AN: This would not have been possible without my friend, my sister & my beta. (Names are withheld to protect the innocent lol) Also sorry this is a day late, I had terrible carpal tunnel last night and I just could not even function. Also, this past week we hit over 1k views! Excited!
"Harry! You have to stop buying me clothes!" I exclaimed as he ordered a green sweater that would show a little of my stomach and black heels from that same magazine that we ordered from in Diagon Alley. "I can just put on something from my closet."
"Didn't you just almost lose your whole cover? So why would you want to go meet Malfoy in something that he's already seen?" Ginny reasoned.
"I'm sure I can almost guarantee that Malfoy will not recognize anything I own simply for the fact that he has never paid that much attention to me," I said quietly. "So, there is no need for Harry to waste money buying me clothes that I'll probably never wear again after this whole charade!" Ginny muttered a spell and I found my robes replaced with the outfit that Harry had just ordered. She waved her wand again and my school skirt shortened. "Really!" I exclaimed as I tried to pull to skirt down. It was almost to my mid thighs! I glared at her when it wouldn't budge and dejectedly flicked my own wand over myself. My hair shrinking itself into the pixie cut. "And why didn't we go for a longer haircut? I feel weird knowing that my hair doesn't cover the back of my neck and my ears." Ginny muttered another spell and I could feel make-up being put on my face. "Is that really necessary?"
"Apparently so Hermione! Pansy recognized you remember? You'll have to do your best not to look or sound like yourself tonight because I'm sure Malfoy is entertaining thoughts of you possibly pulling a prank on him. You also have to do some things that he would think you would never do!" My jaw dropped and my eyes grew big. Before I could say anything, Ginny continued, "Oh Merlin Hermione! You don't have to do anything rash! But you do have to do something that will put the thought of you possibly being Ivory out of his mind. The mission is to change him and in order to do that means he has to get used to the idea of being with someone of Muggle descent. We just can't throw the ultimate I'm a Muggle-born witch in his face at the start of this experiment!"
"Whatever!" I grumbled underneath my breath.
"Exactly! You know I'm right." She stepped back and gave me a once-over. "Do a little change on your nose. Nothing too noticeable, just enough so that maybe he overlooked it." Conjuring a mirror, I added a little lift to the end of my nose. "Lose a smidge of your cheeks, add a cute little mole right there." She tapped my cheek near my mouth. "Good." She checked her watch. "It's 10:45, you should probably go."
Taking a deep breath, I headed towards the portrait hole. "This is ridiculous! I haven't even been to my quarters tonight but I'm off running to go meet Malfoy. This doesn't make any bloody sense!" I muttered under my breath as I climbed through the opening. I pulled on my skirt again in vain and felt something in my pocket. Pulling it out I noticed it was an old piece of parchment. Tears stung my heavily made-up eyes. Harry gave me his Dad's map so I wouldn't get caught! I pulled out my wand and tapped the paper saying, "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."
Moony would like to say Hello on the behalf of the Marauders
Prongs would like to say what a lovely surprise it is that this map (that we worked so diligently on.) fell into the hands of such a lovely creature.
Padfoot would like to say that Prongs is such a brown-noser. But he silently agrees. Well, not so silently.
I laughed. "Guys. Can I see the map?"
It'll be our pleasure to assist you in your nighttime stroll…
The parchment went blank for a brief second and then the grounds of Hogwarts were laid out before me. It showed Filch in his office and Mrs. Norris somewhere on the third floor. Snape was pacing his office and Dumbledore was in his office. Draco was standing outside of the library walking back and forth. I smiled to myself. He's anxious. He's already there. I walked the rest of the way with the guidance of the map. When I came to the corner before the library I waved my wand over the map and mumbled, "Mischief managed." The map was erased and all that remained was a piece of ordinary, yet old parchment. I shrunk its size and secured it in the pocket of my skirt. I pulled on my sweater, suddenly aware of how naked I was. The bottom of my stomach was out and I had just gotten my belly button pierced over the summer. I was surprised that Harry and Ginny hadn't noticed it. I loved the scarlet and gold lion belly ring and quickly transformed it into a green and silver serpent. Taking a calming breath and hitting myself with a confidence charm, I stepped around the corner. Malfoy was leaning up against the wall with his forehead against the cold stone. I snuck behind him and slid my arms around his waist. "What's wrong Draco?" I laid my head in between his shoulders. He relaxed into my arms and even held one of my hands. I was confused. Why does he seem so human? Why does he seem like such a good person? How have I never seen this side of him in the last 6 years?
"Where'd you go earlier?" He turned around and slid his arms around my waist. When I didn't answer he continued, "Look I'm sorry about Pansy earlier. She's got it stuck in her head that she's the next Mrs. Malfoy. Ask Granger about it. I'm sure she'll tell you about Pansy. She'll probably hand you a book about it or something knowing her." He looked down at me, a smile playing across his face at his little joke. "I promise the girl thinks everything can be explained within a book." I laughed lightly. "But anyway, you don't have to worry about her because I doubt the Golden Trio will let her get anywhere near you. Plus, she thinks you're Granger with a hair cut and color." He looked at me. "But you do-" I put my hands in his hair and pulled his lips to mine in a desperate attempt to distract him from that train of thought. Shocked at first, he tensed up. I ran my tongue across his lips begging entrance. He parted his lips slightly to let my tongue slip in and play with his. I stepped closer to him, causing him to fall against the wall. He grabbed me by my hips and pressed himself firmly up against me. Gasping I pulled away. "Well…" He said brushing my hair out of my eyes. "I know you're not Granger because she wouldn't have that in her." He put his forehead against mine. "I've never kissed anybody like you. It's innocent yet intense." He kissed my forehead. "You're an interesting package, Miss Ivory."
