Ch. 9 Ginnus Interruptus
Hermione had begun to pace her room with hot tears streaming down her face that she brushed away furiously. How stupid she was to even think for a moment that anything could change between her and Malfoy. How could he accuse her of being a whore? His anger at her and Blaise was completely unwarranted and misplaced not to mention that it made no sense.
She could practically see his face now glowering at her menacingly all the while implying that she was no more than a two-bit tramp. The words had stung her so much that she'd reacted on instinct and slapped him. For a moment she'd been afraid when he'd warned her never to touch him. He'd looked positively dangerous.
It was still mid-afternoon the sun was still up and everyone was no doubt still roaming around. Later that night she'd have to go patrolling with him and at the moment she had no idea if she would be able to do that. The last thing she wanted was to have another fight with him.
"Mr. Malfoy!"
She moved towards her door. It sounded like McGonagall was outside. Why would Ms. McGonagall be in our dorm? She slowly opened her door and found the prim woman standing at their door with it wide open. She seemed to be waiting for Malfoy. She stepped out of her room and McGonagall turned a stern eye on her.
"Is something wrong, Ms. McGonagall?"
Malfoy came out of his room looking nothing like the disheveled boy she'd seen come in almost a half hour ago. His robes were neat and clean. His hair was no longer tousled and it hung loosely in his face. Whatever the reason for how he'd looked before McGonagall was not pleased.
"Ms. Granger, you will be performing your duties tonight with Ms. Weasley as Malfoy will be otherwise engaged."
If he was in trouble there was nothing in his expression that gave it away. McGonagall on the other hand looked ready to punish. Severely.
"Come, Malfoy."
She strode out and Malfoy followed giving Hermione a heated glance. She was practically dying to know what was going on and after they'd been gone for a few minutes she left hoping to get some information from someone. Either she was really paranoid or everyone she passed in the halls would suddenly stop talking and look at her. The Slytherins especially stared at her viciously.
Lavender Brown was rushing towards her eagerly. Hermione slowed down wondering what she wanted. She had no idea where McGonagall and Malfoy had went but she was assuming it was to McGonagall's office. Lavender gave her an inquisitive look when she reached her.
"Is it true? Are you and Blaise Zabini going together?"
She stared around her impatiently, "No Lavender. I am not. Now, if you will excuse me-"
Lavender stopped her once more.
"Then why were he and Malfoy fighting about you?"
"What?"
They were fighting about me? Why would they be fighting about me? At least she had the answer to Malfoy's tousled state and McGonagall's retrieval of him.
"On the Quidditch field a while ago they were fighting," Lavender spoke excitedly happy to have this bit of gossip, "They said Malfoy confronted him about asking you out and then out of nowhere just started hitting him. All the Slytherins have been calling Blaise a blood traitor," as if realizing this might hurt Hermione's feelings she smiled apologetically, "That's all pretty stupid though," her voice lowered conspiratorially, "Malfoy may face expulsion. Serves him right. See you at dinner."
Lavender scurried down the hall and Hermione began walking again but at a much more sluggish pace. Malfoy had fought Blaise because he'd asked her out. He had been so upset that he'd done something that could jeopardize his position at the school. Suddenly she became angry and more hurt. He would resort to violence to protect his self-proclaimed way of life.
She felt herself grow a bit warmer towards Blaise. He'd had to defend the fact that he'd asked her out even if his reasons were purely shallow for doing so. She felt like a character in a shoddy after-school special. In all her years of knowing him she'd never known him to be in a fight, a real fight. He'd always seemed such a wimp when they were younger and she knew then that his bark was worse than his bite. Now it was as if everything had changed overnight. Draco Malfoy was no longer the sniveling little coward who'd rather shout insults than really do something. Now he seemed to actually be living up to his name. He was a force to be reckoned with and she happened to be his opposition.
Malfoy slunk down in the hard backed chair in McGonagall's office. He hadn't said a word and neither had she. He assumed she was saving her wrath from listening ears. His face was impassive but inside he was tied in knots. In a few moments McGonagall would announce his fate. He chided himself for allowing his feelings to get the best of him. He'd acted rash and out of character. Now he would face the consequences.
McGonagall sat down in her chair and eyed him gravely. Her appearance was as stiff and neat as ever. Her office seemed to reflect her because there was nothing out of place. He sat up straight unconsciously influenced by her stare and waited for her punishment.
"I would have come sooner but I spent a great deal of time asking students why exactly you and Zabini were fighting to begin with. I must say I am very disappointed in you," she sighed, "Since I let Zabini give his side of the story I'd like to hear yours."
