Hermione Granger and The Secret Fire

Chapter 15-Surprises

The next three weeks were blissful for Hermione and Draco. Well, not exactly blissful, but really quite good. It did seem, however, that whenever they had a chance to be alone, someone or something would interrupt. They had not shared a bed together since Draco's first revel and Hermione was pleased that he was willing to take it as slow as she wanted.

It was well into November when Hermione received a summons from the Headmaster to meet him in his office that night at 9:00 pm. Hermione just assumed it was a new Head duty she was being given and dismissed any thought related to it. When she got back from classes and dinner, she was surprised to find Draco asleep on the couch in the common room. She assumed he would have also received the summons and would be ready to go to see the Headmaster.

Quietly, she wandered over to where he was sleeping and gently brushed his hair out of his closed eyes. Most people looked different when they were asleep; younger, gentler, sweeter, unguarded. But Draco just looked the way he always did; controlled, and shielded from showing any pain.

"Draco," Hermione said softly, "hey...wake up."

He didn't respond. She tilted her head to her left side, looking at him, as her vision adjusted to the half-light from the dying fire. Draco had fallen asleep on his side, shirtless. It did not matter how many times Hermione saw him this way, she was always amazed by his beautiful body. She noticed that his head was cushioned on his arms, which had been strengthened by years of playing Quidditch. The first game of the season was coming and she wondered how he felt about not playing this year.

Hermione could see where his very light stomach hair trailed down from his belly into his pants. She felt a rush of sexual energy run through her as she thought of where the trail ended.

She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder, meaning to shake him awake. Draco's reaction was instantaneous, like someone waiting to be attacked. His hand shot out so quickly she barely had time to react; he seized her arm, yanked her, hard, down on the couch, and shifted his weight to put pressure on her chest. He had his wand drawn across her throat and his other arm reached for hers.

"What do you think you're doing?" he hissed, eyes wide, glaring down at her.

"Draco!" Hermione shrieked indignantly and with no fear. "Draco, what are you doing? Please, get your wand out of my face!"

Draco froze, and lowered his wand arm, blinking over and over again very quickly. It was the most astonished she had ever seen him look. "Oh, Hermione! I...I thought you were someone else. I was dreaming about my father and I..."

Hermione stood and tried to straighten her robes. She glared at him, angrily, as he tried to explain.

"Hermione, I didn't know what I was doing. Please don't look at me like that," Draco said holding his head in his hands. "I am so tired and stressed and I never see you anymore..." His voice trailed off as Hermione grabbed his arms and pulled him into a standing position.

Without any delay, Hermione pulled Draco closer and kissed his lips. His mouth instantly opened up to her, allowing Hermione's tongue to explore the inner sweetness. Hermione felt her body melting every time Draco's tongue touched and molded into hers. The pressure of Draco's body against her was driving her insane. Draco's scent was intoxicating and she wanted to devour him.

Hermione had no idea where this inner sex kitten had come from and no idea when it was going to go away, so she decided to enjoy it for all that it was worth. She was shocked by her own actions but wanted them to continue, just the same.

"Gods, I've missed you," Draco whispered in Hermione's ear as he playfully bit and sucked on it. "I needed this kiss. Where have you been, lately? It seems we're never alone any more. Between hall monitoring and Head duties and classes and revisions, I never see you!"

"Really?" Hermione said as she slid the tip of her tongue down Draco's neck and kissed him again.

Hermione felt herself liquefying. She grabbed Draco's hair and deepened the kiss. Draco gave a loud moan. Urgently, he started unzipping Hermione's robes.

This was enough for Hermione to wake up from her moment of weakness and she quickly backed away from Draco, holding the back of her right hand to her chafed lips. Both of them were panting and Draco looked angry, yet horrified.

"What did you do that for," he yelled at her. "First you attack me with kisses and caresses and then when I...respond you back off! What do you want from me, Hermione?"

He, however, obviously didn't want an answer. He began pacing the common room in frustration and was mumbling something about losing control to himself.

"Draco...I..." she began as she zipped her robes back up. But she didn't know what to say.

She began to verbally berate herself, internally as she watched her boyfriend. 'You're what, Hermione, sorry? Are you sorry you took advantage of the moment or that you stopped him when he responded? What exactly do you want here? You know you're in love with him, so why do you freak out if it goes beyond kissing? What is the matter with you?'

