Twisted Love part 2

Chapter 6

Hermione

Hermione ate her breakfast slowly, watching the flirtatious exchanges of Ginny and Blake. After taking as much time as possible eating her morning porridge she finally admitted to herself that Blake and Ginny had no intention of leaving anytime soon or paying her any heed either. She finally rose, waved good bye to her friend, who barely seemed to notice, and walked out of the Great Hall back to her dormitory. She knew that Malfoy was still as breakfast and she hoped that he would not return to the common room for the better part of the day. I need something to take my mind off of Ginny and Blake, Hermione thought, and Malfoy, she added. I need some kind of stress reliever, classes start tomorrow so this may be my last chance! Getting an idea she ran to her room to change into a tank top and silk skirt her mom gave her. She grabbed her Nora Richard's CD and ran out into the common room to put it into the CD player. The young womans sultry, bluesy voice filled the room and Hermione began to dance.

Draco

Draco had watched with amusement at Hermione's futile attempts to get Blake's attention all through breakfast. She isn't so perfect, she can't ever get a man-slut like Blake's attention, Draco thought. But she has yours doesn't she? An annoying little voice in his head interjected. Draco's eyes narrowed, shut up, shut up, shut up he demanded himself. He looked up across the room to see Hermione rise and give her friend a half-hearted wave before she marched out the door. Draco's eyes followed her until she disappeared from view, he turned his attention back to his fellow Slytherins but he soon grew weary of their dull, unintelligent conversation, before he knew what he was doing Draco had stood and walked out of the Great Hall to follow Hermione to the common room. When he reached the portrait he could hear the low rumble of music coming from inside, he spoke the password in little more than a whisper, following his lead, in a fit of silent giggles, the portrait swung open noiselessly. Draco walked quietly into the room and was started by the sight before him.

Hermione was dancing in the common room, her arms moving fluidly, gliding along her body in time to the music. She moved her hips in a way that could only be described as sexy, very sexy. Draco found that he could not look away, he leaned against the door jam and watched as she danced,
completely entranced. Her hair was pulled back into a loose bun, tendrils of hair falling to caress her slightly damp face, she had her eyes closed. She wore a white tank top that clung to her damp skin in all the right places, and a lavender silk skirt that road low on her hips revealing a sliver of skin that made Draco's breath come in shallow gasps. He watched as she twirled seductively around the room, the sexiest part, to Draco, was that she had no idea she was being sexy at all, she still hadn't realized she had company. It was a rare moment when Hermione was being completely herself, unabated by
outside influences, Draco found himself captivated. Soon, perhaps too soon, the song ended and Hermione opened her eyes, she gasped when she noticed Draco leaning against the door frame a slight smile played across his full lips, his gaze directed intensely on Hermione. Hermione looked into Draco's eyes who held her gaze. Hermione looked away first, and hurried over to the CD player to turn it off.

“Sorry.” Hermione mumbled slightly out of breath.

“Oh, don't let little old me interrupt what ever it is that you were doing.” Draco responded coldly, coming back into himself.

“I was just....uh...its...uh...a great stress reliever.” Hermione stumbled.

“Sure.” Draco said as he turned his back on her and strutted into his own room a smirk gracing his lips that never quite made it to his eyes. Flushed and embarrassed Hermione grabbed her CD and ran into her room.


Hermione

Hermione lay on her bed sniffling, hot tears running down her pale freckled cheeks. She never let anyone see her dance, that was her thing, only for her, and now that was taken away too. Why did it have to be Malfoy that caught her, the one person she truly hated. It was suppose to be a stress-reliever but it had only succeeded in making her more stressed. She was embarrassed and hurt, she sat in a puddle of self pity until she heard a loud knocking on her door. Oh no, she groaned. She wiped her tear stained face and blinked away her last tears, she fixed her face with the most hate filled scowl she could muster and opened the door.

“What do you want?” She asked slowly filling each word with loathing.

