Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter. That would be boss. Fortunately, J.K. Rowling owns everything but my plot!
Ch. 35
"And where exactly does this go?" I asked Hermione, holding up a large tome on the thesis of Horn-backed dragons. It was nearly thicker than a man's thigh! Hermione turned and dismissed it before going back to folding clothes into her suitcase.
"Just put it back in the shelf. I've already packed all of the books I'm going to need." She assured me, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Why she didn't just use her wand, I didn't know.
I grinned at her Muggle habit, but nonetheless, decided not to bring it up.
"But why would you need books when you're going to be spending all of your time with me?" I quirked. Hermione laughed.
"There's always time for a bit of light reading!"
"We'll see about that. You won't be able to keep away from me for too long." I winked. It was just too easy to flirt with her, and to see Hermione getting all hot and bothered was all the reaction I would ever need. Her eyebrows rose crossly.
"Is that a challenge?" She asked hotly, the edge of smile blossoming on the upper edge of her lip.
"No", I answered coolly, "It's the truth."
Hermione closed her suitcase and plopped down onto her bed, surveying me from where I stood by her bookshelf.
"You know Draco Malfoy; sometimes you're just too damn proud." She sighed, and I laughed.
"I'm sure you wouldn't want me any other way!"
Hermione paused for a moment. "No. Probably not." She admitted. "But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy your nice, sweet side!"
I scoffed. "Like what? I'm not a sugar coated ball of fluff!"
Hermione grinned. "Well what about yesterday in class?" She teased. "I know Zacharias's toe didn't just magically pinch jinx itself." She stated slyly, arms crossed.
The words that had about to emerge from my throat were suddenly nowhere to be found. Was there even a point in trying to deny it? Lying to the smartest witch of the age seemed a bit futile.
"What are you talking about?"
"Come on, Draco!"
I rolled my eyes at her determination to get me to fess up.
"Looks like you're all packed up. Should I get going then?"
"Draco!"
"Alright, fine!" I stated sulkily. "I hexed him! But it was just a mild stinging jinx! I didn't think the tosspot would start a whole bloody protest about it!"
Hermione fixed a stern gaze on me, like a mother reprimanding her child. "You still shouldn't have done it. You broke a school rule, you know." I scoffed.
"Is that what this is about?" I asked sarcastically. But Hermione didn't back down, nor did she answer me. Instead, she stood there for a small moment, looking down into her now unfolded hands. I didn't know whether to say something or not, but staying quiet seemed to be a better idea. I just stared at her as she reflected into her hands, listening as she exhaled weakly.
"Why did you do it?" She murmured, looking up at me, making me wish I hadn't. Her silence seemed to have disrupted something within my chest. Why did she always have to have such humility? She seemed so good and pure, always, and at times I wondered how she did it.
"Because he was saying harsh things…"
Her eyes snapped up to meet mine, warm and conflicted. "Why does it matter? You can't be so worried about what others think of me, Draco."
"I'm not, but that doesn't mean I'll stand by and let people talk about you that way!" I told her firmly. Why couldn't she understand that I cared?
"What does it matter? You've let them do it all of these years, one comment shouldn't faze you. This isn't first year, I'm over it." Hermione replied bitterly, shrugging.
Guilt surged through my body, bringing goose bumps to my forearms and the back of my neck. Visions of me tormenting Hermione renewed themselves, and it was almost as if I was there again.
"Sorry", Hermione muttered, standing up and walking over to me. I looked away. I couldn't look at her; for fear that the shame in my eyes might be too visible. Unable to stop myself, I made a blind grab for her shoulder, bringing her closer to me so that her body framed mine, although not quite hugging me. I could feel her breath on my shoulder. There was silence, until I broke it.
"Not more than I am."
VVVVV
"Alright!" Professor Dumbledore bellowed, his wand pointed to his throat to enhance the effect of the Sonorous charm. "Everyone stand by their House Professors! The faster you do so, the faster you will be on the train home!"
Following the direction that the Headmaster's amplified voice had given, hundreds of students began to shuffle towards their House teachers. I however, already first in line as the Head Girl, stayed put where I was, directly behind Professor McGonagall.
