A/n: Thanks to my newfound beta Hunter's Heir!
The more we are filled with thoughts of lust the less we find true romantic love.
-Douglas Horton
Malfoy, despite his lean frame, is actually rather heavy. I realize how internally fat he really is as I wiggle beneath his body, trying to get him off of me! Blast my wand for falling so far away. The wiggling is having the wrong affect however, and I think it's better to stop moving my hips. Good Merlin, could this get anymore awkward?
Deciding that I'm not physically built enough to get him off, that my arms are too bloody short to reach my wand, and that speaking is a rather stupid idea, I settle for something that will probably just get me bitched at when he comes to his senses. Screwing up my eyes I brace myself for the oncoming fight, balling up my strong arm. Well, here goes nothing.
I'm not exactly an impressively strong person, but I can throw a good enough punch to at least knock some sense into this bloody wizard. The hit hurts me too, as his face is pressed tightly against my own, and I move my jaw several times after he tumbles off of me, getting the pain to go away as quickly as possible. If nothing else, I'm not being flattened anymore.
Struggling to my knees I glance his way, and realize he's looking at me in horror. One hand rests over his mouth, silently telling me that he's horrified. Well, it's not as though I couldn't already guess that. His eyes are bulging out of his head, and I wonder briefly if he'll even be able to speak.
"Malfoy-"
"Don't speak!" he cries, jumping up. I stand along with him, saying nothing in the process. "Don't say a word! Holy fuck, what did I just do?!"
"M-"
"We just went over this, stop talking!" I notice that his panic is worse than I originally thought, and silently I accept the fact that he doesn't want to listen as I press my lips together, waiting to see what silliness will spill out of his mouth now.
"What was that?" he asks his voice softer now, as though he's speaking more to himself than to me. "What kind of self-control was that Draco? You just kissed a-"
"Don't say it!" I warned, once more ignoring his plea for me to stay silent. His face screws up at my comment and I truly wonder if he is battling with himself to not jump me again. I shudder at the thought.
Though he wasn't a bad kisser at all, possibly the best I'd ever kissed.
Okay… this lust nonsense has to be getting to my head if I just said that.
"Granger," he begins, grabbing the shelf behind him, "What's going on? What kind of bullshit curse did you place on yourself, because this isn't funny! Do you know how much mouthwash I'll have to use later?"
"Oh grow up Malfoy it wasn't that bad!"
"And people are actually chasing you around the school because they want a kiss!" he cries, wandering away. Obviously he couldn't understand why people would want to kiss me, but I personally think he's missing out. I mean, he might be a good kisser but I'm not bad myself- not that he's paying any attention. "They must all be under a spell or something!"
Spell! Well, in a way, that was kind of true. Everyone was acting really weird today. "That's kind of what I've been thinking," I admitted, and he turned around holding up a finger to indicate that I should be silent. "Oh come on Malfoy, we both know that I'm not going to stop speaking."
He shook his head, eyeing me suspiciously. "Your voice is more tolerable than your fucking singing. So what kind of potion did you use Granger? A love spell, or a lust? Perhaps it's a combination of both. It had to be something mighty potent to make all those men chase you around earlier- that's what this is about, right? They chased you because… because they feel the same intolerable draw to you that I do now."
"Well none of them seemed quite as unhappy as you do."
"Most of them don't really realize that they're craving a monster. You're too far below my standards to even consider."
I roll my eyes. "Malfoy, it's not like you're on my list of perspective boyfriends either. And do remember, you're the one who kissed me."
"It's because you started bloody singing!" His eyes grow dark, and his hands ball up. I can tell that he is frustrated.
"Like this?" I teased, opening my mouth to sing. He'd thrown a silencing charm my way before I could do anything. Luckily for me, unlike when I was being squashed by his fat self, I've practiced silent magic enough to get this spell off without a problem. Moving a whole person though is a bit more difficult.
I suppose I could've just moved my wand earlier, but that wouldn't have given me the satisfaction of punching him. No, I definitely like how I handled it better than how I could've handled it.
He was already booking it by the time I'd taken the spell off, and I watched him go with bemused eyes. Malfoy was still a prejudice child at heart if he was so horrified at kissing me. I mean, he'd been around with his fair share of women.
Come to think of it, maybe I should disinfect my mouth. I have no way of knowing what he last used his tongue for… yuck.