Draco looked up at her, his eyes held what looked like sadness, or maybe regret but it was only there for a moment before his glare hardened. Hermione couldn't tell for sure if she had ever seen it.

“Look Granger, we are stuck together in this dormitory whether we like it or not so why not just agree to try and get along.” Draco finished and looked at her expectantly, for a minute Hermione was speechless.

“You foul little cockroach,” Hermione whispered. Her voice suddenly rising as she continued, “you expect me to just forgive and forget? Just let bygones be bygones? Did you really think that I would forget six years of abuse, that I would just say 'oh yeah Draco, lets be friends'? Well you were horribly mistaken, it will take a lot more than what you are offering to convince me. Did you really think it would be that easy?” Hermione finished before slamming the door in Malfoy's face.

For a minute there, yeah I really did, Draco thought. He walked slowly back over to his bedroom and closed the door behind him.

How dare he! Hermione thought pacing around her room in a rage equal to Ron's. Hermione fell onto her bed, hot tears of anger and frustration fell from her already red and swollen eyes to carve white streaks down her cheeks. He must be thick to think I would fall for his little ploy. He has been a right foul git for the entire time that I've known him, and now all of a sudden he thinks he can be all like 'Oh about all that, never mind, my bad!'. Well its not going to happen!! He makes me so flipping mad!!! Okay calm down Hermione, you promised yourself that you wouldn't let him get to you. She firmly finished berating herself, got out of bed and grabbed her Standard Book of Spells grade 7 off her desk and climbed back into bed. She began rereading the book in preparation for the start of classes the next day. However her charade with Malfoy had left her mentally and physically exhausted and she soon fell asleep with the book open in front of her.

Hermione awoke several hours later to the sound of her growling stomach, she had missed lunch, glancing at her bedroom clock she realized that she still had a couple of hours before dinner began. She lay back down on her bed and pondered her argument with Malfoy earlier. Had she over reacted? She didn't think she trusted Malfoy but he had seemed sincere, and maybe he had a point, things would be a heck of a lot easier if they would just get along. He was right about one thing, no matter how much she disliked it she was stuck with him for the next nine months. After much debate Hermione finally decided it was for the best to apologize to Malfoy and accept his offer, if that is, it still stood. Hermione's stomach growled again, remembering that they had their own kitchen she decided she would find a quick snack before talking to Draco. She was dreading the inevitable conversation so she was grateful for the stall.

Hermione left her room and headed to the kitchen, after several minutes of rummaging she found a bowl of fruit salad. She grabbed a fork and headed to the common room thinking she would eat in front of the fire, however she stopped dead in her tracks one step out of the kitchen. Draco was lounging sideway in one of the chairs in front of the fire, his long muscular legs draped over the arm of the chair. He had a book open on his lap and had been reading, now however his intense eyes were locked onto Hermione's. Hermione nearly dropped her fruit, her problem was not that Draco was reading in front of the fire, but that he was doing this in nothing but his green and silver silk boxers. Hermione's eyes left his intense silver eyes and traveled to his full lips and down his beautifully sculpted torso, there he was, again, in all his sex-god glory. Suddenly coming back to herself Hermione shook her head to clear it.

“Malfoy could you please put some clothes on!”

“Like what you see?” Draco said raising an eyebrow.

Hermione took a couple of deep breaths trying to remain calm, she knew Draco was just trying to get a rise in her. She was determined not to allow Draco to get the best of her, because she needed to tell him that she had reconsidered and wanted to accept his offer. Taking one more deep breath Hermione fixed him with a stare full of determination.

Draco

Draco watched Hermione look round nervously he could tell that she was trying not to get upset. A sly smile spread across his lips as he watched her look anywhere but at him. Finally she seemed to gather her confidence and fix him with an intent gaze.

“Look, Draco, do you think we could talk to a minute?” Hermione blurted out.

