Hey everyone!
So this is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it. I didn't get a lot of reviews for the last chapter so I assume not a lot of people enjoyed it. So please let me know what you think of this chapter and whether you're enjoying the direction the story is going.
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Jacpin2002 who has been incredibly supportive of the story from the start!
Hope you like it.
Much love 3
Hermione's Point of View.
I make my way back down the hallway feeling a little angry at Malfoy. But mostly I feel embarrassed that I allowed him to get to me so much. With just a few words he has a way of peeling back the layers to get right in at me. Like he has been given a handbook dedicated to how to make me angry.
I run over the conversation for the third time in my head trying to figure out at what point did he get the upper hand. I think and overthink it until I may as well be having it again with him. It seems that it's always after a fight is finished you can always think of better things to say. I sigh loudly as I round the last corner before I reach the Gryffindor tower. To my disbelief, Ron is standing outside the painting waiting.
"Hermione," he calls when he notices me. Something about the way he says my name makes me think he's been waiting here for me.
"Where did you go?" He asks when I get closer to him.
"I just took a long way around is all," I say rubbing my arms again. The hair is still standing up along my forearms from the cold in the castle.
"Here," Ron says handing me his outer robe. I smile and take it wrapping it tightly around me. As soon as the warmth envelopes me I feel weary, most likely from the fight with Malfoy.
"Are you okay?" Ron asks accessing my face. I try to avert my eyes and construct my face into a better façade.
"Of course. I'm just a little tired," I say, brushing it off. I motion towards the picture.
"Are you heading up to the dormitories?" I ask, suddenly a little confused about why he's standing here alone.
"No, no. I just came to make sure you were okay," Ron admits somewhat shyly, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck.
"Oh, okay. Well, I'm fine Ronald so you can head back if you want," I suggest turning towards the picture.
"Hermione, can I ask you something?" Ron blurts out. I stop by the painting and feel a panic shoot up my back. There's no way he can know about me and Malfoy's deal, is there? Surely not.
"Sure, Ron. What is it?" I say slowly. He stands awkwardly for a moment. The silence between us builds.
"It's just, I was wondering if it was a problem that we went together to the party tonight?" Ron asks. I sigh, glad it doesn't involve anything to do with Malfoy. But that doesn't mean the panic goes away completely.
"Why would there be a problem?" I ask, confused.
"I thought maybe you had wanted to go with someone else," he says, nervously. I laugh equally anxious.
"No Ron of course not. Don't be silly," I say trying to ease the awkward tension between us. Ron visibly relaxes unhunching his shoulders.
"So, there's no one else you're seeing or anything?" He asks. I blush deeply.
"Ron, I don't see anyone. When have you ever seen me with anyone?" I ask self-consciously. Ron has a strange look on his face when he answers.
"I suppose," He answers. Ron looks at his feet as he kicks the corner of the wall.
"Okay well," I start awkwardly.
"Yeah I'm going to head back to the party," Ron says catching onto my suggestion.
"Okay," I laugh nervously as Ron says his goodbyes and turns and leaves.
I wait until he disappears down the hallway to go into the common room. It's devoid of any students and I'm grateful. I make my way up to the dormitory and climb up onto the bed. I pull my pillow up to my chest and bury my face into it.
The entire conversation with Ron has made me feel incredibly guilty about the whole situation with Malfoy. What would Ron do if he knew that I had agreed to something like that? That I had agreed when Malfoy – of all people – had asked me. I doubt Ron would be so forgiving or trusting of me after that. I contemplate all the possible things Malfoy could have seen in the Pensieve as I weight up whether it's still worth it. Could all this lying to my friends be worth it when I am too scared to even ask Malfoy proper questions about my future?
