A/N I just read an extremely long story novel length…And you won't believe this, it was completed in two days! Not only that, but it was a very good read! So I felt all ashamed of myself for thinking I'm great if I put up two chapters a day…And decided to write another, nice, long chapter By my standards, anyway. You must understand though, that I don't keep you waiting because I like to. I just don't have enough time...
Disclaimer If you're actually reading this, well, in case you haven't picked up on it the first seven chapters, I do not own Harry Potter. I am actually just a bored fan, paving her way through her summer holidays.
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Draco was taking long strides down the corridor when Hermione found him.
"Draco, wait!" she cried after him.
He stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. She caught up with him quickly and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Do you… need to talk about it?" she said and immediately felt disgusted with her approach. She sounded like Michael.
He said nothing.
"Or if you don't…well, I'm really sorry…I'll just…go," she murmured and turned away to leave. He grabbed her hand before she could take another step.
"Stay here," he said.
Hermione nodded and led them both into an empty classroom. Draco sat down, staring fixedly at the floor.
There was an awkward silence which Hermione broke by saying, "Did you…know him very well?"
She felt stupid. Of course he did. Lucius was his father.
He nodded, not meeting her gaze.
"He…I…" he began, straining to speak. He suddenly wanted nothing more than to tell her everything…All about Lucius, and what Draco had been so close to wanting to do.
She did not prompt him, not wanting to force him into telling her.
"Hermione…I hated him," he said. She was confused but did not let on. She took his hand in hers, encouraging him.
"I have for most of my life…He is the reason I am like this now. I can't associate with the people I want to…I can't do anything that he doesn't approve of…" he said, distraught, "The reason I am so affected by his death…," he took a deep breath, "…is because I was going to kill him myself."
"What…? You didn't…" she said, her eyes wide. Had Draco murdered Lucius Malfoy?
He shook his head quickly, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"The thing is, at the very last moment…when I had decided I was going to do it…I was going to kill the man who had always dominated my life…I lost my nerve. I became weak," said Draco, his face white.
Hermione became angry, but not at Draco, at his father. What kind of man had he been to teach his son that killing meant you were strong, and not doing so made you weak?
"Stop," she said, and he finally looked up.
"What are you saying? You are not weak, Draco. You are strong, to resist the temptation to kill him, after everything he's done," she said fiercely. His brows furrowed, considering her.
She continued, "You are stronger than him, because you did not end a life, no matter which life is in question. You are not a killer, Draco," she said softly, "And anyway, no one could kill their own father…"
Amazingly, he drew comfort from her words and put one arm around her. She stiffened for a moment, but then relaxed into his firm chest.
"Professor Dumbledore said something about a funeral…Will you go?" she questioned.
"Yes," he said, without thinking. He would need to be there for his mother.
"And, Draco?"
"What?"
"Do you know who really killed him?"
"No…Didn't Dumbledore mention…?"
"No."
"Then," said Draco, his eyes darkening, "It would have been the Death Eaters…"
"How do you know? I'm sorry, but I know that your father is a Death Eater," she paused, studying his face. It remained expressionless, "Why would they kill one amongst their own?"
"I don't know, Hermione. Voldemort works in mysterious ways…He strikes when it is least expected," he replied hoarsely.
Hermione stared.
"What?" he asked defensively.
"You said his name…"
"So?"
"I thought only Harry and members of the Order said his name…"
"You were wrong," he said simply.
"Are you a Death Eater?" she asked, before she could stop herself.
He started to answer that he wasn't, but remembered the letter that was in his pocket at that very moment. Well, he wasn't one yet…
"I am not a Death Eater," he said carefully.
"But you will have to become one won't you?" she asked shrewdly.
He chose not to answer, but tightened his hold on her. It was then that they heard a cough to their left.
Draco became alert and looked around sharply. Someone was watching them. He signalled to Hermione to be quiet and she nodded apprehensively.
They both made their way, silently as possible, to the place from where the sound had come from. They heard another cough, and someone cursing. Whoever was there noisily started running away. Draco abandoned all quietness and ran to the turning.
The corridor was deserted. He had been too late.
Hermione sighed, "You don't think they heard anything, do you?"
"Honestly? I'm more worried about what they saw," he said without thinking, referring to the way he had had her in his arms a moment ago.
She looked hurt for a second but then said coldly, "Of course…Wouldn't want to be seen with a mudblood now, would you?"
Draco was confused. "No, that's not what I meant, I…"
"Save it, please," she said, in the same emotionless tone, and turned her back on him.
For the second time that day he pulled her back towards him, as she struggled to be freed from his grasp.
"Hermione, just listen to me, please. I couldn't tell you this earlier because of my father. I never meant anything I've said to you for the past six years. It was all in pretence, just to satisfy Lucius. I want you to know this," he stopped, and then said, "Now, you can go."
She didn't move by an inch.