Draco was slightly taken aback by the use of his first name but recovered quickly. He waved a creamy white slender hand at the chair next to him, nothing but a casual invitation. He watched her stumble forward and sit down heavily in the chair. He folded his hands in his lap and looked up at her, he took great care to remove all trace of emotion from his face. He could tell Hermione was flushed and he found it rather endearing.

“I've...uh...well..I've reconsidered your offer, and I, well, I think its a proper idea.” Hermione managed to finally get out.

“You have?”

“Yes, your right, it would just be much easier, and make the next year a bit more pleasant.”

“Say it again.”

“What? Say what again?”

“That I was right.” Draco had made the offer freely once, and she had slammed her door in his face, now he was going to make her work of it, and besides he thought if fun to toy with her.

“Now really!” Hermione scoffed and crossed her arms. Who did he think he was? Hermione looked up at Draco, he had a slight smile played across his lips, she could tell he was enjoying this. “You are just so infuriating! Fine! You were right, okay? I was wrong!”

“Now that wasn't so hard now was it?” Draco could tell that Hermione was getting upset so he decided that he would throw her a bone. “I'm glad you've reconsidered, from now on we will remain civil towards one another while in the dorm.” At the confused look on Hermione's face he continued, “well we can't just go and be friends in the halls now can we? I have my reputation to think of and what would people think if they saw you walking around with the local bad boy.” Draco concluded with a smirk.

Hermione had not thought of that and she knew that Draco had a point. “I suppose you're right, again, it would be for the best.” She admitted reluctantly.

“Then we have a deal, outside the dorms we are enemies as always, in here we make an effort to get along.” Draco stuck his hand out to Hermione.

“Agreed.” Hermione replied giving Draco's hand a shake.

There was silence for a few moments, Hermione looked very uncomfortable so Draco dropped his gaze and continued to read. Hermione sat back in her chair, and stared into the burning fire, she began to mindlessly eat her fruit. Draco's curiosity got the best of him and he found himself looking up at Hermione. Fire light danced in her almond eyes bringing out the flecks of gold, she had her lips curled around a piece of melon lightly sucking on it. She put the rest of the piece of fruit in her mouth and slowly chewed savoring the taste. Draco found himself, once again, captivated by her. Draco shook his head trying to clear it of the thoughts that were now running wild, thoughts of Hermione and what she could do with that tongue...

“Well I think I will go get dressed for dinner. See you later then.” Draco said jumping up from his chair.


Hermione


Hermione smiled to herself, two can play this game, she thought. Hermione finished her fruit and went back into her bedroom to finish reading the last chapter of her book, as dinner wouldn't start for another hour.

Chapter 7

Ginny

There was a sharp rap on the window next to Ginny's bed causing her to wake with a start. Groaning she rolled over and glanced at her clock, she still had an hour before her alarm was set to go off. There was another loud rap on the window and Ginny finally rolled out of bed to see what the noise was all about. There was a large rather severe looking black owl with glowing yellow eyes just outside the window. Ginny opened the window up to allow the owl access to whomever it was trying to find. To Ginny's great surprise, however, the owl landed on her own bed and stuck its leg out to her. What? Ginny thought, who would be sending me a letter now? Nevertheless she reprieved the bird of its burden and gave him a treat. He swooped out the still open window and into the black night sky. Ginny looked down at the handwriting, she was a little weary as she hadn't an idea who's it was. Finally her curiosity got the better of her and she tore open the letter.

Dearest Ginny,

Even though we have only known each other a short while, the way I feel about you can't be explained through the confines of our spoken language. I was hoping that you would do me the great honor of being my love, as you have already stolen my heart. I await your return with bated breath.

Yours,
Blake

Ginny had begun bouncing on the balls of her feet when she started reading Blake's letter, by the end of it she was jumping up and down giggling. Oh Merlin, Ginny thought, I have to go tell him that I accept. She threw a large sweatshirt over her tank top and put on her slippers. She put her hair into a messy bun and ran out of the dormitory. She ran down the stairs, across the common room, and out the portrait hole, receiving a shout of indignation from the Fat Lady. She knew that Blake was in the guest dormitory in the East tower, she ran the whole way there. She stopped briefly in front of his door to catch her breath. After a moments hesitation Ginny knocked quietly on the door, instantly it flew open. Blake looked as though he had been waiting for her. They both looked at one another for a bit, speechless. Ginny finally broke the semi-awkward silence by throwing her arms around the boy and kissing him deeply.