What could Malfoy possibly be getting out of this arrangement? As I sit here on the bed thinking of everything, I realise I've been too easy with Malfoy. Too believing of his sudden change of heart towards me. Perhaps that's what he wanted. To get me to believe that maybe he could be somewhat normal towards me. Get me to trust him just so he could make me do whatever he wanted all under the guise that I thought I was the one benefitting from it the most. When in reality he could just be really good at manipulation. Why would he not use this situation against me when it's something he's waited for years for. An opportunity to crush me that has just dropped into his hand.
When I've thought about it enough and feel stupider than I imagined possible for not seeing that Malfoy is using me, rage seems to take place in me. I smirk. I won't be naïve anymore.
Draco Malfoy's Point of View.
The next day I finally catch Blaise in the hallway walking towards potions. He didn't come back to the dorms last night and that in itself tells me that he's toying with me. I grab his shoulder and he shrugs me off.
"Going to potions?" He asks, motioning for me to follow him as if nothing has happened. I grab his arm again this time with more force. He jerks around almost dropping his books on the floor. He glares at me but then his face turns smug.
"Why, what's wrong Draco?" He asks complacently. My blood starts to boil.
"What the fuck was that last night?" I ask, trying to keep my voice down. Blaise rolls his eyes and keeps walking. I sling my bag over my shoulder and follow beside him.
"I was testing something Malfoy," Blaise says. I push my tongue against the back of my teeth to keep from causing a scene in the hallway.
"I need you to stay out of it, Blaise. It's nothing to do with you," I snap. He looks at me over his shoulder.
"Why are you suddenly so interested in Granger, huh?" he asks smartly. We walk into potions and I'm glad to see Granger isn't at our table yet.
"That's none of your business Blaise."
"Has it something to do with her future?" He asks questioningly, setting his bag down on top of the work station.
"Look, I'm just fucking with her okay. Letting off some steam is all," I say. Blaise eyes me suspiciously.
"And you didn't think to let anyone else join in?" the tone of his voice causes sick to rise in my throat.
"This is my game, Blaise. I am the only player. Only I get to fuck with Granger," I snap, speaking loud and precise so there's no mistake between us. I throw my bag on top of the table. I eye the room to see if anyone has noticed how heated our conversation has become. The students are just starting to file in and thankfully Granger isn't one of them yet.
"I didn't realise it meant so much to you," he says. I grab the elbow of Blaise robe and yank down on his arm.
"Listen, Blaise, I know you enjoy talking shit and pretending you're someone. But don't forget who is really in charge here. Don't make something out of nothing," I say, letting go off his robe as Granger enters the classroom with Potter and weasel not far behind her like lapdogs. Blaise turns as watches her talk with Potter at his work station.
Just as Granger reaches the table Blaise turns to me.
"Good to see the old Malfoy back," he smirks and something about the smirk tells me that he doesn't plan to just let this go. I roll my eyes as Granger sets her books down on top of the table. I look at her warily under the cover of my fringe but she doesn't look at me.
In fact, for the next entire forty-five minutes of class, she doesn't once look my way even when Slughorn addresses the class from behind me. She chooses to pretend she's reading from the textbook instead. I try to convivence myself that this is not the place to make a scene or get angry because she's choosing to be a moody bitch today. Especially when Blaise is too eager to watch our interactions. Weasel, on the other hand, is completely oblivious to anything going on at the table. I notice then that there is little conversation going on between them. Maybe she is willing to keep up her end of the deal after all even if she is being a bitch about it.
I slam the book down on the table gathering the attention of half the class.
"Mr Malfoy, is there something amiss?" Slughorn asks from the top of the class. I re-open the textbook to the page we're supposed to be on.
"No, sir," I say compliantly.
"Very well so," Slughorn says turning his attention back to the rest of the class. I take a deep breath before I look up. But she's already looking when our eyes meet. Searching mine with a furious passion burning behind her retina. A warm feeling tingles down my arms as I drink it in. What an expression to get out of her. I smirk and she rolls her eyes at me. For that second, I don't give a fuck if Blaise notices the exchange between us.
