(A/N: Okay, here is the seventh chapter. I'm excited now cuz it took me so long to get inspired for this story again. Though it probably won't last long one of the terrible things about writing is the writer's block. But there is some Ginny in this chapter and a lot of fluffy Dramione. The characters don't belong to me but I hope you enjoy the chapter.)
Ron didn't visit Hermione again after their argument. Harry and Ginny came in the next morning, Ginny was fuming, and she bashed Ron for the first few minutes of their visit. Harry just sat on the other side of Hermione's bed and shook his head, well aware that his best mate had once again mucked things up. Harry had to run off to work on some project that was due the next morning, Hermione was thankful, now more than ever, for her tendency to get things done as soon as they were assigned. She'd nagged Harry and Ron to get their projects done but like all the times before her advice went unheeded.
Ginny stayed with Hermione, she said she needed someone to study with her but Hermione knew Ginny just wanted to gossip some more, probably bash Ron some more or talk about her still prevalent, childhood crush on Harry.
"So…" The red head began, pulling a herbology textbook out of her bag, "still no idea who attacked you?" Hermione wasn't expecting to have a serious conversation but she couldn't say she wasn't relieved that someone asked her about it, unlike everyone else who preferred to act like it hadn't happened.
Hermione shook her head, leaning forward to peer over the edge of the open textbook in Ginny's lap, curious if the younger girl was actually going to study.
"You know what everyone thinks don't you?" Hermione almost didn't hear the question, she caught the last stitch of it and looked at her friend with wide brown eyes as she shook her head no a second time. "Everyone saying it was Malfoy." The look in her eyes was easy to read, she was looking for confirmation, was it him or wasn't it?
"No, it wasn't D- Malfoy. The boy who attacked me didn't show his face. Malfoy would want me to know it was him, if it had been. He gets off on that type of control and fear."
"I figured as much, if it'd been Malfoy you would know and would have accused him right away. It's just like the chamber of secrets all over again." Hermione looked at her friend, the blasé statement about the year the youngest Weasley had been under the control of the dark lord. Ginny hardly ever talked about her first year.
"What? All I'm saying is a muggle-born is hurt and everyone is sure it's Malfoy, even the teachers. They made Dumbledore question him but he told the teachers that Malfoy had an alibi and couldn't possibly have attacked you."
"And how do you know all this?"
"I listen, something neither you, Harry, or my idiot brother seem to have mastered." Ginny shot her friend a sly smile over the top of her book before focusing back on the text in her book. Hermione smiled but quickly hid the smirk. Hermione and Ginny were unlikely friends but neither of them had a closer girl friend.
Draco was standing just inside of a secret passage that he'd found fifth year. He couldn't see Hermione or youngest Weasley, but he could hear the girls' conversation, the serious topic quickly turned playful. He had to admire Ginny Weasley, despite the influences of her normally idiotic older brothers, she turned out rather wise and level-headed. He could feel the ease of the two girls' relationship, how conversation flowed easily between to two. Arguments were calm debates with Ginny, unlike Ron, allowing Hermione's side to be heard before giving another opinion. It was refreshing to see at least one of Hermione's friends actually listened to her.
Draco listened to the girls' conversation for a few minutes before silently sliding down the wall till he was sitting on the slightly dusty floor. He sat there for a while just listening, the impatience he'd felt earlier was slipping away as he listened to Hermione's voice as she talked freely and without filters. It was nice to hear her voice, it flowed like honey and surrounded him. His eyes were heavy and the lack of sleep was wearing on him, her sweet voice was lulling and soothing his troubled mind. He had no control over the ease at which his eyelids fell closed.
It was sometime later when Draco woke up, looking around the door of the passage he'd slept in he read the large clock that hung on the far wall. It was nine at night. He'd slept through lunch and was missing dinner. Luckily he didn't have any classes. Stepping out of the passageway he saw that no one was in the infirmary besides Hermione and himself, Madame Pomfrey was most likely at dinner with the rest of the school. Hermione hadn't noticed him, her face was stuck in a small worn novel.
