Disclaimer: The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.
A/N: If at anytime people think the rating should be upped please let me know- I'm not a whole 100% what is acceptable and what isn't for this Rating. Thanks
Some Good Things... and Some Bad Things
-Meanwhile-
"Cecil" Narcissa said as she walked over to the older woman, "It's so lovely to see you."
"And you Cissy" the woman replied leaning up slightly to kiss Narcissa's cheeks, "Lucius" she greeted with another round of kisses.
The trio continued to talk for a good forty minutes until the subject of Draco was brought up, "And how is young Draco?"
"He's good, he's starting his second season at Puddlemere United as their Team Seeker this year" Lucius smirked proud of his son's achievements.
"Where is he?"
Narcissa glanced around spotting Draco walking towards the exit outside, "He's there" she pointed toward the door and Cecil lifted her glasses up to her eyes so she could see him but squinted anyway.
"Looks quite a handsome man, is he not taken?"
Lucius shook his head, "We tried to set him up with the younger Greengrass girl, Astoria… but he would not go for it, he says he wants to marry for love, but he seems too picky he has his ideal woman in his head and the only one that matches up to that is his mother" Lucius smirked as Narcissa kissed his cheek. "I doubt he is going to find her" Lucius smile faded, "And if he doesn't, the Malfoy line will stop and die out."
Cecil shook her head, "That sounds just like my granddaughter, she is too stubborn when it comes to men, always choosing the wrong ones and it will not do."
"Who is your granddaughter?" Narcissa asked perking up.
Cecil looked around the gathered guests finding Hermione on the dance floor with Ginny twirling each other around, "She is over there would you like to meet her?" Without waiting for an answer Cecil began making her way towards Hermione, who had finished dancing and stood watching Ron and his two left feet dance with Lavender, alongside Ginny and Harry.
"No offense," Harry whispered conspiratorially. "But your grandmother reminds me of that cackling crow-lady from Diagon Alley that one time."
Hermione bit her tongue to keep from laughing. "Harry that was my grandmother."
His eyes widened before he realised Cecil was on her way over and straightened up, acting as if he hadn't just been speaking about her.
"Hermione dear?" Cecil asked tentatively tapping her shoulder.
"Yes grand-mère?" Hermione asked as she span elegantly around recognising the voice immediately.
"I would like you to meet one of my friends" Hermione saw Harry and Ginny return to the dance floor out of the corner of her eye and wondered why they had left.
As she returned her gaze to her grandmother and her friends she was met with a sight she didn't expect to see ever again. "Lord and Lady Malfoy" she said curtseying being courteous, only on the inside she wanted to scream.
Lucius raised an eyebrow under his mask, "Have we met before?" he queried scrutinising Hermione.
"Perhaps, if I was screaming in agony on the floor of your drawing room while your sister-in-law or sister" she directed at one Malfoy and then the other "Was pointing her wand at me shouting Crucio you may well remember me Mr Malfoy. Or after all I went through with your son if I was giving you directions as to where he was? Safe."
Narcissa gasped covering her mouth with her hand realisation dawning on her, "Miss Granger?"
"One and the same" Hermione drawled, "But if you'll excuse me I'm in need of some fresh air it's stifling hot in here." With that she twirled around once again making her way across the dancing area to outside.
Once outside she walked down the vast garden towards a big oak tree before she screamed as loud as she could, sitting on the swing underneath the tree. She looked down to her shoes as she swung, wondering why she agreed to this 'Stupid party,' she only looked up again when a pair of dragon hid shoes came into her line of vision. As she followed the foot's owner up the leg, torso and then to his face she noticed a distinct aroma in the air; a mix of fresh parchment, grass and something she couldn't place.
"What are you doing out here? Apart from waking the birds up with that scream" the masked man asked.
Hermione shrugged, "Getting away from my kooky Grandmother. What are you doing out here?"
"Getting away from the heat… though I also had to get away from my stalkers, they are out in force tonight, all after a piece of me." He smirked though she didn't see it, "Your not one of them are you?" he queried.
Hermione shook her head, "Far from it… in a way I wish I wasn't here."
