False Pretense

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You Fool; I’m a Fool Too
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Ignoring Draco had become a second full time job for Hermione. She tried to avoid him at first but found that impossible as he had the perchance of sneaking up on her whenever he was around. He bombarded her classroom with his annoying comments from the door, tried to feel her up several times under the table in the Great Hall, and attempted to pin her against a wall during their patrols. Needless to say, Hermione was starting to become a tad paranoid. It didn’t help that McGonagall did nothing to quell the harassment Draco was giving her, implying that what he did was all in jest or more. Snape chortled when she complained to him one evening and made a nasty assumption that she liked when Draco chased her. Stupid git.

The weather had begun to slow down as spring passed relatively quickly. Hermione spent her weekends outside enjoying whatever sun she could get. Vitamin D was being absorbed into her skin, giving her an earthly glow. Compared to how she looked in school, her older self was no longer pale from the hours she spent in the library but a healthy peach color.

She sighed and leaned back against the wall, having sat in a small nook that over looked the Whomping Willow. Hermione glanced down at a large text, the History of Trolls and Hags, she had checked out from the library. A small breeze blew across the field, knocking several leaves from the nearby trees. Hermione smiled as the warm wind blew over her form, ruffling her long flowing curls.

“Lovely day,” came that annoying draw from her right.

Hermione groaned and looked back at her text, choosing not to answer. It didn’t work. Draco rounded the corner and leaned against the wall beside her. She glanced at him and noticed that he wasn’t wearing his usual robes, rather tan slacks and a black long sleeve shirt that was rolled up to his elbows. The shirt clung to his form, outlining every muscle in his body without looking like a second skin. She noticed the faded ink from the Dark Mark on his left forearm. It was obvious that many students, mostly girls, swooned over his willingness to flaunt that mark.

Girls loved the bad boys, even if they were responsible for the deaths of Muggle-borns and Muggles. Go figure. Another gust of wind blew past and Draco moved closer to her, his hair ruffling from the wind. She had to admit that he looked positively fetching in his casual wardrobe but she’d never say that out loud. Draco ignored her attempt to take up the rest of the bench by stretching her legs out. He pulled her feet up and brought it to his lap as he took a seat and leaned back against the wall.

“What do you want?” Hermione asked, not bothering to look up from her book.

She did, however, pull her feet back and crossed her ankles at the base of the bench. Draco moved closer and she felt the need to kick him in the gut if he inched any closer.

“Just wanted to say hi,” Draco purred, tracing a finger over the designs of her muddy red robes.

“Hi,” Hermione replied, pulling her robes to her quickly, “Now, are we done? I want to get this finished before dinner.”

Draco leaned over and read the title. He chortled, causing Hermione to glare at him. “Trolls and Hags? You truly are a witch who doesn’t indulge in romance novels.”

“Trivial fluff,” Hermione replied, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, “I’d rather fill my brain with knowledge.”

“Soon there’s not going to be enough room in there for anything,” Draco laughed, leaning his back against the wall with his ankles crossed. “I have the latest addition in my library.”

Hermione paused and looked up at him, closing her book with her finger holding the page for her. “What are you on about? The newest addition isn’t released until Christmas. I’ve been on the waiting list for ages.”

“Ah, yes but you aren’t a Malfoy,” Draco said, leaning over to her.

“Figures,” Hermione grumbled. Malfoys were known for getting things before they were out on the market. Nimbuses, clothing, textbooks, there wasn’t an item that Draco probably didn’t have that wasn’t new.

“I can lend it to you,” Draco shrugged, a small coy smile traced across his lips, “If you want that is.”

“Like I’d want to borrow something from you,” Hermione said annoyed, “You probably charmed it to shout insults at me and would be laughing your arse off.”

“Probably,” Draco confirmed, laughing a bit, “But seeing as that book cost me a pretty galleon I’d rather keep it hex free. So, do you want to borrow it or not?”

Hermione hesitated and returned to reading her book. She wanted to, oh gods yes! But she was not a fool and would rather wait until it was out on the market. Her silence was taken for the answer as Draco sighed and shook his head, mumbling something she didn’t quite catch.

They sat in silence for a little while, the only noise that came between them was the flipping of pages and rustling of leaves in front of them. Hermione could catch Draco glancing at her and she stiffened when he leaned over. Slamming her book shut, and effectively losing her place, Hermione glared.

“Don’t hover,” she snarled, tucking the book onto her lap.

