Inevitable Lovers

Chapter 8:

True to her word, Hermione did go to Hogsmeade with Ron, and only Ron, that Saturday. The walk up to the village had been rather tense, as halfway there they had managed to catch sight of none other than Pansy Parkinson, who had an irked-looking Draco in tow. Pansy had deliberately made a predictably nasty remark as Hermione sped up to over-take them, catching Draco's eye hastily. Although she resented being called "disgusting" for walking with Ron, she did feel some pity for her Draco, as he grimaced past. Not that there was anything she could do, however. Hermione was just glad she wasn't in his shoes.

However, it had begun to rain as they walked, so there they were in the warm cheeriness of the Three Broomsticks, where many other students had also gathered to take shelter. Draco, Hermione suspected, was sipping dainty cups of tea with Pansy in Madam Puddifoots. She smiled at the image as she and Ron made their way to a table.

Madame Rosmerta looked completely rushed off her feet as she hurriedly brought over their Butterbeers soon after, but she still managed a bright smile as she slapped them down on the table. Hermione noticed Ron eye-up her shapely figure in a frilly low-cut top, none too subtly and looked sideways at him. He looked away quickly, embarrassed.

I wonder what Draco's doing now, contemplated Hermione. I hope he's not too angry with Pansy. But you shouldn't keep dragons in cages...that's what he is, really, a dragon. But he's not fierce with me, well not too much...She turned her attention back to the present. Ron's ears were red again.

After taking several sips of the warming drink, Hermione decided to share her thoughts about Professor Tuppy from last night, obviously making it seem as if she had been alone when she had seen her. She told Ron about the mysterious encounter, and waited for his reply.

'Something must be going on,' he said. 'Wonder what it is this time, eh? We've had-' he counted on his fingers - 'One who was actually hiding You-Know-Who, one complete fraud, one nutter, one control-freak - and one that was genuine. The odds are pretty low that she's normal really, aren't they?'

'It's difficult. She doesn't seem the sort of person to have something to hide, but then, the others didn't either - that's the sign there is something up.'

'So you reckon she's pretending to be someone she's not then?' Ron said thoughtfully. 'Seems a bit simple, compared to the trouble some of the others went to...potions and spells and all that. And Dumbledore's got to be wise to some old tricks by now!'

'Yes well, it's only a guess. And if that is the case, then I wonder if she has actually got something to do with...Voldemort.'

Ron winced.

'I haven't got a clue, to be honest, Hermione.' As Ron put down his drink, his hand brushed Hermione's on the table, and he moved it abruptly as if he had received a shock. Hermione frowned, but just then...

'You two would be good Aurors,' came a low, sarcastic voice just behind them. Hermione started. It was Harry and Ginny, each with their own drinks.

'Harry! How long have you been here?' she asked.

'Long enough to decide that you'd be no good at Concealment and Disguise. Anyone could have heard you. And why didn't you tell me about Tuppy, Hermione?'

'I didn't get a chance, actually. And Ron and I were only speculating anyway. What do you think?'

Harry and Ginny sat opposite at the little round table. 'I hadn't noticed anything,' said Harry. 'She's not completely foul like Umbridge was anyway.'

They continued to discuss in the cosy tavern, while the rain outside became heavier. Meanwhile, however, Draco was having rather a worse time of it in the coffee shop. The small room was crammed with quaint little tables and chairs, and the décor was awfully twee, Draco decided. Pansy seemed to like it, however.

'So, Draco,' purred Pansy, fluttering her eyelashes at him, 'I bought a tray of ever-refilling chocolate strawberries in Honeydukes...I was thinking we could share them tonight...maybe up at the Astronomy Tower? It's very romantic there,' she trailed off in an innocent little voice.