He cleared his throat but still said nothing.
"Are you not going to defend your actions or do you think your actions need no explanation?" her voice rose slightly as if preparing to scold him, "Zabini informed me that you hit him because he asked Hermione Granger out. Is that true?"
He decided to stick as close to the truth as possible without giving his real reasons for bloodying his best friend's face.
"Yes. It is."
She clasped her hands over her desk.
"Why exactly did you hit him? Do you consider him to be a traitor because he asked out someone who was born to muggle parents?"
Before he could lie to confirm her suspicions he shook his head once.
"Of course not-I........."
What could he say? It seemed as if he was damned if he did damned if he didn't. There was too much on the line now and this was McGonagall he was dealing with, lying to her was pointless.
"I didn't hit Blaise because Granger is a muggleborn............." McGonagall watched him closely and he cleared his throat again, "I hit Blaise for another reason."
"And what reason would that be, Malfoy?" she pressed further.
He looked away finding a portrait on the wall of particular interest.
"Does it really matter why I hit him? I'll still be in trouble either way."
He looked back to her and was surprised to find that she didn't look angry in fact she looked.......amused? What is that about?
"Yes you would be in trouble either way," her face serious again, "Resulting to violence is never the answer. I was under the impression that you and Zabini were close friends."
He shrugged, "Things change."
She pursed her lips, "Indeed they do Malfoy. Indeed they do."
She looked amused again and he wondered what the hell was going on inside her head. Legilimency would come in handy right about now even though he was well trained in occlumency he had yet to master the former. There was an owl perched in the back of the room apparently napping and he thought of her sending his father a message about his actions.
"Will you be informing my father of what happened?"
"I thought about it," he held a breath, "But I decided not to," he exhaled feeling his heartbeat go back to normal, "You are a young man who happens to be one of the Heads of this school. Since you are usually not this....tempered in your actions I will refrain from informing either of your parents. Whether they know of what happened or not is up to you."
He relaxed in his seat, "Does that mean I'm not being expelled?"
"Of course not. A fight is hardly enough to send someone away from the school," she shook her head as if the suggestion was insane, "You will be punished though. You can not perform any Head duties for two weeks. You will also not be able to play Quidditch."
He sat up and her lips pursed so tight he said nothing but gritted his teeth.
"That would forfeit our first game. There is no one else who can replace me as seeker or captain."
She lifted her head, "You should have thought of that before you went pounding people's face in," her voice wry, "You will be able to attend classes but that is all for the next two weeks. Once your classes are over you can go immediately to your dorms and no where else. Your dinner will be sent to you by one of the elves and no one is allowed to visit you while on punishment. Are we clear?"
He nodded slowly. Other than Quidditch he could live with everything else she'd said, for two weeks anyway. He wondered why her punishment wasn't much worse.
"Considering that you're a Head usually you would have been thrown out of the position but I will grant you one more chance if for no other reason than you've done everything reasonably well up until this point," she nodded towards the door, "You may go now."
He rose and she eyed him amused again, "There are scarier things than one's feelings Malfoy."
He eyed her strangely before hurrying out. She acted as if she was privy to some secret that he should have known. Whatever the case he headed back to his room.
The first game of Quidditch was under way and Hermione stared bored at it all. Gryffindor was going against Hufflepuff and the game seemed to stall as Harry searched incessantly for the snitch. By now the entire school had heard of Blaise's asking her out and his consequent fight with Malfoy. If the Gryffindors and Slytherins hated each other before it was even more so now. Everyone had apparently taken sides to the whole thing and were rallying against each other. Hermione had been encouraged by more than one person that her and Blaise were and would be a good couple.
She hadn't even spoken to Blaise since the day before yesterday when he'd asked her to Hogsmeade. She wondered if he regretted it now since his entire house seemed to be against him. Malfoy on the other hand had their loyalty now more than ever. In class they fell all over themselves to assist him and she'd even seen some of them bow reverently to him as if he were their King and they his loyal subjects.
Malfoy surprisingly ignored them all. He sat through class as he usually did and retreated back to their dorms which she was sure was part of his punishment. Blaise didn't exactly seem put off by his peers either in fact he seemed to be basking in the attention.
She and Malfoy had not spoken since their argument. They were both stepping on pins and needles trying to avoid the other. If she was studying in their common room he would stay in his room and vice versa. He was practically a ghost now. Class was the only time they had seen each other, he wasn't even allowed to eat with everyone else in the Great Hall.
