Chapter 11
I'm quite literally rewriting this whole thing, so if it's a bit squeaky in places, please bare with me… also, I know that I should get back and re-edit this whole thing from the start, because now, when I'm trying to put this here, on the computer from my notes I see how much I've changed and how much my style has changed… but I'm sorry, I truly am… I simply have no time for it… new semester is starting and I don't want to make any promises, but I want to finish this, so I will do my best to try and update at least once a week or so… so if anyone's still reading, please bear with me. I love you all peace out, M.
The week following Draco's and Hermione's little dinner was a complete disaster. Exams were approaching and all the seventh years were mad with worry and had literal mountains of work to do. The first part of the week passed in a blur and both heads haven't seen each other for longer then a glance in passing one another in the corridors. The second part of the week was pretty much the same as the first one except it had a Friday in it. Friday, it was common knowledge, was a day to relax and finally take a breather after the excruciating week. However, most of the seventh years didn't even notice that it came. Most of them were still as busy as ever, doing homework, writing essays, completing unfinished projects. Quite a lesser number were already trying to do some revision. One of these few numbers was Draco Malfoy, who was, at the moment, spending torturous hours in the library, honest to Salazar, trying his best to do some reading. Sadly, quite in vain. But who could blame him? The Head-Boy duties, Quiditch practices, keeping his house in check (that was a bit tricky, with all the tension, quite a few slip-ups have happened…he did manage to cover them up with couple of "it was an honest accident!" though), not to mention all the classes AND all the home assignments left him without a moment to breathe. Sleep literally forgotten, food only stuffed down when Blaise swore to curse him bald if he didn't eat properly… yeah… one crazy week. So there was Draco, all tensed and unable to work, day-dreaming in a library while worthlessly trying to read the same page for over an hour.
-Looking a bit tense here, Mister Malfoy…-quiet words made him suppress a smile, but when he felt hands, softly squeezing the tense knots in his shoulders, even he was incapable on holding his poker face mask in place. His eyes screwed shut in pleasure he was feeling and a tiny growl rumbled in his throat. The sound encouraged those hands to move more and so, they left his shoulders to slide down his arms and then back up again, to go up and massage his scalp before going to the knots in his neck. He couldn't hold in his moan this time and he could swear she smirked at him when she heard it.
Her fingers working wonders and his tension finally floating away, Draco soon realized that was he to allow this wonderful torture to continue, he'd have quite a problem later so, with a sigh of disappointment he turned around and gently, yet firmly pried her hands away from his body. He then proceeded to kiss all of her fingers one by one, making the girl blush prettily.
-Thank you, Princess.- he murmured smiling up at her and the smile she returned him light up all the room.
-No problem…Your Highness.- she answered cheerfully and then walked away leaving him grinning like a lunatic. The rest of the day went in a happy blur for him. Even Blaise noticed something was…wrong:
-Dude, I know we're going on share will alone here and all, but… pull it together…
-Hmmm?- was Draco's intelligent reply and Blaise sighed.
-You look like you're losing it, man. I'm worried about you.-at that Draco grinned at his friend and actually clapped him on the shoulder.
-Don't be, I'm all good.- and with that he left for his HB's rounds, leaving Blaise standing in the middle of Slytherin common room with his jaw almost hitting the floor.
(…) However, Draco's happy blur was about to get a very cold and unpleasant bucket of cold water over its head. As soon as he reached 6th floor he heard something. Noises, that floated around were very much familiar to him, since he was used to making people make those same kinds of noises all the time. "Heh, definitely some unlucky couple making out." He concluded before deciding to scare the curfew-braking people shitless. And, of course, docking a few house points never hurt. With those cheerful thoughts and a happy bounce in his step, Draco Malfoy reached the end of the hallway only to stop dead in his tracks. Yes, there was indeed a couple, making out in an alcove. But never, would Draco have thought that he would find exactly these people here. Out of all the students in Hogwarts, who could have been in that alcove, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley were not in the top in his list. Not to mention that they were so deep into what they were doing (what, in Draco's opinion was shoving their tongues down each others throats in the most disgraceful manner) that they didn't even notice him, standing right there, only a few steps away until he cleared his throat in the loudest possible way. The expression on Hermione's face when she saw him, standing there, was worth the ache in his chest which he flat-out refused to acknowledge in any way. Instead, he let his most cruel smirk bloom on his lips as he made himself relax and look as if he was completely enjoying the situation before him.
