Silver and Cold

Silver & Cold

Chapter Five

The Kiss

[Memory]

She was there, amusingly talking, laughing, and eating with her friends. Her long red hair shimmered with the sun's rays, and her milky skin glowed. She was beautiful. He remembered her soft and warm lips on his.

*He sighed. *

He was hopeless. He longed for her, but she didn't seem to recall what happened last night, so he thought.

The castle grounds were packed with bustling patches of wizards chatting their lives away. Meanwhile, he sat under the shadow of an arch with a potion book on his lap. He wasn't reading, but he didn't need to. He couldn't concentrate knowing she was so close, yet so far. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a boy with messy hair heading towards her.

"Potter!" He snarled, grasping his book so tightly, his knuckles went yellow.

When will he stop stalking her!

He didn't have to worry much, by the time Potter reached the spot where she had been with her friends, she was gone.

"Well, well, well, that's too bad Potter! Not as fast on the ground as on the broomstick, uh," he sneered.

He got up and made his way back to the castle. He had a potions test to ace.

~'~

It was time for his next class. He held a piece of parchment in his right hand.

"You deserve some pampering."

Indeed, he had received a perfect mark on his potions test. He was surely the best student of the class, if not, at least the Professor's favourite student. He was rounding the corner of the corridor, when he was suddenly pulled with great force inside a classroom. He was dragged to the middle of the classroom. He helplessly tried to look for his offender or offenders, but the room was pitch black.

"INCEDIO!" a soft feminine voice commanded. A series of torches lit with a dominos effect. From the far corner of the room stood a young girl with bright red hair and sparkling green eyes. She approached the perplexed boy with her wand pointing his direction.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Before he could react, thin blue glowing ropes wrapped around the young man binding him completely. He desperately tried to keep his balance, but failed and landed on the cold stone floor, wording a single word before landing on the floor, "You?"

The young girl couldn't contain her amusement at he site of the young man hopelessly lying on the floor. She slowly kneeled next to the boy. Leaning forward, the girl whispered in his ear, "Thank you so much for a brilliant birthday dinner." Her warm breath brought flashbacks of that night. The girl beamed at he young man.

"I'm afraid, I'm of no use in the present state." He gave her a smirk.

"Let's see about that." She finished with a girlish smile.

***

Hermione reached the Gryffindor common room before breakfast. She was surprised to see Harry and Ron were already there. However, whom she really wanted to see was Ginny. Hermione had seen Ginny so distressed and the markings on Ginny's neck worried her terribly. The prefect girl tried to evade Harry and Ron and instead search for Ginny, however, Ron caught sight of her retrieving back.

"Hay, Hermione, come over," yelled Ron, to the embarrassment of Harry, who feverishly looked about.

Hermione marched down the room, her bushy hair bouncing on her back. She looked at Ron nervously and suppressed an awkward smile. She couldn't tell Ron the state Ginny was in, not without speaking to Ginny first.

"'Mione, you okay?" Ron asked when he noticed Hermione's evasion.

Ron knew her well enough after five years of friendship.

"Yes, Ron, I'm fine...just ... er, I think I'll go back to my room. I forgot a book," Hermione lied pitifully.

"What?" Ron had a stupid look on his face.

"I forgot a book, a book, Ron...uh...bye Ha--" Ron cut Hermione off.

"Aren't you going to have breakfast?" Ron motioned the buttered bread and eggs that appeared on the table.

"Later, Ron, I have to go. Bye, Harry." Harry simply nodded as Hermione made an exit.

"But 'later' will be lunch! How will she survive potions class?" Incredibly, Ron had managed to produce coherent sounds with a mouth filled at full capacity with food.

"Dunno, Ron. But remember, she's Her-mio-ne." Harry said as he stared with disbelief at his ravenous friend.

**

Hermione had reached the girl's dormitories when she saw Ginny approaching.

She quickly ran towards her friend.

"Gin," Hermione breathlessly mouthed.

Ginny looked into Hermione's eyes. She wanted to pour her feelings out, she wanted someone to help her, to listen, and console her. Nevertheless, what would Hermione think about what happened yesterday, about what she had discovered?

