Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Despising You	By : Chillkat Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 24289 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Putting on the last finishing touches, Hermione stepped back and took a look over her work. Bacon, eggs, pancakes, fresh orange juice, and fat juicy purple grapes, she was proud of her delicious looking breakfast. Looking down at her arm for the hundredth time that morning she felt the familiar pang of guilt lance through her heart. Never in her dreams did she imagine that she would feel bad for the git, but she did, enough to make him a feast. Last night she could practically see the turmoil run through him confusing him. If it weren’t for that asshole father of his Malfoy might not be the man he was now.
Leaning against the counter as she poured the juice into the glasses Hermione let her mind wander over the Slytherin. Honestly she didn’t find him vulgar anymore, how and why she had no idea, it disturbed her a bit to admit that fact to herself. Although she still found him highly annoying, that helped her a bit.
Looking at her watch she was shocked to see that he was still asleep. Walking into their room she went over to his side of the bed. Frowning she noticed he was sleeping as straight as a board. It took her long time to get used to the fact that he slept with his shirt off but it could still be a bit embarrassing at times. Leaning over him she nudged him awake.
His gray eyes were unfocused for a bit, probably because she was but inches from his face, but they slowly locked in on her position.
Brown. Brown orbs. Granger. Granger’s brown eyes were inches from his face; this was not something he was accustomed to waking up to in the morning.
“What the bloody…” The words in his throat were cut short the moment her soft lips broke into a smile. That smile made everything feel so…
Bolting out of the bed, he watched as she stumbled back laughing lightly.
“Get the hell away from me!” The smile on her face faltered for a minute before returning.
“I am sorry I just wanted to tell you…” Standing there in her red shirt and jeans she continued to smile.
“Look Granger,” ignoring the “ding” and her gasp. “I don’t particularly care what you have to say.” That dream last night was too much. There was no way he could be thinking of—her—like that.
But the moment he took in her reaction he felt an emotion he rarely felt —regret and when he did feel it the intensity was never as earth shattering as this. The look of betrayal and anger on her face felt like a punch in the gut.
Before he could say anything she whirled around and stormed out. Cursing he kicked the bed, moving the solid structure a couple of feet away from him, running an angry hand through his tangled hair he listened to the front door slam shut. Since there was no practice and the rain let up to reveal the sun she could be going anywhere.
After moving the bed back he went into the kitchen, his tracks stopped cold. The muscles in his jaw worked violently as he looked at the grand breakfast on the table. Everything looked perfect, except for the glaring fact that he royally fucked up.
“Damn it!” he roared. Why the fuck should he care? But caring he was, it nearly made him sick to look at the table. Though he knew the food was prepared out of pity for him, at least she did it. The only other person that world do anything remotely nice for him was his mother, but even she never did this.
Hate simply wasn’t the feeling he could associate with Granger anymore and it honestly scared him. The moment he saw her smile his heart started to beat rapidly and fierce heat swept through his body. Luscious was the only other being that made Draco’s heart palpitate that fast.
He wanted to eat some of the food but he honestly couldn’t stomach the thought. Muttering a simple containment spell he jumped into the shower and got dressed. Grabbing his key he left the cabin Draco wanted to find her, what he would say to her when he found her was beyond him, but for now finding her was top priority.
~*~
Walking for minutes without a real destination Hermione wasn’t too surprised to find herself in front of father Colldiddle’s door. One day she was going to sit down and really question herself as to why she sought out libraries in any time of distress.
~*~
By the time he finished at the greenhouse, the beach, and Agnese’s place Draco had no clue as to where the Gryffindor could possibly be.
Just as he was leaving Agnese’s house Lily flagged him down, basic Malfoy instinct told him to ignore the plebeian’s futile call, however he fiercely reminded himself that he was nothing like his father and the least he could do was see what the woman wanted.
Lily was standing at her door when he approached her. It was rather odd to realize that most of the people in this exiled community were not Italian. Agnese herself was Polish and Boleslaw was Scottish.
Though with all the differences in the village, it exuded warmth and friendship, two feelings that were foreign to Draco before arriving here. Narcissa treated him with a reserved affection, always looking over her shoulder in fear of his father. Snape, his godfather, merely just looked after him always making sure to bail Draco out of anything he may have gotten himself into. But this automatic feeling of comradery from these people was strange; Draco wasn’t sure how he should act towards them.

“I hear you are looking for Hermione, I think I saw her go towards the woods you both live in.” Lily’s voice was low but smooth, her bright ginger hair hung around her shoulders in curls. She was taller than Hermione but still shorter than him. Nodding his head he turned to leave.
“Oi wait a moment,” turning back in to her house she grabbed a large wooden item. “I was wondering if Hermione would want to have this.” Pulling out heavy item a little more out the door Draco could see the woman’s obvious struggle to bring it further out.
