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: Here is the next chapter. And no, this is not over. Far from it. Just wanted to tell you that. And my next update will be slower because I will be gone for a few days. Just FYI. I’ll try to be as fast as I can though. Oh and, this quote doesn’t have much to do with the chapter just thought it fit because wrath was the last sin…
“'Tis said that wrath is the last thing in a man to grow old”
-- Alcaues
There was one second where they simply stared at each other, as if nothing had changed, as if they were still on that ice. Draco still straddled Hermione, his hands resting on her collar bone, and both soaking wet. Their eyes connected and in that moment, something passed between them, though neither were sure what it was exactly.
The scene was ruined when Hermione broke into a coughing fit as she got used to taking air into her lungs once more. Draco didn’t move an inch as he stared down at her and watched as she took deep breaths and he was completely unaware that he mimicked every single one of them.
When they finally regained their senses they realized that they definitely weren’t on the frozen lake anymore. This place was warm and they both shivered as their bodies adjusted to the sudden temperature change.
Finally, they broke eye contact and gazed around. The place was all too familiar and yet they thought they would never see it again.
They were laying in the middle of the Entrance Hall. Of course neither were too excited by the prospect. Both simply thought it was another trap. That was until the sounds from the Great Hall reached their ears. Those heavenly sounds that they hadn‘t heard in weeks. People. Talking, eating, studying.
People.
They were finally home. It was almost too good to be true.
Without a word, Draco pushed himself off of Hermione and moved to stand. He felt a bit shaky on his legs, the injuries from his duel with her taking their toll. He glanced down and offered his hand to a struggling Hermione. She took it, not even thinking about it, and together, they both managed to stay in a steady, standing position.
Hermione felt weak and her body was coming back to her at last, making her realize how cold she really was. With as much effort as she possessed, she and Draco walked towards the double doors of the Great Hall. Their arms were wrapped around each other’s waists as they helped support one another and together they pushed open the doors.
They only got two steps in when the entire hall went dead silent. Hermione and Draco look at all the shocked faces staring back at them and happiness seeped into them like smooth velvet, stroking their insides, comforting them, and telling them it was finally okay.
Hermione smiled a bit. Draco might’ve too.
No one moved for a long time. Or, at least, it felt that way to Draco. His vision started to blur and the weight by his side, also known as Hermione, seemed to get heavier and heavier by the second. Finally, he fell to his knees, unable to hold himself up anymore. His grip loosened on Hermione and she fell to the floor in a pool of ripped clothing and ratty hair, passing out instantly. Draco wasn’t far behind, taking one more deep breath before he too collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
The last thing he saw were fuzzy, blurred shapes running at him.
They woke up in the Hospital Wing the next day, sometime in the afternoon. Draco was up first, about a half an hour before Hermione. As soon as they opened their eyes, Madam Pomfrey was on them like flies on garbage. She bustled around and fussed over them for what seemed like hours.
All in all she said they were both fine. A few cuts and bruises she had to take care of with a potion, especially the ones around Hermione’s neck that she said looked suspiciously like hand prints. Neither of them said anything about it, though, and she dropped the subject.
Other than that, they were a bit dehydrated and underfed but otherwise well.
After she gave them a clean bill of health, she had the house elves bring in some much needed food and water. The two scarfed it down so fast it made Pomfrey’s head spin. She gave them each a look of pity as she cleared away the plates, but through it all, she didn’t ask any questions except to inquire how they felt and if anything hurt.
They were grateful.
After they were fed and cleaned up a bit (she wouldn’t let them leave the beds to shower) she asked if they wanted her to finally let in their friends. Hermione and Draco stared at her confusedly.
“Oh, they are outside. Have been for hours waiting on you two to wake up. They are anxious to know if you are alright. We all were so worried, honestly.” She said, her eyes softening for a moment. “But that doesn’t mean they can crowd around outside of my door forever.” She said loud enough that Hermione and Draco were sure everyone in the hall could hear her.
She opened the door and students filtered into the room and crowded around. Harry and Ron immediately rushed to Hermione‘s side and wrapped her in suffocating hugs. They held her like she was the air they needed to breathe. All Ron could say was ’Hermione, you’re back. Hermione!’, over and over again. Harry didn’t say anything at all at first. He just looked at her, his eyes shinning with tears. It made her own well up of course. She smiled and embraced him once more. It was a very emotional, joyful reunion.
Everyone else crowded around and hugged Hermione, telling her they missed her and asking if she was well. Her view was blocked by the masses but she caught a peak at Draco every once in a while and noticed he had just as many people around him, hugging and shaking his hand. A few of the girls were even crying silently. Hermione was immediately reminded of what he’d said to her in the Shrieking Shack about him dying and all the girls crying for him.
The silly arse had been right and for some reason, it made her smile.
After everyone had had their turn, they all grew quiet and silence completely filled the room. Everyone just stood around near the beds that were across from each other. It stayed like that for a while before Draco finally couldn’t take it anymore.
“Where are my gifts? Why didn’t anyone bring me any fucking sweets?” Everyone burst out laughing at that and it instantly got the talking going again. No one really answered him about why they didn’t bring him his candy, though, and he sulked for all of two second before he was dragged into the conversation.
What they were talking about wasn’t really of any importance; just random things because no one wanted to bring up the big stuff yet. But what Hermione and Draco noticed above anything else was the group dynamic. There wasn’t a separation of Slytherins and Gryffindors. There wasn’t two different conversations taking place on opposite sides of the room. Instead, everyone had come together. If anyone else thought it was strange, they didn’t show it, though. It was like they were all just good friends.
But to Hermione and Draco, it was quite unbelievable and they realized just how much they missed while they were gone.