"Ginny, look at you...you...you look awful!" Hermione wrinkled her nose. "Who did this to you; who tried to kill you?" Hermione wanted to ask everything that was perturbing her since last night.

Ginny was giving into her friend, "Fine, I'll tell you, but not here."

The Gryffindor prefect took Ginny to her chamber. The bedroom smelled like sweet vanilla. The girls sat on a red chaise lounge. Ginny hopelessly looked at her friend. Hermione cleared her throat, signalling she would start the conversation.

"Ginny, Who. Did. This. To. You?"

Ginny's chestnut-coloured eyes filled with tears. "Draco." For a moment, Hermione was surprised to hear Ginny refer to Malfoy by his first name.

"That brute! Ohh, when I see him..." Hermione looked menacingly. Her lips were barely noticeable and her hands had balled into fists.

"Please, please," said Hermione, more to herself than to Ginny, "Start from the beginning."

Ginny took a deep breath. "Well, I was bored yesterday after Luna left. So, I decided to go to the dungeon."

"What? Of all places, Ginny, why the school dungeon?" Hermione fumed.

"Calm down Hermione! I don't know 'why,' I just ...wanted to be alone." Ginny's tears had dried out.

"Fine. Continue." Hermione ordered.

"Yes, well, I started walking aimlessly. I had no idea where I was going, until I reached a part of the dungeon that was very strange and lonely." Ginny suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered the dark corridor.

"I then heard someone crying... I followed the noise and I reached a heavy ebony door--the noise was coming from within the room. So, I decided to go in--"

"Ginny what were you thinking? Were you thinking?" Hermione interrupted.

"Hermione, please, let me finish! Right, I went inside the room. That's when I discovered Malfoy was the one who was crying," said Ginny.

"Really?" Hermione's eyebrows had jumped up.

"Unfortunately, he noticed I was there...and that's when he tried to strangle me to death...I think I fainted while he was still strangling me. But what was odd was his behaviour."

"What do you mean?" Hermione inquisitively asked.

"When I woke up, he was stroking my hair."

"Strange," Hermione said to herself.

"I know." Ginny said not noticing Hermione had drifted away. "And what's even more strange is that--" Ginny stopped to look at Hermione.

Her friend drifted back to Ginny who was anxiously waiting, "Yes, Ginny, continue," encouraged Hermione.

"I didn't want him to stop." Ginny squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want to see the look on her friend's face.

"What!" Hermione yelled. Hermione stood with her hands on her hips.

Ginny opened her sparkling chestnut eyes and pulled her friend's robe. "Hermione, it's not that serious."

"What are you talking about?" Hermione brushed Ginny's hand away. "Draco tried to kill you. Do you understand the magnitude of what he tried to do?" Hermione was fuming again.

"I do understand. I'm not a house elf!" Ginny wished she had not said that. Nevertheless, it was too late; Hermione was giving her an evil look.

"Sorry, Hermione. I did punch Malfoy--square in the face." Ginny was waiting for Hermione's reaction.

"Impressive." Hermione said flatly. She started tapping her right foot.

"What are you thinking, Hermione?" Ginny said expectantly.

Hermione froze. She turned to her friend and gave her a concerned look. "Ginny, what exactly did you feel when Malfoy was stroking your hair?" Hermione sat beside her friend and held her hand.

"I'm..." Hermione held her breath.

"Confused," Ginny finished saying.

Liar! Ginny shook away her thoughts.

"Ginny, do you feel something for Malfoy?"

"No!" Ginny quickly answered, sounding more self-assured than she really felt.

"Are you sure, Gin?"

"Yes!"

"I believe you." Hermione said smiling at her friend. Ginny returned an awkward smile.

Hermione and Ginny both stood and made their separate way back to the library and bedroom, respectively. "Thanks, 'Mione!" Ginny called out to her friend's back. Hermione warmly waved a hand and proceeded to the library.

**

The cold breeze pushed his platinum hair back, revealing a proud and broad forehead.

Malfoy was engaged in deep thought.

The filth dared to lay her dirty hand on me.

He then remembered how soft and silky her hair was. His fingertips longed to touch it once more--no! She was a Weasley, a disgrace to the name of wizard.

