Silver eyes (restless sleep)
By tearsofher
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Draco, or any of these characters.. except Nickolas Gottery and the plot. They all belong to the talented J.K Rowling..
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Chapter one: Peace does not come so easy
Hermione poked at her food, head bowed, nodding slightly, then bolting back up. Her eyes wide, then she was met with drowsiness once again, and she felt her eyelids droop. She wanted to, needed to, give in to the lullaby.. She hadn't slept and gone to the once familiar dreamland in such a long time.. It had been too long. Too many times had she used spells to hide the bags under her eyes. " Hermione?" She jumped, at the pressure on her shoulder. Harry jerked back his hand, surprised at her behavior. She looked at him, and he saw weariness on her pallid face. " Are you alright? You seem.. Tired.. Jumpy.." She nodded, but her eyes no longer had that glimmer of reassurance, that glimmer of innocence that Harry had gotten so used to. The glimmer that Harry had begun to love. " You can tell me and Ron anything, anything, Hermione.. You know that, don't you?" He asked, placing his hand over hers. Hermione felt a faint smile spread across her tired face. " Of course I do, Harry," she said, as she slipped her hand out from under his and began to eat. Harry stared at her, slightly disappointed. She was so smart.. Yet so clueless. He took one last look at her, then turned to Ron, who was talking animatedly about quidditch.
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The next table over, Draco Malfoy seemed to have the same problem as Hermione. He was awfully tired, pale as the fresh winter snow. His hair was messy and tousled, looking as if he had been in a hurry to get out. Or, just too lazy. He played with his food, sliding it here and there; he wasn't hungry. He hadn't been getting any sleep, for he had.. it was something he could not explain. He had dreams- visions. Of a girl, a beautiful girl, but there was something so disturbing, so unfamiliar, yet he had felt it somewhere before. But, he never got to see the girl's face. He had always awoken from his state-unconscious or not, before he could see her completely. But, it was so strange; if he had never gotten to see the girl's face, then how did he know she was beautiful? He felt it hard to swallow, as the reoccurring dream played in his mind again. She had wavy, goddess like dark brown hair.. He felt his heart flip. How did he know she was beautiful? The feeling in his stomach, or the reaction his heart had whenever he thought of her, that was how. " What's the matter, Malfoy? Not going to bed early enough?" A slytherin boy smirked. Draco's head snapped to a dark haired boy, Nickolas Gottery. He heard some of the Slytherins snicker. Draco glared at him. He had never liked that Gottery boy. " You mind your own business, and I will fight the urge to shove this table down your throat," he snapped. Gottery gave him a cold glare, and turned away to talk to some boy. The snickering Slytherins had also turned away; they didn't dare test the temper of Draco Malfoy. The Slytherins were cruel and mean, but they weren't dense. 'Well, most of them aren't,' he said to himself as he looked at Crabbe and Goyle, who were stuffing their already full mouths with even more food. He smiled to himself visualizing both of them choking.. Rolling on the floor.. Draco smirked; that would be the day.
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The young Slytherin made his way through the hall, shoving against all that brushed against him. He would be late for potions if they kept getting in his way. And he certainly was not in the mood for any problem with professor Snape. Even if he was more lenient towards the Slytherins, he certainly did not tolerate tardiness. " Get out of my way!" he snarled, shoving a first year Ravenclaw out of the way. Seeing Draco was beginning to loose his temper, they all got out of his way.
" Today, class.." Snape said, peering at the Gryffindors. Then he took his eyes off them cautiously, and looked at everyone. " We will be assisting Madame Pomphrey. We will be making a healing serum, for serious cuts and wounds." He peered at them again. " Of course, as I love seeing my students miserable, I will pair you up in partners,'' He smirked at them maliciously. " After you have been paired up, I will write the ingredients needed for the serum, and instructions. And then you shall all get to work. One complaint, and I will take thirty points from your house," he looked at the Gryffindors once again. Hermione was really getting tired of Snape and his dirty looks; if only the man could smile more, instead of his evil smirk all the time. There were times she wanted to hex that stupid glare or smirk off his face. But that, she knew, would only get her into even more trouble. Even expelled. She shuddered at the thought.
