Inevitable Lovers

Chapter 11:

During the undoubtedly lengthy two weeks during which Draco was forced to stay in the Hospital Wing, he found himself becoming increasingly agitated at having to face Harry Potter all day every day, and also just at the cruel confinement of boredom itself. Although his homework was brought to him routinely, it did nothing to ease the frustration of not being able to play Quidditch, or simply come and go as he pleased. More often than not, he would end up having short, angry disputes with Harry, which did nothing but convince Draco of the fact that he definitely hated Harry's guts now. Towards the end of his stay, Madam Pomfrey noticed the hostility, after a vicious, hissed outburst ("I do promote violence and I don't give a fuck,") from Draco towards Harry and separated them. This still did not quell his anger - in Draco's mind, of course, it was Harry's fault that he was stuck in the Hospital Wing anyway.

Both boys did receive lots of visits. Draco was forced to tolerate Pansy's sentiments almost daily, while Crabbe and Goyle filled him in with small pieces of information that even they hadn't missed about Death Eater activity, namely concerning their fathers. Of course, these conversations took place in low voices, giving the impression that something decidedly corrupt was taking place. Although Draco was unaware, Harry and his friends had discussed these exchanges amongst themselves, prompting Hermione to go to rather greater measures to converse with her boyfriend.

In the end, Hermione had come up with the idea of actually owling Draco in the Hospital Wing, with sympathetic messages and news of the happenings elsewhere in Hogwarts Castle. It was these, above anything else, that brought a smile to Draco's face. The notes were scarce, however, to avoid prying questions.

The other notable visitor, apart from a concerned Professor Snape, was Lucius Malfoy. As predicted, he had stormed into Hogwarts the day after Draco's "accident," demanding for an explanation. It was obvious that even the endlessly serene Professor Dumbledore was losing patience with the man, but he had calmly recounted the events in the fairest way possible. Eventually, all Lucius Malfoy could do was warn Harry Potter in an unpleasantly threatening way to, "leave his son alone" and also tell Draco that he would unconditionally be coming back to the Manor for Christmas, just over a month away now. Draco did not protest, although he didn't much look forward to his return.

***

Regardless of these events, Draco was finally allowed to leave the Hospital Wing free of all marks, bruises and cuts, after a fortnight. Unfortunately, and to Draco's callous amusement, Harry had been suffering burning pains from his scar, so was kept in for a little longer. This caused anxiety for the entire Gryffindor team (and house, in fact,) for at least three days, as the first Quidditch match (Gryffindor Vs Ravenclaw), had been due to take place during this time. However, it was delayed until the skilful Seeker did return triumphantly, resulting in Gryffindor's victory - much to Draco's dismay. Yet, it was by a mere twenty points, therefore a close match.

Hermione had been lonely without Draco. During his absence she had generally taken her books over to the cheerful Gryffindor common room, in order to do her homework and see her friends. Not only this, her Head Girl duties had also been far more time consuming in her solidarity. And, another unsettling development was the way in which Ron had been acting around her lately. With Harry gone, they had inevitably spent a lot of time together, and Ron seemed to be far more engaged with Hermione than she could ever remember. Just small things, such as the way he leant right over to her during conversations, or let his eyes linger on her at dinner, made her aware of it. For the moment, Hermione dismissed her uneasy feelings, but she hoped Ron would realise she just wasn't interested, rather than her having to lie to him.

Once again, the trio had taken advantage of Professor Lupin's useful location of residence, number twelve, Grimmauld Place, to find out about the movements of Lord Voldemort. Lupin was hesitant to give away much information; mainly because of the risk of prying eyes, but Hermione knew enough to guess now that Professor "Tuppy's" absence had certainly not been a coincidence - in fact, she highly suspected she was fighting for the Order of the Phoenix. Significantly, Tuppy had returned during Draco's leave, although Hermione hadn't had a chance to speak with her - yet.

