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: Finals are just finishing this week and then after that my play performances start! Yay. :D Buuuuut that means the last chapter might be slow. Yes, that’s right, last chapter! One more left. I think, anyway.
“All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.”
-- Anatole France
It was hours after the professors had left and still neither Hermione nor Draco had fallen asleep. Their minds were running in overdrive trying to figure out the mystery behind their disappearance. So far, they’d come up short.
“It just doesn’t make any sense. Who would want to capture us?” Hermione said whilst tapping her fingers against her cheek in concentration. She’d refused to say kill, instead replacing it with capture, despite knowing the effort was futile. The intention had been clear. But the memories were just too fresh for her to say anything out loud. Images from the lake kept flashing in her mind and before she could stop them they’d take over her entire body, making her shiver and gasp for breath. She made sure Draco never noticed.
It wasn’t that she was traumatized from what happened. Hermione had been through many horrifying things during her years at Hogwarts. But this time had been different from the others. The threat of imminent death had been so real. She’d been right on the edge, straddling the line between this life and the next. The feeling came back to her easily and she remembered well what it felt like to be laying on the ice with his hands around her throat. It had been so cold…
And then, nothing. No feeling at all. A calm had settled over everything and she had lifted her hand to touch the face of the beautiful being leaning over her. He’d been glowing.
That was ridiculous and she knew it. But, still, in those few silent moments that she’d lay there, she just knew that it was the end. She was going to die… and she was okay with that.
Perhaps that was what scared her the most. The fact that, at the very end, she’d accepted it. She’d never accepted anything just lying down before. Hermione constantly fought; it was just in her nature. So why not then?.
And of course it didn’t help her at all that the person who had literally strangled the life out of her was sitting in a bed right across from her, sending her odd looks that made her think she was an idiot.
“You really can’t think of anyone who would be after you?” He asked, his eyebrow raised in question. She groaned and rolled her eyes.
“No, I’m not stupid. I realize that there is a war looming and that Voldemort and the Death Eaters would love to see me dead, but, that doesn’t explain why it was us.” She said, clarifying. “Who would really have it out for you?” She supposed she could list off quite a few Gryffindors who wouldn’t mind getting their hands on the ferret, but that wasn’t what she’d meant. None of them would seriously want to harm him. He was just an annoying thorn in their side. No one would risk doing something… permanent.
But by the dark look in Draco’s eyes, Hermione could tell that he knew exactly who would be after him.
“Have you ever fucked anyone, Granger?” He was trying to distract her and he had done a damn good job of it. Instantly Hermione blushed, though she had tried her hardest not to. She bit her lip and stared at him curiously but he only looked back blankly, waiting for an answer.
“What?” She asked, her voice soft and confused.
“Sex. Have you ever had sex?” He was serious, she realized, and she had no idea why he would be asking that.
“Why?”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“So are you.”
Silence seemed to be their friend as it once again filled the space between them. Hermione looked away, unable to keep his gaze any longer. She couldn’t explain the strange feelings she felt towards him. Where was the hate? Where was the animosity? Those emotions were easy. But they weren’t there anymore. These new feelings? They were infinitely more difficult.
“Yes, Malfoy.”
She didn’t see his response because she leaned over and picked up the book on her bedside table and began to read. Her ears were kept open incase he wanted to continue the conversation but he never said another word.
It wasn’t long before she was tired. Sighing, she snapped the book shut and tossed it at the foot of the bed. Draco was already asleep, his eyes closed and his breathing steady.
Madam Pomfrey bustled in and demanded that she follow his lead before turning out the lights. She said that if they needed anything she’d be in the office working on some files before she went off to bed. Surprisingly, sleep came easily. Though, it didn’t stay that way.
He hadn’t fallen asleep. Not right away, at least. Even after Granger had gone to bed and the lights had been turned out, he still lay, silently awake, listening to the sounds of the night. He could never quite pick out what sound was what. It was a mystery to him, as was everything else it seemed. His life had done a complete one-eighty in a matter of a few weeks.
Draco Malfoy was a selfish man. He was harsh and raw and stuck in his ways. Never had he expected to change so drastically. He hadn’t changed so much that he was like saint fucking Potter but, he was different, that much was certain.
And it was all her fault. Granger. She was just so determined. In all his life he never thought he’d have anything in common with her. But he had been wrong. Both of them had goals and ways to reach those goals. Very different ways of course, but still, the point was, they had an end. And surprisingly, it was a common one.