Watching him go, I let my mind wander. Was this all based on my blood status, or also on what he'd just done in the library? Would others start reacting this way as well if I sang, or merely if I spoke? This called for some major investigating, and leaving my things at the table I headed off in search of all the books I could find on Siren's. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll know something by dinner tonight.
Or at least, it's nice to dream.
I entered the Great Hall for food later with a bounce in my step. Researching was a pleasure for me, and after delving through the numerous books I discovered earlier today I now have a vague idea as to how I can handle things, or at least try to. No one ever said my plans were foolproof.
Everyone is looking at me uncertainly as I enter. It's not silent, but there's an awful lot of muttering as people talk amongst themselves. The majority of the males have their eyes trained on me, and I remind myself to just accept the attention. If I've become what I think, then I best be getting used to it for a while. Sitting across from Harry and Ron I try to ignore their gaping mouths.
"You look lovely Hermione," Harry stammers, pushing his glasses up his nose. Right, unexplainable beauty is supposed to follow this Siren business, but I don't believe that part yet. I'm an average girl, but no supermodel. I don't have the drop dead looks that those books discussed.
"Hi Harry," I say sweetly, catching the attention of several of the males around, including Ron. Merlin, under different circumstances I would be enthralled to have his full attention, and especially happy to see his table manners improving. I suppose it's just an act though to appear appealing to me in my current state. Men.
I've come up with an ingenious (or possibly completely batty) way of trusting things out. The Great Hall might be a bit of a brazen place to try things out with all of the teachers present, but I won't back down just because of that. They rarely pay attention to anything unless something peculiar seems to be happening, and nothing should draw their attention immediately. I do have to put things in motion.
I'm still expecting to have to speak to the Headmaster later about the events from earlier. May as well add this to the list of "things for discussion".
"You know," I begin, keeping things simple, "I would really like a roll."
I have about six rolls thrust at me from different boys, and one eyebrow shoots up. Well, it really doesn't take any effort to get them to do things. How interesting. Accepting one from Seamus to my right, I smile gratefully at him.
"Thank you."
"Anytime," he agrees, looking me over. There go those damn elevator eyes again. "Do you want anything else Hermione?"
"Oh, perhaps some of the jam over there," I say lazily, grinning like a Cheshire cat as another guy further down the table tries to join into the battle of the foods, as one jar is knocked over in the rush to get to the delicious purple topping. I sit idly with my hands hiding my mouth, the grin hidden from view. Ginny, Lavender, Luna and Padma all look extremely confused, but I don't offer up an explanation to them just yet. It's pretty hard to explain things to people when you yourself don't quite know what's going on.
The rest of my meal arrives on my plate in such a manner, and I'm amazed at how aggressive these boys can get over handing me some food. Twice I told Ron and Seamus to calm down, and twice they turned into swayable, lovesick puppies at my mere command. It was interesting, but a tad sickening. Didn't they have any self-control or self-shame?
I'm ignoring the glares from the females at my table, especially those with a boyfriend. It's not my intention to steal their man away from them, but I can't quite help it. My voice does what it pleases apparently.
But I've discovered if I keep my voice low it doesn't attract the attention of the entire hall. Well, that's a good thing at least. I don't want another frenzied chase breaking out. That's not the point of my experiment. I just want to see how much of a hold it has over the men I speak to.
About halfway through the meal I end up lip-locked with Seamus when I turn my head, whose face was eagerly awaiting mine, and the situation is quite awkward. Unlike when I ended up pinned beneath Malfoy, this is not a private affair. Half of Gryffindor grows silent at the interaction, and I pull away almost immediately.
Yeah, that wasn't part of the plan Seamus! Now I've got a bunch of angry men and confused women glaring my way, and all he can do is sit there and look like he's won the lottery. Merlin help me, everyone is losing it.
"What gives Hermione?" Ron says, eyeing me darkly. "Why did you kiss him!?" His voice is louder than mine has been thus far, and draws more attention than even the kiss did. Neighboring tables glance our way, and from between Ron's and Harry's heads I see Malfoy looking on. I wonder how long he has been staring.
"Ronald, he kissed me," I corrected, taking a long sip of my pumpkin juice. Too many people are staring at us now, and I'm getting hot under the collar. The plan was to handle a section of people at a time and see how everyone reacts, not take on the entire school again. Last time that didn't end well for me. "And… I… I don't know why he kissed me."
