Leather and Libraries
by Starlight-Heart
AN: After many mistakes in this story, I've decided to correct my mistakes so it's easier to read. Thanks to everyone that contributed! Disclaimer is based on Vicky Pollard in Little Britain.
Disclaimer: Yer but no but I-don't-own Harry-Potter-because-if-I-did-J.K-would-have-a-hissy-fit-and-hit-me-with-her-biggest-book-and-she'd-be-like-'Why you dissing me?'-and-I'd-be-like-'Whatever, shut up!'
Summary:After an incident in the library, Draco and Hermione start to find they have more in common than just books
Chapter 1 – Hidden World
"You silly girl! This is no place for a dirty little mudblood," Hissed a voice near to the girl. She lifted her head and saw the cold, grey eyes of Lucius Malfoy staring down at her. She felt his hand grab her arm roughly so she was looking straight at the man who had inflicted so much pain on her before.
"What makes you think that you and your feeble friends can bring the downfall of the Dark Lord?!" He demanded, shoving the girl against the wall. "I think it's time you stopped playing silly games and realise that He is here to stay; It's only a matter oftime before you filthy people are gone – why don't I make you the first." Lucius sneered at her as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear, the girl immediately tensing at his touch. "But itwould bea shame to taint such a pretty face." He took a step back, leering at the girl's growing figure.
'Why isn't anyone here to save me?!' Her brain screamed while her eyes searched frantically for an escape.
"Look at me!" Lucius ordered, his face blazing with rage. She turned her head ever so slightly, and found herself looking down at the man's wand, which was pointed directly at her chest.
"Crucio!" He put all resentment he had ever felt towards people he believed 'tainted' the Wizarding World into this spell on the helpless young woman.
"No!" She cried as all the pain that had ever felt in her life surged through her...
Hermione Granger woke up like she had been force-fed a particular strong dosage of pepper-up potion. Her pyjamas clung to her as they drenched of sweat, and she frantically searched her body for any new cuts. But thankfully, all she was greeted with was old scars that she had acuminated during many an 'adventure' with her closest friends.
Hermione crawled to the bottom of her bed and searched through her school trunk. Pulling out a small, velvet bag, she sighed as a small vial slipped out with a light red substance contained inside. She quickly drank it, showing a disgusted face as it slipped down her throat. It tasted of gone-off milk and had the texture of tires, but Hermione knew she had to keep drinking it. During the battle in their 5th year, the spell that had caused Hermione to faint had affected her for the long term; her muscles and bones not their usual strength so the potion restored their lost years for a day.
Hermione walked over to her wardrobe, getting out a pair of faded denim jeans, a crisp white blouse and some underwear.
"'Mione?" A sleepy voice questioned, turning on her side. It was Lavender, a fellow Gryffindor. "It's .... 6am." Lavender looked at her watch, flopping back down on the bed in her exhaustion.
"Sorry, I'll be out in a minute," Hermione said, tiptoeing over to the bathroom, shutting the door silently behind her.
'God, my friend's could sleep through a body-binding curse,' Hermione thought to herself, giggling slightly. If any of them was woke before 9am on a weekend, you'd be in for a book full of unspeakable words along with a pillow in the face.
Hermione looked into the mirror, staring at her morning appearance. "Oh god thanks Mum,"She said to no-one in particular. It was a known fact that bushy and unruly hair came from her mother's side of the family, along with a sense of pride and independence. She opened the bathroom mirror and took out a bottle of Sleekeazy, knowing this was the only thing that tamed her hair that didn't cost a fortune. She applied generous amounts to her hair and brushed it with her comb, her hair immediately turning sleek and shiny in the early autumn morning sun.Herreflection winked at her as she applied the lightest bit of blusher, mascara and lip gloss, pouting ever so slightly then laughing at the absurdity of it.
'I've become one of them!' Hermione laughed to herself, pulling on her clothes for the day. It had been one of the Gryffindor girls main subject; the fact that Hermione Granger was not a real girl, but not really a boy. Parvati had plucked Hermione's eyebrows last night, leaving them red and sore. But she could not deny that they did accentuate her hazelnut eyes, and the fact that they were slowly becoming one big line.
"Hermione hurry up I need to pee," Rachael Wilkinson said, knocking on the door. She was the only other girl in the dormitory who was remotely like Hermione; studious, loved writing and hated being without her favourite muggle book, Forever by Judy Blume which according to her 'taught many things that Hogwarts could not even begin to explain'. When Hermione began to read it, she had got to a particulary rude bit and quickly put it down with no specific wanting to pick it back up.
Hermione quickly gathered up her things and opened the door, smiling at Rachael. "Hello," She said, going over to her bed.
"Yeah, hi," Rachael replied, running into the bathroom and shutting the door like a lightening bolt.
"Haven't you got quidditch practice?" Hermione said, putting some books and other things into herleather satchelbag.
"I know! I overslept and Harry's going to bloody kill me when he sees me!"
Hermione laughed and grabbed her white turtleneck top as she walked out. Walking down to the Great Hall, she went over her dream again. She had been having these dreams since last year, when some Death Eaters had attacked her, Harry and Ron in Hogsmeade on their last trip. She had been cornered by the filth of Lucius Malfoy, leering at her and taunting her heritage. Of course the encounter hadn't been as bad as her dream, but if Ron hadn't got to her, she'd shudder to think what would have happened.
