Warning: This story will deal with dark topics such as rape, depression, PTSD, etc. If these aren't topics you can handle, I suggest leaving.
Disclaimer: I Own Nothing
OOC Warning for this chapter
Summary: One Malfoy in the castle was bad enough, but two just makes things much worse for The Golden Trio. When Hermione finds herself in the right place at the wrong time, she may have just found the Order a new unlikely member. However, that might be easier said than done with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher breathing down her neck.
"Ron…come on, cut it out," she whined as he peppered her face with kisses.
Harry and Ginny had left the compartment a while ago and Ron immediately took advantage of the opportunity.
"Why? We're alone…finally," he whispered against her lips with a small smile.
Ron's statement was contradicted by the awkward clearing of a throat. Hermione looked over Ron's shoulder with a flush before pulling away from him. She fixed her hair and righted her clothing as Harry and Ginny slowly made their way into the compartment. Ginny sat down across from them with the most disgusted look on her face.
"Sorry," Hermione apologized as she leaned into Ron's side.
She looked away, avoiding Ginny's cold stare.
"It's fine. I'll only have nightmares for a week," Ginny stated.
"Come off it, Ginny. How do you think I feel when you and Harry act like you're trying to inhale each other," Ron countered.
Hermione stifled a laugh as Ginny reached for her wand.
"Oi, watch it," Ron warned as he scooted back.
Hermione reached for Ginny's hand before standing up with a small smile.
"Come walk me to my prefect's meeting, Ginny."
Hermione figured that getting the siblings away from each other would prevent bloodshed. Hermione wasn't sure what had happened but sometime over the summer the two had become more hostile towards each other; more so than the usual. Hermione returned Ron's peck on the cheek with one of her own before dragging Ginny out of the door.
"Do I need to get leashes for the two of you to keep you from barking at each other," Hermione questioned.
"No," Ginny responded before crossing her arms over her chest.
"You going to tell me what's going on?"
"You know what's going on. I've told you a thousand times and I'll tell you again; Ron's an arse," Ginny said matter-of-factly.
Hermione suppressed a sigh. Ginny had made her feelings about her and Ron's relationship quite clear once Hermione had told her. To say Hermione had been shocked was a bit of an understatement. She had thought that Ginny would have been thrilled since the two of them were practically like sisters.
"Ginny, I know that Ron isn't perfect, but who is? Is this going to be a significant problem for us," Hermione questioned.
"No, but I just don't want this to affect us when things end badly between the two of you cause let's face it, its Ron."
Hermione ran her hand through her hair, pushing it away from her face with a sigh.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence in our relationship, Gin. It really means a lot," Hermione bitterly replied.
"You know it's the truth."
The both of them were quiet for quite some time. Hermione didn't know what to say because deep down…she did know that it was true.
"What are you doing with him, Hermione…," Ginny asked in defeat. "…be honest. You can't really believe that this is going to work. Bloody hell, three months ago you were adamant of the fact that he was a complete tosser and now you're acting like he's oxygen," Ginny hissed.
Hermione exhaled through her nose.
"He's actually not that bad, Ginny," Hermione reasoned.
It was the truth. Once she finally gave Ron a chance she realized that aside from the fact that he had the emotional range of a teaspoon, he was actually quite sweet, in his own way.
"Yes, he is," Ginny countered.
"We're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one because I'm giving him a chance. Ron really likes me and I don't want to hurt his feelings," Hermione shrugged.
"Despite the countless times he has hurt yours," Ginny snarked.
Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and was just about to reply when footsteps caught both of the girls' attention. Hermione frowned. She'd recognize that blond hair anywhere. However, her frown slowly eased away from her features as the figure neared. He had yet to change into his school robes so he was dressed head to toe in black, no surprise there. What was a surprise, at least to Hermione, was the way his black tee clung to him, showcasing his newly acquired build, causing Hermione to involuntarily take a step back as he neared. His hair and his clothes were perfectly in place, fit for a Malfoy, but his face told a completely different story.
The dark shadows beneath his eyes only made his aristocratic features and angular bone structure that much more prominent. Hermione inhaled as her eyes briefly met his. The haunted, hollow look in them was enough to wipe away all of Hermione's thoughts. She took another step back as a small smirk graced his sinful lips once his cold eyes made contact with hers. Hermione mentally prepared herself for a snarky remark but was left confused when Malfoy simply walked past them without uttering a word.
Hermione blinked in bewilderment as she forced her hands to still. She hadn't even noticed that they were trembling.
"You heard that too, right," Ginny quietly asked.
"Heard what?"
"Exactly, heard what. Since when has Malfoy ever come in contact with any of us and not said anything?"
