I Hate That I Love You -- Dramione

Pride Be Gone

After scrubbing her skin so hard it now stung, trying to get Malfoy's touch off of her body, Hermione stepped out of the shower. 

She took a step back in surprise when she saw a white sundress hung next to the fluffy white towels on the towel rack. Hermione frowned, was this for her? Surely it wasn't for Malfoy, unless he'd changed a lot more than she had expected since Hogwarts. 

She walked over to the dress and held it up. The only other person it would be for would be Narcissa, but the dress would be awfully short on her, considering she was quite a bit taller than Hermione. 

Hermione shrugged and used her wand to dry her hair, then placed it into a sloppy bun that still looked decent. Hermione pulled on the dress and reached around to try and zip the back. She grunted in frustration. 

"Oi Granger! Quit playing with yourself and get out here. Mother's waiting," Malfoy called from the other side of the door. 

Hermione huffed in anger and threw open the door to reveal a grinning Ferret. Malfoy smirked at her red cheeks in satisfaction. 

Hermione sucked up her pride and glared at the floor, "I need your help."

Malfoy frowned, "Why? Your finger's just not doing it for you anymore?"  

Hermione fumed and glared at him with a look that could melt ice, "I need you to help me zip up my dress." 

A concerned voice filled the air from the stairs outside Malfoy's room and Hermione heard Mrs. Malfoy, "Draco, darling, breakfast is starting to get cold. What's taking you two so long?"

Malfoy murmured some colorful words under his breath and yelled back, "We'll be down in a minute!" 

His eyes snapped to Hermione, who was now trying to reach over the back of her shoulder to reach the zipper but again was left groaning in annoyance. 

Malfoy sighed and strode towards her, rolling his eyes, "Turn around, Granger." 

Hermione sighed, but slowly turned in a circle, her back to Malfoy as she stared at the dark walls. 

She jumped slightly when she felt his finger touch the soft skin of her lower back, trying to play it off as shivering and wrapping her arms around herself before gripping the shoulders of the dress to make sure it wouldn't fall of if he got any funny ideas. 

She willed herself to not jump when she felt his finger a little higher, where the zipper rested against the fabric. 

His fingers gripped the zipper and she held her breath as she felt a finger leading the zipper, dragging up the cavern of her back. Shivers ran through her body and she bit her lip to keep from making any noises to let him know what he did to her. 

Instead, she said, "Would you bloody hurry up already?" 

She heard him grunt behind her and the zipper made a sharp ting as it reached the base of her neck, where it was supposed to be. 

She turned, her breathing slightly shallow, "Thank you."

Malfoy, however, turned and strode towards the door, "Hurry up, Granger."

Hermione grabbed the heels she had worn the night before and slipped them on as she hurried after him. 

Hermione now sat in a black padded chair, stuffed with more food she thought possible, and respectively waiting for Malfoy and Narcissa to finish before leaving. 

To pass the time, Hermione looked around, noticing the interior looked different than the last time she'd seen it, then again, it had been a dark time. 

Another thing Hermione noticed was Malfoy's manners. He didn't rush through his meal like it was the last time he'd ever eat again, like a certain flaming red head did. Nor did he talk with his cheeks full with half chewed food. 

An owl interrupted Hermione's one way staring contest with Malfoy and dropped a roll of parchment into Malfoy's outstretched hand. He unraveled it and she noticed that it was the Daily Prophet. 

Hermione turned to face Narcissa to ask where she got her plates and silverware, to be polite, when she saw the front page of the prophet. 

"Bloody hell no!" She yelled, ripping the prophet out of Malfoy's hands. 

"Oi! I was reading that, woman!" Malfoy scowled. 

Hermione shook her head repeatedly, disbelief flooding her body as she stared at the headline of the prophet. 

Malfoy snatched the prophet back and frowned, "What are you so-" His eyes widened, "'War Heroine Cheats on War Hero Ronald Weasley'."

Narcissa gasped as she got a glance of the picture covering half the front page. Hermione's arms were slung around Malfoy's neck while his hands gripped her hips. The two were locked in a passionate kiss, both smiling with eyes closed. 

"Blimey Granger, Weasley's got to be pissed," Malfoy stared at her. 

Hermione shook her head, "No. He's not pissed because that stupid newspaper is wrong. He's the one who cheated, not me!" 

Angry tears filled Hermione's eyes and Narcissa placed her hand on top of Hermione's, squeezing it comfortingly.

Malfoy's eyebrows were pressed together, "Granger, I'm sorry. I-"

Hermione stood suddenly, pushing her chair back with a groan, "I have to go," she turned to Narcissa, "Thank you, but I have to go. I'm sorry." She started towards the door and as soon as she was out of sight, she started to sprint, which, mind you, was bloody difficult with heels on. 

She threw open the front door and she deflated, standing outside the Malfoy Manor gates was the last thing she wanted to see at the minute. 

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