Reaching out he grabbed the corner of the mysterious object and easily lifted out in front of him. Getting a better look at the odd wooden rectangle that was a little taller than him, he still wasn’t quite sure what he was looking at.
“It is to thank her for helping me with all my laundry and gardening. That girl knows so much about all kinds of things, I really do enjoy her help and company.” He soft smile she gave him proved that she sincerely meant what she said about the Gryffindor. “So I figured she might like this screen.”
Holding the wooden structure at an angle he pulled the pieces apart almost like an accordion. That explained the gauzy white fabric in the middle of the frames. Grunting his thanks he hoisted the screen under his arm and walked off, ignoring the lady’s goodbyes.
~*~*
Hermione’s skin was balmy and covered in dust; the books at the church were covered in grime. But she wouldn’t lie to herself that it didn’t make the whole experience just a tad bit more fun. Earlier that morning she had planned on dragging Malfoy but…
Shaking in anger she pushed the thoughts of that filthy prat out of her head.
Sitting at the edge of the bathtub she put her hand in the rising water to test the temperature. After getting it just right she turned off the taps. Before she ran the bath Hermione decided to make the bathroom a little more modern and not so rustic. Using two of her three daily spells she separated the bath and shower to two different units and enlarged the room a bit more. Taking off her clothes she folded them and placed them on the sink, clipping her hair into a messy pile at the top of her head, she slowly lowered her body into the steaming water.
Hermione always loved baths in the middle of the day; it felt so wonderful to break the usual night and morning tradition. With her feet towards the faucet and her back facing the bathroom door she had a wonderful view out the window at the end of the bathroom.
With the leaves drifting delicately on the wind as they passed her portal to the outside she slowly began to relax.
~*~
Opening the door with his left hand while his right hand held onto the cumbersome screen, Draco opened the door to the cabin and walked in. Draco figured that Granger might be wondering around the beach, after he put down this blasted screen he intended on finding the elusive girl. Holding the screen to his right he walked through the living room directly into their bedroom, all the while holding the massive screen upright blocking his view of everything to the right of him.
Looking around the room Draco decided it best to set the screen in the right hand corner of the room, near the wall that the bathroom shared with their room. Moving the old wingback chair slightly, he set up the four-paneled screen in the corner. The Malfoy manner had a few screens in some of the guest rooms so Draco was fairly familiar how they should be set up. If it were too close to the window it would defeat the purpose, as well if it were too far from the corner.
Taking a step back he shrugged, if Granger didn’t like it there then she could move it her damn self.
Dusting off his hands onto his pants he walked back towards the living room. As soon as his feet made it towards the doorway of their room they stopped not allowing him to take another step.
The door to the bathroom was slightly ajar. From his position he could see directly through to the bath, the new position of the tub let him know some remodeling was done to their bathroom. Though the tub was not what caught his gaze, it was who was currently lying in the large white basin.
Streams of sunlight were piercing through the midday darkness of the bathroom giving the entire scene laid out before him a mystical feel. Through the beams of light his eyes could see the tiny fragments of dust dancing through the air. Sparkling drops of water on the slender column of her neck catching the light just so, grabbed his full attention.
Bracing his feet further apart Draco gripped the frame of the bedroom doorway. Even if he wanted to he was sure he could not look away from her. With her hair piled messily atop her head Draco watched, as she lie motionless in the cooling water. Hermione was asleep, the gentle rise and fall of her shoulders told him that. Thankfully her position facing the opposite wall only allowed him to see her shoulders and head. Finally mustering all his will he stepped away from the door and went to sit in his normal chair in the living room.
Flicking his wrist he withdrew out his scepter, since the back of his chair faced the bathroom he pointed the scepter over his shoulder. The simplicity of the waking spell required no words as he mentally commanded the spell without turning his head. A peach colored smoke emitted quickly from the dark orb on his wand, gliding across the short distance of the room into the crack of the bathroom door.
Seconds later he heard the familiar groan of the Gryffindor and the splashing of water as she stirred awake. With his acute hearing, Draco listened quietly from his hidden position in the wingback chair as she stepped out of the water. The gentle rustling of the towel being pulled from the bar as she wrapped the cloth around her body, finally allowed her to pull the drain on the water and leave the room. Behind him moist feet padded slowly to the room.
The small gasp shook him out of his daze.
~*
Hermione couldn’t believe she fell asleep in the bath, with the door open no less. Still tired she wrapped herself in a towel and walked back to their room. Her eyes went wide and her feet stopped the moment she crossed the doorway the bedroom. In the far corner of the room, closest to the door, was a beautiful four-paneled mahogany screen with white fabric in the middle. Stepping closer to the structure she let her hand glide across its smooth surface while holding her towel on with the other hand.
The creaking of the floorboard behind her caused her to turn around. Standing in the doorway was Malfoy, giving her a hard look. The smile that was on her face seconds before started to slowly fade as he stepped closer to her, until he stopped directly in front of her. By now Hermione was very aware of her state of undress.