Draco did his best to look totally bored and uninterested. With a poker-faced expression, he replied, 'I'll see what I'm doing,' and looked out of the window. It was pouring outside, but this view was better than certain others. Pansy had deliberately let her robes fall open slightly to reveal an ample cleavage tightly squashed into some type of lacy pink corset. It's completely tarty, he thought. Leaves nothing to the imagination. But then, Pansy Parkinson is ridiculously shallow. Oh shite, how the hell am I going to get out of this tonight? Fuck!

'Draco, you haven't finished all of your tea,' said Pansy sweetly. 'Shall I order two more or shall we pay now?'

I don't give a damn. 'Er, let's pay, shall we? We've been here a while now.' Too bloody right. And why does she insist on starting every sentence with "Draco"? It's so fucking annoying!

Draco glanced at his watch as Pansy requested Madam Puddifoot for the bill. Ten to twelve. He had arranged to meet Hermione at half past. He was just wondering how to give Pansy the slip, when the little chime above the shop door tinkled and in walked Blaise Zabini, followed by Theodore Nott. Draco thought Blaise looked rather cool and elegant in a detached sort of way; she had the sophistication that Pansy just didn't possess, as she tossed her hair and led Nott to an adjacent table, smiling at Pansy on the way. Theodore grinned at Draco behind her back, obviously chuffed he had managed to take Blaise out, and slid into the chair opposite her.

'Hi Blaise,' said Pansy in a tone that suggested she was superior just by being out with Draco - he could read her like a book.

'You two look like you're having fun,' replied Blaise ironically, and turned to the menu in front of her.

Yeah, look like we're having a great time, don't we? thought Draco sarcastically, as the bill arrived. He left a couple of Galleons on the table - a generous tip - and briskly began to help Pansy into her cloak, shoving his own on after. Then he firmly steered her out the door as she waved to Blaise, and into the street. It was only spitting outside now, although the sky was grey and ominous. Draco shook his head, trying to think of a plan to meet Hermione.

'Draco, what do you want to do now?' said Pansy in a sugary voice, taking his arm uninvited.

'Well...' Draco subtly began to walk in the direction of the Three Broomsticks, and mentally scanned the shops of Hogsmeade. Then he had an idea. 'Didn't you say you wanted to buy some new dress robes, Pans?'

'Oh yes I did, didn't I?' she replied excitedly. 'Maybe I should have a little look today...if you wouldn't mind? I saw some gorgeous robes in Gladrags just up here...'

'Course I don't mind,' said Draco cheerfully. 'But you wouldn't want me to come would you? I'd like to see them on you after you've bought them...like a surprise!'

'Draco, you're so sweet!' she enthused. 'You'll be all right here, won't you? I'll make it up to you later,' she whispered.

Please, please don't, thought Draco, but grinned. 'Bye then,' he said, and for a bit of luck, kissed her cheek as he left. As soon as she had rounded the corner, he set off at a faster pace until he reached the friendly-looking inn. Instead of going in, however, Draco squeezed past a couple of wooden barrels into a small alley at the side. It was only a quarter past twelve, but never mind. He could wait.

***

Hermione was laughing at something Ginny had said when the clock in the Three Broomsticks chimed half past twelve. With a jolt, she remembered she had to go. Thinking on her feet, she said, 'Everyone, I've just remembered that I'm supposed to be having a meeting with Professor McGonagall. Must've slipped my mind. Sorry!' And before they could say anything, she hurried out of the place. Glancing furtively around, Hermione slipped down the same path Draco had, to find him leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

'Hello,' she said a little shyly, still astounded by his amazingly good looks. He smiled.

'Hi. How's things?'

'Fine, just been out with Ron and everyone, like I said.' There was some kind of tension between them, an electricity that made her ache inside.

'Actually, you're lucky I'm here at all. Had to shake off Pansy, it wasn't easy.' He took a step closer. 'But it was worth it.'

'Oh it was? Where is she?'

'Out shopping I think. I don't know, or particularly care. I wish we could go somewhere else. Sorry we had to come - here.' Draco had always been taught to treat girls like royalty, not respect them as such, but give them expensive things. He felt self-conscious now.

