Chapter three:
Hermione and Draco had reached the library in complete silence, and she followed Draco to a secluded section of the library; much like her regular spot, and set all of their stuff down. Hermione pulled a parchement out of her bag and scanned through all the assignments she had written down for her classes, stopping when she had come across her Dark Arts assignment. She took out a quill and placed a star right next to it, indicating that was what assignment she was working on, then she pulled out some more parchment and thought about the angle she wanted to take on this essay.
"What did you get?"
"Its not really Dark Arts if you ask me, more like a potions assignment. I have to talk about Unicorn blood."
"What are you gonna say about it?"
"Well I am going to mention its magical properties, what its been known for, the law reguarding the blood. Things like that, and I am certain that I am going to say things that Professor Snape will not like, he will probably fail me."
Draco chuckled, "What are you going to say?"
Hermione looked up, placing her quill down next to the parchement and stood straight from her bent position. "Do you remember first year?"
"What part Granger? A lot happened first year."
"The part about You-Know-Who," Hermione looked from side to side and then looked back into Draco's eyes. "And Professor Quirrell. You saw that figure in the forest with Harry, that was him and he was feeding off of a Unicorn. That's going to be one of my lines of evidence for their magical properties. Their blood can keep you alive even if you are a breath away from death. That's what Professor Snape is going to get mad at me about, but its the truth; Dumbledore himself knows it and I will be careful not to use specific names."
After a moment of silence Dracco cleared the fear he felt away and swallowed hard, "That will be one hell of a brave thing to do."
Hermione had gone back to writing little notes of what she did know about unicorn blood already and gave out a dry laugh. "What's he going to do? Hit me?" She turned around and headed towards the creature section to gather some books.
Draco pulled out his belongings and left to do the same, struck by her comment. She was very nonchallant as if it was a joke but she sounded very bitter at the same time, that along with the fear he had seen in her eyes made questions pop up in his mind and all those questions ended with one answer: Ron Weasley. He had to have done something, and Draco was determined to get her to talk. If she was willing to talk about the Dark Lord, as openly as she did and to a Professor, he was sure she would eventually open up to him if he kept on it. Hermione Granger had become a curious being to him, she was full of secrets and he couldn't read those; unlike everyone else. He gave them one glance and he knew them, Hermione was as complex as advanced Wizards chess; but Draco never lost a game and he wouldn't loose this one.
He came back with all his book and chuckled when he saw Hermione's stack of books going over her head, with three already open around her. She had her sleeves rolled up and hair tucked behind her ears as she scribbled away, her eyes darting back and forth and fingers flipping from page to page. Her dedication level was charming, and the cordination along with her speed was impressive, she was very organized in everything. Draco opened his first book and pretended to read it, he hadn't told her that his essay was already done; that he was all caught up in all of his classes, that would have most likely made her feel bad and whatever was going on with her life was clearly distracting enough for her not to complete the assignments. But now that she was in her element he wasn't going to disturb her.
He wrote down random thoughts like he was taking notes but he was completely enamored by her. The last rays of the sun was coming in through the window and shining off her hair, the gold in it illuminating around her in a beautiful glow. He never noticed her before, not in a good way at least. He had only felt the hate for her, which wasn't real if he were to be honest. He had no reason to hate her or feel any resentment to her apart from her blood status and it wasn't like he believed in those things anyway it was all for show. He went back to writing.
They wrote in silence for a while before Hermione groaned a little, her hand going up and rubbing her neck softly. Draco watched her roll her head from side to side and found himself liking the way her muscles stretched and relaxed with each movement. He like the silky bronze complexion of her skin and was livid when he saw a dark mark wrap around her throat, he realized her fingers were rubbing the irritated skin in a soothing fashion; and another dark spot on her wrist caught his attention. Her hand fell from her neck and into her lap and she locked eyes with his.
"You are staring."
"Whats on your neck Granger?"
Hermione's heart jumped and she forced herself to calmly swallow. "I don't know what you are talking about." She picked up her things slowly and put them in her school bag and with a flick of her wand all her books started travelling back to their homes. "Thanks for your time." She stood up to go but Draco had jumped right in front of her to stop her exit.
