I Love You, Don't Touch Me!

I Love You, Don't Touch Me!

Chapter 6: I Was Only Taking a Walk...

Several weeks passed and gradually things settled into a regular routine for all the students at Hogwarts. In just under a week it was going to be Halloween, and all were looking forward to the usual feast that would take place on the thirty-first; that coming Friday.

Harry had managed to treat Hermione like a casual friend, even though it was slowly becoming harder and harder to do so. In order to counter this, Harry spent more and more time avoiding Hermione, and his acquaintance with her was almost bordering on 'cold'. It wasn't that he meant to act that way towards her, the only trouble was, every time they were around each other, Harry found himself unable to concentrate, so he would cut their conversations short and hurry away to try and regain control of his spinning emotions.

These days he was becoming very distracted and others were beginning to wonder. Like today. It wasn't as if Harry normally paid rapt attention in classes, but even Hermione was starting to notice his short attention span. She called him on it during their Transfiguration class, the last class of the day on Wednesday.

Professor McGonagall had told the class to turn stones into small lizards, and Harry's stone had simply sprouted legs and a tail and gone scuttling across the desk. As it encountered Hermione's small blue and orange lizard it rammed right into it, and the poor creature let out a tiny hiss with its pink tongue and went somersaulting off the table and into Hermione's lap. She leapt up with a cry.

"Harry! What are you doing?"

Harry jerked his thoughts back to the task at hand, and retrieved the heavy reptile from his friend's robes.

"Er, sorry, Hermione."

"Honestly, where is your head today, Harry? You'd better fix your lizard or you're going to get into trouble... Too late."

Professor McGonagall was heading their way, inspecting the work of the students two tables in front of them. Harry raised his wand, but stared at his poor rock's squirming legs helplessly. His mind had gone blank and he couldn't remember the spell he needed.

"Here, let me," Hermione hissed in his ear, and with a wave of her wand and a puff of blue smoke, Harry's rock gave a 'pop' and turned into a tiny green and black lizard just as their teacher turned to face them. Hermione gave a flick of her wrist and her wand slipped through her fingers and down the sleeve of her robes. Harry hastily lifted his own wand and raised it over his lizard, who blinked its tiny black eyes curiously up at him.

"Well done, Miss Granger. You too, Potter. Carry on." And with that she moved on to check Ron and Neville's work.

Ron had a Halfling. His poor lizard had the shape of the common reptile, but its back end, from waist to tip of tail, was still solid stone. The yellow and purple front was earnestly lifting its front feet and putting them down in the same spot, as its rear was too heavy for it to go forward. Neville still had a stone sitting in front of him, albeit a scorched one from several botched attempts at the same un-working spell. Professor McGonagall shook her head at them and sighed as she took in Neville's work.

"Thanks 'Mione," Harry whispered, as he glanced over his shoulder at their Professor. Because of this, he missed Hermione's sudden jerking up of her head to look at him, her expression one of startle and just a hint of a blush. By the time he turned back to her seconds later, she had neutralized her face and was cradling her lizard in her palms, letting it crawl over her fingers.

"No problem, Harry," she murmered as she kept her eyes on her little pet.

* * * * *

After class finished, and the students were filing out, Ron caught Harry's arm.

"Remember that we have Quidditch practice tonight, we're playing Slytherin tomorrow."

Harry nodded, then turned to Hermione as she made to brush past them in the flow of students.

"Hermione, you're coming to watch, right?"

She turned to him, and gave him an indignant look. "Harry Potter, have I ever missed one of your and Ron's Quidditch matches since the beginning of our time here?"

"So you're coming then?" Ron quipped cheekily and Hermione glared at him.

"Of course I am, Weasley," she shot back, smacking him on the shoulder and giving him a look that only girls can give. One that said 'you're being annoying on purpose and it's working so you'd better watch out later because I'm not one who doesn't get even'. Ron raised his hands in mock surrender.

"See you there, then," Harry called over his shoulder and walked past her, soon swept away in the crowd. Ron followed him and Hermione stood still, watching her friends hurry away for their practice, not noticing as the other students forked around her in two lines as they hurried down the hall.

* * * * *

Harry was so distant lately. She noticed that the classroom had emptied now and Professor McGonagall was gathering her books together. Hermione quickly entered the hallway and hurried toward her dorm, her face unable to work the sad frown off her lips.

She hardly noticed that the hall was deserted and certainly wasn't looking out for the broad chest which she ran into as she turned the corner before the hall in which the entrance hung. She fell back with a startled cry, her schoolbag falling to the floor and her things scattering across the tiles. She, however, didn't fall. On the contrary, a pair of strong arms were holding onto hers and preventing her from following her bag in suit.

"Oh! I'm so sorr--!" Hermione cried out, her eyes having closed on instinct from the impact, flying open when she failed to crash onto the stone floor.

"Nice to see you too, Granger." A cold voice grinned down at her, the grey eyes of its owner flashing as blond hair fell into them. Draco Malfoy had a hold of her arms, just above her wrists, and he wasn't letting go.

