AN: Still don't own Harry Potter although I wouldn't say no to owning Draco ;)
AN #2: A part of this story was suggested by a fan so thank you Shaymars for the idea of Draco helping Hermione discover Ron's dirty little secret.
Songs for this chapter: The First One – Boys Like Girls/Done by The Band Perry
Chapter Six – Happy Endings and New Beginnings
*Hermione*
The game was over with Gryffindor beating Slytherin at 350 to 80. Ginny and the others had the Draco's teammates flying all over the Quidditch pitch with different plays but it was really Ron who carried the team to victory. Although they got the Quaffle past him eight times, Ron was a bit vicious with his maneuvers. A few times, he was fouled for excessive use of cobbing and flacking by Madam Hooch, who by the last time threaten to take him out the game.
While everyone was flowing out of the stands, I noticed that Draco was still on the pitch. I waited until everyone was out of the stands and on their way back to the castle before making my way to the pitch. But before I could, Ginny came over excited about the team's victory.
"I can't believe we won! First game of the season! And whatever you said to Ron, you need to say to him before every game."
I nodded and began advancing towards Draco once again when Ginny pulled me back.
"And just where do you think you're going? We have to celebrate this!"
I opened my mouth to state otherwise but it was clearly written on her face that Ginny wasn't going to take no for an answer. So I allowed her to drag me back but I couldn't help sneaking a few glances over my shoulder at Draco.
After spending the better part of the evening drinking butterbeer and snacking on cauldron cakes, chocolate wands and pink coconut ice, I made my way back to my room. Ron had successfully avoided me during the entire celebration and Ginny made good on her word to move on from Harry by chatting up several of her prospects.
As I neared the seventh floor corridor, I heard hushed whispers and some slight moaning near Slughorn's staircase. Curfew was only 10 minutes away so the students weren't breaking the rules but I still felt bound by my duties as Head Girl to give them a warning.
When I got closer, the whispers turned into strangled throaty moaning and harsh grunting. I pulled my wand out just as I saw the unmistakable face of Pansy.
"What are you doing here Granger?" she asked, a worried look crossing her face. She quickly straighten her uniform as I slowed my steps and approached with caution. "It's close to curfew. You should be heading back to your dorm. As well as your friend hiding back there." I nodded towards the corner.
Pansy opened her mouth to say something but changed her mind at the last second and nodded at the mysterious person, her confidence clearly shaken. She didn't say anything else as she walked down the stairs towards the dungeons. Once she was out of sight, I turned and went to my room.
The second I entered, I noticed that all the lights were out. I conjured a fire and headed into my room, changing into a pair of shorts and a cut off tank top. I grabbed the book of Greek Mythology Draco gave me and walked back out to the commons, pulling my hair into a ponytail.
As I crossed the room, I saw some movement out the corner of my eye. There sitting on the couch was Draco, still in his Quidditch gear.
"Merlin's beard, Draco. You scared me." I smiled, clutching my beating heart.
"Sorry." He murmured, not deterring his gaze from the fire. I walked over and sat on the chaise next to him.
"Are you upset about the game? I know how hard you trained and everything." I asked, staring into his face.
He shook his head, taking a sip of the amber colored liquid in the glass he held in his hand. I quickly recognized it as firewhiskey from all the times Ron indulged in it.
"Hermione, look there's something that I have to tell you." he began, finally taking his gaze away from the fire.
"If it's bad news then I don't want to know."
"It's about Ron." He told me, thinking it would persuade me to want to hear it.
"I don't care. Today has been such a perfect day and I'm not going to let anyone or anything spoil it. That includes anything to do with Ron as well."
"You don't understand. What he's done…it's bad. And I've been wrestling with whether or not to tell you for a while now and it is driving me crazy."
"Draco, just because something needs to be told, doesn't always mean it needs to be heard. Besides, everyone has done bad things, present company included. But right now, all I want to do is put Ron in my past and move on."
Draco stopped trying to tell me whatever it was that Ron had done and gave me a half smile. I returned it with a brighter one of my own and stretched out on the couch, placing my head in his lap and opening my new favorite late night read.
