Out of Hand by relativelypositive
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I make no money from the use of J.K. Rowling's characters.
Chapter 31
Take that. This witch is mine.
Draco knew it was risky with this witch to stake such an obvious claim. He did not want to go too far, but he wanted to make it clear that this was his future wife.
He knew Hermione was taken with the kiss, but Draco wasn't. He'd kissed other witches just as passionately and always kept a cool head. The only time he hadn't was the first time with Pansy.
Man, he didn't want to think about her right now. He was disappointed in his old friend, old girlfriend.
He knew Granger had never been kissed like this. She was very eager, and Draco was a little shocked she was accepting his advances.
Granted, this was the first time she'd really been safe since some time last week. Maybe she was more relaxed, or maybe she was using him to let go of the stress of everything?
He had grabbed her fully expecting to only kiss her for a moment. He was prepared for her to pull away, maybe smack him, let him know what's what. He was kind of looking forward to it.
Not that he was complaining.
When they dazedly pulled away from each other, it was to find Blaise about an arm's length away.
"Damn." Blaise smiled lecherously. "That was awesome."
"Go away," Draco directed.
Blaise shrugged, but didn't move. He was looking at Granger.
Granger's eyes were wide and she was gazing at Draco like he'd shocked her.
"Hah!" yelled Blaise appreciatively. "You kissed her stupid!"
Draco saw her eyes narrow a split second before she rounded on Blaise.
"Excuse me? Why are you even here? You should be at Hogwarts."
"I'm supporting my friend. Just like Potter."
"But you aren't in danger, are you? Are you going to be of any help if we have to fight?"
"And who would we have to fight?"
"Death Eaters. Your friends and family."
Blaise turned to Draco and said, "She doesn't know shit," and walked away.
"Let's make a deal. You don't accuse my friends of being Death Eaters and I'll leave Potter and the twins out of anything nasty."
"What about Ron?"
"You should be very happy that he didn't make it back in time to go on this little jaunt with us. Once I see him off Hogwarts grounds he'll be dust."
"Don't overreact."
"Overreact? You mean like kicking me in the balls for insulting someone else?"
"I apologized for that."
"The only reason I accept that is because it formalized this engagement. What Weasley did was not only a nasty thing to do to me, it was disrespectful to you. I could go on all day about just how wrong that was. And if he ticks me off again, I'll start hinting to Potter, or maybe Weasley's brothers. I can't image they'll take it all too lightly."
"I am dealing with Ron."
"How?"
"Mainly by keeping him away from you. And me."
"Which means he goes unpunished."
"What kind of punishment would you consider just?"
"Banishment. Castration. Public ridicule."
"Overreaction!"
"Under-reaction!"
"That is not a word!"
"Well, it explains your behavior very well! It's like you want to pretend it didn't happen! Like you can set aside you feelings and deal with them later! It doesn't work that way! Your emotions and your magic in Dumbledore's office were out of control. You weren't there! It was just pure magic and pure emotions controlling you, there was no thought. We are engaged because everything happened too fast for you to deal with it all and your baser instincts took over!"
"Do you want me to tell you how shattered I am? How disappointed and heartsick Ron's actions made me? I thought I loved him! And he literally took the first opportunity to proposition me after I was engaged to you! That makes me feel like a worthless slut! Like a throw-away friend! Like I don't matter to him at all! He was my best friend and I wanted to be with him! I did! And now that friendship is obliterated."
Draco watched tears start leaking out of Hermione's eyes, but didn't comfort her. More good was coming out of this argument than bad, and he was grateful it was all coming out.
"Draco, what am I going to do? I did everything with Harry and Ron! He's still Harry's best friend! They've always been closer, what am I going to do? I can't make Harry choose!"
"Harry would be an idiot to remain friends with someone so selfish. Or to side against you. How could he give you up? You are one of the most loyal friends I have ever seen. You'd have to be to be so intelligent, yet follow Potter into danger."
Draco could see Potter coming over apprehensively. Granger and Draco hadn't exactly been quiet. Neither had put up a Muffliato, so everyone had heard the argument when they raised their voices.
Good.
Potter pulled Granger into a tight hug. The tears had dried up, and she was trying to reassure Potter that she was fine. Potter gave her a disbelieving look.
"He asked…that…when I went to class, didn't he?"
Granger nodded.
"When he got to class he looked like he'd run a marathon. I asked him why he was so flushed, and he just said he didn't want to be late for class. I should have realized he'd done something. He doesn't give a shit about being late."
"I don't think he realized he hurt me," Granger said. "I think he thinks he was flattering me."
"He knew what he was doing," accused Draco.
"'Mione, I think…I think Malfoy's right. Ron's always kept you at arm's length, but he knew how you felt! He wasn't as oblivious as you thought he was. I'm not saying Ron is evil, or that he doesn't care about you. He does. He wasn't ready for commitment, and with you…you're the girl he'd commit to. But he knew asking you…that…was wrong. Don't convince yourself he didn't know that."
"So what do I do? Do I ignore him forever? Do I pretend it didn't happen?"
"Fuck no!" yelled Draco. "That little shit deserves whatever he gets. Don't you dare let him get away with that bullshit!"
"Hey, guys?" Greg called from across the room. "I don't know if this is something to worry about, but the twins just left. They looked mad."
Granger rounded on Draco and accused, "You did that on purpose! You picked a fight so Harry and Fred and George would hear!"
"Get used to it, darling. You're marrying a Slytherin," smirked Blaise. "And just for the record, not all Slytherins are Death Eaters. Stop being so prejudiced."
"I'm prejudiced?"
Draco watched the fire return to Granger's eyes. It was sexy as hell.
"Yeah. You'll preach to the masses that Muggleborns are prejudiced against, but you turn around and assume the worst of us. Grow up. Judge if you must, but judge individuals on their own actions and words, not generalities. Practice what you fucking preach."
Granger turned and stalked to what Draco knew to be her library. She slammed the door behind her. It felt very final to Draco, and knew he wouldn't be going through that door anytime soon.
Eventually she'd need to use the bathroom. He'd wait her out.
Draco moved to a couch and sprawled across the three cushions. Blaise and Greg were watching him with interest.
Potter sidled up to an armchair and sat down. He let out a huge breath and tilted his head back onto the back of the chair.
"Shit."
"Agreed."
"Should I go after the twins?"
"Nope. Potter, you planning to ditch Granger for Weasley?"
"Never."
"Good. You gonna try to stop this wedding?"
"Only if she asks me to."
"You think she will?"
"I am constantly surprised by what Hermione wants to do with her life. As long as you won't stand in her way I think she'll eventually marry you. Probably not anytime soon, but hey, she lives up to all her commitments. She takes life so seriously. That's the real reason Hermione thinks she likes Ron. He's a funny guy. He's happy, and goofy. She needs that. She needs that balance. I have a tendency to be too serious. Ron does that for me, too. He lightens things up."
"Draco's too serious, too," Blaise added. "Maybe they'll cancel each other out. Bet their kids will be loopy as shit."
Draco smiled.
A/N:
Next chapter we'll be earning more of that M rating. Nothing uber graphic, but more than just language. Fair warning.
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