A/N: Not much to say. Just want to thank my readers. Now on with the story. Happy Reading.
Forget Me Not
Chapter 10: Confronting Conflicts
I let out a frustrated sigh as I rolled onto my back and looked up at the moonlit, vaulted ceiling. I blew out another breath as I glanced around the room at my peacefully resting roommates. Presently, I envied them and their ability to sleep without being burdened by overwhelming problems. I sighed again and turned back onto my side and snuggled further into the covers. I was determined to get some sleep that night, but insomnia seemed to be the victor in this little battle, more like a war now. For several nights now I haven't been able to sleep properly; I was too used to his presence beside me and I missed the added warmth his body provided and the way he protectively held me… The more I thought about it, the more upset I became. So I tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on the dream realm. Perhaps a sleeping draught will help my problem?
Somehow, like the previous nights, I eventually managed to succumb to sleep until the morning sun stirred me from sleep to see my roommates bustling about our room fussing over their hair and makeup. I slowly sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes before I let my feet travel to the side of the bed and hit the floor. I slowly stood and dragged my groggy self to the bathroom to begin my day.
I was terribly late that Wednesday morning, but I didn't know how late until I went down to the common room and saw my two best friends giving me worried and disbelieving looks. "Are you all right, Hermione?" Harry asked. I nodded, put my bag over my shoulder, and moved passed the two males and out of the portrait hole; they followed behind me.
All day they remained by my side; I had no idea why they felt compelled to do so, but I said nothing to them. One positive point was that I paid no attention to Draco. That is until Arithmancy. Professor Vector was lecturing about something I had already gone over and had no interest in. My attention was diverted from her and instead roamed about the classroom observing my other classmates. Most of them looked tired and as bored as me, but one particular male was completely distracted and staring at me.
Normally when I glanced around the room and my glance would fall on him he would return a look of malicious intent, however this time there was no intent, but a slight question. My gaze lingered longer than I would have liked, but I was the one to turn away first after realizing the smile I was expecting wasn't coming. I sighed sorrowfully and rested my head on my palm and tried to distract myself by listening to my excited professor.
That evening during our usual time, we went to the library and did our homework. I stayed later than my two best friends to finish research for an Ancient Runes paper. I was reading through one of the old, large tomes when a shadow suddenly cast down over the words on the yellowed pages. I looked up and felt my heart skip a beat, but I tried to look annoyed by the disturbance. As I stared into his somber face I gave him an agitated, inquiring gaze. "We need to talk." I quirked an eyebrow and followed his movements as he took a seat beside me.
"What could we possibly have to talk about?" I asked as I turned back to the book in front of me, but I couldn't focus on anything written inside. My mind was too busy debating whether or not to listen to my two best friends' advice and sever any and all remaining ties with the Slytherin. I've been weighing all of the pros and cons, yet no answers have been resonating with me.
"Like an idiot I went to confront Lisa again, and as I was running away while she was trying to hex me I heard her yell, 'Go ask your precious Granger.' Why would she say something like that?" I shrugged my shoulders while my gaze stayed fixed on the same word on the page of the text. "Do you know what happened to me?"
I looked back up at him and tried to remain stoic. "Why would I know something like that? As far as I know you've been here doing whatever it is that you do. Go ask your friends," I said dismissively as I turned back to my work. I hated lying to him, but I couldn't live with the false hope of having him when I knew that was now improbable. I decided my friends were right about this and it was best to leave him alone and spare my heart any more pain.
"You're lying." I gave him a look of disbelief.
"Excuse me?"
"You know something, and I'm sure of that."
"You don't know anything about me," I angrily stated as I began to put away my things. A part of me believed that to be true, yet some smaller, annoying, part was siding with him. "How dare you presume that I'm lying? We're not friends and don't even associate, so why would I know anything about you. Go ask someone who would know… better yet, someone that would care." I grabbed my bag and left the library; tears welled up behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Damn these teenage hormones.
The following day the glares resumed. I must have struck a nerve with my parting words. Every time I glanced up at him and saw his narrowed gaze it made my heart ache a little, but I tried not to let it show. I'd simply roll my eyes and turn back to whatever my focus was previously on.
After Arithmancy I went to the loo down the hall, I hadn't been paying attention until another's voice snapped me back to reality. "What did you do to him?" I turned around feeling the confusion written across my features. I saw the blonde female standing across from me with her cheeks bright red and her hands on her hips. I decided to ignore her and continued on my way out of the bathroom. "Don't you walk away from me," she shrieked as she grabbed onto my arm after following me outside. "What the fuck did you do to him?"
"Who the hell are you talking about?" I asked as I ripped my arm out of her grasp.
"Draco Malfoy. He was seeing me, and then all of a sudden I see the two of you all over each other in the library."
"What if I was? You should have thought before you cursed him, you daft bimbo." She gasped.
"How dare you?"
"Me! How dare you come after me after everything you did? You cursed him and then turned him into a ferret and tried to keep locked in a cage. Why would he want you? You're clearly mental and someone needs to give you your own cell in St. Mungo's." I watched her eyes widen as her temper flared. Lisa made a move; I didn't know if she was trying to draw her wand or her hand, but I withdrew my own wand and hexed her with an impediment charm. Then I stormed away.
My mind was racing and in a far off place; I hardly noticed the person right in front of me. I collided harshly with someone and hurriedly apologized without looking to see who I had bumped into. Once I looked up, I froze for the briefest second before I attempted to flee. Unfortunately, I was unable to. His hands tightly gripped my upper arms and held me there. "You lied," he said plainly.