“Well, I take it thats a yes?” Blake said in a slightly breathless voice when they finally broke apart.

“Yes! Yes, a million times yes!”

“A bit excited are we?”

Ginny blushed slightly at Blake's comment but made no apologizes, they were not her style, instead she pulled Blake in for another kiss. They stood together, arms around one another kissing every inch they could find. After a long and rather hot snogging session Ginny finally managed to stop kissing him and told him that she would see him at breakfast as she still needed to get ready for the day. Blowing off his attempts to tell her she looked stunning, and there was no reason to run off and change Ginny rushed back to Gryffindor tower to take a shower and put on her school robes. When she was through getting ready she had just enough time to find Hermione and tell her the good news before she was due at her new boyfriends side for breakfast.

Hermione

Hermione had just emerged from her dormitory when she heard a very excited giggle, turning to see who it was she found her best friend running towards her.

“Oi! Hermione, you'll never guess what happened! Oh, Merlin I'm so excited.” Ginny positively squealed.

Hermione had a feeling that she already knew what was coming, with a sense of dread mixed unpleasantly with longing and jealousy, she fixed her face with what she hoped was an excited and expectant look.

“Blake asked me to be his girlfriend!” Ginny practically exploded, brandishing the letter she'd received that morning. Hermione breathed a heavy sigh and tried not to look too disappointed.

“Thats...that great!” She said trying but failing to sound cheerful.

“Aren't you happy for me?” Ginny asked feeling slightly hurt at Hermione's lack of excitement.

Hermione, however, was saved from having to answer because Draco came hurrying out of the portrait hole and ran right into her, knocking all of her books from her hands and onto the floor. Draco bent down and helped Hermione gather up her things.

“Oh, sorry Hermione I didn't see you there.” Draco said to her half under his breath.

“Oh, thats alright Draco,” she responded. “Thanks,” she added when Draco placed the books he had picked up into her hands.

“If you'll excuse me I have to get to breakfast, I'll see you later Hermione?” Draco asked.

“Uh, yeah...later then.”

Draco glanced quickly between Hermione and Ginny, offered a weak smile, turned on heel and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. Hermione kept her gaze lowered and busied herself rearranging the books in her hands, she could feel the hot stare of her best friend burning into her skull. She finally worked up enough courage and looked up to meet her eyes. Ginny's jaw was dropped and she had a clear look of stunned amazement of her face.

“What was that?” Ginny asked wide-eyed. “He has been a right dolt for the past six years, you've been around him two whole days and now he is mister manners?” Ginny finished incredulously.

“Well...” Hermione began.

Ginny cut her off, “Oh Merlin, you put a spell on him didn't you!? I know that you are a really clever witch and all but you really shouldn't use your powers for such evil! I mean you could really get in trouble for this one. What did you use? Some kind of a potion, or a charm of some sort? No, no this could be really good. I don't know how you managed it, Hermione, but whatever you did you are a Goddess. Oh, we could so use this to our advantage.”

“Ginny, GINNY!” Hermione finally managed to get her attention. “Would you calm down! I did nothing of the sort! We just have an arrangement if you will.”

Ginny raised an eyebrow and looked at Hermione questioningly. What could her friend possibly mean, an arrangement with the enemy?

“Look, Draco...”

“Draco? Its Draco now?” Ginny cut her off again.

“Yes, it is Draco now. As I was saying, Draco came to me last night with a proposition, that we put the last six years into the past and attempt a friendship, or at the least to act decently towards one another seeing as we have to spend the whole year together.”

Ginny scoffed loudly.