" Weasley, Parkinson," he barked. Hermione saw Ron's shoulder's slouch, his eyes glittering with hate and disgust. " Potter, Goyle.'' " Brown, Bullstrode." " You," he pointed at Neville, disgust and annoyance on his face. " You will be working with Gottery. Under my very close watch.." Neville had the look of terror on his face as Hermione saw Gottery smirk, planning an evil demise. Hermione felt anger boil inside her, but pity at the same time. Poor Neville. It wasn't his fault he was terrible in Potions. Snape was a cruel man; he knew what Gottery was going to do, what he had planned. Yet he had paired him up with Neville. Hermione shook her head. " Granger, Malfoy." Hermione froze, as did Draco. 'What?' they both mouthed silently. 'Why did she have to be with Malfoy?' She thought. ' Out of all the people!' And at the same time, Malfoy was complaining mentally. ' The Mudblood? Out of all the freaking people Snape had to pair him up with HER? What was he on?' But, no complaint was uttered from either of their mouths, nor did any body else's.
Hermione walked over to Draco's table, looking miserable. Draco glared at her, disgust written all over his face. ' Mudblood,' he mouthed. Hermione glared at him; oh how she hated that name. She hated it more than anything in the world. The word was filthy, disgusting. Hateful. Being called that left her angry for hours, although she never showed it. She should've been used to it by now, being called it so many times. But she never got used to it. Never. And she doubted she was ever going to. She sat down on the chair next to him, scooting it farther away when Snape wasn't looking.
They worked silently, not speaking to each other, or even acknowledging each other's presence. But as Hermione was reaching over for the Silvertwine roots, her hand collided with Malfoy's, who wasn't looking either for he was concentrating on the instructions he had written down. He jerked his hand away at once, cursing under his breath. Hermione glared at him, snatching away the last ingredient. Draco looked at her, annoyed. Although they had not spoken; he still hated her.. But then he smelt the scent of strawberries as she leaned down to pick up her dropped quill. He froze; he had smelled that somewhere before. It was so familiar. He looked down on her turned head; everything seemed to move slowly. Her hair. Her dark brown, wavy locks.. They were so familiar.. And the sight of them made his heart stop. Just then he realized her deep brown eyes were staring into his, questionably, as he realized he had her quill in his hand.. He had.. Had he picked it up off the floor? He was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't realized what he was doing. He stared into her eyes.. They were also familiar. They were warm, deep.. filled with hope, but sorrow and a thick haze of questions, that remained unanswered He was jerked back into reality, as she called out his name. " Malfoy? I'd like my quill back now please," she said, rather politely. Whatever hate she had inside for him, she was hiding very well. He could not see it in her eyes. He gave it back to her, shocked, at his thoughts.. At his observations.. At the familiarity of Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor Mudblood.
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The young Gryffindor girl headed up to the dormitories. She had been disappointed when she hadn't been appointed prefect, of course, but Ginny had gotten it. She couldn't feel anything but happy for her friend. And maybe, a little envy, for some time. But she got over it, realizing she would have missed the dormitories a little too much, anyway. She muttered the password, and strode into the common room. There, Harry and Ron were relaxing on the couch, both seeming tired. But as she looked closer, they were crouched over, laughing so hard they couldn't breathe. Hermione stopped, and looked at her two best friends. " What'd you do this time?" " Peeves.. Snape.." They managed to utter before bursting into even more laughter. After a few moments, Hermione decided to head up to the girl's dormitories, after realizing they would never be out of the giggles long enough to tell her the whole story. She shook her head, but managed to smile. Harry and Ron.. They were odd. But very nice to have as friends. She lay down on her bed, letting the soft cotton bed sheets relax her tense body. Suddenly she felt her eyelids become heavy again.. And this time she assured herself it would be okay to drift away. If only she could stay asleep long enough to reach her dreamland. So she shut her eyes, and she felt her eyelids thank her, as much as her tired, weary eyes.