"Let me go, Malfoy," Hermione said slowly, struggling to pull herself out of his grip. He only held on tighter, pushing her into the shadow cast by one of the flickering torches.

"Oh, I don't think so," Draco said smoothly, still smiling down at her, as he backed her up against a wall and stepped closer to her.

Hermione stared up at him with wide eyes. This hall was empty, no classrooms or offices, no portraits on the walls, not even a hanging tapestry. There were three scattered torches which lit the corridor, and because of the lack of windows, it was as dark as night.

"Let me go," she said again, her voice trembling a little.

"Not until I have a little fun, first," the taller boy said as he lowered his head so that his face was only inches from hers. "Can't let Potter have all the kicks with a little Mudblood like you, now can I?" he asked softly, his belt buckle pressing against the thin fabric of her blouse and cutting into her stomach.

Hermione wished she had worn her sweater today. More so, however, she wished that there was no practice today, or that one of her friends would come bursting around the corner from their common room and make Malfoy go away. But that wasn't likely to happen as classes had just let out and there was more than two hours until dinner; the Gryffindors would likely be laying around their dorm rooms or lounge and relaxing until supper. They wouldn't be coming out to the library or anywhere else to do homework until that evening.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Hermione whispered, finding that her voice had gone strangely hoarse. It must be the fact that he was so close to her, his handsome face only inches from her own, and his eyes glinting with malice. It wasn't a look that a lover would give to his beloved under normal circumstances, given a position such as this, but rather a predatory look of one who was merely toying with his prey. Hermione swallowed nervously.

"I was merely taking a walk before dinner, Granger, and imagine my surprise when who should I find but a poor little Gryffindor all alone in the hallway. I guess you think you're brave to be out here all by yourself..." He trailed off, still speaking in the same soft voice, sending shivers down Hermione's back.

Obviously he didn't know that Gryffindor Tower was just around the bend, but then, Hermione should have known that, the other houses didn't normally know where the entrances to other houses were. In fact, the only other house of which she knew the entrance, was, ironically, Slytherin, and that was thanks to a little Polyjuice incident from her second year; yet even then she wasn't positive because Harry and Ron had been the ones to find it and she was relying on secondhand information.

Harry! Hermione thought wildly, suddenly feeling a wave of fear wash over her. She tried to squash it, this was only Malfoy, she reasoned. Sure, he was the son of one of the most evil men in the wizarding world, but-- wait, there was no 'but' in context like that. Draco Malfoy had kept his distance over the last few years, not harassing her as much as probably would have liked, but that was because Hermione was always around other people, more specifically, Ron and Harry.

"What do you mean 'have all the kicks'?" she questioned, honestly confused.

Draco sneered down at her. "As if you haven't noticed. What about that incident in Care of Magical Creatures a few weeks ago? Admit it, you liked it when he copped a feel up your leg!" His own hand now strayed to her left thigh and slid suggestively up her bare skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps in its wake.

Hermione's body gave an involuntary shiver and Malfoy withdrew his hand from its position a few inches under her skirt - not quite high enough to be causing real trouble, but enough to make Hermione very nervous - and he smirked. She tried to pull away but Malfoy had grabbed her wrist again.

"How far have you gone, Mudblood? Let him into your room yet? Or do you prefer to take him in the Head Lounge instead?" he asked crudely, causing Hermione to blush as she let out an indignant gasp.

"How dare you!" she cried, twisting in his arms. "Harry and I-- we never-- he barely talks to me these days, how can you think-- and what business is it of yours anyway?!" She stopped when she realized that he was laughing at her, a cold, cruel laugh only a Malfoy could do. She blushed harder, an angry flush at his crude joke at her behalf.

"Good," he said abruptly, stopping his laughter in favor of suddenly pulling her against him, pinning her against the wall with his own body. "Then I can have the first taste."

Hermione suddenly found herself crushed against Draco's chest, one of his arms holding the small of her back, and the other now holding her right wrist so that she couldn't strike him. As if she could, she was in too much of a shock from the fact that his lips were pressed against her own, cool as ice. She froze, unable to move away. She didn't notice the footsteps that came around the corner that she, too, had passed only minutes before, nor when they stopped in front of them. But no one could mistake the shocked and disgusted voice that sliced through the air moments later.

"Hot Damn, Malfoy! Do that around your own House!"

Draco pulled back with a start, and Hermione gasped for air as Malfoy ripped his lips off hers.

"Oh--"

Draco stepped away from her and turned to face the obviously grossed out Gryffindor boy standing behind him.

Hermione couldn't blame the boy for being disgusted. Who wouldn't be if he caught a Slytherin making out in the hallway just outside of his dorm? She wasn't any more pleased to be the object of the kiss herself. In fact, she was ready to hug the boy who had interrupted them, so thankful was she for his timely arrival. She pushed her way under Draco's arm and out into the flickering torchlight, nearly-tearful praise on her lips. She stopped dead when she saw the look on the boy's face.