I looked to my right and struggled to free myself from his grasp, "Let me go," I ordered, but he didn't heed it.
As futile as it was, I glared at him and that's when I noticed how serious he was, "Why didn't you tell me the truth?" his tone was low and somewhat threatening. I averted my gaze once more and tried again to free myself from his grasp. "I only decided to follow you after I noticed Lisa was also doing so. I hoped to hear something and figure out the truth." I glared at him again and noticed his determined face. "I want the truth, Granger. I need to know what the hell happened to me."
"I don't know, Malfoy!"
"Then why does she keep insisting that we've been together?"
"I don't know what she's talking about. I keep telling you I don't know."
"Then what were you just talking about?"
"That night I found you when she turned you into a ferret! That's the only thing I know that happened to you and the only thing I helped you with."
"Why is she saying differently?"
"I don't know!"
"I guess I just have to find out for myself if it is true or not…"
Draco pulled me into the nearest room and began kissing me. I couldn't help but kiss him back; I missed his touch, his lips, his arms around me…
He broke the kiss and held my hand while he walked over to the nearest chair, pulled it out, had a seat, and then pulled me over to him. I looked down at him and desperately wanted to straddle him and capture his lips, but I couldn't do it. I shook my head, pulled my hand away, and turned to leave. He grabbed my waist and pulled me down onto his lap; I gasped from the sudden action.
Draco loosened my tie and then unbuttoned my white shirt. He took the shirt off of me followed by my bra, but didn't bother removing the accessory. Both of his hands cupped my breasts and massaged them; his forefingers played over my nipples until they tightened. My legs were on either side of his and my hands were supporting my upper body by pressing into his lower thighs.
One of his hands traveled down my stomach and up under my skirt. He began circling his finger around my sensitive bud of nerves. I moaned and tried to support myself. I gave up and leaned back onto his chest; he let his hand groping one breast cross over my chest to give the other attention while his other hand was at play somewhere else. "This kind of reaction from only doing this?" he whispered his question into my ear. I could hear the smirk in his voice.
Draco pressed his lips to my back and sent chills down my spine. But those went away immediately when two of his slender fingers slipped inside of me and curled hitting a sensitive spot. My hips started moving with his hands rhythm. I was so close to coming and couldn't wait to feel that release and ride that wave of pleasure. My eyes opened when he removed his hand from my center.
"Stand up," he ordered. I furrowed my brow and wondered why he stopped. He repeated his order, and that time I stood. "Turn around." I did so; his hands travelled up my thighs and grabbed a hold of my knickers and pulled them down off of me. I helped him take them all the way off once he pulled them down to my calves.
I waited until he freed himself from his pants and boxers then I straddled him willingly. He smiled as he watched me sheath his length. I held onto his shoulders and he held onto my hips. We stared into each other's eyes while I rode him. "You feel perfect…" he purred. I grinded against him a few more times before he lifted me up while he stood and laid me onto the desk in front of us. He took control of the situation and started an intense rhythm which was hard for me to keep up with. But he was hitting all the right places and soon I overwhelmed by the rush of euphoria. I felt my inner muscles contracting against his hardened shaft; his body shook and I knew he found his release as well.
We both were there panting. I stared up at his flushed face and couldn't help myself. I quickly sat up and locked my lips with his and tasted the inside of his mouth. He seemed shocked at first, but soon responded to the kiss and fought to take it over. I slanted my head more and pressed my body into his. He parted away from me and we were both breathless. He looked at me through half lidded eyes. Suddenly, his gaze widened as if realization hit and he righted his clothes and fled the room. I exhaled deeply and felt my heart break a little more. Why did I bother trying to mend it before?
I slowly redressed and gathered my stuff together and made my way back to my dorm. I had decided to cut Potions that day and say I was ill if anyone asked. They'd believe it. I never missed class, so there really had to be something wrong if I did.
When I got back to the Gryffindor tower I went to my room first to drop of my stuff and then made my way to the bathroom to take a long shower. Afterward I returned to my room and attempted to take a nap. To my surprise, I had actually fallen to sleep easily and didn't wake up until Harry and Ron came to check on me before dinner and after their library session. "Are you feeling all right?" Harry asked as he sat on my bed and pressed the back of his palm to my forehead. I nodded slowly as I looked between him and Ron. He smiled weakly, "We were worried when both you and Malfoy didn't show up for Potions."
That was news to me, but I didn't know how to react to it. "Oh," was all I managed before closing my eyes.
"Did something happen, 'Mione?" Ron asked cautiously.
I gave him a blank look before answering, "No." I watched him let out a sigh of relief and noticeably relax. "I wasn't feeling well after Arithmancy and decided to come back and rest. It was easier for me to just come back here than to go to Madam Pomfrey, so that's what I did. Sorry I didn't tell you."
"It's all right," Harry said as he stood up, "We'll let you rest now and have something sent up for you to eat." He leaned down and lightly kissed my forehead before departing. Ron simply looked at me before following after him. I exhaled before turning onto my stomach to try once again to find some solace in my dreams. I thought about the past few weeks as I began slipping from consciousness. Things had been going so well before, and now they keep going from bad to worse. If only things could go back to normal…
A/N: Longest chapter to date. I hope you enjoyed this; I had this planned out, but as I was revising it just went how it wanted to go. Let me know what you think of this chapter. Thanks for sparing my story some of your time.