A.N: I think this might be my longest chapter yet. Lol. Hopefully its good. Pansy's OOC in this, but its cuz i've made her grow up. Lol. Enjoyy. xD Ooh yeah, DONT KILL ME! I HAD to add a new character..But I needed another girl in Slytherin..for,..I have my reasons that you'll find out later on. Please dont flame! The storys still based on Draco/Hermione..so it isnt technically a Mary Sue..anywayy please dont flame me, Im sorry!

Disclaimer: Dont own it.

x0xShortandTuffx0x

Dark Secrets

Chapter 9: Plans For Pairings?

Dumbledore listened to Hermione as she told him of her father and her trip to Hogsmeade. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, the twinkle in his eyes gone.

"Miss Granger, you are not safe. From now on, I do not want you alone. I trust Mr. Malfoy to accompany you everywhere, and no ifs buts or ands. Am I understood?" Dumbledore said, looking down at the head boy and girl through his moon speckled glasses.

"Yes, Professor." The Slytherin and Gryffindor said in unison. Draco was already planning on following Hermione everywhere whether she liked it or not. He was worried about her, and it was very unlike him.

They left Dumbledore's office and headed to their common room in silence.

"Are you afraid of him, Granger?" Draco asked her as he took her hand into hers. She was silent for a moment and he didn't think she was going to answer him, and then she finally did.

"I'm not sure, exactly. When I think of my father, I get scared, very scared but then when I was talking to him in the alleyway today, my voice was really strong. It amazed me. I don't even consider him my father; he's just Alan Granger. But in truth, I think I'll always be afraid of him." She answered quietly, staring at her feet as they walked. He nodded.

Draco was confused and angry at himself for reasons he could not understand. He felt angry for not being there to help Hermione when her father came and he felt confused because he had never felt like that for anyone, except his mother. He knew he'd be more protective of Hermione now, and if anything happened to her, he'd blame himself. These were new feelings for him, and they'd take a while to get used to.

Hermione sat in potions a few days later, tapping her foot on the cold stone floor impatiently. She was off in her own world, thinking about the war; her father; Lucius Malfoy; Draco Malfoy; Harry; Ron; Ginny, everything. She was so scared about the upcoming war; she was worried she'd lose Harry, or Ron, or Ginny and Draco. She was worried about Voldemort winning, what would happen? The Wizarding world would be in ruins that much she knew.

"Miss Granger, can you tell me the answer?" Snape drawled, snapping her out of her thoughts. She blushed and looked at her feet.

"Sorry sir, could you repeat the question?" She mumbled. He glared.

"Next time, pay attention Miss Granger. 10 points off Gryffindor." Snape sneered. Hermione blushed even more, and she felt Harry nudge her beside her. She looked up; he gave her a questioning glance. She smiled weakly. 'Tell me later.' He mouthed. She nodded. She hadn't been talking to Harry very often, she figured she'd better.

After class, Harry caught up with her in the halls as she walked with Draco. She nodded to Draco, who gave a worried glance towards her but left her alone with Harry, knowing that she'd be safe with him.

"What's going on, Mione?" Harry asked her softly, taking her hands with both of his.

"My father gave me a visit." She said, wincing as she saw the bitter look cross Harry's face. "He said that Voldemort says it's time for to use me now. I managed to get away from him. Oh Harry, it's coming, isn't it!" She cried, struggling to control herself. She didn't want to be weak. She took a deep breath. He knew what she meant as he nodded sadly.

"The war will come, it'll be here! We'll lose so many! Oh Harry, I don't want it to happen!" She continued, he pulled her into a hug.

"I know, Mione. I know. I don't want it to happen either. But hopefully this time, Voldemort'll go down for good." Harry whispered into her hair. She nodded and pulled away, looking him in his emerald green eyes.

"You be careful, Harry. I love you too much for you to leave. You understand?" She said. He smiled weakly.

"Don't worry, Mione. I'll be careful." He said, and kissed her forehead. "By the way, Ron wants to talk to you. I think he's going to finally apologize."

"I hope so, I'll apologize too. I can't stand not being friends with him, especially with the war coming up. I hope we make up before the war, I wouldn't be able to stand it if something bad happened to him or me before I could apologize." Hermione said quietly.

"I feel the same about you, Hermione. All I keep seeing in my head is you getting hurt and still thinking I hate you. But I don't Mione. I've realized that, if you want to be with Malfoy then go ahead and be with him. I'm your friend and your happiness is all that matters." A familiar red head said from behind her. She turned around and threw her arms around Ron's neck.

"Oh, Ronald! I'm sorry too, for all the horrible things I said to you. I'm so glad we're friends again." She cried. He stoked her hair.

"Me too, Mione. Me too." Ron whispered into her hair.

Later, Hermione was struggling with her potions essay as Ginny ranted and raved about something some fourth year said to her.

"…As if he had the nerve to call me that! A whore! Who does he think he is! That slimy git. If Blaise hadn't of been there to hold me back, I'd have torn him limb from limb and then hexed him into oblivion!" Ginny shouted, pacing the common room.

"Calm down, Gin. He's not worth it." Hermione said, absent-mindedly. Ginny took a deep breath and plopped herself down on the couch watching as Hermione frantically wrote something down on her parchment.

"When's that due, Hermione?" Ginny asked. Hermione sighed before answering.

"Tomorrow." She grumbled.

"And you're not even finished it!" Ginny asked shocked. Hermione nodded. "Unbelievable." Ginny whispered.

"I've had a lot on my mind! I couldn't concentrate!" Hermione defended.

"Okay, okay!" Ginny said, holding her hands up. Draco came into the common room with Pansy Parkinson and Blaise.