Peace.
He wanted it so bad. Bad enough that he’d fight for it, if that made any sense. But it wasn’t until recently that he decided he’d fight for it. Draco was a coward and he knew it deep down. But it was only a year ago when he’d been forced to combat that natural instinct of his to run. It was either do what was asked of him or watch his parents die.
So he did what he’d been told to do.
For the first time in his life, he had clawed and tore and ripped himself apart just to be able to get done what he needed to get done. And he did it, even when they said he wouldn’t.
He had succeeded and it was in that moment that he knew what Hermione Granger felt like. She was constantly being told that she wasn’t good enough or deserving enough. And she fought back, day in and day out, to prove them wrong. And she did.
And he did.
It was an incredible feeling. It only lasted seconds though, because he knew what he was doing was wrong. But, being the frightened little boy that he was, he didn’t say a word about it. He did his job, fixed the stupid cabinet and that was that.
It didn’t matter much now. In one years time he’d been through hell and back more than once, spoken to the devil himself, and he’d come out unscathed. Even now, he was just fine. He might have even been a little better for it.
But now he was questioning everything. And mostly, it was her. He didn’t like her. She was snobby and abrasive, far too smart for her own good, and she was all around very cold. To him, anyway. He didn’t like any of those qualities. Ironically, they were qualities that he saw in himself every day. But, the point was, he didn’t like Hermione Granger. But he didn’t hate her either. So what was left?
He had no idea. Buy it was strange. Very strange.
Draco fell asleep on those thoughts and stayed that way for quite a while before he was awoken by screaming.
Hermione would never admit that she’d been having an erotic dream about Draco Malfoy, but, in truth, she was. But any of those thoughts immediately left her mind when she had woken up in the middle of the night and as soon as she opened her eyes, she let out the loudest scream she could manage.
Someone, a dark, shadowy figure, was leaning over her bed. Frightened, she jumped and scooted back against the headboard.
“What?” She barely registered Draco say.
Then a glowing tip of a wand came into view, lighting up the room just enough for her to see.
It was Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey.
“Oh, Miss Granger, you gave me a fright.” Pomfrey said, her hand to her heart.
“I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to startle you, Miss Granger.” McGonagall said to Hermione, sending a look to Pomfrey and shaking her head.
“Its okay, Professors.” Hermione managed to get out.
She watched as McGonagall went over to Draco’s bed, a bottle in her hand. Pomfrey, whose wand was lit, came next to Hermione, the same bottle in her hand.
“We just wanted to wake you to give you your potions for the night.” She said. Hermione relaxed and sat forward to take the vile, feeling very embarrassed that she’d reacted that way.
Draco took his potion from McGonagall and opened it, lifting it to his lips and preparing to drink. But he stopped a moment and stared at it curiously. Through his sleepy haze, he realized something.
“What is it?” He asked innocently, looking at the professors. Hermione, too, stopped, the potion half way to her mouth. Draco knew they hadn’t needed any potions or anything since the first day they’d gotten back so he couldn’t imagine what they were giving them and, despite it being the professors, he couldn’t help but feel very suspicious about what was happening.
The two women hesitated, sending uncertain glances at each other. It was enough for Draco, though, and he knew right away that whatever the potion was, he was not going to drink it. Something wasn’t right.
It was only a second before all hell broke loose.
Madam Pomfrey quickly jumped onto Hermione, pinning her to the bed with her weight. Hermione tried to scream but she was effectively cut off by Pomfrey’s hands on her mouth. Out of instinct, Hermione threw the potion onto the floor, where it shattered and spilled everywhere, and she reached up to try and pry the witch’s hands away. It was almost impossible to do though so she instead used her hands to try and push Pomfrey away so that she could roll out of her hold.
Managing to knock Pomfrey’s wand out of her hand, Hermione wiggled out from under her and got halfway off the bed, almost to freedom. She attempted to get her wand but it was on the beside-table and she couldn’t quite reach it. Her arm stretched out as she struggled to grasp it but that was just enough time for Pomfrey to grab the pillow off the bed and put it over Hermione’s face.
She was being smothered. Suffocated. Again. Immediately she began to thrash about, trying to do anything she could to get the pillow off her. She wanted to breath but she couldn’t. Everything was hot and constricting and no matter which way she moved her head, she couldn’t take in air.
