Pain is Bitter
Chapter One [Death Comes]
Two archenemies were standing alone in an abandoned corridor in Hogwarts. Being Head Boy and Girl, they had to appear friends to the rest of the school, when in public. However, consequently whenever they were alone, they ripped at each others throats until someone came along and restrained them (Usually a teacher or Harry. Ron would just cheer.).
"Mudblood!" said Draco Malfoy scathingly as he glared at Hermione Granger.
"Say that one more time, Malfoy…" she hissed in reply, threateningly.
Malfoy sneered.
"MUD. BLOOD." He said slowly and defiantly.
Hermione was becoming exceedingly angry. They'd only been back in school for 2 months, and so far they hadn't resorted to use of wands, but she was coming very close. One more word out of that…
"You filthy, dirty little Mud…"
Well, that was 4 1/2 words, she justified. Before Malfoy could react, she had whipped out her wand and muttered something under her breath. With a pop, he was gone. Hermione looked down. A small gecko was staring up at her.
Hermione laughed. Even as a gecko, Malfoy was rather cute, she thought. Wait, correction… if only Malfoy could be as cute when he wasn't a gecko.
She laughed again. The gecko was running around in circles anxiously. Hermione heard footsteps. Too bad her enjoyment couldn't last. She whipped out Colin Creevey's camera, which she had confiscated earlier, and snapped a picture, then quickly said, "Finite Incantatem."
Malfoy was back. She sighed regretfully. Too bad.
"You will pay dearly for that, I will have my revenge!" said a livid and very red Draco, and then suddenly he changed his tune, smiling at her and saying "Thank you for the help, Mione, you're such a good friend."
McGonagall nodded at the two approvingly before walking on.
Malfoy glared at Hermione, and then he too left, leaving Hermione alone in the corridor.
Hermione rolled her eyes, giggling at the little gecko that was looking murderous in the picture.
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Hermione and Draco sat waiting in Professor McGonagall's office, where they held their weekly meetings. The silence was so thick you could slice it with a knife.
Finally, Hermione said, "You look really nice as a gecko, Draco."
"Why thankyou, Hermione." said Draco stiffly.
Hermione looked at him in surprise.
"What?" she said, suspiciously.
"Well, we are adults, Hermione. I think we should call a truce."
Hermione stared at him for a full minute before saying, "Fine. Sounds good to me."
McGonagall walked in and was pleased to see her top students having a pleasant conversation. They really were the best of friends these days.
"Well, good morning, you two!" she said cheerfully, sitting down behind her desk and shuffling some papers. "Well, you are aware that this is your last year at Hogwarts?"
They both nodded.
"And after this year you will be going out into the real world. Now you have both put in applications to teach here at Hogwarts-"
At this, Hermione and Draco looked at each other in surprise.
"-and usually any professors we take on have at least a year-long internship at Beauxbatons or Durmstrang. But, since you two are our best students, we have decided to let you do your internship here at Hogwarts. So next year, you will return to Hogwarts as usual, and the year after that, we will take you both on as full-time professors." She smiled almost nervously, waiting for their reactions.
Hermione smiled and said, "Thankyou Professor! This is the opportunity of a life time, I mean, I could never in my wildest dreams think of a happier profession for myself!"
She was practically overflowing with happiness.
Draco sat in his chair silently.
When Hermione had finished gushing, McGonagall turned to him.
"What do you think, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Erm, that shall be pleasant. I thank you profusely, Professor McGonagall." Draco said a tad blandly. McGonagall and Hermione both chose to ignore this.
"Well, you are dismissed then." Hermione and Draco walked out of the class sedately. Hermione was almost halfway down the corridor before she gave in to the excitement.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! This totally rules! Omigosh Draco! I'm so excited! Omigod! YES!" She squeaked happily, jumping up and down and giving Draco a bear hug, with no break in the giggling and squealing. "This is totally the best! Do you even realize? I have to tell Ron and Harry! And Ginny! And Mum and Dad! And Neville and Dean and Seamus! And Lavender and Parvati and… everyone! Omigosh!" She yelled, leaping into Draco's arms for another hug.
Draco looked mildly amused.
