A/N: Okaaaay this is my first ever Dramione fanfic so be nice (waggles finger). It's just gonna be a short one...supposedly a one-shot...
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places,etc...nor do i wish to make money out of this. I just merely want to share this to the world. This is a sad one as I do not wish to alter where the story would go. This is just a "what if", a little filling in the blanks, or just squeezing in.
Story details: Present time of the war; specifically the scene where Bellatrix Lestrange was torturing Hermione Granger in Malfoy Manor. Flashback; Hogwarts, Fourth Year, before the Yule Ball. Characters: Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and short glimpses of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange
Summary: Hermione made a decision that clearly altered the course of the story. One that would cost her more than anything; she would realize that as she lay underneath a very unstable psychotic witch under the pained scrutiny of the man she would've fallen in love with.
I split it up to only two chapters...so please...do review. I would love to hear from you all. Mayhap, I would make another HP fanfic in the near future if I have enough reviews. (taps finger on chin). :p That's all for now, enjoy!
A Secret to Regret
His heart pounded hard in his chest and echoed in his ears. His nostrils flared and breathing became difficult. Why wouldn't it be when the wails of agony invaded the entire Malfoy Manor? He stood there, frozen in fear, realizing the scene unfolding before him to be all too real. Just right then and there he knew the gravity of what he got his self in (or rather, what he was thrust into having no chance to reason at all). He felt the bile rise up and a bitter taste engulfs his mouth. He pursed his lips tight as he tried to stomach what was in front of him: his aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, hovering over a helpless Hermione Granger, torturing her to oblivion.
She looked up to him and it took Draco a huge amount of strength to stop himself from hurling his body in between them, pushing his aunt away, and holding Hermione close. He wondered to himself why he had the urge to do so; to protect this Mudblood from harm. She was nothing to him; she was filth. They hated each other and the incident in Third Year when she hit him has sealed his hatred towards this witch. She was best friends with Harry Potter, his sworn enemy, thus making her his sworn enemy too. Along with that wretched blood traitor, Ron Weasley, they made a trio fit to be hated by the Pure Bloods. So why then, why now, did he feel the urge to defy his family, his beliefs, his own being to save this hapless person? What's it to him?
Her eyes looked deep into his soul, calling out to him, pleading him to make it stop. And all that Draco could muster was a flinch, a grimace, as he watched the torture she was undergoing. He wracked his brain, needing an explanation as to why every inch of him called out to run to her rescue. He was failing miserably so. Who was she in his life? What significance does she hold that give him so much unease? Why are these wretched feelings whirling about and twisting him inside? These questions ran past his mind as he stared down at the horrible sight.
It was a chilly afternoon and Draco Malfoy, Prince of Slytherin, sat in a rather bored position. His left hand lazily balled into a loose fist and his cheek rested on its knuckles. His right hand poked at his wand on his desk. It was days before the Yule Ball which had now been the talk of the school. Everyone was excited. Students acting silly just to get dates: guys pining on the ladies like they were trophies and the best man would get his prize, and ladies putting on more make-up and fixing their appearances just to get the guys to notice them. It was a competition; a contest of popularity and the conquest of climbing the top of the pyramid. Frankly, it was getting unnerving for Draco to see these uncharacteristic actions from the people he knew.
Not that it would be a problem for him. He was fecking Draco Malfoy. One of the most popular students in Hogwarts; he was smart, good looking, and he had old money. He was the entire package. He could easily just pinpoint who he wants to take to the Yule Ball and she'd come crawling to him. He saw the way the ladies from all the four Houses and from Beauxbatons stared at him. They want him; but even a few weeks after when the other guys started asking the ladies out, he still hasn't chosen who he wanted to go with. Some just had to go out with other lesser guys since Draco didn't even blink their direction.
That was the problem. He had to make an amazing choice. Someone who would match him; be his equal in every way. Yes, there were pretty good candidates but they never seem to make the cut and he had to turn a cold shoulder towards them; not that he isn't used to doing that already because he is. He's just living the name. He looked at his wand and an idea came to him. His best friend, Blaise Zabini, taught him a trick to add a little twist to the "Point Me" spell. You can ask the wand to find your equal; someone who's magic and being is inclined to yours.