-So, enjoying ourselves, aren't we now? – Hermione was getting paler by the second, where as Ron looked like he was between green and grayish kind of blue. – Never would I have thought to catch you in this kind of…predicament, Granger. I was under the impression that you'd be at least smart enough to find a place with more…discretion available. Guess I was wrong huh?- his words cut her and he saw it. "Good." Inflicting pain, that's his strong point after all. That's what he's good at, so why not use it?
-Fuck you, Ferret, how dare you speak to her that way! - yelled Ron, pointing his wand straight to Draco's chest. Said blond however, only let his smirk widen.
-Pointing your wand at me on top of the shit you're already in? oh I am so going to enjoy this.
-Ron, stop.- Hermione grabbed his arm to stop him from casting and Draco raised a eyebrow at her.
-Seems you might not be as stupid as I thought you are after all, Granger.- he smirked when she winced.
-Malfoy, I'm warning you, get the fuck out of here.- at that, blond Slytherin actually laughed out loud.
-You? Warning me? Oh this is just too much… or what'll you do? Kill me with your lousy kissing techniques?- now Ron was turning a dangerous shade of red, not that his nemesis gave a flying …yeah, so, not minding the dangerous aura Ron was emitting, Draco continued.- Actually you know what? Why don't i… instead of leaving, simply arrest you right now, m? how does that sound?
-You can't do that!- gasped Hermione still holding Ron back.
-Oh can't I now? I do think I can. How does a month of detention in the Forbidden Forest sound? Huh, Weasel? I, of course, will dock a nice round number of house points from you as well…
-Draco, stop this, you can't…- his icy glare shut her right up.
-I don't remember ever giving you permission you address my in that informal way, Granger. And about can or can't, you know as well as I do, that I can actually do all the things I said I could. He's out of his dormitories. It's way past curfew. He's not a prefect. He's not an HA* (head's aid). He has no business whatsoever to be here. So yeah, I AM giving him detention and yeah, I AM docking Gryffindor some points. I can't touch you, you're a Head, but him… I can and I WILL do exactly what I said I will.
-Malfoy, he was…patrolling with me tonight.- Draco snorted.
-Don't even dare to use something that lame as an excuse, Granger. Not only don't you have rounds tonight, since I said I'd take them for you and you knew that, but also…where exactly was he patrolling with you, hm? In you mouth? Or somewhere else as well? – the burning roses on her cheeks matched Ron's this time and Draco smirked again.- 7 o'clock tomorrow evening. Come to the Head-boy's quarters or your detention instructions, Weasley. And don't you dare be late. Or I'll add another month to your detention. –with that, Draco sharply turned around and left the corridor. Almost running all the way the Astronomy tower, he felt disgusted with himself. "I can't believe I was that…nasty on her… fuck, what is wrong with me today? And…what the HELL is wrong with her? I mean, come on, that massage was…damn, and then she's locking lips with that…ew…geez, I just can't understand a thing that woman's thinking…" sighing, Draco lit a cigarette as he lied on the rooftop and watched the night's sky.
(…)
-Herm, seriously, do something about this….-Ron started to whine a soon as Draco left. Hermione sighed.
-You know I can't… he's the Head-Boy and you, well, you broke the rules..
-But I broke them for you!- the girl sighed again.
-I know, but that really isn't the point… I'm sorry Ron, but there's nothing I can do for you..- "Or for myself…"she thought gruesomely "somehow I feel like he was immensely pissed… there's gonna be a hell to pay…"
-But…- "maybe, I should go to his quarters to… I don't know, apologize, maybe?" totally ignoring Ron's continued whining, she started off.