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" Hermione, Hermione.." Someone was shaking her awake. She opened her eyes, still weary, and found that it was Lavender who was waking her up. " Come on," she said. " We'll be late for dinner, you know. Everybody else left." Lavender took her hands off Hermione's shoulders as she sat up. She rubbed her eyes, trying to get the weariness to fade away, but it didn't. She stood up, straightened up her robes (that she had fallen asleep in), and walked out with Lavender. Lavender peered at the brown haired girl, and Hermione looked at her, sensing her gaze. " What is it, Lavender?" she asked her, tiredness hinted in her voice. She yawned, expecting an answer from her pretty friend. " Are you okay, Hermione? You always seem.. Tired, far away. Harry's been worried about you, and we have been too. Have you been getting much sleep?" Hermione looked at her friend, and saw concern in her eyes. Was she really this transparent? " I.. I- You're right. I haven't been getting much sleep, I don't know why," she shrugged. She couldn't lie to Lavender, and she didn't. She just left half of the truth out.. That wasn't counted as a lie, was it? Lavender sighed. " Thank goodness. I thought.. That it was something else." Hermione smiled, noticing Lavender was avoiding her gaze. " Like what?' Lavender chuckled, her soft laughter filling the empty hall. " It doesn't matter, forget it. It was silly." And before Hermione could persist, they had walked into the great hall. Hermione took a seat next to Harry, and he grinned at her. The plate in front of her was suddenly filled with food. " Well it's about time, Hermione. I thought you were never going to get here," he smiled. " I just fell asleep, is all, Harry," she smiled as she took a bite. She had to admit, she had felt a little better, better than this morning. Harry smiled even wider. He could tell by that twinkle in her eyes that his Hermione had come back.
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Draco had noticed that Granger had come in, with one of her little Gryffindor friends. She had looked better, so he had seen, than this morning, or any of the days before. There was more color in her cheeks, that twinkle in her dark eyes. He had been observing her, watching her, closely ever since that day in Potions. He didn't know why, and he tried to stop, believe me, he tried to. But everytime his eyes had finally settled on something else, they made their way back to the girl. And somehow, the sight of her comforted him. When he had realized that, was when he had come up with the conclusion that he was crazy. Draco Malfoy was crazy. But that didn't seem right. That wasn't how it was supposed to be. He was a Malfoy; he couldn't be crazy. But well, putting his name in for a reason why he couldn't be insane, wasn't a wise decision. After all, he was convinced his own father was crazy. Which, of course, everyone else had agreed with, and sent him to St. Mungo's. When Draco had found out, his mother had owled him, and he remembered laughing out loud, causing all the other tables turning around to look at him. But he didn't care; it was bloody funny, after all. To be honest, he had felt nothing but hate for his father. He was a cruel, cold man. And he had promised himself, when he was little, that he would never be like him. No, he would never be like Lucius. Not while he still had breath in his body. He realized he was still staring out into the Gryffindor table, breaking his train of thought. Just then, Granger looked up, and met his gaze. He held it, for a moment, for her dark eyes were hypnotizing, warm. And, especially, when, right now, when she was also looking into his eyes.. They sent a feeling, like a warm liquid being poured down his throat from being out in the freezing snow for days.. And then he felt a warm, comforting tingling that went from his toes to his throat. Just then, as if scared at what he was feeling, scared at what he had been realizing of feeling, he broke their gaze, turning his eyes down to his half empty plate. But he felt, as he did that, he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.. As if breaking their contact, being away from the comfort and warmth her eyes brought, saddened him. He mentally slapped himself. Why was he doing this? Why was he feeling this way? What was causing this? Why did he find peace in Granger's eyes? The Mud- suddenly he found he could not even say it. Even in his mind. This disturbed him even more. It couldn't be.. No. Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin pureblood prince, couldn't possibly.. He couldn't possibly like Hermione Granger. Granger was a teacher's pet, a suck up, know it all Gryffindor muggle born. But somehow, he frowned at his words. He hated her. Absolutely hated her. He called her a mu-.. a mu-.. a mudblood. A MUDBLOOD. There, he had said it. Mudblood. But, he had to strain, he had to try to say it. What was so different now? In the past six years, he had said it without hesitation; he didn't even need to think about it. But now, he had to strain to say it? This was absolutely ridiculous. Could this just be those hormones that adults tsk, tsk ,tsk about? Maybe he was just attracted to her.. He had to admit.. she had changed, over these past six years. Her legs had grown long and slender, her face flawless and her features were soft.. Her once bushy, annoying hair had become soft, long waves that even he had desired to run his hands through them.. And her eyes, oh her eyes. Draco felt as if he could get lost in them.. He felt like he was looking in the eyes of eternity. They were warm, innocent.. Hopeful. Suddenly his eyes trailed their way to the girl again.
She was laughing, lips curved into a genuine smile, eyes twinkling in the light. 'My God, she's beautiful,' he thought, but then tried to shove it away. ' She's a Gryffindor, you git. And besides, she hates you, remember?' he tried to talk into some sense into himself.
But, little did that do, as Draco lay awake, in the prefect room, again, thinking about the brown haired girl, who's eyes made it seem as if.. As if he wasn't the cold and hated, but feared Draco Malfoy. He closed his eyes; they were aching, he needed some sleep. But sleep did not come easy, neither did peace. And besides, the slumber, the empty slumber that he seemed to succumb to each night, did not lessen the tiredness, the sleepiness. He longed to actually fall asleep, something that he had not done in so long.. And dream about that dream girl that had always managed to take his breath away, even if he never really did see her face. But he didn't care. For seventeen years in his life, Draco had never felt that way about anyone, like how he felt about Hermione, or the dream girl. He had not even met a girl who he was attracted to.
Little did he know, that his dream girl and Hermione, was one and the same.
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Hermione lay awake, soft breaths filled the room of her companions. She could not sleep, but her eyelids were heavy. But she knew that slumber would be empty.. as always. It was useless. Another thing, that prevented her a visit from the sandman, was those piercing silver eyes that she had haunting her over the past few days. It seemed as if the pair had been burned into her brain, permanently marked into her soul. But what kept her confused, was whom the pair of stormy eyes belonged to.
Draco Malfoy. She had noticed him staring, every single day, and it bothered her, it really did. Partly because he was her enemy, and partly because, all she wanted to do was stare into his eyes also. She noticed this had started happening after the potions.. occurrence. And it felt so weird, so strange. This was Draco Malfoy. The boy who had called her the filthy name she hated, and who had been tormenting her and her best friends ever since they had set foot in Hogwarts. But somehow.. She couldn't stop thinking about the boy. She couldn't stop thinking about the way their gaze had met at dinner.. And the way they seemed to have bore into her soul.. She thought time had stopped; and realized she had been holding her breath. But then he turned away, and she felt her heart sink. Those stormy eyes of his were driving her mad. And weary. But, could she really have feelings for Draco Malfoy? Could it just be that she was attracted to him? Maybe.. maybe it was something more.. but how could that be? They never talked.. He never attempted to make friendly conversation with her. But she had never tried, either. ' He looks at me like he..' she stopped herself in mid thought. How could Draco Malfoy know her? He hated her, called her a filthy, Mudblood. She hated him. He deserved her hatred.
But somehow, that burning hate that she had felt for him over the past years, seemed to have disappeared. She searched, and it was nowhere to be found.