"Calm down Granger. I think I'm having déjà vu. Isn't this exactly what you did when we found out we were Head Boy and Girl at the end of 6th year?" Hermione was still hugging him, for lack of anyone better to hug, and Draco was still walking determinedly toward the Great Hall, because he was going to get his supper, Hermione Granger or no Hermione Granger. They looked rather strange; Hermione hanging off of him with her arms around his neck and face buried in his shoulder and going on and on about 'opportunity' and such and such, and Draco trudging on swinging his legs and arms as though he was walking through a lake of Jell-O, trying to push her off of him and mumbling about 'miss supper' and 'really really hungry'.
Dumbledore walked up beside them, chuckling. Draco saw his chance.
"Dumbledore! Help me! Will you please get Hermione off of me!"
There was no need to, though. At the word Dumbledore, Hermione looked up, and upon seeing Albus, squealed, leapt off of Draco and bounded across the hall straight into Dumbledore's arms. They had become rather close last year when Hermione had helped him with some translations.
Draco rolled his eyes.
He had found out last year that Hermione was prone to attacks of extreme excitement. Although they were not friends, exactly, he and Hermione HAD had to work together for the past two years, first as Deputy Head Boy and Girl, and now as Head Boy and Girl, and from the looks of things, they would be working together for a good while yet. They spent a good part of their time together.
By the time they reached the Great Hall, Hermione had been passed between Draco and Dumbledore a good few times. ('Will you take her Draco? I'm tired.' 'Albus, I can't go on, the squealing is deafening me').
The aforementioned 'attacks of extreme excitement' were NOT something to scoff at. Hermione would stay like this for 10- 40 minutes, and it was quite intense. The students were used to their strange Head Girl by now, and she was generally acknowledged as the 'mad scientist' or 'crazy genius' type.
It was Draco's turn holding her again as they walked through the doors to the Great Hall. Everyone turned to see what the commotion was, but turned away again when they realized it was just Hermione having another one of her fits. Harry and Ron waved at Draco, shaking their heads, and Ginny was in hysterics. Although Draco would never be a friend to the Fabulous Four, they weren't such enemies anymore.
Draco sighed in relief as he sat down at in his chair at the head table and tried to shove Hermione into her chair next to him. She wouldn't be budged. Even Snape, who sat next to Draco, was smiling as Draco began to eat his meal, weaving the fork around Hermione, who was sitting in his lap, talking excitedly.
"Yesh, Hermione. No. Exshactly. Totally agree wif you. Of Coursh! Opportunitiesh abound!" He mumbled through his meal.
By the time he was finished eating, Hermione had calmed down enough to be dislodged by Harry
and Ron, much to everyone's relief. They marched her out of the hall, while she still talking about privilege, with Ginny trailing behind them laughing.
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Hermione walked into the common room, dressed in her red tank top and pants pajama set.
Draco - dressed in a blue T-shirt that said 'Draco Malfoy Rocks' on the front and gray sweatpants - was sitting studying in his armchair when she stopped in front of him. She waved a picture around in his face.
Draco looked through his silver rimmed reading glasses at the picture and groaned.
"Hermioneeeeeeee!" He whined. "Give that picture to me!"
He stood up and she darted away from him. "I don't have time for this, Mudblood scum! I have an essay to write and… Ha! Caught ya!" He said triumphantly, grabbing her arm and snatching the picture.
"I take it the truce is off?"
Hermione nodded and made another grab for the picture.
He held the picture over his head and said, "Go to bed, Granger, you NEED your beauty sleep. Really." Then laughed and ran into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
Hermione scowled, then laughed.
She went into her bedroom, shut the door, and got into bed to plot ways to get revenge on Draco. She felt something squirmy beneath her and screamed.
"What the fuck?!" She yelled as she leapt out of bed. She switched on her bedside lamp and screamed again. Her bed was filled with geckos!
She ran out of her room and into Draco's, still screaming. "Jesus Christ Draco! There's one on me! Get it off!"
Draco was laughing his head off.
"Hold…still…Granger!" he gasped between laughter. He grabbed her shoulders, steadying her, and began to search for the gecko. After about 5 minutes of her squirming and shrieking and him trying to find the gecko, he found it nestled peacefully in her hair. He grabbed it and lay it on the floor.
Hermione sighed in relief and turned to him, her eyes blazing. Like Medusa, Draco thought. At that he froze.
She had been ranting for God-knows-how-long when she realized Draco was completely and utterly motionless.