"What's. On. Your. Neck." His voice sounded lethal, his eyes roaring with anger as he grabbed her chin and moved it from side to side, observing the mark; the dark smudges were taking form in the shape of a hand.
Hermione was paralyzed for a second before she pulled her chin from his hand and took a step back. "It's nothing." She ran around him, stopping when he grabbed her elbow.
"Talk to me Granger."
Hermione ripped her arm away from him and pushed him away, her book bag falling off of her shoulders with her effort. "Shove off Malfoy! Its not like you care!"
With that Hermione left him alone feeling dumbstruck and angry, a little bit hurt too. He didn't expect her to trust him but something inside of him wanted her trust, wanted her to talk to him; to be the person she confided in. He must be loosing his mind, he felt alone without her and angry for not being able to understand her and shocked at her burst of anger towards him. He looked down, straightening up his sleeves and picking up her belongings. He would corner her at dinner, if anything he needed to return her stuff.
Hermione locked herself in the bathroom of the girls dormitories, she put a silencing charm on and threw herself against the wall; falling into a heap on the floor. She felt the rage of the loss of her mother and every hit she had recieved from her father explode through her, she punched her legs to relieve anger; elbowed the tiled wall behind her and released scream after scream. She was losing control, she felt she was losing her mind. She sobbed and held herself into a ball, once in a while hitting herself in the face when she got too out of control; all of her motions were sparactic and angry; and she couldn't make sense of a single thing.
Why? Why was this happening to her? Hadn't she been good? Hadn't she been loyal to everyone around her despite everything else? Was she not a good enough daughter? Hermione shook her head, trying to clear all the thoughts. She wouldn't grieve her mother, not now. She wouldn't think about her father, not chanted this in her head as she stood up and looked at her face in the mirror. Rolling up her sleeves she turned on the faucet to cold water and scrubbed her arms and face as if to wash away the emotion, droplets of water splashing everywhere around her. She was not going to feel this; she had these moments where she had snapped but she always caught herself when she got too far and this was no different. Swallowing away the emotions she straightened herself out and headed out to the common room, freezing when all eyes went on her. She hadn't realized so many people were around.
"Hermione are you all right?" Harry asked, standing up from the couch and walking over to his best friend. "You ran right through here pretty fast."
"Yeah,"Hermione laughed. "I really had to go to the bathroom."
Hermione plopped herself on the couch and brought her legs to her chest sighing, her eyes staring at the fire. Harry was talking to her, she knew, but she was hardly able to pay attention to a word he was saying. They sounded so far away and her eyes felt tired, but the hand that shook her brought her back to the present and didn't allow her to disappear into darkness. Harry looked at her expectanly, as if he had asked her a question she was supposed to have all the answers too; like she always did.
"I'm sorry Harry. What?" She asked, shifting herself on the couch; her hand holding her head up.
"I asked if you found anything out about the Half-blood prince." He stated again, he almost restated his comment about her and Malfoy in Potions but thought better of it.
"No." Hermione sat up straighter, "I've researched and looked through all the books I could at the library but I still have nothing. I think you should dispose of that wretched book before something bad happens. We don't know who this person could be, and you said there were spells in there?" Hermione whispered, "They could be dark magic. The book is completely dangerous and you need to turn it in."
Harry looked at her, almost smiling as the friend he had known all of his life came to the surface, but then he sighed heavily. The book had proven useful, it had helped him excel in potions and when the war hit this book could have things in it that would be helpful against the enemy. He needed to make her see that. "Hermione don't you think that this book could be useful to us? We learn to master important potions, we learn what the spells do and practice them; if any are useful then we remember them and use them when we go to war." She didn't look convinced. "Hermione! We need all the help we can get and this book might be the thing that could help us the most, we don't know unless we try. All I ask is that you give me time to figure some of this stuff out and then I promise I will turn it in or do whatever you want with it."
