5
Chapter 5 of 22
Fawkes_07* * * September 9, 1997 * * *
He expected her to be hogging the bathtub as usual when he finished his patrol, but was startled to find her in front of a roaring fire in the common room. She didn't look up when he came in, and that was fine with him. No need to exchange any pointless greetings, after all. Draco went to his room and undressed, donning his bathrobe.
Rather than simply walk straight into the bathroom, however, he felt an annoying tug from his conscience. It shouldn't matter that this was usually her bath time; she wasn't in there, so the tub was fair game, yet it seemed somehow taboo to just take over. Draco waffled in the doorway of his room for so long that he felt foolish. "Mind if I have the bath?" he said, then grimaced. He should have told her, not asked her.
Fortunately she didn't turn around. "It's all yours."
Fuck! He knew she hadn't meant that to be insulting, but somehow it was. "You got that right," he grunted and stomped off to the bathroom.
He took a long bath, but she was still there when he came out. She hadn't even moved, as far as he could tell. What the hell is this shite? "Expecting a Floo, Granger? Boyfriend supposed to call?" he said, toweling his hair. She didn't answer. "I'll be damned!" he continued. "I didn't think you could sit still this long without studying something!"
"Just shut it, Malfoy," she said listlessly.
Incredible! He hadn't thought she could possibly be more annoying, and there it was. He tossed the towel onto the floor of the bathroom and flopped casually beside her on the couch. She glanced at his bare legs as he propped his feet on a pouf, which put a wry grin on his face. Settling into the cushions, he wriggled a bit, deliberately loosening the top of his robe. "It is a nice night for a fire, isn't it?"
She looked at him with a sneer of distaste, but she couldn't hide the sudden dilation of her pupils and the lingering gaze at his chest. Draco was a strikingly good-looking man, and he knew it. He waited until she looked into his face, then quirked his brows. "Something on your mind, Granger?"
"A lot," she said, but the flirtatious nature of his question had bypassed her completely. "How was Patrol?"
A bit thick, this one. No matter; Draco enjoyed challenges of all types, and he was in the mood to rattle her cage. "Docked about seventy points. Not bad for a weeknight. I think it must have been Amortentia day in Potions; I broke up six different couples groveling in the corridors." He ran his fingers through his hair, combing a few damp strands out of his eyes.
Now she's catching on. Granger narrowed her eyes and stiffened slightly. "What are you doing out here, Malfoy?" she said suspiciously.
He shrugged, doing his best to look genuinely innocent. "Just enjoying this fine fire you've built. Feels good after the bath." He arched his upper body in a catlike stretch, loosening the robe even further, then let a hand drop to his chest, his fingertips sliding beneath the terrycloth. "You might try it yourself," he noted.
Draco had planned to slide his hand southward, but her look of uncertainty was too amusing to spoil. She just couldn't decide if he was hitting on her or not. He stretched his legs, too, permitting the bottom of the robe to fall open for a brief moment, but draped it demurely back over his thigh. That caught your eye, didn't it? He turned toward the fire before her gaze returned to his face. It was fun to keep her guessing.
He closed his eyes and tipped his head all the way back, utterly relaxed, and let his hand settle a bit further down on his belly. He could feel her eyes roving over him, and he gave her plenty of time to check him out. At last he opened his own eyes to find her gazing at him, to be sure, but in an unfocused, general sort of way, not with any particular keenness. Still, it was a fine setup.
"See anything you want?"
She jumped and scowled at him. "Don't flatter yourself."
He was tempted to kick it up a notch, but it had been a long day and it really did feel nice to stretch out before the roaring fire, even though it wasn't a particularly cold night. "Whatever, Granger," he shrugged, and settled back cozily again. The fire crackled merrily, warming his toes. What the hell, as long as she kept her mouth shut, why not enjoy the common room for a change?
