Ordinary Just Won't Do

"Ordinary Just Won't Do"

Ch. 5

            Hermione sat her cup of coffee on the table beside her, she was tired of crying, tired of screaming at herself, and tired of lying. She felt like the past month had been nothing but lies. How dare she act as if Draco were anything but her heart?

            Still, that night at dinner she had been reminded of the way they had gotten together. It was because of some Muggles studies class, which Draco had been forced to sign up for by his father, as a 'punishment.' Yet Draco wasn't too unhappy about it since Blaise had decided to take it as an Elective that year. Hermione, being who she was, decided to take because by her sixth year Electives, for her, were being far and few between.

            They had spent most of their year scowling and sneering at each other. Though they ignored each other at times, they were always aware of the other. When the Professor assigned partners for a "Muggle Period Project" they had been mortified yet elated to discover they were each others partners.

             After weeks of working together they had gotten to know each other as more than a Know-it-all and a Prick. Draco was the one who took the biggest, and first, step. Asking her to the Christmas Ball that year, a scandal Hogwarts didn't forget until Graduation.

             Draco walked over to their table, sat his books down, and just stared at her. He had been contemplating a decision for a couple of months now, and he still wasn't quite sure but he knew he didn't have time to sit on it any longer.

             Hermione looked up from her book, "Victorian Muggle Society,” with a smile, "Why are you staring at me?"

             "Because," he replied vaguely, his decision, or rather the lack of one, was looming over his head.

             She stuck a finger in her book, "Because what?"

             "Because I'm thinking about you," Draco whispered catching her off guard, he rarely said things like that but she was starting to get used to them.

             "Why?" Hermione asked, the smile off her face, even after the kiss they shared a couple of weeks ago she still didn't know what to think of him.

             “Can't I think about the girl I like?" he asked smirking as he saw her face pale.

             Hermione blinked rapidly looking back at the book, "You know I found something perfect for our presentation. It's about the variety of social circles in the Victorian days of the Muggle world."

             "Don't do that," Draco whispered, if Draco hated one thing, it was someone changing the subject. He always hated being ignored, and changing the subject was part of it. He always believed it made already uncomfortable, situations into even more uncomfortable situations.

             "They were very extensive, like Mediwizards who studied only on the Killing Curses usually stayed together. Well, Muggle Doctors who specified in Heart surgery or Cardiology usually made rounds in the same social circles," Hermione continued, ignoring his obvious displeasure.

             Draco flinched, "Stop changing the subject. Please, Hermione, I don't care whom dead Muggles considered their friends. I only care about whom you are intending to take to the Christmas Ball."

             "No one. I wasn't planning on attending," she replied finally looking back up into the gray eyes that were glued to her.

             "Well, then you will accompany me to the Ball. Won't you?" Draco asked, really he didn't ask, but he was so nervous and she was so shocked neither noticed.

             Hermione looked at him quietly, "Are you serious?"

             "As serious as I can be," he replied biting on his bottom lip nervously.

             "Sure, it'll be fun," she whispered, as a small smile appeared.

             The morning after the ball, when classes resumed, the halls were filled with gossip. Everyone was talking about everyone else and everyone else was talking about Hermione Granger & Draco Malfoy.

 

Just as Hermione stepped out of Gryffindor Tower, she heard the whispers and the rumors.

             "I heard they were good friends."

             "I heard he kissed her."

             "I heard it was all a plot to get to Harry Potter."

             "I heard it was just a horrible bet he lost."

             "Well, I heard, from a very reliable source in the Slytherin Common room that he is in love with the Mudblood."

             "Well, I heard, she had a crush on him and asked him to the ball and he took pity on her."

             "Well, I heard, Hermione lost a bet to Ron & Harry and had to take the furry Ferret to the Ball."

             "I heard, from a very reliable source in the Gryffindor Tower that she is in love with Prat."

             "I heard that they made love by the lake last night."

             "I heard he proposed."

             "I heard she accepted."

             "I heard he tried to kill her."

             "I heard she tried to kill him."

             "I heard his father threatened to kill BOTH of them."

             "No, I heard He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named want’s them to breed."

             "Eww, I heard that she was really a Pureblood."

             "I heard he was really a Mudblood."

             "I heard she was pregnant with his baby."

             "I heard he is really her distant cousin."

             "If they were cousins then they wouldn't have kissed."

             "I mean distant like his mother's, sister's, daughter's, son is her stepbrother's, cousin's, aunt."

