Turning of the Tides

Disclaimer: I do not own anything here except the plot.

Full summary: Starting out with an intense squabble, involving swear-words and cussing. One night, Draco discovers Salazar Slytherin's ancient journal. One problem though – it's written purely in Ancient Runes! Worst of all is that he can't read it. So who better to ask to translate for him but the famous Hermione Granger? Together, they find out the deepest, darkest secrets, love life, frustrations and even the most humiliating moments of none other but the Salazar Slytherin.

Another thing, what happens if an unexpected friendship blooms between Draco and Hermione? Will they deny it?

A/N: Posted under new Pen Name and account, Ceri Blackheart – previously known as Scandale de Minuit.

Chapter one: Are you happy now?

It was ten minutes after lunch break when Hermione walked down the span of the hall. The students all caught up in their own conversations; fail to notice that she seemed to be preoccupied with something.

"Oy, Mudblood. Have you ever had an orgasm?" A familiar dreaded voice behind her sniggered. It was Malfoy, and behind him were his sleazy supporters. The Great Hall fell silent, their personal conversations halted by the underhanded remark by Malfoy.

"…" She said nothing. She merely walked faster keeping her books close to her chest.

"Oooh!? Poor little Granger at the age of 16, hasn't had the experience yet?! My, Merlin, Potter and even Weasley have had a go at it once or twice! Yet here you are no experience what-so-ever. I almost feel bad for you, Granger… Not enjoying life as we know it… " Draco Malfoy laughed loudly as he followed her. Everyone in the Great Hall followed them with baited breath.

She stopped walking, her fists clenched and shaking from anger due to Malfoy's pitiful excuse to embarrass her in front of the student body of Hogwarts. "Oh dear, dear Her-my-own-knee… Poor, poor, Hermione." Malfoy edged on, walking a few more steps forward. "So I am right. You really have no experience what-so-ever in this. I guess there are some things you can't learn from the books, huh, Mudblood"

"I guess all those hours in the library did nothing for your social life, huh?" Malfoy continued the harassment. Hermoine was almost in tears as her anger peaked. The Great Hall was still silent, as the muffled giggle and laughs of Malfoy's group echoed, everyone in the great hall stood silent with gasps coming out from random Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs as they heard the conversation.

"Sure, you dated Krum and Weasley for a few weeks, but I bet you never really did anything more than hold your little baby hands!"

"Oh, what's wrong? Did I hit a little immature nerve, Mudblood?" Malfoy said as he further agitated Hermione's temper.

That was the last straw for Hermione. "Leave Krum and Ron out of this..." she moaned under her breath.

"Of all my years in Hogwarts, you have done nothing but insult me, treat me like trash and humiliate me. You have tested my patience and you sucked my pride dry. Let me ask you, Draco..."

She quickly turns around, drops her books and puts her clenched fists to her sides.

"What the hell is wrong with you? SURE, YOU INSULT ME ABOUT MY SCHOOL AND MY HAIR AND MY BOOKS BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE JUST LEFT IT THERE, COULD YOU? YOU JUST HAD TO POKE YOUR SMELLY BIG FAT NOSE INTO MY SOCIAL LIFE!"

Hermione's face showed a red glow, and her unclenched hands were being waved around for emphasis.

"YOU COULDNT JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, COULD YOU?"

She stopped screaming and put down her hands.

Everyone looked onto Malfoy, feeling his face with their eyes. They were practically drilling him for his reply to Hermione's sudden outburst of anger.

"Don't you shout at my Malfoy!" A screechy voice emanates from behind. It was Pansy Parkinson, "Slut Queen of Hogwarts". The students all moved their attention to her because of the sudden uncalled-for remark or Pansy. "Just because my Draco has a great social life, and you don't, doesn't give you the right to-"

Pansy's sentence was cut short by Hermione's sudden step towards Malfoy and his gang.

"Listen here, Pansy, you tell your Malfoy to stay out of my business..."

"Or else what?" Pansy retorts.