He hadn't even realized he was drifting off to sleep. All Draco knew was that one minute he was listening to the blazing fire, the next it was nearly pitch dark save for the glow of embers. He sat bolt upright, scrambling in a futile effort for his wand. He didn't generally keep it in his bathrobe. He staved off a moment of panic by reminding himself that he really was alone. Even Granger had obviously gone off to bed.
After he caught his breath again and berated himself for dropping his guard, he realized that he was covered with a blanket--one he'd never seen before.
"Fucking bitch," he muttered, apropos of nothing.
_____________________
A/N: If you've read it, review it! This is my first D/H story and I'm on the prowl for feedback.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Looking and Seeing
170 Reviews | 7.69/10 Average
looking to see what next... chapie 21: suprise that severus has a wife, & he gave great advice to draco!!!
love it.. lovely moment between dh..
alway knew draco could be nice to hermine, if he wanted to..
maybe draco will help hermione over her sadness of being lonely.. love severus's idea of draco and hermione working together..
so draco learn interesting fact concerning hermione, while spying on her and severus's discussion! love the plot, so far...
Omg! I started this not realising it was incomplete, and that it had been five or so years since it was updated. Are there any concrete plans to finish it? I really hope so, it's a great story so far. Feels like it's going to be much longer than this. Please finish! :)
oh! I really hope you havenmt decided to completely abandon this fic forever, I've only just discovered it and I want more! Please reconsider and pick it up again! --Tyche
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
I haven't abandoned any of these poor fics, honest. I have them all written in my head. I just can't for the life of me find time to type them out. Someday...
Response from TycheSong (Reviewer)
Good! I am relieved to hear that. :-)
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
I haven't abandoned any of these poor fics, honest. I have them all written in my head. I just can't for the life of me find time to type them out. Someday...
Response from TycheSong (Reviewer)
Good! I am relieved to hear that. :-)
oh! I really hope you havenmt decided to completely abandon this fic forever, I've only just discovered it and I want more! Please reconsider and pick it up again! --Tyche
I just noticed that this story got updated over on MNFF, which prompted me to reread....I really, really hope that you finish this story and the "is it worth it to finish" from a couple of chapters back is not how you feel. I want to know what happens! Or rather, how you draw the story to its conclusion. The situations you devise are unusual and intriguing, and I look forward to the next chapter.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
I plan to, really. I'm just always short on time. MNFF doesn't even have the latest chapter up, I don't update as regularly over there.
Ahh... this story was so satisfying. I loved how in character both Hermione and Draco are. Their 'feelings' naturally evolve without making them ooc. I see you haven't updated this in a while, I hope eventually you'll come back to it. Even so, since they finally got together and it seems happy times are ahead, you could also mark this as complete.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Heh, well, I could, except I do have some more ideas that I wanted to write about when I started this tale... well, we'll see.
Just read through this story for the first time! Its brilliant, I would love to read more!!!
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Thx, yeah, I wish I could write more, but I just broke 6 ribs and can't sit up for more than a few minutes. Sigh.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Thx, yeah, I wish I could write more, but I just broke 6 ribs and can't sit up for more than a few minutes. Sigh.
Draco is so sexy/pathetic/vulnerable/lovable/hatable in this chapter. I love how complicated and and mysterious and subtle their relationship is so far... it's somehow a lot more believeable than if everything were all spelled out. I love it.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
That's what I was shooting for--cool! Glad you're enjoying.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
That's what I was shooting for--cool! Glad you're enjoying.
I was seriously busting a gut laughing while reading this chapter. I LOVE the way this story begins--I've been looking for some good snark for weeks. This is the first D/H fic I've read, and I think I may be hooked. Hawt. I really love your version of Draco. He feels just right.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Cool! Always glad to know there's other people who have the same twisted sense of humor as me. :)
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Cool! Always glad to know there's other people who have the same twisted sense of humor as me. :)
I started reading this on Pureblood and was so thrilled to see it here, too! Fantastic story and I agree with the other reviewers - the amount of build-up has been perfect.Looking forward to the next installment. :)
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it so far--it turned out pretty good.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this fic. It is very well-written, and, unlike many for this pairing, believable. Thanks for writing it, and I hope you choose to continue.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Thanks! I will--but I'm behind on all my fics at the mo.