"What are you doing? Draco?" She said confusedly as she waved a hand in front of his eyes.
Draco whispered, "Reptiles in her hair, so ugly she could turn men to stone."
Hermione let out an outraged yell, slapped him hard across the face, shoved him onto his bed and stormed out of the room.
Draco laughed himself to sleep.
------
In the middle of the night he woke to hushed voices. He looked at his clock. 12:00 AM. Ugh.
He got out of the bed, rubbing his eyes and getting prepared to tell Hermione and Harry or Ron or Ginny or who ever it was off. He swung the door open quietly and poked his head out.
Hermione was sitting on the couch with her back to him, and Dumbledore and McGonagall were sitting across the room from her, telling her something. Draco couldn't hear what since they were whispering.
All of a sudden Hermione jumped up from the couch and ran outside. McGonagall tried to go after her, but a haggard looking Dumbledore held her back, shaking his head.
Draco's brow furrowed in confusion. What was going on? Probably something about how she wasn't allowed to go to Hogsmeade. Draco had heard the teachers discussing how The Fab Four weren't allowed to go to Hogsmeade because of Sirius Black, who was still on the loose. Voldemort had been destroyed by Mad Eyed Moody and Dumbledore years ago. Honestly, Hermione got upset over the smallest things!
Draco grinned, he had a plan. He never thought about why Dumbledore and McGonagall would wake Hermione at 12 in the night to tell her about Hogsmeade. I mean, what else could it be?
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Hermione ran all the way to the lake, her hair whipping around her in the fierce wind. She walked around and around it, trying not to think about what Dumbledore and McGonagall had just told her. It couldn't be true.
There was a whooshing sound somewhere near her. It was such a familiar sound, but she couldn't place her finger on it. So she decided to ignore it.
The sound was louder. Hermione looked around, growing alarmed. All of a sudden someone grabbed her arm and something hit her hard in the stomach. The ground was getting farther away, and she was hanging from something.
That's when she realized, she was flying. She was lying over a shiny mahogany broom on her stomach, flying over Hogwart's grounds. She could hear the whooshing noise, and something else. Laughter. Malfoy?! Hermione managed to turn her head without throwing up from fear, and looked up.
Malfoy. There he was, flying along in all his glory, head thrown back, shaking with laughter, and a hand placed most inappropriately on her bottom, holding her onto the broom. The effort of holding her head up against gravity and wind became too much and Hermione let her head droop.
What she saw nearly made her scream. They were high up. So, so high up.
VERY high up.
Draco turned the broom, and Hermione whimpered in fear. She was going to fall. She was going to fall. She had never liked flying, but this? So high up. Going to fall. Tears were streaming down her face now.
"Malfoy! Let me down! Please!" She yelled over the wind.
He looked down at her, disproportionately pleased, and saw her tear-stained face, which made him smile even wider.
"I knew you were afraid of heights Granger, but not this afraid." He sneered.
Upon seeing her face crumple, he pulled her into a sitting position in front of him, taking the slightest pity. Although, it was even slighter than you make think, because after he pulled her up he became more daring, doing his various Quidditch tactics, which included the Wronski
Feint.
Hermione wasn't whimpering anymore. Now she was downright sobbing.
"Please! Please, Draco! Don't do this to me! You don't know… you can't know! Oh Draco please! I'm so frightened, just let me down, I'll never do anything to you again, oh please Draco! Anything you want. I'll give you anything you want!" She yelled between sobs.
Draco just laughed. This was perfect. He had her at a complete disadvantage. Seeing her beg like that…
it was too good to be true.
She twisted around to face him, and Draco was sure she was going to tell him off. He almost fell off the broom himself in surprise when she wrapped her arms around him and said, "If I go down I'll take you with me!" sounding like the old, bold Hermione.
He was silent for a few minutes, and she broke again, like he'd known she would.
"Please. I'll do anything if you just let me off."
"Anything?"
"Anything! Please Draco! Please!"
She was still crying, it was almost like rain, the wind whipped the tears off of her face and onto his own.
He sighed and began to spiral down to Earth slowly, determined to make this enjoyable moment last. Hermione was still whimpering. They weren't down to the ground when she leapt off the broom desperately, landing in a crumpled heap next to the lake, still crying.
Draco hopped of the broom and yanked her to her feet roughly.