"Then leave" Draco stated simply, though in truth he wanted her to stay.
She shook her head, "I can't… it would be rude"
Draco's mouth opened in "Ah" shape, "So you're the birthday girl?" Hermione simply nodded. "Well then allow me to give the birthday girl a kiss" he smirked as her mouth fell open, she was speechless.
Draco began leaning his head down in order to catch her lips to his, his left hand reaching up to cradle her cheek. The meeting of their lips sent shock waves through their bodies jerking each of them into a response. Hermione's arms circled his neck; her left hand migrated to the soft locks she located there, while her right arm wrapped across his neck and shoulders adding a light pressure that caused his mouth to become melded to hers. He then added his own extra pressure deepening the kiss that little bit more.
His mouth parted allowing his tongue to sliver out to caress her bottom lip seeking access to the hot cavern of her mouth. He swiped twice with no success at an entry, but on the third attempt she relented; her lips parting reluctantly allowing his tongue entrance. Her own tongue soon joined in the ferocious battle with his before hers deftly slipped past his pearly white teeth into his inviting domain. They each explored every nook and cranny of the other's territory.
Just as the action seemed to be losing its spark Draco's right travelling down her arm from her shoulder to her wrist leaving goose bumps in its wake; while his left vacated her cheek and moved to the seat they were sat on edging closer and closer to Hermione's body. As his thumb inched closer and closer it came into contact with the material of her dress covering her thigh their own little world seemed to wither away bringing Hermione and Draco back to their senses and the blaring music from the sound system inside.
Draco rested his forehead to Hermione's, "That was exhilarating" he managed once he had caught his breath again.
"Yeah it was good" she replied as the awkwardness settled in; 'I've just snogged a complete stranger.'
"Good?" he opened and closed his mouth a few times like a fish before he continued, "That was good? Don't you mean the best kiss of your life …The best thing apart from actually having sex!" He shook his head. "We pretty much just fucked without being naked and the only thing you can say is it was good. Most women would die to be in your shoes right about now, to have kissed someone as handsome, charismatic, charming, proud and witty as me" he smirked.
"Well your egotistical" she snapped.
"And your beautiful" he returned.
"Who are you?" she replied her voice full of begrudging respect.
"My name is Draco Malfoy" he extended his arm, his hand grasping hers. As he brought it to his lips he spoke in a low melodic voice "And you are Mon Cherie?" he placed a chaste kiss to the back of her hand.
Hermione's mouth fell open- not only had she just had a snog-fest with someone she thought was a total stranger… But that total stranger turned out to be none other than Draco Malfoy. The one man who had managed to make her life a living hell for seven years, the same man whose Aunt had tortured her for fun, the same man whose house that all occurred under. She stood up from the seat looking fearfully at her company; she backed slightly away from him as he stood.
"I should go" she said in a near whisper as a broadcast was made over the sound system.
"Wait" he called as she turned to leave, "Who are you?"
She turned back to him slowly, "May be its better if you don't know Draco" unbeknownst to her the way she said his name made shivers go up his spine. "You might not like the answer" she added lowly to herself.
As she turned back to the house she was glad that she was wearing a mask because she didn't want him to see those few tears forming in her eyes: 'Finally something right comes along… and it wouldn't work out.' She thought miserably.
Draco nodded mutely watching her go his hand staying in mid air, before he moved it to ruffle his hair slightly. "Shit" he cursed to himself.
Hermione made it to the door without much of a hiccup, though she was going through a miniature mental breakdown inside. She quickly made a dash to the toilet facility and once inside she threw off her mask and looked at her self in the mirror.
"How messed up can my life become?"
"Well that depends-" a voice trailed from behind her. Hermione glanced up in the mirror to see who was there and her suspicions were confirmed: Pansy Parkinson stood behind her in a black satin glove dress that left nothing to the imagination examining her fingernails.
Hermione ignored the woman behind her instead rinsing her face with a handful of water.
"Was that you I just saw?" Pansy suddenly asked.
Hermione dropped the handful she had been bringing to her face, "When?"