When Slughorn dismisses the class, Granger grabs her bag and leaves the room promptly. I watch as she zips past the students. Blaise notices it too and watches me warily.
"Good luck with that game," he says laughing. When I enter the hallway, she's nowhere in sight but it doesn't bother me because I know where she will be tonight.
Hermione's Point of View
Doing the rounds tonight has proved more of a hindrance than its usual distraction from everyday life. It's too cold in the castle to even think clearly enough to sort any of the thoughts out that are swirling around my head making me dizzy. Warily, I make my way around the usual prefect route to check for students out past curfew. Even for me, there is an understanding that 7th years have more of leniency than the other years so I don't bust a couple I find behind the greenhouse. Other than that, the hallways are unusually quiet for a Thursday night.
When I enter the classroom, McGonagall is sorting through papers at her desk.
"Ah Miss Granger, just in time. I was wondering could you help me with these," she asks handing me a stack of parchment.
"Of course," I say taking the bundle from her hand. I sit at the front desk and file through them noticing they seem to be a test given to the first years today.
"What would you like me to do?" I ask.
"Just correct them for me, dear, if you wouldn't mind. The pile on my desk has seemed to double since yesterday and I don't want to be here all night," Professor McGonagall laughs. I smile back at her and take my quill out of my bag.
"No problem," I say more than eager to help. I make my way through the pile a little quicker than she does and clearly enjoying it a lot more than she is. When I'm finished, I sort them alphabetically and leave them on top of her corrected pile.
"Well that was a lot faster than I expected, Miss Granger," she says with a small smile. I laugh nervously batting my hand at her.
"It was no problem at all. I quite enjoyed it," I admit sheepishly. She lets her glasses fall down her nose at me.
"Do you think you'll ever pursue a career in teaching?" she asks suddenly. I'm not sure how to answer her. I have always tried hard in school because I enjoyed it but I haven't thought too much about what I want to do when I leave Hogwarts. It has always seemed with what is going on that maybe there might not be a world left after Hogwarts.
"I'm not too sure," I admit. She watches me carefully.
"I know it can be hard to look towards the future sometimes with everything that's going on outside these walls Hermione. But sometimes the future is all we have to hold onto, don't you think?" she asks.
"Sometimes it's hard to imagine what could happen in the future," I laugh, somewhat hinting at the situation with Malfoy. McGonagall picks up on my hint quickly.
"I don't believe him to be a bad person," she states unexpectedly. McGonagall takes off her glasses and encloses them in her case.
"I'm not supposed to discuss other students with a student but I think given the circumstances a little leeway is allowed," McGonagall admits.
"I cannot say that I share your opinion," I say soberly, thinking of everything that has happened between me and Malfoy so far.
"I can say that I have watched him grow up differently to the way you have, and I can safely say that I do not think he is the same spoilt child he was when he first came here," McGonagall says.
"I think time has weathered the boy, in a good way," she says. I smile curtly a little unsure.
"I guess as you said, I know him in a different way to you," I confess shyly. It feels weird to talk about Malfoy with someone when I have only considered him so far as a sort of secret. Never to be spoken aloud about especially to my friends. But talking about him now with Professor McGonagall – of all people- feels slightly refreshing. Like taking a weight off of my shoulders.
"I suppose you're quite right dear," McGonagall states as she stands from her table and starts to pack up her bag for the night. I exhale the weight of the deal we have made together trying to put it out of my mind.
"Are you okay to finish up here?" She asks when she's finished packing. I nod happily at her as she puts on her robe.
I take out the tutoring forms from their holders and start to go through them as she makes her way to the door. She catches the door in her hand and calls to me.
"Just remember Miss Granger, that a person's character is measured in their choices and decisions. Not their words." She smiles her usual sweet smile before leaving the room.
