For the past week, she has felt Draco Malfoy’s eyes on her, watching everything she does. At first, she tried to ignore it, but lately his stares have gotten more intense. If it had been anyone else, she could have ignored it, or confronted them about it. But Malfoy’s gaze was so intense it disturbed her. She could literally feel his eyes burning holes in her. Whenever she tried to confront him by staring back at him, making it PERFECTLY clear she did not enjoy being stared at like a piece of meat, he upped the ante in his sick seduction game. If it could be called that. He would lick SOME part of his body, or turn up the heat in his eyes to ‘smoldering.’ But calling it seduction would be fooling herself. There was no way in hell he would be even thinking about seducing…well….someone like her. She was on to him.
<It just had to be that someone that good looking had to be the vilest creature ever!> she thought to herself, aware of how differently this scenario could have been played out if only it was one of those trashy romance novel. Malfoy could have been the misunderstood hunk who lusted after her, the beautiful virgin maiden. And after a hot, passionate night of love making, they would get married and live happily ever after, tra la la la la. Bloody hell.
Bitterness was seeping in. Not a good sign. She sighed again, brushing the hair surrounding her face with frustration. So maybe she was a bit starved in the love department. Not that she wanted love at the moment of course, but a few confessions, a few dates, even a few interested glances wouldn’t hurt. But not glances from HIM, that evil, slimly Slytherin bastard who had no intention of doing a seduction of any kind. Blasted mind games.
"Arrgh! I can’t work like this!" she muttered to herself and marched straight to the Slytherin table. She was confident he wouldn’t try anything – not when he was surrounded by his like-minded housemates.
"Malfoy, could I talk to you for a minute?" she said with forced politeness. He set down his fork with appeared boredom and looked her lazily in the eye.
"What is it Granger?" he replied coolly.
"Erm, well, I think really you should…….uh," she started, but soon realized she couldn’t exactly tell him to stop. What was she supposed to say? Stop staring at me? She knew he would instantly turn the tables on her. It seemed pretentious after all, to demand someone to stop staring at you. Even if it was true. She opened and closed her mouth, trying to think of something else to say, so she wouldn’t come off as a fool.
"You should really listen to yourself. You sound as stupid as Longbottom," Draco said, as the table erupted in snorts of amusement. He lifted an elegant, pale eyebrow, daring her to take his bait.
She took it; any excuse to verbally abuse him was good enough for her. Her eyes narrowed. "You have no right to make fun of Neville! He beat your score in Herbology, you ferret, so you should talk!" Her house pride overcame her. Neville was her friend – how dare this, this Death Eater talk about him like that!
Malfoy’s eyes darkened at that. Hermione gulped, but bravely went on. "A-And what he lacks in skill, he makes up in heart! He’s twice the man you are!"
At this he stood up sharply, banging the tabletop. The table grew quiet, his chair clattering to the ground. He exhaled with a hiss.
"You think he’s better than me? It sounds to me as if you like the little fool." He stepped closer with cat-like grace. She instinctively stepped back, stumbling a little.
"Compared to you….," she started, not being able to control herself. "I like him ten thousand times more than you!!" With that breathless exclamation, she sprinted back to her own table.
Still standing, Malfoy stared at her direction, disbelief distinctly in his eyes. Then with a curse, he knocked his goblet and plate off the table. He marched out of the Great Hall, purposely stepping on the glass and porcelain, breaking them in the process.
Breathing harshly, Hermione placed a hand at her heart, to make sure it was still there. She hated how she was now frightened of him. Somehow she couldn’t connect the annoying little boy with the dangerous young man.
"Um, Hermione?" said a soft voice from behind. She turned to see Neville.
"Oh, hi Neville," she said quietly, smiling a little. She straightened herself. No use in Neville seeing her get all scared over some arrogant jerk with anger management problems.
"I-I overheard what you said over there. Thanks a lot, you know, for sticking up for me," he said sincerely. Her smile widened.
"Don’t thank me, I was only speaking the truth. It would be like…..like thanking me for saying your robe was black."
He chuckled at that. His face then turned to that of concern. "Will you be okay? Malfoy looked pretty angry."
"Oh, don’t worry about that stupid prat! I’m Head Girl after all, I can take care of myself," she said, not really feeling as confident as she sounded. Remembering the time on the train, she thought of how physically strong Malfoy could be. Unconsciously, her hand brushed her shoulders.
