Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. All of this belongs to J.K Rowling and the publishers alike.
Chapter 10: Relieving Tension
She crept around the Slytherin Common Rooms, taking in her surroundings with bitterness. She recalled when Harry and Ron had described Slytherin Dungeons to be glum and cold during their second year. They were spot on with their descriptions. She thought while looking around.
Perhaps this was why Slytherin's were always so mean and bitter. Hermione thought with a scowl from underneath the Invisibility Cloak. She'd be a crouch to if she had to live in an environment like this.
She looked around the room with the eyes of a critique. The Dungeons lacked the warmth and homey atmosphere the Gryffindor Tower had. Then again, this was the Slytherin Commons, perhaps they had…unkinder and more intimidating standards.
The room overflowed with green and carved snakes. The ceiling was low as some students wandered around the Common Room. Hermione noted how there were only low whispers and hushed speakers. Everyone around here stood tall and arrogantly. Even the first years. Hermione shook her head.
But Hermione couldn't deny that the room brought some elegance. The carved chairs and smooth tables were something the Gryffindor's didn't have in their Common Room.
Hermione pulled herself from her thoughts and returned to focus on the task at hand.
She tightened her grip on her wand and breathed in, something she did to compose herself.
She scanned the room. Not to take in the room, no, to locate Riddle. Her eyes landed on students who were oblivious to the Gryffindor intruder. She spotted Malfoy who was lounging on the sofa reading a book. Hermione took in a sharp breath as she caught a glimpse of his Mark. To anyone else, no one would've noticed it. It was covered mostly by his sleeve, but she knew exactly what it was. She gripped tightly onto her wand, snapping at herself for wanting to curse his arm off.
She wasn't here to curse people; she warned herself and continued to search for Riddle. He wasn't hard to find. She just had to find the largest cluster of people. All of which were gathered around a sofa. Hermione couldn't see him but she assumed that he was in the middle of attention.
That was all the confirmation Hermione needed. She stalked up the large staircase hoping that it was the boy's dormitories.
Hermione couldn't help but feel vulnerable here. She gripped onto the Invisibility Cloak tighter. She didn't want to be discovered. A string of worst case scenarios ran through her mind and Hermione's uneasiness arose.
She walked up the stairs slowly, taking in the evergreen wallpaper that plastered her environment. She was hoping that this was the stairs that would lead to the boy's dorms. However when a few girls rushed down the stairs giggling, Hermione pushed herself out of the way and stepped back down, knowing that it wasn't the boys dormitories that direction.
Hermione's feet padded against the dark wooded floor. Unsure if her steps could be heard or not.
With a quick glance around, she stepped up the boys dormitories. Thankful that the Founders found boys less trustworthy as the Glisseo charm placed on the stairwell didn't apply to girls.
She cracked open each of doors to find the seventh year dorms. Having to Obliviate some people when they looked up to see who had entered.
She continued up the stairs. Opening each door. She slammed a door quickly when she found a couple engaging in a rather passionate rendezvous. With a grimace she continued her seemingly endless journey.
When she entered the last room she found Abraxas Malfoy and Lestrange involved in a conversation. She had finally found the seventh year dorms. They quickly drew their wands when the door opened by mysterious means, but with a quick flick of her wand, both of them were stunned. Not a single sound made to cause suspicion.
She looked around; it wasn't much different from the Slytherin Common Room. It was cold and elegant. The room consisted of dark wooden flooring and several four poster beds around the room. Each with a trunk at the end. Hermione wasn't surprised when the room was laced with green and emerald. Hermione brandished her wand and tightened her hold on her Cloak.
She searched the room in case there were any more boys in here. When she found none she quickly cast a locking charm on the door and a spell that alerted her when there were unwelcomed guests that arrived. When that was done, she began to search the room for any trace of a Horcrux.
Searching through boy's belongings was always a grisly task and these Slytherins were no exception. Under garments and sweaty Quidditch equipment was found scattered all over the place. She couldn't help but gag at the mess. She recalled how she would always scold Harry and Ron for their sloppiness but memories weren't something she should dwell on at the moment.
She shifted through drawers and cabinets, only finding expensive robes and money. She narrowed her eyes when she couldn't find a certain Horcrux that should've been made by now. Hermione knew better than to expect the diary to be easy to find so she continued to invade the Slytherin Seventh Year's privacy.
She bit back the urge to vomit as she waved her wand to move a pile of underwear to the side. Were boys genetically disgusting?
Hermione narrowed her eyes when after twenty minutes of searching, she didn't find any diary. Not only that, she didn't find any trace of Voldemort living here at all. Then Hermione slapped her forehead at her own stupidity.
Of course!
Tom Riddle was Head Boy now. The Head Boy and Girl had their own dormitories. She scowled at her waste of time. With a quick spell, she revived the two boys and altered their memories.
She left the dormitories with an irritated feeling around her. As she stepped into the cold Common Room she learned that the vast group of people wasn't gathered around Riddle. Hermione sighed. Who was she to assume that Riddle was always surrounded by people?
She sighed at her own naivety and left the Slytherin Dungeons. Rather eager to escape the cold and intimidating atmosphere.
She would've gone to search for the Head Dorms but she had no idea where they were. And even if she did know where they were she would need a password no doubt.
A sly grin crept on her face. The Marauders Map was always helpful. She thought with more smugness than she intended.
She pulled out her beaded bag and dug her hand in search for the magical piece of parchment that had saved her best friend's necks far too many times for their own good.
She gripped on the familiar map and she pulled it out. She pulled out her wand and proceeded to mutter the infamous words used to reveal the map.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
With quick, scanning eyes, Hermione quickly located the Head Dorms.
Using the map as guidance, Hermione quickly stalked towards the dwellings of a Dark Lord. Hermione felt like a thief, stalking in the night. Indeed her intentions were one of a thief but it wasn't for her own greed.
She tucked her beaded bag close to her. As if it was to reassure her of something. She shook off a stray curl away from her face and stalked towards the Dorms with stealth. No one who walked by suspected a thing. And after all the practice Hermione had during her years, she had gotten quite good at sneaking around.
Hermione stared at the entrance. With a quick glance at the Map, she learned that it was indeed the entrance to the Head Dorms. It was simply a painting. Nothing extravagant but still a painting. She looked at the map for guidance.
The only occupants were the presumed Head Girl. Hermione breathed out in relief when she found that Riddle was nowhere on the map.
Hermione stared at the Marauder's Map. Waiting for it to tell her a secret password or something she had to do to open the door. Harry once told her that sometimes secret passageways would have passwords and the Map would reveal them for the user.
She wasn't surprised, however to see that no password or secret knock of some sort, was given. With a sigh she realized that she would have to lure the Head Girl out so the door would open and Hermione could slip in.
With a wave of her wand she conjured a rather large and disturbingly loud Reducto at a poor statue. Hermione promised herself to repair it later but for now she needed the noise to drive the Head Girl out.
And just as planned, the portrait swung open and out stepped a thin, pale looking girl who began to shriek and look around to find the culprit.
Still hidden underneath the cloak, she stepped into the portrait entrance before it closed.
Hermione sucked in a breath as she entered the room. It was surprisingly cozy. For some reason she expected cobwebs, bats flying out of a cavern and Inferi crawling out to maul her when she entered. But it was warm and comfortable. The room consisted of two large plush sofas, a small fireplace crackling in the back and bookshelves in every corner. A few tables which had a bunch of school work and books piled onto them. There were two stairwells. Each presumably leading to the Head Girl and Head Boy dormitories.
With a last glance around the room, Hermione stalked up the stairs with determination with her wand at the ready in case of a sudden attack. She checked the map every once in a while in case there were any signs of Tom Riddle or the Head Girl of returning.
Tom Riddle was nowhere on the map. Which was good…hopefully. And the Head Girl had stormed off to the Headmaster's office, most likely to report the extreme act of vandalism.
With glances of paranoia, Hermione quickly checked for any traces of wards or traps. She wasn't surprised when she found wards surrounding the Head Boy dorms. With narrowed eyes, Hermione quickly muttered spells and counter-spells to bring down the magical wards. It took some time, nearly twenty minutes. Riddle must've been worried of people entering his room and discovering his dark properties.
She narrowed her eyes in concentration, careful not to set off any alarms to alert Riddle. After waving her arms around with attentiveness she had temporarily dropped the wards.
She raised her arm to wipe the sweat away and opened the door with her wand, to worried that he had some form of detection in it. As she entered she was once again taken aback when she saw that it wasn't some evil wizard's den like she had expected. Far from it, in fact.
The room was simple, yet clean. Was clean something to expect from a mass murderer? Hermione surely didn't expect it from him. Everything seemed organized and fit in place.