***

On the evening marking a fortnight of Draco's absence, Hermione had been sitting on the hearthrug writing in her diary. There was a sound from behind the door to the common room, and she looked up as it opened suddenly. To say that Draco stood there "heroically" would have been an exaggeration, yet Hermione didn't care - he was her hero as far as she was concerned.

'Draco!' she said, surprised, and ran over to him, then felt a bit embarrassed by her eagerness.

'Hey, girls just can't keep away from me,' said Draco lazily, smirking familiarly.

'I've been worried about you!' She was looking him up and down, patting his arm.

'I'm not an invalid!' he protested, flinging his bag down by a chair. 'So how've you been? Missed me?'

'You bet I have,' said Hermione honestly. 'I never thought I'd say this Draco, but this tower hasn't been the same without you. I've been hanging around with those "good" little Gryffindors I know you like so much instead.' A naughty little grin crossed her face.

'Bloody hell; don't talk to me about them. I have had enough of bloody Potter for a lifetime, he is absolutely infuriating,' he said with high contempt.

'I think you're both as bad as each other. You're lucky you actually got out of the Hospital Wing first,' said Hermione diplomatically.

'Yeah well, I'm a born survivor,' said Draco in "modest" tones. 'I bet you've missed this, as well.' He shamelessly took Hermione's hands in his and captivated her mouth. She made a small noise of surprise, but surrendered, and mere moments later, all rational thought had flown from her head.

***

'Do you think I should get a side fringe?' asked Blaise, studying herself critically in the large ornate mirror that hung up in the seventh year girls' Slytherin dormitory.

Pansy looked up from the latest copy of Witch Weekly, uninterested. She rolled over onto her front on her four poster, and swished her legs about in the air. 'Whatever,' was the reply. 'I'm sure Theodore would have no objections.' She caught Blaise's eye in the mirror.

'And what's that meant to mean?' demanded Blaise, turning to face the smirking girl there.

'Oh, just that I know you two have been doing some...shall we say extra-curricular activities just lately,' said Pansy innocently, enjoying the look of annoyance that crossed Blaise's face.

'What I do with Theodore is none of your business Pansy Parkinson,' said Blaise primly, trying not to let her abashment show. Only sly comments like that from Pansy ever made her blush.

'Of course not,' said Pansy sweetly. 'I don't suppose it's any of our business in this dormitory where you go sneaking out at night.'

'Well, I doubt you're in any position to talk, Pansy,' Blaise retorted tartly. 'I hear Draco's not so up for it any more...gone to try your luck elsewhere yet then?'

Pansy's face turned an angry red. 'That was way below the belt, Zabini,' she said stiffly, feeling fury suddenly overcome her, quite unexpectedly. However, her curiosity got the better of her, and she sat up, her magazine forgotten. 'Who did you hear that off though?' she tried to inject a carefree note into her tone.

'Oh, a friend of a friend,' said Blaise airily, now enjoying winding Pansy up instead.

After a split second's pause, Pansy countered, 'Well, you can tell them they've got it wrong then. Mine and Draco's sex-life has never been better.' She did not blush, although Blaise seemed to retract slightly. Nothing wrong with stretching the truth a little, thought Pansy without reproach. Not if it gets you...where you want.

'Fine,' said Blaise coolly, 'I'll just remember that next time you're tucked up in bed at nine o'clock on a Friday night.' Her lips curved in a hint of a smile.

Pansy narrowed her eyes, but said nothing, as Millicent Bulstrode walked into the room. No sense in starting a public row - from the sounds of it, there were enough rumours going around about her already. She felt no distress over her harsh words with Blaise, however. No, Pansy Parkinson did not believe in relying on other girls for comfort or sympathy. Although, it would have been nice to have a real friend to tell her the truth, for once. She sighed, as she got out her homework diary. It would also have been nice to know what Draco really felt for her. Pansy was a perceptive girl, and she knew that something was deeply wrong in their "relationship". If only I knew what it was, she thought anxiously. She had come pretty close to telling Draco she loved him, not long ago, and felt almost glad she hadn't. Sex was one thing, real feelings were quite another.

