Authors Note: I'm sorry! Please don't kill meeee! The amount of writer's block I have had amazes me but all my mock exams are over! Yay! I don't know how long this story will be, but I have started a DM/HG Hunger Games/Harry Potter fanfic that I have actually planned (Shocked, I know) and I am writing at the same time as this. Sometimes it is nice to be able to swap back and forth. So go read! Not sure about this chapter, go review and tell me what you think! Enjoy.

Chapter 7 ~ let me tell you a story

Draco Malfoy was sitting against the wall, bouncing a ball he had transfigured from a stone. Despite her frustration, Hermione had to admire his spell work that she never used to pay attention to in class. Usually she was too busy saving Harry, or more likely, Ron from the disastrous mistake they were about to make. Last time, Ron had nearly changed his toaster into a chicken rather than a toast rack. How he had managed this she had no idea.

Hermione checked the time using her wand and whimpered slightly when she saw that they had 35 minutes left. Steeling herself, she rushed over to the Slytherin and sat down next to him.

"What's your favourite colour?" she blurted out before mentally slapping herself not for the first time that day. That sounded stupid. He turned to face her.

"Excuse me?"

"What is your favourite colour?" she said slightly slower as if patronising him.

"Guess." Was all he replied, throwing the ball at the wall again before catching it. Hermione sighed, irritated by his manner to get around every question he asked even if it was as simple as his favourite colour.

"Green." She stated, thinking of the Slytherin colours, but he pulled a disgusted face indicating that she had to guess again.

"Blue?" she suggested weakly. The Slytherin boy sighed and picked up the ball before pointing his wand at it. He muttered something, a piece of blond hair hanging in front of his face in concentration. Then he held up the ball in front and she took it, now able to see her reflection clearly in the rounded surface.

"Silver?"

He nodded.

It was only as she smiled slightly and bounced the ball back to him that he realised what she was trying to do. That was when he started to laugh.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Favourite colour?" that is about as meaningful as a pair of socks" Draco said. "Give it up Granger, There is no way you could come up with something so meaningful that we could get out of here." Hermione scowled.

"At least I try! Try and make something out of a bad situation! I will NOT be Filch's assistant! Just because I was trying to prevent you BOYS of doing something stupid! So get a grip MALFOY and try and help! There is no use insulting me, you wouldn't know meaningful if it did a cartwheel naked in front of your nose!" She shouted, now having stood up.

Well she can change mood quickly. Women. Draco thought. But her words stung slightly, and the Slytherin Prince was determined to prove her wrong. They would get out of this maze. Even if he had to do something he hated doing.

He stood up and walked forwards slowly towards her, his steps ever so softly slapping the concrete floor. Hermione felt a flicker of panic light inside her, as she watched his eyes harden and body go stiff. However, she clenched her fists and stood her ground. He wasn't going to intimidate her.

Was he?

"Let me tell you a story Granger." He said softly, once he was only inches away from her. He was so close that she could have named all the different greys that made up his eye colour, or counted each fine hair that looked white in the light. Her breath quickened at the close proximity, and she tried to block out the adjective that kept popping back into her mind without warning.

Beautiful.

"Two years ago, a certain blonde haired boy was given a task by the Dark Lord. The options were to obey or death."Draco said staring at her.

Hermione gasped to herself, not believing what he was telling her or even about to tell her. His voice grew soft but his silver eyes remained locked onto Hermione's, who try as she might, could not tear her gaze from his.

"The boy grew that year in constant fear, fear of discovery, fear of consequences, and fear of life itself. He watched countless murders, unspeakable crimes and all this when his schoolwork was constantly piled on top of him." He lifted his right arm and pointed to a thin white line that traced itself down his forearm, without breaking his gaze. The line itself was jagged, but faint. Hermione had not noticed it up until now.

"Even his own father would not offer any release from that hell and made the boy pay when any act of defiance was shown." His arm lowered, and Hermione swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump that had formed in her throat. She had never thought of Draco as a victim of abuse. Only as the one who gave it. Draco's eyes lowered to the floor, his voice now only a whisper.

"But the boy's task was finished, his side of the bargain complete. But the fear never left. Never left."

A tense pause ensured before he continued a now bitter edge to his voice.

"Instead of the relief he was sure he would feel, he was forced to give up his freedom, his agency, to the mercy of the Dark Lord. For the whole year, chaos reigned; terror seeped into every street, every house, and every life. He watched his friends and people he knew…" At this his eyes flickered up meeting with Hermione's,

"…get tortured and even killed whilst not doing a thing. That boy was a man. That man was a coward."

This time he lifted up his left arm and drew back the sleeve of his robe. Hermione couldn't bear to look but there it was, as clear as day. The black ink of the snake and skull had never faded, and it was now a permanent addition to Draco Malfoy.

"I will always be reminded." He switched to first person, and Hermione was not sure whether it was on purpose or if he was even aware of doing it. "Of the mistakes I made. And nobody cares. Nobody forgives. Everybody forgets. Everybody except me."

Hermione felt a wave of pity for the boy in front of her, who now looked so small compared to his arrogant self that he was only a few minutes before.

He covered up the Dark mark and leant forwards towards Hermione, whose emotions were conflicted; the pity and sorrow she felt towards the Slytherin was unnatural but the edge of fear was still there, the sensible part of her brain screaming at her to run away. He paused when his lips were a hairs width away and whispered softly.

"Forgive me."

Before Hermione could react, Draco slipped one hand round the back of her neck and pulled her lips to meet his. Hermione was shocked, but her body acted without her permission, both of her hands wrapping round his neck pulling her against him. His hands trailed down her sides sending feelings of flames rush up her body and Hermione relaxed, closing her eyes. A warm wash of air fluttered over them.

The force field was broken.

Suddenly, Hermione was pushed away, her back colliding with the stone wall and she let out an exclamation of pain. Draco Malfoy stood stiffly, breathing quickly and heavily, a very faint pink tinge to his face. But his eyes were hard and the stiffness had returned, showing no sign of the open, fragile boy that was there before. Hermione smoothed down her hair that Draco has messed up and tried to calm her racing heart whilst staring back at him in surprise. Was that really just an act?

"I don't need your pity." Malfoy growled and turned on his heel, storming out of sight down the next corridor.

Hermione wasn't sure why she was crying.

AN: Please review, I need to know what you think!

Thanks! ~TheOnlyQuirk