Draco Malfoys Point of View
I push past some stupid prefect from Hufflepuff trying to write me up on the third floor. When he realises who I am he thinks differently of his decision. I smirk and jog down the staircases, jumping onto the moving one that will bring me to the ground floor. When it comes to a stop McGonagall is standing waiting for it.
"Mr Malfoy? What are you doing out of your dorm this late at night?" She enquires, with a stiff hand on her hip.
"I was just-"
"Do you have a pass from a prefect to be out roaming the hallways this late?" I kick at the heel of my shoe and laugh awkwardly.
"I forgot a book earlier in potions and I need it to finish an assignment so I'm just going to fetch it," I admit.
"You're in Slughorn's potions class?" she asks.
"Yes Miss," I say.
"Isn't that in the complete other direction near the bridge?" she asks raising her eyebrow at me.
"Yeah," I start pointing in that direction. McGonagall steps onto the stairs.
"Mr Malfoy, I don't have all night to stand here and listen to you fumble over your words. Just get the book and go back to your dormitory at once," she orders. I nod and watch as the stairs carry her away thinking I see a small smile in the corner of her mouth.
I sigh when she's out of sight and make my way down to her classroom. I practically pull the door off its hinges. Granger jumps from her seat when I enter the room and presses a hand to her heart.
"Malfoy! You nearly gave me a heart attack. What are you doing here?" she asks, turning her attention momentarily back to the bundle of papers in front of her. She looks so much different in this light cast by the candlelight. It casts a warm glow over her pale skin. She looks brighter, more awake in this light.
"It's Thursday night," I say extending my arms theatrically. She sighs and rolls her eyes at me.
"I don't want to do this right now," she grunts looking back at her piece of parchment.
"Well tough love Granger. This is the day we agreed on," I state. I move towards her and lean against McGonagall's table right in her view.
"Look Malfoy I don't want to do this with you anymore," she admits finally turning her attention to me.
"You are in a mood today, aren't you?" I note. She furrows her brows and scowls at me.
"What's that suppose to mean?" She asks.
"Today in Slughorn's you wouldn't even look at me?" I say accusingly. She eyes me closely.
"Am I suppose too, Malfoy?" she asks questioningly, her voice getting higher at the end. I run my tongue over my teeth and chuckle a little at her come back. This game is similar to the one I play with Blaise. We both know the game is happening but it's hard to tell at times who is winning and who is losing or what is really being said.
When I don't answer she angrily shuffles the pieces of parchment together and stands.
"I said I don't want to do this with you right now. Can you please just leave?" She asks, tacking the parchment back up on the wall.
"Now is all that I have," I say folding my arms smugly.
"Oh, and of course we must do everything on your clock, Malfoy. There's a surprise!" She shouts her voice getting louder the more she talks. I push away from the table and stand beside her near the wall. When I get too close, she puts out her arm to stop me, letting it rest on my chest. She quickly removes it.
"Why are you being such a bitch today," I shout back at her, now equally as angry as she is. Her eyes seem to double in size in her sockets. I try to hold back a smile at this reaction.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that," she says pushing against my chest but I grab her forearms and hold her there. She stares at me confused as I move my arms up to hold her around her elbows.
"Malfoy what are you doing?" She asks eyeing my hands on her.
"Tell me why you're so angry today and I'll let go of you," I assure her. She relaxes in my grip a little so I loosen my hands until she is just standing there staring at me and I am just holding her still.
"I don't want to be a part of this anymore," she says honestly. My hands tighten a little at her words and the crease in her forehead tells me she noticed.
"Why?" I ask. "We had a deal," I say. She looks around the room warily and I feel the muscles in her arms tense slightly.
"I don't want to be made a fool out of Malfoy. I don't trust you so I can't continue doing this with you. It's not worth it for whatever you have planned." She says.
I laugh at her statement and she shakes herself loose from my grip. But I grab her wrist before she can run too far. I pull her back around to face me and her face is flushed red. The smell of her shampoo hits me and I take a second to clear my thoughts.