Draco stopped his pacing and came to embrace Hermione. As if he could hear her internal ramblings, he asked, "What do you want, Hermione? I need to know what you're thinking. You know I care about you deeply, I have told you that. Gods, Hermione, this is hard for me. What do you want from me?"

Hermione stood stick still as Draco's arms enveloped her and he started asking questions. She felt tears spring to her eyes when she realized she was confusing him with her actions. Before she could hurt him anymore, she pushed him away and said, "I'm sorry, Draco. I don't know..."

She could see he was misinterpreting what she was saying to mean she didn't know what she wanted. That was far from the truth. What she meant was she was not sure how to act in a relationship. She wasn't sure how to be someone's girlfriend or become someone's lover. She just didn't know. But before she could react to his misunderstanding, he looked at her very much like a man in pain and said, "Never mind," as he walked out of the portrait.

She stormed up to her room, completely in tears and collapsed on her bed.

~*~

Several hours later, Hermione was awakened by the sound of the Mime Priestess arguing with someone. Standing up and putting on a robe, she wandered down the stairs in time to hear the portrait losing her patience.

"I told you, the Head Boy is not here. He left earlier, and I do not know where he went or when he will be back. It is not the responsibility of the portrait to keep tabs on her room inhabitants," the Mime Priestess said.

Hermione pushed open the portrait and was surprised to see Harry and Misten on the other side.

"What are you guys doing here?" Hermione asked between yawns. She rubbed her eyes to make certain they were not playing tricks on her. "Where are Ron and Ginny? And why are you asking about Draco?"

"Can we come in, Hermione?" Harry kept glancing around as if he expected Rita Skeeter to jump out and catch him talking in the hallway. "This shouldn't be discussed out here."

Hermione walked back into her common room and crossed it to sit on the couch in front of the fire. Misten and Harry followed. Misten pointed her wand and whispered Incendio into the fire to light it once again. She joined Hermione on the couch.

Harry paced back and forth in front of the girls, mumbling under his breath. Hermione watching him with growing trepidation, noticing his stride was not getting any slower.

"Hermione, where has Malfoy been the last two hours?" Harry began, "and don't tell me with you because I know he's not here."

"Harry, calm down!" Misten commanded.

Hermione was watching him pace the room and it was making her dizzy. She frowned at him when she said, "What are you talking about, Harry. I don't know where he's been, but my guess would be in the Great Hall for dinner. Why do you need Draco?"

"Oh, I don't need him. I know where he's been!" Harry yelled. "He's been downstairs meeting with the other junior Death Eaters in a blatant attempt to gather more little followers to their clan!"

But Misten interrupted him with, "Harry, you know nothing which is why we are here. Draco would not do what you are accusing him of doing. I know him and he is not like that. Contrary to popular belief, he is not his father."

"YOU KNOW HIM? What is that supposed to mean, Misten? And since when do you get off calling him Draco? He IS a Slytherin you know. And you are a..."

Misten, however, had heard enough. "A Gryffindor, yes, I know. Thanks for clearing that up for me, Harry. I've been so confused!" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Hermione was watching the arguing between the two like it was a ping-pong match. She knew they were speaking English, but she did not understand what they were saying. 'Harry's gone mad and he's accusing Draco of...what again?'

"What?" Hermione said.

Misten and Harry stopped their quarrelling and looked at her. Harry threw up his hands and said, "I should have known Hermione would take his side! Of course she would! She's too busy playing kissy face to see what is really happening."

Hermione was insulted by that comment. She stood and faced her friend while saying, "Harry James Potter, I don't know what you are ranting about. What do you mean that I am on Draco's side? His side of what? And I have NOT been playing kissy face! Now are you going to tell me what is happening?"

"I TOLD YOU he's meeting with the other junior Death Eaters and they are planning some show of aggression. They are trying to convert people to their side so that when Voldemort attacks the castle, he has ranks from within!" Harry yelled at her as if this was the most obvious thing ever.

Hermione's mouth dropped open and she stared in shock at Harry. Misten however, had already heard Harry's ranting and stood up to put her arm around Hermione's shoulder. "Harry, we don't know if that is really happening. We don't know anything. That's why we're here; to find out the truth.