“I just wanted to see what page you were on,” Draco teased, leaning in closer than necessary to talk to her.

Hermione lifted her book and slapped him hard against the face before resting it back onto her lap, “Happy?”

He brought his hand to his jaw and rubbed the small red spot that was flushed from the impact of paper against his face.

“Quite,” he replied casually, leaning back into his original spot. “You really like inflicting pain on others, don’t you?”

“Only when others don’t take a hint,” Hermione replied, ignoring Draco’s growing smirk.

“You know what I think?” he asked, but Hermione didn’t answer. “I think you fancy me.”

She snorted and opened her book again, flipping through pages. Draco moved closer to her, causing her body to flush slightly when his hand snaked around her waist.

“That’s why you’re trying to mortally wound me, isn’t it?” he purred, running his hand to her curly lock.

Hermione rolled her eyes and stood, bringing her book down onto the top of his head. “You are unbelievable! Hasn’t it ever crossed your mind that I absolutely despise you?”

Draco brought his hand to the top of his head and rubbed, coming to a stand in front of Hermione. His towering form caused her to become just a tad flushed but she held her ground firmly and quirked an eyebrow.

“Then why’d you kiss me?” he asked, more like crowed with a small sensual tone, “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten.”

“Clearly, you have,” Hermione replied, sniffing, “You kiss me and not the other way around.”

“Yes, but you kissed back. I would know.” Draco gleamed at her and she lifted her book and swatted him in the arm.

“Like I’d kiss a git like you,” she felt as if she were back in school.

A silly little girl denying the fact that she snogged the most popular boy against the wall during patrols. It irked her and she wanted to take that feeling out on him by beating him to a bloody pulp.

“Newsflash, Granger,” Draco laughed, “You did and you liked it.”

“Urgh,” Hermione threw her hands in the air and was prepared to pummel him with her book.

“Professors!” a small girl called from the distance, running as fast as her small legs could carry her. Saved by a student, Hermione thought as she turned around.

“What’s wrong?” Hermione asked, watching the girl pant heavily in front of her and Draco.

“Ronny Wingly…he-he took a dare to go out into the lake and…and…” the girl sobbed, “he hasn’t come back! He’s drowning out there!”

“Oh gods,” Hermione’s eyes widened and she dropped her book to the ground.

Draco and she quickly raced to the edge of the Black Lake, followed by the girl panting behind them. Hermione cupped her hand over her eyebrows, trying to look for any signs of the boy. She heard rustling beside her and turned her head to find Draco wading into the water.

“What are you doing?” Hermione shouted as Draco dived into the water.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Draco called out when he came up for air.

He began swimming like an Olympic swimmer, deeper into the center of the lake. Hermione kept glancing at the wad of clothes and back into the water. Draco hadn’t come back and she groaned.

“Go find the Headmistress, quick!” Hermione snapped, pulling her robes from her shoulders. She brought her wand to her teeth and ran into the water, splashing water everywhere.

She ignored the cold of the water and dived in. Swimming was never her strong suit but there was hardly anything she could do at this point, now is there. She reached the center of the lake and looked around, there were no signs of anyone. Hermione cupped her hands, grabbing onto her wand and shouted for Draco. No sound. Nothing. She shivered and gasped when a hand grasped onto her leg, pulling her down into the water.

She surfaced and watched Draco shoot out of the water with a student draped over his shoulders. He took several breaths and opened his eyes, staring at her with wide eyes. Hermione grasped onto the student and draped him partially over her.

“Let’s go before we get hypothermia,” Hermione chattered, moving slowly across the lake, her wand gasped in one hand.

Draco said nothing as they swam but halted, grasping onto Hermione.

“W-Wha….” Hermione felt his hand clamp over her mouth.

“Sssh…” Draco whispered, he looked around and gasped.

Draco disappeared under the water, something had pulled him under. Hermione panicked but tried to keep herself calm. She pointed her wand at the student and shouted a pulling charm, watching him lift from the water and jet toward the shore where she could make out Hagrid’s large body.

“Draco?” Hermione called out once she was alone again. “Oh gods…”

Hermione took a breath and dived under the water. Opening her eyes she found that she could hardly see. Shouting a lighting charm under the water, effectively losing her breath of extra air, she looked around. Something swam past her, rubbing against her legs and she jumped back. She raced back to the surface and took a breath, muttering a bubblehead charm before diving back under the water.

