Okay, for all my loyal fans, I'm finishing I Didn't Know You Cared on this penname. I'm not going to start all the way from the beginning, so if you're a new fan, go to www . Freewebs . Com /applehugsandvanillakisses to look up my story. This is the 100th and something chapter, but I'm not sure what chapter it is... I've lost track... anyways, keep up the reviews, and this story will be over in no time. Its almost done, and the climax is coming soon!
To all my fans: I love you.
"Blaise, where the HELL do you think you're going?" A distraught Draco sneers as he and I barrel out of the pantry, my face flushed and my ears half hearing everything. My God... I had no idea... wow... I shudder at the thought that I, Hermione Granger, could become addicted to this. "Answer me, dammit!"
"I don't know about the rest of you sodding lot, but I'm going to get my PREGNANT girlfriend back before they do something bad to her like rape her or something!" Blaise shouts, giving Draco the bird as he scrambles out of the kitchens past the painting door.
"Yeah... well... I hope you have a license to fly that thing, buddy!" Draco growls back. "Cause I don't remember you getting a license for that!- Blaise! Where the fuck do you think you're going! You're going to get us all killed!" The painting door slams shut. "Fuck." We all stand in, in my case at least, bewilderment. But I know he's doing something we all should do. We can't just hide in here while the rest of our friends get their throats cut or some horrid thing because we're too afraid to face Greg. If we hide, its the same thing as if we were to cut our friends' throats ourselves.
"Draco, we should go after him," I say quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Before he gets hurt."
"If he wants to jeopardize this entire group of people by fucking it all up to save his girlfriend..."
Guilt trip time. "Would you not have done the same for me?"
"... That's different."
"WHY?" I ask, taken aback. "Does Blaise have more guts than you do? Is Ginny more to risk than me?" I put my hands on my hips. Oh, I can't wait for this answer, buddy.
"No I just meant that you're not pregnant and HE doesn't have a six foot long wolf trying to attack him for something that I don't even know!"
"We're all in this together, you know," Ron speaks up, "You're not the only one fighting for their lives now, Malfoy. We all have to ban together too. You think just because he plans to kill you last that you're something special? If we don't go back and get that guy right NOW, we're all going to be dead by morning." Wow... I think that's the most Ron's spoken that's made sense since the Christmas Party two years ago, when he said he had a turtle in his pants. Come to find out he really DID have a turtle in his pants... Ginny, you know...
"Ron's right, Malfoy," Luna chimes in, "We should all go."
Draco looks around to each of us, trying to decide on something, before saying, "Fine. But Hermione's staying here." WHAT?
"Excuse you," I say, "But since when do you tell me what to do??"
"Since I fucking wanted to spend the rest of my fucking life with you, that's when." Draco sure does use the word F-ing a lot. "And I'm not going to risk fucking it all up because you want to help." Wait -did he just say what I think he implied?
"Well, I'm not going to stand around all day like a pansy waiting for all of you, "Harry says, "Malfoy, Ron, come on. Luna, Hermione, you stay here in case he comes back with Ginny before we get to him." But Harry - "Hermione, come on. You're my best friend. Please, listen to me for once." Harry puts his hands on my shoulders, looking me square in the eyes. "Remember all the times you've saved me from stupid things like Death Eaters and finals? Well, now I'm making it up to you."
"But... you... Harry, if anyone should be staying here its you." I stare up at him, wanting to cry. "If you die, who's going to save-"
"I know, I know. Save the world, right?"
"No," I say, "Who's going to save Ron? He's a pathetic use on his own."
"Hey!" Ron exclaims.
"Hermione, Just trust me on this. I'll keep Ron safe, Malfoy out of harm, and most of all my sorry ass away from any wearwolf-looking creatures." He hugs me. "You're my best friend, Herms. And you're the only one who's got any sense around here. That's why we need you here to make sure that Voldemort's- Ah!" He gasps, and I look up at him.
"Harry! Your scar! Its bleeding!"
XXX
Draco's POV:
"Potter? Potter, you okay?" He better not be dead! I don't need boy wonder dying on me NOW. -Oh shit. Why'd he have to just collapse to the floor.
"Harry!" Hermione says, bending down and holding his head. "Harry! Say something!"
"Ah... hurts... too much." Potter flinches. Shit, that does look bad. For once I'm not laughing on Potter's expense! It must be bad!
"What's going on?" Weasley sounds distraught. To be honest, so am I.
Drums. A drum beat above us. Its soft, because its through the floors of the Great Hall, but...
Drums. They play a violent beat.
"Harry! Harry! Oh -we've got to stop this bleeding." Hermione says, and I think -yeah, she's talking to ME. Well what the hell am I supposed to do about it, princess? "Draco! Forget about Blaise. I need you to run to the supply cabinet that Snape has and get an herb called glack root."
"What's it gonna do?" I ask. "Look, that's a cursed scar on his forehead, Hermione. There's no possible way an herb is going to stop that bleeding."