"Besides, you big git, if Draco was 'in on this' he would not have made it public knowledge to his roommate. So stop yelling at Hermione as if she is hiding something."

Hermione was still recovering from the shock of Harry's accusations both to her and Draco. She knew quite well, without playing kissy face, that Draco would not be meeting with anyone to strengthen Voldemort's numbers. But she could not tell Harry that! She could not tell Harry that Draco was a spy. How was she going to get out of this one?

'Think quickly, Hermione. Think quickly,' she thought.

"Harry, I know Draco would not..." she began but there was no good way to end that sentence. So she tried again. "Draco is not what..." No, that wouldn't end right either.

"Harry," Misten said noticing Hermione's inner battle, "for the love of the Gods, Draco is not downstairs conspiring against you. You'll just have to trust me when I say that is not even a possibility!"

"Whatever," Harry responded, quite dramatically and stomped out of the common room, "we'll see who's on my side when the time comes."

Misten sighed in obvious contempt and turned to face Hermione. "Do you know where Draco is, because this would be a whole lot simpler if Harry could just see that Draco's not down there?"

"No...I don't know...what is going on?" Hermione stuttered.

"Harry got wind of a 'secret meeting' in one of the empty potion classrooms. Supposedly there are a lot of students in the classroom trying to make sense of who is on whose side. Of course it is being run by Slytherins and that must mean it is being headed by Draco, because we haven't seen enough this year to convince us he's changed," Misten said rubbing her temples. "Ron is down there right now trying to spy using Harry's invisibility cloak and some extendable ear thingies."

"Oh," Hermione said, unclear on what else to say. She wanted to ask, 'and you believe Draco's not there? How do you know that?' but she knew if she asked that, there would be more questions for her that she could not answer. If she went down that road, she'd be pushing it.

"Any way, what is going on with you and our Slytherin Prince?" Misten asked playfully.

"I haven't gotten the chance to talk to you since your big 'coming out' party in the Room of Requirement. I take it the makeover worked?"

Hermione just stared at her friend and wished she could tell her everything. Instead she went into the story of what happened the night of the makeover, getting caught in the hall by the Slytherin prefects and Draco's reaction to it the night after, the ensuing fight, and she summed it up with a good old-fashioned complaint about not seeing enough of her boyfriend. She hoped it was enough to fool Misten into thinking it was the only thing going on. Hermione had wanted to tell her about Draco getting called to the revel and her fear and the note from the senior Mr. Malfoy, but she knew she could not.

"Well, as lovely as that story was, Hermione," Misten said pointedly, "You mentioned nothing of feelings. Am I to believe you have no feelings for the boy?"

"I...well of course I have feelings for him. I just don't know what they are and what to do about them. Even tonight, Draco tried to take it to the next level and I froze. I couldn't do it. All I could think of is what my parents would say..." she trailed off.

"Oh my Gods, Hermione! Please tell me you did not say that? That has to be the corniest, most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!" Misten argued with her with a huge smile on her face.

But Hermione could only return a look of confusion and misunderstanding and bit back with, "This from the girl that hid her relationship from her family!" As soon as the words were out, Hermione regretted them.

'You've been hanging out with Draco too much when you bite someone's head off just for trying to help you. Great way to make friends, Hermione!' she verbally lambasted herself.

Misten's eyes widened and anger crossed her face. "Ouch. I don't think I deserved that! I was only trying to point out a fact, Hermione."

Instantly Hermione felt terrible, "I'm sorry, Misten. I didn't mean to hurt you. I can't seem to say the right things today. Maybe you should go. I need to speak to the Headmaster, anyway."

Misten stood and started to walk out the door. She paused just before exiting and turned to say, "If you have strong feelings for him Hermione, let him know. Draco's been hurt too much by people who can't show or don't have any emotion. If you care about him, really care about him, there is nothing more beautiful and special than sharing yourself with him. Share all of you, Hermione; mind, body and soul. I guarantee it's worth the risk."

~*~

Hermione thought about Misten's words as she walked to meet the Headmaster. She'd look foolish if she admitted she loved him before he admitted it to her.

'Does he love me? What if he doesn't and I tell him and he laughs? How could he love me? I haven't exactly been fair to him. I just don't know what to do!' Hermione thought.

