Opposites Attract

A/N: Hey people I'm back…this chapter is dedicated to my friends Kayla, Jessica, and Krista. Hey guys I know your reading this and I appreciate it sooo much I love the constructive criticism. Anyway I love the fact that more people are reading this story! So here is Chapter #4 finally for those of you who have been waiting so…here it is!!! Enjoy my new favorite chapter … Opposites Attract!!!

Hermione stormed down the hallway fuming.

"Oh! That perverted asshole!!! I can't believe that he thinks I like him!" she whispered angrily to herself.

She stopped as she turned a sharp corner at the end of the vast, empty corridor. A smile crept onto her face as she spotted the stairway to the Astronomy Tower.

"I think I could use a bit of fresh air," she sighed as she slowly climbed the steps. The air was cool and crisp as small breezes would drift by. Hermione leaned out of the small window. The grounds were peaceful and silent. She glanced east and saw the moon shining off of the black lake. She sighed.

"If only this moment would last forever,"

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Draco didn't see Hermione over the next couple of days. It was probably because 5 essays were due. One for Potions, Arithmacy, Transfigurations, Charms, and Herbology. Trudging down the hall toward his common room he began talking to himself.

"Stupid Gryffindor," he muttered. "I know she likes me,"

'And you like her,' he thought.

"I do not!" he snapped.

'Oh come on you idiot, you have to be a total ass not to be able to see that you like her just as much as she likes you…then again…you love her,'

"Well that sounds sappy- I don't love her!" he cried. She stopped in front of the portrait.

'You looooove her,' his conscience sang happily.

"Hello Dra-″ Helga started.

"I DO NOT SO JUST SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP!!!!!!!!!!!!" he yelled.

Rowena put a steady hand on Helga's shoulder.

"Once again Helga… not the right time for hellos,"

"Blasting Skrewt," Draco muttered angrily.

The door opened and Draco stormed inside. He trudged into his room and slammed the door behind him. He looked up to see a large eerie great gray owl perched on his window. Tan parchment caught his eye as he noticed the note strapped to the birds foot. This birds name…well it didn't really have a name, but Draco recognized it as his father's owl.

Walking across the room to the window, he hesitantly took the note from the owl. He sat on the bed and slowly opened the letter.

Draco,

In 3 days you are to go to Hogsmeade. Take the Granger girl to Honeydukes. Snape will meet you both there and apparate you to the location of the ceremony. Do not fail me Draco…if you do… you will be punished. This is an honor, remember that.

Lucius

Draco's hands balled into fists as he angrily tore up the letter and shook with fury. The owl had flown away from the window. Draco felt like he could scream. He didn't want to become a deatheater; he didn't want to devote his life to that low-lying sadistic snake.

Looking down at his arm he could already feel the burning pain slowly etching into his skin. His father was wrong…the Mark wasn't an honor to receive…it was a death certificate…and a curse.

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Dropping her quill with a sigh Hermione finished her last essay. As usual, they weren't due for weeks, but Hermione didn't seem to mind. Slipping out of the portrait hole, she walked calmly down the corridors towards the Gryffindor common room.

"Hermione dear! A pleasure as always!" the Fat Lady chimed as Hermione walked up the last flight of stairs.

"Hello Fat Lady, it's nice to see you too," she replied.

"I have a question for you my dear… I hear some of the 5th, 6th and 7th year girls gossiping and constantly mentioning the head boy. He must be quite the attractive young man," she said.

"Well why do you say that?"

"Well because over half of the girls go bright red or faint at the mere mention of his name! I must see this boy," she explained.

"May I go in to see Ron and Harry Fat Lady?" Hermione asked.

"Why certainly my dear!"

"Gordric Gryffindor,"

The portrait swung open and Hermione crawled inside.

Ron and Harry were sitting at a table at the far end of the room. Mountains of books from each subject were opened all over the floor around the table. The books were stacked in piles of 5. And both boys were slumped over their Arithmacy books…asleep.

Harry's glasses were tilted and he was snoring loudly. Ron's hair was tousled; he was also snoring and drooling.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER!!! RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!!!" Hermione screamed.

"AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!" Harry cried.

"WHA- I DIDN'T DO IT!!!" Ron yelled.

Hermione sat back and laughed at them.

"How many essays did you two even get done?" she asked.

"About 2 and a half," Harry muttered sleepily.

"My brain hurts," Ron moaned.

Hermione laughed lightly.

"Come on… it's lunch anyway,"

They stepped out of the portrait hole and down the stairs towards the Great Hall. Ron and Harry walked on either side of Hermione. Entering the Great Hall they were greeted by Ginny who immediately snatched Hermione away and pulled her over to the table.

"I need to talk to you," Ginny whispered. There was urgency and fear in her voice.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"What's wrong?! Hermione! In three days you're getting the-″ she hit her forearm.

