Love's Horrid Fruit

Hermione

The next morning, I was happy. As I walked down to breakfast with Ron and Harry I was probably more chipper than usual, which tipped off the boys. "Why are you so happy?" asked Ron.

Turning to look at him and shrug I replied, "I dunno. I guess it's because it's a lovely day."

Ron frowned, "Whatever."

"I can't be in a good mood?"

His next shrug was his only response. I turned to check on Harry and found him with his nose in his stupid potions book. I frowned. He always had that book with him now, no matter where he went. I was beginning to worry about him, but I was determined not to let that get me down today.

Entering the Great Hall, I struggled to not look at Draco. We agreed to act like nothing has changed between us. Harry, Ron, and I took our usually spots at the Gryffindor table next to Dean, Seamus, Neville, and Ginny. As I piled food onto my plate, I couldn't help but glance at Draco.

He was looking at me, too.

It was strange. Not once did I doubt what was happening between us. Last year the very sound of his name was enough to disgust me. Now it created butterflies in my stomach, and caused my heart to skip beats. In my mind I silently blamed Ginny for all of this. If it wasn't for her, I would never have even looked in his direction.

Harry and Ron spoke of Quidditch tryouts. Ron was trying out for Keeper again this year. It has taken Harry and I weeks to talk him into it. Last year had been a little awful for Ron, but this year we were certain he was going to do a bangin' good job. That is... if he can make it through tryouts today. They were to take place after breakfast, and the entire table was buzzing. I was going to watch, but only to support my friends.

When we finished eating, the three of us stood and left the Great Hall to head outside and down to the Quidditch ring. Several students were there already, dressed and waiting to be told what to do. I climbed the stairs to sit in the stands where I found Luna Lovegood.

"Hello, Luna," I said, "May I sit here?"

"Of course," she smiled at me and turned back to the field, "Lovely weather we're having."

"Indeed."

"Reminds me of the day my father and I cleared the house of gnargles."

I smiled and nodded, not sure what to say in response. I looked down at the players and spotted Harry's jet black hair, and the two fire balls that are Ron and Ginny. Ron looked up and I waved down at him shyly. Cormac McLaggen came to stand by him and I quickly turned by attention away. McLaggen has been interested in me all year, and it was starting to annoy me. He was extremely good looking, and a seventh year, but he focused too much on himself and his future Quidditch career. Or rather, his new obsession with a Quidditch career. This was his first year trying out for the Gryffindor team.

If I didn't know better, which I do, I would say he was doing it to catch my attention.

Too bad.

From where I sat, I could see most of the grounds and found Draco and his friends sitting by the Black Lake. My body tightened when I saw his impossibly white hair, and I let out a longing sigh.

"If you want to leave you can," said Luna softly, "I'm sure Harry and Ron won't mind."

I froze. Did she know? "E-Excuse me?"

"You look like you want to leave. You don't have to stay here if you don't want to."

"No, no," I said, "I'm here for Ron."

"If you want to walk by the lake with Malfoy, I'm sure it's fine."

My heart stopped.

"What did you say?" My voice was so soft I wasn't sure if she could hear me.

"I couldn't help but notice you two kissing in the library yesterday. You two should really keep your snogging to a minimum."

I blushed, "Luna, please don't tell anyone."

"I won't," she said, turning back to the field, "Although... I do think it's a shame that you two are hiding such a powerful union. Your relationship could go quite far."

"Um... thank you, Luna."

Now I was just embarrassed. I was not a fan of public display of affection, and here I am snogging Draco Malfoy in the library in front of Luna Lovegood. My face burnt white hot and the cool air around me did nothing to help.

I honestly was surprised that steam wasn't rising off my skin.

"You really shouldn't be embarrassed," Luna continued, "Love is a strange feeling that never follows direction. You can't control who you fall for, even if he is supposed to be the bad guy."

I stayed silent as I watched everyone suddenly shoot up in the air on their brooms. Bad guy. The term rang through my mind like a bell. Draco was the bad guy. Right? Ever since our first year. Our second year he had cheered on the Heir of Slytherin who's soul mission was to clear the school of the Muggle borns. Our third year he had almost gotten Buckbeak killed, and Hagrid fired. In our fourth year he antagonized Harry with his infamous "Potter Stinks" badges. And wasn't it last year that he was on the Inquisitorial Squad?

My eyes went back to Malfoy by the lake and my heart dropped. He had made it his one goal in life to be like his father, the man who hated anyone who wasn't a pure-blood... the man who was is, a Death Eater.

Isn't the saying 'like father like son?'

Similar thoughts spun in crazy circles in my mind, but I pushed them all aside. If any of that were true, there would have been no way Draco would have kissed me like that.

Or touch me like that , for that matter.

No, there was no way that Draco was a bad guy to me.

I looked down at the Quidditch field and watched nervously as Ron and McLaggen took to the goal posts. McLaggen looked like he belonged on that broom, while Ron looked wobbly. McLaggen looked confident in front of those goals were Ron... Ron looked like he would rather be facing a giant spider.

The quaffle was released into the air, and the make shirt teams were ready to go. Luna and I watched as McLaggen easily blocked his first nine attempts, while Ron's were almost just sheer luck. The boys were tied, and I knew Ron would be devastated if he didn't get on the team, so I came up with an idea.

Ginny flew over to McLaggen, quaffle in hand, ready to throw. Cupping my hand over my mouth I flicked my wand in Cormac's direction and whispered, "Confundous." His broom swept to the side, allowing Ginny to score. I hid a smile as I watched Ron block the last one. He smiled as he flew back to the field and got off his broom.

When the tryouts were over, I left the stands to five Ron a hug, but Lavender Brown beat me to him. I frowned, but gave him a small smile he he looked my way. I told Ginny that I was going to leave, and she nodded. I barely made it out of the stadium when I was stopped by Draco Malfoy.

He held his finger to his lips to tell me to keep quiet as he took my hand and lead me into the stands. We walked around the rim of the field before we entered the dressing room that wasn't being used. Once there, he took me in his arms and kissed me.

Pulling away he said, "I thought I saw your hair," he smiled.

Smiling back I replied, "How was the lake?"

"Black."

"No joking?"

He smiled and kissed me gain. My insides tightened at his touch and my heart thundered against my chest. I wove my fingers in his hair and smiled into the kiss. This felt tight. This felt perfect.

This felt good.