Hermione listened to his pleading tone and couldn't help but know that he was right. Dumbledore and Harry had been talking and knew that it was likely the war was going to happen after sixth year; and Hermione knew they wouldn't be coming back for their seventh. They needed to prepare, she had been slacking on it so much recently; perhaps this book held some answers but something inside of her made her think it would cause more damage than good. "Fine. You have one month Harry. One month to read that book, copy down important potions that you KNOW we will use and figure out the spells in it that will help us. One month Harry and not a moment more, I will take it from you if I have to but I trust you will be honest about it. And might I suggest the Room of requirement, Dumbledores Army classroom would be the perfect place. You best get to it."
Harry looked at her, his mouth opening and closing at a loss for words. He didn't think she would cave in about it; when Hermione was adament about something she didn't back down. He smiled and gave his friend a one armed hug. "I promise."
He opened the book and began reading, Hermione almost felt like doing the same thing but she was too tired. She uncurled her legs, her feet going on Harry's lap, and snuggled deeper into the couch. It was cozy in here, the warmest she had felt in a long time. The dark windows acted as a shell from the outside world and the glow of the fire was the hope that would keep them safe and warm in dark times. If only anyone knew the truth of it. The absoloute darkness that was surrounding her; and she knew she was just feeling sorry for herself.
She couldn't help it really. For once couldn't something be about her, couldn't people realize that there were so many things going on in her life that she didn't have time to cater to their every whim like they expected? She had lost her mother tragically, has to deal with a father whose mental status is less than ideal, coping with the fact that a Dark Lord that wants her kind dead is rising; her friendship falling apart with Ron and then this new found nonsense with Draco that made her want to spill all of her secrets, then on top of all of that her studies and preparing for a war! Did no one realize what she was going through? Of course not because she wouldn't share, she hardly shared the thoughts with herself. She just pushed them aside and hoped they didn't really exist; in her heart though she felt every pain. It threatened to choke her everyday, if she didn't ignore it she knew it would.
Hermione felt herself begin to doze off with her thoughts when the sudden shouts of her once close friend were errupting the room. "You should have seen it Lav. He was all over her and she didn't even care!"
"Oh Won Won, that's what happens when you make friends with people like her." Lavender Brown whined sympathetically.
Harry was looking at Hermione to gauge her reaction, her eyes were open and she was glaring at the door way as the two walked into the common room. There was a mix of absolute rage and hatred, and underneath that there was pain that Harry couldn't quite decipher. Hermione pulled her legs from his lap and stood up to face the couple, her arms crossed and back straight like a mother who had caught her children sneaking in pass curfew.
"And what kind of person am I Lavender?" Hermione questioned, gaining the couples attention along with everyone elses.
Ron looked embarrassed and ashamed, while Lavender looked high and mighty. "A traitor." She spat. "You were obsessed with my Won Won and now that you can't have him you have turned to the enemy."
Harry stood up and walked over to Hermione, he could feel the anger rolling off of her but she didn't seem to notice. "Ron are you gonna let her talk to Hermione like that?" He asked.
Ron looked from his best friends to his girlfriend and shrugged sheepishly. "She is right ya know."
"I beg your pardon?" Hermine gasped. "I was never, and never will be; obsessed with you Ronald Weasley. And as for turning to the enemy? What a load of rubbish."
"You were practically all over Malfoy in class." Ron accused.
Hermione felt the bubbling rage turn into word vomit as she screamed at him. "He was helping me after you hurt me! Ever since you have started dating Lavender we haven't even been friends and that's all I want Ronald! But friendship is no longer an option." She sighed looking at him with tears in her eyes. "He comforted me after what you said, and I can never be friends with someone I trusted not to call me a Mudblood. And you did."
Ron looked at her, he didn't realize the ferret would have told her what he had said. Everyone was glaring daggers at him; like he had been in the wrong the entire time. That wasn't fair to him, "But you are so ready to become friends with a Death Eater?"
Hermione walked right up to Ron and slapped him hard across the face, his cheek turning a bright red. "You have no right make such accusations. He is not a Death Eater. I spent most of the afternoon with him and he acted the utmost gentleman. No one, myself included, knows a thing about him and its time we stopped all this childish nonsense." She looked everyone in the eyes. "There is a real war just outside these walls waiting to commence, I suggest we learn how to get along with one another because at the end of this; all these classmates we have grown up with, even those we say we hate, alot of them will be dead."