He did just that. His wand did a little shake and then started spinning on its axis. It was a slow spin at first then slowly gaining momentum until it was a ball of blur. Draco moved back a bit afraid that he might have done something wrong with his incantation. But then that very moment, his wand abruptly stopped and was vibrating hard on its place. The wand appeared to be pointing at something. He followed the wand from its handle to its tip towards where it was pointing at. His eyes widened and he sat straight up, his face twisted into a mixture of shock and disgust, "Granger?"
Hermione walked between her two best friends, seemingly lost in thought. "'Mione?" her bespectacled friend asked, concern in his tone, "Are you alright?"
She looked up at him and gave him a weak smile. "Yes, yes, I'm fine".
Not seeming to buy it, Ron pushed the subject, "You sure?"
She looked up at both her best friends; one with dark scraggly hair and round glasses, the other with fiery red hair and freckles. Both their faces were lined with concern towards her. She couldn't help but feel happy that she had such wonderful friends in her life. But at that moment, she didn't want to trouble them with her…problem. "I-I have a bit of work to do. Just go ahead and I'll go after you. I'll see you at the Gryffindor Common Room later tonight, both of you", she still gave that commanding tone she knows all too well that they would obey without question.
After nodding and promising to meet up later, they both shuffled off talking about who to take to the dance. She looked at Ron's red patch of hair slowly disappearing in the crowd and her heart ached. She wanted him to ask her to the dance, not Viktor or anyone else. But then he chose that girl with hair the color of honey and sunshine, whose face was that of a cherub, and whose laughter (which she finds utterly annoying) apparently attracted the ginger bloke. She sighed as she held her books closer to her chest.
She made her way through the crowded corridors and took a few steps down and stood at the foot of her destination: an empty classroom near the dungeons that no one would have the mind to go into (no one except her). Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. She placed her books on a dusty shelf and walked in the middle of the classroom. She magically moved the chairs to the side to give her enough leg room. She stood straight and raised her arms up and made them appear as if they were around an invisible partner. She then started moving around. She had to perfect the waltz before the ball to prevent her from being the laughing stock. She's already going out with a much known individual in the Wizarding World that she cannot afford any more talks about how his partner could not keep up with him. Yes, these are desperate times indeed.
Draco, still seemingly shocked from his discovery (he tried to move the wand to point to others but it insists on pointing towards only one, to his dismay), slowly made his way to the dungeons. He was alone, (which was a surprise) but he didn't want to be with anyone right now. So shocked was he at the revelation he found. He knew all too well never to doubt magic. He ran a hand through his hair, distracted in his thoughts when a certain sound attracted his attention. His head immediately jerked to the half open door at the side of corridor. It was an old classroom and he wondered what kind of a lunatic would be in this room at this hour unless…
A glint of mischief reflected in his eye. He smiled slyly and crept to the door. If there was a couple here doing some sort of misdeeds and he caught them, he'll immediately rat them out and then enjoy watching them blamed for losing their House Points. His hand felt the roughness of the door and he slightly pushed it open. He hid behind a pillar in the classroom and was about to pounce on the victims when the sight in front of him stopped him dead on his tracks. Hermione Granger, with her arms raced in a dancing position, spun around. Her hair shone chestnut and gold in the dying sunlight from the top window of the classroom. Her gray sweater hugged her body and a bit of skin showed off from her legs each time she spun around. Her feet did a little pitter-pat on the floor as she tried to move gracefully but ended up with little stumbles.
His eyes moved to her face and saw her eyebrows creased, little droplets of sweat beaded down her forehead making some of her bangs stick to her skin, her eyes focused on her feet as she timidly moved, she bit her lips over and over trying to recall the steps taught to them by Professor McGonagall. She was struggling yet Draco found it a very alluring scene. Before he could stop himself, he snickered.
Hermione's tousled hair whipped up as she looked at the direction of the low snicker that she heard. Her expression was that of genuine surprise and annoyance. The latter increased as soon as she found out who the culprit is. "Malfoy", she seethed, "I suppose you have nothing better to do than to just spy on people?"
A glimpse of ash blond hair stepped out from the shadows. "Well, well, who knew that you actually gave a damn to these kinds of events, Granger? I thought this was…below you? 'Tis a pity you blew off studying to practice dancing. Wake up, Granger. No matter how hard you practice, NOBODY will dance with you".