*Draco*
The Sunday after the first Quidditch match of the season brought with it the winds of change. The biggest change being Hermione's attitude about everything.
It seemed that overnight she became the Gryffindor Princess that I remembered and loved. She even shocked everyone in the Great Hall by publicly snubbing Weasley, choosing to sit with some first and second years.
When she wasn't avoiding him, she was spending time with Weaselette drawing attention from every available sixth and seventh year male.
I sat back under a tree, enjoying the last of decent weather before the autumn winds would set in.
"Something on your mind Draco?" I heard Blaise asked, plopping down next me.
"You remember when we were talking about what we want and how it should mean something?"
"You mean how you want something meaningful. All I want is some meaningless sex as a reward for the chase."
I looked down and pulled up a couple of tufts of grass before letting the wind carry them.
"What's going on Drake? Not to sound like a chick or something but you can talk to me." he smirked.
I laughed quietly and let out a heavy sigh. "I want something more. Something that I shouldn't want and something that I can't have without it cause a lot of problems."
"You mean something like Granger." He stated.
"You knew?" I asked bewildered.
He shrugged like it was nothing. "I first picked up on it at the welcome back feast. Then again at the party. You just seemed so different. So tired of the same thing. It didn't take long for me to piece two and two together to get you and Granger.
"So if you want her, what's stopping you from having her? Clearly she and Weasley aren't a couple anymore."
"It may seem that simple but you and I both know how my father will react to this. Not only that, she's trying to get some things in her life in order."
"Well don't wait too long to make your move. Based on all the attention she's been getting all afternoon, I doubt she will be single for long." He winked, getting up to go flirt with some passing Hufflepuff girls.
I stayed under the tree a bit longer, watching her as a Ravenclaw flashed her a smile before joining his friends.
Not wanting to torture myself anymore, I walked towards the castle, letting my feet guide me. It wasn't until I was at the door did I realize where I was.
"Draco, you've finally come by to see Me." an old friend called out.
"Hey Myrtle. Sorry I haven't been by to visit you. My life has been a bit …just a bit. How have you been?"
"Same as always. Still dead. Stuck haunting the bathroom." She sighed.
I nodded and sat down on the floor, thinking back to the last time I was here. Myrtle had been my only friend during that time, the only one I could trust.
"Hey Myrtle, I need to ask you something."
She perked up at this and floated over to my side. "You know you can talk to me about anything Draco." She batted her eyelashes.
"Do you think I should express to Hermione my desire to be with her?"
Myrtle looked upset before her face twisted into a look of pain. "Is that why you haven't come to see me? Because you've been too busy pining over her?"
"Myrtle, it isn't like that. I came to you because I could use some advice. I remembered how kind you were to me before I just figured you would understand."
"Well I don't. And I think she would be an idiot if she went out with you." she scoffed, before letting out a wail and flying into the toilet.
I shook my head; remembering how she always had a flair for the dramatics. I left the bathroom just as the toilets began backing up and ran right into Hermione.
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't realize you would be coming out of …the girls lavatory?" she giggled.
"It's nothing like that. I just went into talk to Moaning Myrtle about some stuff. But I wanted to know if you would care to join me for a late night broomstick ride?"
"We have patrols tonight, Draco. Remember?"
"So what? And don't tell me it's because it's against the rules. I happen to know that you broke your fair share of rules."
She gave me a shy smile before nodding. "Fine. I'll meet you in the seventh floor corridor tonight once I'm finished with my patrols."
I was ready to agree when I thought about a better way to show her just what a scumbag Ron was. "Actually, meet me at the Dark Tower."
Hermione gave me a perplexing look but agreed nonetheless.
"I'll see you then. I can't wait."
For once when it was time for patrols, I couldn't be more excited. Hermione had agreed to go with me on a late night broomstick ride and I was going to clear my conscience of the secret I was keeping from her.
"She isn't going to like the fact that you sprung it on her. Just because it will clear your conscience doesn't mean that she is going to come rushing to your arms."