“The screen is from Lily, a thanks for helping her.” All she could do was nod as she stared up into his cold eyes. His stare was making her feel so nervous.
“Hermione…” the way he said her name betrayed his hard stoic face, he needed something from her. “I…I would like to speak to you.” Though his words were short they were softly spoken.
Without another word he turned and left closing the door on his way out.
Minutes later she was dressed, walking into the living room she paused for a second when she saw the food she made that morning on the coffee table. Sitting on the couch she looked back up at Draco.
Muttering the reverse spell for the containment charm Draco handed Hermione her plate thankfully she took it without argument. Chewing on his toast in silence Draco watched as Hermione slowly ate her food, quietly waiting for him to begin.
“After years of physical and mental abuse from my bastard of a father, I left and took my mother with me this summer.” Refusing to look in her eyes as he said this he stared into the empty fireplace. The weather allowed them to go without its flames for the past couple of nights, but now he wished they were there, anything to keep his eyes off of hers. Pity, that was the emotion Draco knew she would have, he hated the infernal emotion, it served no purpose whatsoever it only served in destroying one’s pride. Only the weak and the gullible needed pity not a Malfoy.
Luscious’ statement of course but Draco could agree with it.
Seconds dragged by like days as he waited for a response. With each second that went by his frustration mounted, the regret in telling her was consuming him. Finally turning his head Draco turned his hard gaze towards the girl.
Only to have it disappear at the look on her face. There was pity in her eyes there was no doubting that, but there was something else as well—understanding. Speechless he watched her scoot over on her couch, silently telling him to sit next to her.
Any other time Draco would have raged at her show of pity, scorned her for thinking that he, Draco Malfoy, needed comforting—and from her no less—but he did nothing but walk towards her and sit next to her.
Turning towards her Draco watched as she did the same, adjusting herself to comfort. With a soft smile she wordlessly urged him to continue.
Merlin could only know why he sat there and told her all this, but Hermione was so happy he did. The Slytherin’s gaze would leave her and settle elsewhere as he described the various tortures his dad would inflict on him if Draco did the slightest thing wrong. The dark art lessons his horrible father taught consisted of knowing how each spell felt personally before learning to cast it. The shudder that coursed through her as Draco told her of some of the effects the spells had on him could not be suppressed.
With each word that escaped his lips her heart plummeted a little more.
“Damn it woman stop it! I knew I should not have told you!” his angry growl startled her.
Giving him a confused look, he mumbled something unintelligible under his breath before reaching to cup the side of her face. Surely her eyes must have reached the size of saucers at the feel of his large hard hand around her face. The warmth mixed with the feel of his calluses excited her for some unknown reason. The feel of his thumb swiping across her cheek gently made her focus again. Pulling his hand back he showed her his glistening hand.
She was crying. She was crying and had no idea she was doing it. She was crying in front of Malfoy and about MALFOY!! Her embarrassment knew no bounds.
A smirk inched across his lips as he watched her face flush at his discovery. Anger should be the emotion he should be feeling at her waterworks however it wasn’t. Draco was feeling something but as to what he wasn’t sure.
Using legilimency to see what she was thinking crossed his mind for a second, but disapeared as quickly as it came. He was not sure if he wanted to know.
Hours passed them by as they continued to talk, they silently decided to change to the topic of discussion from his father to other things. Topics from their favorite magical bands, potions, and random gossip around the school which Hermione had to admit Draco had her beat on.
Hearing themselves yawn must have signaled both of them that it was time to go to sleep, turning out the lights Hermione followed the white haired Slytherin to their room.
~*~
Sealing the linen paper envelope with red wax Harry gave the note to Hedwig. Giving the snow white owl a gentle pet he sent him out thw window. Three days have passed since Hermione has left and Harry felt that he was on the verge of losing his mind. Never in his life has he been so worried, his stomach felt as if it were knotted and twisted within him leaving him with no appatite to speak of.
How could Dumbledore do that to Hermione, sending her off with that son of a bitch Malfoy. Merlin only knew what that prat was putting he through.
Yesterday he tried to talk to Dumbledore about it but he just said there was no choice. What the hell could he possibly mean? It seemed like there was more to the situation than besides Hermione and that prat’s change. But what changed everything were the words that came from Snape’s mouth.
“Oh and Mr. Potter if you were intending to write to Miss Granger I wouldn’t waste the parchment, Miss Granger cannot receive any mail during her taining.” The raven haired professor stood there calmly as he told him the information, as if not writing to his best friend was akin to skipping breakfast.
Dumbledore must have foreseen the Gryffindor’s anger because before Harry could even open his mouth in response the headmaster held up his hand and shook his head.
“I am sorry Harry, but this is a difficult time for those two. I can allow nothing to disturb what has been created or what is in the process of forming.”
It was if the man were speaking in riddles leaving Harry with one conclusion as he stomped down the hall to his room, Harry wasn’t sure if he could completley trust Dumbledore on this matter.
