Chapter 6- Problems in a Pile

Hermione slammed her bedroom door behind her and leaned against it, breathing furiously. Ginny was insane, but also right. Hermione hadn't given a second thought to her when Harry and Ron said they needed to leave to find the Horcruxes. They had been just like sisters up until then and Hermione hadn't realized that Ginny harbored such strong feelings of betrayal.

She pressed her fingers to her temples and took a deep calming breath. Ginny was just hurt and upset and would forgive her eventually. She had too, because Hermione didn't really know how to justify leaving her. Hermione sat down on her bed and looked around her neat room at lost for what to do.

Malfoy was becoming a problem. What was his deal? Talking to her when he didn't absolutely need to? Hermione didn't know what to think about him. He was a mystery to her. What stunned her most was just how beautiful he was. The pale complexion of his face and hands made her heart ache with envy. He had a feminine beauty that someone made him seem more masculine then logical. Not to mention that hair. A soft bundle of fluff was the most poetic description she could think of. If she let herself think honestly she would say she wanted to touch it.

What about their wands? Why did they recognize each other so well? Hermione would give anything to actually use magic with it, but that would mean talking to Malfoy again willingly. Would that be so bad of her? Hermione was sure that Harry and Ron would have a fit, but her personally? It didn't seem so horrible. It was purely for curiosity's sake.

Her mind made up she ran down the stairs with quick feet. Hermione was half way down in the dungeons when she realized she had no idea where he would be. Who was to say he actually spent time in his common room? Hermione sank against the wall, defeated and feeling a little foolish. She blew a lock of hair away from her face, frustrated.

"What brings you to my dungeon, Granger?"

Hermione let out a high squeak and banged her head on the wall painfully. Malfoy had walked right out of the wall!

She sucked in a deep breath, ignoring the throbbing in her head. Malfoy chuckled and looked at her expectantly.

"Well?"

"I- well…I was looking for you." She stammered, standing up straight. She gave him a nervous smile that fell flat.

He spread his long muscled arms wide, "Well? You found me." He smirked.

Hermione avoided his eyes, "I was…wondering if I could…perhaps use your wand."

Malfoy's eyes jerked wider and his air of calmness and confidence vanished. "Excuse me?" He demanded.

Hermione shrunk under his intense stare, "I'm just curious. I want to know why…my magic responds to your wand. You could use mine as well!" She assured hurriedly, hoping only at this point that she would get away from him without pissing herself with fear and panic. No matter how irrational this fear was, it felt more real than anything.

His expression smoothed over and he pulled his wand out of his left front pocket. "Alright then."

He handed it to her, and Hermione was mesmerized by his long pale fingers for just a second. She felt the familiar tingle shock her hand and travel up her arm. She paused, wondering which spell to use.

"I'm waiting." He muttered impatiently. Hermione shot him a glare before concentrating on the happiest memory she could recall.

"Expecto Patronum!"

A silver ghost-like otter darted from the wand in a swirl of white light. Her otter was different somehow, bigger and brighter. Hermione felt the joy of seeing her Patronus and the strangeness of the new wand in a jolt of emotion. She let her beautiful otter fade away after a few seconds and lowered her shaking hand.

"What the hell was that?" Malfoy's voice sounded in her head loudly and irritatingly. Hermione looked over and him and shoved his wand back at him with a jerky movement.

"Well? Are you just going to ignore me?" He snapped, moving in front of her. Hermione crossed her arms uncomfortably. It was hard to experience such joy and nervousness in the span of a minute.

"I still don't know what it is." She whispered, looking down at her feet. Malfoy's hand darted out and snatched her wand out of her pocket.

He shouted the incantation before she could react, and a cat-like animal escaped from the tip of her wand with a roar. The ghostlike figure growled at Malfoy threateningly, but circled harmlessly. It turned to Hermione, sniffing the air around her before fading away like her own.

"Here." He shoved her wand into her hand, much like she had done. Hermione took her wand and turned to leave, but her gripped her wrist.

"Granger…" Hermione stared up and him, confused. What could he-

Warm lips pressed against hers and she gasped, reeling away from him in shock. What the bloody hell?

"Wh-

He cut her off again with another kiss, but this time he kissed harder, meaner. His lips pushed hers open and devoured her like she had never before experienced. Hermione raised her hands to push him away but he caught them and locked them around her neck in a hard, irresistible grip. Tingles ran down her spine and she kissed him back. Hermione knew that it was just a horrible thing to do, because this was a man she was terrified of more than words could say. Malfoy's hands wrapped around her thin waist, pulling her against him roughly, mashing their hips together with a groan of satisfaction. It was a shamefully exciting movement and Hermione let out a moan. He kissed her hard for a moment before pulling away ever so slowly. Their eyes locked and she could see the faint pinkness around his redden lips. Hermione slowly eased her hands off his shoulders and down his chest before yanking them away as if burned.

"I knew it! I knew underneath all that fear you just wanted me." He smirked widely, hands still on her hips.

Hermione felt as if she'd been slapped. What did he take her for?

"What about you? Apparently you've gone insane. I'm a Mudblood remember? Right? And for the record I never, not once, even thought about you in any romantic light. You bastard!" Hermione strode back up the stairs and to her bedroom, without a glance backwards. This was getting way out of hand. She needed to sleep and forget it ever happened.

Hermione woke an hour early the next morning, so she could devise a way to avoid crossing paths with Malfoy for at least the rest of the week. There was only so much she could take! She decided to head down to breakfast early and spend the left over time in the library before class.

A tap on the window stopped Hermione before she could head out the door. She sent the bird off and tore open the letter.

Dear Hermione,

I hoped everything with Ginny has worked out. How are your grades? Perfect as always, I'm sure. Dad is having some problems with his memory. I don't mean to sound as if were blaming you, but could your magic be the cause? I don't see what else it could be. Yesterday your father completely forgot he had work in the morning at ten. Which he's been doing for two weeks now. That's not normal forgetful behavior at least not for your father anyway. He only forgets our anniversary and my birthday!

Anyway, we wish you the best. Write soon.

Love,

Mum and Dad.

It couldn't be her fault. Her dad was just getting on in age, a ripe 45 years old and in top shape. What could be wrong? It was a Hogsmeade weekend soon; Hermione would have to go check on him herself. She folded the letter and put it in her drawer to reply to later. Another problem to add to the pile.