She stormed out of the common room and past all the students that were swarming the hallways on their way to dinner. This day was just flying by fast, it was all in a clear blur. Every detail she remembered, but it all passed by so quickly in her mind she could hardly make it out. Sighing, Hermione trudged her way back to the library. She had left her stuff in the heat of the moment and she really should get it back; she had work to do. She ignored the stares people gave her, and she drowned out Harry's voice calling after her, she blended in with the students to disappear from his sight and went on her way.
He was probably furious with her, she had defended the person he hated the most. But why did they hate each other? Sure Lucius had almost killed Ginny, but that was Lucius not Draco. Hermione doubted Draco had any idea of what had gone on. Perhaps it was a grudge Harry held for his friends sake, in second year Draco did wish Hermione dead; but now it didn't seem that way. It was childish ramblings that were only there because those thoughts were forced in his mind. Hermione did't think he was anything like he was when he was younger, he was a royal prat back then; almost like a sociopath. Now he seemed to have an idea of what was wrong and right, granted he was still cruel but Hermione believed that was just a shell that covered up what was really going on. She couldn't imagine life for him was easy, despite all the money and power that came with the name; it didn't change how a childhood with a hate filled father and a silent mother affected someone. In the end they hated each other for the same reason, blood prejudice. Like he could help what he was born into as much as she could have.
Draco wasn't as bad as what she thought, but Hermione also had the ability to see good in everyone. Even Lavender Brown. She could be a snot, most of the time she was, but when her friends needed her most Lavender was there; whether it was to help distract her friends by doing make overs or actually listening to what was going on; even if she couldn't understand what her friends were saying. There was good in everyone, but Hermione couldn't help but feel Draco was playing a nasty trick on her; she had trust issues now more than ever. She had trust issues with God because he hadn't kept her mother alive, trust issues with her father because he turned on her, trust issues with friends because she was so easily forgotten, trust issues with the male species because how long would it be until they snapped on her as well. She could see the best in people, but lately it didn't take long for her to assume the worst.
Hermione walked through the library doors, the smell of old books swarming her nostrils and bringing comfort. Students were studying all around, some packing up to go to dinner and some sneaking dinner into the library so they could multi-task. Madam Pince sat at the front desk organizing books that had been returned and looking through piles of parchment. Her glasses were halfway down her nose and when she gazed up to see who entered she offered Hermione a comforting smile. Whether it was because she was happy to see her regular student or from sympathy she didn't know. That was the bad thing about people being involved in your life and knowing things, you never knew if what their actions meant.
Hermione walked over to the section of the library they had inhabited earlier and saw nothing there, the place was completely spotless apart from the small sheet of parchment on the desk. Hermione looked around to see if anyone was coming back to this spot, if they had been taking notes and forgotten a page. Hermione walked over and picked up soft square to see if there was a name and gasped with she saw hers at the top.
Granger,
You left your stuff in here when you so rudely ran from our conversation. Don't worry, I have it safely in my possession and I planned to give it to you at dinner tonight. Figured you didn't want people to steal anything or peek around in your stuff. And before you get angry at me...again... remember that a simple thank you would suffice.
See you at dinner.
Yours truly
Slytherin Prince
Hermione could practically imagine the smirk on his face at the last line. She couldn't help but smile at the note, it was nice of him to let her know that no one had stolen it and that he was going to return it to her. It was nice that he even had taken her stuff in the first place. Hermione wasn't hungry and she didn't want to face anyone at the moment but she did need her stuff, and at the end of the day she was going to have to face everyone anyway. Its not like there was a lot of privacy in the castle, she might as well face the music. Turning around she walked out of the library with a wave to Madam Pince.
The halls were nearly empty now as everyone had made their way to dinner, only a few people hung around here any there; mostly couples so they could snog in the empty corridor. Hermione ignored then and continued her way to the great hall. She had to take a breath when she reached the large double doors, for once their size and height were intimidating to her; perhaps it was the fact that they were protecting her from the people within. Gathering up some of the old fashion Gryffindor courage Hermione pushed through the door as discreetly as possible and eyed her table. It looked like people were yelling at Ron, and everyone was yelling at each other at the table. As soon as the other tables spotted her a flurry of whispers started.