"Now you owe me, Mudblood." He sneered at her. Hermione cried harder.
"I h-hate you, Draco!"
"I h-hate you Draco!" He said mockingly.
She was crying so hard now that Draco was afraid she'd cough up her lungs. He was a little, tiny bit worried. Ok, so he was really worried. Hermione shouldn't be that upset.
"What's wrong?"
"My M-mom! She died! She was murdered Draco!" Hermione sobbed.
Draco couldn't resist such bait.
"Thank God! We need to rid the world of those Muggles! One down." He said, and regretted his words the minute they left his mouth. What could've possessed him to say such an incredibly cruel thing? He was…heartless.
Hermione went pale; so pale she was almost translucent.
Draco was shaking his head, unable to speak, shocked that he could have said such a thing. He thought she looked like some sort of waif, so pale in her red pajama set, with her red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained face, so tiny and fragile, like anything could break her, like the wind could carry her away and toss her in it's currents forever.
He held up his hands as though to put them on her shoulders, but she stumbled away, her mouth open, looking like she was in an incredible amount of pain, and she was, emotional pain instead of physical.
Hermione had never felt so much pain in her entire life. Her heart was being broken, her lungs were being ripped apart, someone was beating a war song on her head like a drum. Her entire body was pulsating with this pain, this life sucking, this unbelievable pain. And she felt as though she could never escape it.
With that Hermione collapsed on the ground.
Draco knelt next to her, not caring that his pajamas were getting covered in dirt.
"Hermione? Hermione?" He said, then picked her up and ran to the castle, flinging his broom into the broom shed as he passed by it.
She was so fragile looking, he had to get her inside or she would catch her death of cold. Death.
'Isn't that what you want Draco? To rid the world of another Mudblood? Isn't that what you just said?" Said a scornful voice in his head. NO! No! Draco thought weakly.
By now he was up to their shared dorm, he kicked in the portrait (2 ladies with a stroller in the park) and ran into her room. Laying her on the bed (after checking to make sure the gecko charm had worn off) he covered her up with the thick burgundy and gold comforter. He sat on the bed by her and rubbed her arms and legs, getting them warmer.
Then he stoked up the fire and fell asleep by her.
Chapter One [Death Comes]
Two archenemies were standing alone in an abandoned corridor in Hogwarts. Being Head Boy and Girl, they had to appear friends to the rest of the school, when in public. However, consequently whenever they were alone, they ripped at each others throats until someone came along and restrained them (Usually a teacher or Harry. Ron would just cheer.).
"Mudblood!" said Draco Malfoy scathingly as he glared at Hermione Granger.
"Say that one more time, Malfoy…" she hissed in reply, threateningly.
Malfoy sneered.
"MUD. BLOOD." He said slowly and defiantly.
Hermione was becoming exceedingly angry. They'd only been back in school for 2 months, and so far they hadn't resorted to use of wands, but she was coming very close. One more word out of that…
"You filthy, dirty little Mud…"
Well, that was 4 1/2 words, she justified. Before Malfoy could react, she had whipped out her wand and muttered something under her breath. With a pop, he was gone. Hermione looked down. A small gecko was staring up at her.
Hermione laughed. Even as a gecko, Malfoy was rather cute, she thought. Wait, correction… if only Malfoy could be as cute when he wasn't a gecko.
She laughed again. The gecko was running around in circles anxiously. Hermione heard footsteps. Too bad her enjoyment couldn't last. She whipped out Colin Creevey's camera, which she had confiscated earlier, and snapped a picture, then quickly said, "Finite Incantatem."
Malfoy was back. She sighed regretfully. Too bad.
"You will pay dearly for that, I will have my revenge!" said a livid and very red Draco, and then suddenly he changed his tune, smiling at her and saying "Thank you for the help, Mione, you're such a good friend."
McGonagall nodded at the two approvingly before walking on.
Malfoy glared at Hermione, and then he too left, leaving Hermione alone in the corridor.
Hermione rolled her eyes, giggling at the little gecko that was looking murderous in the picture.
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Hermione and Draco sat waiting in Professor McGonagall's office, where they held their weekly meetings. The silence was so thick you could slice it with a knife.
Finally, Hermione said, "You look really nice as a gecko, Draco."
"Why thankyou, Hermione." said Draco stiffly.
Hermione looked at him in surprise.