"Because you wanted me to," he purrs, tracing lines on my shoulder but I push his hand away, a bit disturbed. I definitely should've sandwiched myself between two girls, at least on this side of the table.
"I wanted no such thing!" I snap, pointing a finger his way. He holds up his hands in mock concern, but he's still eyeing me. Blast Seamus, can't he think about anything else?
Well, I'm sure the rest of the men I've been haphazardly flirting with have the same idea. Maybe I should've given this a bit more thought before taking on the whole cafeteria… a classroom tomorrow may have been a better choice.
I eye Ron, trying to think my way out of this situation as non-oddly as possible. My two best friends sit across from me and the majority of the hall has resumed talking- or at least muttering- about the situation unfolding. I think it's time to make a run for it, and I can do a lot of plan-revising in the safety of my room. But I don't want a mob following me.
"Harry, Ron," I say sweetly, hoping that Ron's aggravation doesn't get the best of them, "Would you walk me to my room please? I'm not feeling too hungry anymore. Everyone else," I continue, glancing at the men who are waiting to be eagerly acknowledged, "Please stay here. I don't need everyone accompanying me."
My friends get up like lovesick dolts with hearts in their eyes, and I can see Lavender and Ginny glaring daggers at me as the three of us stand to leave. Of course they don't like that I'm dragging away their love-struck boyfriend and potential boyfriend, but I'm way more concerned about how Ginny will react than Lavender. Several of the men at the table appear to want to follow anyway, and I actually shove poor Neville back into his seat. I just don't want to be followed by the whole of Gryffindor.
A lot of eyes follow us out, and I try to ignore most of them. But I can't help glancing back towards Slytherin, wondering about a certain blonde prat with sinfully soft lips. He's watching me with an unexpected fire in his eyes, and I fear discovering what that means. It's a look that's not filled with hatred, or obvious lust, and it's something I don't completely understand. Maybe deep down I don't want to know what it means. Turning away, I march out a bit faster, eager to be away from everyone.
Unfortunately being away from the Great Hall doesn't get me away from everyone. I took Harry and Ron along in case I wander into a stupid man on the way, but also for company's sake. I've avoided them all day, and now I've barely been able to have a conversation with them since all those men were looking on. Truth be told, I'm not sure how a real conversation with them is going to go in our current states. They have lust in their eyes (which is not that welcome) and I'm confused by what's happening to me. We certainly make an odd trio.
It gets worse when Ron tries to kiss me. I'm tired of kissing people today, and if that's what people are going to try every twenty minutes I may as well wear a mask.
"What are you doing?" I snap, stopping him from continuing right there in the hallway. He seems perplexed that I'm stopping him.
"Kissing you," he says, stepping back. "It's what you want isn't it?"
"No, I-"
"Because you like me right?" he presses, looking smugly at Harry, who I can't even see with the way I'm turned. "You've always liked me and now that I want to be with you you're shooting me down? I don't get you." He reaches to grab my arm and I step back from the both of them, giving myself space.
This is so awkward. I really should've just brought Neville.
"Trust me Ron," I say bitterly, "You don't want me." And sadly, I know it's true. Our relationship failed miserably, and though I do wish that he would love me I know that this, whatever the Siren nonsense does to a person, doesn't create love. He isn't in love with me he's just entranced by my voice and whatever is happening to me. I might want to believe that he really wants to kiss me, but in the end I'll be selling myself short. It would hurt more to admit later that I played us while I had power over him, that we pretended to be in love, than to accept head on that he doesn't love me anymore.
"How do you know?" he challenged, stepping closer, and I demand that he takes a step back. He does so, and I look away sighing.
"Please just walk me to my room," I say, using a different tone of voice. They don't seem entranced by this, and I'm thankful for it. I don't want any more awkward conversations right now.
We get to my bedroom entrance without another strange complication and I bid them both goodbye. I don't hug them, I don't look at them, and I tell them to leave in the sternest voice I can muster. They say nothing to retaliate, and I wait until their footfalls grow quiet before entering my sanctuary. I'll lock it tonight to ensure none of my friends try to come and see me. All I want is space.