It struck Hermione like a bolt of lightning… the Mark. How could she have forgotten? Her heart sank as she glanced at the Slytherin table. Malfoy sat there already looking at her. She could feel herself go flush, her chest was tightening and she couldn't breathe… she needed air.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked seeing Hermione suddenly go pale.

Hermione then stood up and ran from the Great Hall.

"Hermione!" Ginny called after her. Ron and Harry gave her a confused look.

"What was that about?" Harry asked.

"N-Nothing," Ginny sighed as she looked across to the Slytherin table… Malfoy was gone.

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Hermione sat on the edge of the window in the Astronomy Tower. She kept trying to calm down all of the thoughts running through her head. 'I'm going to die. He's going to kill me!!!'

"No… he wouldn't… he says that he needs me," she whispered to herself.

'Yeah, so that he can use you to get to Harry… How can you betray one of your best friends!!!'

"I don't have a choice! He knows my friends, he probably even knows about my parents! I can't risk hurting more people then I already have," she said.

'And what happens after you get it!? He will have total control over you!'

Hermione sat there shaking slightly.

"I-I don't know what to do," she whispered.

"You're not the only one,"

Hermione turned around to see Draco leaning against the doorframe.

"What do you want Malfoy?" she asked.

Ignoring her question, he looked around studying the room.

"So…" he said. "This is why I haven't seen you for 3 weeks,"

"Why are you here?" she repeated.

"I just want to talk," he said.

He walked hesitantly over to where she was sitting and slowly sat next to her. Hermione studied him, trying to see if he was joking.

"What Granger, do I have something in my teeth?" he asked.

"No it's just that…why are you being so nice to me Malfoy?" she asked.

Draco looked at the ground for a minute… 'Time for the truth,' he thought.

"Maybe because you're not the only one who's scared,"

"Are you sure that we can talk about this, or will you bite my head off again?"

"Depends… will you hit me again?" he joked.

"No," she laughed.

"Oh my God,"

"What?"

"That's the first time I've heard you laugh,"

"Oh,"

There was silence as they both stared out at the grounds. The sun was shining brightly across the grass. Hermione studied Draco as he smiled lightly at the sight before him.

"You really hate him don't you?" she asked.

"Who?" Draco asked.

"Your father… I saw a bruise on your shoulder a few weeks ago; did he do that to you?"

Silence passed.

"He's done worse… I really do hate him. I wish he had killed me and ended my train wreck of a life when he had the chance," he said.

"Don't say that,"

"Why not? Why would you care?" he asked.

"I-I-″

'Oh my God,' Hermione thought. 'Bastard was right I do like him,'

"You…what?"

"Because I do. I mean no one deserves that. He's your father. He's supposed to encourage you not beat you," she said.

"You know that and I know that but he doesn't," Draco sighed.

He bowed his head.

Hermione felt a stab of pain in her heart… no, not pain…pity. Pity for a boy who grew up alone and angry at his father, Voldemort, and the world…but mainly himself.

"Can you feel it?" he said.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"The Mark," he whispered.

Hermione glared at her left forearm.

"I can…" Draco said. "Everytime I look at my arm… I can feel the burning… I can see that black ink etched into my pale skin," he paused. "I hate this…and the worst part is…"

"What?"

"There's nothing we can do to stop it from happening," he replied.

They sat again in the uncomfortable silence again.

Hermione smirked.

"I never thought I would agree with you on something Malfoy,"

He looked at her and smiled.

"Never thought I'd see the day either," he chuckled.

Suddenly there were hurried voices coming from the corridor.

"Looks like class is starting," Hermione said.

"Yeah… we better- I mean, I should probably head to Charms," Draco said.

He started to walk toward the door. Hermione sat there watching him.

'No…don't let him leave you idiot!!!'

"Draco!" she called.

He turned and looked at her.

'Tell him not to go!' she thought.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Thank you,"

"For what?"

"For showing me that I'm not alone; I needed that," she replied.

"Anytime Mudblood," he smirked.

"I'll see you in Charms ferret," she laughed.

Hermione smiled as she watched him walk out the door.

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"Now class," Snape drawled. "Today we will be discussing the results that you learned about each other through your Veritaserum potions,"

Draco looked at Hermione who was still pale from the news the day before. He knew how she felt and he wanted to tell her to be calm and that it would be okay…but he knew he would just be lying to her.

"Let's see what our head boy and girl found out about each other,"

Hermione and Draco presented what they learned of Veritaserum and the research they had done.

"Very nice and well presented… you two may return to your seats," Snape announced. As the class continued on both Draco and Hermione kept trying to sneak private glances at each other; hoping that classmates wouldn't see them staring at each other they kept their looks short. They were successful in keeping their classmates in the dark. But…a certain dark, big nosed, bat-like potions teacher did notice.