             "I heard she is being resorted into Slytherin."

             "I heard he was becoming a Hufflepuff or something."

             "I heard she was really Lucius Malfoy's long lost daughter."

             "If they are brother and sister, they couldn't have slept together."

             "Stranger things have happened in the Malfoy family."

             "How right you are but I heard she was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's heir."

             "I heard he was ordered to bed her because of some Christmas Ritual the Death Eaters do."

            "I heard that her date was just an experiment."

             "I heard he took her into the Forbidden Forest and got kinky with her."

             "I heard they snogged all night at the Astronomy Tower."

             "Well, Tracey Davis told me that he spent the night in her Prefect room."

            "Well, Dennis Creevy told Ginny Weasely who told Katie Bell who told me that she stayed in his room last night."

            "Well, Fred Weasely told Harry Potter who told Ron Weasely who told Dean Thomas who told Justin Finch-Fletchley who told me that he took her Virginity."

             "Pansy Parkinson told me that she gave him a hickey last night in a VERY private place and I do mean on his person."

             "Lavender Brown told me that he spent his night licking Pumpkin Juice off her."

             "I bet that was a sticky situation."

             "I heard that it became a "sticky" situation later."

             "I heard Hermione was a virgin."

             "Not after Malfoy turned her out."

             "Lucky girl she is."

             "Lucky Prat he is."

             Hermione held her books close to her chest and struggled not to laugh at what she heard as she made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Halfway down she met Draco on his way down.

            She smiled as they fell into step with each other, "Have you heard? You are really a Mudblood."

             Draco laughed, thinking of the things he had heard himself, "Have you heard? You were under the Imperio Curse."

             Draco opened the door to the hall and they made another mistake that would start another chain of rumors. The whispering heightened as they stepped into the Great Hall, together, and the student population let out a collective gasp.

            Hermione smiled remembering the looks her friends gave her when she sat next to Harry. The more she thought about it, the harder it was to convince herself that she didn't miss him or Ron.

             Harry just stared at his best friend, whom he had heard some very disturbing things about, "Is it true? What I've heard?"

             She smirked, turning to look at her best friend, "What, that I gave Draco Malfoy 'mouth' after the Ball? Or that he's a Mudblood? Or maybe that I lost my virginity? Even that I'm really a Malfoy? Or that his father tried to kill us? There is plenty more going around, so what do you want to know?"

             "Are any of them true?" Ron asked looking around at the gossiping students around them.

             Hermione looked over at Draco, who winked at her and finished his breakfast. She hadn't eaten but lunch was only two periods away and she had a chocolate frog in her bag. They had a collective idea, let the little gossiping fools gossip, she smiled as stood up, "Believe what you want."

             Harry & Ron's mouth's fell open as they watched their best friend saunter out of the Great Hall followed by Draco. Even years later they wouldn't get a straight answer about what really happened that night.

             Hermione laughed to herself, looking up at the clock, and thought back to her seventh year when he became really bold and took her to his mother's Society ball. The mouths that hung open that night, she was surprised they all didn't curse her right there, but they all acted as if she were someone else. However, not many dared cross even the young Malfoy then.

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            Draco looked at his friend before gathering some parchment and a Quill, "Are you sure it's the right thing to do?"

             "You want to get this over with so you can concentrate on her?" Blaise asked following his best friend.

             "Still, going through with the plan without telling her?" Draco stammered as he walked back into the bedroom toward his desk.

             "You know she would be against it if you told her," Blaise replied stopping in the bathroom to glance at himself.

            "Yea, like she did when Potter was going to kill Voldemort," Draco replied sitting at his desk.

             "Yeah, and being the whipped prick you were, you didn't even go," Blaise replied laughing at the memory.

             It was a dark cool night in Scotland, just hours before the day everyone would celebrate as the Last Stand of Voldemort. The Elite forces of the Light side were camping out in a field talking about the last move.

            Harry stood in front of the men, many of whom he was a lot younger than, "I don't want everyone in danger tomorrow. I want just a select few to accompany me."

             "Any preferences Mr. Potter?" Snape asked cocking an eye at the boy who seemed to be ages older than his mere 22 years, although his 23rd birthday was just two weeks away.

             Harry looked around avoiding the face of the women, he loved the most, Hermione & Ginny, "You Professor, Blaise, Mad-Eye Moody, and Draco."

             Draco and Hermione both looked up at him, though Draco nodded, and Hermione shook her head. She turned to him with a pained expression, "No, Draco, this is not your battle."

