Hey you fanfictioners out there. Miss me? I doubt it. So....ummm...kind of another filler chapter? Well, maybe not. I haven't written it yet, so I'm not exactly sure what'll happen. That's what I love about writing fanfiction. I can totally start with one thing and then the story will just develop on its own, in my mind. Yay genius brain!
Hehehe, sry, selfish moment there.
Responses:
HPGW4eva: that's so nice of you to seek out my story! I feel loved :-). Well, don't get ahead of yourself. Harry and Ron aren't attacking her about it, no, but they aren't especially happy with it either. And I'm glad you like the Harry-Ginny thing, but I'm not surprised. Your name IS HarryPGinnyW4eva. Lol. Hope you like this chapter!
Sub: thanks for reviewing! Well, Hermione isn't exactly a saint, and she was rather angry. But I get your point, and I'll keep it in mind for the future. As for good vs evil...you shall see...
RG: Whoever doesn't know what a filler chapter is a silly mongoose. Besides the fact that I see it everywhere, the phrase is kind of self explanatory, no? lol thanks for reviewing, and enjoy the newest chapter!
So this is a Draco-and-friends chapter, since we haven't seen them since chapter 3. I thought it might be nice to peek in on them and see how their characters are coming along. What d'you say? Are you in? lol
Shall we?
Chapter 9: Confessions
Draco was in the library, working. It was a Saturday afternoon, and the weather was actually nice, for an early November day. Yet here he was, sitting in the library with Blaise and Millie, studying Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Draco was very antsy. He couldn't seem to stay still. He tapped his feet and twiddled his pencil and scribbled furiously. It was so annoying. Why did he have to be inside?!
But I don't
"Hey, Blaise?"
"Yeah?" Blaise said, looking up from his own DADA homework.
"Why don't we take this outside?"
Blaise smirked at Draco's clever wording and made to stand. "Sure, why not?"
They gathered their papers and swung their bags over their shoulders. Saying a quick goodbye to Millie, together they left the library, and, eventually, the confines of the school.
Draco breathed in the fresh air. It had been days since he'd been outside. Quidditch practice had been cancelled because of bad weather, and he sorely missed the scenery. There was literally no one else outside. They had the whole grounds to themselves.
Blaise and Draco made their way over to a birch tree close to the edge of the lake. In the slowly dimming light, the lake looked even blacker than usual, and its surface was glassy.
Pulling their cloaks closer around them as the breeze picked up, they sat under the tree and laid out their work to finish.
No longer feeling cooped up and stale, Draco was able to focus better on his work and finished soon after they sat down. At that point he sat up and leaned against the tree trunk, waiting for Blaise to complete his work as well.
When he did, Blaise similarly leaned against the tree trunk, which was large enough for the both of them. Neither of them said anything. That was one of the cool things about their friendship, Draco thought. They didn't always have to be talking or joking or interacting, they could just sit in the other's company, and that was fine.
While he sat there, Draco thought about Blaise. Blaise had started to change too. He was proud of his friend for making an effort to be a better person. Ever since the day Draco had snapped at him, Blaise had seen a line that hadn't been there before, and obviously knew not to cross it again. He hadn't said a single thing against Hermione since then. That was partially because Draco avoided mentioning her around him, just in case, but still. Blaise seemed like he was beginning to lose some of his old prejudices. The money strain had gotten worse, and they had both been afraid for a time that Blaise would be pulled out of school because he didn't have enough money for tuition.
But McGonagall had stepped in and given him a scholarship. After that scare, though, Draco figured Blaise had finally thought things through and was struggling through his own path to becoming a different person...someone who wasn't restricted by the walls of race and family and money and power and blood; someone who might accept Draco's confession.
Because he had to tell someone soon, or he might burst. Keeping some things to himself was easy, but when it came to girls, Draco liked to talk, especially to Blaise, and the fact that he couldn't bothered him greatly. Maybe sometime in the near future, Blaise might get a—
"Drake?"