"You stopped writing to me because…"
"Because of Lucius," he confirmed.
"And he would have killed you otherwise?" she asked, her expression softening.
"No, he would have killed you, frankly."
"Let me get this straight…You were an arse to me all these years, because you were protecting me?"
"Well, when you put it like that," he said, a smirk forming on his face, "It makes me sound like quite the hero, doesn't it?"
She did not reply, her lips parted in shock. She felt suddenly light headed. Everything he had said that had ever caused her pain was all a lie. He had done it all for her.
Hermione suddenly became aware that she was staring at him like a goldfish, and shook her head, clearing it. He was looking at her, quite amused.
She had nothing to say to him, and so she jumped on him, like an animal, wrapping her arms around his neck. Draco laughed in surprise and hugged her back.
At that moment, they were both too happy to notice the letter in Draco's pocket slip out and fall on the floor.
Later, after Draco left, Hermione noticed it and picked it up, pocketing the folded piece of paper. She did not read it, and assuming it was Draco's, reminded herself to return it to him when next she saw him.
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The next morning, Hermione awoke early, having had a good night's sleep.
"Wake up, Lavender," she said loudly, as the other girl in the bed next to her stirred, muttering incoherently.
"Parvati?" she tried the girl on her other side. Her sleeping form did not move.
"Parvati…" said Hermione deviously, "Ronald is outside. He's waiting for you...with flowers."
Parvati's eyes flickered. "I'm dreaming," she said sleepily.
"No, I assure you, you are not. But I'll be sure to let Ron know that you dream of him, anyway…"
Parvati jumped up, all desire to sleep vanished. She walked over to Hermione's bed, as though in a trance.
Hermione snickered, and pinched her.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Parvati said, rubbing the bruise.
"Now you know you're not dreaming!"
"Shut up…" she said, "Is Ron really waiting for me outside?"
"Well…no," said Hermione truthfully, smiling as a glum look settled on Parvati's pretty features.
"I'm sorry…I just wanted you to wake up."
The Indian girl went back to her bed side and checked her watch, "It's six thirty!"
Hermione nodded enthusiastically.
"Hermione, what is wrong with you? Go back to sleep," she groaned, disappearing under her covers once more.
Hermione sighed and gave up. She browsed through her collection of books in between which she had safely placed Draco's letter, selected an interesting novel and made herself comfortable for a good, long read.
An hour and a half later, all the Gryffindor girls were up, and Hermione joined them on their way down for breakfast.
She smiled when she saw Harry and Ron, and went to take her seat next to them.
"Morning, Hermione," said Harry pleasantly.
Ron only nodded, busily guzzling down pumpkin juice.
She was serving herself some fruit when the doors to Great Hall burst open and Michael Corner came walking through, a very angry expression on his face.
Hermione stared at him, transfixed as he made his way over to her.
He reached her and looked her hard in the eye. Harry and Ron abandoned their food and looked at him menacingly, to let him know that if he did anything to hurt Hermione, he would have hell to pay.
"You're seeing someone else behind my back!" he accused bluntly.
Of all the things, this was what Hermione expected least. She laughed at the ridiculousness of what he was saying.
"You think it's funny do you?" he said in a carrying voice. The other Gryffindors watched the unfolding scene in mild interest.
"Michael," Hermione began trying to reason with him, "I don't know what you're talking about so if you will just explain…"
"Oh, I'm very happy to explain… I saw you with him yesterday, Hermione!" He was yelling at her now. Students from all houses were staring at them.
Through her embarrassment, Hermione realized that he must have seen her with Draco. He had been the one eavesdropping on them, and had apparently gotten the wrong idea.
A horrified expression dawned on her face, as she automatically looked for Draco, trying to catch his eye.
Michael mistook this reaction for her admittance and followed her gaze triumphantly.
"Looking for him are you? He can't help you, now, Hermione! I'm done with this; I'm breaking up with you! I can't believe you'd risk our relationship for Draco Malfoy."
Michael looked around at the shocked faces impressively, after making his proclamation. And almost immediately, he was met with two fists which rendered him unconscious.
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A/N Please review…? If you think the story deserves a review from you, that is. You are such a busy and important person after all…Is it helping that I'm grovelling? No?
Well, anyway. I've also made the Ron/Parvati pairing clearer. I wanted something different for him… Harry will be with someone as well, I still haven't decided who. Also, I didn't include Voldemort in this chapter on purpose. I didn't want the story to revolve around him and his scheme and I also didn't want the romance factor to be lost. You MIGHT find out why Voldemort wants Draco Malfoy as a Death Eater in the next chapter…Key word there is MIGHT.
Tell me if I should bring old Voldy back by the next chapter, or later?? It's up to you guys!! Also, if you're going to tell me you loved it, please tell me why! Same goes for if you hated it.
As always, I love you! DracozMudblood.