             "It is if Harry wants it to be," Draco replied trying to act as if he really wanted to leave her waiting, though he honestly would rather be back at Malfoy Manor wrapped around her and silk sheets.

             "What about me Draco? What if you die? What am I going to do?" Hermione pleaded pulling him away from the others, who were listening with interest.

             "We've been fighting for five years Granger, haven't you ever thought I was going to die?" he asked rather harshly.

             "I have, every day for the past five years, and I was hoping tonight could be a night that we could both be in our tent. Together," she replied wiping away a stray piece of hair that flew into her eyes.

             "You should be happy Potter even asked me," Draco said, he was whispering now, the others were trying to act like they weren't interested but he could see them all straining to hear their words.

             "I am. And I know he only asked Blaise because Ron is still recovering from a Crucio and he told me yesterday that he wanted you to go. But today, I'm not so sure I want you to go," Hermione whispered pulling herself closer to him, wrapping her arms around his back.

             Draco looked deep into her eyes before speaking, "You think Weasely is strong enough to take my place? He's the only one I'd ever want to have my spot."

             "Yeah," she whispered. A half smiled laid restlessly on her lips.

             "Fine, I'll ask Potter to take Weasely and I'll stay with you," he replied not really looking too happy about it.

             She smiled, pulling his face toward hers, kissing him softly, "Good, I love you."

             He smiled, "I love you too."

             Draco let go of her and made his way back to the circle, "Potter, I consider your decision an honor but I have decided not to go."

             Though Harry's head was killing him he still smiled, knowing it was all because of his friend, "That's fine, anyone you want to take your place?"

             "Weasely, he's the only one," Draco replied before sitting down.

             "Fine," Harry replied looking back to the older men behind him.

             "She made a very good argument," Draco laughed, thinking of the fun night they had while the others worried about a way into Voldemort.

             Blaise smirked as he leaned on Draco's door frame, "I'm sure she did in that thin ass tent."

             Draco just smirked, ignoring his friend and wrote a letter to Hermione.

       Hermione,

 I need you to make a quick Pensieve of your memories of those men. Have it done at least by two this afternoon. I’ll be over about then to pick it up. I will not be able to come by for a long time today but I should be back within a week or so. So please have the Pensieve and after I return I will see you for the last time and return home. It's almost over.

             Detective Draco X. Malfoy

             "Why did you put that lie about not seeing her anymore in there?" Blaise asked as he read the letter over his friends shoulder.

             "Just to give her swift kick," Draco laughed as he gave the letter to the Owl and told it to Deliver to Hermione Granger immediately.

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             Draco arrived at Hermione's house exactly at two the afternoon and she was standing at the screen door waiting.

            Just as he opened the door she started with questions, "Why do you need this?"

             "Look, it is almost over Hermione. Just give me the Pensieve and I'll be back in a week or so," Draco replied following her back into the den.

             "No, tell me what is going on," she demanded as opened a large cabinet behind the couch.

             "Hermione, don't make this complicated. I want to make it safe for you again and I will. So just give me what I asked for," he replied walking over to the cabinet beside her.

             "You are going after them alone? Draco, no, I don't want that," Hermione pleaded, sitting her wand on the back of the couch.

             "I'm not going alone, Blaise & Harry are going to assist me, all I need are your memories. I know you don't want to come back so I'm not asking you to, I just need to get this done so I can get on with my life," Draco replied reaching in his robes for his wand.

             "So when you return its just to get your things and return home?" she whispered looking down at her wand.

             "Yes, isn't that what you wanted?" Draco asked, almost smirking, he knew how she felt.

             "Ye--No, no, Merlin, I don't know. I just want to talk to you," Hermione replied picking up her wand.

            "Then, instead I will return, I will stay awhile longer, and we can talk. Is that all right?" he asked looking over at the clock, knowing he had to get out of there.

             "Yeah," she whispered opening the lock with a softly whispered Alohomora.

            Draco reached over and took the light weight Pensieve out of the cabinet, "Thank you."

             Hermione reached over, took his face in her hands, and kissed him. Her lips caressed his. She couldn't contain what she felt inside. Her passion was like a fire and he was like oxygen to her, every time he was around the fire blazed even brighter.

            "No, thank you, please be careful," she whispered, pulling away, five years of loneliness coming back to remind her of what she had missed.

             Draco smiled, running his fingers over her cheek, "I'll be back."

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+Hours Later+

             Blaise grinned at the black-haired man as they ran up the stone white stairs leading to the Aurors headquarters, "Potter, we are here."

