Bad Romance - Time

Hermione couldn’t get her conversation with Draco out of her head. The whole situation was ridiculous, she thought. Never mind insulting.

What Draco had suggested was that they ‘have fun’. Use each other to burn out this attraction they both felt for the other. Hermione hadn’t heard of anything more stupid in her whole life.

She sat in the Gryffindor common room, staring out of the window. It was two weeks since Draco had propositioned her. He’d not been near her since. Apart from heated looks across the tables in the great hall and during classes, Hermione had hardly noticed him.

That was a lie, she admitted to herself. She had noticed him - every day. Noticed everything about him. Like how his hair was growing and he was in need of a trim. Like how he’d been late one day last week and had obviously forgotten to shave. Seeing the stubble on his lower face as he had sat opposite her, in the great hall, had sent shivers down her back. Her mind had wondered so far that she had shocked herself with her thoughts. Thoughts like how his stubbled cheek would feel against her own. Would it be tickly and sofy or rough and hard? She have to force herself to stop having these thoughts just so she could concentrate on her work.

And No matter how much she told her self Draco had been talking rubbish she could not quite get rid of the thought of agreeing. The temptation to give in and be a little reckless for once was just too much.

This damn weather didn’t help either! She curse and watched the rain fall. Snow still covered the ground outside yet the consent rain was quickly turning it into slush.

There was a Qudditch match tomorrow between Slytherin and Hufflepuff, a lot of the younger students were worried that it’d be called off because of the weather. It was the older students, who had seen Quidditch played in all sorts of weather, that reassured them it wouldn’t.

Hermione had planned to spend the match in the library, studying. After all everyone knew Quidditch wasn’t her thing and it wasn’t like Grythindor were playing. However Draco was playing and Hermione felt drawn to go and watch him.

If she couldn’t resist the temptation of him playing a Quidditch match how could she resist the temptation of him?

**************

The rain continued to fall causing the grounds to be nothing but dirty brown slush.

Hermione choose to wear flat leather boots, with her jeans tucked into them. They cam up to her knee she hoped to protect most of her legs from the mud and cold. She wore her jumper of Molly and a brown bomber type, leather jacket. A brown hat on her hair protected her from the cold.

She made her way to the pitch with Ginny and a few other Grythindor’s.

‘I might skip out if the weather dosen’t pick up.’ Ginny said to Hermione.

‘And miss the end of the match?’

Ginny gave Hermione a grin. ‘We all know Slytherin are going to win, what’s to miss? Anyway, Harry’s sending me a owl this afternoon.’

Hermione grinned. ‘Ahh...’

They soon found seats and Hermione cast a simple heating spell to help then keep their bottoms warm.

‘Thanks,’ Neville said as he rubbed his hands together. Hermione smiled at him.

The match was soon underway. The Slytherins scoring first. One small Hufflepuff was soon knocked off his broom by a bludger and Hermione realised he was the Hufflepuff seeker. It was soon obvious to the crowd why he’d been knocked off. The Slytherin Seeker had spotted the snitch.

Hermione watched as Draco flew right past her and then headed higher. His concentration was focused on something Hermione couldn’t see in front of him. He kept going higher and higher in the sky and Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat. He’d freeze up there, she thought! She was hardly aware of anything but how small Draco was getting as she slowly stood to her feet, her head stretched back as she looked at him.

Without her knowing it her hand gripped Ginny’s and tightened.

The next minute Draco flew past her again. The snitch held high in his hand as he jumped off his broom and was swallowed up by his team mates. Cheers went up from the Slytherin’s and Hermione slowly let out her breath.

‘Hermione?’ Ginny softly questioned.

Hermione turned big brown eyes towards her friend.

‘You almost cut off my circulation.’

Hermione looked at where her hand was holding Ginny. She quickly let go. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled.

Hermione turned and made her way, quickly, from the pitch. Ginny’s footsteps behind her.

‘Hermione!’ Ginny called. Hermione quickened her steps even more.

‘Hermione, stop!’ Ginny caught up with her and grabbed her arm to stop her. ‘What’s going on?’

‘What do you mean?’ Hermione asked, slightly breathless.

‘Why did you react that way?’

‘What way?’ Hermione only felt slightly guilty about acting dumb.

‘Don’t play dumb with me, Hermione Granger!’ Ginny saw right through her. ‘The bruises on my arm tell me you were worried about Malfoy, why?’

Hermione took a deep breath. ‘Am I not allowed to be concerned for a fellow class mate?’

Ginny frowned. ‘Not for a Slytherin, no. And certainly not for him.’

‘You sounded just like Ron then.’

‘Well, I might not agree with my stupid brother on a lot of things but when it comes to Draco Malfoy we’re on the same page.’

Hermione’s heart sank. ‘I really wished you hadn’t said that, Gin,’ she whispered.

Ginny’s eyes went wide. ‘What’s going on between you two?’

‘Nothing,’ Hermione sighed.

‘I don’t believe you!’

‘Gee, thanks.’ Hermione shook her head slightly. ‘I can honestly say that nothing is going on. I haven’t said a single word to Malfoy in over two weeks.’