"What?" she said, suspiciously.
"Well, we are adults, Hermione. I think we should call a truce."
Hermione stared at him for a full minute before saying, "Fine. Sounds good to me."
McGonagall walked in and was pleased to see her top students having a pleasant conversation. They really were the best of friends these days.
"Well, good morning, you two!" she said cheerfully, sitting down behind her desk and shuffling some papers. "Well, you are aware that this is your last year at Hogwarts?"
They both nodded.
"And after this year you will be going out into the real world. Now you have both put in applications to teach here at Hogwarts-"
At this, Hermione and Draco looked at each other in surprise.
"-and usually any professors we take on have at least a year-long internship at Beauxbatons or Durmstrang. But, since you two are our best students, we have decided to let you do your internship here at Hogwarts. So next year, you will return to Hogwarts as usual, and the year after that, we will take you both on as full-time professors." She smiled almost nervously, waiting for their reactions.
Hermione smiled and said, "Thankyou Professor! This is the opportunity of a life time, I mean, I could never in my wildest dreams think of a happier profession for myself!"
She was practically overflowing with happiness.
Draco sat in his chair silently.
When Hermione had finished gushing, McGonagall turned to him.
"What do you think, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Erm, that shall be pleasant. I thank you profusely, Professor McGonagall." Draco said a tad blandly. McGonagall and Hermione both chose to ignore this.
"Well, you are dismissed then." Hermione and Draco walked out of the class sedately. Hermione was almost halfway down the corridor before she gave in to the excitement.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! This totally rules! Omigosh Draco! I'm so excited! Omigod! YES!" She squeaked happily, jumping up and down and giving Draco a bear hug, with no break in the giggling and squealing. "This is totally the best! Do you even realize? I have to tell Ron and Harry! And Ginny! And Mum and Dad! And Neville and Dean and Seamus! And Lavender and Parvati and… everyone! Omigosh!" She yelled, leaping into Draco's arms for another hug.
Draco looked mildly amused.
"Calm down Granger. I think I'm having déjà vu. Isn't this exactly what you did when we found out we were Head Boy and Girl at the end of 6th year?" Hermione was still hugging him, for lack of anyone better to hug, and Draco was still walking determinedly toward the Great Hall, because he was going to get his supper, Hermione Granger or no Hermione Granger. They looked rather strange; Hermione hanging off of him with her arms around his neck and face buried in his shoulder and going on and on about 'opportunity' and such and such, and Draco trudging on swinging his legs and arms as though he was walking through a lake of Jell-O, trying to push her off of him and mumbling about 'miss supper' and 'really really hungry'.
Dumbledore walked up beside them, chuckling. Draco saw his chance.
"Dumbledore! Help me! Will you please get Hermione off of me!"
There was no need to, though. At the word Dumbledore, Hermione looked up, and upon seeing Albus, squealed, leapt off of Draco and bounded across the hall straight into Dumbledore's arms. They had become rather close last year when Hermione had helped him with some translations.
Draco rolled his eyes.
He had found out last year that Hermione was prone to attacks of extreme excitement. Although they were not friends, exactly, he and Hermione HAD had to work together for the past two years, first as Deputy Head Boy and Girl, and now as Head Boy and Girl, and from the looks of things, they would be working together for a good while yet. They spent a good part of their time together.
By the time they reached the Great Hall, Hermione had been passed between Draco and Dumbledore a good few times. ('Will you take her Draco? I'm tired.' 'Albus, I can't go on, the squealing is deafening me').
The aforementioned 'attacks of extreme excitement' were NOT something to scoff at. Hermione would stay like this for 10- 40 minutes, and it was quite intense. The students were used to their strange Head Girl by now, and she was generally acknowledged as the 'mad scientist' or 'crazy genius' type.
It was Draco's turn holding her again as they walked through the doors to the Great Hall. Everyone turned to see what the commotion was, but turned away again when they realized it was just Hermione having another one of her fits. Harry and Ron waved at Draco, shaking their heads, and Ginny was in hysterics. Although Draco would never be a friend to the Fabulous Four, they weren't such enemies anymore.
Draco sighed in relief as he sat down at in his chair at the head table and tried to shove Hermione into her chair next to him. She wouldn't be budged. Even Snape, who sat next to Draco, was smiling as Draco began to eat his meal, weaving the fork around Hermione, who was sitting in his lap, talking excitedly.