This comment extremely aggravated Hermione. "I would like you to know that someone has already asked me to the Yule Ball. Without me doing anything to attract him. At least I didn't flaunt my looks, my intellect, and my money to get a date for the ball; unlike others…" she trailed off.
Draco scoffed. "Well, you'll be an embarrassment to your date. With the progress that you have right now, he'd be better off dancing with an ogre! I pity the poor bastard, really".
"Oh save it, Malfoy! At least I have my efforts! What? Are you planning to bore your date simply by just sitting at the corners and making nasty comments at everyone having a good time because you were too pre-occupied with making excuses NOT to join the rehearsals?" Hermione sneered, "I bet you can't even dance…that's the reason why you belittle others and—"
With one sweeping motion, Draco had Hermione in his arms. She gasped and stared at him with a shocked expression. He only looked back, his cold gaze devoid of emotion. He then started moving them in soft strides. Before Hermione realized it, she was already moving in time with him. They were engaged in a slow waltz and Draco Malfoy was leading her. As if reading her mind, her partner sniggered, "You were saying?"
Clearly dumbfounded, Hermione stared back. Draco guided them easily around the classroom as if they were in an actual ballroom. And she was astonished that she didn't even make a move to stop him as her body glided along his. "Well…I-I…" she stammered.
"Finding yourself at a loss for words, Granger?" Malfoy whispered, "Don't fight it…Just go with it". While expertly maneuvering them around, he started explaining, "For ages, my family has been holding various Wizarding Balls. Of course, you wouldn't know that. It is demanded of us that we participate. And being the Malfoy heir, I have to learn how to move and act among the elites". He noticed her confusion, and continued, "You can't hold parties and not participate in it. That would be extremely impolite."
Hermione looked up at Draco and tried to argue, "But you've tried to deviate from practice, making excuses every time Professor McGonagall asks us to start and—"
"I didn't think I needed to practice", Draco cut her off, arrogantly stating that. Before she could argue, he spun her around and then pulled her back to him. Clearly shocked but unable to fight, Hermione just stared back at him, "Do you?"
As if noticing their uncomfortable closeness, Hermione wriggled out of Draco's arms and turned around. "Alright, Malfoy, you've proven your point", she said bitterly, "Clearly you're a really good dancer". She crossed her arms, "Go ahead, leave me be. But know this; when you come with all your jokes tomorrow about what happened here, I will have an equal number of insults for you".
Hermione jumped when two sets of hands held her arms. She felt Draco's breath on her hair, "I want to teach you how to dance", he nuzzled her hair and she closed her eyes shut, "Dance with me, Granger".
She knew all too well that this was a trap, that if she took his offer, he could verily use it against her. There must be some ulterior motive as to why he's acting like he's acting. She turned to face him, and she huffed, "What's it to you?"
He was taken aback at her question but quickly regained composure. He shrugged and raised an eyebrow at her, "You're the only person in Hogwarts I know who doesn't need help from anybody. You have bested me in every subject, with me always coming in second to you. This is quite refreshing for me to be at the other end. For me to feel superior even in just the smallest bit as teaching you how to dance", he smiled at himself, "if you allow me this chance, Granger, we would both get what we want. You would learn how to dance and I would get that superiority in teaching you how to. Face it, Granger; you need to know how to dance. If not for your partner and appearances but for yourself, because we both know how you hate not being able to accomplish what you strive to do". He looked at her with certainty and smugness.
It was Hermione's turn to be surprised. Everything he said was true. It was eerily accurate in fact. She let out a breath of indignation and shook her head. How can someone who loathes her so much know her so well?
Misunderstanding her actions, Draco stepped back. "No?" he shrugged nonchalantly, "Can't say I didn't offer a good bargain. Oh well, I should've known". He turned his back and started walking out of the classroom, "It'll be fun watching you struggle, Granger".
"Wait!" Hermione's voice was high-pitched and desperate. Draco stopped and turned to look at her. She was obviously internally debating when she flinched and said, "Alright, Malfoy, I'll take you up on your offer. With one condition—"
Please continue to the next chapter. Oh and do please take your time to review.
