Looking Beyond
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the story.
Chapter 1
It was a typical game of Quidditch. Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Among the crowd, there sat a pretty brown haired girl with fair skin who was also the most intelligent girl in her year. But at that moment, none of that mattered to her. All that mattered was that she belonged to the loved of her life, Harry Potter. Her name was Hermione Granger.
They are the picture perfect couple. If you see one of them, then you're sure the other one is close by. They aren't easily separated, the reason why they're always to be seen together. Everything about them was perfect. Harry Potter was every girl's dream and Hermione Granger was every guy's fantasy. When they got together at the beginning of last year, their 5th year, no one was surprised. Everyone thought that they were bound to be together someday for their destinies seemed to be written in the stars. Harry and Hermione didn't object to this. Both of them thought that they were meant for one another and no one else.
Hermione held her breath as Harry dived from a height of 50 feet and charged after the golden snitch. He weaved in and out of the other Quidditch players trying to get to it as fast as he can. But Draco Malfoy was way ahead of him. Hermione watched as Malfoy tore after the snitch, urging his nimbus 2001 to go faster. She observed his lean frame, no doubt from Quidditch, his silvery white hair flowing with the wind. She watched him as he closed his fist against the snitch. And soon, the Slytherin side erupted into cheers.
"Draco Malfoy has caught the snitch," Lee Jordan said dryly. "Slytherin wins 170 - 60."
Draco Malfoy raised the arm that caught the snitch and instantly looked at the pretty brown haired girl with a triumphant smile, hoping that she would look his way. And she did. She was looking down at Harry, who was climbing off his broom looking downcast at their loss when she felt the urge to look up. She saw Draco Malfoy immediately look away and do a small victory lap and went down to the pitch.
Did I just see that? Did Draco Malfoy just look at me? It's Draco Malfoy! She shook her head and smacked herself mentally. She hurried down the stands and went to the Quidditch tent where the Gryffindor Quidditch team was talking with one another.
"Hey Hermione," Ron said, approaching her with a forced smile. "Bad game, huh?"
"It's not so bad, Ron," Hermione consoled and gave him a quick hug. "You guys did your best and that's always what's important."
"Thanks. Harry's over there beating himself up," Ron said. "I'll leave you guys to talk. I think he needs it." Hermione thanked Ron, who walked away with a sad shuffle in his walk. It was obvious that Ron felt bad. His dream came true when he was voted to be the Quidditch captain this year. And, of course, Quidditch captains don't like losing.
She walked deeper into the tent. There were still some Gryffindors around. She saw Harry sitting down, his head bent with obvious disappointment. She sat beside him and wrapped her arms around him in an effort to make him feel better. Harry lifted his head up and looked at her. He smiled.
"Hey baby," he said, planting a kiss on her cheek.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, brushing a bit of grass from his cheek and ruffling his hair.
"We lost, Hermione," he said with a catch in his voice. "How do you think I'm feeling?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she immediately said. "Look at me." She touched his chin and made him look at her. "It wasn't your fault that you lost."
"But--," he began but she put a finger to his lips.
"No buts. You were great out there and I'm very proud of my baby," she said with a smile.
Some of the others heard this. "That's really nice, Hermione," Angelina Johnson said. Katie Bell agreed while Fred and George sniggered, mimicking Hermione. Hermione smiled at Angelina and Katie then rolled her eyes at Fred and George.
Harry ignored them, smiled widely and nodded. "You always know the right thing to say."
"Of course. That's my expertise," she said with a grin. "Now, let's go back inside. You need to clean up and have some dinner. I'm sure you're hungry."
"In a minute."
"What--?"
But Harry didn't let her finish. He cupped her face with his hand and kissed her passionately on the lips, making her words die in her throat. She enjoyed the moment and wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer. After a couple of minutes of just kissing, Hermione pulled away, her lips pink and full.
"We'd better get back inside," she said.
"What? We were just getting started."
Hermione giggled and stood up. "C'mon. I just might change my mind of finishing this after dinner."
Harry stood up at once and followed her into the castle, foreseeing the night's events.
** "Stupid Potter," Draco Malfoy muttered angrily as he lay down on his bed that night.
Everyone was still in the common room celebrating their infrequent victory over Gryffindor. He had planned on partying all night, but seeing Potter making moves on Granger in the Quidditch field earlier had made his desire to merrymaking die down.
Yes. Draco Malfoy is in love with the mudblood, Hermione Granger. How did that happen? He didn't know. All he knew was that he loves her and nothing more. It didn't matter when or where or how it began.
"Stupid mudblood."
What is she doing to me? She had turned him completely around. He used to be the bad guy of the school. The guy everyone used to fear. The guy who always used to rejoice in anything dire that happened around the school. That was his role. That was his job as a Malfoy in Hogwarts. But ever since 5th year, something had changed. The mean looks, the unfriendly glaring with the mudblood had grown into something more than he had never expected to happen.
He was falling in love.
And not just with anyone.
He was falling in love with Granger.
