Striving For Something Not Temporary

A/N: Yay! It\'s finally up! I hate that I kept you all waiting, and as such I hope I didn\'t let you down. There\'s not a whole lot happening in this chapter, but it paves the way for the rest of the plot to unravel itself.

Well, thankfully, I have purchased a new computer so hopefully I won\'t have to wait so long to get a new chapter out in the future. It\'s not a Dell, thank Christ. In the mean time, I am now officially a sister in law, as my brother got married on Halloween. It was loads of fun, I got to see tons of people I hadn\'t seen in years due to moving so far away, and I even got to cater the wedding! I recruited a few of my friends to be my honorary sous chefs and we had a total blast. Enough about that though, you came to read the story, so I won\'t keep you waiting any longer.

Enjoy, and don\'t forget to review!



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“Mic check, testing - testing, one, two..”

Draco was coming back into consciousness with the most peculiar, yet wonderful feeling. He drowsily opened his eyes and noticed Hermione hovering over his crotch. One of her hands was lightly tapping on his shaft, and she had the other hand grasping the base of his erection.

“...testing- three, four...”

He was still a bit groggy from his slumber, but he could swear she was talking into his penis.

“What are you doing?” he finally managed while wiping the sleep from his eye.

“Making sure you’re equipment is functioning properly.”

Draco stared blankly at the seriousness of Hermione’s expression as she made that comment for a few moments before he started to chuckle. He grabbed her shoulders and flipped himself on top of her on the bed. “I think you’ll find all my parts to be in proper working order Miss Granger.”

He nuzzled his way through her hair until his nose reached the warmth of her neck. Brushing his lips lightly on her flesh, he left a trail of kisses from the crook of her neck to the bottom of her ear. “G’morning baby.”

“Good morning Draco.” she smiled serenely as he captured her lips in a kiss.

Ah, her kisses. She had the perfect combination of passion and studiousness. She was methodical with her movement, almost as if she felt this was also a category of her life that she would one day be graded on. The careful detail she displayed to every part of him was blissfully erotic.

A low growling moan which escaped his throat was what was responsible for breaking the kiss before he continued his attentions back on her flesh. He made it half way down the collar of her pajama top before he heard the insistent tapping of a bird beak on the bedroom window. “Uhg...” he grumbled as he rolled off the bed and padded his way to the window.

Opening the window to the brisk morning air, he let in a regal looking black, brown and white Barred Owl. “Adelaide, what are you up to girl?” he questioned as the beautifully speckled owl settled himself on Draco’s shoulder as she nipped his ear affectionately with her beak.

“Who’s owl is that?” Hermione questioned from the bed.

“It’s Zabini’s. I just can’t imagine what could be so urgent that he had to owl me when I’ll be seeing him at breakfast in less than an hour...” he trailed off his explaination as he finished untying the leather band that held the parchment to Adelaide’s leg.

The owl flew out the window as Draco tore open the seal to the letter and began reading.

Draco,

I’ve been hearing all sorts of odd rumors down here in the dungeons about the recent Azkaban break. Meet me in the Slytherin locker room before you head down to breakfast. I don’t want to be overheard.

I want to shed some light on what the hell is going on. If you know any more than I do, maybe we can get to the bottom of this.

Blaise

Draco let out a tired sigh. He really didn’t want to be thinking about this right now. He had all but forgotten about it with the help of Hermione last night, then again this morning...almost. It was nice waking up to someone in the morning. It was even nicer being lulled to sleep by someone at night.

Especially her. She was perfect. It was odd to think about actually. Last night was only the second time that the had made love together, yet the clever witch already knew what buttons to press that made him submit to her every whim, and forget all his problems. How could she do that?

Looking back down at the letter in his hand, he wondered what his friend knew. Between Tracy Davis, his girlfriend of over two years, and any of the other members of his house with Death Eater relatives, he could have a whole god damned novel written about it by now.

Since Draco became Head Boy, he’d been a bit out of the loop when it came to the personal affairs of his kingdom. He was just thankful that Blaise took over his place on the Slytherin throne with relative ease. If anyone was going to be deemed the successor, it would be his best friend. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

Draco was still the final say over what happens in his house, that much there was no arguing over. They just needed someone that was a bit more local. That’s where Blaise came in. If there were any extreme problems that required his attention, his friend would notify him immediately. Thankfully, he’s had relative privacy up here in his common room, but now thanks to his father and Merlin knows who else, he has to deal with the shit.

“Wab’s ib saa, Brwago?\"

He heard inaudible noises coming out of the bathroom interrupting his thoughts. “What?”