Inside I slump on the sofa, wondering what the hell I've done to myself. Trying to play with this unexplainable magic was stupid to begin with, but have I lost my common sense? I think that my intelligence is being tried if I thought that the Great Hall was a good place to test things out. I mean seriously, what's wrong with me!?
Getting up I walk to my bedroom, staring into the mirror. Earlier I frightened myself by looking in this mirror, and I hope to not make the same mistake again. Blinking twice, I watch my brown orbs morph into blue, pale iris', something that caused me to stumble and fall earlier. This isn't natural.
My hands rest on the dresser in front of me as I observe my pale blue eyes. In a way, they're a bit like Malfoy's, though his are more grey than blue. But these eyes are not mine, and never before have I had my eyes change simply by blinking. It's alarming, and I made certain to not double blink earlier at dinner. Merlin knows what kind of trouble that would've caused.
I have to admit, this entire situation is pretty unsettling. My voice doesn't seem to be the only problem anymore, and to think, this all happened in the time of one day. Whatever is happening to me took its toll fast, snuck up on me without warning, and I can only imagine the reasoning behind it all. Actually, scratch that, I can't imagine anything right now. I'm too frightened.
I don't appear to have any control over what's happening, and that's something I'm not okay with. This is my body, my thoughts and my soul and I should have some say in what's happening. But for whatever reason I'm helpless, unable to do a thing. I may as well just sit here and brood the rest of the night at this rate. I might suspect that I'm a Siren, but a lot of good that's done me. Now I only have more to puzzle over.
Tapping catches my attention, and I tear my eyes away from the mirror to glance towards my bedroom window. An owl is flying outside, trying to get in. Rushing to the locked opening, I allow it in, noticing that the creature had beauteous dark feathers. I also notice rather quickly that it's carrying a note, and I dread to know who it's from.
This is not an owl I recognize, and that alarms me even more. Picking up the letter I notice that it's not addressed, and without waiting for a treat the bird takes off again out the window into the September air. Well, it certainly was in a hurry.
Deciding I don't have much to lose I break the seal and take the note out, realizing it's just a small slip of paper. Why the sender couldn't just roll this up and attach it to the owl's leg I don't know, this is a waste of an envelope. Pushing that aside I try to focus on the words, cringing at what I read.
We have patrols tonight, don't forget. I might not want to see you, but there's no way in hell I'm doing all this alone. Gag yourself or something to keep from talking, and the night will end quickly. Oh, and if I have to give a bunch of morons detention for following you around with that horrendous love-struck look in their eyes I promise you I'm going to be sick. So try and keep your stalkers at bay, would you? I don't want to wander around seeing a bunch of twat's batting their eyes at you. Dinner was bad enough.
~Malfoy
P.S.- Don't reply, the last thing I want to is mail from you. I'll see you at the usual time, the usual place. And once more, do try to not say anything, won't you?
I feel quite livid. He's a jerk, an arse at times, but he made this situation worse than it already is. If there's a bunch of men out tonight then there will be problems, but I'll be handling it not him. I don't want to be stalked, that's for sure.
I do hate Malfoy at the best of times, and what's worse I completely forgot about patrols until reading this. I can't believe Malfoy of all people reminded me! He should technically be in a worse mental state than I am, considering that he's the one who kissed me and not the other way around. Oh, I'll never understand that prat.
Wandering back to my bed I fall upon the mattress, groaning. Could today get any worse?
A/n: Hi there! So I've decided to continue, as I'm quite keen on the topic I've come up with. Thanks to everyone who favorite/reviewed/followed this story, it means a lot! And please, do keep it up! We authors live to know what people think of our work, as we really don't have any other way of knowing if our work is good or if we're improving.
I'd like to bring up a few points though before leaving this A/n finished. For one thing, this story got the most reviews I've EVER had for a first chapter at one time -32- and that in itself is astounding. So thank you.
As for the story, I'm starting college soon so I probably won't have as much free-time as I like to think. For one thing I've never taken college classes before so this is a whole new experience. Updates should be about once a week, maybe every five days if you're lucky and eleven-fourteen days if I'm swamped. But I have the intention to see it through. As for length, nothing is determined yet on story length and the chapters aren't going to have a set length, just everything will be more than 2,000 words. Past that I don't know.
Thanks for reading this my lovelies. I'm trying something new with responding to reviews again, so please go leave one. It helps.