She drifted off, those pair of piercing silver eyes, the last thing she thought about and saw. Even when she had reached dreamland.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Draco, or any of these characters.. except Nickolas Gottery and the plot. They all belong to the talented J.K Rowling..
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Chapter one: Peace does not come so easy
Hermione poked at her food, head bowed, nodding slightly, then bolting back up. Her eyes wide, then she was met with drowsiness once again, and she felt her eyelids droop. She wanted to, needed to, give in to the lullaby.. She hadn't slept and gone to the once familiar dreamland in such a long time.. It had been too long. Too many times had she used spells to hide the bags under her eyes. " Hermione?" She jumped, at the pressure on her shoulder. Harry jerked back his hand, surprised at her behavior. She looked at him, and he saw weariness on her pallid face. " Are you alright? You seem.. Tired.. Jumpy.." She nodded, but her eyes no longer had that glimmer of reassurance, that glimmer of innocence that Harry had gotten so used to. The glimmer that Harry had begun to love. " You can tell me and Ron anything, anything, Hermione.. You know that, don't you?" He asked, placing his hand over hers. Hermione felt a faint smile spread across her tired face. " Of course I do, Harry," she said, as she slipped her hand out from under his and began to eat. Harry stared at her, slightly disappointed. She was so smart.. Yet so clueless. He took one last look at her, then turned to Ron, who was talking animatedly about quidditch.
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The next table over, Draco Malfoy seemed to have the same problem as Hermione. He was awfully tired, pale as the fresh winter snow. His hair was messy and tousled, looking as if he had been in a hurry to get out. Or, just too lazy. He played with his food, sliding it here and there; he wasn't hungry. He hadn't been getting any sleep, for he had.. it was something he could not explain. He had dreams- visions. Of a girl, a beautiful girl, but there was something so disturbing, so unfamiliar, yet he had felt it somewhere before. But, he never got to see the girl's face. He had always awoken from his state-unconscious or not, before he could see her completely. But, it was so strange; if he had never gotten to see the girl's face, then how did he know she was beautiful? He felt it hard to swallow, as the reoccurring dream played in his mind again. She had wavy, goddess like dark brown hair.. He felt his heart flip. How did he know she was beautiful? The feeling in his stomach, or the reaction his heart had whenever he thought of her, that was how. " What's the matter, Malfoy? Not going to bed early enough?" A slytherin boy smirked. Draco's head snapped to a dark haired boy, Nickolas Gottery. He heard some of the Slytherins snicker. Draco glared at him. He had never liked that Gottery boy. " You mind your own business, and I will fight the urge to shove this table down your throat," he snapped. Gottery gave him a cold glare, and turned away to talk to some boy. The snickering Slytherins had also turned away; they didn't dare test the temper of Draco Malfoy. The Slytherins were cruel and mean, but they weren't dense. 'Well, most of them aren't,' he said to himself as he looked at Crabbe and Goyle, who were stuffing their already full mouths with even more food. He smiled to himself visualizing both of them choking.. Rolling on the floor.. Draco smirked; that would be the day.
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The young Slytherin made his way through the hall, shoving against all that brushed against him. He would be late for potions if they kept getting in his way. And he certainly was not in the mood for any problem with professor Snape. Even if he was more lenient towards the Slytherins, he certainly did not tolerate tardiness. " Get out of my way!" he snarled, shoving a first year Ravenclaw out of the way. Seeing Draco was beginning to loose his temper, they all got out of his way.
" Today, class.." Snape said, peering at the Gryffindors. Then he took his eyes off them cautiously, and looked at everyone. " We will be assisting Madame Pomphrey. We will be making a healing serum, for serious cuts and wounds." He peered at them again. " Of course, as I love seeing my students miserable, I will pair you up in partners,'' He smirked at them maliciously. " After you have been paired up, I will write the ingredients needed for the serum, and instructions. And then you shall all get to work. One complaint, and I will take thirty points from your house," he looked at the Gryffindors once again. Hermione was really getting tired of Snape and his dirty looks; if only the man could smile more, instead of his evil smirk all the time. There were times she wanted to hex that stupid glare or smirk off his face. But that, she knew, would only get her into even more trouble. Even expelled. She shuddered at the thought.