Hermione didn't respond. She didn't know what to say to that because it was true. Draco Malfoy had encountered the two of them alone and acted as if they weren't even there. In fact, he didn't act like himself at all; he didn't even sneer at them or throw them an offensive hand gesture. Hermione frowned, thinking back to the conversation with Harry earlier.
"Don't you see, it was a ceremony. An initiation," Harry stated.
"Stop, Harry, I know where you're going with this-"
"It's happened. He's one of them," he interrupted.
"Hermione…?"
Hermione blinked, bringing herself back to the present.
"I don't know what that was about, but I don't have time to think about it. I have a meeting to get to," Hermione stated, shaking her head.
"Good luck and…Hermione? Please think about what I said. I don't know what's going on with you but…you don't need to settle for Ron," Ginny advised.
Hermione suppressed a sigh, instead opting for smiling and nodding.
"So nice of you to grace us with your presence, Ms. Granger," was the first thing Hermione heard as soon as she closed the door behind her.
Hermione flushed as all eyes focused on her.
"I apologize, Professor McGonagall. I lost track of time," Hermione explained.
"You didn't happen to come across Mr. Malfoy on your way here, did you?"
Hermione opened her mouth but immediately shut it. She didn't know whether or not to say anything. What could she say? Oh, yeah he was walking in the opposite direction of the Prefect's meeting that he's apparently supposed to be attending. Why did she care if she got him in trouble or not, anyway? No doubt, Malfoy would jump at the chance to be in her position right now.
"He wasn't feeling too well, Professor. Must have caught something over the break," a voice spoke.
Hermione's eyes landed on a lean raven haired boy. Slytherin, she immediately recognized. She couldn't put a name to his face though.
"Well, I do hope that it's nothing serious," Professor McGonagall stated.
Hermione decided to finally take her seat.
"Did you hear that there is a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Ginny stated.
The hall was loud with the chatter of students who were no doubt catching up with their friends, recounting things that had happened over the summer. Hermione's eyes drifted over towards the Slytherin table, taking note that a certain fair haired wizard was missing. She frowned in wonder of where he could be.
"When isn't there," Ron asked as he shoveled a spoonful of food into his mouth.
Hermione glanced towards the head table to find that particular seat empty.
"He's not here. Or she…," Harry stated, taking the words right out of her mouth.
Ginny glanced warily at the table. She fidgeted in her seat for a bit before resting her hand on the table and leaning in.
"If what I heard is true then…I don't blame him for not showing his face yet," Ginny whispered.
Hermione frowned in confusion.
"What are you talking about," she asked.
"I've heard that it's Malfoy."
Hermione jumped in her seat because Ron actually spit out his food all over the table. Harry's face had gone a ghastly pale color as Hermione's frown deepened. Hermione seemed to be the only one who was somewhat coherent so she asked what the three of them were obviously thinking.
"Malfoy…who," Hermione slowly asked.
It was a stupid question, really, but Hermione had to ask. She had to make sure that what she was hearing was correct before she started freaking out yet.
"Malfoy as in Draco's father," Ginny answered.
"No. Absolutely not," Harry countered in anger.
"There's no way they'd let him in here after…well you know. I thought he was in Azkaban," Ron hissed.
"Hermione, don't you have anything to say about this," Harry questioned.
Hermione pursed her lips, in thought.
"Honestly, I'm not too surprised. We all know that the Malfoys are a very important name in the Wizarding World and they have a lot of money. I'm willing to bet that he teaching here is a part of some deal he struck that keeps him a free man," she answered with a shrug.
"Plus, I'm sure this is Professor Dumbledore's way of keeping an eye on him," Ginny added.
"Still think I'm off my rocker now? First Malfoy and now his father," Harry seethed with a pointed look at Hermione.
"What's he on about," Ginny asked as she looked between the three of them.
Hermione slowly exhaled. She didn't want to admit it but Harry's suspicions were looking more and more like fact.
"Harry thinks that…Malfoy is one of them now," Hermione quietly answered.
"This is surprising and hard to believe how?"
"Well, because…he's still just a kid. I mean-"
"Hermione, no offense, but don't be so naïve. Like father, like son," Ginny interrupted.
Hermione wanted to verbally disagree. She wanted to argue all of the reasons as to why Malfoy might not be following in his father's footsteps so soon, but instead she picked up her fork and continued to eat in silence.
