DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Thanks for the wonderful reviews!
CHAPTER 9
Hermione was nervously sitting on the Gryffindor stands and Elnath was beside her. The score was 60-10, in favour of Slytherin. She was worried for Ron because he cannot block the goals of the Slytherin Chasers.
"Damn! Slytherin scored again! Their Chasers are good!" exclaimed Dean Thomas who was holding a pair omnioculars in front of her.
"And look at their Beaters, too!" said Seamus in his Irish accent. "The twins said that Crabbe and Goyle are going to play as Beaters. Where did that come from?"
"Maybe the Slytherins predicted that the twins or anyone from Gryffindor House will spy on them so they lied about it," said Neville. "But don't worry. I'm sure Harry will catch the Snitch."
"I don't think so. He looks worried for Ron. It's like he wanted to coach him up there," said Dean.
"Look! Malfoy's spotted something!" said Seamus.
Hermione's heart was beating faster now and she snatched Elnath's onmioculars to take a good look on her secret boyfriend of two months. "Hey, that's mine!" whined Elnath.
But Hermione paid no attention. She focused on Draco. He was flying too fast and obviously was after something. Harry followed him and shouted, as if he was distracting him, but Draco kept going and did not bother to look back. He extended his one arm and caught something in his hand.
"Draco Malfoy caught the Snitch! Slytherin wins! I can't believe it!" exclaimed Lee Jordan, the commentator. The Gryffindors boo'd and the Slytherins cheered. Hermione turned to Elnath and gave him a small smile. Elnath did not shout or jumped with joy like the others. He only smirked, very similar to Draco's, and winked at her.
"Hermione! I can't believe that Malfoy caught the snitch!" came Neville's voice.
"Me, too!" she said truthfully, but did not show her happiness. Of course, she felt sad for Harry, but her happiness and joy for Draco's victory was overpowering her feelings for Harry.
"Look! Harry's in trouble! Holy shite!" yelled Dean Thomas. "Come on, let's help them!"
Hermione looked at the Quidditch pitch. Harry and Fred Weasley were beating her boyfriend the Muggle way. "Holy crap! Harry Potter, you're an idiot!" she fumed. She wanted to go down the pitch, but she might not be able to control her feelings and take Draco's side instead. She shot her best friend a piercing glare and saw Umbitch approaching the fighting boys with Professor McGonagall. Madam Hooch told the audience to return to the castle and prepare for lunch.
Elnath grabbed her arm and she obeyed. They went to the castle. While the others were walking slowly, they were in a hurry and stopped by the hospital wing. He cast a non-verbal spell on the two of them and when Draco and the rest of the Slytherin team arrived, they did not notice anything. Only Draco seemed to notice them because he did not take his eyes off her when he saw her, until he passed by. Hermione wanted to cry. Draco's cheek was bruised and he looked like a mess. His Quidditch outfit was tainted with dirt and he looked weak.
Elnath grabbed her again and they went inside the hospital wing. They stood by the foot of Draco's bed. Madam Pomfrey was already mending his bruises and cleaned up his clothes. With a wave of his wand, Draco's clothes changed from Quidditch uniform to hospital gown. His teammates were waiting outside the room and listened to his groans. Hermione tightened her hold to Elnath's hands every time she would hear his pain. Elnath did not complain and placed his free hand on her waist, hugging her sideways.
When Madam Pomfrey was finally done and Draco calmed down, she shoo'd his teammates and told them to leave Draco alone. Elnath urged her to come to her boyfriend's side. "I will go outside and pretend to be you," he whispered and she gave him an appreciative look. When Elnath left, she went to lie down beside Draco. He opened his eyes and gave her a space on the bed she enlarged magically. She couldn't say anything. She was crying silently.
"Hey, Honey. I'm all right," he said in a comforting tone and reached for her hand to hold it. They were lying on their sides, facing each other. He wiped her tears with his other hand.
She opened her eyes and met his grey ones. "I hate Harry right now!" she whispered dangerously. "I swear. I'm not going to talk to him for a while!"
Draco sighed. "Do you know what exactly happened down there?" he asked calmly.
"No. But whatever you told him, he shouldn't have laid a finger on you. He could yell and embarrass you, but physical violence is too much!" she said firmly.
"He insulted my mother while I was chasing for the Snitch. He insulted my mother again when my teammates bragged that we won. So I insulted his and Wealsey's mothers, too. I'm sorry. He did it twice," he whispered quietly. He sounded like he wanted her to understand.