"Outside" Hermione dropped her head into her open palms: 'Maybe she didn't see us?' she thought with a bit of hope, "With Draco" 'Well that bubble burst quickly.' "He doesn't know it was you, does he?
After a few minutes Hermione spoke again, shaking her head, "He doesn't know... and it's better if he doesn't."
Pansy laughed a rather scary laugh which sounded quite like the demonic cackle of Bellatrix Lestrange. "You think he's going to give up just like that?" she paused shaking her head, "You don't know him well at all. He doesn't give things up without a fight, and he'll want to know who it was he kissed... well you practically made out." Pansy sighed "Either way he won't give up it's an appeal and a downside to Draco's personality."
Hermione shook her head adamant she wasn't going to go tell Draco it was her he had just kissed, "I know how this type of thing works for the likes of Malfoy especially Draco, Parkinson. He says sweet words making girls weak at the knee before he takes them home before kicking them out after he's decided enough is enough and that they were another notch on his belt! I refuse to become that type of girl." Hermione was near hysterics shouting at the dark haired girl.
Hermione turned and began walking towards the door before a thin hand gripped her wrist stopping her, the manicured fingernails digging into the skin leaving thin red welts in their wake. Hermione narrowed her eyes as they travelled up the tanned arm to the owner, who immediately let go when their eyes locked.
"You wouldn't…" Pansy coughed before starting again in a more confident tone than previously, "You wouldn't be another-" she paused putting her middle finger and index finger in the air making a quotation gesture, "Notch on his belt" she put her hands back down to her sides.
"What makes you so sure?" Hermione queried in her know-it-all voice.
Pansy walked so her back was to one of the sinks as if preparing for a long speech, "I've known Draco all my life, I once upon a time believed it was me he was destined to be with, that I was going to be the next Lady Malfoy. So when he told me that I didn't hold his heart it naturally made me upset, I was a total bitch" she paused to catch her breath momentarily, and Hermione looked as if she wanted to interrupt, "A bigger bitch than usual."
"Once I got over it and was courting Blaise I built up the courage to ask him about it, why it wasn't me. He said that he once asked his father, how he knew his mother Narcissa was the right person that he loved. Lucius replied that it just felt right, that when they shared their first kiss he felt the weight weigh heavily on his heart as she walked away, and he couldn't be near another woman intimately thereafter. Draco's been searching for that person for the last two years he's travelled everywhere to see if he can find the woman he can fall in love with. There have been women he's kissed that he's not slept with. Women he's slept with but didn't kiss. He's not totally proud of his stud label anymore, he never says it but I think he wants to settle down have a family of his own." She stopped before she added as an afterthought "And when he kissed you before there was a definite sparkle in his eye that I've never seen before."
Hermione took all Pansy was saying in, solving the riddle as she went along like she would a mathematical equation before summarising: "You think he loves me?"
Pansy held her arms up, "I'm not saying that, but I'm simply replying to the theory you had of him and his notches. He never kisses and then sleeps with, it's not his style."
"So he prefers sex and then nothing?"
Pansy nodded with a look on her face that clearly stated that she thought it was the most simplistic explanation in the world. "Kisses and sex are too intimate it's like saying there is more to the relationship than meets the eye. Kisses are an expression and sex is an outlet for frustrations."
"What's your point?" Hermione suddenly asked after a few minutes silence.
"That you no longer have a leg to stand on as to the reason you shouldn't tell him who you are." Hermione's mouth unflatteringly dropped open, 'Damn Parkinson, damn Slytherins and their cunning.' "So are you going to tell him?" Pansy asked her eyes narrowing slightly as she waited for Hermione's answer. Hermione nodded as she went to get her mask off the sink top, Pansy gave a quick thank you and when Hermione turned back around Pansy had disappeared.
When Hermione exited the bathroom and returned to the party it was to find the make shift stage had been made near where the band had been playing and she could see Cecil stood on it a microphone in one hand.
This couldn't be good!
A/N: Well thats Chapter 2, I hope you like and as per usual, please, please, please REVIEW. This will be the last chapter for a bit but the more reviews the quicker I will write ;)
Thanks to the reviewers of the last chapter
Scorpio219 -x-