             Harry rolled his eyes at Blaise and turned his attention to Draco, "Malfoy how's it going?"

             Draco knew he meant that in more than one way, "It's as well as to be expected."

             Harry nodded his head and turned back toward the huge building, "Now, we have the men in custody and if we don't sort through those memories the moment Minister Weasely gets here he'll never have time to look at them again. So lets go."

             "You even got Tunnelly?" Draco asked as they walked into the well-aired building, he knew Gram Tunnelly was going to be the hardest to catch. Word was he hadn't been out in broad daylight in two years.

             "Moody caught him, just yesterday, we told him Barty Jr., turned on him. He's been talking ever since, "Harry smirked, as they walked into a big room

            "Good, here's her Pensieve," Draco replied, sitting the Pensieve on the shelf in front of Harry.

             Harry stuck his head out the door, "Mrs. Brown-Finch-Fletchley in here?"

             Another deep voice answered, "No, she's in her office."

             "Tell her to take my Owl's until the Minister departs," Harry replied to the hidden man.

             "Yes, sir," the deep voice replied instantly.

             Harry chuckled as he closed the door, "I love the interns."

             Just as Harry returned to the other men, Percy Weasely came walking into the room looking as arrogant as ever. Except he smiled when he saw all the Hogwarts Alumni in the room, "Nice to see you Potter, Zabini, and Malfoy."

             "Here are the memories, this is all the evidence we have besides the signed confession by Gram Tunnelly," Blaise said pushing the Pensieve toward the older man.

             "If they are as horrible as Tunnelly's confessions the trial will begin tomorrow and be over at least by Friday. I will not let them live any longer than necessary, threatening Miss Granger's life, indeed. I'll threaten their lives all right," Percy replied just as he stuck his hand in the Pensieve.

             The three younger men laughed to themselves as they transmitted the memories to an invisible wall so the whole room could watch the memory like a movie.

             "She's supposed to die," a dark-haired man yelled with a thick French accent.

             "If we kill her here, we'll be caught, there are charms everywhere," said, another man, who was pale and handsome.

             "Antonious you worry too much," the first, Adelard Good, smirked.

             "He's right, look at her, if she dies it'll be from a beating and exposure," another said, he looked a great deal like Fudge.

             Hermione was moaning on the ground in extreme pain. The Abrumpo Exosssis had broken every bone in her body. She was supposed to die within the hour but she knew if she stayed still there would be no permanent damage if someone found her. She whimpered as Gram Tunnelly picked up her arm and pushed it closer to her.

             "Draco," Hermione moaned as the four men talked over her.

             "What if she survives?" Gram Tunnelly asked looking down at the girl with pity.

             "She'll run, I know she will, and we will just have to follow her, and kill her," Barty Crouch Jr.'s best friend, Hobson Wilcome, said looking away from her bloody and mangled body.

             "Draco," she moaned again feeling the looseness in her neck.

             "What if we buried her somewhere and just let her die?" Adelard Good proposed looking down at her with a sneer.

             "Why take the time to touch her when she can just die with in 60 minutes? We aren't supposed to be murdering her, we are just disposing of her just as Mr. Parkinson & the Lestranges asked," Gram replied looking up at his four companions.

             "Fine," Adelard whispered and walked away hurriedly toward the town.

             "We'll just leave her here and we can go on with our lives," Hobson said patting his friend on the arm before he walked toward the woods.

             "Let's not speak of this ever again," Gram said loudly before taking the opposite direction of Hobson.

             Antonius Rosier was the last one left with Hermione, he stooped down and whispered something that made her neck feel whole, "I'm so sorry."

             Hermione whimpered loudly as he stood up and walked away leaving her in the middle a field in Scotland, dying.

             When the memory was over Draco's eyes were filled with tears but his fists were clinched in anger. He wanted to punch something or somebody. Harry was just a tad calmer but he could voice his, "I don't wish to see anymore, they can be convicted on this. And I EXPECT them to be convicted and KILLED immediately."

             Draco looked up at the Boy-who-he-used-to-love-to-hate with surprise, he had never heard that kind of viciousness out of anyone besides his father. Percy stood up, not reaching Harry's full height, "Oh, I intend to have them all, in one fell swoop, KISSED."

             He turned to Draco with a firm handshake, "We hope to have her home soon. Good-day to you all, if you don’t come to the trial expect to hear it in the papers or on WWN, they won't be here on Earth for long."