Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Through Her ❯ Secret Date ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: You'd think that after 6 chapters I'd own something, but alas, I do not.

Chapter 7: Secret Date

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Eight o'clock was approaching fast for Hermione. She kept looking anxiously at the clock about every five seconds.

"What's up?" Ron finally asked her after about the hundredth time he saw her look.

"Oh, nothing, I was just thinking that I should go down to the library to do some studying," she said lamely.

"Well, we'd join you... but we'd hate to disturb you while you work," Ron told her. She knew the others just wouldn't want to go to the library, since they rarely did unless forced.

"That's fine, just don't wait up for me, I just found this great book I'm about to start reading. It's about-" She started, waiting for someone to cut her off.

To her relief, Harry said something, "I'm sure it's a great book Hermione, and I'd hate to keep you from it just to explain it to us. Go have fun, we'll see you later."

"Alright," she smiled, "See you later. Oh! Ginny, I think I left a book in your room, do you mind coming with me to find it?"

Ginny looked quizzical until Hermione winked at her. "Oh!" she exclaimed, "Right, I remember, I'm right behind you. Be right back guys,” she got off the couch where she had been sitting with Harry's arm around her and followed Hermione up the stairs. Instead of turning to go to Ginny's room though, they turned towards Hermione's. Once inside with the door locked, Ginny walked over to Hermione's bed and sat down.

"Okay, what's going on?" she asked pointedly.

Hermione looked over at the clock, it was 7:45.

"Well, I... um... I'm not really going to the library," Hermione managed to say, avoiding Ginny's eyes.

"Then where are you going?" Ginny asked.

"Well, you remember how we decided it would be best if I stayed away from Malfoy?" she said.

"Yes..." Ginny prompted.

"Well, I didn't do a very good job of that," Hermione confessed.

She proceeded to tell Ginny about the note from Malfoy and their talk in the Astronomy Tower.

"So you're going to see him right now, aren't you?" Ginny asked when Hermione finished the story.

"Yes..." she said.

"Well, all I have to say is be careful. And I hope you know what you're doing. But I've always known to trust your judgment, so just... be smart," Ginny warned.

Hermione ran over and hugged Ginny, "Thanks, I just really needed to tell someone and I knew you'd understand."

"I never said I understood, but I will support you. Oh, and you better tell me what happens!" Ginny told her.

"Okay, well I better get going, thanks for everything, Gin!" Hermione said, hugging her again and picking up her sweater. They exited the room and went back down to the common room. Hermione said goodbye to everyone and headed for the Room of Requirement.

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"Alright, Blaise, wish me luck," Draco said to him as he grabbed his wand off the night stand and headed for the door.

"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, mate." Blaise said.

"I don't really have a choice now do I, seeing how the All-Mighty Dark Lord-" he said the name with sarcasm dripping from his voice, "-is forcing this upon me," he rolled his eyes and Blaise smirked.

"Well, have fun then!" Blaise said, opening the door for Draco in mock enthusiasm.

"Gee thanks, see you later," Draco said heading for the Room of Requirement.

On his way there he ran into Hermione who was coming out of the corridor from Gryffindor Tower.

He flashed her a smile, "Well hey there," he said.

"Hi Malfoy," she said with a crooked smile, unsure still on what to do. They walked together to the right place.

When they had reached the spot where the door would show up, Malfoy turned to her, "Let me take care of this, I think I know what we want," he told her.

He walked past the door three times thinking We need a place to talk comfortably like friends.

After the third time, a door appeared. He opened it and ushered Hermione in.

Inside, the walls were an emerald green and it was very well lit. There were two big plush red couches set across from each other. In front of them was a table. Sitting on the table were two cups of pumpkin juice. On the walls were large paintings and a big clock. The room was very spacious, and it held an all together comfortable atmosphere.

Hermione took a seat on one couch and took a sip of her juice. Malfoy took the seat across from her and sat back, studying her. She looked up when she felt his eyes on her.

"Alright, Malfoy, we're here, what would you like to talk about?" She asked in a 'just-trying-to-make-conversation' way.

"Well, anything you want really, how about we play a little game of Q and A," he suggested.

"Alright, you can go first," she agreed.

"Tell me about your family," he said.

"Well, my parents are both muggles, but you knew that, I don't have any siblings, but I get along really well with my parents. They're very proud of me for all my work and such. They were so excited when I got my letter for Hogwarts! They're both dentists, and they live in London. That's my family," she said.

"Wow, so you get along with your parents?" he asked, genuinely intrigued.

"For the most part, yes. But it's my turn to ask a question. What's your family like?" As soon as she'd asked the question she wished she could have taken it back. She saw a look of pain flash across his eyes, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, you know," she added in a softer voice.

"No, I don't mind," He started, drawing a deep breath, "Well, as you're aware, my father is awful. But my mother, she used to be amazing. Before everything got this messed up, she was amazing. She was beautiful, she was lively, she was funny, she was loving. But lately, she's been... empty. All I've seen in her eyes is the pain my father causes and all I see in her actions is the same routine she goes through day by day," he stopped talking, He could tell that what he was saying was getting to her. She looked concerned, for him.

He didn't need to be telling her those personal thoughts, but it was certainly helping. If he kept talking to her like this, she would trust him in no time. At least she was easy to talk to. 'That's what you want Draco, you want someone to talk to, you needsomeone to talk to!' The little voice in the back of his mind was saying. He wasn't listening though, he was just seeing it as a way to get to her.