"Hurry everyone! Hannah, you know you're in Hufflepuff, so get over there!" I yelled over the throng of students. To my satisfaction, McGonagall gave a satisfied nod in my direction. After it was clear that everyone was settled into their groups, I scanned the students as we waited outside of the castle. My eyes drifted over to where the Slytherins stood behind Professor Snape and Professor Slughorn, most of them chatting boisterously while a small lot of them stood quietly, either muttering to each other or reading quietly.
One of the quiet ones, to my surprise, was Pansy Parkinson herself.
Alone, she sat in the small crevice of the castle wall behind her, her dark silky hair tied up in a haphazard braid at her back. As I watched her, I took into consideration how pale she looked. It wasn't her normal, perfectly creamy complexion, but instead, a dry, ashy tone. I also took in the bags underneath her eyes, and the purplish tinge in her lips. In her thin hands, was a small journal, which she was scribbling into calmly, her quill taking long, languid strokes. Her friends stood beside her, caught in different conversations while she sat quietly to herself, only glancing upwards every few minutes to reply to one of their comments.
Despite her almost sickly appearance, she was still beautiful. In fact, much more beautiful than I could ever wish to be…but wasn't that obvious? Comparing my obnoxious curls to Pansy's long silky hair was all the comparison I needed. Looking away from her, I scanned the crowd for Draco but didn't find him, not even as I looked in the direction of Blaise and Daphne, who were close together in a frenzy of shushed kisses and murmurs. I had even looked in the direction of Crabbe and Goyle, who were snickering and poking fun at first years –
"Hermione!" A familiar voice shrieked, and before I could turn my head, I was ambushed by a wave of red hair.
"Ginny!" I laughed, hugging her back. Looking for Draco had made me completely forget to look for my friends in the mob of students. Ginny pulled away and looked me over.
"Mione, I'm going to miss you so much! I'll be surrounded by boys for two whole weeks! Who will I have to vent to when I'm going through girl issues?"
I smirked, a habit that had been bestowed unto me rather nontraditionally by Draco. "Well at least there'll be one boy you'll want to spend time with" I stated, wiggling my eyebrows to where Harry stood talking to Seamus not too far away. Ginny didn't even have the decency to blush, but instead, slapped my shoulder.
"Shut up! Are you sure you won't come over? I'm sure it would be perfectly fine, and Harry and I would help you stay out of Ron's way –"
My face hardened at her brother's name. Stay out of his way? I didn't have the slightest hope that that could actually work. The whole family was constantly together, and only two of the members knew of me and Ron's position, Ginny, and Ron himself! What would happen when we would have to exchange words, or sit beside each other at dinner? There would no doubt be questions, and I was in no way ready for that. My stomach churned and I nearly became queasy at the thought of the teasing that we would get from Fred and George…
"Ginny, you know that wouldn't work", I sighed, and when a heartbroken look crossed her face, I grabbed her hand. "I promise to write you. And you can write me whenever you'd like!"
Ginny nodded somewhat grimly. "I guess so. You wouldn't happen to have the Floo Network connected to your house, would you?"
I shook my head, but before I could reply with another solution, the train whistled in the distance, and everyone began to move. Quickly, I ushered Ginny back to her group, before turning back to lead the front of the line behind McGonagall.
"I'll see you on the train!" Ginny exclaimed, before going to her spot about 20 yards away.
The walk to the school's train station was about fifteen minutes to half an hour on foot, but halfway the teachers would pair up the students and take them to the station using side-along apparition. It was a bit hard to walk and direct people in the right direction while they chatted and joked around with their friends, and as much as I loved being a leader, it was even harder to not give into the temptation of finding my friends and talking to them. And where was Draco? Inside, my chest sank at the thought of him deciding to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays.
I shook my head firmly. No way, he had already packed! Slowly, I convinced myself that there would be plenty of time to look for him and converse with friends on the train.
Halfway to our destination, my ankles began to hurt, and I paused to set an ache releasing charm on my feet. The students clambered on, and as I waited for the charm to proceed, I could've sworn I felt something brush against my arm down to the tips of my fingers.
My lips pursed and I turned to see if anyone had accidentally brushed against me, but everyone had already moved ahead! A few people lingered behind, fooling around between the trees on the path, but they couldn't have possibly…
"You three, catch up with the group before you're left behind!" I warned them. The three students, two boys and a girl scowled, but nonetheless followed my orders. Once they passed me, I hung back to make sure that no other students had fallen behind, and before I knew it, I was alone, surrounded by nothing but dense trees and shrubs. Pulling out my wand, I decided it would be best to turn back before –
"Lost?" A well-known voice drawled, and before I knew it, a hand clasped onto mine.