'It's a change of scenery, isn't it?' Her hand reached for his, and Draco pulled her closer by it. He looked down at her for a moment, her face framed by that thick, unruly hair. It was a lot different to Pansy's, who he knew took great pride in her looks, though he still didn't prefer them. Then Draco stopped thinking and began to kiss Hermione; glad no one was around to catch them.

'Ohh...Draco you're really being very bad...' moaned Hermione after a time, as his mouth moved down to her collarbone. 'I think you ought to stop...' she teased, while wriggling closer to him.

'So what do you suggest I do instead, Granger?' asked Malfoy impudently.

'Maybe I get to do it to you,' she said, placing a series of small kisses along his jawbone.

Draco relented, letting her do as she liked for a moment. He didn't often give this kind of dominance to his girlfriends, but Hermione was different. He had known that from the start. It was as if he was learning everything he knew about courtship, and dating, all over again. There was more to Hermione than just sex...although that was more than taking over his mind at the moment...

'Ooh, Draco, we shouldn't be doing this,' said Hermione a few moments later into his neck. 'I feel guilty. Tell me we're doing the right thing,' she implored, thinking privately of Ron's wholesome handsomeness. Everyone would be happy if she started going out with him, a whole big merry foursome going round together...but then, why am I doing this? Ron is just so... ungainly. I want someone passionate, and sexy, who'll match me and challenge me...

'We're doing the right thing,' Draco repeated in a low voice laced with arousal. 'Since when did you care what other people think anyway?' Oh bloody hell, I hope she's not having second thoughts...she looks so beautiful like this...

'Look, stop!' said Hermione suddenly, pushing Draco away a little. 'I can't help feeling guilty, you're the Slytherin enemy, remember? And it doesn't matter what other people think because other people don't know, and won't know if I've got anything to do with it. I partly feel like I'm betraying myself - don't smirk at me, Malfoy! I'm trying to be truthful here - yes I like you, and I want you, and I enjoy being with you, but I want you to tell me you won't walk away from me. I want to trust you. I want to know you, to really know you,' she said in a quieter voice. 'I've seen so many sides to you Draco, since I met you. Arrogant, spiteful, vindictive - but now, witty, considerate, and, and gentle. So yes, I'm confused. I want to have you, but I know that if I breathe a word of this, I'll be slaughtered, I'll be completely condemned. You're the son of a Death Eater. You hate Harry. I used to think you hated me.' She paused for breath, waiting for Draco to speak.

Draco opened his mouth wordlessly, then took a breath, and started again, his hand running through his hair in what Hermione took as a gesture of self-reassurance. 'I know I've made a complete prat of myself in the past, okay? I'm sorry, I'm sorry I called you Mudblood and all those names...it doesn't mean anything - it didn't really then, at least not to you. I was jealous, all right, I could see you and Potter gliding off into the distance, and me, with my dark future left behind, with no one. My cold bastard of a father, my delicate butterfly of a mother, Pansy and a few Slytherin cronies. That's it. That was it. My world. And there was me, expected to keep up the Malfoy image in the middle of it all, to please my father and uphold the family name. It felt like that's all I existed for. There were girls, you know that, but they didn't mean anything either. And the only thing I could do to make it bearable was to act superior, to fool myself into thinking I was better than all the other people that weren't purebloods or first in line for a huge inheritance. At least at school I could pretend everything was fine. At the manor it was...worse. And yet, even though I did all that stuff, I was great at Potions and the Dark Arts, it still didn't count. Not with the famous "Trio" at the forefront of everything, leading such easy, simple lives, full of friends and people who cared about each other. And it was always Potter who got the attention, the glory, even down to the last detail. I didn't want to come back here. But then...when I saw the Head Boy Badge come in the post this summer, I had a glimmer of hope. If you were Head Girl, then I thought it might be the time for something amazing to happen. And it did. And because of all that, and now you know, you can trust me. I need you. I do want you. I won't walk away from you.'