‘Something’s going on, Hermione, I’ve seen the way you look at each other!’

Hermione was surprised. She had thought that she had been doing a good job of hiding her looks at Draco.

‘Look, Ginny. I won’t tell you again. There is nothing going on.’ Yet she added silently.

**********

Draco walked slowly away from the pitch and towards the changing rooms. He caught sight of fiery, red hair and chestnut curls and slowed his steps as he watched Hermione and Weasley. It seemed like they where arguing.

Draco slowed down to a stop and watched as Hermione stomped off with Ginny slowly following her.

He had a strong feeling that he knew what they had been arguing about. Him!

He hoped he was wrong but he doubted it. He wondered if Ginny knew about himself and Granger. No, she wouldn’t have told. She didn’t want anyone to know and as of yet there wasn’t anything to know.

He needed to see her and get her answer, he thought as he continued towards the changing rooms, a plan forming in his mind.

*****

A soft hooting and tapping at her dormitory window had Hermione jumping. She was alone in the dorm room, as the others where below in the common room.

She opened the window and took the letter of Draco’s owl before watching it fly off into the darkness.

She wasn’t surprised to receive a letter. She’d expected to hear something off him sooner or later.

Hermione opened the letter and chills swept over her as she saw Draco’s handwriting.

It’s time to stop wasting time. Meet me on the Qudditch pitch at 11pm.

I’ll be waiting.

DM.

He’d not made it easy for her, she thought. It was nearly ten. How was she going to sneak out at that time???

Hermione looked around the dorm and then picked up a book of her bedside table.

She walked down the stairs to the common room and tried to avoid making eye contact as she moved towards the portrait door.

‘Where are you off too?’ Ginny’s voice called out to her.

Hermione looked over her shoulder to find Ginny watching her from over the top of the arm chair near the fire.

‘I have to return this book to a friend.’

‘What friend?’ Ginny frowned.

Hermione sighed. ‘Gee, Ginny. Who are you? Ron? You’re not my keeper!’

‘Maybe you need one, if you’re keeping company with the likes of who I think you are! Best be back by curfew, I’d hate to have to give you a detention!’

Hermione sighed again and shook her head. As she left the common room she felt guilty and mean. She hated to lie and argue with Ginny. They had been through so much together and their bond went much deeper then just friendship.

It hurt her just as much as she thought it hurt Ginny.

Hermione kept to the shadows as she snook out of the castle and towards the Quidditch pitch. She was nearly forty-five minutes early she knew but she wouldn’t of been able to get out of the common room if she had left it any later.

She sat down on one of the benches closest to the pitch and waited. She didn’t have to wait long.

Draco soon came flying towards her on his new black and silver Firebolt.

He came to a stop and jumped off, walking towards her.

‘You’re early?’

‘It would have been more difficult to get away later.’ she quietly said.

Draco nodded and sat down next to her on the bench. He placed his Firebolt on the floor by his feet.

‘I saw you and Ginny Weasley arguing...’

Hermione nodded. ‘Oh...’

‘Were you arguing about me?’

She nodded again. ‘She wants to know what is going on between us.’

His gaze narrowed on her face. ‘Did you tell her?’

Hermione shook her head this time. ‘I told her nothing is going on.’

‘Now, that’s not exactly true, is it? There is something going on between us and soon I hope there’ll be something even more going on,’ He gave her a small smirk.

Hermione took a deep breath and looked at Draco.

‘I didn’t know what to tell her to be honest. Malfoy, I don’t know what to tell you.’ Hermione suddenly stood up and walked toward the pitch, frustration running through her.

Draco stood up and followed her. She stood with her back to him, looking across the pitch. Draco pulled her into his arms and wrapped her in his cloak to keep her warm. Her back was against his front.

‘You think too much, Granger. You need to stop thinking and start feeling. Give in to what you want for once and forget what everyone else wants or expects from you. If you want Ginny to believe that nothing is going on then that’s what we’ll make her believe. But remember this; there is something between us. And until we explore what it is it’s not going away.’

Hermione sighed. Her whole body trembled at being held within the circle of Draco’s arms. His scent surrounded her and Hermione found it difficult to think clearly.

Draco lowered his head so he could speak into her ear. ‘Just feel, have some fun. You deserve it!’

Hermione shivered at the feel of his warm breath on the shell of her ear. ‘What... what if we get found out?’

‘So what? We’re of age and we’re not doing anything wrong.’

‘Harry and Ron would never forgive me-’

‘Merlin! They don’t own you, Granger! You are not their property!’

Hermione turned in his arms to look into his eyes. ‘I wouldn’t be yours either!’

‘Until the end of the school year you would,’ he whispered and lowered his lips to hers.’Tell me yes,’ he demanded against her mouth.

She stopped thinking at the feel of his soft mouth against hers. She stopped feeling and gave in. ‘Yes.’

She felt him smile as he moved his mouth more firmly against hers.

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A/N: Thanks for the reviews, guys, I love your comments, they give me a great boost :D