~*~
“Do you think that awful man is trying to kill us?” They were drenched in sweat and completley worn out with fatigue. It seemed ever since the practice using the storm and the phasing the practices were getting substantially harder.
Looking at Malfoy’s face she could easily read his anger towards Plympton. Though she did secretly find it amusing that Plympton never stayed around after the practice long enough to witness the Slytherin’s blind hatred.
“Words that express I feel at this moment Princess are not suitable around the more delicate sex….however since we both know you are nowhere near delicate let me enlighten you on my thoughts. That bast…”
Slam!
Even though he was sore all over Draco still found it in him to give out a hearty laugh as he stared at the closed door to the house. Ahhh was it not a pleasant past time harassing the Gryffindor princess.
~*
Realizing there wasn’t much to do inside the two students slowly made their way back outside. Hermione sat under a tree while she watched Malfoy’s bored pacing. The weather was absolutely perfect in her opinion; the sun was bright giving the blue sky a postcard look while the air was crisp and cool. It felt like paradise. Too bad she was here for training and not leisure.
Shuffling the grass with his foot Draco tried not look at the Gryffindor. After showering she put on a pair of peach colored shorts and a matching top. The shorts did nothing to cover her legs but seemingly intended to do the opposite.
A year ago it seemed her skin was pale and pasty, nowhere near his distinguished ivory complexion. But her skin now was slightly tanned and natural looking not created by one of those ridiculous skin pigmentation-altering charms. Though her height was downright puny her legs were actually quite shapely.
Growling in frustration he swiped his hand through his long hair while trying to settle his eyes on anywhere but her. Sitting stretched out beneath the tree, Hermione was no where near alluring, but he had to admit as he let his line of sight return to her, she did possess—something.
Other females would have laid provocatively out before him with that oh-so-familiar come-hither look in their eyes, even if they did not want his attention, which was a non-existent occurrence, they would do it nonetheless just to see if he could be swayed in their direction. Nope, not Granger. The girl had no drive for sex or intimacy whatsoever for that Draco was sure.
It wasn’t the fact that he wanted Granger’s pathetic attentions, amusing as they might be, but he was rather perplexed why she never, not once, tried. Of course the pure hatred factor that has run between them for so long could have been reason. But since they have both admitted to the fact that they really did not hate ach other anymore Draco had to wonder if something could change.
Admittedly though, it was rather refreshing not to have every bloody girl on his cock. Hell even the Weaselette has given him the not so subtle hints in the past. It can be a burden to be so bloody attractive, he thought with a dramatic sigh.
“So what ever happened with you and Krum?”
One moment she was peacefully watching the sky blend into the sparkling ocean the next she was mentally sputtering for an answer to an insane out-of-the blue question. Whipping her head around she gave the smirking ponce a glare that told him how she felt about that question.
“It is none of your business Draco Malfoy! And where in Merlin’s name did that question come from?”
He shrugged before answering, “I don’t know…maybe it could be the fact that I am extremely bored.” Turning from the ocean view he stood in front of her seated form, “Come on answer the question.” He must have seen the fat-chance-look on her face because he laughed deeply before continuing. “Ok how about you answer my questions and I will give you a golden opportunity. I Draco Malfoy will honestly answer any of your questions.”
“Are you really this bored?” the deadpan look on his face with his nod confirmed it. “But Draco my life wouldn’t really interest you compared to yours so I really don’t see this game of 20 questions going real far.”
Slapping some dirt off his pants he looked back at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You let me worry about that Princess. So, answer the question.”
There really wasn’t much else to do and this was an opportunity to be more cordial with each other, besides Hermione could not help feel a little excited over the opportunity to ask him some personal questions as well.
“Well, we are still good friends but we decided…well actually I decided that it would be best if we didn’t see each other.” Without looking at him she knew the question why was on his face. “Umm…he was a little too…how should I put it…he was too physical for me.”
That seemed to capture his full attention. “What do you mean physical? Sexual or something else?”
“Well both really.” Malfoy’s face seemed to darken, but she continued. “Even though I told him I wasn’t rea…I mean, interested in taking the relationship to another level it seemed he was always pressuring me for more. But that’s all really I just decided I rather end it.”
“You described the sexual what was the something else aspect?”
Not entirely comfortable talking about it Hermione fiddled with a blade of grass as she answered. “Well everywhere we seemed to go he would latch onto my arm and basically drag me around with him.” Just remembering the bruises on her arm from that made her angry.
“Mmm…I see.” A small uncomfortable silence filled the air until he spoke again. “Ok Princess your turn, ask away.”
Letting out a deep breath, thankful that they could switch from her, she smiled at the crazy questions that entered her mind. Out of all the trashy gossip she has heard and all the secrets she has wanted to find out from him she only really wanted to know one thing. “If your father wasn’t around anymore, what would you love to be or do after you graduate?”
His frown made her speculate if he was going to end the game prematurely.