<The only advantage I have is magic. Lose my wand and I’m dead. >
************************************************
Cursing under his breath, it took all his strength not to lash out at all the idiots that surround him. He briskly walked down the corridors, ignoring everybody. The nerve of her, sticking up for someone as insignificant as Longbottom. Accepting him as someone of HER level! The thought of that made his blood boil. He would make her pay, oh he would–
He bumped into none other than Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Back-stepping a bit, he muttered an apology, of some sorts. Dumbledore gave him a tight smile and looked to see if anyone else was in the hallway. No one was.
Speaking quietly, Dumbledore inquired, "And how was the rest of your holiday, Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco, equally cautious, scanned the halls. "Fine, Professor."
"Well, that’s good to hear! A good vacation bleeds out all of life problems! At least, that’s what I always say," he said, a bit louder and with considerably more cheer. "Well, off you go, young student!"
With that, he walked past him, but not before discreetly patting Draco’s left forearm. Draco said nothing, only looked blankly ahead. He waited until he could no longer hear the Headmaster’s footsteps before resuming his pace.
Draco stopped at a nearby window and looked impassively at the fourth years trying to coax a hippogriff to their side of the field. Massaging his left forearm, he gritted his teeth.
<Damn you Lucius……>
*************************************************
Neville was having a bad day. Correction; a terrible day. Since yesterday’s incident, nothing was going right for Neville. All of his things were either missing or misplaced. For some strange reason, he kept on tripping at the strangest times, and Crabbe and Goyle had been extra belligerent. Right now he was getting the yelling of a lifetime by Snape. It seems Neville had cracked his cauldron and some of the potion was leaking out, even though he didn’t even touch cauldron, or put anything in it.
Sympathetic, Hermione shook her head. Suddenly aware that someone was chuckling, she turned to see Malfoy looking extremely pleased with himself. He turned to look at her and pushed his bangs up off his forehead. His smirk deepened. It seemed to imply, Yeah, it was me. What’re you going to do about it?
She growled, hands tightening into fists. How dare he! Poor Neville, he didn’t even have anything to do with this feud. She was tempted to wipe that stupid grin off his face with her book. While she was at it, her book also had a rusty nail stuck through it. That made her feel a little better as she turned away angrily. Since she made it a point that she was ignoring him, she missed the devilish smirk on Draco’s face deepening.
Neville’s day continued horribly, and by the end of the day he was practically in tears. Howlers came in and blasted him for his stupidity. Teachers suddenly couldn’t find his work and lowered his grade. And now, anonymous notes were being sent to him, threatening to kick him out of Hogwarts in pieces. All the Gryffindor, even the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff members patted him on the back in sympathy. He whispered that he wasn’t feeling all that hungry, and left to go recover in the comforts of his own bed.
At dinner, an owl flew down and dropped a rather plain and sparse looking note to Hermione. She looked up and saw that it was a Hogwart’s owl, not a personal one. She opened it, only to find these words:
Neville will get the beating of his life tomorrow. Come to the empty dungeon room left of Snape’s potion class tonight at 12 to plan how to protect him. Come alone, and don’t tell anybody. We don’t know exactly who is out to get him. – A worried friend
Her hand flew to her mouth. <Oh no, poor Neville!! I should tell Ron or Harry about this. I mean, there’s no way they’re the ones who is threatening Neville. Would this person mind if I took them along? >
However, she decided she could tell them after the meeting if she really wanted to. She didn’t want to offend the person kind enough to look out for Neville by bringing people with her. She wondered who it was that sent the note to her. She crumpled it in vexation. That damn Malfoy. What was his problem with Neville?
<It’ll be entirely my fault if something happens to him. Oh, if only I kept my big mouth shut! >
********************************************
So in accordance to the note, she came alone down to the dungeon at midnight. Holding out her wand, she lighted her way to the indicated meeting area. She opened the heavy wooden door and stepped in to find no one was there. Were they late?
"H-Hello?" she ventured. Abruptly, the door closed with a slam and the lock clicked into place.
"Silentisvatri," a harsh voice whispered. Her eyes widened, but she forced herself to calm down. She knew that spell. It made the confines of the area completely soundproof. No one would be able to eavesdrop or hear anything that went on in the room.
<Don’t worry; they’re just trying to make sure no one overhears our conversation. A-A precaution, that’s all…> she told herself frantically. She quickly moved her wand around the room, trying to find the source of the voice.