Hermione leaned out the bathroom door, pulling a toothbrush from her mouth. “I asked you, what does it say?”

He looked back down to the parchment in his hand. He really didn’t want her to concern herself with this right now. Not after that huge row they had last night. He hated fighting with her and he didn’t even know if Blaise had any information he didn’t already know.

Not only that, she would make it her new life mission. Her seemingly happy mood would be replaced with sheer determination and her thoughts would be clouded with nothing but possible Death Eater activity. He didn’t want to see her absorbed in something like that unless it was detrimental that she know.

“It’s nothing, baby.” he said, walking closer to her and kissing her on the forehead. “Blaise just wants to discuss something with me before class. I’ll see you a bit later, and we’ll continue what we started this morning.” he finished with a dark grin as he headed into the common room.

Hermione giggled at this through her toothbrush before taking it out to reply, but was interrupted before she got the chance.

“Hey Nerdo! Have you seen my shoes?”

Hermione rolled her eyes. His endearing pet names were getting less and less clever.

***

The last of her books were finally gathered up as she started out the portrait hole to grab a quick breakfast. She was anxious to get to the Great Hall to see if the Daily Prophet had any new information about the escaped Death Eaters.

If anything, she was sure Harry and Ron would have something to say about it. She hadn’t really talked to them much lately due to how preoccupied she was, but she supposed now is as good as any time to see what the hell they think might be going on.

She was almost at the doors to the Great Hall when she caught a glimpse of Peeves floating down the hall at a close vicinity in the opposite direction. Praying he didn’t see her, she ducked behind one of the castle’s many suits of armor. Thankfully, he floated right by.

As she snuck back into the main corridor, she watched him to make sure he didn’t turn his head and spot her as she continued walking. Just as she turned her head back forward, a solid mass slammed itself into her and she was propelled backwards on the floor. The contents of her book bag littered the corridor.

“Do watch where you’re going you silly insolent lit–oh, Miss...Granger.” Professor Snape stopped mid rant, as he eyed her from the floor.

“My apologies professor, I’ll try to be more careful.” she mumbled as he grabbed her arm and lifted her off the floor. “Please don’t deduct any points from me sir.”

“Oh, I would never do that Miss Granger.” he commented snidely as he dusted off her robes. “Not over something that was an accident, after all.”

Hermione gawked at the greasy haired ball of slime standing in front of her in complete shock as he gathered the contents of her bag with his wand. He shoved her belongings back in her bag and handed it back to her. “Everything should be in proper order. Run along now Miss Granger.”

“Uhm...are you feeling alright, Professor?” she hesitantly reached her hands out to her belongings.

At this, there was a wide gleam in his eye and other subtle hints that his patience was being tested.

Finally.

“Get a move on Granger. I imagine your breakfast is getting cold.” With that, he spun around and Hermione lost his form in the billow of his robes as he swiftly walked away.

What the hell was that?! She shook her head to clear out her thoughts. She’d have to gather her courage later to sneak up behind him and check for the zipper in the back of his neck left behind by the pod people.

***

Draco arrived inside the locker room to see Blaise sitting on a bench with his head resting against the wall. “So tell me these rumors that are keeping me from my breakfast, ass crack.\"

Blaise cocked his head to the side and cracked open one of his obsidian eyes to look at his pale haired friend. “Morning Sunshine.” he grinned.

Draco sighed and slouched onto the bench across from Blaise. “Let’s get on with this.”

“Is your dad on the run, Draco?” his eyes looked more somber as he gazed across the room to settle on his friend.

“Yeah, Sev told me he busted out.” he muttered, leaning down with his hands cupping his forehead. “What else have you heard?” he looked up and stared him in the eye. “I need to know Blaise.”

“Well, Tracy’s mother was having tea in Diagon Alley with a few of her friends, apparently she heard that Travis Avery is one of the four.” he explained. “Not only that, Theo got an owl from his old man. He seems to have busted out as well.”

“Nott? How’s he taking it?”

“You know Theo. He’s ecstatic! The only thing he’s pissed about is that he can’t go around bragging to the whole school.”

“Do you know who the fourth one is?” Draco inquired.

Blaise shook his head. “I have no idea. There’s a few rumors, but nothing reliable. I imagine the papers will come out with it soon enough, so I’m not too worried right now.” There was a pregnant pause before he spoke again. “That’s not all though. There’s rumors about other things as well.”

Draco’s eyes bore into him as a response.