" Weasley, Parkinson," he barked. Hermione saw Ron's shoulder's slouch, his eyes glittering with hate and disgust. " Potter, Goyle.'' " Brown, Bullstrode." " You," he pointed at Neville, disgust and annoyance on his face. " You will be working with Gottery. Under my very close watch.." Neville had the look of terror on his face as Hermione saw Gottery smirk, planning an evil demise. Hermione felt anger boil inside her, but pity at the same time. Poor Neville. It wasn't his fault he was terrible in Potions. Snape was a cruel man; he knew what Gottery was going to do, what he had planned. Yet he had paired him up with Neville. Hermione shook her head. " Granger, Malfoy." Hermione froze, as did Draco. 'What?' they both mouthed silently. 'Why did she have to be with Malfoy?' She thought. ' Out of all the people!' And at the same time, Malfoy was complaining mentally. ' The Mudblood? Out of all the freaking people Snape had to pair him up with HER? What was he on?' But, no complaint was uttered from either of their mouths, nor did any body else's.
Hermione walked over to Draco's table, looking miserable. Draco glared at her, disgust written all over his face. ' Mudblood,' he mouthed. Hermione glared at him; oh how she hated that name. She hated it more than anything in the world. The word was filthy, disgusting. Hateful. Being called that left her angry for hours, although she never showed it. She should've been used to it by now, being called it so many times. But she never got used to it. Never. And she doubted she was ever going to. She sat down on the chair next to him, scooting it farther away when Snape wasn't looking.
They worked silently, not speaking to each other, or even acknowledging each other's presence. But as Hermione was reaching over for the Silvertwine roots, her hand collided with Malfoy's, who wasn't looking either for he was concentrating on the instructions he had written down. He jerked his hand away at once, cursing under his breath. Hermione glared at him, snatching away the last ingredient. Draco looked at her, annoyed. Although they had not spoken; he still hated her.. But then he smelt the scent of strawberries as she leaned down to pick up her dropped quill. He froze; he had smelled that somewhere before. It was so familiar. He looked down on her turned head; everything seemed to move slowly. Her hair. Her dark brown, wavy locks.. They were so familiar.. And the sight of them made his heart stop. Just then he realized her deep brown eyes were staring into his, questionably, as he realized he had her quill in his hand.. He had.. Had he picked it up off the floor? He was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't realized what he was doing. He stared into her eyes.. They were also familiar. They were warm, deep.. filled with hope, but sorrow and a thick haze of questions, that remained unanswered He was jerked back into reality, as she called out his name. " Malfoy? I'd like my quill back now please," she said, rather politely. Whatever hate she had inside for him, she was hiding very well. He could not see it in her eyes. He gave it back to her, shocked, at his thoughts.. At his observations.. At the familiarity of Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor Mudblood.
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The young Gryffindor girl headed up to the dormitories. She had been disappointed when she hadn't been appointed prefect, of course, but Ginny had gotten it. She couldn't feel anything but happy for her friend. And maybe, a little envy, for some time. But she got over it, realizing she would have missed the dormitories a little too much, anyway. She muttered the password, and strode into the common room. There, Harry and Ron were relaxing on the couch, both seeming tired. But as she looked closer, they were crouched over, laughing so hard they couldn't breathe. Hermione stopped, and looked at her two best friends. " What'd you do this time?" " Peeves.. Snape.." They managed to utter before bursting into even more laughter. After a few moments, Hermione decided to head up to the girl's dormitories, after realizing they would never be out of the giggles long enough to tell her the whole story. She shook her head, but managed to smile. Harry and Ron.. They were odd. But very nice to have as friends. She lay down on her bed, letting the soft cotton bed sheets relax her tense body. Suddenly she felt her eyelids become heavy again.. And this time she assured herself it would be okay to drift away. If only she could stay asleep long enough to reach her dreamland. So she shut her eyes, and she felt her eyelids thank her, as much as her tired, weary eyes.