Finally, she made out a tall silhouette. Her eyes finally got used to the poor light and saw that it was none other than Draco Malfoy. She gasped in surprise, quickly back-stepping into the door. She fumbled clumsily for the door handle, only to find there was none.
Malfoy was tossing something in the air. He caught it with amused ease. "Looking for this?" It was the doorknob. She looked at the door; true to his words, it was gone.
"I already hexed the door you know. Only I can make it open now." He had a semi-crazed gleam in his eye. Like a cat stalking its prey.
"What’s going on Malfoy?" she spat out, tired of his games.
"Make a guess Granger." When he only got an angry silence, he sighed melodramatically. "Shall I have to explain it to you?"
"Oh please do, because I’m dying to know," she snapped moodily. <Stall him, stall him…..>
"Obviously I sent you that note. I just wanted to have a real conversation with you, that’s all. I’m just making precautions so that you’ll stay to hear me out. Do forgive me for using Longbottom’s safety as a device to get you here." His falsely saccharine tones chilled her.
"Since when do you want to talk to the likes of me?" she asked wearily, her mind racing. Her grip on her wand tightened.
He grinned and slammed his body into hers, moving so fast she could barely register it. He gripped her tiny, swanlike neck with his callused hand. She gasped, tears of pain fogging her eyes. His grip tightened so that she could barely breathe, much less talk. Towering over her, he placed his right forearm on the door above her head, while his left hand was pressing her harder against the door. Her hoarse cries were beautiful.
Leaning down, he whispered silkily in her ear, "Drop the wand."
Using her free hand, she tried to claw his hand off her throat, to no avail. He tightened his grip even more, making her struggles more frantic.
"Drop it." His lips tickled her ear and he couldn’t resist giving it a naughty lick. He had waited for so long……..
Almost out of oxygen, she dropped her wand with a clack. Without even looking down, he kicked it far into the opposite corner. On the other side of the room, her wand illuminated the room eerily. She was completely defenseless now. He finally stepped back and she sank to the ground, coughing. As she fought for air, she gingerly touched her throat. He chuckled and stepped forward a few paces.
Getting her voice back, she whispered hoarsely, "Get….away from me…."
Utterly amused at the thought that he was charge now, he merely sneered. "I don’t think you’re in any sort of position to tell me what to do, Hermione." He twisted her name sensuously, almost perversely.
Her head shot up at the sound of her name. What was he playing at?
His demeanor suddenly changed from amused to irritated. "I constantly told you to stay away from Potter and his lover, but you kept on disobeying me. Worse yet, you stood up for that buffoon Longbottom. I won’t tolerate that – especially not from you. It’s beneath you."
Despite the peril she was in, she could not hold back a snort of contempt. There were so many things wrong with his last statement, she didn’t know where to start. She picked the first faulty principle that came to mind. "Disobey? Disobey?! Who are you to say I can’t disobey you, Malfoy?! I don’t have to listen to you!"
He growled, leaning forward and grasped the collar of her robe. He hoisted her up to her feet and slammed her into the door again. Her vision became filled with exploding stars.
"You WILL listen to me, you stupid fool!" he hissed, tired of her stubborn attitude. She really drove him crazy on so many different levels. This was one of the less enjoyable ones.
"Since when do you care who I’m friends with?! So what if the Dark Lord is rising and he’s after Harry? Why would you care what happens to me? Don’t you want all Mudbloods to die, you dirty Death Eater?!!" she screamed, confused, frustrated, and terrified.
He blinked, temporarily forgetting his violent mood. Suddenly he gave a low laugh. She thought he was a Death Eater? Oh, this was going to be even more fun than he thought. He loosened his grip.
"I’m not exactly a Death Eater yet, you know. But I’m sure my father would just love for me to go to the Dark side," he said softly, running a lazy hand down her side. "Maybe you could convince me to stay with the Light?"
She flinched, wondering what the hell he was doing. She tried to struggle out of his grip. The way he ran his hand down her side – she may not have much experience with men, but she knew a sexual innuendo when she saw it. He had also effectively managed to avoid answering her questions by distracting her.
"Hold on!" she suddenly yelled, continuing her attempt at releasing herself from his grasp. So he decided to graduate from visual innuendos and move onto physical sexual harassment. Hermione had enough of his games. She KNEW he didn’t desire her, so she wished he would torture her straightforwardly. It would make things a lot more simpler, for one thing.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Never in a million years would I think you’d–"
"Do what?" he whispered, his lips centimeters from hers, his eyes melting into hers. She quickly turned her head.