"Shut up. Not even you can spoil this." I told my conscience, walking through the halls. As promised, Hermione and I shot up green sparks at each check point. I rushed through mine, anxious to get to the Dark Tower. But I wasn't ready for what I would find when I got there.
I ran up the stairs, a ruckus getting louder and louder with every step I took. I hurried to the top once I recognized Hermione's and Weaselbee's voice.
"How long has this been going on?" Hermione screamed at a half naked Pansy and her ex who was furiously trying to fix his pants.
"It's not how it looks, Hermione. I-she-she seduced me…I love you." he started towards her but she backed up and right into my arms.
She looked up right into my face and broke out in tears. "Oh, Draco…"
"Draco? Since when are you two on a first name basis?" Weasley asked, getting upset.
"Not that it's any of your concern, but a while now. Besides, us being on a first name basis is the least of your worries now. The two of you are out of bed after hours and in a restricted area. That'll be 50 points from both your houses and I'll be reporting you both to Professor McGonagall and Slughorn. Now get out of here and back to your dorms."
Weasley shot me a look of disgust while Pansy just kept her head down. She could care less about getting in trouble with Slughorn. What she didn't want me to do was tell her father that she was slumming it with a Gryffindor, let alone a blood-traitor like Weasley.
"Are you okay, Princess?" I asked the beautiful woman in my arms.
"Can you just get me away from here, please?"
I nodded and called for my broom. A few seconds later, it came whizzing through the night air stopping right at my waist.
I got on and held out my hand for her. She took it, swinging her leg over my broomstick and wrapping her arms around my stomach, placing her head on my shoulder.
Once I was certain she was safe, I took off for the skies. The higher we soared, the tighter Hermione gripped me.
"Don't worry. I won't let you fall."
We flew around for a bit before settling in at the new Astronomy tower.
"Are you okay being here, after everything that happened?"
"Believe it or not, I come here pretty often when I need some time to think. Or I just want to be alone with my thoughts. Being here makes me think of all the mistakes I made and the best way to fix them."
Hermione nodded and leaned her head on my shoulder.
"You know some part of me knew that something was going on with him. There would be times when he would just disappear and no one would be able to find him. I guess I just never thought that I would find him cheating on me, let alone with Pansy Parkinson, of all people. For one, she's…"
"A Slytherin?" I supplied.
"Well she is but it's not that. She's just so god awful ugly. She looked like a pug in a wig." She laughed.
I joined her, happy to see that she was slowly getting past it.
"I know it must hurt even though you guys were broken up. I mean I wanted to tell you the night I found out but I just could never find the right time…" I stopped when I saw the look of betrayal on her face.
"You mean this wasn't just a one-time thing? Has this been going on all semester?" she asked, getting up.
"Hermione, you have to believe me. I tried to tell you that night after the game but you said you didn't want to know!"
"Is that why you wanted me to meet you up there tonight? Did you know they were going to be there?"
"Hermione, please." I reached for her hand but she pulled away and began pacing, running her hands into her hair.
"No," she shouted. "I want to know the truth! Did you know they were going to be up there tonight?"
I looked down at me feet and nodded. I heard her gasp before feeling the sting of her hand connecting with my face.
"You disgust me. I thought you had changed." She spat at me, storming off.
"I hate to say I told you so…but."
"And I believe I told you to shut up." I barked, walking out of the tower, rubbing the side of my face.
I was thankful the halls were clear. I didn't want to have to explain the red mark to anyone.
I wanted to look for Hermione but I figured she would either be in the dorms or the library so I decided to check the latter first. When I didn't have any luck there, I headed towards our dorm, hoping she had cooled down enough to let me explain my actions to her.
But as soon as I got there, I quickly found out that she had yet to return. Henry and Amanda were asleep but had informed me that no one had come by since we left for patrols.
I thanked them and headed in, deciding to wait for her in the commons.
When I heard the portrait open, I didn't realize I waited all night for Hermione to come back. The second she stepped in, I rushed her, pulling her in for a hug.