'Draco, I had no idea...' whispered Hermione, a little taken aback at the outburst. 'That everything was so complicated. You certainly put on a good front, I'd never have guessed you were unhappy. Damn, I just thought you were just a stuck-up little git with more Galleons than he could count. Why were you jealous? I've told you, Harry and I are never going to happen. And Harry - he's had his share of problems too. His life is anything but easy. If you knew how he had been brought up, what's happened to him...'

Draco's eyes looked much bluer than usual, and his mouth had drawn tight. He stared at the wall behind her for a long moment, until Hermione had the good sense to take him into her embrace again. 'Oh, Draco,' she murmured into his shoulder. It had begun to rain hard again. 'Let's go back. There's nothing to do here.' She felt him nod and as if an unspoken agreement, Hermione slid out of the alley first in a would-be nonchalant manner, walking quickly to distance herself from him. She knew he would follow.

***

Most students stayed at Hogsmeade for at least another hour, so the castle was quite empty and quiet that afternoon, despite the bad weather. It was way past lunchtime when Hermione and, slightly after, Draco, arrived back to the common room, so they shared the treats Draco had bought in Honeydukes, although Hermione frowned upon the lack of healthy things. Still, the sweets were undeniably delicious, and they had particular fun with a bag of chews that elicited very undesirable physical effects, like a bright purple complexion.

Hermione felt closer to Draco that afternoon than she had done even when they were kissing, in light of both their admissions of honesty. However, she was still adamant that she at least did some of her homework, though she did not insist Draco join her like she would have done Harry or Ron.

They began before dinner, Hermione consulting her precious homework planner to put her essays in priority. Then as evening drew in, they proceeded down to the Great Hall for dinner where Hermione caught up with her friends again, apologising once more for her "afternoon meeting". The Gryffindor table seemed extra loud and chatty tonight, with Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Lavender and Parvati and a few others sitting nearby, laughing and joking. Hermione's eyes strayed over to the Slytherin table more than once, where the atmosphere seemed not nearly as friendly. Draco, of course, was sat coolly right at the centre, where a group of Slytherin seventh years hung on his every word.

Afterwards, Hermione immediately continued from where she had left with her homework. As it was a Potions essay they both had to complete, Draco joined her and they started competing with each other in a friendly way as to who knew the most.

'Actually, I don't think that's quite right,' said Hermione, without raising her eyes from her textbook. She soon found the paragraph she was looking for, and quoted to Draco the correct properties of aconite, while adding it to her own essay.

'Bet you don't know why it's poisonous though,' retorted Draco quickly, beginning to enjoy himself. As of yet he had never had someone to banter with like this, Crabbe and Goyle were frankly too dim to offer much of a challenge at school subjects.

'Is that so? It's poisonous because it contains the deadly poison aconitine, which slows the heart rate, decreases blood pressure, and numbs pain. And - it's also known as Monkshood or Wolf's bane, learnt that in first year!' Hermione smiled smugly.

'Fine, one point to Hermione Granger,' said Draco in a falsely sullen voice. Then he suddenly remembered something, looking at his watch. 'Er - Hermione, I need to tell you something.'

'What?' Hermione frowned, looking up from her parchment.

'Pansy thinks she's meeting me at the Astronomy Tower tonight so I can have my wicked way with her,' he said, trying to make it sound ludicrous.

'Excuse me?' replied Hermione icily. 'You aren't going anywhere near her.'

He loved her bossy authority, in a way; it made him feel safe. 'So what if she comes here looking for me?'

'You can turn her away, that's what! Otherwise I'll deal with her.' Hermione sat up tall in her chair by the fire.

'I think you'd better.' He hoped he didn't sound too much of a wuss.

Hermione laughed. 'You're such a baby. All right, I'll tell her where to get off - no pun intended.' It was growing dark outside and she imagined that Pansy would be there soon. Peacefully, they continued with their essays while Crookshanks padded over to the hearth and curled up in front of the fire.

