Temptations | By : Nikkilicious Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 16325 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any part of the franchise. This is a work of fanfiction, written solely for the enjoyment of myself and other fans. No profit is being made off of this work.
AN: A shorter chapter, sorry! Thanks to my wonderful beta: me_4_ever
I <3 you!
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. “
-- The Bible, Proverbs
She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out but when Hermione Granger opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling, she knew she wasn’t in the forest any longer. Her muscles were sore but, after blinking a few times to wake herself up, she realized she felt quite rested.
After a still moment she sat up and gazed around. Her eyes landed on the limp body beside her. Malfoy.
Someone who she’d come to understand just a little better.
Instantly, images of what they’d done together in the forest flooded her mind and a deep blush rose her pale cheeks. She was embarrassed, that was certain. But she also felt a twinge of fear.
He wasn’t moving.
Before she had time to react, a stifled, rough sound erupted from his throat and slowly he opened his eyes. She exhaled silently and a feeling of relief spread through her.
Letting her gaze leave him she took a closer look at her surroundings. She knew right away where they were. The Ministry of Magic.
It wasn’t the real one, though; she was certain of it. No one else was in sight, leaving the room completely devoid of life. The real Ministry would have had dozens of people bustling around.
But it was empty.
They still weren’t home.
When she heard the groan from him, she knew Malfoy had realized the same thing.
“Not again! I’m getting right sick of this.”
So was she. That was an understatement actually. Hermione had no idea what was going on with them but she knew that something definitely wasn’t right. Everything they’d been through so far… it had all been intentional. On someone’s part.
And, after running over the events in her mind, her only conclusion was that, wherever they were at, they weren’t supposed to get out. The place was supposed to keep them. Distract them from something else.
Maybe even kill them.
The idea frightened her to her very core.
Draco scrubbed his hands over his face, hoping that when he looked around again, he wouldn’t see the high walls of the ministry but instead the curtains around his bed.
He never thought he’d miss Hogwarts this much.
Hermione turned to him, her face crestfallen.
“I suppose we should try and figure our way out of here as soon as possible.” Before we can’t anymore.
The words went unspoken but Draco had been thinking them as well. Each of them knew that they longer they stayed in this place, the worse it would get. Whatever it was.
They got up off the floor and it was then that Hermione noticed Draco’s condition. His hands were cut up and dry blood soaked his shirt. But it was his face that was startling. He had a long gash on his forehead that had barely started scabbing over. The sight startled and confused her.
What had he done to himself?
Before she could form her thoughts into a question, he spoke up.
“Okay, well I’m going to start looking around. I’m sure I’ll get us out of here in no time.” He wasn’t sure why he had said it like that but he just had the urge to make it clear that it was him that was going to save them. Not her, but him.
All thoughts of concern Hermione might have had for him went out the window when she heard his declaration. She stopped and stared at him like he was insane.
“What? No, I think you’ve got that wrong Malfoy. I’ll be the one getting us out.” She was full of confidence as she crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down.
He only rolled his eyes at her antics.
“Come on. Don’t fool yourself. I’ve gotten us out of all of them so far. Besides, I’m a Slytherin. My cunning ways are good for something, you know.”
She scoffed at his words.
“Excuse me? I’m the one who has gotten us out of most of these. In the first one, I’m the one who figured out we had to stop eating. You would have kept stuffing your face until you exploded if I hadn’t said anything.” He rolled his eyes but didn’t refute. He couldn’t deny that she was probably right.
“And then after that I found the shower and suggested we use it to wake ourselves up. Then I wrote the contract in Diagon Alley. After that I somehow got us out of the fake Hogwarts. And finally, it was my idea to use up all of our energy to get out of the forest.” She was breathing a bit harder by the end of her speech but a small smile was on her lips. Obviously she was infinitely pleased with herself.
She‘d been the one getting them out the entire time.
She wasn‘t a fool to think he‘d completely agree though.
“Granger, Granger, Granger. First of all, last time it was me who got us out. Yeah, you suggested working ourselves up but I thought of it first! It wouldn’t have even occurred to you if you hadn’t been thinking about me half naked, doing push ups.” She blushed at his statement but stood her ground, huffing as he continued.
“And if I hadn’t been so cooperative we wouldn’t have gotten out anyway.” He said it so pointedly that she knew what he had meant.
“Oh come off it Malfoy. You wouldn’t have raped me. I would hope that even that is below you.” She said, not completely sure that she actually believed it. He continued though, as if he hadn’t heard her.
“And I got us out of Diagon Alley. I was the one who willingly gave you everything, including the broom, and I signed the stupid contract. We wouldn’t have escaped if I hadn’t. I also got us out of the castle because it was me who brought you back from whatever psycho fit you seemed to be having.”
He had a point. They both did really. The two of them together had managed to escape each place, both playing their respective parts.
But neither would give the other the satisfaction of knowing they’d won.
“Psycho fit? It wasn’t a fit. I was winning. You were scared, and you know it. Don’t blame your weaknesses on me saying that I had gone insane. You were losing. Deal with it.”
