Chapter Four
Hermione ran as quickly and as quietly as she could towards the Library. Pausing, only briefly, as Filch passed by her as she hid in the dark doorway of the Transfiguration classroom; in his search to try and find his cat.
After she knew he was well out of earshot, she continued on her hurried journey to the Library. All the while thinking, I have seen Filch more tonight, than on any of Harry, Ron, and my excursions. Bloody pain in the ass. Breathing heavy, she finally made it to the library. She tore through the library at neck breaking speed; finally reaching the torch she had seen earlier that night. She pulled down on the torch and ran through the corridor once more, to find Draco waiting for her. However, this time he was sitting shirtless; on the sofa crying softly into his hands, with his wand on the floor across the room.
"Draco?" She called timidly as she made her way over to him. "Draco, what's the matter? Talk to me."
As soon as she reached him she crouched on the floor in front of him, so she could look him in the eye. She gently reached up and rubbed her hand up and down his arms, trying to comfort him. "Draco? Please talk to me." She asked in a hushed voice, with tears forming in her own eyes from seeing Draco cry.
For the first time since she arrived back in his hide-away, Draco removed his hands from his face and looked at Hermione. He reached down and wiped the tears from her eyes, which had been formed out of worry. "I'm sorry if I frightened or worried you." Draco hiccupped as he tried to regain his composure and wiped his eyes. "I wouldn't have bothered you at all but, I needed consoling and, embarrassed to admit it, a hug." He stated as he lost his grip, breaking down into tears once more.
"Oh, Draco.." Hermione whimpered as she reached up and gave Draco a big, long, heartwarming hug. "What happened? What's the matter?" She asked as she continued to hold him tight to her, until he pulled himself away and began to pace the room.
"When Blaise came and interrupted us earlier," He began to say in between sobs. "He had just been informed that my parents and Aunt were…" He hesitated for a second, "Were found dead in my home." Malfoy croaked as he lost all control of his emotion. "He said he was told, that it looked as though Fenrir Greyback got to them and wrote in blood on the foyer wall 'You're next'."
Hermione immediately ran to him flinging her arms around his neck again, and hugged him as he cried heavy sobs on her shoulder. She was feeling a mix of emotions upon hearing this news; joy because his parents were followers of the man who wanted her kind dead, yet sad for the pain Draco is feeling and the hell he is going through.
"Draco, I am so sorry. This is terrible!" Hermione began trying to console him, as he held onto her even tighter. She wanted to console him more comfortably, she knew he couldn't be happy to be standing as he mourned the loss of his family. "Hold on, one second alright?" She asked as she pulled away from a confused looking Draco. She pulled out her wand, and waved it at the sofa, which then turned into a king sized bed.
Draco looked at her incredulously as she tucked away her wand. "Really? Sex? Now of all times? You think sex is going to make it better?" He asked with and inflection of anger in his voice.
Hermione looked dumb founded at his response. She had no intention of sex, they have only been together for what, six hours? "No you troll! I just know that if I was in your position, I would not want to be standing as I mourned the loss of my parents! I would be in the fetal position on my bed, crying my eyes out." She snapped back at him, trying to not seem unsympathetic. "I was just trying to make you more comfortable, if you don't want the bed I'll change it back."
Just as she was pulling her wand out to change the bed back into the sophisticated sofa it used to be, Draco stopped her. "No don't change it… I… I'm sorry. I'm just-" He began to apologize before being cut off by Hermione.
"Hey look at me." She said in a lovingly stern voice, as she grabbed his hands and shook them to make him look at her. "You just lost your parents and your Aunt, and you thought I was trying to use sex to make you feel better. You had every right to react the way you did, I would have if I was you. You don't have to apologize to me about that." She smiled lovingly at him, looking into his sad, grey, tear filled eyes. "Would you like to lay down and grieve in comfort?" She asked him with a sympathetic look in her eye, as Draco leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Only if you will lay with me." He declared, with an adorable childlike sniff.
"Of course I will lay with you, if that's what you want Draco." Hermione replied with a soft smile, as she led him towards the bed.