She arrived at the statue, whispered the password and took the stairs up to the Headmaster's office. Knocking quietly, she was invited to come in.

After an offer of tea and some small talk, Professor Dumbledore began. "Miss Granger, as you know there are several things I need to discuss with you. The first is about your 'perfect' potion. As you know it has been catalogued and sent to the ministry for further testing."

Hermione nodded.

"And you also know that the Order is working on some secret plans to help with the fight with Voldemort," he said.

She nodded again.

"Miss Granger, your potion has shown us that you have a talent for potions; a real talent. You have a talent that has not been seen in many years. The ministry has noted this and will encourage you to continue your studies in potions," Professor Dumbledore said and then looked at Hermione expectantly.

"Thank you, sir. But you do not think I should continue my studies?" Hermione questioned, quirking her head to one side.

"Oh, quite the contrary, Miss Granger. I want you to continue, just not in the same way as the ministry sees fit. I want you to accept an offer from the Order. We are proposing that you begin an apprentice, of sorts, with Professor Snape. How do you feel about that?"

"Professor Snape?" Hermione squeaked out, "You want me to be an apprentice to Professor Snape? He doesn't even like me. Does he know about this?"

Professor Dumbledore smiled, knowingly, at her. "Yes, Miss Granger, he is aware. And I am quite certain his feelings about you are not that simple."

'An apprentice?' she thought. 'I could be an apprentice for Professor Snape? That would mean long hours with him. Granted, he has one of the best Potions minds, but an apprentice?'

"We are proposing you start your apprenticeship over the Christmas holiday and continue when you can. When summer term comes, you will stay on and continue your apprenticeship," he explained in her silence.

Knowing she would be making the biggest mistake of her life if she declined, she said, "I would be honored, Professor Dumbledore. I would like to discuss it with my parents, though. They are quite insistent that I go to a Muggle University."

"Certainly, Miss Granger, I would expect nothing else," the Headmaster said. "I would be happy to write a letter inviting them up to see us and we can explain the proposal together. And don't worry about Professor Snape, he'll be delighted that you have agreed."

"What would I be working on, Professor?" Hermione asked, having trouble keeping her excitement contained.

The Headmaster looked at her, amusement shinning in his eyes and said, " Professor Snape is working on an invisibility potion, to aid in sneaking in and out of areas to gain information, but I cannot share more than that. Now, on to the next item, it has been brought to my attention that you received a visit from Harry and Miss Finnegan about a certain meeting being held in the dungeons."

Hermione gulped a breath and nodded. "Should I have stopped them, I means as Head Girl?"

"No. Do not fret about this meeting, Hermione. We are fully aware of what is happening and it is being taken care of by other members of the staff," Professor Dumbledore answered.

Hermione let out her breath and was relieved to hear it would not require her attention.

"Also," he continued, "I have been made aware from various villagers that a Hogwarts student has been sneaking off grounds and into Hogsmeade at night and on unannounced weekends. Unfortunately, they do not know who the young woman is, or why she is there. They have seen that she wears a Hogwarts cloak, though, and that she must be an older student. This is a matter I want you and Mr. Malfoy to work on, though I did not feel he needed to be present for the conversation, as he is working on other things. You will need to ascertain who it is and why they are sneaking off, before any confrontation. I want you to bring the information to me or to Professor McGonagall as soon as you have something to report. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," Hermione responded. Her head was already spinning as to who it could be. Her first reaction was that it must be a Slytherin because they were very cunning and sneaky. How stupid of whomever it was to be sneaking out and being seen!

"Miss Granger, I expect that you will handle your new knowledge with the utmost respect and judiciousness, and that you will make Mr. Malfoy aware of the student situation," Professor Dumbledore said in a way that clearly meant that Hermione was dismissed.

As Hermione walked out of the Headmaster's office he added in one last comment, "One more thing, Miss Granger, do not be afraid."

Perplexed, Hermione asked, "Afraid, sir?"

Professor Dumbledore looked into Hermione's eyes and said, cryptically, "Afraid of who you'll find in your common room. He needs to hear what you are afraid of saying, Miss Granger. He needs it more than you know."

Hermione smiled, weakly, and walked out. 'How does he know? How does he always know?'