Snape watched as the two heads exchange another glance…this was about the 5th one in the last 10 minutes. He was well aware about the situation these two were facing and smirked as he continued to stare at the pair while Neville nervously rattled off what he learned about Goyle…not that anyone cared.

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After Potions was lunch. Everyone filed into the Great Hall… as they took their seats the owls started to fly in. As Hermione sat down, a letter fell into her lap. Hiding it away so her friends couldn't see, she slowly opened the letter.

Dear Hermione,

We need to talk… meet me in the Astronomy Tower in 10 minutes… It's about the Mark…..

P.S. … come alone

Draco

Hermione folded the letter and placed it neatly into her pocket. She stood to go when Harry and Ginny grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going?" Ginny asked.

"Just back to my room… I'm not hungry right now…maybe I'll sneak down to the kitchens later tonight before classes if I want something," she replied.

"You sure? You haven't eaten a thing since dinner last night," Harry said.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Don't worry about me you two. I'll see you tonight," she told them. With that, she walked out of the Great Hall and slowly made her way toward the Astronomy Tower. Finally she got to the stairwell.

'I wonder what he wants to talk about the Mark for? He knows that there's no way around it…it's going to happen… why talk about it? It will only make us both feel worse,' she thought as she walked up the stairs and entered the room.

Draco was sitting on the window sill watching the grounds. He turned to look at Hermione. She was looking at him calmly and evenly. He walked over to her and waited until she finally looked up at him.

"Well? I'm here," she said.

"I thought you wouldn't show up," he replied.

"Well you don't have to worry anymore because I'm here. Now what do you want to talk about the Mark for?" she asked.

"I want to talk about what's going to be happening in 2 days," he said.

Hermione looked at the floor.

"When we go to Hogsmeade, I'm supposed to take you to Honeydukes. Snape will meet us there and then he will take us to the place where the ceremony is being held," he explained.

They sat there forever, letting what Draco had just explained…the manner in which their fate would be sealed in 2 days would be like sink in.

"Okay," Hermione said.

"Yeah," he replied.

Hermione felt weak in that moment, as if she had given her soul away… her life away. She felt like breaking down right there… in front of a guy who was supposedly her worst enemy…and now her greatest ally. She felt like sobbing…crumbling on her knees…felt like death was in her sights. She could feel the tears forming.

Draco was sitting at the window again…his head was cradled in his hands, he was shaking…and…and crying.

Hermione walked over and sat next to him, putting a steady hand on his shoulder.

"Everything is falling apart," he muttered.

"I know," Hermione replied.

'When did he become so real? When did he just collapse like this? I guess… I guess he's not as cold-hearted and cruel as I thought…he's human,' she thought.

Hermione's tears fell down her face.

Draco looked at her.

"This is too real. My whole life was going fine until this moment," she said.

"This day has been haunting me my whole life," he said.

"Yes but at least you were informed…or warned that it would happen earlier in life! This was dumped on me a few months ago!!!" Hermione cried as tears fell again.

Draco turned his heard, glancing out the window.

"I'm sorry…that you have to do this," he murmured.

Hermione stared.

"I know that you're scared… I am too. Don't think that just because I'm a Slytherin and a Malfoy that I'm as heartless as Voldemort. I don't like to see people get hurt; Weasley and Potter don't count. The last thing I expected was to have to see you hurt," he said.

Hermione felt a small tear roll down her cheek.

Draco leaned over and gently brushed the tear from her eyes.

"You shouldn't cry Hermione," he whispered as he looked into her eyes.

"Why not?" she asked.

"…I don't like seeing you cry," he replied.

With that he stood and walked down the stairway.

'Okay…now I know I like her,' he thought.

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The next morning Hermione didn't want to get up… thank God she didn't need to… it was Saturday. There were no classes on Saturdays. She laid there in bed and stared at the canopy. All she could think about was Draco.

"Stop thinking about him," she muttered to herself.

'I don't like seeing you cry,"

His words ran through her head. He had taken off that rough…beaten, Pureblood Malfoy armor when he had been with her last night.

'Why does he care?' she thought.

'…I'm sorry that you have to go through with this,'

"Why? He's a Slytherin… he's Malfoy," she whispered.

'You like him,' she thought.

"So? What would Harry and Ron think of me if they ever found out?"

'What? About the Dark Mark or your massive crush on Malfoy?' she thought.

Hermione shivered as she pulled the covers tightly around her.

"Both," she whimpered as a tear rolled down her cheek.

A/N: I want to add something to my other A/N …. I also want to personally thank my life long friend… Glen Peterson…without you Glen (and all of you reviewers) I wouldn't know how good my writing sounds. You all have made me step back and read my own writing. I love you all and encourage you to get people to read and review this because I need all of the constructive criticism I can get right now. Keep reading people… there is much…much more to come

-CrimsonRain47 AKA Kelly W.