“I honestly didn’t expect that question Princess. I will definitely take over the family company, my name needs proper restoration I am tired of it being associated with that insane bastard Voldemort. But as to what I would like to do…you’re the last person I should tell this but then again you will probably be the only person.”
Hermione was on the edge of her metaphoric seat.
“I would like to experience actual muggle culture.”
Nothing. Not a sound. Not a movement. Nothing passed between them. He continued to stare out at the ocean and she stared at the side of his face. Five minutes must have elapsed between them.
“I take it your in shock.” The statement was supposed to be humorous but neither one of them laughed. Finally Draco turned and looked at her.
She couldn’t help it, it started off small but it quickly escalated until she was crying with laughter.
“I much prefer the shocked silence.”
~*~
The sun had long since set, their dinner plates sat empty in the sink while the two students sat in the living area. The game of questions lasted over four hours moving from the tree to the dinner table eventually to the living room.
After six years with the Slytherin sitting before her Hermione has never known so much about him until today. All these years she was absolutely convinced that he grew up torturing small animals and doing other similar heinous acts. But Draco Malfoy actually likes animals and had a dog named Mars.
Today could actually be considered a great day.
Watching her set up the muggle game, Monopoly, Draco reflected on their earlier game. Hermione Granger loved dark gothic novels, nearly all types of music, and secretly loved gothic clothing. Draco would have been content with that gem of knowledge alone. Never in his life would he have imagined the conversation they had today, it was actually quite—good.
“Peck” “Peck” “Peck”
“What the hell?!” Looking from Granger’s confused face he went over to the windows where the noise came from with the sorceress following slowly behind him.
Sitting on the ledge of the window was a snow-white owl, holding a letter in its beak. There was only one tosser he knew of that owned the blasted bird.
“Hedwig!!” The Gryffindor’s squeal nearly broke his eardrum as he reluctantly opened the window. The owl flew instantly to Grangers arm dropping the parchment in her other hand.
Closing the window Draco watched as the Gryffindor cooed and stroked the snowy owl. Setting him down on the coffee table she pulled the wax seal apart and began reading the letter.
“Oh its from Harry!” ignoring the Slytherin’s snort she continued to read the letter. Harry seemed convinced that Malfoy was torturing her. Letting her know if she wanted to leave training all she had to do was let him know. Hermione just sighed at her friend’s worrying. No matter what he did there was nothing he could do about it, folding the parchment she intended on replying as soon as possible to relieve his mind. Harry had enough things to worry about; her training should not be one of them.
Seeing her head towards the room Malfoy spoke, “Do you want to play this stupid game or not?” not giving a damn if his question came out cold.
As if she just remembered him she gave him an apologetic smile “Umm not tonight I have to write back to Harry.” With that she took the blasted creature and walked to their bedroom.
There was his proof, that was all he needed to see. The small illusion he had about working with her for the rest of his life as a warlock was just put into perspective by one bloody letter.
But what he was disgusted with the most was that he actually gave this whole partnership an effort. What the hell for? He hated the Ministry and their hypocritical values? Not once did Draco see himself being a bloody auror? And working with Granger for the rest of his life –fuck that? And for what to be thrown on the back burner for that fuck-head Potter, hell no he was Draco fucking Malfoy he always came first.

Hermione didn’t finish her letter until late that night, Malfoy went to bed before her without a word. When she was done she sealed the four-page letter and looked over to the window ledge that Hedwig was occupying. Settled deeply into her feathers and despite the time of night Hermione was rather shocked to see the owl was actually asleep. Smiling softly Hermione backed away softly and settled into the bed beside Malfoy. Today turned out to be a surprisingly good: learning new things about Malfoy, a letter from Harry, and no fights yes things could only get better from here.
~*~*~
Malfoy was back to his original snarky, arrogant asshole self again. Hermione had no clue as to what happened from last night to this morning.
She was awoken by his rude demand for breakfast at what seemed like the crack of dawn. Too confused and tired to argue or even question his mood change she slowly drug herself out of bed. Taking glance at Hedwig she noticed the bird was still asleep, deciding to give her the note after breakfast she walked into the kitchen to see what the hell was up with Malfoy.
Sitting in one of the dining room chairs Malfoy sat with his classic sneer and arrogant stretched out pose. What the hell was going on?
“Draco what’s going on?” Standing on the other side of the table where she usually sat she stared back at his scowling face.
“Nothing is going on Her-my-o-nee,” the sarcastic stress in her name made her gut clench, he hasn’t done that since last year. “That’s the problem nothing is going on, no cooking, no food, nothing at all. So would you begin so I can get this fucking practice over with.”
Shock wouldn’t allow her to say anything. Oh she wanted to tell him off but all the progress they have made kept surfacing in her head.
Walking over to him she had her hand outstretched towards him. “Umm did you have a dream or something because we can talk about it if you want.”