As they lay down on the newly conjured bed, Hermione began to think of everything Draco just told her, and a distressing question popped into her head. "Where are you going to live when the school year is over Draco? The Ministry won't let you inherit your family's estate until you are of age next year." Hermione asked with worry in her voice.
Draco swallowed hard, and for the first time since he received the news, he actually thought about it. He could stay with Crabbe or Goyle, but their fathers were cruel and stupid, there is no way he would be able to tolerate living with them. He could stay with Blaise, but his mother is an accomplished seductress. She'll have him her husband, spend his inheritance, and kill him all within a year of turning seventeen; no way is he staying there. If he stayed with Pansy, Hermione would surely castrate him and break things off with him, and he doesn't want that. Not to mention Pansy will be molesting him while he sleeps, whenever she gets the chance. There is no one else he can stay with. No other friend he can rely on for a place to live over the summer.
"I don't know what I'll do Hermione, none of my friends are suitable to take me in, and I don't mean they aren't rich enough. I mean I'll either get beaten, cradle robbed, or molested in my sleep; if I stay with any of my friends." Draco said flatly, wide-eyed and heart beating fast.
Hermione didn't like the sound of that. Draco would be living on the street all summer long if he couldn't find someone to stay with for the summer. Then it hit her like a bludger!
"Draco?" She began as she rolled over to face him, "What if I ask my parents to let you stay at my house this summer? I mean it's one summer, and they let me stay at Ronald's for weeks at a time during holidays. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you stayed with us. I mean I know it's a muggle house and town and you would have to act a little less like a wizard and more like a muggle, but I would be happy knowing you weren't living on the street until school starts back up again."
Draco cringed at hearing that she stayed with the Weasley's over most holidays, not out of disgust, but out of jealousy. Weasley got to spend all his time with her and could be open about it, whereas he has to hide his relationship with her. Well, not anymore since the people he had to worry about approving of and not killing Hermione are dead. He thought of everything he imagined happening between her and him, and couldn't help wondering if her and Weasel had… done anything. The thought made him sick, but he had to know.
"Hermione?" He asked still sounding stuffy from crying.
"Yes Draco?" She replied as she stroked his arm that he had wrapped around her. Life couldn't get any better than this right now, she thought.
"During the times that you spent at the Weasley's home, did you and Weasley ever…. Get intimate?" He asked nervously, glancing around her head to see if her expression changed at all.
"No, we didn't. Why do you ask?" She replied with a little more bite than she meant to have.
"Well, I knew that you two, especially Weasley, had feelings for each other. I was just wondering if you two had ever acted on them, that was all." Draco replied sheepishly, hoping she wasn't as upset as she sounded when she answered him.
Hermione had now rolled over to face Draco, and was looking at him with a flat expression. He wasn't sure if it was good or bad that she looked impassive, which made him a little frightened.
"Ron does not have feelings for me, at least not romantic ones, maybe as a sister or a friend, but not romantic feelings. He never once tried anything with me. No guy has. Well, except for Viktor, but his feelings were purely physical, and all we did was kiss." Hermione babbled on defensively, as Draco seemed to grow more nervous. "Why did you really ask me about Ron?" Hermione declared through squinting eyes, and a small crooked smile.
Draco had to think about his answer, he couldn't believe that it was jealousy. Insecurity maybe? He wasn't sure, maybe it was because of how close they are that made him worry. Draco didn't like feeling vulnerable like this; it was not something he was used to. He wasn't sure how to word why he was so worried about her relationship with Weasley; it was an abnormal reason to be bothered by.
"Well, I…." He began as he tried to think of the right way to word his sentence. "I get, angry I guess is the best word for it, at the thought of Weasley touching you the way I fantasize about one day touching you." Malfoy said turning red at his words, just thinking about it as he said it made him upset. Weasley; sliding his hand up her leg and under her skirt, running his other hand up the back of her head through her hair, pulling her hair and head backward. "Yeah," he continued with a monotone angry voice. "I get really angry thinking about it."
"Really?" Hermione asked blushing. "Well, I can assure you that Ron has never touched me in an intimate way, only in a brotherly way." She finished smiling assuredly as she cuddled closer to him. "So, would you consider staying with me and my parents for the summer?" she asked, cutely looking up at Draco.