I yelped, and looked down, but there was no hand or any kind of body part in view. Draco laughed, and in a moment, he was visible.
"What are you doing!" I hissed, yanking my hand out of his, but he was too busy laughing to notice. Draco nearly doubled over in peals of laughter. While waiting for him to finish, I observed him, realizing that I had never seen him break into more than a great smile. Now, in the moment, he seemed different, not only in appearance but in aura. I decided that if I took in his visage now, I could store it in my mind, just in case it never happened again. Slowly, I took mental pictures of the way his eyes crinkled at the sides with each laugh, how a brilliant grin remained on his face…
Draco paused, an eyebrow raised inquisitively. "Why are you smiling?" He asked me, and my breath caught in my throat. I hadn't realized I had been. I shrugged.
"Well it was kind of funny", I admitted, not wanting to say something stupid like, "because when you smile, you make me smile", or something equally cheesy.
Draco smirked. "Well of course it was, you nearly jumped out of your knickers!"
I ignored his witty remark. What was more important to me was finding out how he had managed to follow me all this way and escape the students and professors views.
"Have you been following me this whole time, Draco Malfoy?" I quirked, going back to the habit of crossing my arms. He saw this and tsk-tsked.
"Not the whole time" Draco replied in earnest, smiling mischievously. "I happened to see you stop, and figured it was my duty as the Head Boy to –"
"Nonsense!" I laughed. "Why won't you just admit that you were following me?"
"Because I wasn't!"
"Were too!"
"Was not! Merlin, Hermione, you really can be a bit childish at times", Draco remarked starkly. Rolling my eyes, I began to walk back to the group of students. How strange would it look if Draco and myself –both self proclaimed enemies – got caught hanging back from the group? That also sprouted another question, and I looked to Draco as he walked beside me.
"How did you make yourself invisible? I'm sure people have noticed you're gone by now", I asked, and I wasn't surprised to see a smug smirk grace Draco's features.
"Simple disillusionment charm, with a little twist", He replied proudly. My eyebrows rose.
"Twist?"
Draco grinned and pointed to the group of students ahead of us. At first, I didn't know what, or who he was pointing to. But that was until I realized an equally tall, pale, platinum blonde boy walking amongst the midst of other students, dressed in the exact same black suit as Draco himself. I gasped.
"Draco! –"
"Undetectable illusion-distraction charm." He replied, beaming roguishly, obviously proud of his work. But how had he known such magic? Even I had never tried to attempt the spell, if done wrong there were disastrous after effects.
"Close your mouth, Hermione. It's not ladylike." Draco stated, before beginning to walk again. I caught up to him, baffled.
"But how did you –?"
"You didn't think I was capable of such magic, did you? I'm the second smartest student in all of Hogwarts, and if you didn't attend, I'd probably have the first spot." Draco said, his expression turning oddly cynical. I hadn't realized that being second best was still a sore spot for him.
"Places don't matter, Draco! And I was just shocked…" I blabbered. Draco smirked for what seemed to be the trillionth time in the few short minutes that I had been talking to him.
"Why?" He quirked knowingly. Why was it that he always seemed to be one step ahead?
"Because…I haven't even tried to…too dangerous…" I muttered, looking away to meet fake Draco's back. Real Draco chuckled.
"A Gryfinndor calling something dangerous? Doesn't that ring a bell…and I can't believe that you of all people wouldn't want to try one of the most difficult extension charms in existence!"
"I do want to try it!" I insisted stubbornly, not wanting him to think I wasn't interested in the subject. Of course I was! And the fact that he had mastered made me rethink his magical ability. Sure, I had known he was smart, but that was pretty powerful magic he was dealing with.
"I would try it if it wasn't hazardous and against school rules! –"
"You're scared", Draco interrupted bluntly. "Maybe I could teach you when we get back to Hogwarts."
Inwardly, I was becoming a sloppy pile of flobberworm goop. Draco wanted to teach me the spell? Somehow it was intriguing yet insulting. We walked on behind the group for a few moments before I answered.