During his story, he had averted his eyes to staring down at the table, just for show, he thought.

"I'm... sorry," Hermione whispered.

"Don't worry about it, it's not that big of a deal. Anyways, new question," He said changing the subject, "What was it like growing up as a child in a muggle town?"

"Well, it was a bit different from the wizarding world, as you can imagine. I went to a muggle school until I was ten. It had a lot of basic subjects, and I learned a lot. In my free time I did a lot of studying, I always enjoyed reading, too. But I also had friends that I hung out with a lot, neighborhood friends. It wasn't all that interesting, nothing compared to this world," she told him.

"Was it hard switching over to this world?" He asked her.

"At first it was, but I just felt more at home here, like I fit in. I always felt so different and out of place at my old school, but I couldn't figure out why. But here, it just feels right." She said, "My turn. What's it like having everything you could ever want?" she asked, meaning for it to be a light-hearted question.

He let out a dry laugh. "I wouldn't put it that way. True, I have a lot of tangible things. But, there are a lot of things I never did have. I mean, you had two loving parents, and I'm sure they didn't really care who your friends were. They aren't forcing you to do things you don't want to, trying to make you something you're not. I really wouldn't say I have everything. But you, Granger, you're lucky," he said.

"Wow, Malfoy, I never knew you thought that way. I always thought you were the stuck-up Git you've acted like for the past five years," she joked.

Draco smiled at her, "No," he said, "I guess I just acted like I was better than everyone because it was the only thing I knew how to do. But now, I just don't want to be like that anymore. I'm getting down off my high horse," he smirked.

"Well, that's good to know," she smiled, but it was a real smile, not just a polite one. "You know, Malfoy, I'm actually having a good time, I'm glad I agreed to this."

"So am I, I actually feel comfortable talking to you. It's nice, having someone who listens," he told her.

"You're quite intriguing really, It's hard not to get lost in what you're saying. It sounds like it really is coming from your heart. I like that," she said, looking him in the eye.

"And I must say, it's interesting hearing things from the other side. And from someone who actually has a brain," he said with a smirk, only it really was true.

Hermione got up and walked over to look at a picture. It was a painting of a little girl wearing a pink dress and a little boy wearing blue overalls, both were wearing big hats. They were holding hands walking down a dirt road surrounded on both sides by fields of flowers. The lines were fuzzy, giving it a softer, more antique, dreamy look.

"It's beautiful," she said.

"Yes, it is," Draco said from behind her. The only thing is, he wasn't looking at the picture, he was looking at her. Why had he never noticed how beautiful she was? Everything about her was beautiful. She turned to him, her chocolate eyes locking with his silver ones.

"It's getting late, I should be heading back," she said quietly.

"You're probably right," he said, "Will you meet me here tomorrow?"

"Sure," she smiled.

As she turned to leave, he grabbed her hand. She turned back to face him, her eyes questioning.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked almost inaudibly.

It didn't sound like a cheesy question the way he said it. It sounded deep, sincere.

She didn't know what to say. "I... I guess," she bit her lip, "I mean... yes, you can," she breathed. Oh what am I doing! We're just supposed to be friends!

Draco leaned in and placed another gentle kiss on her lips. "I had a great time, Granger. I'll see you tomorrow." He whispered into her ear. He moved back and smiled at her, releasing her hand. She only had time to smile dazedly at him before turning around and leaving the room.

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Inside, all she wanted to do was run back in and kiss him until she couldn't breathe anymore, kiss him until her lips were swollen. But she couldn't, this couldn't happen. It took all the self control she had to leave that room. She was excited that she would see him tomorrow, she really did enjoy talking to him, but she was scared too, she didn't know how much longer she could use her self control.

She was impressed with him though, he had opened up to her again, and he hadn't been forceful with anything. She liked getting to know him, he wasn't at all like she had imagined. She smiled to herself as she walked back towards Gryffindor Tower. This will definitely be interesting, she thought.

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Draco plopped down on his bed when he reached his dorm. He let out a deep breath and sighed to himself. He was definitely getting somewhere. As he recapped the night's events, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"So how'd it go, Drake?" Blaise took a seat on the opposite side of the bed.

"Oh, it went fine, we talked for a while, then we left," Draco answered.

"Getting through to her yet?" Blaise asked.

"Yeah, I think so. I still have some work to do though. I'm meeting with her tomorrow night again," he said.

"Good job!" Blaise said, "I never would have thought Granger would actually want to talk to you."

"Well, Blaise, for your information, she actually does," Draco said, getting annoyed.

"Well, it doesn't look like she's the only one who wants to get together again," Blaise said slyly, getting up and going back to his own bed.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm going to bed," Draco said, turning over away from Blaise.

"Whatever you say, mate, whatever you say," Blaise called back, closing his eyes.

'He just wants to get at you' The voice in Draco's head told him. Draco settled with that thought, closing his eyes to go to sleep. But behind that voice, was that pesky reoccurring one that he once again, shut out. It was saying quietly, 'He's right Draco, you know he's right.'

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A/N: Hey again everyone! To my reviewers: You're great! amazing! wonderful! You really do help me a lot! keep reviewing! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

Jenny