The Snake and the Lion

Set in fifth year.
Of course because it is a Dramione fic Draco will be OOC for a couple of chapters.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Draco. Heh ;3 But sadly, no.
WARNING: Caution ahead. Die-hard R/Hr fan writing a Dramione fic. Sorry if I ofended any of my R/Hr fans. :/
Multi-chap.

Draco appeared to be paying attention. But in truth he was considering suicide. McGonagall wouldn't stop drabbling, would she? He scoffed at the thing some people called a girl in front of him. Stupid Granger, her quill might set on fire from the ferociousness of her note-taking. What was McGonagall saying that was so important? His ears tuned to reality for a moment and he listened to her rather annoying voice drabble.

"We will be having a rather challenging exam on Tuesday on Chapter 8, page 364. I suggest you study hard"

He tuned her out. He attempted to read the board but Granger's hair was in the way. What was so complicated about a simple hair straightening spell? The bell rang, and he straightened his robes. The other kids pushed and shoved their way through the door. Granger stayed to talk to McGonagall. Draco slowly sauntered to the door, he left his back pressed against the wall, waiting for his prey.. Granger. The Pothead and Weasel don't have this class, she'll be alone. Though, Granger was pretty skilled with a wand. Her shoes tapped against the concrete. She would've passed him without a second glance if his cool, venom-coated breath wasn't suddenly against her neck.

The sharp cold of his skin startled her, she dropped the thick, ancient books she was holding. Draco smirked, "Scare you, did I Granger?"

She rolled her eyes, and proceeded to pick up her books. "What do you want Malfoy?" She said, biterness flavoring each of her words. He smiled, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe just to see you cry"

She sighed, "Do your worst" He smiled, "Now, I've pulled the Mudblood card trillions of times but, it still seems fresh. So, how's it going Mudblood?"

Hermione scoffed, "Huh, you worst surely has down-graded."

He accepted the challenge, "Okay. How's your life going? How do you stay with your so called friends. Knowing they only use you for homework and their very own encyclopedia? How do you stand that you've known them for five years now and neither is interested in you as a friend nor anything more?"

That was his worst. Tears pricked her eyes, the sobs were buliding in her chest. The hiccups started. She mumbled a hex at Malfoy that flung him to the stone wall at the end of the corridor, she heard cracks, and a pop. She did well. But the cracks showed no measure to the ones slowly forming in her heart.

Her fast-paced walking reminded her of first year, when Ron had insulted her,

"...no wonder she has no friends."

no friends
no friends
no friends.

Was it true? Did her bestfriends see her as nothing more than a brain to pick at? Come to think of it, Harry and Ron were her truly close friends. She didn't really have anyone she was as close to as them, well accept maybe Ginny. But, Ginny, that was different.

Nothing more.. Draco's bitter words repeated in her head. She didn't go to the Great Hall she went straight to her dormitory. She pushed the door aside and flung herself onto the bed. The tears soaked her face and pillow. After thirty minutes or so of different frequencies crying she finally sat up, against the window wall. Her frizzy hair stuck to her tear-written face, she didn't bother to put them back into place. She just sat there, and hiccupped. Trying to sort everything out. She flashed through the memories she had shared with them, trying to find evidence to the cruel words spoken by the Slytherin.

She heard the word Quidditch followed by some muffled words, and laughter. The voices stopped as they got closest, her heart skipped a beat when there was a slight rapping at the door. Ron's familiar voice iluminated the empty, spacious air of her bedroom, " 'Mione, you in there?"

She managed a hiccup and and muffled "Ye-es."

The door creaked open, Harry and Ron looked at her with deep empathy in their eyes. The walked slowly over to Ginny's bed across from Hermione. Ron half smiled, and Harry pushed up his glasses. Harry was the first to speak, "Um, Hermione.. what's wr-" He cleared his throat. "Wrong."

She sniffed, "Ma-malfoy.." Ron stood up, "WHY THAT POMPOUS GIT! I'LL BLOW HIS BRAINS IN!"

Hermione got up and threw her arms around Ron, his signature half-smile overdrew his face again. He embraced her as well, "Now, seriously 'Mione, can I?" She smiled and hugged tighter, and looked up to see his face. "I don't want you to get sent to Azkaban, now do I?"

He scrunched his nose, "Alright.. are you okay?" She dried the last of her tears. "I'm always okay when you guys are with me" She got up and took them into a group hug. After a long talk that cheered Hermione up they left. They had promised her a trip to Hogsmeade tomorrow.

She crawled back into bed in a fetal position and slept.