"Hermione?" he gasped in a strangled voice, his eyes wide with shock.

"Harry--" she began, wanting to both run into his arms and have him lead her away to the Tower, and the safety of their common room, and hex Malfoy into the wall now that she had her arms free to grab her wand. Harry, however, was backing away, his eyes narrowed with surprise and anger, and his hands held palms up as raised his arms in a gesture of stopping her forthcoming speech.

"Wow. Hermione. I... didn't know..." He trailed off, a startled look on his face as he tried to form words to respond to what he had just seen: one of his best friends, the girl he had been struggling with strange feelings for over the last few months, making out with his worst enemy.

"No--" He cut her off when she opened her mouth again and took another step toward him, glancing back at Malfoy who was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and a small smile tugging at his lips. "I don't want to hear it. I just came back because I forgot my glove... Angelina sent me back for it..." He was slowly backing down the hall towards the corner, on the other side of which hung their portrait.

Hermione watched as he reached the end of the hall, and turned his back on them, hurrying around the corner. A slightly muffled sound floated back to them as Harry hissed the password at the Fat Lady, and the swish that followed signified that he had entered the common room. He was obviously taking pains not to reveal their password to Malfoy.

Hermione stared after him, tears filling her eyes, and she blinked hastily to keep them from falling. She whirling around and advanced on Malfoy, her wand in slipping down her sleeve and into her hand.

"How dare you?" she asked, her throat constricted with a mixture of shock and grief, the tears spilling down her cheeks anyway. Draco merely glanced at her.

"You're a good kisser, Granger, who would have guessed?" he mused as he smirked at her, hardly seeming bothered by her brandished wand and angry, now tear-streaked, face.

There was a clatter and Harry appeared around the corner clutching his brown leather Quidditch glove in his already gloved left hand. He strode quickly past them, not seeming to notice Hermione or her drawn wand, and soon disappeared around the next corner.

Hermione stared after him. He had gone right past her without even looking at her. She had looked at him though, and seen the angry red patches on his defined cheekbones, and his emerald eyes flashing in fury. She had only seen that look a few times before, and they all involved Harry when he was talking about Voldemort killing his parents; the times when Harry spoke Wormtail and his involvement in their deaths. These times always involved Harry's grief and anger at being robbed of a happy childhood. She knew that look: betrayal.

"Why, Malfoy?" she hissed at him, ignoring the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

"Maybe I just like you, Granger," Malfoy replied with the same smooth tone he had used earlier.

"Like hell you do, you bastard," Hermione shot back bitterly, and Draco's eyes narrowed. "You just wanted someting that you could never have. You're jealous of Harry and you wanted to hurt him. Well you can rest easy now, you have."

Thankfully, Hermione was saved Draco's retort because at that moment Professor McGonagall came around the same corner that Harry had stomped around, and Draco shoved his half-drawn wand back into his robes.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy, what is going on here?" she demanded coldly, sweeping down the hall toward them.

"Nothing, Professor," Draco responded in an equally cool voice, and he pushed past them both, soon disappearing around the corner. Hermione stared after him, suddenly hating that corner and all the grief it had caused her in the last ten minutes. She brushed her hair back, and wiped her face, before turning back to face her head of house.

"Are you all right, Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked crisply. She too had watched the Slytherin's hasty exit with narrowed eyes. "What was Malfoy doing in a corridor so far from his own common room?"

Hermione ducked her head and knelt to gather her supplies off the floor. "I don't know Professor, I ran into him when I was heading back to the dorm, and dropped my bag." She discreetly slipped her wand back into her robes before the Professor could notice she had it out and possibly deduct points from her own house.

Professor McGonagall was practically as strict as Snape when it came to magic in the halls and Hermione didn't think even her status as Head Girl would save her from a catastrophe like that. McGonagall would likely give her a lecture for 'knowing better' and then deduct points anyway.

"Typical Slytherin, no manners what-so-ever," was all the stern woman said, as Hermione gathered the last of her things together and stood up. "Got everything?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Then I suggest you get back to your room and put your things away before supper. I know I don't have to implore you to start your homework before then, but if you would please remind your two companions, Misters Potter and Weasley, to get a crack on theirs, it would be much appreciated. I don't think those two would have got as far as they have in school if not for you." She gave Hermione a thin smile.

Hermione gave a weak one back.

"Speaking of Potter, he came tearing down the hall just as I was returning to the Tower. He seemed rather upset. As Mr. Malfoy was found near-by, am I correct to assume that they had a run-in of sorts?"

Hermione choked at this comment and Professor McGonagall looked at her strangely.

"Yes, Professor."

"No rules broken, were there? No hexes cast in my halls?" she questioned, watching Hermione's eyes closely.

"No, Professor."

"Are you sure you're all right, Miss Granger?"

"Yes, Professor, I'm fine. I really should get a start on my Potions essay." And with that Hermione croaked out the password to the Tower and darted inside, leaving Professor McGonagall to stare after her and wonder just what was really going on with her Head Girl.