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" Hermione, Hermione.." Someone was shaking her awake. She opened her eyes, still weary, and found that it was Lavender who was waking her up. " Come on," she said. " We'll be late for dinner, you know. Everybody else left." Lavender took her hands off Hermione's shoulders as she sat up. She rubbed her eyes, trying to get the weariness to fade away, but it didn't. She stood up, straightened up her robes (that she had fallen asleep in), and walked out with Lavender. Lavender peered at the brown haired girl, and Hermione looked at her, sensing her gaze. " What is it, Lavender?" she asked her, tiredness hinted in her voice. She yawned, expecting an answer from her pretty friend. " Are you okay, Hermione? You always seem.. Tired, far away. Harry's been worried about you, and we have been too. Have you been getting much sleep?" Hermione looked at her friend, and saw concern in her eyes. Was she really this transparent? " I.. I- You're right. I haven't been getting much sleep, I don't know why," she shrugged. She couldn't lie to Lavender, and she didn't. She just left half of the truth out.. That wasn't counted as a lie, was it? Lavender sighed. " Thank goodness. I thought.. That it was something else." Hermione smiled, noticing Lavender was avoiding her gaze. " Like what?' Lavender chuckled, her soft laughter filling the empty hall. " It doesn't matter, forget it. It was silly." And before Hermione could persist, they had walked into the great hall. Hermione took a seat next to Harry, and he grinned at her. The plate in front of her was suddenly filled with food. " Well it's about time, Hermione. I thought you were never going to get here," he smiled. " I just fell asleep, is all, Harry," she smiled as she took a bite. She had to admit, she had felt a little better, better than this morning. Harry smiled even wider. He could tell by that twinkle in her eyes that his Hermione had come back.
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Draco had noticed that Granger had come in, with one of her little Gryffindor friends. She had looked better, so he had seen, than this morning, or any of the days before. There was more color in her cheeks, that twinkle in her dark eyes. He had been observing her, watching her, closely ever since that day in Potions. He didn't know why, and he tried to stop, believe me, he tried to. But everytime his eyes had finally settled on something else, they made their way back to the girl. And somehow, the sight of her comforted him. When he had realized that, was when he had come up with the conclusion that he was crazy. Draco Malfoy was crazy. But that didn't seem right. That wasn't how it was supposed to be. He was a Malfoy; he couldn't be crazy. But well, putting his name in for a reason why he couldn't be insane, wasn't a wise decision. After all, he was convinced his own father was crazy. Which, of course, everyone else had agreed with, and sent him to St. Mungo's. When Draco had found out, his mother had owled him, and he remembered laughing out loud, causing all the other tables turning around to look at him. But he didn't care; it was bloody funny, after all. To be honest, he had felt nothing but hate for his father. He was a cruel, cold man. And he had promised himself, when he was little, that he would never be like him. No, he would never be like Lucius. Not while he still had breath in his body. He realized he was still staring out into the Gryffindor table, breaking his train of thought. Just then, Granger looked up, and met his gaze. He held it, for a moment, for her dark eyes were hypnotizing, warm. And, especially, when, right now, when she was also looking into his eyes.. They sent a feeling, like a warm liquid being poured down his throat from being out in the freezing snow for days.. And then he felt a warm, comforting tingling that went from his toes to his throat. Just then, as if scared at what he was feeling, scared at what he had been realizing of feeling, he broke their gaze, turning his eyes down to his half empty plate. But he felt, as he did that, he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.. As if breaking their contact, being away from the comfort and warmth her eyes brought, saddened him. He mentally slapped himself. Why was he doing this? Why was he feeling this way? What was causing this? Why did he find peace in Granger's eyes? The Mud- suddenly he found he could not even say it. Even in his mind. This disturbed him even more. It couldn't be.. No. Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin pureblood prince, couldn't possibly.. He couldn't possibly like Hermione Granger. Granger was a teacher's pet, a suck up, know it all Gryffindor muggle born. But somehow, he frowned at his words. He hated her. Absolutely hated her. He called her a mu-.. a mu-.. a mudblood. A MUDBLOOD. There, he had said it. Mudblood. But, he had to strain, he had to try to say it. What was so different now? In the past six years, he had said it without hesitation; he didn't even need to think about it. But now, he had to strain to say it? This was absolutely ridiculous. Could this just be those hormones that adults tsk, tsk ,tsk about? Maybe he was just attracted to her.. He had to admit.. she had changed, over these past six years. Her legs had grown long and slender, her face flawless and her features were soft.. Her once bushy, annoying hair had become soft, long waves that even he had desired to run his hands through them.. And her eyes, oh her eyes. Draco felt as if he could get lost in them.. He felt like he was looking in the eyes of eternity. They were warm, innocent.. Hopeful. Suddenly his eyes trailed their way to the girl again.
