A/N: Hello peeps! My mid terms just ended, thank the lords; being in university sucks.
Anywayyyyysssssss, this chapter is for 'fanaticallycrazy' who left an amazing review as a guest and whose read all my stories. Thank you for the love –heart swells-
Onwards to the chapter!
Chapter 12: Comfort and lies.
Draco didn't dare even breathe. She could tell when he lied now? Draco couldn't think of anything more frightening than that prospect.
Hermione looked down at her book and spoke, "Even if I didn't have Veela senses I think I could tell that was an outright lie."
Draco arched one eyebrow and looked at her with anger, "Really? And you think you know me well enough to do that now? What world do you live in Granger?" He snapped at her. He really hated it when she assumed things about him.
Hermione looked at him, "Malfoy, let's get one thing straight okay? I may not know you personally, but there are a couple of things I have learned by spending years arguing with you."
"Like what, Miss Know It All?" Draco scowled almost dreading the answer.
"Whenever I win, you skip the next day's breakfast." Hermione suddenly grinned in triumph, "And you skipped it today."
He blinked. 'Do I really?' He thought. He then realized he actually did. He didn't like eating when he was mulling over something. And he did like mulling over things in the morning. But still, he scoffed, "That's absurd. And anyways, you haven't won ever." They both knew he was lying about that.
"And I know something else Malfoy." She spoke quietly, but the grin lingered on her lips.
He almost ran out the door.
"You read that book. You read that book out of spite. You read that book to find ways to prove me wrong. You read that book with a mission to find everything that could even slightly prove that Muggles were backward or inferior." Hermione spoke with firm passion in her eyes. His heart stammered in his chest, remembering how he had attacked the book yesterday with a string of violent curses.
"And that is why you're lying. Because you caught yourself thinking how disgusting it was that the Nazis thought they were superior just based on superficial reasons and murdered people for it."
Draco's fingers clenched into a fist and his eyes narrowed. His hatred for Muggles and desire to seek flaws had been his downfall. His anger flared when he realized that had been her intention exactly.
She continued, "And that's when you realized, you and Muggles from 60 years ago have something in common."
"Shut up Granger." Draco said curtly.
"The side you chose also thought they were superior just based on superficial reasons and murdered people for it." Hermione kept speaking, looking away to reach for her bag. She missed the look in his eyes and the danger dripping from his tone.
He stood up abruptly. His chair fell to the floor with a loud clatter. Hermione looked up startled, her fingers clutching her bag tightly.
"You little bitch." He snarled towering over her small frame. She winced visibly. She could see the venom in his grey stormy eyes clearly. "I think you're mistaking me for someone else. I am Draco Malfoy. Remember that. Don't you for one second think that I hate you just because your blood is filthy, Granger. You're vile to me because you sit on a high horse thinking you're too good for the world."
The Veela in her was contracting and convulsing as she looked up at him, her eyes trained on his. She could hear his heart thudding, louder and darker. She could see the shake of his fists. She could feel the raged anger smoking off his skin.
"I will never, never give in to the likes of you." Draco snarled his eyes cloudy with anger, his vision almost blurry. Hermione tore her gaze away and looked down, her hair tumbling down around her. She couldn't stand the hate in his face.
"Look at me." Draco growled, "Look at me I said!" He bent down grabbing her shoulders and shaking them. She looked up.
One hand of hers clutched her chest, clawing. The other dug into her thigh. Her eyes were wide staring through him. Tears ran down her cheeks, as her breath came in rasps, harsh and desperate. Her heart throbbed with immense ache.
Draco's mouth opened in surprise. The pained realization in her eyes made his anger diminish. "Granger...?" He whispered, not knowing what he felt. He had sunk to the floor in front of her, his face inches from her. His hands left her shoulders.
Her eyes focused on him, "I-I am g-going to-". Her voice broke, "I-I am going to die." Her voice was a mere whisper, pained by the sudden truth.
She fell forward, as if all strength had left her -it probably had. He didn't know why but he caught her. Her head fell against his chest, as quiet sobs raked her body. Her curls brushed against his jaw, soft as a whisper. Each second felt slower to him, gentler.
She could hear his heartbeat slowing to normal as they sat there on the floor. She found herself being soothed by the steady rhythm. She cried still, but quietly, staining his white shirt.
He said nothing as he looked down at her, watching her cry. He realized he was sitting with his arms wrapped around Hermione Granger, comforting her. It was an uncomfortable thought. It unnerved him that he wasn't moving away. But he couldn't bring himself to do it.
She felt warm. His skin was tingling and he liked it. His face turned into a frown, revolted at his own actions. 'Damn Veela blood!' He thought. It was after a few seconds that he realized she had stopped crying.
She lifted her head. He drew his arms away and it filled him with shame to realize he did so reluctantly. Her brown eyes looked at his and they both realized how close they actually were.
She could see the blue flecks in his grey eyes. She could smell the scent of his cologne -a minty, lemony scent. She could hear the soft beating of his heart. She could see the way his thick lashes brushed against his cheek.
Draco noted the small brushing of freckles on her small nose. The tones of gold in her brown eyes, encased with wet lashes. And the pink plumpness of her bottom lip, which she now chewed on slightly.
They drew away, the awkwardness felt heavy in the air. They both stood up. Hermione rubbed her cheeks with the back of her hand, feeling small.
She couldn't believe she had broken down in front of Draco Malfoy. And he couldn't believe Hermione Granger had broken down, period.
He turned away and packed his bag, noting that they hadn't done any homework. He turned around and left wordlessly. She stood and watched him leave.
As she stood alone in the room gazing at the door he had closed behind him, she decided for the first time in her life to leave her homework and go visit her friends. If she had just a few weeks to live, she would be damned if she didn't get to see her friends as much as she could.
With that she made her way to the common room.
"Hermione!" Ron spoke in delight as he saw the bushy haired girl slip through the Gryffindor doorway. Harry and Ginny looked up at his announcement.
"Hey." They both greeted her warmly, making some space for her on the couch by shoving a pouting Ron onto the armchair.
Hermione sunk into the puffy couch with a smile, basking in the warmth of the fire. This was the only downside to becoming Head Girl, not being able to spend her time in the warm Gryffindor common room.
"How do you feel?" Harry asked, with slight concern.
She brushed his concern off, "I just came from my homework session with Draco so I feel good."
This was met with slight awkward silence.
"And how's that going?" Ginny spoke quietly. All three Gryffindors couldn't believe Hermione's predicament. Her situation was not an easy one to empathise with.
"Tough. But I don't want to talk about it. What's up with you guys?" She said changing the topic. The three wanted some details but decided to give in. Hence, Hermione spent her evening listening to a detailed account of yesterday's Quidditch practice. Weirdly enough, she found herself appreciating the enthusiastic mimes and happy yelling.
Impending death sure does bring out different things in different people.
A/N: That's all. Tell me what you think. I wasn't too sure about this chapter as I was writing it. So do review.
Ciao for now, Alex.