Like a viper he slapped her hand away from him, jumping out of his chair he caused it to go tumbling backwards.
“I don’t want your sympathy, your pathetic friendship, or your damn help Granger,” “ding” Holding her stinging hand she watched wide-eyed and shocked as he approached her until he was inches from her face. “From this point on you and I are going to fake this so called partnership until we are the fuck out of here.” His snarl was deep while his eyes were stone cold staring into hers. “But when we are in here stay the fuck away from me.” Not giving her the chance to respond he turned and walked to the living room in long even strides.
“I don’t understand.” She whispered more to herself than him. The hopeless feeling inside her made her sick to her stomach. Turning towards the bedroom she stopped when she heard the happy chirp of Hedwig. As if watching slow motion she watched Hedwig fly from the room towards her she, before she could blink she watched as a flash of white light strike the owl in midair.
Her scream went ignored as the Slytherin grabbed the stunned bird and released him out the window. Only a small sigh of relief passed through her as she watched the shaken owl shake off the spell and fly away without her letter to Harry.
That was the breaking point. With tears flowing down her face, she mentally pushed back her anger and feeling of hopelessness, without a sound she went into their bedroom.
Taking deep breaths as he clenched and unclenched his fist Draco didn’t dare look at her face as he walked off. That fucking bird was the catalyst so it seemed fitting that he got rid of the damn thing. Hell she should be thanking him that he didn’t kill it. Ignoring the fire spreading from his ring throughout his arm he listened to the loud sounds of moving and stomping.
Soon the sounds stopped all together, turning towards the bedroom he watched as Granger came out with her trunk and bags in her hands.
“What the hell do you think your doing?!” his voice was low with fury.
Whipping her head towards him as she marched through the threshold of the front door she gave him a cold look. “What do you think I am doing you pretentious cold hearted prick?!” “Ding” “I am leaving I don’t care if I never get to use magic again, as long as if I am away from you.”
Anger that was boiling in his gut all night and morning was beginning to spread, he quickly followed her outside. “The hell you are!” Grabbing her arm that was dragging her trunk he tried to pull her to a stop.
“Let go of me!” Before he could even move she turned around and began hitting him on the head, shoulder and anything else she could reach. Growling in frustration at the melee attack he attempted to catch her wrist but the moment he grabbed them her kicking began.
“Son of a bitch!” Somehow they made it to the ground, he was trying to control her all the while she was trying to tear his eyes out and get away at the same time. The intensity of her screams as well as her surprising frantic strength hindered him from completely subduing her. Because he knew if he were to pin her down like he wanted to she would end up getting hurt.
“Get off of me!” Her screams literally shook the ground they were struggling on.
“Do you think I am gonna let you waste all this fucking time I have invested in this, think again you mudblood bitch!” “Ding” “Ding”
With one last surge of strength she bucked him off of her, scrambling to her feet she ignored her belongings and began to sprint as far away as possible. Her heart was pounding in her ears and her legs were shaking but she had to get away from him.
Anger was blinding him now.
Looking over her shoulder her eyes widened in horror. One moment he was standing near the house, where she just was, looking at her running away the next moment he was gone. In one blink he was yards away the next he was inches from her with his clawed hand outstretched towards her.
His hair was dusty from the dirt they kicked up on the ground but it hung wildly around his shoulders but his eyes were what caught her attention. They were like the first day they dueled against each other completely black but glowing black. Panicking she sped up but all she could feel was a lightening hot pain shooting through her body.
Her painful scream caused him to freeze in place, watching with wide eyes she crumpled to the ground crying holding her side. Her bloody side. Confused he looked down at his hand, five claws glistened in the morning sun—with Granger’s blood.
Dropping to his knees next to her he tried to get a look at her wound. Draco had to see if what he was looking at was real. The facts before him lead him to the obvious conclusion but he prayed he was mistaken. Her painful moan and small whimper she let out when he neared her told him that it was very much reality.
Dear Merlin what did he do? All he could remember was reaching for her to stop her that was all. Never was there an intention to hurt her just make her listen to what he was saying.
Ignoring her pain filled pleas for him to leave her alone, Draco gently scooped her up in his arms. Carefully but quickly he carried her to the house, closing the door with his foot he carried her into the kitchen. Every little whimper that escaped her trembling lips his heart beat faster. If it went any faster Draco was sure it would explode right there in is chest.
Laying her on the kitchen table, he mentally thanked her small size allowing most of her to lay across it perfectly. Silently he heated a bowl of water with a quick spell while pulling out some towels from the cabinets. Turning back to her he braced himself for what he had to do.
Laying in the fetal position on the kitchen table Hermione could barley see straight. There was just so much pain, it hurt to move, breath, cry, or anything. Through the fog of pain and tears she watched as he got closer to her the sight of him made her body tense, only to draw out more pain.