-I'm really sorry, but there's really nothing I can do at this point… Goodnight, Ron.- she kissed him on the cheek briefly and fled.
(…)
When she knocked on the door, only silence met her. Sighing, she knocked louder, praying silently that none of the patrolling teachers would hear her. She was about to knock for the third time when the door opened to reveal a disheveled Head-Boy with a glass of amber liquid in it. He lifted an eyebrow at her.
-What, finished with your patrol so soon? He doesn't seem to have a lot of stamina huh…- with that he turned around and went back into the common room without sparing her a glance. Even through her embarrassment of his statement she still noticed that he didn't close the door, so she quickly went in as well, softly closing the portrait behind her. He was sitting in front of a fire place, still holding his glass. On the table near him, a half-full bottle of the same amber liquid stood. Not daring to go in any further, Hermione simply stood there, near the entrance to the room and watched his slumped shoulders.
-Is that…what I think it is?
-…depends on what you're thinking, Granger..- he answered with an exasperated sigh. She rolled her eyes.
-It that alcohol?
-Ten points to Gryffindor!- he chuckled. She sighed once again.
-You shouldn't be drinking strong alcohol before a school day…. How do you even managed to get that in here…
-Oh would you shut up already? What a bothersome woman… Go suck you're brainless creature of a boyfriend off or something…- he murmured ruefully and chugged his glass down. Before he managed to pour himself another, she snatched the bottle out of his hands.
-That's enough. You're drunk, go to sleep.- a lazy grin spread on his face.
-Oh? Have you got tired of him already? Is that why you're here?
-Oh for the love oh…stand up, let's get you to bed.- she tried to get him up, but he swiftly grabbed her arm and pulled her down onto his lap.
-Where did you put my drink, m, Granger? Or are you going to replace it with something else?- the dangerous look he was giving her sent shivers down her spine.
-Stop this nonsense at once and let me help you get to bed.
-Oh, how aggressive, I do appreciate a forward woman. Who's bed are we going to, sugar, yours or mine?- he smiled charmingly at her.
-You have got to be kidding me… I come to apologize and this is what I get?- she huffed.
-Apologize?- he furrowed his eyebrows- whatever could you apologize to me for?-his arms slid around her waist, pulling her even closer. Trying to avoid collision, she put her hands on his chest in order to keep some distance between them.
-For Ron's behavior. It was inexcusable. He was very rude to you so,-she took a deep breath- I'm sorry. –he stayed silent for a long while, simply looking in her eyes and then he sighed.
-Idiots will stay idiotic, nothing to do there. Anyway, up you go. – he said standing up and lifting her up as well in the process. Hermione let out a yelp at his quick actions and he chuckled.- did you forget, Princess? Malfoys…don't get drunk.- and with that, he kissed her. It was nothing like their previous kisses or her kisses with Ron. Ron kissed clumsily and softly and his kisses were inexperienced and innocent. Draco, he kissed with his soul. He ravished her mouth, he set fire in her and then watched as it spread. He savored her taste, he sampled each and every crevice of her mouth. He made her feel, really feel him in this kiss. When he finally pulled away after long moments, Hermione was a puddle, had he not supported her with his arms, she would have fallen straight to the floor. He smiled and she was dazed by that smile. He had never smiled like that before. In one instant, he showed himself to her. Just him, with no masks to protect or cover himself up with, with nothing to keep her from hurting him is she pleased. In that one instant, he bared his soul to her. And she… felt herself liking it. But a moment later it was gone and he sighed, and led her to the door. –You should go now. Forgive me for not escorting you all the way to your quarters, but I doubt it wise at the moment. – she could only nod and when the portrait closed behind her, she found herself running. Running as fast as she could, to the safety of her private rooms.
-I'm screwed, aren't i…?- he asked aloud before downing the rest of the glass in his hand and pouring himself another glass full.- Well, damn…
/tbc/