"Don't you think I would have done something by now?" I ask with a smirk. She searches my face narrowly.
"That's the thing Malfoy, I don't know! Because I don't know anything! You haven't told me anything besides stay away from Ron. That's it. That's all I know!" She shouts. I run my hand through my hair as her face turns even redder as she gears herself up.
"How can I just play along with something like this when you refuse to even tell me why!" She bellows.
"That was part of the deal Granger. I don't have to tell you why," I argue. She tries to pull her wrist away but I keep my grip tight. I don't want her running away just yet. Her eyes turn a darker shade.
"Then that's my question for today," she retaliates with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't pull this shit with me," I shout.
"Oh, do you not like it when things don't go your way, Malfoy?" she barks back at me raising both her eyebrows smugly.
"You have such a smart mouth, don't you?" I look down at her lips momentarily and notice how full they are when she's pouting angrily at me. She notices too and averts her eyes. My hand feels awful clammy around her wrist all of a sudden.
"That's it, Malfoy. Either you tell me why or I'm gone," She states her tone final.
"Your question can only be about your future," I state again. She groans loudly.
"You're insufferable! Fine! What did you see in my future that would give you a reason to ask me to stay away from Ron," she yells.
"Happy now? Did I phrase it correctly enough?" she asks. My hand drops away from her wrist in a panic. Because she has beaten me this time. I hadn't thought of her taking this angle and I had sworn I would be honest as I could be if she asked certain questions. I just never thought she would ask this one. I move away from her and run my hand through my hair nervously.
"Malfoy answer my question," she demands, pushing at my shoulder. I lean against a table and stare at the floor for a second trying to think. When I finally look at her, my expression must not be as I had imagined because she seems to jerk away from me.
"I saw you die, Granger," I say slowly watching her face change and contort.
"And what, you thought you'd just make this decision on your own without telling me!" She shouts incredulously.
"I made a choice!" I scream back at her standing up from the table, pushed forward by my rage. How dare she be angry at me for something like this. How dare she be angry at me for trying to stop her from dying a horrific death.
Suddenly a kind of airy looks takes over her disposition. She doesn't look angry or worried anymore. Warmed by the glow of the candlelight she looks more like the girl I saw in the first future. The women who seemed so sure of herself and I can see now how easily she could grow into that person. She is there inside her right now.
Granger picks up her stuff and heads for the door flicking her hair over her shoulder as she turns, a strange smile on her face.
"Why are you smiling like that?" I ask.
"Just something McGonagall said," she laughs a little. I stare at her in confusion.
"So, you're just going to leave? You're not even going to ask me anything else about what I just told you?" I shout at her back as she starts to head up to the top of the classroom. I follow her and grab her before she can leave. This time though she doesn't even try to pull away. When our eyes meet my hand slides down from her wrist and two fingers shift into the warmth of the centre of her palm. I still my hand nervously but she doesn't react physically. Instead, she smiles at me.
"I do have one question," she admits with the tilt of her head. Her eyes flutter back up to mine and the intensity of her gaze makes me even more nervous than before. How can someone I've known for so many years have this kind of effect on me all of a sudden?
"Do you care, Malfoy?" she asks smartly.
"Care?" I ask nervously.
"Whether I live or die?" she replies.
I step back and purse my lips together, averting my eyes. Slowly she seems to follow my eyes, searching my face as I bow my head to rub my hand over the hair on the back of my neck. I feel swollen and empty at the same time. The words on the tip of my tongue stay there.
She nods and turns to catch the door.
"Granger," I say but she waves her hand at me.
"It's okay," she says with a small flush in her cheeks. "I already know," she admits. She watches me as she catches the door and starts to pull it closed after her but she stops, eying the door and then me. She removes her hand from the handle and leaves the door open. With one last knowing look, she leaves.
The door remains open and I know that it is not the only door that has been suddenly opened.