Haha.. I can totally picture Draco checking himself in the suits of armor. And the description of "pink, bubbling champagne" was perfect!
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
*grin* Thanks! I've felt like pink bubbles inside before, myself.
Oh, this was SO lovely!
I can't explain why, but this slow, kissing-only, nonsexual event feels deliciously perfect. If I were reading Severus/Hermione I'd probably be frustrated but in this story with Draco and Hermione it feels splendidly right.
Can't wait for more!
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
yay! I like to think they're both young enough that they wouldn't leap into it pell-mell--they'd want to try one another on first.
Response from mia madwyn (Reviewer)
Also, maybe a response to how fragile she is (or has been)? How unexpectedly sweet of him.
Oh, I do hope that you will be continuing on with this. I couldn't stop reading--it was spellbinding in every way. If you need encouragement, consider this to be some, okay? If you choose not to go on, thank you for sharing what you have. It's well written and thought out and I did really enjoy it. :D
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Thanks! Glad you like it--I do plan to continue but I have a lot of "open" fics at the moment...
Glad to know you're back on this; thanks for the short but sweet chapter!
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
You bet!
That was quite sweet.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
:) I thought so.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
:) I thought so.
Please keep writing this story. A couple of chapters back you thought it wasn't being recieved well. I wasn't reading it because it was listed under the hogwarts cat. and I haven't taken to many of those stories. But I started to read yours and kept saying yeah with each marker for the next chapter until this one.
Don't get discouraged about not getting reviews, I am a avid reader but terrible about writing a review and I am going to try and become better at giving encouragement to my favorite authors. I am looking forward to your next chap. Your timing for the relationship to take a turn was perfect. I didn't feel like---geez, get there already. I know there is suppose to be a build up but some authors build up for so long that I actually start disliking the characters and then I lose interest in the story altogether.
So I bow to your nimble fingers and quick mind. But most of all, have fun writing or its not worth it.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
LOL, thanks. It is nice to get reviews, we authors are such hogs for trouble. Maybe I should have put it in a different category? Malfoy Manor, maybe? Heck, I never know what to put them in.I know exactly what you mean about the WAAAY too long buildup--I get annoyed with that a lot too. But some people love it--it's all accounting for taste, I guess.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
LOL, thanks. It is nice to get reviews, we authors are such hogs for trouble. Maybe I should have put it in a different category? Malfoy Manor, maybe? Heck, I never know what to put them in.I know exactly what you mean about the WAAAY too long buildup--I get annoyed with that a lot too. But some people love it--it's all accounting for taste, I guess.
I really like this story, i love the draco/Hermione pairing (there aren't enough of them in my opinion)Draco's POV was irresistible, i liked how he reacted to having a "secret". but I wonder what will happen when the other students discover their relationship. and i'm sure Harry and ron will have something to say, even if they are no longer so close to hermioneupdate soon please
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Yeah, it was fun to think about how they might react the next day. I debated a lot of ways it could go and decided this was the sweetest. Hee hee. But yeah, you know a LOT of people are going to weigh in on this one...
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Yeah, it was fun to think about how they might react the next day. I debated a lot of ways it could go and decided this was the sweetest. Hee hee. But yeah, you know a LOT of people are going to weigh in on this one...
I gave up reading fanfic for Lent, but when I saw you'd updated the temptation was too great to resist. This was a great chapter, I love the change in Draco, how his self-centered concern for his own pleasure has begun to shift in ways he's not really even recognizing yet.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Exactly. He's really in over his head and he doesn't even know it. Heh.
Response from Fawkes_07 (Author of Looking and Seeing)
Exactly. He's really in over his head and he doesn't even know it. Heh.