In an instant, Hermione swiftly moves forward a couple more steps. Directly in front of Pansy, Hermione lets out a whisper. "Or else I'll make your face hurt like it's never been before..."

An evil gleam in her eyes made Pansy rethink her reply to Hermione's threat.

Pansy, not wanting to seem weak, attempted to push back Hermione but Blaise stopped her. "Don't push it, Pansy..." He whispered into her ear. "We don't know what she'll do right now..."

"Don't you dare lay a finger on her, you filthy Mudblood!" Malfoy finally lets out. "If you do, I will make sure you and your family will never find a good night's sleep!"

She finally snaps at Malfoy's threat to her family. She draws her wand out and sticks it in his face. "Fuck off Malfoy..."

"And don't you dare threaten my parents." She adds in an equivalent deadly voice.

Blaise intervenes as he goes in-between the wand and Malfoy's nose. "Okay that's enough... We don't need to see that here."

"Bugger off, Blaise." Malfoy snarled then pushes Blaise aside and reaches for Hermione's arm, grabs it and pushes her to face him.

"Listen—" Malfoy's retort was cut short when a slap was heard echoing through the Great Hall.

Pansy's hand meets with Hermione's cheek as Malfoy's face shows surprise never before seen on a Draco. "WHAT WAS THAT, MUDBLOOD? YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE ME HURT??"

Pansy screams as she was seized from behind and was restrained by Blaise. Hermione looks up at Malfoy, eyes wide open, suddenly realizes what just happened. Tears slowly drip from her eyes as she brought her hand up to her sore cheek.

"Are you happy now, Malfoy? Are you finally happy?" She managed to let out.

Without another word, she ran away from the scene, leaving books behind.

Malfoy stared at the trail she left when she ran away. For a moment, her loud footsteps echoed through his mind as her last words lingered in his ears like a broken record.

Malfoy lets out a hiss and says "Let's go. Show's over."

As Malfoy and the group return to the Slytherin common room, Blaise was left behind, picking up the books on the floor, mumbling to himself.

"They've gone too far, those blokes."

Meanwhile, Hermione ran into the room of requirement. She locked herself in with several charms and spells, to make sure no one could barge in on her.

"It's too much... just too much..."

She brought her trembling hand up to her sore cheek and caressed it lightly, wincing with pain every time she gave it a stroke.

"What did I do to deserve such a life?"

She sobbed harder and let out a loud hiccup.

"It's gone too far and I can't take this anymore..."

Once again she let out a hiccup, much softer than the first.

A few hours passed, yet it seemed like forever. She finally got over herself and just wanted to run into Harry's arms to find comfort. She drew out her wand, and waved it as she said,

"Reflectorus."

A floating mirror appeared before her which displayed what the past events have done. Her eyes were puffy and red, her hair was shaggier than ever, her nose resembled Rudolf's and her left cheek was red and sore.

"That's going to be a bruise soon..." She cursed.

Admitting to herself that she looked ghastly, she hid her eyes in her bangs, and made an attempt to run to the Gryffindor's common room as fast as she could.

She failed.

For a few meters from the fat lady portrait, she bumped into Blaise Zabini who was currently holding a familiar stack of books.

Blaise managed to not let the books fall despite the sudden bump from someone.

Presently on the ground was a scowling Hermione Granger. Or Blaise thought she was?

He chuckled, then his eyes widened. "Hermione? Goodness! Is that you?" Blaise set out a free hand for her to take, but Hermione, being as stubborn as she is, refused his hand and got up on her own.

"Are those books mine? And yes, this pitiful sight you're looking at is indeed the Mudblood Hermione Granger." Hermione glared at him and spat vehemently at the vile word, Mudblood.

"I was just going to return these… You dropped them, see… and I wanted to give it back to you before someone else gets a hold on it." Blaise stammered as he stared at Hermione. She looked as if someone had just died. No, she looked like as she had died.

"Look, I don't know what you're planning or whatever, just give me my books and leave me alone." She spat back, looking as if she was staring at the most disgusting thing on earth.