"He's missing a finger, you know." I mused quietly, pointing ahead to fake Draco. As real Draco followed my finger, he no doubt saw that on the right hand of his creation, there was a missing middle one. Draco scowled, and it was my turn to laugh.
"Miss Granger! Stop laughing and return to your group!" McGonagall called out after hearing my laugh. I froze beside Draco as a few students turned around. I waited for the shocked look on their faces to appear at seeing me and Draco together, or for McGonagall to say "You too, Mr. Malfoy", but neither came.
"Close call, huh?" Draco said, as I began to sheepishly make my way back to where I had originally started.
"Definitely", I agreed still slightly wary that Draco and I were walking towards a throng of people inches away from each other and talking nonetheless. "I wonder why anybody hasn't said anything about you talking to me", I quirked curiously.
Draco grinned naughtily, and I lost the feeling in my knees.
"Funny story about that, actually…"
I slowed down. "What could possibly be funny about being seen in broad daylight with you?"
As I stood there, his grin became ever larger and more mischievous in size. "Well…for one thing, I'm still very much invisible to the outside eye."
Realization hit me like two ton truck, and I nearly punched him as I had done in Third Year. Had that meant I had looked like I was talking to myself for the past ten minutes?
Bloody hell.
Huffing, I went to turn back to him, desperately wanting to laugh and stomp on his foot at the same time.
"Draco Malfoy, you prat! –"
But he wasn't there. The ruddy idiot had vanished!
"Draco Malfoy, I swear if you don't show up within two seconds I'll report you to Dumbledore!" I hissed venomously, trying extra hard now not to find any comedic virtue in the situation. Draco scoffed from behind me, but it was only his voice.
"Miss Granger, no dilly-dallying!" McGonagall stated sternly. I bowed my head sheepishly and took the order.
"Coming!" I said, starting again towards my original spot within the group. I did however, take a mad swipe to the air in the process, and became satisfied when my hand smacked into something hard, and I heard the contact of skin on skin. Draco was thick if he'd thought he was going to get away with his stupid little scheme just like that.
"Ouch! Bloody hell, Granger –"
But I didn't give him the chance to retaliate in any way. Instead, I turned on my heel, and with a smirk, made my way to the front of the line again.
"Sorry Professor McGonagall. Just needed to take care of a few students acting out of line." I smiled vehemently, and as she curtly nodded and turned her back to me again, I felt a refreshing sense of victory.
Vengeance really was sweet.
VVVVV
"Hermione!" Lavender called out, catching me before I had managed to snag a seat on the train. "Come sit with us!"
Looking around, I saw that there weren't many other options besides Lavender, Parvati, and Padma. I had already seen Harry and Ginny settle in with Ron, who surprisingly wasn't with Sylvia. I had nearly taken a double take upon seeing that she wasn't snuggled into his lap. Perhaps she knew that I wasn't the only one that didn't approve of the relationship. You couldn't really call Ginny or Harry a fan of hers either.
Turning to her, I put on a smile and trudged along. "Sure."
VVVVV
"What's on your mind, mate?" Blaise wondered from his seat across from mine in our booth on the train. "You seem a bit nervous?"
I cleared my throat, managing to tear my eyes away from the landscape that was rushing by in the window. Not even thirty minutes on the train and Blaise was already asking questions? He had never commented on how I looked on the way home before.
Except this time I wasn't going home, and I had a sick sense that he knew it.
"I'm just tired. And you can't expect me to look happy, can you? I'm going back to the Manor for Christ sakes."
Blaise's lips upturned into a small, contradictory smirk. "One would think you'd be happy to see your Mum. After all, you haven't seen her since the summer."
Guilt rushed through like water through an open faucet at the thought of my mother. No matter the situation, she had always looked out for me, and here I was choosing a Muggle vacation over her? It would be better for her if I didn't stay for the entirety of the break. Besides, this way, it wouldn't be as her hard on her when I left.
"I could say the same for you."
Blaise chuckled, shaking his head at my defiance. "But at least I've written to my mother."
Suddenly, I found myself becoming frustrated with him. I wasn't used to Blaise poking and prodding so much at my business – or anyone for that matter! And why he was choosing now of all times to do so, I had no idea. Didn't he understand that I wouldn't give up the information he wanted? Or perhaps I was over thinking it.
Yes, that was probably it. Too much pressure was all this was…
When I didn't answer, Blaise seemed to have gone a tad sheepish. "Sorry, too far. And if you like, you're welcome to come on the trip with me and Mum."