"What is she doing here?" Ginny asked, trying to restrain a glare, but failing. Parkinson just sneered at her.

"She, Blaise and I are grouped together for some stupid herbology essay. Mione I think you have that too?" Draco replied, taking a seat next to Hermione and wrapping his arm around her waist. Hermione thought back to her herbology class and then nodded.

"Yes, I'm with Harry and Ron. We're planning on working on it tonight as well; in fact they should be here soon. Something to do with healing herbs, right?" She asked, looking at the Slytherin sitting beside her. He nodded. Parkinson had seated herself on one of the armchairs as Ginny and Blaise took the other couch. Hermione noticed Parkinson seemed to have grown up a little over the summer, she no longer had a pug face but a rather pretty face and her long black hair was layered so that it framed her face. She had lost quite a bit of weight as well, and was almost as skinny as Ginny. Parkinson didn't seem to be glaring at Hermione for being with Draco or anything, so Hermione vaguely wondered if she had outgrown her crush on the Slytherin. She was probably still an annoying slut though, Hermione thought bitterly.

Hermione was roughly pulled from her thoughts as there was a knock at the portrait. Hermione got up from her comfortable spot to answer it as it looked as though no one else was going to.

"Harry, Ron! It's good to see you." Hermione said, grinning wildly as she let them into the common room. Harry and Ron glared at the three Slytherins' in the room, but at Hermione's sharp look they forced their glares into smiles.

"Hello Ginny. Mal-er Draco, Zab-Blaise, Parkinson." Harry greeted, rather awkwardly. Ron just nodded. The three Slytherins' exchanged glances and then nodded.

They got started on their project, which had to do with healing herbs. Anytime the group got off task they were pulled back on task by Hermione.

Ginny took out a parchment and started her charms homework.

Three hours later, when they were all finally finished they all heaved long sighs and sat back to relax. It was getting close to curfew so Hermione ushered everybody out to their own dormitories.

As she closed the portrait, she felt strong arms around her waist and looked up into a pair of silver eyes. She smiled.

"About time we have the place to ourselves again." He smirked. She rolled her eyes and laughed.

"You have to admit it was quite fun to have them all in our common room and just relax. And even though it was rather awkward, what with 3 Slytherins' and 4 Gryffindors, everybody got along quite well." Hermione said, smiling.

"Yeah, but I couldn't snog you cause we were stuck doing homework." He pouted. She smirked –again very rare for the Gryffindor, Draco thought.

"Well, we're not doing homework now." She stated boldly and giggled at his startled look before she stood on her tip toes and kissed him. He quickly recovered and responded, pushing her gently back to the couches and she fell onto the plush red cushions, giggling softly.

Draco kissed her neck and slid his hands up to her blouse, but roughly told himself to stop there as she wouldn't want to go farther, especially after what had happened to her that summer, so rather reluctantly he pulled away and relaxed against the couch, pulling her over to him to rest on his chest. She smiled and gave him a light kiss.

"Y'know, Pansy's not that bad anymore. I really got to know her tonight as I talked with her. She doesn't seem to be obsessed with you anymore and she's sure matured. She's more sensitive and sensible now." Hermione said, quietly. Draco nodded.

"Yes, she's changed quite a bit. In fact, I'm pretty sure she doesn't even believe in being a deatheater as it is anymore. Her-her mother was killed at the end of last year and ever since, she's changed and unknown to other Slytherins' except for Blaise and I, although she only recently told me after my relationship with you was revealed, she decided she wanted to change sides." Draco said. Hermione gasped in surprise.

"I know what you're thinking. What has the Slytherins' come to? Well, Voldemort is killing off his own deatheaters, first Blaise's parents, then my mother, and Pansy's mother. Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter? Natalie? You probably don't know her, but she's expected to be a full blown deatheater as her mother, however my blonde cousin has recently decided she hates deatheaters and Voldemort, after Voldemort ordered her to do a little assignment. I don't know what assignment that was, but it must have been pretty gruesome, for Natalie to refuse. She was punished severely and has hated them, including her mother and father ever since. Anyway, Natalie's in Slytherin. Pretty little blond, extremely skinny, she looks just like my mother and Aunt Bella, she hangs around with Millicent Bulstrode." Draco said.

"Oh yes, I do believe I've seen her. I can't believe no one told me she was Lestrange's daughter." Hermione said. Suddenly, she gasped. "Draco! Y'know what would be so cute!"

"Err- What?" He asked, startled by her sudden outburst.

"Ron and Pansy!" Hermione exclaimed, and then burst out laughing. "I doubt it would ever happen though."

"Yes, I suppose that would be quite cute." Draco said slowly. "And you never know, I once heard Pansy mumble something about Weasley being cute for a Gryffindor. Of course, at my glare she cowered and said he was as ugly, but I know she didn't mean it." Draco murmured. Hermione giggled.

"And I know Ron thinks she's 'hot'." She said. "We should hook them up!" Hermione exclaimed, her golden eyes flashing merrily. Draco raised an eyebrow. "I suppose it's worth a try." He said, and shrugged. "But, what about poor Potter? He'll be all alone." Draco said, mocking sadness.

"We can find someone for him too." Hermione said, loving the idea of playing matchmaker. Draco rolled his eyes. "Great." He muttered.

He could see Hermione thinking it all over, probably planning on when to play the matchmaker and get the Slytherin Sex Queen together with the Weasley King. This would be interesting, but Dumbledore would sure be happy. Draco sighed and rolled his eyes.

A/N: Natalie Lestrange will show up soon..probably in the next chapter. Her and Harry may get along rather well..HINT HINT! Lol. Haha Review if you want. And again, please DONT flame me! I said Im sorry for adding her!

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