Chapter 18
It was someone's birthday the next evening, so it was an all out party, which frankly was just a little larger than their typical evening. The food was a little more elaborate.
"Great job, yesterday." Connie said.
"Its not enough, he is just enjoying it." Hermione said.
"But a believable build up, now you have to start cranking it up a few notches."
Hermione just nodded, not sure what to do, but she would think it over and come up with a plan. Planning was one of her specialties after all.
"Have you heard any more about what the Council are doing?" She asked after a few seconds of contemplating.
"Apparently they are drafting some amendment to the laws relating to muggleborns." Connie said.
"And you don't know what it is?"
"No, but I have heard that its not radical change, so don't get your expectations up to high." She said. "Now I must mingle."
Hermione couldn't help but feel a sting of disappointment.
Draco was back in party mode, clearly enjoying the company of his fellow Slytherin alumni, although there were representatives of every school. McCormack was giving her salacious looks whenever she walked past him. He would slowly check her out from head to toe, making her want to vomit. He clearly had designs on her when Draco was done with her. It pleased her immensely that she had other plans and she would so sadly have to disappoint him. For the forgettable Mr. Merrimen too, that would hopefully burn.
She tried to convince Draco to excuse her and let her go home, but he said no. He really was enjoying this control over her, which he didn't have before because she wasn't engaging with him. It was really vexing her, but the way he was going he would be too drunk to notice after too long anyway.
So she waited and waited. She chatted with some of the girls on occasion. Chatting with the men was generally not a good idea because it would quickly devolve into flirting, or even worse groping. It seems they were all on the lookout to steal each others' girls and if you gave them an opening, they would eventually try it on.
The end was finally drawing close and Draco was pretty much unstable on his feet. He was clearly relaxed and happy. It was amazing the amount he could consume without making himself sick. But it also made him uninhibited. He was actually friendly with all and sundry, and seemed somewhat interested in their lives.
"Take me home girl." He finally said to her.
Hermione complied and led him to the fireplace.
"Did you have fun?" He asked when they stepped out into his sitting room.
"I always have fun." She responded and he started to laugh.
"I seriously don't think you understand the concept." He said and pulled her close. "You never have." He said a little more seriously.
Actually she was feeling a little bit affected by the few drinks she'd had during the evening. Everyone kept on giving her drinks and she had to be polite and sip away.
"Always running around saving the world." He said. "So serious. Always so serious."
"You were too in those days." She said. "Those were serious days."
He nodded.
"I am much too drunk tonight." He said, still holding he pretty tight. "The mind is willing, but the body is not able. Such a cruel state."
"I should put you to bed."
"I'm not a baby." He said, and the implications were that he was not ready to go to bed yet. God forbid he was in the mood to talk. Although this could be interesting. It was rare she heard anything of what was on his mind, other than partying and sex that was.
"Are you hungry?" She asked and he slowly shook his head.
"You really do have stunning eyes." He said. Hermione cringed, oh please not the drunken 'you're not completely ugly' speech. Maybe his mind really did travel away from those two topics.
"Don't think I haven't noticed the covetous looks you're given. You little vixen. Toying with the boys."
"I am not." Hermione said in dignified.
"I can see it in their eyes, what they want to do with you. And they can't because you're mine." He laughed. But he lost the pleased look and got very serious again.
"Let me show you something." He said.
"Its late. You should.." Hermione didn't want play, certainly didn't want to hear about his pride of possession. She just wanted to go home.
He hushed her and dragged her back to the fireplace. "12 Grimmauld Place." He said and they started spinning.
Hermione wasn't sure what he wanted to show her here and she was feeling a little anxious now. He apparently knew exactly where he wanted to go and dragged her along up the stairs if not in a somewhat unsteady way. He passed the bedroom and kept on going up another, then another set of stairs.
They were not up at the top of the house and he accessed another hidden set of stairs that obviously went up to the attic. Strange place to take her.
He walked into the darkness lit only by the moodlight of a small window and retrieved two boxes of stuff. Hermione was still standing on the stairs as he brought the boxes over to her.
The first thing she noticed was Harry's quill case.
"This is..." She said and slowly reached in.
"This is all his stuff that was here." He said. "You should have it."