Sighing slightly, I turned back to the window, trying to recollect my thoughts. "No, that's alright. You and your Mum have fun on your trip to Amsterdam."
Blaise chuckled. "Switzerland, Draco."
I grinned, but before I could reply, the door to our booth slid open, and Daphne entered, clad in a stylish army green jacket and extremely tight black jeans. It wasn't the clothes that caught me however; but the expression on her face. By the way she was looking at Blaise; it was almost as if I wasn't there! Blaise also only had eyes for her, and I knew that if I didn't leave as soon as possible, I would witness certain activity that no one needed to see performed on their best friend. Clearing my throat, I got up and began to head for the door.
Daphne turned to see me leave, her heart shaped face framed beautifully by her long, silky, chestnut hair. "Oh, hello Draco!" She smiled. "Leaving so soon?"
Her hazel eyes met mine, and immediately went back to Blaise's dark ones. Obviously, it was time for me to leave. Smiling, I shook my head and slid open the door.
"Yeah, I think I need some air. But don't let that stop you two from having fun." I smirked, taking great pleasure at seeing Blaise scowl and Daphne go pink even under her tan skin.
"We will!" was all I heard before I slid the door shut and began to venture out into the hall. It wasn't surprising, what those two would be up to by now. In Blaise's book, there always time for a quick fool around. Nonetheless, I was happy for him. It had been months since Blaise had last had any romantic interest in a girl, and that had been because of Tracey Davis. It seemed that he was finally over being heartbroken, whether he showed it or not.
Daphne made him happy. Perhaps she would become his next girlfriend – and a steady one at that.
Too way into my thoughts, I didn't take into consideration that there could've been someone else at the end of the corridor, and before I knew it, I had smashed into someone quite harshly.
"Oh, sorry!"
"It's alright, I wasn't looking." I admitted.
Hermione looked up at me for a moment, before grabbing a fistful of my robes and pulling me rather violently into the nearest compartment.
VVVVV
"What the ruddy hell was that for?" Draco exclaimed as I shut the door to the compartment. Well I suppose I had pulled him quite aggressively.
"Sorry, again." I said hurriedly, shutting the curtains and turning to face him. He was standing in the center of the small space, looking quizzical. "I needed –"
"Needed me so badly you couldn't wait till we got to your house? We can start here, but I'm warning you, these seats aren't the most comfortable." Draco smirked smugly, giving me a once over. I ignored the shiver that it sent down my back and with a glare, proceeded.
"No. Dean Thomas was actually coming around the corner and I needed to…hide."
Well it was true! I had spotted him over Draco's tall shoulder, and I had had no other choice! Draco tsk- tsked.
"You know, every time I see you, your value as a Gryfinndor seems to be getting less and less. Why would you be hiding from Dean Thomas?" He drawled, settling down onto the cushioned bench, as if to sleep. He propped his head against the side of the window. Sighing, decided to take the seat opposite him.
"It's complicated as you know, but long story short, he's been trying to get another date with me since the ball." I had already informed Draco of what had happened on the night of the ball, but he didn't know that Dean had constantly been trying to pursue me. Sure, it seemed stupid. All of the girls of Hogwarts would kill for a date with him – and here I was complaining about him being interested in me? Dean was a nice guy, but there seemed to be something he lacked whenever I was with him. I supposed our chemistry was only strong when we were drunk. Something hardened in Draco's face as I told him, and his eyes became steely blank slates.
"Well, what's wrong with that? He seems like a perfectly nice guy for you." He said, and although it looked as if he were looking at me as he spoke, I knew he really wasn't. I wondered why he seemed almost…envious. But that was nonsense, I thought after a moment. Why would he be envious of a guy that wanted to have me out?
"He is…but I can't really see it working out." I muttered. Draco stared at me blankly, waiting for me to complete my sentence. Staring at the carpeted floor while I listened to the train move across the tracks, I wondered how Draco always knew what to say and what not to say. He was a good listener when he wanted to be.
"And there's really no point in giving him a go anyways…looking back I realize…I was never really into him, you know? I was just trying to make Ron jealous. There was no spark. I don't want to lead him on, but I can't bring myself to say no to him. Besides, he'll see I'm not as great as the girls he could get." I finished bitterly.