With these thoughts running through her mind, Pansy decided on three things. Firstly, she would write to her knowing, somewhat insidious mother for advice. Secondly, she would find out exactly what gossip had been going round about her, and if it came to it, thirdly, she would make certain that she took revenge on Blaise - especially if she found out that she had double-crossed her. She just needed to work out how. Spontaneously throwing the homework diary aside, she reached for a new sheet of parchment and took out her quill.

***

Hermione had found herself in an extremely compromising position with Draco Malfoy, as she earnestly tried to uphold her sensibility. This was not easy with Draco pressed up against her in a bodily clinch, in front of the hearth. She titled her head back as his mouth pleasured her neck, in that enthralling way of his. I love the way he does that. I love the way that this is the only time he doesn't notice what his hair looks like. I love his deft and skilful (very skilful) hands. I love...

'I love you.' Oh god.

Draco stopped kissing Hermione. 'What?'

'Nothing, carry on.' She tried to smile complacently, although her heart rate had accelerated very rapidly.

'Hermione, I heard what you said.' Draco's voice was very nearly a whisper.

'I didn't mean it, it was the heat of the moment and-' she began to babble.

'You didn't mean it?' For the first time, Draco began to look crushed.

'Actually, I mean, I just didn't want you to hear that,' she said, more softly, after a pause.

'Hermione, that is honestly the first time anyone's ever said that to me.' His eyes showed his sincerity, 'To my face.'

'Well, it's the way I feel at the moment,' said Hermione a little hesitantly. 'Not that I've ever said it to anyone, either.' He doesn't have say it back, she told herself furiously. You fool, why did you let that slip out??

'Draco held her close. 'I think I may be falling in love with you as well,' he said very seriously and very surprisingly.

Hermione felt suddenly euphoric, although she tried to look nonchalant. They both smiled, each revelling in the other's confession. Merlin, this is the most intense thing I've ever experienced, thought Hermione in a daze from the passion, combined with the heat from the fire. And she brought her lips to Draco's for the thousandth time it seemed, in another sweet kiss.

A curious fluttering began in Hermione's heart as Draco began to help her strip off her shirt, as was common these days. Just before she got to the point of wondering whether to stop or not, a tapping at the window interrupted them. Hermione sat up, pulling her blouse around her, and went to see what it was. A long-eared, solemn looking type of feathery owl perched there, awaiting her. Opening the window, Hermione detached the roll of parchment tied to its leg, bid it a "thank you" and returned.

'Oh,' she said in mild surprise.

'What is it?' said Draco.

'It's from, er, Viktor Krum.'

'Viktor Krum? The Quidditch player? Addressed to who?'

'Me, actually.'

'How does he know who you are?'

'Well, when he and those others came to stay for the Triwizard Tournament, we became quite...friendly. I haven't written to him in a while though.'

'Friendly?' Draco's eyes had narrowed slightly, reminding Hermione uncomfortably of Ron.

'Well, it's not a crime, Draco! He wasn't exactly my boyfriend, but I did like him.' Her mind drifted back to the summer of their fourth year, when she had written to Viktor very often. How naïve that seemed now! Compared with the passion that was Draco, Viktor Krum had just been a little spark.

'Well, you'd better tell him you've got a new boyfriend,' said Draco imperiously.

'Draco! I'm not telling him about us! I'm not telling anyone for the foreseeable future. We're really just friends anyway, I'll just write back to be polite.'

'Hermione Granger, you're too polite for your own good,' said Draco, but he didn't object, knowing all hell really would break loose if it did come out about them - to even the most obscure source. 'I suppose that means our little snogging session is over then.'

'I suppose it does,' agreed Hermione, 'although it's a shame...especially after what we just said to each other.' She couldn't help smiling.

'Yes...Hermione, we're serious now, aren't we?' said Draco, causing Hermione to look up from her parchment.

'Well I'm serious, I hope you are.'