“Please don’t hurt me anymore.” Her whispered plea seemed to make his face darken. Ignoring her he started to gently grab at her shirt. Ignoring the pain it caused her she lifted the arm that wasn’t pressed against her wound to block his intentions. As if she were a child he gently pushed her arm down on the table while slowly turning her body straight.
“Hermione try not to move.” The softness of his request may have been the only thing that stilled her completely. With her heart beating a mile a minute she watched as he gently removed her arm from her side. With a hiss she had no choice to comply with his silent request.
The hardening of his jaw and the furrow of his brow confused her as to what he was thinking when he examined to what she was sure was a ghastly sight. The sound of tearing fabric reminded her to stay focus. Fear lanced through her as she watched him rip open her shirt.
Moving despite the tremendous pain she quickly covered herself. “Wh…what are you doing? Stop!” with every move to cover her bare stomach and bra he gently captured her arms in a firm grip and settled them back to her sides. “Please leave me alone Draco? I didn’t do any…”
“Hermione I have to.” The pain it caused to move would not allow her to focus in on his eyes, but his voice told her what she could not see. “Please just be still, every time you move more blood comes out.”
Turning from her the Slytherin reached behind him for something, she didn’t know what it was until she felt the hot wetness of a cloth against her cuts. The sting caused her to arch her back off the table, but his warm hand pressed her back against the table.
“The cuts are not as deep as I thought.” Turning her head away from him she let her tears fall as he continued to clean her cuts. Absently but soothingly his thumb stroked her back and forth on her stomach giving her something other than pain to focus on.
“Hermione?” slowly she turned her head back to him.
Red, puffy, tired, tear stained eyes stared up at him causing him to feel five times worse than before. Draco didn’t want to ask her but he needed to finish cleaning the rest of the long cuts. There were five wounds in all; three main gashes running diagonally from underneath her arm to her back the remaining two were small thankfully. Gently grabbing her right arm he placed it over her bra.
“I need to remove it to get to the rest of the cut.” Confusion slowly lead to realization and as he expected she went completely rigid. Shaking her head the Gryffindor tried to get up but he quickly put his hand on her shoulder keeping her still.
“Hermione its already halfway shredded,” as soon as that word left his mouth he regretted it, more tears seemed to fill her eyes. “Just keep your arm still while I pull it away.” Not giving her time to think about it he ripped the rest of the fabric as gently as he could, slowly tugging the purple bra from beneath her arm.
The only thing shielding her breast from his gaze was her arm, and it barely did that job well. The soft globes were pressed down making the sight look very appealing if it were in any other scenario. However, her crimson colored face and downcast eyes forced him to keep his eyes locked on her wound.
Cleaning the rest of the wound he finally started to use his last two spells to heal them. Holding her stomach like before he slowly hovered his scepter over the wounds as the blue colored magic began working on them.
“Shit.” Breaking from her profoundly deep embarrassment Hermione looked up at Malfoy. The slight stinging of the healing seemed to have stopped.
“What is it?” the fatigue in her voice was apparent, even to her.
“I don’t have anymore spells to finish healing them.” The cuts were smaller but they still could bleed again, the tiny ones were gone just leaving the three bigger ones.
“I only used two spells to pack.” She started to move her other arm but the pain was too much to continue.
“No stop. You wouldn’t be able to properly heal it from that angle anyways. Don’t move.” She heard him walk to the bathroom, seconds later he was back. Before she could ask him anything he was back standing between her knees that were dangling off the table.
On one side of the table her long hair hung over the edge gently grazing the floor on his side her legs hung over the side hanging a few feet from the floor. Slowly he leaned directly over her until he was almost on top of her, the shocked expression on her face was a little amusing as he gently grabbed her bringing her up in the sitting position leaning against him.
“Carefully put both of your arms around my neck or on my shoulders.” He was looking over her shoulder as she laid her head on his neck.
“But what about my…” her quickening heartbeat told him the rest of that sentence for her.
“I promise I won't look down Princess.” Believing him she, slowly she put her arms softly around his broad shoulders. Letting go of her he grabbed the band-aid and gauze he found in the bathroom and began wrapping her torso. When he reached her breast he made quick work of the area but simultaneously making sure he made the gauze a little thicker in that area.
“Ok I am going to let go for a minute.” Like a breeze Hermione felt his presence disappear, her energy quickly began to drain from her body as she tried to keep herself up right.
Thankfully she felt warm familiar hands again on her back, looking back up she came face to face with Malfoy’s face. Without a word he leaned her towards him and draped something around her, pushing her back down on the table she watched as he buttoned the fabric around her. Helping her pull her arms out of the shirt, she felt like a rag doll as he finished dressing her. Hermione recognized the long sleeved shirt as one of his expensive white linen shirts.
“This was all I could grab quickly.” Coming around the table he picked her back up into his arms so that her bandaged side faced outward.
Nervous, she looked around as he carried her to the bedroom. Never in her life has she felt so small until this moment. Enveloped in his large shirt she felt like a child as he carried her against his larger frame. Reaching the bed he gently put her on the bed.
