rating: NC-17 (for future chapters and etc)

Demon Beneath My Will

by harshdecember
 
 

Chapter 7
Sticks and Bruises
 

"You what??" Hermione turned to Ron, who was sinking back in his chair.

"What?? You can't blame me! He's the most ignorant fool I've been forced to be near for the past seven years!
And now I'm being forced into living with him??" Ron debated.

"Really, Ron! We're only staying here for another day! But if you want us gone, you could have just asked!"
Hermione said.

"I don't want you gone, I want him gone! Have him die, I don't care!" Ron yelled.

"Obviously." Malfoy smirked. "But the next time you try killing a man, you might want to try something other
than poison."

"Tell me how that didn't affect you!" Ron asked coldly.

"Can you take the answer that I'm used to it?" Malfoy asked simply.

"How would you be used to it??" Ron complained.

"Because, my foolish fiend, do you know how many times Lucius slipped poison into my food? He wanted me
'prepared' for the real world. Suppose that helped in a way, even though at the beginning I kept fainting and
throwing-up. But look now who's the better man?" Malfoy replied, his eyes flashing.

"Impossible." Ron muttered, running his hand through his hair. Ron, infact, looked very much like a man, but
refused to act like one most of the time. Harry and him were always playing some joke on Lavender or Parvati,
the school preps. And even professors. Their favorite victims were Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. But...their
aims were never sufficient. Ron had blazing red hair, very tall, and strong at that. He was built, alike Malfoy,
that made Hermione like them even more.

"Oh, very possible, Weasley. Show me that bottle of poison you have," Malfoy asked, not in a kind way. Ron,
not even making eye contact, pulled a small, black bottle of poison, throwing it at Malfoy. Malfoy caught it,
hardly looking up, and popped it open. He drank a small portion of it until he put it down, closing it.

"I'd love to see you do that," Malfoy said curiously, though arrogantly. Ron flinched. He hated Malfoy a little
too much. He should have bought a gun instead...

"Stop showing off, you two," Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron and Malfoy were now comparing their arm muscles.
Both looked alike; strong and bulky. Hermione couldn't help but stare. "OK, don't go there." Hermione warned.
-What are they trying to do?!- They were now comparing each other's abs. Hermione had no idea how they
could tell, but they were doing it none of the less. And again, Hermione's eyes drifted downwards to their stomachs.
"Honestly, you two. Why don't you go into the backyard and find long, pointy sticks and poke each other with
them until you agree on who's the bigger alpha male."

"No contest, I'm the bigger alpha male," Malfoy said absent mindedly, caressing his abs.

"No, you're thinking of comparing yourself with your quill, but in the real world, I'm the alpha male," Ron implied.

"Yes, you're the skimpy little quill," Malfoy said.