Expression came back into Draco's eyes, and he righted himself in his seat, turning to face me. "Do you mean to say you're not as good, if not better? You're brilliant, Hermione."
Hearing his words and the way he had said them – so passionate and defensive – made me blush, and something very close to pleasure coursed through my insides. For a moment, with his gaze still on me while the only noise in the small compartment was the train rumbling across the tracks, his compliment seemed to be the only thing that mattered. I didn't know what to say.
"Thank you", I murmured, and I couldn't help but smile. Looking up at him from behind my lashes, I saw that Draco himself looked torn between being pleased with himself and surprised. The bench creaked as he shifted.
"You're welcome." Draco shrugged. Wasn't it a bit too late to be nonchalant? I wanted to muse, but it had been a sentimental moment, and those were rare with Draco. Not wanting to let the silence linger on, I immediately cleared my throat.
"So what's the plan on getting you to leave with me without every student of Hogwarts seeing?" I asked, and before I had caught sight of Dean, that had been the question that I had been initially planning on asking him. I had been worrying about it ever since we had gotten on the train!
Draco's brows furrowed together for a moment, and I realized his facial expression was similar to the one he wore while working diligently on something at school. "Well I was thinking we use another one of my disillusionment charms." He grinned, and the thought of the prank he had pulled on me earlier reappeared.
"So I'll look like some crazy witch who talks to herself? Fine, we'll use your spell, but I'm not talking to you on the way. Mind you, once we're out of the station, you'll have to remove the charm –"
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Draco laughed. "I think someone's still a little sore from the walk over?" He teased, and I stuck my tongue out at him. "Don't worry. We'll figure it all out when we get there, and we almost are."
Nodding, I grabbed my bag and hoisted it onto my lap. "I have a surprise for you." I said quietly, and Draco's eyes shone in interest as he glanced down at the bag.
"Oh, really?"
Smiling, I reached into my bag, pulled out 'The Whisper of the Night by Gredaculus Scrunch', and plopped it onto Draco's lap. He stared at me wordlessly.
"I never returned it to the library." I smiled, feeling the strange urge to giggle. Draco looked at the tome as if he had never seen it before, but I knew he definitely hadn't forgotten it. That book had led to our truce, which had now spurted into a full blown friendship. I wondered what else the book would be able to do…
"Yeah, I can see that", Draco mused as his fingers brushed against its large, faded spine. "We never did quite get to finish our experiment."
Flashbacks of our little "experiments" soared into my mind at his comment, I nearly blushed again. I wondered if there would be any repeats during the break. I ached to feel the sharpness that came with his kisses again. Too bad Draco would never find out about my thoughts…
"That's why I brought the book along with me. We'll have loads of time." I said slyly. Somehow, this conversation was starting to take a completely different route, and I couldn't help but feel a flush as Draco smirked. "That is…if you're up for it."
"If you are", Draco grinned mischievously, obviously planning devious thoughts behind those blue-grey eyes, "Then definitely."
VVVVV
Getting off the train, I didn't have the slightest idea what would happen during the break, or what Hermione and I had just talked about. It had been a light yet odd conversation, although heavily tinged with certain…no, never mind. I was imagining things.
I had made sure to say goodbye to Blaise and the rest of my friends as quickly as I could without it seeming suspicious before casting the disillusionment charm over myself. Standing alone in a small booth while others bounded off the train – eager to see long awaited family members, I felt a cooling sensation pass from the very first strand of hair on my head down to the tips of my toes. Shaking off the feeling, I took one glance into the window, and when I saw no reflection, I began to make my way into the hall. There was hardly anyone on the train anymore, just a few stragglers kissing their girlfriends and boyfriends goodbye. I desperately wanted prank on them, but I had more important matters to attend to.
By now, Hermione would be waiting for me on platform nine and three quarters, waiting to introduce me to her parents…and I was…nervous?
I supposed I was. After all, this would be the first pure Muggle encounter that I would have, and it would be with the parents of the girl that I had tormented for years! But that didn't mean I was going to turn back. I wouldn't hurt Hermione like that, nor would I be able to see the look on her face if I had told her I wanted to take a rain check.