“Well, these are only rumors, mind you, but they’re from pretty reliable sources.” At the look of his friend’s impatience, he continued. “The Dark Lord is somehow trying to double his strength. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but he’s got all his top men on this mission. According to Theo it’s pretty elaborate. I know he doesn’t have all the details...just talking up his father’s position with the Dark Lord, I’m fairly certain...” he began to trail off.

“Come on Zabini, just fucking tell me.” he growled.

“People are saying it might be some sort of human sacrifice.” he said quickly, not meeting Draco’s gaze.

“What?!” he spat. “How is that even possible? That doesn’t make any sense!” He rose off the bench as the volume rose in his voice.

“Well no shit Draco! That’s why they’re called rumors, just calm the fuck down!” Blaise raked his fingers through his hair. “Look, have you heard anything out of your dad? I thought maybe you could make some sense out of all this.”

“No.” he paused, getting his breathing under control. “I haven’t heard a peep from him. We haven’t been what you’d exactly call close lately. Ever since Granger and I...well, let’s just say I’ve been seeing a few flaws in my Father’s ideals as of late.”

Both boys faded into the silence of their own thoughts.

“Fuck, Father...what the hell are you getting yourself into now?” Draco whispered to himself, leaning his head against the cold stone wall.

***

For the life of her she honestly couldn’t wrap her mind around what was happening. Snape was acting jovial. Yep, that’s right– lighthearted, happy, chipper even, if you would be so blunt. His eyes were filled with mirth and it was diving her bat shit crazy.

She was coming to the conclusion that he may be under the Imperious curse. It was the only explanation for it. She had tried to look for the zipper in the back of his neck, due to the crazy pod people, when he was writing directions on the blackboard. Too bad that greasy mop he called hair wouldn’t allow her to do so.

At one point when she was exiting the storage room, she ‘accidentally’ bumped into him while he was sitting at his desk grading papers. She thought she had it for sure when he grabbed her wrist from his oleaginous head. What did he do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No point deduction, no detention, nothing.

Damn him! Imperious curse. Swear to fucking God.

She’d all but given up at this point and decided to concentrate on their potion. Draco had been giving her weird looks all morning, so she had decided not to press her luck. She was looking forward to this all year. They were finally trying their hand at the Wolfsbane Potion.

This was obviously a difficult potion to master, which was why it was reserved for the seventh year N.E.W.T. level classes. If she could perfect this potion, it would be beneficial for not only Professor Lupin, but the Order as well. It would definitely take the strain off of many people knowing there was more than one person working for their side that knew how to brew it effectively.

“Miss Granger,” Professor Snape bent his head down level to her’s and spoke in a soft tone. “If you grind the moonstone in your mortar and pestle and add it to the concoction counter clockwise once before continuing in the opposite direction, you will shave countless time off the brewing process.” He resumed his stance of towering over her before he swiftly added. “It also makes the potion much more stable, even though it doesn’t tell you that in the book.” With that, he was off to harass some other student.

Hermione wouldn’t have been surprised if her eyes had popped out of her head and on to the floor. This was getting serious. What the hell was going on with that man? There was something wrong with him and she was going to find out what.

Even if it killed her.

***

Draco was lying on his bed trying to compose a discreet letter to his mother later that evening. Crookshanks was curled up on his feet keeping them warm. He really did enjoy that cat. He even found the kneading of his paws relaxing when he was trying to concentrate. It made him feel wanted. The fact that it was Hermione’s familiar made it all the more special to him.

He wasn’t exactly sure how to properly word his thoughts without them looking suspicious. He honestly wasn’t even sure if his father would be in contact with his mother at all, let alone tell her the obvious no good that he was up to.

He heard the portrait hole open which signified that Hermione was finished with her rounds. He gathered up all the spare bits of parchment that had been scattered around himself and put them in the bedside table drawer. He didn’t want her to concern herself with this, especially since he and Blaise were currently just trying to work out their possible hunches.

“Crookshanks, you really are a bastard traitor of a cat, you know that?” Hermione spat as she pointed to the unsuspecting creature curled around Draco’s extremities.

Draco looked from the disconcerted cat up to a very frazzled Hermione. “Bad day baby?”

“I don’t even want to fucking talk about it.” she raved as Crookshanks was hoisted up into her arms when she turned away to stalk out the door.

“Hey...” Draco stretched his arms and legs across the bed. His toes curled into the mattress as his arms outstretched into a hug invitation, his hands moved back and forth to beckon her. “...come here doll.”

Hermione made a hissing sort of sputtering noise at the ceiling as she turned around to face him. The look of him sprawled out on the bed made her feet involuntarily move forward until she was close enough to him to reach his arms around her and drag her onto the bed.

