Striving For Something Not Temporary

A/N: Well I\'m finally finished with chapter 8. This was an extremely hard one for me to accomplish, so I would love to hear any feedback you guys have to offer.

I hope you all enjoy it!

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After the ripple had settled from the proverbial cannonball that was heaved into the Head’s living quarter’s, things had been quite lighthearted and amazingly airy for both of them lately. They were on a truly comfortable basis with each other as of late, and settled back into their normal routines. If not with just a bit more friendly banter and a little bit of more than friendly touching, here and there.

When Draco had kissed her that evening over a week ago, he had every intention of taking her back to his room and...consoling..her. For lack of a better word. Shortly thereafter, when he realized his little minx had actually passed out with her head on his shoulder, he opted for a change of plans. And here, he thought she was indulging him in a tender embrace.

After settling her down in her bed that night, he realized it was all for the best that it ended there for the evening. He didn’t want to drive her away because of any indulgent moments on his part. That was sort of the message he was trying to relay to her in the first place. There were obviously some fucktards that ran her through the mill before he got a hold of her, and he definitely didn’t want her to be placing him in the same category as them any time soon.

He could be himself with her. It scared the shit out of him if he pondered that thought too long, but at the same time it seemed a weight had been lifted off of him because of it. He’d never really had anyone he could just be himself with. In the dungeons, there was a certain order to uphold, and with that you could let know one know your weaknesses. At the manor it was even worse. Almost robotic, if you will.

Sure, Hermione laughed at him, punched him regularly, and scoffed at him quite frequently, but it was different. At the end of the day, she was always there to mend his broken pieces back together. It wasn’t some absurd attempt at an ego boost, far from it actually. It was reassurance that she actually cared. It was freedom. It felt nice.

***

“So...um,” Ginny sat flicking her fingers together, acting mockingly cool, “How’s that, oh how did you phrase it...’professional truce’ going with Malfoy then?”

Hermione, who was sat across the table from her in the Head’s study room couldn’t repress a chuckle. “I thought you wanted help with your History of Magic essay, Ginny?”

“Well I need a break.” she stated flatly, then her face widened to a grin. “So, how are...things? She almost sang the last word in her glee.

“God Ginny, way to be subtle.”

\"Stop avoiding, you know that doesn’t work with me.” she huffed.

Hermione took a moment to ponder that question. How were things with Malfoy? Gratifying? No, that wasn’t quite right. Amazing? Definitely gives him too much credit. Content? Yes, I suppose that was a good word for it. Draco Malfoy makes me content. Fuck, imagine that?

Ginny stared, a bit annoyed at Hermione’s whimsical expression. Snapping her fingers close to her face to catch her attention, she settled back into her grin. “A bit lacking on the professionalism then, I take it?”

Recovering from her haze, she winked. “Now Ginny, you know I don’t kiss and tell.” she smiled and crossed her hands together on the table.

“You’ve been kissing Draco Malfoy?” She uttered, just a bit too loud.

“Oh glue you jaw back on and get a grip.” she scoffed. “He’s just like any other boy in this school.”

“Pshhaa...right.” Ginny piped. “Just like any other boy with eyes of steel, a rock hard Quidditch ass, uhhg...and that tongue! Tell me, is it good for anything else besides that razor sharp wit?”

“Ginny, Jesus!” Hermione burst out laughing. “You’re such a fucking pervert! You’re lucky the things I keep from your brother.”

“You should feel all too lucky too, dear girl!” joining her laughter. “It’s for the best really,” her expression turned mockingly serious. “he’d probably do something stupid and end up with a bloodied nose from your right hook.”

“Ah yes, those boys of our’s have learned the hard way on butting into my life.” grinning in appreciation. “So about this History of Magic–“

“No,” looking a little put out. “Seriously Hermione. What’s he like? I mean, Draco as a real person...it’s hard for me to imagine.”

“He’s an obnoxious prat.” Hermione stated factually, getting up from the table and walking to the balcony.

“Well, duh!” rising up to follow her. “Come on, you can do better than that!”

Hermione lit up a cigarette and sat down on the chair. “Well, he’s a right slob, actually. I don’t suppose it’s all that surprising really, surrounded by all those house elves his whole life. Still, it’s very irritating none the less.”

Taking a drag of her cigarette, she continued, “When we study together, he copies my Arithmancy homework almost every night. Just like Harry and Ron used to with most all my assignments, only he claims he’s ‘checking my work for errors.’ Pshhaa...like I buy into that rubbish. The boy is horrible in Arithmancy!”

“Really? I wonder how he kept his marks up before you came along then?” Ginny pondered.

“Who knows, with that brick load of a Slytherin lot.” Taking another drag. “Oh, but get this. The boy farts. Like all the time!” she nodded her head with a flabbergasted expression on her face. “We’ll be sitting on the sofa watching a movie, right? He’ll just fart out of no where and blame it on poor Crookshanks! Honestly, I don’t know why the cat loves him so much with all he blames him for.”

“What?!” Ginny burst out in hysterical glee. “Wait, I didn’t know the aristocratically elite even knew how to fart?”

“That’s the exact same thing that I said!” Hermione exclaimed, waving her hand in the air, before slapping her knee.

Ginny’s boisterous laughter was all that could be heard before she managed, “Oh, stop Hermione, seriously, I think I’m crying a little bit.” Reaching her index finger up to wipe her eye.

After calming down a bit, Hermione continued. “He is sweet though.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Usually after Quidditch practice, he’ll swing by the kitchens and nick some trifle or jam doughnuts because he knows I love them.” Taking another drag of her cigarette she continued, “And he’ll always ask me about my day.” She looked to Ginny and grinned. “You know, like a woman.”

Ginny burst out laughing. “God Hermione, you’re so terrible!” Her expression sobered dramatically as she pondered. “You know, I don’t think I can ever look at Malfoy the same way again. Like seriously. I wasn’t expecting that kind of information.”

“Ha! Now you know how I feel.” Hermione remarked snidely.

“God, I can’t believe he farts.” clearly still in awe.

***

Draco walked into the common room, tossed down his broomstick and stripped a trail of Quidditch gear in his path to the coffee table. As he set down a plate of goodies, he saw a flash of orange in his peripheral vision.

Turning his head, he noticed Hermione helping the little Weasley girl pack up her back pack. He strode over to the table and loosely wrapped his arms around Hermione’s waist, while still holding onto one of his shin guards. Giving her a chaste kiss on her forehead, he turned his gaze to Ginny’s direction. “Good evening Weaslette, to what do we owe this pleasure?”

“Asshole. She has a name.” Hermione turned and punched him in the sternum, making him effectively drop his shin guard and clutch his chest. “Sorry Gin.”

“Damn it you vile woman, I was just kidding!”

“Apologize to her. Now.”

“No, stop.” Ginny grinned widely and held out her palm. “Seriously, no need. Just being in your presence at this very moment in time is enough for me Malfoy.” Slinging her backpack over her shoulder, she headed towards the exit. “Goodnight Mione, thanks for all your help. She chanced one more glance back to him before she reached the door, gave him a sly wink and grabbed a jam doughnut of the plate. “Sweet dreams, Malfoy.” With that, she was gone.

With a look of confusion, Draco idly scratched his head. “Is that girl daft for me?”

“Pah! Dream on Draco.” Hermione scoffed while flinging herself on the sofa.

He seated himself beside her and pointed at the door. “Well, if that bird’s not crazy for me, then just what the hell was she on about?”

Pondering, she rubbed her index finger to her chin and ruffled her brow. “Gee, you know I honestly couldn’t tell you.” She faked confused innocence so well.

“Hag.” Draco was getting pretty good at that eye full of stink as well.

Hermione rewarded him with an incredulous look.

Grinning, Draco crawled his way across the sofa, placing his head in her lap. “So, how was your day baby?” he inquired, lazily brushing his thumb back and forth across her bare knee.

“Neville freaked out again in Herbology,” she gingerly stroked her fingers through his hair. “but lately, that’s really nothing new.” she smiled.

“What? Neville?” he inquired with surprise.

“Well yeah, I mean since he’s been doing extra projects with Sprout, he’s almost become animalistic. If anyone so much as goes near his corner where they’re stored, he gets all protective and lashes out.” Hermione chortled. “That womping willow sapling he’s been growing punched Wayne Hopkins in the kidney when he was walking past it this afternoon. Neville thought he was threatening it and it almost resorted to drawn wands!”

“With all his greenhouse skills, I forgot that kid finally figured out how to grow himself a set.”

“Yeah well in the process, they ended up destroying an entire barrel of Mooncalf dung. Ugh, Sprout was so pissed.” Hermione leisurely scratched Crookshank’s neck as he lied on the back of the sofa. “So how was practice?”

Draco released a tired sigh. “Practice was practice.” He quickly rose his torso off the couch and flipped Hermione underneath him. “Let’s change the subject.” he murmured into her neck, trailing kisses down her collar bone.

“Ooh..look at you Mr. Smoothie McSmootherson...trying to change the subject.” she bantered, giggling into his hair.

He raised his head and cocked an eyebrow at her before looking over at Crookshanks still perched on top of the sofa, “Rookers...why does your mummy always insist on killing the mood?”

A soft meow was his only response before jumping down and settling himself into the armchair. Hermione continued to giggle. She grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him closer to her. Pressing her lips to his, she let out a content sigh as Draco licked and nibbled on her bottom lip, allowing access to the inside of her mouth, which he quickly indulged himself in.

“Mmm..stay with me tonight baby..” he managed to word between tender touches and kisses on his part and hers. “..in my room.”

“I have an early class tomorrow.” she licked below his ear.

“I do own an alarm clock.” outlining the bottom of her jaw.

“Not tonight, you stink and you need a bath.” she suppressed a chuckle while trailing kisses down his neck.

“God baby, you make me feel so hot, and wanted.” he murmured sarcastically into her shoulder.

With a sigh, she slumped into the cushion. “Look, I just don’t want to be tempted, okay?” Looking into his eyes and brushing his hair back with her fingers.

“It’s not my intention to tempt you.” he looked at her suddenly serious. “I just like the feeling of you close to me. I like for you to be there.”

“I’m not worried about you tempting me...I’m worried about tempting myself.” she managed. “Now get up, I need a smoke.” nudging her hand on his shoulder so he would get up off her.

“Fine,” he sighed. “but I get the cat.” He lazily stepped from the couch and clapped his hands together while heading towards his door. “Come Rookers, time for bed.”

She laughed to herself while walking to the balcony. When she heard his door click shut, she turned around and spoke loudly, “You really do reek darling. Take a bath before you kill my poor cat!” Grinning widely, she lit her cigarette and sat down.

Thank you all soooo much for the reviews! Some of them really touched me.


Response from reviewers

Princess_Malfoy- Yeah you\'re telling me! The best conversations I partake in are over a pack of smokes cruising around in my best friend\'s car named Christine. (That\'s the car\'s name, not her\'s) Anyway, I\'m so excited you like my story!

zara_luvs_qts- \"It\'s about time we were admitted back into society and not ostracized b/c of that lung cancer crap...\" LOL...Christ you about killed me!

Evil Turtle- *winks* Thought you\'d enjoy that!

jchaser- That\'s so touching! I hope this is enough to sustain you until I get the next chapter up. I\'d love to hear your feedback!


To all of you who reviewed, it really does mean a lot to me. It makes me continue writing this story without forgetting to have fun with it. Thank you!