Getting off of the train as discreetly as I could –even though I was invisible– I rolled my unseen luggage out of the exit and surveyed my surroundings. The natural hustle and bustle of the train station seemed to have increased by hundredfold as hundreds of students found their way to their parents and began to embrace them wholeheartedly. Some were even crying! Indifferent to the emotions around me, I began to scan the platform for Hermione, and when I found her, my stomach plummeted like a fifty ton weight.
Not far off, Hermione stood with her back to me, chatting amiably with Dean Thomas himself. I could tell she was just being polite and responding, but something about the way he was looking at her irked me the same way it had when she had told me about him on the train only an hour prior. As Dean spoke to her, he began to inch closer and closer. From my angle, I saw Hermione smile graciously, looking slightly uncomfortable. While Dean was still talking, I decided it would be a great moment to intervene.
Walking over to them and standing beside Hermione, close enough that if she had reached a hand out to make a gesture she would've touched me, I decided to see what Dean had to say, all the while fighting off the strange feeling that was growing within me.
"So, I know we haven't really talked since we made up…but I got to thinking a few nights ago", Dean said as he flashed Hermione a giant grin, "And you still owe me a date."
Owed him? Who the hell did he think he was?
Hermione nearly blushed at his request, and had it been any other time but this one I would've laughed as she muttered, "I guess so."
Dean only came closer, smiling like an idiot. Something quite close to rage surged through me now, and I vowed to get even at the next Quidditch game.
"So maybe we could hang out during break or something? Maybe go around London for a day…" –
I had forgotten. Thomas was a half-blood.
"That would be nice, but I'll be quite busy during the break, actually", Hermione stated, smiling back now. I didn't care that she was smiling at Dean. All I cared about was that she was planning to spend all of her time with me.
Why was I caring so much? Was I just being my selfish, possessive self, or did it really matter to me who Hermione went out on dates with, or if she went on them at all?
"Oh really now?" Dean Thomas grinned, glancing down. "Too busy with other dates to make time for me?"
Precisely, I wanted to add, but instead, I slipped my hand into Hermione's free one just as I had on the way to the train, and watched with satisfaction as she jumped in surprise.
If there was ever a perfect moment to make my presence known, then this was it.
Hermione laughed nervously, her eyes darting down to where her hand was being held by my undetectable one. If she had seen my smirk at that moment, she would've slapped me without a doubt.
"Definitely not." She stammered, and I almost felt guilty for embarrassing her this way. But as I looked at Dean, the feeling vanished. I needed to show him…
Show him what, exactly?
What the hell was wrong with me? I wondered. Here I was, grasping a girls hand all because of a guy that wanted a date with her?
Why was I becoming so protective? I shouldn't have even been caring! But still, I couldn't bear the fact that Dean wanted Hermione.
Was I really just being the protective friend?
"I have to go now, Dean, my parents are here." Hermione stated a little too roughly, and before I could wonder why, she squeezed my fingers a little more than she should have. Pain ached through my digits like fire, but she didn't stop there. A fingernail was very close to piercing skin. Of course, to Dean it would've looked like nothing more than a simple fist clench.
If only he knew! I could already hear Hermione's stern warnings. Why hadn't I learned the first time? Biting my lip to keep from hissing in pain I waited out the duration of her conversation with Dean as they said goodbye and parted ways.
"Cool. I'll owl you then?" Dean asked, looking awfully hopeful. He clearly liked Hermione, and as she smiled in return, I seethed slightly even through my pain.
"Okay! Bye, Dean!" Hermione said cheerfully, and before she could say another thing, he had swooped down and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"Bye." Dean murmured, before smiling largely again and walking away to join Seamus and a few other people that I didn't care about. As soon as he had left, Hermione, who had seemed to have forgotten I was present, brought her free hand up to touch her cheek, the faintest trace of a smile still plastered to her face.
"Well that was disgustingly sweet to watch", I sneered, and she instantly snapped out of her reverie.
"You!" Hermione exclaimed furiously, heat shining in her eyes. "You foul, evil, little –"
"Cockroach? Wow, creative." I exclaimed sarcastically, and Hermione glared. Halfway through, however, she seemed to have caught herself and grabbed my raw hand again before starting to drag me along through the platform. There were multiple people that passed us, and hurried goodbyes were exchanged before we ended up in the parking lot. Settling us between a secluded area of tall potted plants, Hermione released me and grabbed her wand. As she pointed it at my face, there was a small moment where I thought she would hex me!