She swam deeper, her wand out, looking for Draco. Her eyes were strained under the murky water and she swirled around when she felt something else brush against her. Hermione let out a scream when a creature with large teeth shot out of nowhere and snapped at her. She blasted herself back with her wand before its teeth could get a hold of her. She looked around and found several more creatures swimming around her. They were the size of small boats and resembled large anacondas with the exception they had large jagged teeth pointed in every direction.

There was no sign of Draco and Hermione suspected the worst. She swam toward the surface but felt one of the creatures wrap around her legs, pulling her under just as her fingers touched cool air. She spun around and shot a stunning spell but widened her eyes when the spell rebounded from the tough skin of the creature. Hermione struggled against the binds of the creature, dodging it every time it tried to bite her.

Her eyes widened when a bright silvery spell hit the creature in the head and felt its limbs release her. Her eyes scanned the water and she found Draco sinking lower into the water, his face blue from lack of oxygen. Hermione pointed her wand at him and shouted, “Accio Draco!”

Draco flew toward her, straight past the creatures, as if he were tied by the waist. Hermione grasped onto his arm and kicked her feet hard, launching them into the surface. The bubblehead charm broke and she took a much needed gasp. Draping Draco’s arm over her, Hermione threw her wand forward and propelled them through the water, ignoring the snapping of mouths at her heels.

She made it far enough to touch the ground and struggled to pull Draco with her. Hagrid rushed into the water, splashing large puddles around everyone, and helped grab onto Draco. Hermione waved off Snape’s arm and crawled onto the shore, falling to her backside.

“He’s not breathing,” Hagrid breathed, dropping Draco to the ground.

Hermione moved quickly as Snape rushed to get Madam Pomfrey. Looking over Draco’s pale blue face, she brought her hands to his chest and began pumping. Muggle CPR was something she knew would come in handy, despite Ron and Harry’s protests when she wanted to take the classes over the break, and she was right. She brought her hand to Draco’s nose and pushed her mouth over his, breathing heavily. Pumping his chest several more times, Hermione pressed her lips against his and felt him breath.

She as she was about to pump his chest one more time, she felt his hand snake behind her head and push her mouth against his. His tongue broke past her lips and before long he was kissing her with enthusiasm. Hermione breathed out and pushed herself from him, breaking the kiss with a loud pop. Her eyes were wide and she stared up at Hagrid, who had a flushed face.

“You…” Hermione snarled, watching Draco cough up water and prop himself up on his elbows.

“Me what? You were kissing me first,” Draco laughed, looking up as Madam Pomfrey and Snape rushed down to the lake.

“That was CPR!” Hermione shouted, “I would never….ever….kiss you!”

“I quite like CPR, want to do it again?” Draco quirked an eyebrow and Hermione slapped him.

She gathered herself up as Madam Pomfrey was brought to her knees in front of Draco. Snape helped pull Hermione to her feet and covered her wet form with her robes.

“Mr. Wingly?” Hermione asked, looking to Snape.

“Headmaster McGonagall took him to the infirmary. What were you thinking? Going out there like that?” he sounded worried, but more annoyed than worried.

“Ask that annoying git,” Hermione spat, pointing to a chortling Draco, “He jumped into the water and didn’t return.”

“Thank you Poppy,” Draco breathed, rising to his feet.

Hermione stared at Draco with parted lips, watching water drip from his half naked form. His chest was exactly what she had thought, and better. He had a wide chest that dipped into a slim waist, rippled with muscles but not anything like a body builder. She noticed that his hard abdomen had small indentions of abs and she nearly swooned at the sight of wiry silver blond hair that pooled into a line dipping between his silk boxers.

“Like what you see?” Draco cooed, placing his hands on his hips.

Hermione averted her eyes and snorted, “Hardly.”

Snape stared between the two and rolled his eyes. He grasped onto Hermione’s arm and pulled her along, “You’re going to catch the death of you and I might enjoy my free time, now let’s go.”

Hermione and Snape trudged up the hill, Draco followed with Madam Pomfrey. He had already slipped into his kaki shorts but was shirtless and Hermione knew that it would be a disaster when they approached the castle. She was right. Students were lined up ogling their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, shirtless and wet. Hermione growled when she heard students ask how he was and if he was alright. She simply slipped out of Snape’s grasp and walked to the infirmary feeling a tad light headed.

“I think we might have a problem,” Draco said once they entered the infirmary.

“How’s that?” McGonagall asked, rising from the cot holding the Hufflepuff student.