"Thank merlin you're alright. I waited up for you all night. I am so sorry that I let you find out like that." I blurted.
Hermione cleared her throat and broke off the hug.
"I'm fine. After I left the astronomy tower, I went to the Gryffindor tower and spent the night with Ginny. I'm sorry for slapping you and saying that you hadn't changed. The Draco I use to know would have found some way to publicly humiliate me with this revelation and you didn't. You tried to tell me the night of the Quidditch match and I didn't want to hear it.
"So thank you for that. But it still doesn't change the fact that you purposely sent me there. Ron and I had already broken up so whatever he did was in my past. And seeing him with Pansy was you throwing salt on my wounds."
"Hermione, I am so sorry. I just thought that it was the only way to clear my conscience of what I saw."
"You could have left it alone Draco. That should have been enough." She said somberly, heading towards her room.
"Are we still okay? I felt like we were making some progress towards me showing you that I'm the right guy." I asked her, in suspense that she would leave me with some hope.
"We're okay. But this was a huge step back."
*Hermione*
I left Draco in the commons while I went to my room to retrieve my school bag. When I showed up at the Fat Lady's portrait, she seemed surprised that I knew the password but allowed me entrance anyway.
I roused Ginny from her sleep and spent the better part of the night explaining to her everything that had happened between me and her brother, from his drinking and the abuse to him cheating on me with Puggly Pansy.
When I was finished, Ginny did the unexpected. She cried in my arms. I thought for certain she was going to side with her brother or tell me that I was crazy and making up lies about him.
"Merlin, Mione. I am so sorry that that happened to you. I knew that Ron had changed but I didn't think that he would lose his grip on reality. But why didn't you say something before?"
I shrugged my shoulder. "Fear, I guess. And naivety. I always found some excuse to explain his behaviors and actions. But being back here and seeing all the reminders of who I am and how strong I was gave me the courage to break it off with him the night he attempted to rape me."
"I can't tell you how sorry I am that I had a small part in that. I really believed that it was your idea. I mean the way Ron spun his lies you had no choice but to believe him."
"And the worse part of it all is that Draco knew about it and still sent me to the tower."
"Well Hermione, you can't exactly blame him. I know that I've never been a bit Malfoy supporter but I really believe that he wants to change. I've been watching him and he doesn't seem at all like the Malfoy we once knew. I really believe that his reason for sending you to the tower was malicious or anything. I think that he just wanted you to know the type of person your now ex-boyfriend is."
It was Ginny's words that allowed me to forgive Draco of his actions and offer him a second chance. But he was going to have to work for it. I wasn't going to allow him back in my good graces so easily.
I grabbed my bag from my desk and headed back out the door to join Ginny for breakfast. As soon as we entered the Great Hall, Ron came over, a sad puppy dog look on his face.
"Hey Ginny, can you give me and Mione a minute. I need to talk to her."
"Oh you mean about how you're an abusive drunk who thinks its okay to force themselves on their girlfriends? Or how cheating on her with Pansy Parkinson is okay?" She shouted the last part. Within seconds everyone in the Great Hall knew that Ron had cheated on me with Pansy, who left the hall in tears.
"Better go chase after your plaything, Ron. I'm sure she could use some comforting. And in case you were wondering, we're over. For good." I told him, holding my head high as I walked towards the table, Ginny in tow.
"That felt so good." I giggled once the whispers quieted down.
Ginny smiled and congratulated me on standing up to him before replacing it with a seductive smirk.
"I'll see you later Mione. I forgot something in my room." She explained, scrambling to get up from the table.
I watched her a bit puzzled before I saw Blaise Zabini leave a few seconds after her. He stopped at the door and exchanged brief words with Draco before continuing on his path. He locked eyes with me and refused to look away as he took his seat. I broke our staring contest but ever so often I would catch his eyes, screaming at me to forgive him.
AN: So Hermione has found out about Ron and Pansy and that Draco knew about. Do you think she did the right thing by getting upset with Draco? Or should she had just forgiven him and let it go? Thoughts? Comments? Ideas? Where should they go from here?