Hermione absolutely hated patrolling. She loved being a prefect; the extra responsibility and the authority. What's not to love? It was the patrolling at night part that made her a bit uneasy, especially with the current situation in the Wizarding World. It was the first night and true to Hermione's luck, she was patrolling the first night. Hogwarts was her home; full of joy and inviting, but at night a different atmosphere seemed to fall over the school. Every noise made her cringe and every shadow made her tense, but Hermione knew that that wasn't the main problem. Ernie had taken the upper levels of the building while Hermione was stuck with the lower level.
The dungeons were cold, dark and all things frightening. She didn't understand how the Slytherins could stand it. Then again, she supposed that it was perfectly fitting for the likes of them. She stilled, tilting her head to the side, thinking she'd heard footsteps. After a few seconds it turned out that she was right. She turned around, shining her wand towards the heavy footsteps that could be heard coming closer.
"Who's there," she called out.
"Lower your wand, Granger before you poke an eye out."
She huffed, recognizing the voice as he neared her.
"What are you doing out this late? You're a prefect. If someone other than me saw you what would they think? You're supposed to be setting an example, Malfoy," she scolded.
Malfoy stared at her for a while before a small smirk fell over his lips.
"Is that all…mum?"
Hermione inhaled, fuming. The nerve of him!
"I'm serious, Malfoy! You already missed the prefects meeting. Where were you anyway? One of your classmates said that you weren't feeling well," she responded.
"I wasn't."
"You looked perfectly fine to me," she snapped.
"Spend a lot of time checking me out, do you? I'm flattered," he drawled.
"Where were you?"
"That's not really any of your business, now is it?"
She crossed her arms over chest, jutting her hip out and raising an eyebrow. He huffed before rolling his eyes.
"Fine. I had a bad case of blue balls. I'm sure you've heard of it," he said with a grin.
Hermione's eyes widened to a comical size, her face immediately heating up.
"I…"
Malfoy took a small step towards her.
"Next time I'm…not feeling well, how about I get you to take a look? See if there's anything you can do to help," he whispered, eyes glinting with mischief.
Hermione gasped in disgust before taking a step back while he laughed.
"Ugh! You are-"
"Night, Granger," he sang as he brushed past her.
"Wait!"
"What now," he muttered as he turned around.
"You saw Ginny and I on the train," she started.
"Yes, I know. I was there," he deadpanned.
"You didn't say anything to us, not a word. Why," she questioned.
"Do you need me to acknowledge your presence every time I see you in order to add some meaning to your life?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
Malfoy was quiet for some time before his smirk grew.
"Goodnight, Granger," he spoke before turning around and heading towards the Slytherin common room entrance.
It wasn't until he was gone that Hermione realized that she had forgotten to ask him about his father.
Hermione stood outside of the door, mentally preparing herself to walk in. She didn't know if what Ginny had told them was true, but Hermione had a feeling, one that she didn't like, that told her it was. She hesitantly reached out and opened the door, taking slow, cautious steps into the classroom. Hermione glanced around the familiar room first before her eyes finally landed on him. She inhaled.
The trademark Malfoy hair fell gloriously over his broad shoulders, catching the light in the most peculiar way. His presence alone seemed to take up the entire room. His back was towards her, looking at something on his desk. The room was empty aside from the two of them, Hermione was early, per usual. Hermione Granger didn't know what to do. So she decided to turn around, walk out and wait for her friends. She was just about to open the door when…
"Hermione Granger; top of her class and supposed Brightest Witch of Her Age," a cold voice sneered.
Hermione sighed and clutched her books closer to her chest. It was too late to pretend like she'd never walked in now. She squared her shoulders and braced herself.
"According to Severus you're a prissy, little know-it-all so I shouldn't be surprised that you are the first one here."
Hermione slowly turned around, her eyes connecting with a colder pair that immediately made a chill travel down her spine. She involuntarily took a step back as she realized that he had moved much closer while her back was turned. He and Draco were around the same height so he too towered over her. He looked down at her with that smug, condescending look. The last time she'd seen him, he and his fellow Death Eaters had been trying to kill her and her friends so she stared back with a glare of her own.
"I thought that my friends would have been here by now but they're not so I will wait for them outside," she said.
A cruel smile suddenly fell over his face as he gestured to the desks.
"Nonsense! Wait for them here, make yourself comfortable," he offered.
He was challenging her and Hermione hardly ever backed down from a challenge. She walked past him, her shoulder brushing against the expanse of his chest and took a seat in the third row. She set her bag down and leaned down to grab her note book when a nice pair of black slacks and matching shoes came into her field of vision. She raised her head and came face to face with her new teacher.
"I'll be watching you like a hawk. One step out of line and I'll have you out of this school faster than you can blink. If I had it my way your kind wouldn't even step foot on this property, let alone sully this building with your filth."
"But it's not your way. It's Dumbledore's way," she snapped just as voices could be heard outside of the classroom.
