Nymphatemine pt 9

Hermione walked through the castle, a smile plastered to her lips and a fluttering in her heart. For a moment, she forgot she was part of a quest to save Draco's soul, and felt more alive than she ever had. She had never felt like this before, the nervous excitement growing in her heart more and more every day. She sighed, the smile growing ever larger on her face.

"I really am falling for him." She said to herself through a girlish sigh. She wrinkled her nose, it sounded like something Lavender would do.

"Falling for who Hermione?" A voice behind her startled her. She jumped, turning to face Harry, who almost looked angry.

"Oh uh…no one Harry. An author. I started a new series of books last week and they are truly a work of art." She lied, biting her lip and sending him a, hopefully, convincing smile. Harry nodded, eyebrows raised.

"Is that author named Draco Malfoy by chance?" He sarcastically asked. She felt her face blanche. She swallowed a few times, wringing her hands together.

"What are you talking about Harry? I told you I wouldn't get invested in his problem, remember?"

"Hermione, stop lying to me. I saw everything. From the astronomy tower. Snowballs, hand kisses, your…almost kiss. I saw it all." He looked at her with a stare that could melt ice. Hermione felt her heart stop.

"You don't understand Harry. It's not what you think. He's not who you think he is. He's gentle and sweet…caring even." Her voice pleaded with Harry to just listen to her, but it fell on deaf ears.

"Hermione, he's a monster! You think he really cares about you? It's just an act to get what he wants, whatever it could be, and then he's going to toss you aside! I won't sit by while my best friend is torn apart by that insufferable git…"

"HE NEEDS ME TO SAVE HIS SOUL!" She yelled, cutting him off. Harry snapped his mouth shut, surprised at her outburst. They looked at each other in silence for a moment, chests heaving up and down as they both let their anger simmer.

"What do you mean…he needs you?" Harry asked quietly. Hermione could feel the tears threatening to push out of her eyes. She blinked, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Well…his quest to save his soul…I was going to tell you eventually, but I figured you would react like this." She started, an accusatory look in her eyes. Harry looked down at his feet for a moment, then back into Hermione's eyes. "His quest is to fall in love with me, and for me to return that love. If either of those tasks are incomplete when his time comes…he will lose his soul." The tears were freely falling now. Harry wrapped his hands around his friend, exhaling sharply. "He needs me…" Harry smoothed her hair before letting her go.

"Do you think his advances are…genuine? I don't see him as a person capable of loving anyone Hermione." Hermione nodded her head up and down, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"I do. You don't know him like I do. You see a monster, I see a sheep in wolves clothing." Harry shook his head.

"I still can't believe this. You and…" He shuddered, "Malfoy. Bloody hell." He put a hand to his head, as if he had a headache.

"It is a tad surprising, isn't it Potter." A voice sounded behind them, making the pair jump.

"Malfoy." Harry said, jaw tight in anger. Malfoy mock bowed, looking up at Harry.

"Potter." He said. Draco turned to Hermione, taking her hand in his. "I assure you, my intentions are genuine." He pressed his lips to it. Her cheeks turned pink and a smile played with her lips. "And I don't approve of you making her cry." Harry narrowed his eyes, anger playing with his head.

"Well, I don't approve of you…or this. Hermione, you're playing with fire and if you keep this up no one will be here when you get burned." Harry turned on his heel and stormed away. Draco turned to Hermione, who was shaking.

"Are you okay love?" He asked with genuine concern in his eyes. She nodded, sniffing quietly.

"Yeah. I'm just surprised at his…reaction. Well, actually I'm not. I knew he would be angry, but I didn't…I didn't think he would blow up like that." He wrapped his arms around Hermione, kissing the top of her head.

"Saint Potter." He spat, feeling the anger bubbling inside him. "Hero of the world, but can't even handle his friend chasing her own happiness. Sickening." He let her go, looking into her eyes. "I promise I'm not just doing this for fun…even though it has been pretty fun." He saw the smile trying to spread across her face, in turn making the corner of his own mouth creep up. "See? There's that beautiful smile." Her smile grew at his comment.

"Thank you. I just can't believe him. I've always been supportive of him and he blows up like this." Draco shook his head.

"It was to be expected. We aren't exactly on friendly terms, and I am courting his best friend…who I've regrettably been a horrible git to for most of her life so far." He sadly smiled at her. "I've got some things to do…I'll see you at my masquerade Friday?" He asked, backing away from her slowly. She nodded.

"Yes, I am looking forward to it." He smiled, turning to walk towards the dungeons.

"Good."

"Harry could be a huge obstacle." Lyra said, pacing back and forth. Draco sat on his bed, looking out the window.

"I'm aware of that. If I've ever felt threatened by Potter, now is that time." A knock sounded at his door. Lyra meant to disappear, but Draco lifted his hand.

"You don't have to disappear when Pansy and Blaise come, they know all about you." She nodded, staying in place. "Come in." Sure enough, his two friends entered his room, immediately looking towards the floating woman in the center of the room.

"I'm guessing this is the guide you told us about?" Blaise said, looking at the misty woman. She bowed, extending her hand to him. He took it, shivering.

"My name is Lyra. I am Draco's spirit guide." She shook Pansy's hand as well.

"How can we see you?" She asked. Lyra laughed.

"I'm not a hidden spirit. Whenever Draco uses the Nymphetamine, my spirit is released. I can choose to be invisible or not. He told me he told you about me already, so I stayed." Draco nodded.

"So, what brings you two here?" He asked, motioning for the two to sit on the bed while he took the chair at his desk next to his flower. Pansy clapped her hands together.

"Well, we have a few plans for the next steps in your relationship with Hermione." She said, a Cheshire grin plastered to her face.

"I'm listening." Draco said, staring at her intensely. Blaise cleared his throat.

"Well, a dance, dedicated to the two of you. Something beautiful, and only for the two of you." Draco nodded, hand on his chin. Pansy squealed in excitement.

"We have a song picked out for it too! We've already talked to the band playing, they said they would for sure perform it!" Draco's smile grew as he thought about it, butterflies forming in his stomach.

"That is a perfect idea. It was a romantic dance that made me fall in love with my fiancé." Lyra mused, closing her ghostly eyes.

"This seems promising. I hope this all works out." Draco said. "The flower is dying…fast." His stomach began to turn. Just as he said this, the four looked at the flower, to see another petal fall to the bottom of the container.