Draco had been thinking about it in the back of his mind since she brought it up, it wasn't a bad idea, bunking with his gorgeous girlfriend all summer long? He would be stupid to turn down the offer, and it is safer than staying at one of his other friends' houses. Though adapting to muggle living would be extremely difficult, and he couldn't sneak doing magic around the house because then Hermione would get in trouble. The other issue remained that he would have to tell his friends that he was going to take his money and hide out somewhere to avoid getting caught and murdered by Fenrir, so they wouldn't be able to rat him out to Voldemort or to Fenrir.
"Yes I would love to stay with you and your family, if they will permit it. It is the safest place for me that I can think of, especially," He began trying to be cute and butter her up, "Since I will have the brightest and strongest witch of our age to back me up if I need help." He swooned, smiling down at her with his beautiful grey eyes penetrating her soul.
"Oh Draco, that is wonderful! I will send an owl to my parents first thing in the morning asking them if they would mind." She began with a smile that as quickly as it appeared, it faltered. "However, this means it is crucial now more than ever that we keep our relationship a secret. If we make our relationship known to everyone, Fenrir and the others will know where to find you over the summer, and that will put me and my parents at risk as well." Hermione began with a furrowed brow, as she thought of ways around the secrecy issue. "If I told you something, would you promise to keep it a secret?" She asked with an innocent and timid look on her face.
Draco, suddenly and begrudgingly, realizing she is right. They would have to keep it a secret, Son of a Bitch! He thought. I am so tired of all the secrets! He looked at Hermione with curiosity, what could she possibly have to tell him that he hasn't already guessed or figured out? He thought.
"Of course Hermione, what is it?" He said with the utmost sincerity in his voice.
"Ok. Well, I have been studying advanced spells and charms…. And I have mastered performing memory charms…" She paused to let that sink in, when it was clear that Draco wasn't seeing the point she then, continued on. "So with Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle having knowledge about your feelings for me; they have become something of a liability. If You-Know-Who got his hands on them and tortured them to tell him where you are, that would in the long run lead You-Know-Who to Harry as well. I care far too much about you, Harry, and the Weasleys to let that happen. So if you are alright with it Draco, I would like to wipe their knowledge of us, to keep us all safe."
Draco was stunned at what she was saying. She wanted to wipe the memories of the only people he could talk to about Hermione. While he understands her reasoning for wanting to wipe their memories, he really wanted someone to talk too about her. He wanted to brag to his friends about being able to kiss and hold the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts whenever they were together. He didn't care much for bragging about any "conquests" he made with Hermione, it was none of their business, but bragging about having the beautiful Hermione Granger on his arm, that was what he was looking forward to the most.
"Wow. You are just full of surprises aren't you?" He exclaimed wearing his trademark smirk and chuckling lightly. "I understand why you want to do that Hermione; it just kills me that I won't have anyone to talk to about you." He pretended to pout as he continued. "I have had to keep this," He gestured towards her, "A secret for so long. I was hoping to finally be able to make it known; it is what I have been waiting for." He paused as he pretend pouted some more. "It is what I put my balls on the line for earlier today. Telling you was the most dangerous part about this whole thing, and now that the danger is over, I was happy to be able to make it public."
She looked at him studying his face and considering his words with care. She could tell he understood and was on her side on the matter, but he was really upset about not being able to talk to his friends about their relationship.
"Well, I mean, if you can find a friend you can trust to not cave under pressure, I suppo-" Hermione was cut off by Draco.
"That would be none of my friends, they would all cave to save their own asses. It is fine though, really it is." He added as he saw Hermione prepare to argue. "One day we will be able to make our relationship known, and when that day comes we are going to have a huge party with all of our friends and your family! I want it to be common knowledge to everyone about us when we can finally tell people." He finished with a laugh from watching Hermione burst into laughter about the party.
"Alright." She replied laughing all the while. "We will have a big party when we finally come out about our relationship." She finished laughing and her expression changed to a serious, yet nervous, look. "Um, Draco?" She asked timidly, as she looked up at him with a face resembling that of an abused dog.