"Who are you guys trying to impress?" Hermione finally asked. Malfoy and Ron looked at each other. Both glaring,
but interested if the other was thinking of Hermione. "Guys?"
 

~~~~~~

"HA!" Malfoy laughed triumphantly. They were having a competition aganist who could throw lawn-gnomes farther.

Hermione rolled her eyes as she watched Ron try and throw his gnome farther than Malfoy's, when she saw
something fly above her, covering the sun for a split second.

"What the?" She mumbled, looking up. Flying down, she saw Malfoy's jet-black eagle, a letter tied to it. It landed
on the picnic table she was sitting at; Ron and Malfoy too transfixed on their game to notice. She untied the piece
of parchement from his leg and read it in her head:

Dear Hermione,
I take it Malfoy's owl didn't know who it was sending it to...cause it was tapping on my window at 2:30 in
the morning. This is Harry. What's up? I heard about that Lucius thing in the Daily Prophet yesterday. But
all they said was that "Lucius Malfoy attempts murder on Hermione Granger, 7th year at Hogwarts, but
escapes before death with the impecable son of Lucius, Draco Malfoy. We must not say where they are
staying, but one thing is for sure: as long as they keep moving, they are safe. There is no sign of Lucius yet,
but by far note, he is traveling to seek where the girl and his son are at, at this very moment."
What happened?? What's up with Malfoy? For all I know, he's probably trying to kill you. I'm with...can't
believe it...but with Dumbledore! He lives in this huge mansion and Voldemort could never find me here! Anyways, write back as soon as possible. And do you know who Ron's with? I want to write him but Hedwig
is too tired from the flight to Sirius. Bye!
Love,
Harry

"Stupid bird..." Hermione mumbled. But she was glad she was in contact with a civilized person for the time
being. Ron and Malfoy were too much to take. Now they were wacking each other with gnomes. -What is
their problem?- She thought, but wasn't going to bother and break them up from their battles. The sun beat
down on her; it was getting hotter out there. She decided to go inside and get a quill and ink to write back to
Harry. She directed the eagle to follow her; and gratefully it did. She sat down on a crooked chair and found
a quill and ink easily on the table. She turned the letter over and began to write back to Harry:

Dear Harry,
Stupid owl! I mean, no offense, but you really can't rely on him to at least send it to the right person? Oh
well, who cares. Now I'm at...I hope Lucius doesn't catch this first...but The Burrow; Ron's place. Who
knows when you'll get this letter, I'll probably be gone by when you get it, but Ron's here. He's trading
off with Neville, and Neville's already gone. But Malfoy, that night, he saved me from Lucius. Unlike him,
really. And now that Ron's here...they keep on having these meaningless competitions to see who's the
better 'man'. First Ron tried posioning Malfoy, then they started comparing their abs and muscles, now
they're...

Hermione looked out of the window; only to find that Ron and Malfoy were now wacking each other with sticks.
-Well, they're the brightest people I've ever met.- Hermione thought, and laughed at how childish they were acting.

Well, they 'were' seeing who could throw the gnomes farther, but now they took my idea and are now wacking
each other with long, pointy sticks. Things couldn't get any worse with them. Bye.

Love,
Hermione

Hermione finished her letter and tied the parchement to the dark eagle's leg.

"Take this to 'Harry Potter'. Got it?" She said clearly. "At 'Dumbledore's' house." She took the eagle outside and it
flew off without warning, cutting through the dusty; warm sky. It didn't need any food; since it got plenty from Harry.
She looked around. -Oh great.- Now Malfoy and Ron were making each other's noses bleed; blood oozed down
from their noses and their eyes turned a mixture of purple and black. "You know what. I'm not going to bother." Hermione rolled her eyes and went back inside to cool off.
 

~~~~~~

"Are they at it again?" Arthur asked in a boring tone, reading The Daily Prophet.

"Yep." Hermione replied, watching them punch each other left from right.

"Stop playing, boys." Mrs. Weasley shouted, but didn't really care anymore. They've been fighting for the past
three hours. It was now 12 o' clock.

"Don't worry, mum. Fred and George are here to save the day." Fred said importantly, and George and he ran
through the back door.
 

~~~~~~

"They were too strong," George weeped later that night. He had a black eye and a bruise on his cheek.

"I told you not to go for his stomach," Fred reminded, two black eyes.

"But why'd they have to hit us? We didn't do anything!" George complained.

"Actually, you did," Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes and gave them both an ice pack. "Remember? You picked up
a gnome and smacked it hard against their asses. Now that wasn't nice, was it?"

"You shouldn't have interferred," Mr. Weasley said. As they were talking, Ron and Malfoy walked in, both muddy
and bruised in places they didn't know they could. "Have fun?" Mr. Weasley asked. Ron glared at his father and
Malfoy walked upstairs, until they heard a loud slam of Fred and George's door.

"Sleep with one eye open," George warned Ron. Ron ignored him and walked up to Hermione who was relaxing
on the couch.

"Would you come with me for a walk before you leave tomorrow?" He asked her kindly. Hermione looked up at
him. Feeling both mad but pationate towards his question.

"Sure," she finally agreed. Now she had two men she liked...who should not be named. Hermione got up and led
her way out of the door and into the dark, starry night. Ron followed right behind. They walked down the path for
a while, not talking much, until Ron broke the silence.

"Hermione, I'm sorry Malfoy and I fought today. We've just been very foolish and competitive," Ron apologized.

"I'd just love to know why you two were fighting," Hermione said whistfully.

"I don't know either, but I do know one thing is right."

"Oh yea? What is that?"

"How long have we been friends, Mione? Six, seven years?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"I was just thinking...we've never...you know...shared feelings for each other ever...have we? Besides friendship?"

"....No...."

"Well then I'd like to change that." He stopped and turned to her magnificent face. He couldn't resist. He leaned
down and kissed her softly on her lips. A bit surprised but at the same time not, she kissed back. She didn't know
what she'd do. Malfoy had just kissed her a few nights ago. And she had kissed back. Now she was kissing Ron.
And she was kissing back. Unassure of anything at the moment, she allowed him to slip his tongue into her mouth,
deepening the kiss. Though she had the strangest feeling someone was watching them.
 
 
 

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Chapter 8