"Have you gone stark raving mad?! Since when has a Malfoy willingly touched someone like me?!" she asked, her voice getting shrilly.
He merely chuckled condescendingly. Typical, of course he wouldn’t explain his actions to the likes of her. She wished with all her might she could retrieve her wand. Then she’d blast him to oblivion and back. She continued to turn away from him.
<Oh gods, please please please get me out of here! Why didn’t I bring Harry and Ron? Or at least tell them where I am?! No one even knows I’m here!>
He ran his hand through her thick, wavy hair, relishing the texture. She gasped, and tried to jerk away. He gripped her scalp roughly. He dived towards the area between her neck and shoulders. He bit her hard, enough to draw blood. She cried out in pain, making him even more aroused. He sucked hard, swallowing every drop of sweet blood. It was intoxicating.
He finally looked up at her and gave her a smirk that froze her blood. He looked at his love bite; satisfied that it would be there to stay. He thumbed it and was pleased at how red it looked.
"I want you Granger," he said huskily. He turned her head so that he could have access to the other side of her neck. He placed several butterfly kisses up and down her neck.
Totally unused to these touches, Hermione stood helpless as she felt his wet, hot lips all over her neck. Each time his lips touched her, it felt like a mini jolt of electricity ran through them. Something inside of her ignited and she hated it. Her knees threatened to buckle at any second, but Draco’s weight prevented her from sinking to the ground. She whimpered, utterly at a loss at what to do.
Draco sighed with disappointment against her smooth skin; it was getting late. He’d have to continue at another time, but not without a few parting words.
"I’ve marked you, Hermione," he said menacingly. "That makes you mine."
"You will tell no one of this. If you say anything, I will go after everyone around you. What you saw today was only a taste of my power. I could have kill Longbottom any damn time I wanted. Anything that happens to him and the others after this will be entirely your fault. Do you understand?" He tightened his grip on her arms.
Wincing in pain, she frantically nodded.
"Cross me, and I will NOT hold back. If you don’t return here tomorrow night, I won’t hesitate to strike. My father and the other Death Eaters are just dying to get at your friends and their families. You wouldn’t want to be the cause of their deaths, would you?"
Furious, she couldn’t believe the position he was putting her in. Come back tomorrow? As if she’d ever return! But one look at his eyes was all that convinced her – she could tell he was utterly serious. And he had the means to back his threats. She started to tremble. Why? Why her of all people?
"So what are you going to do?" he asked slyly.
<Damn you! You want me to recite to you like a little schoolgirl? >
"I-I’m not going to tell," she said reluctantly, casting her eyes away in utter humiliation.
"And?"
"I…………I’m bloody coming back tomorrow!" she finally spat out, baring her teeth to show how much she hated the idea.
"Good girl. I’ll just take this, as tomorrow’s Saturday. You won’t be needing it," he walked away and pocketed her wand. "You can have it back later, if you behave."
She sputtered in disbelief. No wand? How the hell was she going to kill him now? He walked past her and tapped the door, muttering a spell needed to unlock it. The door creakily opened. She didn’t hesitate to dash out, but Malfoy caught her at the crook of her arm and spun her back to him. Her inertia made her slam into him hard.
He kissed her harshly on the mouth, biting her lower lip. She gave a muffled cry, making him deepen the kiss. It was bruising and harsh – a kiss to remind her of her position. After what seemed like an eternity, he released her lips, panting. Her eyes were glassy from his world-shaking kiss. Gods, just looking at her red, swollen lips made him want her even more.
Draco sensuously placed his thumb in his mouth and removed it. He streaked it across her cheek, leaving a trail of saliva. With a satisfied smirk, he then pushed her out of the room, breaking her trance. Stumbling, she managed to fall on her behind only to see the doors slamming shut. Breathing hard, she ran as fast as she could to her own dormitory.
He cursed himself for not taking her then and there. He could have ripped off her robes and had his way with her. Easily. Why the hell didn’t he?
<Anticipation……… It’s all about the anticipation…. > he thought to himself, trying to ease his arousal. Trying to distract himself, he lifted up his sleeve to inspect his arm. Even after all this time, the sight of it still surprised him.
Covering the majority of his arm was a silver metal plate, completely melded with his flesh.
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