"What is it Hermione? Why do you look so scared?" Draco asked concerned at the drastic change in her demeanor.
"I feel bad asking this, especially after what I just asked you to allow me to do, but…" She paused afraid of continuing; however she forced herself to continue. "I would like to tell Harry and Ron about us only because-" But Draco cut her off. He pulled himself up off the bed, feeling as though she had punched him in the face, again.
"So wait; you want me to allow you to wipe the memories, of all knowledge of my feelings for you, from my friends' minds, but you want to tell your friends?" Draco blurted out, now understanding why she had become so nervous. What the bloody hell is she thinking, he thought. Wants to wipe the memories of my friends but tell her friends! Draco knew what she was thinking, and understood why she was thinking the way she was, but it is a complete double standard.
"Well, now that I think about it, I probably shouldn't tell Harry and Ron about you." Hermione said out loud instead of in her head. Draco knew she was concentrating hard because she had her brow furrowed, making it impossible for him to stay upset with her.
"Why the sudden change of mind?" He asked, more curious than upset.
"Well if I tell the both of them, Ron will tell his family; and since his dad works at the Ministry and talks to the other Order members, who also work in the Ministry, there is a slight possibility others within the Ministry will find out as well." She began, still clearly thinking about all the connections that could cause them harm.
Draco suddenly understood why she changed her mind so quickly; the Death Eaters had in fact infiltrated the Ministry. That is why she changed her mind so quickly, if she tells Potter and Weasley the Death Eaters will know where to look for him when he doesn't turn up at home after school lets out. She is brilliant! Truly Brilliant!
"How did you know the Death Eaters have infiltrated the Ministry? Does the Order know that? Or were you going off a lucky guess?" Draco asked curiously with a smirk on his face, thoroughly impressed by her brilliant mind.
"It was a lucky guess." She replied sincerely. "The Order doesn't tell Harry, Ron, or I much of anything because of how young we are. Because you know; Harry, Ron, and I have never faced danger before or anything." Hermione finished sarcastically while rolling her eyes.
"You really are brilliant." Draco chortled thoroughly impressed by her intuitiveness. "I would have never thought of those connections as being a threat, and I consider myself to be fairly intelligent." He continued as he admired her, in many ways.
Hermione could just blush and smile at his words. She was always praised for her intelligence so she was used to hearing everything Draco was saying. However, when Draco said it, it made her embarrassed at how brilliant she was. At how fast and randomly she made connections that no one would have thought of.
She stared at him for a while and was mesmerized by how effortless his beauty was. He all he was doing was standing there, leaning up against an ornate arm chair with his arms crossed and he was smiling at her. It can't be possible for someone to be that mesmerizingly beautiful, she thought, it just can't.
After realizing that she had been staring at him for what seemed like a long time, she snapped back to reality.
"Oh," She began with blushing cheeks. "I just assumed Voldemort was gaining power back again, and at an alarming rate no less, that he must have at least one person in the Ministry filling him in on what measures are being taken against him and what have you." She finished looking for a look of understanding from the God that stood before her.
Draco was impressed, really impressed. Here before him stood a muggle born, who was unbelievably brilliant and in-tune with the magical world she has known about for only five years; and she could probably predict You-Know-Who's next move. Sexy and smart, he thought.
"I think you and Dumbledore are the only people on the Order's side that aren't completely oblivious, honestly." Draco said in amazement as his eyes wandered on Hermione. "I mean the Order has an idea that the Death Eaters have infiltrated the Ministry, but they aren't careful about what they say when they are at work."
"What do you mean? Who does Voldemort have stationed in the Ministry?" Hermione asked hurriedly, hoping Draco wouldn't care enough to keep it a secret from her.
"I honestly don't know who it is Hermione. Like you, Potter, and Weasel; I am old enough to do bidding but they don't tell me anything, well didn't tell me anything." Draco said with his hands raised above his head to try and demonstrate his innocence. "You can pick through my brain if you want even. I know nothing other than there is someone in the Ministry that is on his side, that's all I know."
Hermione looked at him as though she was accused of kissing the nerdiest boy in their year. "What do you mean look through your brain? You think because I know how to perform Memory Charms, that I know how to do Legilimency too?" She asked incredulously, with a nervous look on her face.