Draco turned to his side and sighed. "It isn't fair." Why does Potter have to have everything? The friends, the power and the girl. Draco had hated him when he (Harry) turned him (Draco) down to be friends. Draco hated him even more when everyone thought that he (Harry) was the heir of Slytherin. And now.he hated him far worse than anyone could ever hate. He hated him because of all the witches in the world, Harry had to get the one that he (Draco) truly adored.
"Dim-witted Potter."
It's amazing how some people don't have any other care in the world. To them life is just simple. All they have to do is to wake up, eat and then sleep. Draco sighed once more. He wished that life were like that for him.
** Hermione woke up the next morning feeling very refreshed and happy. She looked at the handsome man by her side and smiled. Harry was watching her wake up with amusement.
"How was your sleep?" he asked.
"Better than the past weeks," she replied and cuddled closer to him. "What about you?"
"Never been better," he said. He kissed her forehead and caressed her hair.
"What, the sleep or the one before that?" she asked teasingly, running her fingers through his bare chest.
"Hmm.I think I was talking about the sleep."
Hermione stopped her fingers and gently slapped his chest. "Harry!"
"Ouch!" he said, putting a hand on his chest, faking being hurt. He laughed as Hermione glared at him, pretending to be upset. He wrapped his arms around her and looked into her eyes. "You're so beautiful." She blushed prettily and said 'thanks'.
"I love you, Harry."
"I love you back."
They stared into each other's eyes and Hermione thought she was drowning in them when she heard her alarm clock tinkle on her bedside table. She turned to look at it and read 7:50 on the clock. "Oh no!" she cried, immediately getting up and wrapping the sheets around her.
"What?" Harry asked, sitting up.
"I completely forgot. We have a prefect meeting today," she said, picking up her clothes that were strewn across the floor. "Professor McGonagall said that we should be there at precisely 8:00."
"You've never been late in your life. I doubt that McGonagall would hold that against you," he said with amusement. Hermione was bending all over the place picking up their clothes. "Besides, I'd like to have you back here."
She slowly stood up and looked at him. The idea was very tempting. Then she remembered her responsibilities and shook her head at him. "That's not going to work, Potter. I have responsibilities," she said as she dressed up.
"Aw, come on, baby," Harry said, giving her a doe-eyed look.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't go there. I just might go back to bed and I'll never forgive you for that. Here." She threw his clothes at him. "Get dressed. I'll meet you in front of the great hall for breakfast."
Harry stood up, put his shorts on and went over to Hermione. "Okay." He wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a searing kiss that made Hermione's mind totally blank. They stayed like that for a while when she remembered the meeting.
"I'm late. I'll see you later." And with that Hermione ran out of the door and to McGonagall's office.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the story.
Chapter 1
It was a typical game of Quidditch. Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Among the crowd, there sat a pretty brown haired girl with fair skin who was also the most intelligent girl in her year. But at that moment, none of that mattered to her. All that mattered was that she belonged to the loved of her life, Harry Potter. Her name was Hermione Granger.
They are the picture perfect couple. If you see one of them, then you're sure the other one is close by. They aren't easily separated, the reason why they're always to be seen together. Everything about them was perfect. Harry Potter was every girl's dream and Hermione Granger was every guy's fantasy. When they got together at the beginning of last year, their 5th year, no one was surprised. Everyone thought that they were bound to be together someday for their destinies seemed to be written in the stars. Harry and Hermione didn't object to this. Both of them thought that they were meant for one another and no one else.
Hermione held her breath as Harry dived from a height of 50 feet and charged after the golden snitch. He weaved in and out of the other Quidditch players trying to get to it as fast as he can. But Draco Malfoy was way ahead of him. Hermione watched as Malfoy tore after the snitch, urging his nimbus 2001 to go faster. She observed his lean frame, no doubt from Quidditch, his silvery white hair flowing with the wind. She watched him as he closed his fist against the snitch. And soon, the Slytherin side erupted into cheers.
"Draco Malfoy has caught the snitch," Lee Jordan said dryly. "Slytherin wins 170 - 60."
Draco Malfoy raised the arm that caught the snitch and instantly looked at the pretty brown haired girl with a triumphant smile, hoping that she would look his way. And she did. She was looking down at Harry, who was climbing off his broom looking downcast at their loss when she felt the urge to look up. She saw Draco Malfoy immediately look away and do a small victory lap and went down to the pitch.
Did I just see that? Did Draco Malfoy just look at me? It's Draco Malfoy! She shook her head and smacked herself mentally. She hurried down the stands and went to the Quidditch tent where the Gryffindor Quidditch team was talking with one another.
"Hey Hermione," Ron said, approaching her with a forced smile. "Bad game, huh?"
"It's not so bad, Ron," Hermione consoled and gave him a quick hug. "You guys did your best and that's always what's important."
"Thanks. Harry's over there beating himself up," Ron said. "I'll leave you guys to talk. I think he needs it." Hermione thanked Ron, who walked away with a sad shuffle in his walk. It was obvious that Ron felt bad. His dream came true when he was voted to be the Quidditch captain this year. And, of course, Quidditch captains don't like losing.