When she was fully wrapped into his arms, there was an unexplainable feeling of completeness that washed over him. No matter how many times he thought to himself ‘I could get used to this’ he knew deep down that he really never would. He would never take the feeling or granted, and he hoped he would always be appreciative and aware of exactly what is was that she unconsciously did for him on the inside.

“Tell me what’s got you so upset.” he soothed as his hands brushed up and down her back.

“Ugh..I’ve just had such a stupid day.” she complained. “Snape’s got me all worked up, and I don’t know how to handle it.”

Draco chuckled at the memory of watching her earlier that day in potions class. It was true that his demeanor towards her had obviously spiraled into a one hundred and eighty degree change. He was almost certain it had to do with his confession to his professor the day before, but he didn’t really want to deal with any reaction she may have to such a confession from him at the moment.

“I’m serious Draco!” she stated adamantly. “Is he under the Imperious or something?”

“No Mione,” he chuckled. “He’s not under the Imperious curse.”

“Don’t fucking laugh at me Draco! That man has successfully fried the wiring in my brain in less than fourteen hours!” she declared.

“Oh settle down. It’s not that extreme.”

Hermione shot him a look of utter disgust and betrayal.

“Look, if it bothers you that much I’ll have a word with him and see what he’s up to. Will that be okay?” he asked, trying to get the stink off her face.

“I don’t need for you to do my bidding.” she said grudgingly as she pulled away from him and sat with her arms crossed. A scowl was painted across her beautiful features.

“Well no shit.” he said in all seriousness. “God forbid someone care for your sanity other than yourself. How the hell am I know you’re not going to haul off and hex the bastard? Then were will you be? Head Girl status– gone. Future careers– just a pipedream.” he finished in a matter of fact tone.

Hermione’s scowl turned from indignant to skeptical.

“I’m just looking out for your future Hermione.” he stated pompously, crossing his arms to mirror her actions.

At this, Hermione let out a chuckle of surrender. “You goof ball. Think yourself some kind of knight in shining armor do you?”

“Something like that.” he said quietly as he settled his arms around her once more.

They laid together in silence, content in just holding each other for quite some time. As the moments passed, Hermione felt a small vibration on the bed beside her. She looked over at Draco and cocked an eyebrow.

He looked over at her with wide eyes. He turned away for a moment, looking at anything but her before settling his eyes back on her again. “What?”

“Draco, did you just fart?” she sighed in half disgust.

“What? I didn’t fart!” he proclaimed with mock innocence. “There must be something wrong with the bed.”

She watched him with annoyance as he dramatically ran his hands over the blankets they were both lying under, acting as if he were smoothing them out.

Scoffing as she rolled her eyes, she started to lift the covers to get out of bed and leave him to his own disgusting devices. Before she had the chance to get to her feet, she felt a tug at her waist and realized she was being drug entirely under the blankets.

“Dutch oven!” he exclaimed, cackling at his own sick twisted evil genius as he trapped her wallowing in his filthy creation.

“Jesus Draco, you’re so disgusting!” came her muffled shrieking from under the covers. “Let me out so I can murder you before I asphyxiate to death!” she roared while pounding her fists on any part of him she could latch onto.

His maniacal cackling reached a new height as he lifted up the covers and caught sight of her murderous features.

‘I fucking hate you.” she said flatly as she turned on her side away from him and huffed into her pillow.

His deranged fit of laughter subsided enough for him to form a reply. “Oh baby, you know that’s not true.”

“No, it’s true. I truly hate you.

“Alright, you win.” he grinned as he planted a chaste kiss below her ear and wrapped his arms around her once more. “Goodnight Mione. I love you.”

Grumbling as she flicked the lights out with her wand, there was one final thought that filled her mind before sleep overtook her. How is it possibly true that I care so much about this disgusting creature that it’s literally painful to imagine how life would be without him?


Well, I hope you enjoyed the latest installment of my story. I\'d like to thank everyone who\'s reviewed so far. Some of your coments really touched my heart.

Lilycat, a particular shout out to you. Your review when you were all hopped up on cold medication made me want to weep. As you could probably tell, I\'m somewhat insecure about this story, since it\'s my first attempt at writing one...most times I feel it isn\'t quite up to par, but then I just think that it\'s just the perfectionist in me that makes me think every one else\'s writing is so much better than mine. It was really touching to see all the aspects of why you liked it so much were the same ones I was trying to display. Anyway, thank you, it means a lot to me.

I don\'t mean to leave anyone out by not responding to each person, but seriously, I do appreciate your reviews. Thank you.