Mr. Malfoy pulled away and was back at his desk in time for the doors to burst open. The sound of footsteps and voices filled the room but the voices soon fell into a hushed buzz.
"Bloody hell…it's true," she heard Ron curse as he fell into the seat beside her, his arm immediately resting behind her.
Harry was silent as he sat down on the other side of her but his silence spoke volumes. She just knew that the three of them would be in Professor Dumbledore's office by the end of the day.
"Welcome. I feel that no introduction is necessary but alas…"
His heart stopping eyes peered around the room before resting on the trio in the third row, specifically the female in the middle. She could feel Ron's arm tighten around her shoulder.
"…I am Lucius Malfoy, your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"But I don't understand!"
Hermione and Ron looked at each other as Harry and Professor Dumbledore went back and forth at his desk. They'd been in here for about half an hour and it was obvious that Harry could not change Professor Dumbledore's mind. The gist of the conversation was simple; Dumbledore brought Lucius here to keep an eye on him and on whatever Voldemort plans to do next. Harry completely disagreed.
"Mr. Potter, it is for the best."
Dumbledore's statement held finality, signaling that this particular discussion was over. Hermione watched as Harry's shoulders slumped before turning around and making his way for the exit, Hermione and Ron close behind.
"He can't really believe that can he," Harry wondered once they were in the corridor.
"Harry, you know that Professor Dumbledore never does anything without good reason. Do I agree with his decision? Of course not but he's much wiser than the three of us put together. Perhaps he sees something that we cannot," Hermione told him.
"I don't like it, not one bit. One Malfoy in the school is enough, we don't need Daddy Death Eater too," Ron added.
She opened her mouth to retort when someone rounded the corner; the last person who they wanted to see right now. Before she could stop him Ron had grabbed a hold of Malfoy's collar and shoved him against the wall.
"Why is your father here? Just what are the two of you up to," he roughly demanded.
Malfoy's hands were fast in shoving Ron away from him, causing him to hit the ground with a soft thud. Harry and Hermione took a step forward the same time Malfoy did. He stared down at Ron with hardened eyes.
"Don't. Touch. Me."
Ron slowly pulled himself up and glared at the slightly taller boy.
"You've got a problem with my father take that up with him," he snapped.
With one last lingering look at Ron he continued down the hall, shoving past Hermione in the process. While Harry walked towards Ron to make sure he was okay, Hermione found herself looking behind her at the retreating figure, only to find him looking back at her as well.
Hermione waved her wand, watching as the books found their rightful places. Madam Pince was awfully busy so Hermione volunteered to help out around the library. It was late so she had promised the older witch that she would lock up as well. As she moved on to the next case of books she heard rapid breathing, as if someone was out of breath…or highly upset. She set the books down on a nearby table and rounded the corner just as Malfoy tossed a book on the floor in anger.
"Hey, they are reading materials, not toys," she hissed.
Malfoy simply turned his head to glare at her before turning away. With a sigh she knelt down and began collecting the rest of the books on the floor. As she glanced at the familiar titles she looked up at Malfoy in confusion.
"What on earth did you break that you can't fix with a simple spell," she questioned.
"None of your damned business, Granger."
Hermione stared at him in silence for a moment, taking note that his shoulders were trembling. Hermione's eyes widened as she realized that Draco Malfoy was crying.
"Malfoy…?"
She hesitantly reached out as she took a step forward. She gasped in fear when her wrist was suddenly caught in an iron grip.
"Malfoy! Let go of me," she cried as she yanked on her arm.
She was frozen in shock as his other arms snaked its way around her waist and his face rested in the crook of her neck. The wetness she felt confirmed that he indeed was crying.
"I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do," he whispered repeatedly.
"You don't know what to do about what?"
Hermione was cautious in her movements and her words. Malfoy was clearly struggling with something, she had never seen him like this before. Her wrist was suddenly free as his hand came up to rest on the back of her neck.
"Kiss me," he whispered as he lifted his head.
"What…," Hermione cried in shock "…no, I have a boyfriend."
She leaned away as he leaned in.
"Are you drunk?"
The only response she got was the feel of his lips against hers. Her eyes were wide as his hands came up to rest on either side of her head. Her back connected with the bookshelf and her eyes fell close as a buzzing calm washed over her. Her hands hesitantly came up rest on his school shirt as she found herself kissing him back. It wasn't until Draco had pulled away did she realize what she'd just done. She touched her lips, horrified with herself as Draco stared at her with an unreadable expression.
"Don't tell," he said just before raking his eyes over her one last time and disappearing into the darkness.
Hermione wouldn't dream of it.
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