She and Ginny had done the patrols for the past two nights and she'd found, much to her annoyance, that she missed Malfoy. She had no idea how long he was suspended from his Head duties but considering he was still living in the dorm it couldn't be indefinitely. She felt a tugging on her sleeve and turned to Estrella who had her eyes trained on Harry who was slowly circling around the field.
"How long does he have to do this?" she asked.
"It depends. He has to find the snitch in order to win the game."
Estrella nodded still intent on Harry. Everyone had been weary of her coming because of the distraction it posed but Harry would have none of it and determinedly brought her to her seat before the game started. He'd told her that she was his good luck charm and she'd blushed and kissed him on the cheek. Once again Hermione would have found the exchange sweet if she didn't find the girl so odd.
Harry had been having even more trouble at night with the voice. She was waiting in earnest for Dumbledore's return as she felt he was the only one who could really help them in the matter. She was almost positive that somehow Voldemort was behind the voice and she'd searched the library for books on the matter but found none. From the books she'd perused it seemed the only time one heard voices was when you were insane and she refused to believe that Harry was off his rocker. There was more going on and she would most surely find out.
Suddenly Harry zoomed up towards the sky. It was obvious he'd spotted the snitch. The Hufflepuff seeker followed his lead but without direction. He couldn't spot the snitch but he was going to make the same moves that Harry did and hope that he found it. Hermione stood up and cheered for Harry as many others had started to do.
"Go Harry! Go!"
Estrella remained seated and stared wide eyed at everything going on.
"Looks like Potter's spotted the snitch," Dean Thomas's voice boomed throughout the field.
Harry zoomed forward following the snitch. He looked as if he was heading towards their them. She peered closer trying to see the flying ball and jumped back in shock. The snitch was headed right at them.
"Duck low Hermione!" Harry shouted waving his arm.
She was about to do that anyway. She ducked low and remembering Estrella motioned for her to do the same. The girl seemed confused as to what was going on until she saw the flying ball merely a few feet and seconds away. Her eyes became saucers as the snitch flew towards her head and stopped in mid-air. Hermione had been holding her breath expecting for the girl's head to get knocked off. She stood up slowly watching the snitch float in front of Estrella's face.
Everyone around them seemed to be staring in awe. Harry who was levitating not far away on his broom was staring in awe as well.
"Estrella?" he said softly as if trying to soothe her, "Don't move."
She nodded slowly. The snitch remained floating in front of her and began to buzz up and down as if angry. Harry pushed forward on his broom, reached out, and grabbed it. Everyone around them sighed and Estrella slumped down into her seat her face stricken.
"Harry has caught the snitch! Gryffindor wins!" Dean shouted.
The entire field erupted in applause and Harry gave Estrella one more concerned look before turning and going back into the field. A tear slid down Estrella's face and Hermione went over to her.
"Are you okay?"
"I-I think so," she said her voice shaking.
"Come on."
She led Estrella down and out onto the field. Everyone had descended on their brooms and everyone on the Gryffindor team was patting Harry on the back cheering and smiling. When Harry saw her and Estrella he ran over to them and took Estrella's hand. They walked off together and Harry looked to be consoling her. Ginny came over to her.
"What happened up there?"
"You saw?"
Ginny shook her head, "I only saw Harry practically ride into the stands. I can't believe the snitch was over there. It never goes into the stands."
Hermione nodded, "I know. It was coming towards us so fast I thought it would knock her head off."
Ginny looked to Estrella who was having her tears wiped away by Harry and rolled her eyes.
"So the snitch doesn't like her. I guess I'm not alone anymore. See you later Hermione."
Ginny joined the rest of her team who were heading off the field. Hermione stared at a crying Estrella. That was most certainly odd.
Hermione only celebrated with everyone in the Gryffindor common room for an hour. Ron had been eying her strangely so she'd made a hasty exit. She was surprised to find Malfoy in their common room with a black cauldron on the table. He looked up at her as she'd entered.
"I was wondering when you'd come back. We need to start on our assignment in Potions."
She'd been wondering how to approach him on the subject with their avoiding each other.
"Just let me take off my robes first."
She went into her room and put her bushy mane into a ponytail then took of her robes. She almost glanced in the mirror to check out her appearance and scolded herself. This is just Malfoy. Petulant, rude, insufferable Malfoy. I do not care what he thinks. She passed the mirror and went back into the common room. He was surveying the paper with ingredients on it holding the green leaf in his hands.
"It says we have to take half of the leaf and chop it into fine bits. Basically shred the thing."
She nodded and began helping him neither saying anything that pertained to anything else. Two hours had passed and they were only on step four which had to be completed two days from now. Malfoy picked up the cauldron and laid it on the table farthest in the back of the room so that it would remain undisturbed until they had to work on it again.