"Aren't you supposed to be doing your rounds?" I stepped back looking at him. Merlin, he was beautiful. He had on what looked to be dark grey designer slacks and a deep green cashmere sweater that hugged his torso just right.
"Hold on, let me get a look at you!" He grabbed my hand and held me at arm's length. "Did you dress just for me?" He spun me around. "A green sweater and hold on." He grabbed me by my waist and pulled me to him while he dropped to his knees. "Is this a piercing? A green and silver serpent?" He looked up at me, satisfaction setting in his eyes. "Wow." He whispered. I shivered from his breath brushing against my bare stomach. He placed a soft kiss on my stomach holding me in place. I whispered his name. I needed him to stop before I lost myself. He didn't, however, take my plea as what it was. I ran my hands through his hair as he rained hot kisses all over my stomach. When I couldn't take it anymore I pulled up slightly on his hair to bring his lips back to mine. We shared a fevered kiss before once again I had to step back.
"Malfoy." I breathed. "Your rounds." I couldn't speak more than a couple words at a time it seemed. Maybe Lavender and Parvati weren't exaggerating when they giggled about the effect a boy can have on you. I took his hand and pulled him down the hall.
"Of course." He said closing his fingers around mine.
We walked around the castle and it seemed like he wanted to know everything about me. So, I just told him the truth. It wasn't like he would know otherwise, plus when he found out I was in disguise he couldn't say I lied to him at all. Well except for the fact that I was playing the part of another person. In the end, I found myself telling him things that I hadn't even told the boys. It was strange, yet it felt so natural at the same time. I told him about being bullied for being smarter than the rest of my classmates as a child and that I felt like I had to prove myself no matter what. We talked about how exciting it was for me to find out that I was a witch and how terrified I was about it being a mistake for the first year of school. The only lie I told him was that I went to Beauxbatons. There was no way around that.
"Well my lady, I've kept you up way past your bedtime." He said as we walked towards the portrait of The Fat Lady that led to the Gryffindor common room. "I would come in and tuck you in but I'm sure Potter would have my head." He pulled me into a hug, kissed my forehead and whispered, "I want to slow things down. I don't want to rush things. I want to get to know you, I want you to get to know me." He took a deep breath. "Promise me you will let me know when your free period is tomorrow after we get our timetables and I will spend it with you no matter what." He said in a normal tone of voice with a slight smile on his face.
"What if you have class?" I looked at him with my eyebrows raised. "You can't skip class on the first day of school!"
He chuckled. "Okay, okay, we'll figure it out then. Meet me in the hall after breakfast." He leaned his forehead against mine. "Promise me." He whispered.
"I promise," I whispered back. "Good night." I kissed his cheek and gave a little wave that I hope was cute. I muttered the password to The Fat Lady before she could say anything about my appearance and climbed through the portrait hole to an empty and dark common room. I sank into an armchair and sighed. "Who knew he could be so sweet?"
I stood in front of The Fat Lady grinning like an idiot for a few moments. She cleared her throat which brought me out of my daze. "Sorry," I mumbled and turned on my way to go to the Head dorms. Granger hadn't been in there earlier and I was hoping that she was already in her room when I got back so she wouldn't make fun of me. As much as I was trying to just be myself without the Malfoy mask on, it was hard to be nice to her. Old habits die hard I suppose; however, I did not want to upset Ivory at all. Maybe I should just avoid her as much as possible. I don't think I have ever had such an open and honest conversation with anyone before. It was refreshing. I told Ivory about how growing up all I wanted was to make my parents proud, but every year that got harder and harder to do. Something about her just made me feel as though I could tell her anything. I don't want to ruin it, so I will be taking this slow. Besides, she seems like she's innocent and I don't want to scare her away. I was jerked from my thoughts as I heard some noise from a broom closet up ahead. Sighing, I walked up to it and knocked. Immediately I heard a girl's voice say something in an urgent tone and lots of movement. I leaned up against the wall and waited for them to come out. "Come out already, I haven't got all night." The door opened slowly and out came Ernie MacMillan and Susan Bones, their clothes in disarray. I raised an eyebrow and just looked at them.
"Look Malfoy, there is no need to take points," MacMillan said.
"Did I say I was going to take points?" I asked sharply. I stood up off the wall. "Look, mate, it's the first night back in the castle, I understand. I'm assuming you haven't gotten to see each other in a while so I will give you a pass. Next time use a bloody muffliato so no one can hear you." I clapped him on the shoulder and started to walk away. "Hurry up and go back to your common room. It's almost midnight. The professors won't be so forgiving if they find you two out here looking like that." I said over my shoulder. I looked back to see them looking at each other in confusion before grabbing hands and hurrying off in the other direction. I shook my head. See Draco, that wasn't so hard, was it? I put my hands in my pockets and continued to my dorm. The entrance was a painting of a little girl in a meadow that was down the hallway a bit from the kitchens. It would come in handy when getting snacks for prefect meetings or if Granger and I missed meals from studying. The little girl was sitting in the grass blowing dandelions. She looked up at me and asked for the password. Since Granger wasn't here earlier, I set the password myself. "New beginnings." The little girl nodded and opened up for me. I closed the door behind me and climbed the stairs to my room. Looking over toward Granger's room I saw the light was out so I went on into my room and got ready for bed. Tomorrow was the start of a new school year, and this year I was determined to do it right.
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