If she really let herself dwell on it, she would admit that he was right about the ‘fit’ thing. How she’d acted had been inexcusable. But she was truly convinced that it wasn’t her fault.
There had been outside forces making her act that way.
Draco’s face was priceless. He looked absolutely miffed at her words. And all she could do was smirk.
“And another thing. You think you’re better because you’re Slytherin? I’m sorry but do you live in the same world I do? Slytherins are detested by anyone who has half a brain. They cannot be trusted. Everyone knows that.”
He tightened his jaw and glared at her furiously.
“Just because you Gryffindors have an unwarranted bias against us, doesn’t mean that the rest of the Wizarding World does! There have been many popular Slytherins who had done great things.”
Before she could respond he rushed forward and grabbed her by the hand, dragging her deeper into the Ministry.
“Here, I’ll show you. Slytherins are worthy.”
Hermione protested but, even in his battered condition, he was still stronger than her and was able to drag her through the long halls. She couldn’t get to her wand so, reluctantly, she followed, the entire way spewing reasons why Slytherins weren’t worthy and trying to ignore the thoughts about where his hands had been on her previously.
The fact that they were supposed to be finding an escape had been completely forgotten. All they were focused on was trying to prove to one another who was better.
They were determined.
Ron seemed to be in a perpetual state of annoyance. He knew in the back of his mind that it stemmed from his constant worry.
About Hermione. About the war.
There were so many things to be worried about and it certainly didn’t do good for one’s mood.
He trudged out of the castle and down the stone steps, his hands shoved in his pockets. The wind whipped at him, slapping his skin and musing his hair. Despite it being early spring, the air still held the chilly essence from the winter months. He didn’t care though. He only wanted solace for a moment.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs he plopped himself down. The sun was shinning over the land but the giant castle looming behind him cast a shadow overhead. He almost saw it as some sort of tragic irony. It was how he felt; he was bathed in the darkness but the light was so close… just out of reach.
A high voice broke his melancholy thoughts.
“Brooding Weasley?”
He jumped a bit and glanced behind him where Pansy was standing. Ron only scowled and looked away.
“You’re right brilliant, aren’t you Parkinson?”
He could feel hear glare burning into the back of his head and he hoped he’d pissed her off enough so that she’d leave him be. When he felt her presence beside him as she sat down, he knew he hadn’t.
Stupid bad luck.
“Going around acting like a lost little puppy won’t bring her back you know.”
“You’re one to talk!” He exclaimed, looking at her with anger in his eyes. “Its not like you’ve been Miss Cheerful since the ferret disappeared.” She puckered her lips together in a tight little grimace, peeved.
For some reason, he didn’t like her mouth like that. He much preferred her lips loose and full.
He felt his stomach heave with the thought.
“Fine, alright. I know. I’m just worried.” As if that wasn’t obvious. But he didn’t say anything, only turned his head and looked out over the grounds again.
There was a stiff silence between them, one that neither could really stand, so in an uncomfortable fashion they both started talking at once.
Immediately they stopped, embarrassed when they realized what they’d done.
The silence was there again, though, which only made the humiliation that much worse.
It was Pansy who broke the tension, with her laugh. Ron cranked his neck to look at her as her shoulders shook gently with each chuckle. Soon he joined in, his own deep chortle mixing with hers like music.
They laughed louder and louder. It went on for quite a while, until neither of them could breathe anymore.
Finally, they settled and silence surrounded them once more. Except the tension had eased away.
They were almost… comfortable.
“You really liked her didn’t you, Weasley?” She wasn’t looking at him and he was glad for it as he swallowed the lump that unsuspectingly formed in his throat.
“Yeah.” He replied quietly. “Too bad I was too big of a bloody coward to tell her.”
Pansy finally met his eyes, her mouth now turned into a curious frown.
“You aren’t a coward.” He stared at her, his eyebrows shooting up to his hair, obviously thinking she was crazy. She rolled her eyes and clarified.
“I mean you are a Gryffindor. I thought bravery was one of your main traits.”
He sighed and hung his head.
“I’m crap.”
She didn’t try to disagree with him this time and he hadn’t expected her too. It wasn’t like she was trying to give him a compliment or anything when she’d said that and he knew it.
He was actually quite grateful that she let him wallow in his own self pity for a moment.
Suddenly though, she changed the subject.
“Well come on then, you dolt!” She shrieked, standing up. He glanced at her curiously. “Get your fat arse up and do something about it.”
“Do what? We’ve done everything.” He whined. But she wasn’t having it.
“If you really loved the girl then you’d never give up on her. Now come on.” She didn’t wait for his response, only walked back up the stone steps.
Ron stayed still for a moment, contemplating her words. He didn’t miss that he hadn’t ever actually said that he loved Hermione but Pansy had assumed anyway. Still, she was right about one thing.
He couldn’t just give up.
With that, he stood and followed up after her.
AN: Hey guys! I know this is a short chapter and I apologize but the next one will make up for it. I think, anyway, haha. PLEASE REVIEW, IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED!
I LOVE YOU ALL! <3
Next time: More from Hermione and Draco as they continue to battle Pride. Will this sin finally be the one that is too much for them? And what did Pansy have in mind?
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