Chapter 2 – For whom the heart needs

Author's note: I didn't really like this chapter so I edited it and added better things. The only problem is that it's not changing and I don't understand why. Also, thank you to Just Your Above Average Malfoy for being the first to review.

As Hermione exited through the double doors of the Great Hall, she broke into a run and continued all the way to the entrance of the dungeons. She did not know why her feet had carried her here but now she couldn't get them to move. It was as if they were waiting for someone or something. A strange feeling suddenly fell over her; she felt upset, angry and so confused about what she had been feeling whilst arguing with Malfoy. The image of his thin pale face formed in her mind, but he wasn't scowling for once. It was a smile, an actual smile that reached his eyes and she felt happy. She couldn't remember when she had last felt so much happiness and she started to laugh. However her laughter didn't last long as the tears from earlier that she had so desperately tried to hold back came streaming down her cheeks at once and falling, one by one to the cold, black, tiled floor beneath her.

She slid down the wall and onto the floor, folding her arms around her pale, skinny legs to form a tight ball, her chocolate brown hair falling forward to cover her face. Her whole body shook as tears streamed down her cheeks even faster than before.


Malfoy couldn't contain his anger for that filthy little mud-blood, how could she have done that to him in front of the whole school. If anyone could have heard what he was thinking, he'd have been kicked out of the house and treated as an outcast. Imagine what his father would say "You've disgraced the whole Malfoy family! You will never be a true Malfoy, not when you're in love with a disgusting mud-blood". It was too painful to think about. He'll show his dad he can be proud of him once he's sorted out that filthy mud-blood! She'll pay for what she did!

Draco had managed to get Crabbe and Goyle to leave him alone for a while by leaving cakes on each of their beds, he knew they were extra stupid when it came to food. Although he couldn't take it usually, it came in very handy when he needed some time alone.

He went for a small walk around the school grounds, but had decided it was time to go back to his house's common room as the clock had just chimed 7 o'clock but as he rounded the corner to the secret entrance of the room he could swear he heard a noise, it almost sounded as if somebody was crying.

He didn't really want to go and find a weak little boy or girl who was probably a first year, it would mean having to say something or help them into the common room.

They were obviously a Slytherin; no one else would come and cry here when they knew slytherin's secret common room was around here somewhere, unless they were stupid or extremely naive. As he rounded the corner even more, the sobbing intensified and became much loader. "Wow, this person really is sad" Draco thought as he stepped out in plain view of the person. He jumped back, aghast at what he saw and stared down at the young girl, it was the mud-blood, the girl whose hair was as brown as the creamiest of chocolates or the girl whose wrists were small enough for anyone to place their hands round, the girl he had got into a fight with not that long ago.

He suddenly felt a wave of sadness as he stared down at the lonely, crying Gryffindor. Had he made her this sad? Was it his fault she was here alone, crying her heart out? She must have heard him at that point, because whilst he was gradually getting closer to her curled up form on the floor she tilted her head up wards and stared into his eyes. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and tears were still streaming down her cheeks, but a strange look crossed her face as she stared up at him. He felt a sharp pang in his chest as he stared into her soft, caramel eyes. It was strange, her eyes didn't show that usual twinkle and now she looked worn out and almost...dead. He reached his hand down to her, with a sincere smile.

"Here, let me help you." She stared up at him in confusion but finally uncrossed her skinny little arms from around her legs and took his hand.

As soon as her skin touched his, Draco felt a shiver spreading all over his body, from head to toe and up to the very tips of his fingers. He felt slightly dizzy, which led to him to freeing the mud-blood's hand from his own resulting in her falling back to the ground with a large thump. He remembered what his father would say if he were to help a mud-blood and his eyes suddenly changed from an affectionate look to a fearsome, smug one.

"Ha, got you didn't I? You filthy mud-blood. You didn't really think I'd help you did you?" he turned his head slightly as he witnessed a single tear fall from the mud-blood's eye and down her cheek , but regained his control and gave his usual evil smirk which stretched from ear to ear and casually walked off to his house's common room.


Hermione was left, sprawled across the floor, helpless and feeling utterly appalled at herself; how could she have thought he would help her up? The Prince of Slytherin helping a measly Gryffindor ha, not in a million years. But there was that look, the look he gave her when she stared into his deep, grey eyes and reached his hand down to her, as if he had really meant it.

Oh stop being stupid Hermione; you're so stupid you fell for his prank. Now get up, clean your face and get back to your friends. Hermione listened, lifted herself up and headed straight for the closest bathroom so that she could clean herself up before finding her friends. Unfortunately she would have to walk the way Malfoy went to get to the nearest bathroom, hopefully she wouldn't have to see him again or she didn't know what she might do. She grabbed her bag and headed off to the bathroom.

Hermione stared at herself in the dusty mirror; the tips of her curly brown hair were soaked from where her tears had landed and her face was covered in red splodges from how much crying she had been doing. Her mouth was curved into a frown and her eyes didn't show even the tiniest glint of happiness, only sadness and pain. She gasped as a rush of cold water covered her face and splashed the front of her robes.

As soon as her face looked reasonably normal again she shuffled over to one of the dark green toilet cubicles and locked herself in, took a book from her maroon school bag and started to read, forgetting the world and forgetting what had just happened between her and Malfoy. She was in a world she knew, a world where anything could happen, a world where she could be herself and not be bullied or judged because of it.

It wasn't until the door of the bathroom swung open that Hermione was abruptly brought back to the real world. She heard muttering coming from the sinks and knew immediately who it was. It was three of the Slytherin girls; Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode and Daphne Greengrass. These girls were not to be messed with, which was why Hermione was feeling quite worried but also awkward listening into their private conversation. If they knew, she wouldn't live to regret it!

"Oh Pansy, isn't Draco just a heart throb?" Millicent cooed

"Millicent! Draco's mine, don't even speak as though he could ever be yours" Pansy Shrieked. It's not like he would want to go out with any of them anyway, would he? Why did she care anyway? You hate him Hermione, her mind told her, but she just couldn't bring herself to believe what it was trying to tell her.

"Oh, but he is isn't he, I'd do anything to..." Pansy suddenly discontinued with her words and Hermione could only hear shushed whispers and gentle footsteps. Were they getting closer? She couldn't tell? What if they found her, what then? None of the Gryffindors would be down here, not in a million year, so she was alone. Three against one.

One door, two doors, three doors. Door by door was kicked down, which meant they knew someone was in here and it was only a matter of time before they got to her cubicle. They'd know she had been listening into their private conversation which would give them even more of a reason to 'let her have it' because Hermione already knew they hated her, just as much as Malfoy did and it's not as if they would have hesitated if they had found her in here alone, even if she hadn't been listening into their private conversation.

Two doors away now, one door away. It was now or never, run or stay, live or die. She grabbed her bag, unlocked the door and sped across the room, almost colliding with a leg that had been popped out in front of her to knock her off her feet. She managed to make it all the way over to the bathroom door without being caught or brutally attacked, she tossed it open and abruptly collided with somebody as she turned the corner leading to the stairs. She bounded off the body she had just crashed into and landed on the hard, tiled floor.

"Watch where you're going!" an angry voice boomed at Hermione as she struggled to collect all her books from the floor.


This is my second chapter, I really enjoyed writing it and I hope you like it. I got a review hehe which means i'll be adding the next chapter on soon after I have finished my big bundle of homework. But still, please, please review. It will make my day! Thank you x