"Hold on there, little missy. I give these books back to you and you say nothing? After I marched my arse all the way to the here just to give these?" He said snorting in a very Malfoy way.

"Just give it." She hissed through her teeth.

Blaise immediately complied and gave the stack of books back to her.

"Look, Granger, I'm sorry about what Malfoy and the others did to you. We didn't mean it to go that far... Well, I didn't mean it." Blaise apologized, looking as sincere as possible.

"Yeah, Sure. Whatever, Zabini." This time, she had cut from Blaise to a mere Zabini as she snatched her books from his arms and swiftly turned to proceed to the Gryffindor common room. The way she addressed him hurt Blaise as he watched Hermione disappear behind the Fat Lady's portrait. He then turns around and proceeds to his own common room.

"Oh dear, what happened?" A portrait inside of the room was shocked due to Hermione's current appearance, and immediately tried to ask her for an explanation.

She merely said nothing but let out a loud hiccup, and held back the tears, confusing the portrait. Instead of asking her the password, she swung the door open and let Hermione in.

Luckily, no one in sight was there. Everyone was busy with their own stuff.

By the moment she had seen Harry sitting on the chair in front of the fire, she couldn't hold back any longer.

Harry noticed Hermione's unusually stiff figure and stood up. "Hermione?" He ran towards her, and asked immediately who had made her cry, but she didn't reply.

She hugged his torso and buried her face in his chest, letting Harry wrap his arms around her arms.

"Hermione, what happened?" Harry asked soothingly as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Malfoy."

He stroked her hair, his eyes flaming at the thought of Malfoy hurting her and said, "Do you want me to tell him off? Or I could hex him if you wanted me to. Tell me."

She merely shook her head.

Harry brought two fingers under her chin to make Hermione face him. To his surprise, he saw a red mark on her cheek. It seemed as if she was slapped.

"Did he slap you too, Hermione?" Harry said in a tone that even Draco wouldn't want to mess with.

"Pansy…" She whispered softly, and looked down.

Harry kissed the top of her head, and slightly loosened his grip on Hermione.

"I'm going to make them regret what they did." She said angrily despite her tears.

"What?" Harry was confused at the sudden remark.

"I'm going to show them the real Hermione Granger who never lets them get to me. I'll show them an even more improved version of that." Her voice trailed away.

Harry sighed brought her to the chair near the fireplace and let her sit there. "I'm going to get you something to drink and some ice for that…" Harry said quietly as he put her down in a chair.

"Thanks." She tried to smile, but couldn't.

She let her eyes wander and they rested at Harry's figure. Chuckling, at how she remembered when Harry was 11, small and scrawny. He used to be completely defenceless. In the end, he became the saviour of the Wizarding world, ironic, huh?

"Here, 'Mione." He handed her a cup of pumpkin juice.

"T-thanks 'arry." She stared at the juice and droplets of tears fell onto the cup.

"Come here…" Harry took the cup from her and placed it down on the table, then opened his arms gesturing for her to come to him.

"That's it, just let it out." Harry rubbed her back in circles, and squeezed her hand tightly.

After Draco and his friends went back to the Slytherin common room, and at night, things get steamy…

Draco was sitting on his usual Slytherin throne when suddenly Blaise comes back out of nowhere and slams the door shut behind him, causing quite a shake in the common room.

"OY! WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? ARE YOU TRYING TO BREAK MY COMMON ROOM?" Draco snarled at Blaise.

"You've gone too far, mate. Too far." Blaise glared at Draco, causing everyone in the room to stare at the two.

"Oh? What do you care? She's a Mudblood. Don't tell me you've got the eye for that ugly thing? Surely you wouldn't stoop that low." Draco smirked and raised an eyebrow at the glaring Slytherin.

"Bloody hell, Malfoy! She's a PERSON. Mudblood or not, I don't care in any way for her. But you've gone too far! SHE'S GOD DAMN MISERABLE AS WE SPEAK AND HERE WE ARE CONTINUING TO TORTURE HER?!" Blaise spat.