"Revelio", Hermione muttered. We were among everyday Muggles now, and if we were to do magic, it would have to be done discreetly and quietly. As soon as she had uttered the words, I was revealed again, and the first thing she did was slap my arm. "You're a ruddy prat, you know that?" Hermione sighed, and I grinned mischievously. I could see a hint of a laugh threatening to break through her lips.
"Of course. And apparently you love it since you can never seriously be mad at me."
Hermione laughed quietly. "You're really pushing your luck."
"Don't I always?" I murmured, eyebrows raised in all seriousness. Hermione didn't laugh this time, for her eyes had caught sight of my hand. She touched it gingerly, and when I hissed, her eyes looked nearly glassy as they met mine.
"Draco…I'm sorry –"
"Don't be. I was being a jerk." I muttered, looking down at where a series of raw scratches decorated my hand. "Now I know not to mess with you." I joked, trying to lighten her up. We had been having a violent hand war while she had been talking to Dean, and no matter how hard she squeezed, I hadn't been able to hurt her back. Immediately, she pulled her wand out again and the marks disappeared. Hermione's magic was quick and healing, and my hand looked good as new. "Thanks", I smiled, and this time she smiled too. Through the bushes, Hermione caught something that interested her view.
"You're welcome. Now let's go meet my parents." She said excitedly, and she kept my hand as she led us out of the thicket. I didn't mind. My hand was thoroughly larger than hers, and her petite fingers latched onto mine as we dragged our luggage out too. There was no one from Hogwarts in view as they had chosen to apparate from within the train station. As Hermione searched the parking lot for her parents "car", nerves pulsed through my veins like adrenaline.
What would Hermione's parents be like? Did she look like them? Would they like me?
"There!" Hermione exclaimed as she pointed to a navy "car" with a brown haired man and woman standing beside it. They were waving furiously, and Hermione responded with equal enthusiasm before squeezing my hand and beginning to lead us over to them. They weren't too far off into the parking lot, and as we made our way towards them, Hermione looked up at me. She looked extremely happy, and so I gave her with a small smile.
"Nervous?" She wondered, looking up at me with excitement, her chocolate brown eyes shining with joy. I didn't answer however, but only took another glance at her parents, who were still waving at us. "Don't be. They're going to love you."
Hermione sounded sincere. "I trust you." I told her quietly. Looking at her parents, they seemed nice enough already. Once we were within hearing distance of them, Hermione dropped my hand and ran to her parents just like every other Hogwarts student had done on the platform. Following her, I walked to them with a small charming smile on my face. Malfoy manners were in full mode now. As I approached them, I took them into view.
Hermione hadn't told me much about her parents, only their names which were Brian and Jean, and their occupation, both dentists. As I surveyed them, I realized they seemed like undoubtedly kind people. Mr. Granger was taller than his daughter and wife, with graying brown hair and a kind face, while Mrs. Granger…–
Hermione had gotten almost all of her looks from her, I noticed. Mrs. Granger had neck length, extremely curly brunette hair and chocolate brown eyes like her daughter. There was also an air of liveliness about her, which I appreciated. She smiled at me wholeheartedly, as if I were her own son. The biggest difference between Hermione and her mother was the age and that Hermione seemed to possess more wit. Hermione reached for my hand as soon as I had reached them, and proceeded to introduce me, smiling brightly.
"Mum, Dad," Hermione beamed as she looked up at me, "This is Draco. Draco Malfoy."
VVVVV
Hey guys! So I know I haven't updated in the longest time, and I do apologize. Luckily, I've had a break which has allowed me to work on this chapter, which is probably the longest out of all of them! I wanted to make sure it was jam packed with things for you to enjoy, like a little flirtatious roughhousing with Draco and Hermione. Also, you got to see Draco's protective side. Thanks so much for the reviews, keep it up, they really inspire me! I also loved your reactions to the questions that I asked, so here are some more!
Do you think Hermione's parents will like Draco?
What do you guys think of Dean?
Do you think something will happen between Dramione during the holidays?
Is Draco finally starting to realize he likes Hermione?
Remember, you don't have to answer all of the questions, but any answers would be lovely! It really helps me with the story! Also, feel free to leave comments, ideas, or reviews! Constructive criticism is also welcomed! Love to all! X
P.S. A fan actually made a graphic for this story! If you'd like to see it, ask for the link! (: