by Black-Diamonds and Beck
 
 

Chapter 4
Stolen Kisses and Public Opinion
 

The morning sun crept slowly across the face on the pillow. Hermione woke, then yawned,
squinting in the light. She sat up to avoid the glare. The dorm was empty. Either she was late
or they were all early. Hermione glanced at her alarm clock.

"Damn early birds." She muttered. Hermione stretched her arms above her head. "What a
strange dream she thought, until she stood up and saw the small piece of folded parchment,
lying on the floor. Tears came to her eyes once again.

"Draco why did it have to be you?!" She moaned. Hermione dressed, and then walked quietly
down the stairs to the common room. Harry stood there waiting. He immediately walked up to
her and asked "Are you all right Hermione?"

Her answer was sharp.

"Yes, I am! I'm perfectly fine. Why do you keep asking me if I'm all right??"

"Because I saw the letter."

"What?" Hermione's voice dropped to a whisper.

"I saw Malfoy's letter to you. Look," Harry dropped down in to a nearby armchair, "I don't
want to see you get hurt. Malfoy is a rat bag. You know you shouldn't trust him, he's a
Slytherin."

"Don't presume to tell me who to trust. How dare you spy on me!" Hermione was amazed at
her own anger. "You can't accuse Draco of anything when you're the one sneaking around."

Harry's cheeks turned crimson.

"I only mean to protect you."

"Well I don't need protection. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for all of this."

*

By breakfast, it was clear there wasn't. As Harry and her sat down at the Gryffindor table,
Hermione shot a darting glance towards the Slytherins. When Draco caught her eye, he
sneered cruelly and turned back to Pansy and Millicent, who both listened carefully and then
grinned evilly at Hermione. Losing her appetite in that split second, she stood up, and saying
a quick 'excuse me', she left.

She strolled slowly around the castle. After a few minutes, she found herself wandering
down the charms corridor. Suddenly Peeves popped up from the carpet, cackling wildly.

"Oooo...wassa matter? Ickle wittle Granger. All sad, all sad!" With that, he did several
mid-air somersaults.

"Go away Peeves." Hermione muttered. Peeves, who sensed that something was definitely
wrong, quickly dodged away through a wall, his mad laugh fading away. Hermione continued
her walk, gazing sadly at the pictures and statues that lined the walls. The statues eyes were
and blank, but the people in the paintings whispered among themselves, occasionally looking
at her with curiosity.

"Pssssst!" a voice nearby urgently hissed, "Quick, in here!"

Startled, she was pulled into an empty classroom. When she'd recovered from the shock,
and her senses and balance came back to her, she recognised the slim blonde-haired figure
as Draco Malfoy. She affected a some-what haughty pose then spoke.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" She spat the last word out with such venom that even the
dreaded Draco winced.

"Look," he sneered back, but then his voice changed to one of pained sorrow, "I have to
keep up appearances."

Hermione was shocked by the sudden change, but her pride had been hurt and she couldn't
forgive him for that.

"So, you're still going to be nasty even though you like me?" She sneered back.

"Whoever said I like you?"

"Well then..." Her unfinished question hung in the air.

In answer, Draco leaned forward slightly and kissed the corner of her mouth, then quickly
left the room. Hermione stood staring at the wall, completely stunned by the feelings for
him that ran down her spine.
 
 
 

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Chapter 5