Pansy stopped reading her magazine, and suddenly walked up to Blaise.

"DO NOT TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT, ZABINI. KNOW WHERE YOU BELONG. AND THAT IS UNDER DRACO MALFOY." She screeched at him, her glaring eyes filled with fury. No one should speak like that to Draco, even if it is Blaise Zabini.

"Shut the bloody hell up, Parkinson. I wasn't talking to you." Blaise pushed her aside with one hand, causing the black haired girl to get even more agitated.

"Don't touch her, Blaise. Or I'll personally make sure that you don't get good shag for the rest of your life." Draco said in a cold tone.

"You know what, Draco? I don't care anymore. I'm done being your lapdog." Blaise growled.

"THAT'S IT! I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK LIKE THAT TOWARDS DRACO ANY LONGER" Pansy then grabs Blaise by the collar and pulls him down to the floor. She then springs on top of him and attempts to claw his eyes out.

Blaise's hand rapidly meets with Pansy's left cheek as his form of self defense.

She screeches from the pain and is forced to get off him so that she could run to Draco.

"DRACO! MY FACE!!! MY BEAUTIFUL FACE!!! LOOK AT WHAT THAT BASTARD DID TO MY FACE!!!" She screamed with tears brimming her eyes and clutched onto Draco's robe.

Draco grabs his wand from inside his robe and pointed it straight at Blaise.

"I TOLD YOU TO NOT TOUCH HER, YOU BLOODY BASTARD." Draco roared.

"I WILL DO WHAT I BLOODY WANT. DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" Blaise flared back.

Blaise took out his wand from his pocket, and pointed it equivalently at Malfoy.

"Are you threatening me?" Draco smirked evilly.

"As far as I'm concerned, you started pointing your wand at me. This is a mere form of self defence. But if you wish to hex me, then I would gladly hex you back." Blaise's once icy blue eyes seemed to turn into a ghastly shade of midnight blue. His temper was reaching its peak and was ready to hex Malfoy at any time.

"Don't you forget, Zabini, I am the son of a death eater. I learn more dark magic than you could ever do."

"Have you forgotten, Malfoy? My family is tied to the Dark Lord – dead or not. And unlike you, I can stand up on my own even when using dark magic. I don't run to my father and ask him to scare away the people in my way." Blaise sneered.

"I can hex you now Blaise, so learn to keep your tongue inside your mouth or I'll make that longer than it already is."

"Then go on, I'm not afraid. Hex me with this dark magic you're so proud of! Go on, so you can get expelled! Let's see who causes such a disgrace to the pure blood of a Malfoy you so proudly have!"

Pansy's hand left Malfoy's robe and crept onto his hands, slowly bringing his armed hand down.

"He's not worth it, Drakey." She smirked and tried to convince him.

"Really now, Drakey? Are you scared? Too scared that whenever someone mentions your disgrace the Malfoy blood, you disarm yourself? What a stunning sight!" Blaise chortled, finally putting his wand down and back to his pocket...

"You know what, Zabini? Why don't you just keep your mouth shut like a good boy if you do know what's best for you?" Draco's temper rose once again and socked the unaware Blaise square on his nose.

"What in the world?!" Blaise's eyes shot wide open and quickly got on his two feet. Noticing the blood trickling slowly down his nose, he wiped it and stared at the smeared blood on the back of his right hand.

It was this time for Draco to laugh heartily.

"You should have seen the look on yourself, mate!" Draco snorted and everyone else in the room except for Blaise started laughing.

"I guess I'm the one to get the last laugh, eh?" Draco cocked at eyebrow and smirked at his ex-lapdog.

"Wrong, Malfoy." Blaise punched his ex-best friend hard on his left cheek, causing the snorting blonde to get pulled back by the sudden impact of Blaise's fist.

"DRACO!!" A wide eyed Pansy quickly helped him get up, with a nervous look on her face.

"Wrong. Last laugh belongs to me." Blaise muttered darkly and without another huff, he turned his heel around and marched to the infirmary.