“Well it does make sense.” Hermione continued, “we have to share a dormitory all year, we will be patrolling the halls together all year, we have a lot of business that we have to do together. And as much as neither of us like it, we do need to learn to get along or it will be a very unpleasant year indeed.” Hermione concluded rather hotly.

“You can't be serious. You are serious aren't you?”

The look on Hermione's face told Ginny that she was indeed serious. Hermione proceeded to tell Ginny exactly what had happened the previous night, how Draco had come to her and asked if they could put the past to rest and start fresh and how she had been suspicious at first and had slammed the door in his face. She told her how she had rethought things and decided that he had been right. She told her every detail of their second conversation leaving out only the part where Draco had been mostly naked. Ginny was very accepting of this new arrangement but Hermione suspected that she would not be quite so open to the idea of Hermione having real feelings towards the blond haired Slytherin and besides she wasn't even entirely sure what she was feeling. All she knew was that Draco was a very fit boy and ever since last night she couldn't seem to get the picture of him in his knickers out of her head.

“We both decided that it would be for the best not to flaunt this new found friendship, if thats what it is anyway. So we have decided that outside of the dormitories it will be business as usual, the same hatred as always.” Hermione concluded her story.

“Okay, so you two are going to try to be friends but you are also going to continue acting like enemies? This just got complicated fast.”

“Well we thought that it would just be easier that way, then we won't have to explain to the entire school why we are all of sudden chummy. I really don't think the rest of the school would take it as well as you have. I mean I really don't think the other Slytherins would take to Draco having a 'mudblood' (Hermione spit the word out with distaste) as a friend at all. Not to mention Harry and Ron, they would have a cow! Speaking of which, would you mind not mentioning this to them?”

“Your secret is safe with me Hermione. But I do have to say that I am not entirely sure that I trust him, I do however trust your judgment so I will support you, but if he messes with you in anyway I will be forced to hex the living daylights out of him!” Ginny assured her friend.

Hermione chuckled, “Thanks Gin.” She was grateful to have a friend that was as understanding as she was. “Now lets go find this new boyfriend of yours!” Hermione was feeling much more light hearted about the whole situation now that she had Ginny's approval. She was in such high-spirits in fact that she allowed herself the daydream of being with Draco for a little while.

The two girls ran off into the Great Hall to join Harry, Ron, and Blake at their usual spot at the Gryffindor table. Ginny planted a kiss on Blake's lips, causing Ron and Harry to stare with their mouths hanging open. Hermione was still a bit upset about the whole thing but she decided that she would be happy for her friend anyway. They all hurried through their meal so they could get to their first classes on time. It was Monday and much to Hermione's pleasure classes had finally started. Hermione was the first one to leave the table, her nose already stuck in her Potions book, as that was the first class of the term. She made her way out of the Great Hall and down into the dungeons, she was so engrossed in her book that she managed to walk right into Draco Malfoy.

“Watch where you're walking mudblood.” Draco sneered.

Caught off guard Hermione was stunned by his hostility, especially after how he had acted before breakfast. Hermione soon remembered their deal however and quickly recovered.

“Oh, shut up ferret face!” She responded coldly looking into Draco's eyes, she could just barely see a shadow of a smile hanging on his lips, he winked at her before turning back around to his friends. Hermione couldn't help but smile, he was utterly adorable. She had Draco and his cute little half-smile on her mind the rest of the day. She was so preoccupied that she even failed to answer a question from Professor Mcgonagall. Hermione, feeling very ashamed, chastised herself and vowed to spend her whole afternoon in the library studying. Hermione went to her last two classes, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy and paid much closer attention, answering every question asked, just to convince herself that she hadn't lost her knack.

Harry

“What do you suppose was up with 'Mione today?” Harry asked Ron at dinner.

“Whotcha ean?” Ron asked through a mouthful of pork chop and mashed potato.

“In the six years that I have known Hermione I have never, ever seen her miss a question. Especially in Mcgonagall's class.”