She walked deeper into the tent. There were still some Gryffindors around. She saw Harry sitting down, his head bent with obvious disappointment. She sat beside him and wrapped her arms around him in an effort to make him feel better. Harry lifted his head up and looked at her. He smiled.
"Hey baby," he said, planting a kiss on her cheek.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, brushing a bit of grass from his cheek and ruffling his hair.
"We lost, Hermione," he said with a catch in his voice. "How do you think I'm feeling?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she immediately said. "Look at me." She touched his chin and made him look at her. "It wasn't your fault that you lost."
"But--," he began but she put a finger to his lips.
"No buts. You were great out there and I'm very proud of my baby," she said with a smile.
Some of the others heard this. "That's really nice, Hermione," Angelina Johnson said. Katie Bell agreed while Fred and George sniggered, mimicking Hermione. Hermione smiled at Angelina and Katie then rolled her eyes at Fred and George.
Harry ignored them, smiled widely and nodded. "You always know the right thing to say."
"Of course. That's my expertise," she said with a grin. "Now, let's go back inside. You need to clean up and have some dinner. I'm sure you're hungry."
"In a minute."
"What--?"
But Harry didn't let her finish. He cupped her face with his hand and kissed her passionately on the lips, making her words die in her throat. She enjoyed the moment and wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer. After a couple of minutes of just kissing, Hermione pulled away, her lips pink and full.
"We'd better get back inside," she said.
"What? We were just getting started."
Hermione giggled and stood up. "C'mon. I just might change my mind of finishing this after dinner."
Harry stood up at once and followed her into the castle, foreseeing the night's events.
** "Stupid Potter," Draco Malfoy muttered angrily as he lay down on his bed that night.
Everyone was still in the common room celebrating their infrequent victory over Gryffindor. He had planned on partying all night, but seeing Potter making moves on Granger in the Quidditch field earlier had made his desire to merrymaking die down.
Yes. Draco Malfoy is in love with the mudblood, Hermione Granger. How did that happen? He didn't know. All he knew was that he loves her and nothing more. It didn't matter when or where or how it began.
"Stupid mudblood."
What is she doing to me? She had turned him completely around. He used to be the bad guy of the school. The guy everyone used to fear. The guy who always used to rejoice in anything dire that happened around the school. That was his role. That was his job as a Malfoy in Hogwarts. But ever since 5th year, something had changed. The mean looks, the unfriendly glaring with the mudblood had grown into something more than he had never expected to happen.
He was falling in love.
And not just with anyone.
He was falling in love with Granger.
Draco turned to his side and sighed. "It isn't fair." Why does Potter have to have everything? The friends, the power and the girl. Draco had hated him when he (Harry) turned him (Draco) down to be friends. Draco hated him even more when everyone thought that he (Harry) was the heir of Slytherin. And now.he hated him far worse than anyone could ever hate. He hated him because of all the witches in the world, Harry had to get the one that he (Draco) truly adored.
"Dim-witted Potter."
It's amazing how some people don't have any other care in the world. To them life is just simple. All they have to do is to wake up, eat and then sleep. Draco sighed once more. He wished that life were like that for him.
** Hermione woke up the next morning feeling very refreshed and happy. She looked at the handsome man by her side and smiled. Harry was watching her wake up with amusement.
"How was your sleep?" he asked.
"Better than the past weeks," she replied and cuddled closer to him. "What about you?"
"Never been better," he said. He kissed her forehead and caressed her hair.
"What, the sleep or the one before that?" she asked teasingly, running her fingers through his bare chest.
"Hmm.I think I was talking about the sleep."
Hermione stopped her fingers and gently slapped his chest. "Harry!"
"Ouch!" he said, putting a hand on his chest, faking being hurt. He laughed as Hermione glared at him, pretending to be upset. He wrapped his arms around her and looked into her eyes. "You're so beautiful." She blushed prettily and said 'thanks'.
"I love you, Harry."
"I love you back."
They stared into each other's eyes and Hermione thought she was drowning in them when she heard her alarm clock tinkle on her bedside table. She turned to look at it and read 7:50 on the clock. "Oh no!" she cried, immediately getting up and wrapping the sheets around her.
"What?" Harry asked, sitting up.
"I completely forgot. We have a prefect meeting today," she said, picking up her clothes that were strewn across the floor. "Professor McGonagall said that we should be there at precisely 8:00."
"You've never been late in your life. I doubt that McGonagall would hold that against you," he said with amusement. Hermione was bending all over the place picking up their clothes. "Besides, I'd like to have you back here."
She slowly stood up and looked at him. The idea was very tempting. Then she remembered her responsibilities and shook her head at him. "That's not going to work, Potter. I have responsibilities," she said as she dressed up.
"Aw, come on, baby," Harry said, giving her a doe-eyed look.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't go there. I just might go back to bed and I'll never forgive you for that. Here." She threw his clothes at him. "Get dressed. I'll meet you in front of the great hall for breakfast."
Harry stood up, put his shorts on and went over to Hermione. "Okay." He wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a searing kiss that made Hermione's mind totally blank. They stayed like that for a while when she remembered the meeting.
"I'm late. I'll see you later." And with that Hermione ran out of the door and to McGonagall's office.