Time flew by but no one seemed to care. They all stayed, for hours, just chatting away. Eventually the group broke up and people moved about to get comfortable. It seemed they were all content staying in the wing and no one had any intention of leaving any time soon. Some people started games of wizard’s chess or exploding snaps. Others sat on the beds and discussed Quidditch or whatnot.
It was all very strange but it was also surprisingly secure. They all felt a little bit more normal that day. Hermione and Draco were back. They were safe. Life was good.
Even for a moment.
As Hermione looked around the room she met Draco’s eyes from across form her and they seemed to express the same thing she was thinking. Confusion. Shock. And happiness. They were finally home after, all.
But it was still very odd to see the new developments. Pansy and Ron sat in a couple of chairs near the door, both chatting amiably to each other like they were the best of friends. Hermione could have even swore that they were almost… flirting.
She shook her head and laughed. Harry turned to her with a curious look on his face. He had stayed near her side the entire time, though they stopped talking a while ago. It was fine with her though. He was a calming presence.
“I guess I’ve missed a lot, haven’t I?” She asked, her eyes alight with amusement. Harry nodded and a small smile spread on his lips.
“Yeah. We both have.” She looked down, contemplating all that she had been through. He was right. He’d missed so much, too. It felt like an entirely different lifetime.
Harry grabbed her hand and she squeezed his tightly in return, a silent promise floating between them.
At one point, McGonagall came in briefly, saying she would be back the next day to talk to them. The Ministry officials had wanted to get in right away and ask questions but she’d pushed them back, saying they needed time to settle in and see their friends before they were interrogated like prisoners. The Ministry didn’t like that very much but they agreed anyway.
Eventually, Pomfrey came in and kicked everyone out. Moans and groans filled the room but she only threw her hands up and threatened to get McGonagall. Reluctantly, everyone said their goodbyes and left. It was late. Hermione and Draco loved their friends but after the last person was out and the door was shut, they both shared a sigh of relief.
It had been a long, confusing day. And they were tired.
But sleep didn’t come easily.
Hermione lay in her bed, looking up at the plain ceiling of the Hospital Wing. She had been staring at the same spot for an hour now, studying it boredly. It was weird to her. To be laying in a warm bed back at Hogwarts, safe and sound. It almost made her feel uncomfortable.
Sighing she sat up and leaned against her headboard, letting her gaze float around the darkened room.
“Couldn’t sleep either?” A voice asked her. She moved her gaze to Draco and saw that he, as well, was sitting up in bed, looking completely awake.
“It doesn’t feel right.” He didn’t respond but she knew he understood.
For a few moments they only sat there, looking at each other and letting their minds wander. Neither were sure how to react to being back home. The initial happiness was gone, and though they were still more than glad to be back, they just felt off. It would take some readjusting they knew.
They also weren’t sure how to react to each other. They had been through so much together. Done so much; good and bad. And now it was like they were two totally different people.
Their old selves used to hate each other. But they had no idea what their new selves thought.
Eventually, the talking started up. They stayed on safe subjects. Topics where they could avoid thinking about where they’d been the past few weeks.
They both had noticed how their friends had acted today. It was obvious that the old Slytherin and Gryffindor rivalry was in the past. Or at least, it had simmered down a bit. Hermione told Draco that Harry had mentioned that he’d started up the D.A. again and that some of the Slytherins had joined. So it explained why they were a little more casual. Draco hadn’t been surprised by this news. He wasn’t sure why though.
Once again, silence loomed over them. It was a heavy one, but oddly relaxed as well. Both were so utterly drained that they couldn’t find the energy to feel awkward anymore. It was a bit surprising but both of them realized that they felt the most comfortable when they were interacting with the other. Like they had grown so used to each other, they needed the other person to feel right. And even though they hadn’t fought for an entire day, having the other’s presence made things feel normal.
It was so fucked up.
Draco was the first to speak again, interrupting their thoughts.
“I won’t say I’m sorry. I’m not.” He said honestly.
Hermione looked at him confusedly. He met her eyes and went on.
“I almost killed you but I didn’t. I didn’t. And I realized… so much. If it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have known.” He was rambling really, staring down at his lap and just mumbling. Hermione had to strain to listen and try to comprehend what he was saying. “But I realized it all because it happened. So I’m not sorry.” He said finally.
Hermione just looked at him, mulling over his words in her mind. Then she smiled softly.
“Good, because I’m not sorry either.” She gave a shake of her head, sending her curls flying everywhere. “You burned down the book shop and the library, you stupid prat.” Draco almost laughed at that.
Again, they grew quiet. The air in the room seemed to stop and thicken. It grew cold and Hermione felt goose bumps form on her skin. She spoke this time.
“I hate you.” She didn’t say it with conviction, didn’t say it like she meant it. It was more like she was testing it, trying the words on her tongue to see how they felt, how they sounded. It was uncertain. She had to say it to see if she really did hate him.
Draco only looked at her, his eyes pale in the darkness.
After a moment he scooted over in his cot and lifted the blanket. Gazing at her, he patted the empty spot beside him. Shock was the first thing Hermione felt when she saw his offer. Unsure of what to do, she simply looked at him for a moment longer. The confusion wore off and she soon knew what he was doing. They were both uncomfortable. Both just… off. Except when they were with each other.
If they were closer, like they had been for the past few weeks, they’d feel right again. They’d be fine.
Because they had some screwed up bond now.
Smoothly, Hermione slipped out of her bed and went over to his, snuggling under the covers beside him.
In no time, they were asleep.
AN: Awww! Haha. Hope you liked it. PLEASE REVIEW!
Next time: The Ministry’s interrogation. Do we finally get to find out what happened?
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