"Yesh, Hermione. No. Exshactly. Totally agree wif you. Of Coursh! Opportunitiesh abound!" He mumbled through his meal.
By the time he was finished eating, Hermione had calmed down enough to be dislodged by Harry
and Ron, much to everyone's relief. They marched her out of the hall, while she still talking about privilege, with Ginny trailing behind them laughing.
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Hermione walked into the common room, dressed in her red tank top and pants pajama set.
Draco - dressed in a blue T-shirt that said 'Draco Malfoy Rocks' on the front and gray sweatpants - was sitting studying in his armchair when she stopped in front of him. She waved a picture around in his face.
Draco looked through his silver rimmed reading glasses at the picture and groaned.
"Hermioneeeeeeee!" He whined. "Give that picture to me!"
He stood up and she darted away from him. "I don't have time for this, Mudblood scum! I have an essay to write and… Ha! Caught ya!" He said triumphantly, grabbing her arm and snatching the picture.
"I take it the truce is off?"
Hermione nodded and made another grab for the picture.
He held the picture over his head and said, "Go to bed, Granger, you NEED your beauty sleep. Really." Then laughed and ran into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
Hermione scowled, then laughed.
She went into her bedroom, shut the door, and got into bed to plot ways to get revenge on Draco. She felt something squirmy beneath her and screamed.
"What the fuck?!" She yelled as she leapt out of bed. She switched on her bedside lamp and screamed again. Her bed was filled with geckos!
She ran out of her room and into Draco's, still screaming. "Jesus Christ Draco! There's one on me! Get it off!"
Draco was laughing his head off.
"Hold…still…Granger!" he gasped between laughter. He grabbed her shoulders, steadying her, and began to search for the gecko. After about 5 minutes of her squirming and shrieking and him trying to find the gecko, he found it nestled peacefully in her hair. He grabbed it and lay it on the floor.
Hermione sighed in relief and turned to him, her eyes blazing. Like Medusa, Draco thought. At that he froze.
She had been ranting for God-knows-how-long when she realized Draco was completely and utterly motionless.
"What are you doing? Draco?" She said confusedly as she waved a hand in front of his eyes.
Draco whispered, "Reptiles in her hair, so ugly she could turn men to stone."
Hermione let out an outraged yell, slapped him hard across the face, shoved him onto his bed and stormed out of the room.
Draco laughed himself to sleep.
------
In the middle of the night he woke to hushed voices. He looked at his clock. 12:00 AM. Ugh.
He got out of the bed, rubbing his eyes and getting prepared to tell Hermione and Harry or Ron or Ginny or who ever it was off. He swung the door open quietly and poked his head out.
Hermione was sitting on the couch with her back to him, and Dumbledore and McGonagall were sitting across the room from her, telling her something. Draco couldn't hear what since they were whispering.
All of a sudden Hermione jumped up from the couch and ran outside. McGonagall tried to go after her, but a haggard looking Dumbledore held her back, shaking his head.
Draco's brow furrowed in confusion. What was going on? Probably something about how she wasn't allowed to go to Hogsmeade. Draco had heard the teachers discussing how The Fab Four weren't allowed to go to Hogsmeade because of Sirius Black, who was still on the loose. Voldemort had been destroyed by Mad Eyed Moody and Dumbledore years ago. Honestly, Hermione got upset over the smallest things!
Draco grinned, he had a plan. He never thought about why Dumbledore and McGonagall would wake Hermione at 12 in the night to tell her about Hogsmeade. I mean, what else could it be?
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Hermione ran all the way to the lake, her hair whipping around her in the fierce wind. She walked around and around it, trying not to think about what Dumbledore and McGonagall had just told her. It couldn't be true.
There was a whooshing sound somewhere near her. It was such a familiar sound, but she couldn't place her finger on it. So she decided to ignore it.
The sound was louder. Hermione looked around, growing alarmed. All of a sudden someone grabbed her arm and something hit her hard in the stomach. The ground was getting farther away, and she was hanging from something.
That's when she realized, she was flying. She was lying over a shiny mahogany broom on her stomach, flying over Hogwart's grounds. She could hear the whooshing noise, and something else. Laughter. Malfoy?! Hermione managed to turn her head without throwing up from fear, and looked up.