She had been dying from the robotic way they'd been talking. His anger from before was nowhere to be seen and for that she was grateful but now she felt invisible in front of him and it irked her. He'd also begun to sneak out again despite his being already suspended of duties. He'd started back last night and she knew that he would go tonight which is probably why he wanted to work on the potion so early.
"Where were you going that night?"
He set the lid down on the cauldron and looked at her.
"Why are you going out with Blaise?"
She sighed exasperatedly, "I'm not going out with Blaise! There is nothing between us. Now answer my question."
"You are too curious for your own good, Granger," he shook his head.
She crossed her arms.
"You owe me."
He lifted a brow.
"I owe you? I thought it was the other way around. Remember that screaming girl?"
She shook her head, "You owe me because I didn't tell. You're already in enough trouble as it is with fighting and all."
He sauntered over to the couch and sat down.
"I suppose you're on Blaise's side like the rest of your pathetic house."
She moved to stand in front of him.
"And why should I be on your side? You were the one in the wrong."
He looked up at her cocking his head to the side.
"Are you so sure?"
She looked at him stupidly, "You beating up your own friend just because he asked someone out who isn't a pureblood doesn't make you wrong?"
"If that's how you see it then I guess in your eyes I am wrong," he said dryly.
"What do you mean if that's how I see it? That's how it was........Wasn't it?"
He said nothing and she began to wonder if he was just playing mind games or if there really was something else that fueled his fight with Blaise.
"Everybody says-" she started.
"Everybody says what?" he spoke sharply, "Don't give me second hand gossip."
She realized that she had been listening to gossip. She hadn't spoken to Blaise or Malfoy about the incident she'd just accepted what everyone said as fact. She sucked in a breath looking down at him.
"I apologize. What happened between you and Blaise? Really."
He shrugged, "It doesn't really matter now."
"Are you still friends?"
"I highly doubt it. Why?"
She felt horrible. She couldn't believe that she was the reason that Malfoy and Blaise were no longer friends. It didn't make any sense.
"If you didn't start a fight with him because I'm not a pureblood then why did you start a fight with him?"
He stood up abruptly forcing her to take several steps back.
"I told you it doesn't matter now."
She looked heavenward begging for patience, "It was only two days ago."
"How does Potter and Weasel feel about your boyfriend?"
She noticed that he was getting angry again not to mention he was also changing the subject.
"Why is it such a big deal if me and Blaise were going together?"
She watched his jaws clench and waited expectantly for an answer.
"Blaise does not go with anyone. He sleeps with them and leaves them crying later."
"Since I'm a whore that shouldn't matter."
He looked away briefly and she saw his face fill with regret. He stared at her for the longest moment. He opened his mouth and then shut it. Open then shut. Open and shut. He looked as if he was struggling to say something that was either really unpleasant or completely foreign to him.
"I shouldn't have said that," he finally got out, "I............I...........I'm sorry."
Her eyes widened then she immediately cooled her expression. This must have been the first time in history that Draco Malfoy had ever apologized. Considering who he was apologizing to she decided to give him as little grief as possible over it. She couldn't help the smile that came over her face though. She was practically beaming at him.
"Apology accepted. I'm sorry too."
He gave her a puzzled look, "Sorry about what?"
"About hitting you,"she looked at her feet briefly, "I shouldn't have done that even if you deserved it."
He chuckled and she looked to him in surprise. It was a beautiful sound to her.
"I did deserve it but it stung like hell," she chuckled too, "I think you hit harder than Zabini."
"Are you a death eater?"
The humor left his face and she felt the mood shift to one of solemn. He lifted his right arm and lifted it up but it was covered by his robes. He eyed her closely.
"Do you think it's here?"
She didn't answer and he asked her again more forcefully.
"Do you think it's here Granger?"
She answered truthfully and said, "No."
His face was one of surprise. The emotions seemed to swim in waves on his face and she realized it was the first time she'd ever seen him so unguarded. He looked away from the honesty in her eyes.
"You really believe that?"
She swallowed and took a step forward, "Yes."
He shook his head still looking away, "Like I said before, you're incredibly naive."
She motioned to his arm, "Then show me. Show the dark mark and prove me wrong."
He finally looked back at her.
"What would you do if it was?"
What would she do? At the moment she had no idea but for some reason she knew that he didn't have the dark mark and probably never would. At least she hoped and prayed.
"I don't know what I would do."
He nodded and reached his arm out to her.
"Go ahead," he said quietly, "See who I really am."