Hermione ignored them, she wanted to know what they were saying but at the same time she knew it shouldn't effect her because they didn't know her. She didn't even know what all the fuss was about, but whatever it was; when the whole truth came out people would feel dreadfully stupid just like they did when Harry had been correct about Voldemort. The Griffyndors were arguing now like they did then, and it would all pass. Sighing Hermione's eyes landed on the Slytherin table and she scanned it for Draco. She spotted him almost right away, it wasn't hard in the mass of darkness, few Slytherins had platinum blonde hair; it was a Malfoy trade mark after all. She walked slowly to the table, becoming nervous as the attention from the Slytherins was drawn to her. She focused on Draco's head and attempting not to gag at Pansy. She was throwing herself at Draco, kissing his neck and rubbing his thigh; but it seemed he wasn't having any of it and it almost made her laugh.
Hermione reached out a shaky hand and tapped him on the shoulder, startling him from his thoughts. "I didn't mean to intterupt bu-"
"What do you want Mudblood." Pansy hissed.
Draco's snatched up his hand out of one of hers and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Don't call her that." He growled. "Her name is Hermione." Pansy looked like she was going to argue or burst into tears but the look in his eyes, it was so dark and challenging, it made her keep her mouth shut. She turned away, shakily eating her food.
"Sorry." Hermione whispered, she didn't want to get her in trouble with Draco and she felt bad about about interrupting everyones dinner. The sooner she left the better. "I got your-" Hermione swallowed not sure what to say, what he wanted people to know or what he didn't want people to know. "You have my bag."
"Right." Draco sighed, his long arm went underneath the bench and pulled out her things. "There you are Granger."
Hermione grabbed her bag quickly from him and shuffled on her feet awkwardly. "Thank you." She whispered, turning around.
"You aren't going to eat?"
Hermione looked over her shoulder and into his eyes, noting the concern and almost laughed. None of her friends had said a word to her and she had hardly eaten in months. "No. I'm not hungry really and I don't want to stay in here." She peeked around at everyone staring. "I need to be alone." Hermione turned and walked away without another glance.
Draco looked after her, she looked like she was getting skinny and he didn't see her at breakfast, he knew she didn't eat lunch because he was with her the entire time and now she decided against dinner. Draco shook his head and piled plate full of food, licking his thumb to get off some mashed potatoes. He grabbed two forks and his bag, swinging his legs over the bench he began to follow after her. Hermione Granger was not going to get away that easily and she was going to eat something if Draco had a say about it. He almost reached the end of his table when the clatter of goblets and a yell from none other than Ron stopped him. The whole room was silent, even the Professors, as he called Hermione a traitor.
Draco felt protective of her suddenly, he had been all day. She was already so fragile and sad; all this gossip and talk about her wasn't going to help at all. How was she supposed to get past whatever she was dealing with now if her problems kept piling up? He set his food on the table between the Hivera twins and let his bag fall from his shoulder to the ground before he headed over to the Gryffindor table.
"Another word Weasley. I dare you." Draco snarled, grabbing Ron by the collar.
Ron looked taken a back for a moment before he pulled himself out of Malfoy's grasp and stepped over the bench, becoming completely level with Draco. "Shove off Malfoy. You don't know what you are dealing with."
"No." Draco chuckled darkly. "You don't know what you are dealing with. I protect my friends as if they are my own flesh and blood. Granger has become my friend, hurt her and you will regret the day you were born."
"What would your father say? You being friends with a Mudbloo-"
"Ron!" Ginny gasped.
"Shut it." He spat at her. "We are all on to you Malfoy, we all know you are going to hurt her. What would your Master say?"
Draco eyed him up and down, his eyes lethal and glinting darkly. He snatched his hand out and grabbed Ron's neck, squeezing it tightly. "How does it feel? Do you like it?" He asked. "Hermione didn't. Leave her alone. You hurt her again Weasle and I wont be as kind as I am now." Draco released his grasp, straightened up his robes and looked at the peope who were staring at him from the table. "You all heard him call her a Mudblood, you might want to figure out who the real enemy is."
Then Draco gathered his things and left.