"Its worth a shot!"
Dammit woman! "What about Blaise?"
"Forget about Blaise!" Forget about my best friend? Somehow I don't find that hard at all... "Just go! Hurry!"
"How do you know its going to -"
"DRACO!"
"All right! All right! Gees, don't get so demanding!" I pick up my wand off of the table and run out of the kitchens. Shit, now where was Snape's cabinet again? Its somewhere down the Slytherin hallway... which is awfully close to the Great Hall... and where there's the Great Hall there's Voldemort, and where there's Voldemort there's Dad, and where there's Dad there's probably stupid Pansy drooling all over him. Even I know that's the reason Pansy is after me. My dad.
Okay, Potter first... Potter first... keep mind on Potter. He's the stupid prissy hero of this story... unless RootbeerFloat wants to be nice and let ME be the Hero?
RootbeerFloat: Draco...
Draco: Okay! Okay... worth a shot.
Down a hallway, the colors blurring in streaks, and time seems to stand still. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as I race down the hallways, my footsteps light and quick, yet the hallway seems to go on and on... Damn, I just want to get this over and done with! I don't want to get eaten by a stupid wolf -not now. Not until I've convinced Hermione to try a few new sex positions... Yes! There's the courtyard outside... I'm getting close to the Slytherin hallway... Okay, Draco... tip toe past the courtyard... you don't know who could be out there... Could be Pansy keeping guard or something... the dolt...
Much to my none surprise, there is someone in the center of the courtyard. A long, billowing cape with only the fingers visible. Long, pointy, chalk white fingers...
Shit... its not a Dementor, but I still feel like turning back.
'Don't be a coward, Malfoy! Just do it!'
Who was that? Loony? Potter? It didn't sound like either...
It sounded like me. My own little voice. The one TRUE voice I can count on. My courage. My conscious. Me.
I crouch down, trying not to attract attention to myself as I slink down the hallway right next to the courtyard. Should I take a breath this being could probably hear me - because the hallway's open to the courtyard. (And if you don't know which courtyard I'm talking about, think about the place where you saw me getting turned into a ferret in the fourth movie... Yeah. There.) In fact, the strange, non moving being is standing at the base of the tree in where I got turned into said Ferret... Ooh, Moody deserves Azkaban... even though it wasn't really HIM... just someone with some stupid Polyjuice potion... okay, I'm rambling. POTTER. Keep Potter on the brain at the moment.
Ha.
I never thought I'd tell myself that.
Ha.
I'm almost crawling on my knees, which is disgusting, let me tell you, when I hear the person outside move. The leaves crumble beneath their feet. I stop, hold my breath, and wait for the best. Please, Merlin, if you ever were on anyone's side at the moment... I know... I know... You never favored bad ass wizards... but...
"Malfoy. I thought that was you." Ah, shit. "Crawling on the ground? What kind of leader are you? I heard you were messing with the lower sort, but to actually mess with mudbloods..."
"The kind that doesn't like to attract attention to himself, Flint." I stand up and meet the eyes of my former Quidditch captain. The nose is the same. The hair is the same. The crooked smile is the same. There seems to be a little more redness to the eyes, however... "How'd you know it was me?"
"Easy." He smirks. "You've always been a con, and you'd be the only idiot to be out this time at night when so much more is in store for you -should you survive Bolt's challenge, that is." His ugly face is enough to put anyone to shame, but he does have a point.
"I suppose you're in on this whole thing, too?"
"Down to the last drop, Draco. You might have been a fair flier, but I never much did acquire your attitude."
"Wait. I don't remember you ever sounding this... intellectual." I state.
"I had some lessons. Do you think its helping?"
"Oh quite, quite..."
RootbeerFloat: DRACO. FLINT.
Flint: Aw, do I really have to?
Draco: To what?
RootbeerFloat: Yes, MARCUS. It's in the script!
Flint: Okay...
Draco: Okay WHAT?
RootbeerFloat: You'll find out...
Draco: Find out WHAT?
Flint coughs for me to pay attention to him. "But I cannot let you pass, Malfoy."
"What?" I ask. "Flint, you can't really STOP me from going anywhere... I mean, you're... you're Flint! You wouldn't let anyone reign over you... would you?"
"I told you, Draco," He says as he points his wand in the air, "I told you your first Quidditch game -Life isn't fair. And you can't always win -Well, Malfoy. You can't always win." He sends up red sparks from his wand. "And now, if you move one muscle away from that spot, I'll be forced to kill you."
Kill me? Kill me he says!
"You wouldn't."
"Bitch, yes I would." DID HE JUST CALL ME A BITCH??
"Shut up, you whore! I don't believe you!"
"Slut!"
"Shithead!"
"Asshole!"
"Fucker!"
"MOTHER Fucker."
"Mama's boy!"
"Daddy's boy -in SO many interesting ways..."
"Shut up! I can't believe you'd bring that up!" I cringe at the thought.
"Oh, suck my dick, Draco."