'Because I've just been thinking...if we're serious, then would you like us to...' he trailed off, hoping for Hermione to finish the sentence.

She looked up, blushing acutely. 'Draco, come here.' When he was seated next to her, Hermione leant over and whispered in his ear, 'I want you to be my first.' A shiver of excitement ran through her.

Draco looked as though he was trying to suppress how pleased he was. 'Hermione, this is totally up to you, you do know that,' he said. 'I don't want you force you into anything, although obviously I do want to-'

'Make love to me?' said Hermione wickedly, a gleam in her eyes. 'Why Draco Malfoy, you bad, bad boy!'

Draco laughed; he didn't want the conversation becoming too heavy.

'I have, obviously, been reading about, you know, contraception methods,' said Hermione, remembering her solitary trips to Hogwarts' library during Draco's absence. 'And it sounds simple...just a few drops of potion to be taken every few months.' She said this, although the idea of it being so final scared her slightly.

'Yeah, that's what Pansy used to take-' said Draco without thinking, then realising it was a touchy subject. Hermione raised her eyebrows.

'Well, I'm sure anything good enough for Pansy Parkinson is good enough for me,' she said, but not vehemently. Draco grinned a little ruefully. 'Only thing is, I'll have to go to Madam Pomfrey to get it, which is not particularly...ideal.' Her resolve crumbling a bit, Hermione suddenly felt like a lost little girl.

'I'll get it,' said Draco, not, of course, realising the actual idea.

'No, no,' said Hermione more sensibly. 'If I'm mature enough to have sex, I'm mature enough to get the potion. And when I do, I'm sure there'll be no going back.' She stared into Draco's eyes, making him a tingle of arousal shoot through him.

'Fine, just remember, there's no hurry.' Well there is, but I'm sure that can be cured by my...active imagination.

Hermione smiled. 'Okay, glad that's decided. Now, I have homework, so I'd better get on with it. Putting Viktor's letter aside for the moment, she gathered up some textbooks, along with her much-private diary, should it fall into the wrong hands.

'Oh, yeah I think my friends have got my homework for me down in the dungeons,' said Draco. His clapped a hand to his head. 'Shite, I've got loads and all. I'll be back soon.' He grabbed his cloak and left the tower.

***

Draco arrived at his old dormitory, after hailing several Slytherins in the common room, about ten minutes later. It had taken him the whole way to the dungeons to stop grinning like an idiot; not wise behaviour in front of a group of Slytherins, unless you wanted to attract attention. Goyle had told him to go down to the dormitory to collect his textbooks, warning him there was a lot to do.

The dorms were located down a dimly lit stone passage, the older students' to the left. Draco felt a sense of warm familiarity, as he approached the door, illuminated by torchlight. Omitting a knock, he pushed the door open - and stood, stunned. Pansy. Rammed up against a wall by - none other than Theodore Nott, and making the most unbridled cries of pleasure, as her legs jerked around his waist.

Although not aware of it, Draco must have made some noise of shocked disgust, as Theodore looked around, practically dropping Pansy, and probably mirroring Draco's facial expression. Pansy, catching sight of Draco, gazed at him with wide eyes, stood up, pulling her skirt down hastily, while Theodore pulled up his trousers.

'Oh god,' said Draco at last, looking away. 'What the fuck are you doing?'

Although this would normally have elicited some kind of witty, sarcastic reply from a Slytherin, Theodore seemed lost for words.

'Draco, look, I can explain,' said Pansy finally, pathetically, looking at him guiltily.

'Oh save it,' said Draco scathingly. 'I don't know what the hell you think you're doing, but I'll say this, you,' he said, pointing at Theodore, 'have a pretty decent girlfriend, and yet you risk it all to shag this whore, you prat.' He shook his head. Forget the books. I'm going back to my own bloody tower, where I don't have to walk in on shit like this. And with that, he left, leaving a shocked and guilty Pansy feeling extremely scared that she may have just shattered her entire future plans.