He cleared his throat and repressed the smile that tried to overcome his face when she looked up to find him. Her eyes were alight with curiosity and the unrestrained smile on her face left him in a hazy state of mind.
"Draco." She called him over with a wave of her hand, the book snapping shut. He walked over to her and sat on the edge of her bed. The two didn't speak, Hermione smiled at him and reached her hand out. Her hand was warm against his, her fingers twisting with his. Draco was still in a bit of a haze but his thumb still moved reflexively, rubbing the back of her hand. Hermione could see the distant look in his eyes and gave him time. She lifted their joined hands, bringing her other hand off her lap to hold his hand between hers. Gently she gave each knuckle a small kiss, just a light brush of her lips against his skin. She smiled just a bit wider at the appearance of raised gooseflesh on his arm. She laid his hand in her lap and ran her fingers over the pale, raised skin on the back of his hand and his arm.
Draco could feel the intricate patterns being drawn across his skin, the trimmed nails scratched gently, leaving a tingling sensation and raised skin on his flesh. He watched her, her focus completely on the patterns her hands were drawings on him. He let a smile grace his lips, a genuine smile formed by love and contentment. Not the smirk at someone's misfortune or the cackle he'd shared with his housemates over the years. Still not fully in control of his actions he leaned forward.
He placed a cool, soft kiss on her forehead. His free hand went to her chin, gripping it gently and lifting her face. He trailed kisses down her nose until he reached her lips. Her eyes slipped close as their lips connected. Draco's hands slid to rest on her hips, pulling her onto his lap in a desperate manner. His hands gripped the small of her back as his lips became rough against hers. Hermione's hands fisted his hair, the sleek blond hairs slipping through her fingers.
It had been a long time since they'd kissed with such passion. It was different from their usual kisses, which were soft and timid. This was wild and had both teenagers feeling a knot form in the stomach.
Hermione felt Draco leaning forward again, dipping her so she laid on her back on the hospital bed. His hands brushed her bangs off her forehead and kissed every inch of her face before gliding his lips down her jaw and throat. Hermione gasped as his teeth nipped the delicate skin of her neck. Her hands slid under his shirt and her nails scratched, leaving faint red lines down his back. Draco sucked harder on the spot on her neck, ignited again by her nails scratching along his back.
Draco's tongue swept over the mark he'd left on her threat, soothing the redness. Hermione's fingers ran through his hair while her other hand gripped his shoulder. Draco kissed her lips one final time, noticing how her eyelids were struggling to stay open. He rest his head against her shoulder, a hand running through her tangled curls. Her breathing slowed and he listened to her pulse as it slowed and she drifted to sleep.
Draco sat back up, pulling the thin sheet over her body. He cast a concealing charm to cover his love bite. The clock rang in the background, signaling that it was now eleven. It wasn't often the two spend time together in silence, the relationship was built mostly on their conversations and banter. They spent most of the time they were together debating things or explaining things to each other. Draco would tell her stories of pureblood families and all the traditions they had followed though his life. Hermione would explain muggle things, which surprisingly interested Draco greatly. Hermione was convinced, and had told him on many occasions, that he and Mr. Weasley shared the same curiosity into muggle objects. Draco would always crack a smile at the obscene image of himself and Mr. Weasley ever getting along. He would never admit that deep in his heart he longed to be able to sit and talk with her friends and family. He leaned down one final time,
"I found him Hermione. He confessed, he won't get away with this. I promised I'd get him, and I did it. He won't hurt you again, and if I can help it, no one else ever will." He kissed her cheek before disappearing into the secret passage he'd come through.
He knew the promise he'd just made was one he couldn't keep. If it came to it, he'd be helpless, unable to save her. But for the first time, he knew, without a doubt, that if it came to it, he would stand between her and the Dark Lord if he had to.
(A/N: Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, I really enjoyed writing it. Hopefully the next chapter will be up sometime this week – I still have to write it. Sorry for the break in updates, went on a mostly unplugged vacations which equaled no computer. Please review, any and all comments are welcome and will keep me writing and updating faster.)