"Suck your own. I'm outta here." I turn my back one second and BOOM -Who do I run into? That's right. Good ol' Greg Bolt -surprisingly in his human form. Okay, maybe he could fight fair? I mean, what's fair if he turns into a wolf?
"Going somewhere?" Greg asks with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed. "Possibly looking for this?" I watch as he pulls out a small vile... if that's what Hermione wanted me to get, I'm dead. "Its glack root. Stops any bleeding of anyone. Just one drop to the wound. Works just like Phoenix tears. -Too bad your chum Potter wont be around much longer."
"But... how did you...?" I ask. How could he have known?
"Oh, wolves have exceptionally strong senses -especially smell. I smelled blood, knew it was Potter's, and... well... lets just say eaves dropping is one of my many specialties?"
Bastard.
"Give it over, Bolt." I demand, trying to sound as tough as possible. "Now."
"Now why would I do that?" He asks smugly. I hate smugness. Remind me never to be smug again.
"Because this isn't our fight -this is between the Dark Lord and Potter. You kill Potter and you'll break the prophecy. Who knows what kind of chaos could erupt from that?"
"Calling him the Dark Lord already?" He asks, as if opening up. I trail back to my last words. Oh shit, I DID say Dark Lord... "This IS our fight. Right here. Right now. This is our fight." His sick twisted smirk is making me uncomfortable. "This determines if Potter will die at the hands of the Dark Lord with a fair chance or not. And I intend it to not." As he speaks, his fingernails become longer, his face hairier, and I suddenly have a sharp pain to go to the bathroom. Suck it up, Draco. Suck it up. "No wands. Just strength."
No wands? "You're kidding."
"Nope." He bares his long, white fangs. I really feel the urge to just run... "Because after I get through with you, I'm going after Granger." Okay. That's it. Party's over.
"Fine, bastard." I throw my wand to the side. I don't need it. Not now.
XXX
"Harry, you've got to stay with us," I plead as Harry's head falls to the side. He's passed out completely again. "Ronald, you've got to stay with Harry."
"I -I -- I can't do it, Hermione!"
"Yes you can!" You little git! "Just hold his head. I've got to help Draco." Because he's not already back, I know he must be in trouble.
"But... what if he dies?"
"Ron!" Don't put words like that into my head! "Just do it!" I switch places with Ronald and take out of the kitchens.
XXX
"But if we do this, its got to be man to man." I continue. "No animagus. Just pure, unadulterated wizard." The wolf growls. "Unless your scared?" I taunt. He morphs back. Yes. Now I might have a fighting chance.
"I'm not scared of a little snot-faced twit like you, Malfoy." He glares, holding up the vile which I need really badly.
"For the last time, give it here, Bolt. I wont be responsible for my actions if you don't." I feel a surge of energy go through me.
"Or what? You'll get your daddy to beat me up?" He mocks.
"Don't go there." I narrow my eyes. "Don't."
"Oh, afraid to go back to your memories? Voldemort told me all about them."
"You're lying," I say, getting really nervous, "Shut up."
"Every time you pissed your father off, what was your reward, Master? I hear Voldemort wants to try the same techniques for all of his minions who don't obey. And on our prisoners. I think Granger'll be first, don't you think?"
"Mother fucker." That's it. I'm pissed.
XXX
Draco couldn't have gotten that far... he really couldn't. Unless he's... dead... he's not dead, Hermione. Get that out of your mind. He can't be dead... he's... Draco. Malfoy. Draco Malfoy can't just die...
I tip toe down the hallways as quietly as I can. Maybe I'll run into him... Oh God, just be on his side tonight. And Harry's... don't let them die...
XXX
"Bring it, Malfoy." Bolt challenges.
"That line is so over-rated." I roll my eyes and just as I'm about to throw the first punch I hear a scream. Bolt and I jerk our heads around for the sound's owner.
"Parkinson!" Flint shouts. "Is that you?"
"The one and only." Says a happy Pansy, strolling out from the shadows... with Hermione Granger. Dammit. Dammit dammit DAMMIT.
"He-Hey, Draco..." She says timidly.
"Hello, Hermione." I say nonchalantly, "Want some popcorn?" (insert stern look here)
"Sorry..." She mumbles.
"Are we going to finish this or not, Malfoy?" Greg Bolt sneers.
"First," I say, "Hand the vile to Flint." To my relief, he does. "For the last time. Give up. I don't want to kill you."
"You think you can kill me?" He laughs. "Tell me Malfoy, is Granger any good?" Greg eyes her over. Oh, I hate him soooooo much right now. Nobody talks about my girl like that...
The energy in my veins courses through, power at my fingertips. I close my eyes. All I want is my wand. All I want is my wand... wand. My wand flies into my finger tips. "Suck this." Its now or never. My life or his. "Avada Kedevra!" Green light shoots out of my wand, through Bolt, and fades away slowly. The bag of bones and skin falls to the ground with an almost silent thud. "Malfoys never play fair." Get used to it.