Hermione sat down on the stair case with the box and slowly looked through the things. Actually a few of them were things she had given Harry on his birthdays.
"Thank you." She said, feeling very grateful that he would think of giving her this. Remembering it.
Draco sat down on the stairs just a step up from her.
"It should go to someone who appreciates it." He said. "It seems no one does."
Hermione didn't say anything.
"I hated the prick, but I know this world would be shit if it hadn't been for him." Draco said. "Most don't know what it was like when the Dark Lord was alive. Have no clue what this world would have turned into."
"I suppose this is a better iteration." She said.
"For most." He said and she knew the he was acknowledging her and her kind as the exception.
"It could be better." She said.
"It could be much worse." He said, seemingly much more sober than his clear drunken state.
His eyes were boring into her now and she could only return it. They were having an unspoken discussion of some kind. About what could have been, what was and what should be.
"This isn't right." She said.
"It could be worse." He repeated. She recognised that he didn't argue with the fact that it was wrong. It might have sounded like a small thing, but it was a bit admission on his part. More than she'd ever expected. Actually he had just acknowledged Harry's sacrifice and the fact that her treatment was wrong.
She didn't know what to say. She wanted to cry, actually. For so long, no one had even indicated that there was anything less than deserving in her treatment. The natural order. And coming from him of all people. The one who had pushed for her subjugation since the day she arrived.
It would never be an apology but the acknowledgement was as good as.
The silence was complete as Hermione leant in to kiss him. It was meant as a thank you, but once it got started, it just deepened. And not in an 'I'd like some of that' way, but in a much deeper appreciative way. All the way deep.
Hermione broke the kiss and pulled away. Shocked that she had done it. It wasn't because she had to, or because of the plan. She had done it because she wanted to kiss him. This was bad.
When she regained herself out of her shock, he was asleep on the stairs. And knowing what he was like, nothing would wake him up again. She had to drag him downstairs before he was completely gone, otherwise he would be spending the night on the stairs.
She got him into bed after some heavy coaxing and lifting. It was strange having him in the bed. Nicer than she would ever admit because she was still freaked out that she had full on, not excuses kissed him.
Hermione was still freaked out the next day. Draco had left without a word as soon as he remained consciousness. Hermione now knew without a doubt that she had to do something. Something drastic because things were really, really not going to plan.
She got a note the next day telling her to come at 9. When she arrived and they went to the club where they often go.
Draco didn't seem to remember anything from the latter part of the night before. Hermione realised he must have assumed that she had taken advantage of his drunken stated and gotten the sleep over she had been asking him for. It irked her, but it was in favour of the plan. So she tried to look pleased.
The club was crowded and Draco was a little distant again. Clearly not happy about being herded back to her place last night for a bit of snuggling time.
Tonight was the night, Hermione decided and she took a couple of drinks to build her courage. She felt the heat of the alcohol warm her and steadied her resolve.
She went to find Draco. Here is goes, she thought. She wasn't sure exactly what she was going to do, but she needed to make a scene. Last night have given her an idea.
She started by clinging to Draco as he was standing with a group of Slytherins, laughing about some story.
"I'd like for us to go Draco." She said conclusively trying to hide her nervousness. Draco straightened and looked at her incredulously.
"Its not time to go." He said coldly.
"But I want to go now." She whined.
"I will go when I am ready, and you will go when you're told." He said through gritted teeth.
"Don't be like this Draco." She said loudly looking very hurt. People around were starting to notice.
"Be like what?"
"So cold." She said. She was starting to cry, well trying her best to anyway and to her surprise the tears were starting to flow. "I hate it what you're cold to me."
"I think you've had too much to drink." He spat.
"Don't dismiss me. I love you and I know you love me. And if you would just acknowledge it properly we can have a chance at making it." She said, loudly sobbing now. She noted that even the music seemed to have stopped. "We could make this world such a better place. Its worth trying because I love you so much."
Ok, it was done. Draco looked absolutely furious. There were shocked expressions all round and the quiet was all encompassing. Some of the Slytherins were completely amused and the odd one started laughing.
"You're drunk mudblood, you should leave." Draco ordered her.
The standing crowd seemed to clear a path towards the exit as she started walking. She was obviously radioactive. She floo'ed back to Grimmauld place and let out the breath she was holding. It was done.