Hermione walked down the stairs, savouring the quietness of the morning. She liked Hogwarts when everyone was asleep so she wouldn't be stared at or have to put up with whispers engulfing her like a thick fog. She walked into the Great Hall, waving at Ginny who was sitting at the near end of the table.
"Hey," Ginny said, looking up at Hermione.
"Hi," Hermione replied, sitting down and looking around. "Where's Ron and Harry?"
"They wanted to get everything ready." Ginny rolled her eyes. "I swear they think that tardiness before Quidditch is a crime.
"Well, you know them." The two girls laughed straight away at Hermione's remark.
"You're too wise for your own good Hermione Anne Granger- Ow!" Hermione had hit Ginny squarely on the arm. "I'm starting to regret Harry teaching you some muggle combat." They both laughed again and ate their breakfast, sharing opinions and some gigglingat Ron's attempt to look big in front of some Ravenclaws last night.
"And his face when Phillip came up and put his arm around Leatrice!" Ginny said, waving her arms in front of her. Hermione watched Ginny tell the story animatedly, loving the way she seemed so angelic, but harboured so much sorrow and pain beneath that fiery auburn hair.
"Well I'm gonna go and try not to have another lecture off Harry," Ginny announced, eating her last bit of egg and picking up her broomstick. "Have fun Hermy."
"Shut up Ginevra!" Hermione shouted at her back. She shook her head and drank her last bit of coffee before picking up her book bag and leaving the hall after Ginny. She didn't go towards the grounds though, but up towards the library. Madam Pince had recently told Hermione about some new books she'd been getting in, mostly about Dark Magic and forgotten history. She positively shivered with excitement as she counted up the possibilities of what could be hidden between those faded pages. However sad some people may find it, Hermione loved the idea of being tucked into a comfy armchair with some new reading material that was bound to help her in some way that either involved school work, the Final Battle or just personal things.
Making her way towards the oak doors, she walked over to Madam Pince's desk, who was writing down in her Returns book.
"Hello," Hermione said brightly, a smile plastered across her face.
"You sound like you've got bells on your teeth dear," The librarian complimented, looking through her spectacles at the girl.
Hermione laughed and looked behind her desk. "Have you got them?"
Madam Pince bent forward. "I'm afraid someone beat you to it." She pointed at a body hunched over a desk at the back of the library.
"Who th..." Hermione cut herself off, catching a glint of blonde hair. "Thanks." She stalked over to the person and went across the other side of the table, arms crossed and a look of disgust planted on her face. "Ah hem."
The boy looked up with a sneer, knowing that he angered her. "Well if it isn't Princess Mudblood," Draco Malfoy whispered, leaning back so he could look at her properly.
"That's getting old Malfoy. I, unlike you, have grown up and found other things to do late at night other than think up pathetic names for you. And anyway, how did you find out about these?" Hermione demanded sitting down forcefully.
"Don't think that you're not the only one who keeps tabs on all the books that come in."
"I... You... Oh fuck it!" Hermione shouted, gaining a murderous glance from Madam Pince. "I've been waiting for these books since the start of year, so don't you think that you're taking out all of them."
"No... just the interesting ones." Draco raised his eyebrow while Hermione looked at him in disbelief. He walked towards the bookcase behind her, taking out Dark Vengeance, brushing her cheek with his hand. "Your all blushed Granger."
Hermione's face had become particular red from her rage, but she quickly looked away from him so that he couldn't see the blood rising up to her cheeks even more for his remark. "No, it's called being so pissed off with a boy who thinks he bloody god!" Hermione hissed quietly, not wanting to aggravate the numerous people scattered in the library.
"Well I do try," Draco smirked, lacing the book down on the table behind him. A devilish glint crossed his eyes for a moment as he looked at Hermione. "It's just the fact I've got you all excited."
Hermione laughed in disbelief. "I don't think so Malfoy," Hermione spat.
"I make you all hot and bothered."
"Not likely."
"I make you feel dirty."
"I don't need a bath."
"You want me." Draco felt a hand come in contact with his cheek quickly.
"Don't you dare talk about me like I'm one of your whores!" Hermione exclaimed, breathing heavily. "I would never have any sexual contact with you, let along 'want you'".
"Well I'm out of luck... today."
Hermione let out a small groan of anger and slammed her book bag down on the floor. "You. Are. Such. A. Pompous. Bastard!" Hermione spat, poking him sharply on the chestin between every word. "Just like your father."
Draco whipped his head around to Hermione and started making his way towards her. "I am nothing like him," He said bluntly with a malicious glint now in his eyes.
"Malfoy get away from me; Your scaring me," Hermione whispered, walking backwards until her back hit a bookcase.
"I do not get happiness out of death. I will never sink to his level." He was now so close to her, that they were touching noses.
"I mean it back off!"
Draco turned around, his face now a picture of calm. He went to the table and picked up three of the books, walking out of the library without a backward glance.
Hermione let out the breath she had been holding in. "That was scary," Hermione said to herself, blinking in disbelief as she crossed over to the table and began reading the nearest book intensly, fighting away any thoughts of what had just happened.