She shook her head. "Still," she insisted. "You played a clean game. You were just too good and he can't accept the fact that his team was losing. He couldn't accept, too that you finally beat him. Your only fault was that you insulted their mothers, too, when they insulted yours. that's it."
Draco leaned forward and planted a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes. "Thanks," he whispered in his most gentle voice. "You're a wonderful person, that's why I fell in love with you."
Hermione opened her eyes and gave him a questioning look. Her heart was jumping. Did I hear him right? she thought. "What do you mean by that?" she asked nervously.
Draco smiled and caressed her cheek. "I'm in love with you."
"Are you certain?" she whispered.
He nodded and raked his hanf on her bushy mane. "Yes. Our relationship is a secret, but that doesn't mean I'm not serious. We, Malfoys, follow pure-blood traditions and one of them is entering a relationship only if we're certain. This is not yet a proposal, but I want to give you an assurance that I'm sincere and... I love you."
Her eyes brimmed with tears, but she was smiling. He loves her. This made her heart jump and want to celebrate, but she wasn't sure what to say. Sure, she likes him a lot and he's her most favourite person in Hogwarts.
But, do I love him?
"You don't have to say anything right now," he said calmly.
She smiled reluctantly. "I'm sorry. Sometimes, I still can't believe that you're my boyfriend," she said apologetically.
He smirked. "As long as you won't forget."
She shook her head slightly. "I won't."
Draco pulled her closer to him and they snuggled. They were silent and Hermione thought that he was trying to sleep. But after few minutes, she couldn't contain the silence anymore. She pulled away, just enough to meet his eyes. "What's bothering you?"
"How did you know?" He slightly frowned.
"I just know," she replied.
"I had a dream," he finally confessed. "And it's bothering me."
"What was it about?" she asked with pure concern.
"You," he replied and tightened his hold to her. "Promise me something."
She frowned and gave him a confused look, but nodded. "Anything."
"In July, before our sixth year, don't go with Potter or the Weasleys to Diagon Alley. Stay with me," he said seriously.
"All right," she replied silently. "But, can you tell me why I shouldn't go with them?"
"In my dream, I saw you arguing with Potter and Weasley. You went to Flourish and Blotts alone and you were abducted by the Death Eaters," he said, sounding hurt and he closed his eyes.
She reached for his face and gently kissed his lips. "I won't go out with them and I'll stay with you, if that will make you feel relieved."
He smiled. "Thank you, Honey." He kissed her again and they stayed in each other's arms until they fell asleep.
.
"You did what?" Hermione yelled at Elnath. They were confident that no one would hear them in the hospital wing; thanks to Silencing Charms.
Draco, who was sitting on the bed with his girlfriend, placed a hand on her shoulder.
Elnath, who was standing by the foot of the bed, rolled his eyes. "I said, I was walking around the castle, used the Deceiving Charm and pretended to be you when I spotted Potter and punched him for beating Draco."
"But he will be suspicious!" Hermione fumed.
"Then, tell him that he was an idiot and what he did to Malfoy was wrong and you won't tolerate that kind of attitude!" Elnath snapped.
"Elnath!" he called the boy with a hint of warning.
Hermione turned to him and gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I have to show up to them and..." she trailed off and shook her head.
He nodded and gave her a smile. "It's all right, Honey. You already spent a night here. It's time to go."
She learned and kissed his forehead. "Thanks. I'll be back before dinner." She gave him her one last smile before leaving.
"Thanks for punching Potter," he told Elnath. "I couldn't say it in front of her."
Elnath grinned. "You're welcome, Dad. How are you?"
"Fine. But still needs rest, according to Madam Pomfrey."
"Well, I'm not sure you'll be able to rest properly if Mum's here," he teased.
"But we did rest," he said casually. "And oh, by the way, I finally made her promise to stay with me in July. She won't be going with Potter and the Weasleys."
Elnath's eyes widened. "How?" he asked eagerly.
"Told her that I had a dream about her being abducted when she was with the idiots in Diagon Alley."
"Of course you didn't dream about it."
He raised his eyebrows. "What do you want me to say? 'Hey, Honey, our future son came to warn us. Don't go to Diagon Alley because you'll be raped.' I honestly feel guilty of lying to her and keeping secrets, but I have to!"
Elnath looked sad. "But Professor Dumbledore it's for the best. If you want to tell her everything, you should wait until she mastered Occlumency. Professor Dumbledore and I can help you explain."
He didn't say anything. He was really hoping that he could tell her everything as soon as possible. He doesn't want to keep him in the dark for too long.