"Uh, yeah. That's exactly what I think, because those two go together hand-in-hand. You have to find out what they know with Legilimency, then Obliviate their memories with a Memory Charm." Draco said smugly, with the taunting smile Hermione has been on the receiving end of for years. He knows she knows the spell, it's just the fact that she is too nice to use it on him.
"Alright fine." She admitted with the bossy expression she wears so well. "I do know Legilimency, however I am far to kind to use it. It is an invasion of one's privacy and displays a high level of distrust. I only learned it because, as you said, they go hand-in-hand." She finished looking proud with her nose in the air.
She kept glancing sideways at him to see if he was going to say anything back to her about the matter, argue with her or, something. But he just stood there nodding his head in agreement with her. He loved how kind she was, how considerate she was, how gentle she was… He has never known anyone to be so kind, patient, and understanding. Though his father bought him the best of everything and almost everything he ever wanted; he was quite neglected at home.
His parents never paid him much attention when he was home, his mother was more affectionate and caring with him but it was a strained relationship with his parents. He didn't even abuse Dobby when Dobby worked at his house, he was actually, rather kind to the poor little elf. The fact that they were gone forever bothered him because they were his parents after all, but they weren't they nurturing type. They were more like foster parents to him; they raised, bathed, clothed, and fed him like they were supposed to, but there was never much love.
After a few moments of silent reflection; Draco began to walk towards Hermione, as he reached her he grabbed her hands, and pulled them up to his lips.
"Hermione, I would not feel as though you did not trust me if you used Legilimency on me. I would feel that you trusted me more after you were done picking through my brain, because then you would realize that I was not hiding anything from you." He began with a soft look on his face, a look which soon changed into an amused grin. "Actually, I would get a great deal of amusement out of it if you picked through my brain."
Hermione looked at him with confusion all over her face. Harry had been in so much pain when Voldemort was running ramped through his mind; why would Draco get amusement out of it if I did it? She thought to herself. Not only that but it was an extreme invasion of privacy; you can't prevent it from happening unless you know Occlumency. That's when it struck Hermione why Draco said it would be a great deal of amusement for him.
"You know how to do Occlumency! That's why it would amuse you if I tried Legilimency on you!" Hermione exclaimed.
Draco nodded a little before saying, "Yes. Yes I do know how to do Occlumency, Legilimency, and Memory Charms. However, that is not why I would get amusement out of you using Legilimency on me. I would get amusement out of watching you go from blushing, to full blown Gryffindor red from going through my thoughts. You would see all the…" He paused as he looked her over from head to toe, "Inappropriate thoughts I have about you, all my fantasies… You would even see the dreams I was having that drove Blaise and the others mad from all the noise I made during them." He paused again to watch her expression change along with the color of her cheeks. "However, I know you are too nice and polite to invade my mind, and I am grateful for it. I have had bad experiences with Legilimency that have made me… A little apprehensive regarding it."
Hermione hadn't accounted for that, when debating why he would be amused. He was right. She would see everything he thought, fantasized, and dreamed about her. For a moment she hesitated as to whether or not she should do it just to find out what he thinks about her, but decided against it. She decided she would find out, the rest of the graphic detail he didn't include in his letter, in due time.
This topic was making her uncomfortable, she never felt physically confident about herself, and could never handle talking about herself in situations like that. So she changed the subject.
"For someone who just lost their parents you are awfully promiscuous and cheery." She scoffed with a crooked smile.
His expression dropped as he considered her words. He didn't want to delve into his relationship problems with his parents tonight. He decided it was getting late, well later, than he was expecting and called it a night.
"I know. My parents are a touchy subject, but I don't want to get into that tonight." He began trying not to look upset or bothered, as he looked at Hermione who was listening tentatively. "I am afraid I have kept you out longer than I wanted too, would you allow me to escort you back to your common room my love?" He asked oh so smartly with his heart stopping grin.
Hermione's heart fluttered at his gentlemanly manners and said, "I would love it if you would Draco." Draco then held his arm out for her to take as he began to walk her back to Gryffindor tower.