Ahh! Nevertheless, she smelled so sweet.

Draco stood up and walked towards his bed. He frowned, and in frustration kicked the nearby desk causing various books to tumble down to the floor.

Stupid thoughts, I must uphold the Malfoy name.

Malfoy quickly gathered his books and shoved them into his leather backpack. He ran out the door and climbed the stairs. He was going to be late for Transfiguration.

On her way to the library, Hermione saw Malfoy speed walking. His fine black velvet robe flowed behind him. At first glance, Draco seemed to be hovering over the floor like some kind of ethereal deity.

Hermione couldn't contain herself, "Malfoy!" she yelled.

Malfoy came to an abrupt halt. His pale eyes scanned the corridor for the person who dared to interrupt his path.

He spotted Hermione at the foot of the stairs. "I won't waste my breath on you!" he gave her a darting glare.

Hermione twitched, but quickly recollected, pathetically trying to match Draco's evil stare.

"You tried to strangle Ginny!" Hermione was now heading towards Draco.

"Great, the bloody hag went whimpering to her mummy, I'm deeply touched." Draco's cynicism oozed through his teeth. Malfoy suddenly started laughing at Hermione. His malicious roar echoed throughout the corridor.

"It's not funny, Malfoy, you don't know the consequences of your--"

"Save me the sermon, Granger." He cut Hermione off mid sentence.

"If I talk, you will get it." Hermione said throatily.

Malfoy grimaced as he saw Hermione's eyes twinkle with triumph.

"You wouldn't dare..."

"Oh, yes I would; I'm a Gryffindor. Remember?" Hermione emphasized the last word.

Malfoy pondered as he continued to sneer.

Bollocks! Granger's hatefully right.

"What do you want?" Malfoy said miserably.

"Leave Ginny alone."

"Done." Malfoy swiftly turned and continued on his path.

"Hmm. That's taken care of." Hermione was feeling good, but then she started thinking.

That was too easy.

**

Ginny was pissed off, tired, smelled like frog's urine, and was hungry. Double potions on Friday evenings always drained her energy. Today, though, a clumsy Hufflepuff boy exploded a flask of frog's urine just when Ginny passed by his table on her way to collect pieces of Hungarian horntail scales. The whole classroom howled with laughter at Ginny's misfortune. Thank Merlin, Professor Snape quickly silenced the students with one threatening look, and sent Ginny to wash off.

Ginny had been the last one to leave the classroom. She now made her way up the stairs leading to the first level of the castle, when she heard a too familiar voice pronounce her name.

"Weasley!" Ginny stood frozen mid-way up the stairs. She squeezed the strap of her bag, and made an effort to turn around. There he was--his pale features adorned with his usual smirk.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ginny said with no trace of emotion in her voice.

"No, no, the proper question would be: what can you offer me?" Malfoy started to climb up the stairs two steps at a time. He stopped on the step where Ginny stood.

"I can offer you nothing, you should know better, Malfoy." Ginny observed Draco as he leisurely approached her and only to halt when he was inches away from her.

"What about now, Weasley, what can you offer me now?" Malfoy delicately brushed a red strand of hair away from Ginny's face.

"What do you think you're doing, Malfoy?" Ginny said coolly.

Ginny could smell his expensive cologne and feel his warm breath caress her face. She observed his pale eyes roam her face and his soft delicate finger trace the outline of her face. She was speechless. What was Malfoy planning to do?

She is beautiful; I don't care if she's filth. Besides, I could do her the favour.

Before Ginny could make up her mind to tell Malfoy off, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.

Ginny was stiff as a statue. Draco's impulsive action was overwhelming. His lips were soft and thin. It was a mild kiss; Draco didn't want to go the whole nine yards. The kiss was only an appetizer.

Malfoy slowly pulled away. Ginny was abashed and merely gazed back at Malfoy. He was amused by Ginny's increasingly blushed face.

"You could use some kissing lessons," Malfoy said tittering. He gave her another smirk and walked away.

Ginny was dumbfounded. Malfoy had just kissed her, and she did nothing to prevent it.

As Malfoy walked away, she stared blankly at his back. She touched her lips; they were still warm.

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