'You never did tell me what's so special about that cat,' said Draco idly. 'Didn't you say he can tell if you're trustworthy?'

'Yes, I did,' said Hermione, thinking that it seemed an age ago, when they were barely speaking. 'You see, he's part kneazle, so he's not just an ordinary animal.'

'Part wha-' began Draco, but was interrupted by a loud, important-sounding knock at the portrait-door. 'Shit, that'll be Pansy,' he said quickly. I'll be upstairs, just say I'm not here or something, yeah? Don't get too feisty, you hate me, remember?' He grinned and exited up the staircase.

Hermione answered the knocking. It was Pansy. She stood there with her hair carefully brushed, cheeks stained a pretty pink and lips cherry-red. Her new, fitted robes shimmered slightly in the torchlight.

'Parkinson,' said Hermione shortly. 'What are you doing here?'

'Actually, Granger, I've come here to see Draco,' she said, expressing his name as if it were some sumptuous sweet.

'Well firstly you can't just barge in here, and secondly, I can't help you. I've been working here on my own all afternoon. I don't know where Malfoy is.'

'Oh great, I thought Head Boy and Head Girl had to do their stupid duties together,' she snapped. 'Though I suppose it's just as well he doesn't have to spend all his time with you. No offence,' she added insincerely.

'None taken,' replied Hermione through gritted teeth, remembering Draco's kisses on her neck as she stared at Pansy's malicious expression. 'You might as well go then.' She silently appealed for her to take up the offer.

'Fine,' said Pansy sniffily. 'If you see him, tell him to come to the dungeons, if that's not too much too ask.' And with that, she flounced off.

Hermione closed the portrait with a clap in satisfaction. There was something deeply annoying about Pansy Parkinson that made her want to hit her with a good hex.

'Draco,' she called. 'She's gone.'

'Cheers,' he said with as much dignity as he could muster, coming back down the stairs.

'Just as long as you know this won't be a regular occurrence,' said Hermione sweetly. 'Now, I've finished my essay. Have you?' Without waiting for a reply, she met him in the middle of the room in one movement, and took his face in her hands. Draco closed his eyes as their lips met once again. After one kiss, Hermione led Draco over to the nearest armchair, and sat down between his legs. Then she twisted around so that they could continue. After a long, decidedly urgent kiss, Hermione leaned back. Draco was breathing heavily.

'...I want you.'

'You've got me, haven't you?' Feeling bold, she stood up and straddled him in the chair so that their fronts were pressed together as they kissed. Draco ran his hands up and down her sides and groaned, moving his mouth to her neck like he had done before.

'I like it when you do that Draco,' Hermione muttered indistinctly, feeling that hardness against her stomach again. She writhed against him.

'You're sexy,' said Draco, his hands now landing on her hips. 'Oh, don't look at me like that, it's too much...'

'Like what?' Hermione breathed, her hands running over his toned chest under his shirt.

'With those "come to bed eyes". You know I can't take it...'

Hermione gasped as she felt his cool hands on her back. 'Mmm...okay, sorry...let's stop,' she said half-heartedly, but kissing him more even so. Five minutes later, her forefinger was tracing the contour of his neck and then she laid her head on his chest, her breath short.

'Let's just sleep here,' Draco said lazily. The heat of the fire was wonderfully comfortable even though he was still extremely turned-on. There was nothing between his chest and Hermione's except a pretty lace bra with one strap dangling down her arm. He sneaked looks at her breasts, not bothering to look guilty when she cast an appraising look at him.

'Bed time,' said Hermione briskly, climbing off Draco and shrugging her blouse back on. 'Good night, Lover. Hope you have nice dreams,' she said slyly, knowing full well they would be full of her. Then she gathered up her books and parchments and sashayed off to her own bedroom, planning to write in her scarcely used diary tonight to keep the night recorded and special. The thought of Draco Malfoy being her boyfriend made her heart pound and a flush crept up her neck. Poor old Pansy, Hermione thought generously. There was no way Draco would give in to her now.