She was laughing, lips curved into a genuine smile, eyes twinkling in the light. 'My God, she's beautiful,' he thought, but then tried to shove it away. ' She's a Gryffindor, you git. And besides, she hates you, remember?' he tried to talk into some sense into himself.
But, little did that do, as Draco lay awake, in the prefect room, again, thinking about the brown haired girl, who's eyes made it seem as if.. As if he wasn't the cold and hated, but feared Draco Malfoy. He closed his eyes; they were aching, he needed some sleep. But sleep did not come easy, neither did peace. And besides, the slumber, the empty slumber that he seemed to succumb to each night, did not lessen the tiredness, the sleepiness. He longed to actually fall asleep, something that he had not done in so long.. And dream about that dream girl that had always managed to take his breath away, even if he never really did see her face. But he didn't care. For seventeen years in his life, Draco had never felt that way about anyone, like how he felt about Hermione, or the dream girl. He had not even met a girl who he was attracted to.
Little did he know, that his dream girl and Hermione, was one and the same.
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Hermione lay awake, soft breaths filled the room of her companions. She could not sleep, but her eyelids were heavy. But she knew that slumber would be empty.. as always. It was useless. Another thing, that prevented her a visit from the sandman, was those piercing silver eyes that she had haunting her over the past few days. It seemed as if the pair had been burned into her brain, permanently marked into her soul. But what kept her confused, was whom the pair of stormy eyes belonged to.
Draco Malfoy. She had noticed him staring, every single day, and it bothered her, it really did. Partly because he was her enemy, and partly because, all she wanted to do was stare into his eyes also. She noticed this had started happening after the potions.. occurrence. And it felt so weird, so strange. This was Draco Malfoy. The boy who had called her the filthy name she hated, and who had been tormenting her and her best friends ever since they had set foot in Hogwarts. But somehow.. She couldn't stop thinking about the boy. She couldn't stop thinking about the way their gaze had met at dinner.. And the way they seemed to have bore into her soul.. She thought time had stopped; and realized she had been holding her breath. But then he turned away, and she felt her heart sink. Those stormy eyes of his were driving her mad. And weary. But, could she really have feelings for Draco Malfoy? Could it just be that she was attracted to him? Maybe.. maybe it was something more.. but how could that be? They never talked.. He never attempted to make friendly conversation with her. But she had never tried, either. ' He looks at me like he..' she stopped herself in mid thought. How could Draco Malfoy know her? He hated her, called her a filthy, Mudblood. She hated him. He deserved her hatred.
But somehow, that burning hate that she had felt for him over the past years, seemed to have disappeared. She searched, and it was nowhere to be found.
She drifted off, those pair of piercing silver eyes, the last thing she thought about and saw. Even when she had reached dreamland.