Draco, on the other side of the room, struggled with McGonagall on the bed. She’d launched herself at him and grabbed his hand, trying to shove the potion down his throat. He pushed back against her, fighting to make sure he didn’t swallow a drop. He was panicking, unsure of what to do and only knowing that he had to get away.
McGonagall was strong, though, and it took all his might to push her to the side. He knew, without a doubt, that this wasn’t the real Minerva McGonagall fighting with him.
On the far side of the room, the entrance door to the hospital wing swung open and Madam Pomfrey, looking tired and angry, came in, her wand held high.
“What is all the ruckus goi-” She didn’t finish her sentence but froze in the doorway and looked at her two students being attacked. And then she screamed.
It was enough to distract the two assailants and Hermione pushes the fake Pomfrey off of her in that instant. She reached over and grabbed her wand and pointed it at the imposter before blowing her across the room and into the wall. The real Pomfrey then pointed her wand and petrified McGonagall on top of Draco. Draco pushed the frozen body off of him and with his wand, sent her across the room beside the other one, who was knocked out and slumped on the ground.
Meanwhile, Pomfrey had sent an emergency alert through the school and straight to Professor McGonagall.
Hermione and Draco got to their feet, both breathing hard and shocked out of their minds. Pomfrey started to ask if they were alright but all three were immediately distracted. As they looked over at the two attackers on the ground, they noticed their skin started to bubble and shift. Polyjuice potion. They had taken it and now it was wearing off.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape burst into the room, their wands held high, both very concerned.
“What happened here?” The real McGonagall asked as she stared around the room.
The Polyjuice Potion finished wearing off in no time and the true identities were revealed. Amycus Carrow and Antonin Dolohov. Two known Death Eaters, and rather prominent ones at that. Dolohov, Hermione clearly remembered, had almost killed her in the Department of Mysteries all those years ago.
A muffled groan escaped his lips and slowly, Dolohov opened his eyes and started to get up. The second he stood, he saw that he had five wands pointed straight at him and he clutched his own helplessly. Snape quickly cast it away.
Dolohov stood rigid. He glared down at the frozen body of his partner and then back up at Hermione and Draco.
“No. No!” he screamed. “He’ll kill us. Kill us for not killing you.” He looked incredibly angry and utterly frightened as he pushed himself back into the wall like trapped rat.
In that second four Aurors burst into the room, their wands at the ready, followed by two of the ministry members, both of whom had interviewed Hermione and Draco.
Without hesitation they arrested the two Death Eaters and dragged them out of the castle.
Dolohov shrieked and yelled the whole way.
No!
He’ll get you.
Both of you.
Our Master wants you dead!
Dead!
The Mudblood and the traitor.
No!
He’ll kill us for failing.
Hours later, Hermione and Draco stood in the hallway surrounded by their friends and classmates. It didn’t take long for news of the attack to spread throughout Hogwarts, and it didn’t help that everyone could hear Dolohov’s screams echoing in the corridors.
The Aurors were inspecting and cleaning the place up. Hermione and Draco had given their stories of what happened.
Harry and Ron had both hugged Hermione until she couldn’t breathe and when they finally let her go, they each grabbed one of her hands and refused to drop them.
Draco stood a few feet away, surrounded by his housemates. The hall was quiet except for the occasional whisper or two. They simply stood and waited. Finally the professors came out and instructed them to return to their dorms. McGonagall said she would talk to everyone at breakfast in the morning and, with groans and protests, the students all shuffled back to their rooms.
Hermione and Draco, after speaking quietly with McGonagall and Snape, were allowed to go back also. They walked through the halls without saying a word to each other, both lost in their own thoughts.
They parted with a look and went to their beds. The big, warm mattresses and the soft, fluffy pillows were something they’d dreamed about only days ago. Now, they didn’t even notice the comforting embrace they received as they slipped into an undisturbed, light sleep.
AN: There you have it. Some questions answered, though not all! I know, I know, but this isn’t the end. There is still much to know.
How did they get out of pride?
What happens to the Death Eaters?
Why was Voldemort after them?
What was the red-eyed monster in the forest?
What happens to Draco and Hermione now?
What about everyone else at Hogwarts?
See… lots more.
Next time: Is it the ending? More questions answered and things get wrapped up.
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