Well, here is chapter 2. And yes, this is a Blaise and Hermione story, with a twist. So, it could be and couldn't be. But please read, it means a lot to me. And please review, I can already tell someone's complaining that I didn't fully let on. But there will be the Hermione and Blaise romance, if that helps.
Hermione sat with her legs tucked under her, a book sitting on her lap, in the Slytherin Common Room. Draco sat next to her, his head resting on her shoulder, knees propped up, supporting a book.
There were no other Slytherin's in the common room, they didn't like to be near Hermione. She was the enemy. They respected Draco, he was still one of them. Most of the rumors flying about were describing their relationship only as sex. But none of them said anything because of Draco, and his ties with the Dark Lord.
The door behind them slammed open, then shut, making Hermione jump out of her skin. Draco looked up at her with an annoyed look, then sat up to see who the intruder was.
Blaise Zabini walked down the steps to the sitting area where Draco and Hermione sat. He looked frightened, and somewhat nervous as he approached the couple.
Blaise nodded to Hermione, then turned to Draco. "Drake, I need to talk to you."
Draco nodded and turned to Hermione, "Stay right here, I will be back in a moment." He placed his hand on her thigh and squeezed in a threatening manner. Hermione knew not to leave, she wasn't dumb.
She gritted her teeth together and smiled at Draco, "I'll be here."
Standing there, Blaise knew not what to do. He could see she was hurting, but he didn't know what to do. He could barely help his own mother.
Draco stood and followed Blaise into their quarters, giving one last look over his shoulder to Hermione. Draco closed the door and turned to Blaise, "What is it?"
Blaise rolled his sleeve up, showing the blonde boy his Dark Mark. "I don't want it, Drake." Blaise said in a fearful state, his Italian accent showing through.
"This is why you were gone?" Draco asked as he sat on his bed. He and Blaise shared a room, as they had no other friends really.
Blaise nodded and sat across from him on his own bed. "My new 'stepfather' has turned my neutral family into those of Death Eaters. He used the Cruciatus curse on me, told me it was for the best. I wanted to murder him, he tried to force my mother into it." Blaise groaned and fell back onto his bed.
"I have it too, mate. Don't worry too much." Draco said, not sure of what to say. No one had comforted him other than Hermione when he was marked, and he still isn't over it.
"I guess I have to do something, I don't foresee the Gryffindors succeeding anytime soon. Might as well wait for him to kill me," Blaise said sourly. He hoped the time would come soon, before he had to carry out one of the Dark Lord's wishes, when Harry Potter would do something about this.
"Hermione will kill me if we go into battle, I don't think I ever could do that to her." Draco admitted. He had been thinking a lot lately about that. Draco thought Hermione didn't love him, that's why he was so rotten to her. He had to scare her, keep her around for a little while longer. It was the war that was making him do this, these things just keep happening, and he couldn't help but take it out on her.
"Draco," Blaise paused and sat up, getting a good look at his best mate. "Are you hurting her?"
Something inside Draco snapped when Blaise asked that question. He knew he'd been particularly awful to her lately, but he couldn't help it. "Where did you hear that?"
"You should know by now that I do not listen to the gossip of girls, but that I observe."
Draco shook his head, "I'm not hurting her in any way, shape, or form. We are perfectly fine." Draco said, more to himself than to Blaise.
Blaise didn't buy it, but let the lie go. "I think I'm going to lay down for a bit, see you later Drake."
Draco nodded and fled the quarters, he had a sudden sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Hermione was not sitting on the couch where he had left her. Her books and homework that was scattered over the table had disappeared.
"Fuck!" Draco yelled and punched the wall nearest him. Why couldn't she just listen to him for once?
He was fuming as he left the Slytherin common room and walked the hallways of Hogwarts. Where would she be? With her Gryffindor friends?
Draco took a left, realizing he was heading to the Gryffindor common room. Long ago, Hermione had told him the password, but made it clear to use it only for an emergency. Draco thought this was good enough.
He walked down the long corridor to the picture of the Fat Lady. He had always hated her, so snobbish and as a matter of factly. She eyed him curiously, even though she knew the exact reason why the young wizard was there.
"Hyppogriff," said Draco. The door opened and he climbed through, revealing him to the dozens of Gryffindors sitting in the area. The one he was looking for sat on the biggest couch, in between Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. It took everything Draco had not to sneer at them.
Hermione noticed Draco and sprang up from the couch, smoothing out her skirt. "Hi Draco!" She said in a fake, cheery voice. She had been caught, no doubt about it. "What are you doing here?"
Draco plastered on a just as fake smile, "I was hoping I could talk to you about something."
Hermione nodded and stumbled over to him, her nerves definitely taking over. She turned to look at her two friends, giving them a reassuring smile. Draco took her hand, leading her out of the common room and into the cooridor.
They walked side by side together for a minute or so, giving Hermione more nerves and allowing Draco to choose the right words. Finally, after what seemed like a millennium to Hermione, they stopped a nearby window.
Draco leaned on the railing, looking out at the snow covered grounds. It reminded him of her soft skin, when it wasn't charmed to hide those nasty bruises.
He leaned his head on the window and looked at Hermione. "Why did you leave?" He began, hoping it wasn't for some heroic deed.
"Harry and Ron needed me for some Order stuff." She replied as she leaned against the railing, a good foot or so away from him. Draco noticed how she is never near him anymore, unless he forces her.
"Like what? A plan to kill me?" Draco accused as he tore away from the railing. He was hot again, he could feel the anger bubbling inside him, his palms sweating from adrenaline. "Well? I bet that's the only reason your with me, to get information!"
Hermione gasped; how could he think such a thing? "Why would you say that? You know it's not true!" She cried.
Draco laughed darkly, "Of course." His eyes suddenly lost their dark color of almost a silvery black, and turned into a soft gray. "I can't lose you, Hermione. I love you so much, and without you, I'd die."
This was the first Hermione had ever heard Draco hinting at suicide if she were to leave him. It scared her more than his fists and insults did, she could not have a death on her conscience.
"What are you saying?" Hermione asked, she needed an answer, a clear one at that.
Draco looked at her, through hooded eyes burning with pain and anger. "If you left me, there would be no reason to live. I would kill myself if I didn't have you."
Hermione choked on air, she didn't know what to do. This has gone past the point of saving, there was no saving what they had, or her.
"Hermione please, I need you." Draco said as he stepped closer, bringing her into his arms. She was frozen on the spot, her brain could not register anything other than the fact a man's life now rested in the palms of her hands, and was slowly slipping through the cracks of her fingers.
"Why don't you act like you love me then?" Hermione asked, finding her voice. She pushed him away from her, causing more sparks to fire him up with.
"What the hell do you mean! I fucking love you, Hermione! Why can't you see that? I can't stand being away from you!" Draco screamed, and Hermione was suddenly happy they were alone. No one in the school knew this side of Draco, although she suspected Blaise somewhat knew.
He yelled in anger and grabbed her roughly by the arms, shaking her as he began to talk. "You cannot leave me. I love you, it's you that doesn't act like you love me!"
She just couldn't shut up, her words dragging herself into a deeper hole. "Really? I must love if I stayed with you after you began to hit me!"
Draco glared at her and brought his hand back, slapping her across the cheek. Her head rolled to the side, the corner of her lip stained with blood.
"If you would just listen, we wouldn't be in this mess." Draco said quietly and wrapped his arms around her. He could see the tears pouring out of her eyes, and he thought for a moment he should be the one crying. She was going to leave him, he was almost broken hearted.
Hermione rolled her head onto his shoulder, her silent tears doing the trick. Draco relaxed and held her tighter.
"I want to go lay down." She whispered, a headache she could feel coming on was over powering her. Hermione felt sick, dizzy, like the whole room was spinning.
Draco nodded and pulled away to look at her. He wiped the blood from her mouth, kissing her lips tenderly. He placed his forehead on hers, "I love you." He whispered and grabbed her hand, leading her away from that spot.
They didn't know someone had crept into that cooridor only moments before their fight, and saw the whole thing.