“Well maybe she has stuff on her mind, everyone is entitled to an off day, even Hermione.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Harry said while he watched his friend put another bite of pork chop in his mouth. Harry blushed slightly at the thoughts going on in his head and busied himself putting food on his empty plate. What Harry hadn't noticed was that Ron was also watching him through the corner of his eye thinking similar thoughts about him. Harry looked up to see Hermione walking across the Great Hall. Her nose stuck in her transfiguration book, now thats the Hermione I know, Harry thought. She sat down heavily in the chair across from the boys but didn't put down her book.

“Hermione!! I think you need to go see Madam Pompfry!” Ron said looking startled.

“What? Why? Whats wrong?”

“Well you have a large book growing off your nose!” Ron responded chuckling to himself.

Harry couldn't help but smile, “you really need to eat, Hermione.” Harry told her starting in on his own dinner. Hermione just huffed at the boys and kept right on reading. Finally she put the book down long enough to put a pork chop, some mashed potatoes, and corn onto her plate before picking it right back up, fork in one hand and the book in the other. Harry and Ron watched rather amused as Hermione brought the same forkful of food up to her mouth over and over just to stop as her brow furrowed and her eyes frantically slid across the page in front of her.

“'Mione you look like a fish out of water!” Ron laughed.

“What?” She said tearing her eyes from her book.

“Nothing.” Harry said quickly throwing a look at Ron.

Hermione just went right back to reading, her fork poised and her mouth hanging open. Harry and Ron finished eating and decided to leave Hermione to her book and her now cold supper. They walked together up to the Gryffindor common room, where they decided to start their already large pile of homework.

“Arg! Look at all this work we have to do, and its only the first day!” Ron said slightly exasperated.

Now that Hermione wasn't sharing a common room with them and so wasn't around to help they found that it took them twice as long to finish their work. They hunkered down at their favorite table in front of the fire and took out a large pile of books. They sat like that, huddled together, well into the night. Around one in the morning Harry finally leaned back and stretched his sore muscles, the boys were now alone in the common room, as everyone else had gone to bed. When Harry sat back forward his arm brushed against Ron's, they both looked down at their still touching skin then up into each others eyes. Harry held Ron's intense blue eyes with his electric green ones, after a moment they both looked away blushing. Each we wondering if the other had noticed anything odd, both were hoping the look meant something.

“Uh...maybe we should call it a night.” Harry mumbled. “We can finish up tomorrow.”

“Oh, yeah I am exhausted. Lets go to bed then.” Ron relied. He then leaned over and before he could stop himself kissed Harry on the cheek. Ron got rather wide-eyed and started to blush all over again. He grabbed up his bag, ran over to the stairs and up into the dormitory, leaving a stunned Harry in his wake. Harry sat staring at the empty space Ron had just occupied for several minutes, his mouth open and his eyes wide. A smile spread across the handsome boys features when he recovered and began gathering up his things.

Ron

Ron ran into his dormitory and threw his book bag on the floor. What have I done!? He thought. He changed quickly and got into bed and closed the curtains, if he could help it he didn't want to see Harry again that night. Why did I do that? Do I have no self control? Oh Merlin, what is Harry going to think? After a few minutes Ron heard the door open and close, he heard Harry shuffle over to his own four poster bed, change into his pajamas and climb into bed. Her heard the curtains close around him and Ron sighed with relief. Perhaps Harry wouldn't say anything to Ron.

“Goodnight, Ron” Harry whispered.

Ron pretended to already be asleep and did not respond to Harry, he heard him sigh and roll over settling down into sleep. What am I going to do? Ron wondered, but he too quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Blake

“Yes, my lord, the plan is going off perfectly. I have managed to gain the trust of one friend, I will soon have her under my power. I am one step closer to him, soon my lord, soon he will be yours.” Blake said into the emerald fire.

“Good, you are a faithful sssservant and I will reward you for thisssss.” A cold voice hissed back from the fire.