Malfoy. There he was, flying along in all his glory, head thrown back, shaking with laughter, and a hand placed most inappropriately on her bottom, holding her onto the broom. The effort of holding her head up against gravity and wind became too much and Hermione let her head droop.
What she saw nearly made her scream. They were high up. So, so high up.
VERY high up.
Draco turned the broom, and Hermione whimpered in fear. She was going to fall. She was going to fall. She had never liked flying, but this? So high up. Going to fall. Tears were streaming down her face now.
"Malfoy! Let me down! Please!" She yelled over the wind.
He looked down at her, disproportionately pleased, and saw her tear-stained face, which made him smile even wider.
"I knew you were afraid of heights Granger, but not this afraid." He sneered.
Upon seeing her face crumple, he pulled her into a sitting position in front of him, taking the slightest pity. Although, it was even slighter than you make think, because after he pulled her up he became more daring, doing his various Quidditch tactics, which included the Wronski
Feint.
Hermione wasn't whimpering anymore. Now she was downright sobbing.
"Please! Please, Draco! Don't do this to me! You don't know… you can't know! Oh Draco please! I'm so frightened, just let me down, I'll never do anything to you again, oh please Draco! Anything you want. I'll give you anything you want!" She yelled between sobs.
Draco just laughed. This was perfect. He had her at a complete disadvantage. Seeing her beg like that…
it was too good to be true.
She twisted around to face him, and Draco was sure she was going to tell him off. He almost fell off the broom himself in surprise when she wrapped her arms around him and said, "If I go down I'll take you with me!" sounding like the old, bold Hermione.
He was silent for a few minutes, and she broke again, like he'd known she would.
"Please. I'll do anything if you just let me off."
"Anything?"
"Anything! Please Draco! Please!"
She was still crying, it was almost like rain, the wind whipped the tears off of her face and onto his own.
He sighed and began to spiral down to Earth slowly, determined to make this enjoyable moment last. Hermione was still whimpering. They weren't down to the ground when she leapt off the broom desperately, landing in a crumpled heap next to the lake, still crying.
Draco hopped of the broom and yanked her to her feet roughly.
"Now you owe me, Mudblood." He sneered at her. Hermione cried harder.
"I h-hate you, Draco!"
"I h-hate you Draco!" He said mockingly.
She was crying so hard now that Draco was afraid she'd cough up her lungs. He was a little, tiny bit worried. Ok, so he was really worried. Hermione shouldn't be that upset.
"What's wrong?"
"My M-mom! She died! She was murdered Draco!" Hermione sobbed.
Draco couldn't resist such bait.
"Thank God! We need to rid the world of those Muggles! One down." He said, and regretted his words the minute they left his mouth. What could've possessed him to say such an incredibly cruel thing? He was…heartless.
Hermione went pale; so pale she was almost translucent.
Draco was shaking his head, unable to speak, shocked that he could have said such a thing. He thought she looked like some sort of waif, so pale in her red pajama set, with her red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained face, so tiny and fragile, like anything could break her, like the wind could carry her away and toss her in it's currents forever.
He held up his hands as though to put them on her shoulders, but she stumbled away, her mouth open, looking like she was in an incredible amount of pain, and she was, emotional pain instead of physical.
Hermione had never felt so much pain in her entire life. Her heart was being broken, her lungs were being ripped apart, someone was beating a war song on her head like a drum. Her entire body was pulsating with this pain, this life sucking, this unbelievable pain. And she felt as though she could never escape it.
With that Hermione collapsed on the ground.
Draco knelt next to her, not caring that his pajamas were getting covered in dirt.
"Hermione? Hermione?" He said, then picked her up and ran to the castle, flinging his broom into the broom shed as he passed by it.
She was so fragile looking, he had to get her inside or she would catch her death of cold. Death.
'Isn't that what you want Draco? To rid the world of another Mudblood? Isn't that what you just said?" Said a scornful voice in his head. NO! No! Draco thought weakly.
By now he was up to their shared dorm, he kicked in the portrait (2 ladies with a stroller in the park) and ran into her room. Laying her on the bed (after checking to make sure the gecko charm had worn off) he covered her up with the thick burgundy and gold comforter. He sat on the bed by her and rubbed her arms and legs, getting them warmer.
Then he stoked up the fire and fell asleep by her.