my god—"
"Ah, so you forgot about it then. Interesting. I guess you obviously haven't talked to the Weasel about it."
Hermione knew that she'd probably die of embarrassment if she ever had to have that conversation with Ron. She really hoped Ron hadn't gotten the wrong idea. Hermione blushed and ducked her head slightly. How could he not though?
Draco was chuckling quietly at her own discomfort.
"Poor Granger. I'm sure touching that gingery anatomy must be giving you nightmares, but I'm sure the scarring will go away soon. After your dead, I mean."
"Oh shut up Malfoy, you're just jealous that I wanked him off and not you."
They were both surprised at her words, and Hermione's hand whipped up sharply to cover her mouth. She had never used that horrid word before—she didn't think that she ever would. But thanks to those two idiotic twins, her entire life was completely over. And now Malfoy was beginning to give her a look of avid interest.
"You know Granger, as much as you pretend to play the good girl, you have to remember one thing. Good girls may go to heaven, but it's the bad girls who go everywhere."
"As if I'd want to go anywhere else, Malfoy. You're a Death Eater's son, and I'm Harry Potter's best friend. It's the way things are."
"I'm surprised Granger, I thought you were smarter than that. Even if you are a Gryffindor. Not everything is black and white."
"What would you know about it Malfoy? You can't even see past the end of your nose, you're so self absorbed."
Apparently that had been the wrong thing to say because the minute the words had left her mouth, Hermione found herself shoved up against the stone wall, Malfoy's body pressed tightly against her. Despite themselves, they both let out an animalistic groan at the contact, their minds reeling at the overwhelming pleasure, the heat becoming almost unbearable. They both felt that if they had stayed like that any longer
When Hermione got her bearings back, she pushed Malfoy away from her, breathing hard. Their breath was coming out in ragged pants; their eyes were dilated and Hermione's hands were shaking.
"What the hell was that?" Draco asked, raking his hands through his hair. Hermione had never seen him look so disheveled before. The loose strands of his hair framed his face, making his features look softer in the moonlight. And incredibly appealing.
"I…have no idea." Hermione was at a loss for words. She couldn't understand this feeling that was coursing through her veins—an aching need to press her body closer to the Slytherin boy and capture his lips with hers.
Draco was having a similar problem as he watched Hermione bite her bottom lip in concentration. His fingers flexed impulsively, aching to tug her forward by her hair and make love to her mouth.
It seemed to be getting out of control.
"What the hell are you doing to me?" Draco whispered hoarsely, his arms immediately circling around her waist, tugging her forward. When their mouths met, the purr that Hermione had heard in her own mind broke free from her lips, and Draco shuddered at the vibrations, kissing her harder, his fingers digging into the small of her back. A fraction of a moment after they began kissing, a bright rose coloured light encircled them, lighting the area where they stood.
When their eyes opened, the light vanished and they broke apart immediately. Their eyes were wide in astonishment as they gazed at each other, chests heaving.
"You honestly have no bloody clue what's going on, Granger? I thought you were intelligent."
"Well I obviously don't know what that was, Malfoy! If I did, I would have said something."
"Fat lot of use you are."
"Oh that's rich, Malfoy. What about you? Don't you have any idea what that was? Mr. 'I'm so much better than everyone else'."
Draco scowled at her, his lip curling in disgust.
"Oh of course, why should a goddamn mudblood know anything about something like this?"
Hermione, for the first time in years, felt the sting of that comment. He only noticed the effect of his comment because it had taken longer for her to reply.
"Yes of course. I'm just a bloody mudblood to you! It's not as if I could control who my parents are, Malfoy. Besides! I'm more than proud of where I came from, which is more than I can say for you."
The "Death Eater scum" was implied from the loathing glare and daggers shooting at him from her chocolate brown eyes.
"As I've mentioned before, Malfoy—I may be a mudblood, but the fact that you've just kissed me, goes against everything you've ever said to me."
She stormed out of the Tower, the anger radiating off her body in waves. Draco didn't even have the chance to open his mouth in reply, for she had already disappeared into the night.