"Yeah?"
"I have a confession to make."
"Ok, shoot."
Blaise seemed to take a really deep, but almost unnoticeable breath. "I like Pansy."
There was a pause. "Really?"
"Drake, look, I'm sorry. Don't get annoyed with me. I—"
"Why on earth would I be annoyed with you?"
"Well, I mean, isn't Pansy—well she's kind of—isn't she, like, your girlfriend?"
Draco chuckled. "Yes, but no"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Draco sighed. "Pansy's my friend—has been for years. We dated for a while a couple of years ago, but it never really panned out. I mean, we like each other a lot, but there was always something missing. Anyway, we broke it off essentially. But, I get with a lot of girls, right?"
"Right" Blaise said, smirking.
"So she's kind of, like...my cover story, you know? On the surface, she's my official girlfriend, my good excuse. But that's only for show. I mean, we like each other well enough. We're friends, and she's really great in bed, but that's about it."
"No way"
"Way"
"So, basically, you're telling me she's fair game?"
"Absolutely—if you guys get serious, I can always fend for myself. I'm a big kid."
Blaise laughed quietly, and then louder. His laugh echoed across the empty expanse.
"What are you so happy about?"
"Well, I like her, and she's available, so what the fuck so you think I'm happy about?"
As he stopped laughing, Draco smirked at him. "You should jump her."
They both laughed at that. Blaise elbowed him. "No, you prick"
"Why the hell not?"
"Because..."
When he didn't elaborate, Draco spoke. "Ah, I see. You are not, in fact, in it for the sex."
Blaise turned pink. "No"
"Huh, so you honestly like her?" He said it more as a statement than a question.
Blaise squared his shoulders and turned to look at his friends. "I honestly like her."
Draco smiled. "What is it, exactly, that makes you like her so much?" He was curious.
Blaise considered him for a moment before turning back to the lake. "I dunno. Maybe it's that she always knows what to say to calm me down. Maybe it's that she challenges me, rather than falling easily into my arms. Maybe it's her long shiny black hair that she always pulls into a ponytail, instead of wearing it down, where it looks better. Maybe it's her voluptuous curves. Maybe I should really shut up now."
"Yeah, Blaise, you probably should." Draco laughed. "Well good for you, mate." He slapped him on the back. "Go get her."
"Yeah, I think I will."
They sat there for a while longer, watching as the sun faded behind the clouds near the horizon. And Draco thought about her.
Something had clicked when Blaise talked about liking Pansy. There was a tone in his voice that Draco understood and...related to. He couldn't deny it to himself...he absolutely fancied Granger. But why? What was it about her?
It was the way her nose wrinkled up when she was studying. It was how quick she was to respond when he was witty with her. It was her laugh, clear and decisive, as if she were saying 'I'm having a good time and there's nothing you can do about it!' It was how compassionate she was around him. It was her unfailing kindness and understanding. It was her wild brown hair with blonde streaks that caught the light just so. It was her face going red when he complimented her.
That was what attracted him to Hermione.
Hermione
"Blaise, I have a confession to make too."
"Ok, shoot."
"Well, see, it's about...Granger."
YES! I did it. Wow, I'm impressed with myself. At first I had no idea what I was doing but then things just...came together, and we got this. You like?
I feel very secretive right now. I kind of snuck downstairs to get on the computer (not for writing, but oh well) and I ended up with a new chapter. It's all dark and the lights are off and it makes me feel almost...giddy. In a scandalous sort of way *smirks*
Do you guys think I've made my fic too...symmetrical? For Hermione and Draco, I mean. I don't mean to, it;s just so easy to make a pattern. Tell me if you want me to...disrupt the balance.
This fic has gotten almost 2000 hits so far! It makes me feel warm inside. Big shout out to everyone who has subscribed, favorited, or reviewed. You guys are the best! Hugs all around!
-Ginger