“There were Jormungandr in the Black Lake,” Draco replied, taking a seat on a cot as Madam Pomfrey began looking at his body.

“Jormungandr?” McGonagall gasped, “They’re salt water creatures, how can they…”

“Some one put them there,” Draco continued, wincing when he felt Madam Pomfrey touch his bruised ribs, “It’s not likely that it would be an accident either.”

“We will have to look into it, but for now you need rest. You too Professor Granger,” McGonagall said, watching Hermione stare daggers at Draco.

Hermione looked to the Headmistress and shook her head, “I’m fine. Just wet and cold.”

“No she’s not,” Draco breathed, laying against the cot, “She was trapped by one of them.”

“What’s that have to do with anything? Nothing is hurting or broken,” Hermione frowned, protesting when Madam Pomfrey took her robe from her.

“It’s slow acting poison. They…ouch…grab you by their tails and…ouch…pierce your skin, it doesn’t feel like anything,” Draco winced as he pulled small spindles from his back, “I’ve been hit too but not as badly as you.”

“I feel fine,” Hermione protested, refusing to sit down on the cot beside her.

“Lift your shirt up if you don’t believe me,” Draco said, leaning back against the cot as he exhaled.

“What?” Hermione snarled, “No way.”

“Stop being a child, Professor and do it,” Draco had done it, he had pushed her over the edge and she growled angrily.

Hermione pulled her shirt up and looked around her sides, gasping as she noticed large pins stinking into her skin. Her lower back was covered in them and a sickly orange gruel was seeping from the points. Madam Pomfrey quickly ushered Hermione behind a curtain and began prying the pins from her back. She winced each time but said nothing until the wound was healed.

Hermione pulled the curtain back quickly, adjusting several layers of bandages around her waist and glared at Draco. He was right but she was stubborn and not about to admit it.

“Nice to see that I’m correct for once,” Draco laughed, touching his own bandages, “You’ll need plenty of rest. Have to sweat it out lest you want to die a painful, slow death.”

Madam Pomfrey left them to their devices in order to shoo away students who had gathered around the infirmary for a glance of half naked Dreamy Draco. Hermione sat cautiously on the edge of a different cot and rang her hair with her hands. She flipped her wet tresses over her shoulder and exhaled, finally able to breathe. Draco closed his eyes and she took that chance to bring her eyes to his rising chest. Hermione found herself chewing on her bottom lip as her eyes trained on the small patch of hair leading deep into his trousers.

“For some one who doesn’t like what they see, you sure are staring quite a lot,” Draco said with one eye open and a smirk playing across his lips.

“I wasn’t looking,” Hermione said stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest, “I was…observing.”

“Am I observable?” Draco asked, propping himself up with one arm, “Or are you trying to cover up something…”

“You are…interesting…and annoying.” Hermione said, adding the last bit quickly, “I’m just waiting for you to mess up so I can get the school back to normal.”

“And is the school abnormal?” Draco continued, grinning at her wickedly.

“It is,” Hermione confirmed, “Flaunting yourself like you were a student here is hardly productive. I have to constantly scold my students because they carve your name all over the desks.”
“It’s not my fault I’m irresistible,” Draco laughed, “I will gladly donate to the school new desks if that’s what’s really bothering you.”

“No, it’s not just that,” she said quietly, “It’s everything. You’re ruining everything I’ve worked hard for. Respect on the first day, students who want, to learn, and…”

“And…” Draco quirked an eyebrow but Hermione rose from the bed.

“And nothing.” Hermione said quickly, grabbing her wand from the cot and drying herself off, “Good day, Malfoy.”

“Good day, Granger,” Draco said, watching Hermione walk off through the doors.

Hermione made her way to her own quarters, ignoring the questions from her students as she passed them. She cringed that night while looking in the mirror at the sores, slowly healing, over her body. Just brilliant. Bloody brilliant. Hermione sighed and pulled her night shirt down when she heard a knock on her door.

“If it’s another student I’m going to give them two hundred inches for their next assignment, I swear,” Hermione growled, having had enough of wondering students knocking on her door at all hours of the night. She had to take away several points from her own house as they were out after curfew.

Reaching the door, Hermione swung it open and stared. A hand shot out and wrapped around the back of her head. Lips crashing onto her own, bodies entangled and chests beating against one another. Hermione winced at the pain of his hand on her lower back and she felt him stiffen when her hands met his waist. They tumbled back into her bedroom, lips crushing against one another, teeth gnashing and moans eliciting from their throats.