Things were becoming too complicated for his liking. Everytime he had a chance with her, he seemed to put his foot in his mouth. He highly doubted that Potter would be pleased with what he'd done. He could hear Potter's mocking laughter in his head and he wished to whatever deity that was listening that he could find the strength to last through all of this without going insane.
He gazed out at the night sky and sighed heavily. The stars twinkled mockingly at him.
He stood there for what felt like hours, wondering how on earth he managed to get into this mess. He placed his elbows on the window sill, and held his head in his hands, biting back a groan of frustration.
He did not hear the soft footsteps come up behind him.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, I thought that I might find you here."
Draco started and turned around abruptly to come face to face with Albus Dumbledore.
"P-Professor—" Draco stuttered, immediately trying to explain himself, "I was just—"
Dumbledore held up his hand, his eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Mr. Malfoy, if you forgive me for reminding you, but you are the Head Boy. You need not explain yourself."
Draco flushed in embarrassment, realizing that he had forgotten himself. Dumbledore always seemed to catch him off guard.
"Yes, sir."
Dumbledore approached him and stood to his left, gazing up at the night sky as Draco had done earlier. Draco watched the older man curiously, as though expecting to be reprimanded for something he was unaware of.
"You know Draco…there are a great many things in this world that have yet to be discovered. I feel as though I may lose the rest of my hair in trying to discover all there is to know."
Draco stared at him, wondering what on earth he was talking about. Now he understood what Potter meant by Dumbledore and his idiosyncrasies; the man was definitely a tricky old codger.
"I'm also a skilled Legillimens, Draco. After all, what would any of us be without our little oddities?"
Draco immediately began to apologize but Dumbledore held up his hand.
"Don't think I will hold you responsible for your thoughts. They are yours and you may do with them as you wish."
Draco still felt a bit uncomfortable at having his thoughts read, so he immediately attempted to clear his mind. He saw Dumbledore wink at him.
"You know my boy, after all my years of being Headmaster of this school, I feel as though there are still a great many things I do not know. I once felt as if I knew everything that went on in this school, but I'm afraid that it is no longer so."
Ha thought Draco, unable to suppress the feeling of triumph, couldn't even figure out that Potter and I were fooling around last year.
When Draco saw the intrigue in Dumbledore's eyes, he cursed himself at his own foolishness. Not only did he need to learn to control what he said, but he also had to learn to control his thoughts.
Bloody hell, soon I'll even have to start controlling my emotions.
"Well, that won't really be necessary. Those are clearly written all over your face." The blue eyes twinkled mercilessly behind the half-moon spectacles, and all Draco wanted to do was sink into the floor.
"I congratulate you, Draco. For doing such a good job of keeping the wool over my eyes. I must say, that is rather a feat all on its own. Harry is certainly a hard one to tame."
"Too difficult." Draco couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice when he said it. He really couldn't care less if Dumbledore knew the extent of his own disappointment.
"Ah, yes. I see young Harry has left his mark on you as well." Draco couldn't help but smirk at that.
"Yah, that's Potter. A regular heartbreaker."
"But I see that you have moved on with considerable ease."
The shock on Draco's face was evident and Dumbledore chuckled.
"As I said earlier, your emotions are quite clear to read. You are troubled, yes, and you seem to be keeping a very weighted secret. But you also seem to be feeling a sense of happiness. Confused though it may be, it is quite obvious."
Draco shifted on his feet uncomfortably. It wouldn't be right, he felt, to inform Dumbledore about his recent encounter with Hermione, as she was Head Girl and it was probably against protocol. Besides, Dumbledore probably still thought he was a Death Eater. The thought bothered him a great deal.
As Dumbledore turned to Draco, he gave the younger man a reassuring smile. Draco knew then that, despite what Snape had told him, Dumbledore had known a lot more than what any of them let on.
Draco was about to speak, but suddenly his legs gave away underneath him and he fell to the ground, his head hitting the cold stone of the floor bluntly. His body shook as though someone had casted crucio on him. He bit his lips till they bled in his refusal to scream.
The last thing he saw before he passed out was Dumbledore waving his wand over him and a bright light surrounding him before his mind slipped into darkness.
Hope this was a good enough cliffy P.
Please review!
Madi Black