She took a deep shuddering breath and touched the cloth on his arm. She looked up to catch him eying her intensely.
"I'm sure the golden trio wonders if I'm working for the other side so go ahead and look."
Her hand clasped the cloth almost gripping it in her hand. All she had to do was move it back slightly and she'd have a definite answer, he was offering it to her on a silver platter. She'd find out if they all needed to watch their backs more closely and maybe even get him out of the school for good if it turned out that he was. She knew that he wasn't though, something in his eyes told her he wasn't and she was going to trust that instead. She didn't know why she was going to trust it but she was.
She let go of his sleeve and backed away shaking her head. He lowered his arm all of a sudden looking weary. He looked away again.
"I don't need to look. I already know what's there."
He turned to her again his eyes angry.
"Do you? You don't know me Granger. You don't know who I really am," he moved closer to her, "If you knew what I could do to you you'd go running in the other direction."
She shook her head, "I would never run from you Malfoy. Never. I'm not some fragile little girl who can't handle the truth when it's ugly. I'm not gonna go in a corner and curl in a ball and cry. Whatever's happening I can deal with it."
He laughed humorlessly, "It's easy to be strong when there's nothing to test your strength. Wait until it all gets ugly then what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to fight. I'll fight until my last breath."
He nodded, "I bet you would not that it'd do you any good. Your enemies are cruel beyond your imagination. They won't just be happy with killing you. They'll torture you. There's a lot more ways to torture someone than with the crucio curse."
His eyes were haunted and he seemed to be caught in terrors she couldn't see. In that moment she grieved for him for whatever it was he was going through. She knew that whatever it was he was going through it alone and with his alienation of Blaise it was even more so.
"I can help you Draco."
His eyes refocused on her and they both seemed shocked that she'd called him by his first name.
"Say that again."
His voice had gone low and incredibly deep. The gray of his eyes were becoming smoky again they were staring at her mouth.
"Draco."
He cupped her face gently in his hands and her eyes shuttered closed before opening them to look at him. His finger was unconsciously caressing her and she resisted the urge to moan.
"Say it again."
"Draco," the word was little more than a breathy plea, "Please," she moaned.
His lips found hers and unlike their first kiss which had stemmed from anger this one was slow and sweet. He took his time moving his mouth over hers slowly as if savoring the taste then his tongue slipped into her mouth possessing her.
His hands slid down to her waist and he pulled her over to the couch. Without separating their bodies or mouths he laid her gently down his body covering hers. The feel of his hard body on top of hers made her moan again. He moved slightly back to look at her. His eyes were so intense they made her shiver.
"You are so beautiful."
She glanced away from the intensity of his gaze and knew that she was blushing.
"Will you say it again?"
She looked back at him and reached up to caress his face.
"Draco."
His mouth was on hers again and this time the passion was as ferocious as their first time. His mouth roamed over hers hungrily and she gave as good as she got. His manhood throbbed hot against her thigh and his hands slid under her shirt. She threw her head back as his mouth descended lower. He sucked playfully on her neck as his hand kneaded the flesh of her stomach. Her eyes were hazy and she felt like she was on fire. He leaned up to possess her mouth again and he somehow brought their bodies closer because now she felt as if she was melded to him, skin to skin.
She had no idea where either of their bodies began or ended. She felt as if she was one with him. Every part of her body had come alive and was bursting with need. She thought she heard a door click open but was too preoccupied to notice. Draco hadn't either because his mouth continued to plunder hers. There was a small gasp behind her and his head shot up. She twisted her head around to see as well.
Ginny was froze in the midst of entering the room. Her eyes were wide in shock. For a long moment they were all staring at one another. Ginny's mouth was wide and unmoving then finally she let out a tiny shriek and fled from the room. She and Draco slowly turned to look at one another breathing hard. Despite Ginny's intrusion she felt calm and unhurried. She watched the emotions pass silently on his face and wondered if he'd regretted it. Somehow him regretting it was a thousand times worse than Ginny's walking in on them.
He finally sighed and slowly removed himself from her. He stood up and leaned down to help her up. He nodded towards the door.
"You should probably go after her. Weaslette looked to be in shock, not that I blame her."
She peered at him closely righting her clothes, "You don't........regret it.......Do you?"
He was long in answering but he eventually shook his head.
"No. Do you?"
She shook her head, "No."
He gave her a small smile and leaned down to brush her lips lightly with his again.
"I have no idea what you're doing to me Granger," he looked at the door again, "You'd better go get her before she goes jumping off a roof thinking the world's come to an end."
She chuckled, "Maybe it has."