Neither of them knew what to say.
Clearing his throat Draco headed out the room. “I am going to go get your stuff.”
Listening for his footsteps to fade away Hermione looked down at her scuffed up hands. Their struggle on the ground outside must have scratched them. Noticing how filthy her jeans were she began to unbutton them, but using only one arm so that she wouldn’t aggravate her wound made it difficult.
The struggle to take off her jeans must have captured her attention so much that she didn’t hear the warlock come in with her stuff. But she did see and feel his hands on her jeans.
“Hey! Stop that, I can do it.” Like an expert he parted the fly of her pants, hooked his fingers into her waistband, and began tugging them off of her.
“No stop!” the white haired Slytherin stopped at the alarm in her voice, cocking an eyebrow he looked at her.
“My…my…you have got my…” The redness of her face and the avoidance of his eyes told Draco that he had much more than jeans hooked on his fingers. Wiggling his fingers a bit he released the nearly hidden satin fabric and tugged the jeans down her legs.
With her pants around her ankles, dangling off the bed, Draco was crouched on the floor untying her tennis shoes before taking the jeans off her completely. All his willpower was used not to let his eyes travel up between her thighs and underneath the hem of his shirt to catch a glimpse of what that satin fabric, he felt earlier, actually looked like.
“There.” After propping her back against the head board he turned back towards her stuff, he moved her trunk back to its original position against the wall setting the rest of her bags on top of it.
“I found this on the door when I went outside.” Setting a small envelope on her lap he sat at the foot of the bed and watched her open the letter.
“Its from the professor.” Both of their reactions were similar, Hermione held her breath while she unfolded the parchment while the blood in Draco’s body seemed to be rushing madly through his entire body.
Did the professor know of their fight? Was he going to punish them again? So many questions were floating between them.
“Dear students…” She couldn’t keep the slight edge of fear from her voice as she read the scrawling handwriting. “I must attend to some personal business today leaving you without practice. However I want you to practice your offensive spells and keep up your teamwork I will see you in two days.”
Their collective sigh, said all that needed to be said.
“Well that should give me time to heal.”
Mumbling his agreement, Draco began to clean the kitchen and put away the medical supplies anything to take his mind off his thoughts. The fact that he injured a female like that made him nauseous.
With nothing else to be straightened or put away Draco reluctantly went back into the bedroom. Lying against the headboard, where he left her, Hermione was asleep. Her complexion was still a little pale but it was slowly improving, though the fact did little to stave off the guilt.
The position of her wound forced him to place her on his side of the bed, leaving him her vacant side. Stealthily he approached her; carefully he pulled her off of the headboard into a flat position. Despite a couple of groans she seemed to stay asleep.
The soft warmth of her body was incredible, frowning he wondered why his shirt never felt that good on him. Looking at her sleep, realization to how tired he was dawned on him. The morning seemed to be a cyclone of emotions; anger, shock, fear, worry, all on top of his underlying feeling of horny-ness. Exhausted he pulled off his bloody shirt, mentally reminding himself to burn it he never wanted to remember this day, carefully he slipped into the bed beside the sleeping girl.
Not even a minute passed before he heard the soft whisper of his name. Turning his gray eyes met with drowsy brown ones.
“Why did you get so mad at me earlier, everything seemed to be going so well?”
Confusion laced with her naiveté burned right through him. He should have slept on the couch, he wanted to avoid this conversation so bad. Why couldn’t she be like a Malfoy and just pretend things like this didn’t happen. But the moment the thought passed through his head, he immediately stamped it away. No Draco was not like his father, Draco didn’t hit women and go about his day as if nothing occurred. But ignoring it was exactly what he wanted to do.
For the longest he didn’t say anything, Hermione feared he would never respond. Bringing it up wasn’t something she wanted to do but she had to know why.
“When you got your letter…” she knew she was staring but she didn’t care, Hermione desperately wanted to know why.
“Please tell me Draco.”
“You ignored me and it seemed we were right back to square one.” Silence permeated the air while a cloud of confusion descended over her mind. The urge to argue his accusations was on the tip of her tongue until her eyes met his cold gaze.
The urge to argue disappeared the moment she saw the small glint of pain in his eyes. As sure as the sky was blue he would argue with her that he wasn’t truly hurt but she knew he was. And she knew he was right, she did ignore him.
Turning as much as she could she leveled her gaze with his and said the one statement that could bring down the most precious thing she owned—her pride.
“I’m sorry Draco.”
“Don’t apologize!” his voice was like steel, though she wasn’t sure if he was angry or not. “What I did was far…”
Ignoring the hot lance of pain she gripped his arm with her left arm. “Don’t. I know it was an accident, your face told me that when you helped me. So lets just learn from our mistakes and forget it.”
Learning from our mistakes and forgetting, something this Malfoy could learn to adopt.

Despite being early in the morning they both succumbed to a deep sleep.
~*~
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