There was a bed in the corner, quite tidy if she did say so herself. There were bookshelves with books filed on each of the shelves. There were tables and Hermione couldn't help but notice that the room smelled of him. Something of light cologne and possibly aftershave.
With narrowed eyes, Hermione began to file through the room, careful not to disturb too many items out of their given places. Hermione couldn't help but shiver at the dark aura that filtered through the air. She snapped her head back into her findings. Filling through bookshelves, opening drawers and even looking under the bed.
She lifted up the sheet and found a pile of books hidden beneath the bed. She pulled them out one by one reluctantly. She scanned through the titles with a quick haste:
'Magick and the Grave' By: Yalick Frendres
'The Greatest Achievements of Dark Magick' By: Ursula Inyonnes.
Many others were simply blank covers, but as she flipped through them she soon realized what she had found. Much to her disgust, she had found a pile of Dark books hidden under the bed. With revulsion, Hermione forced herself to continue looking through them. Gagging as she quickly scanned through the introduction of 'Magick and the Grave'. She couldn't say that she was shocked to find books like this under his bed.
After a quick flick through the books, Hermione was quick to note that all of them had one thing in common: they all had explanations of Horcruxs. She nearly threw the books away from her. Like a little girl would throw away a moldy banana peel away: with repulsion.
But other than the sickening books, she found no trace of the Horcrux itself. She had searched near and far. Looking behind the bed, prying open loose floor boards but there was nothing. After nearly thirty minutes of thorough searching, Hermione admitted that the Horcrux wasn't in the room.
She took one last check and frowned when she couldn't find anything. There were no secret compartments or hidden clues that would lead to another clue in order to find the Horcrux. There was nothing. If Hermione didn't know any better, she wouldn't have ever guessed that Tom Riddle would ever hide anything of such dark means. But she did know better, and she knew that she had to find the diary and possibly the Gaunt's ring as soon as she possibly could.
With little enthusiasm, she took a quick glimpse at the map. She squeaked and grabbed her Cloak when she found that Riddle was coming dangerously close towards the dorm.
With a haste paste, she placed everything back in its original place. Removing any trace of her being there. She ran out of the door as if her life depended on it and erected the wards on the door. Leaving no evidence of it ever being disturbed.
She pulled out her Cloak and wrapped it around herself. She clung onto her belongings, in fear they would fall and she would leave behind an indication of her visits. She dashed down the stairs, nearly throwing herself off of the stairwell in the process. Her pulse quickened, echoing from her ears. Desperate to escape before Riddle stepped into the room.
With scurried movements, she scattered to the direction to exit the Head Dormitories. She scampered to open the door just as she heard footsteps nearing dangerously close. As an act of instinct, she threw herself to the side, wrapping the Cloak around her to ensure complete invisibility.
She gave a small squeak as someone murmured the password and the door swung open. Hermione held her breath as Riddle stepped into the room. His magic swirling in the air as he stepped in. He seemed oblivious to the presence of Hermione. The Gryffindor stood stone still. Her heart fluttering like a bird trapped in a cage.
She gripped onto her wand like a lifeline as Riddle examined the room with an air of arrogance. Hermione squirmed silently as she watched the Dark Lord narrow his eyes. Like a dog sniffing the air, he tilted he head back.
Hermione pressed herself against the wall, in hopes it would open up and reveal a means of escape. But Riddle continued to examine the room. Did he always do this every time he entered his dorm, or did he suspect something?
The latter brought horror to Hermione. Perhaps she left too much trace of her presence in the room and he doubted something.
Hermione breathed out in relief when she watched him climb up the stairs leading to his dorm. Riddle took his wand and removed the wards where he quickly swung open the door and entered his room. Still unaware of Hermione being there.
It seemed like an eternity she stood still in that position. Her hand was beginning to get sore as she gripped onto her wand to the point it seemed her bones would burst from her skin.
Her breathing had relatively returned, as if her lungs were scared to move. In fear if she let out a single breath, the young Dark Lord would hear all the way from upstairs and storm down.
When she was sure he was gone, she crept slowly towards the exit. She took one step at a time. Trying to escape the room as fast as she could, yet slowly enough so she wouldn't erupt any unwanted noise.
She threw paranoid glances behind her much too often. She swallowed nervously and quickly threw open the door. Closing it a slow pace.
As soon as she heard the small thud as she stepped out, she ran.
She didn't know how long she ran but all she knew was that she was running. It wasn't until she had arrived in a deserted corridor did she finally strip the Cloak off and returned it to her beaded bag. She drew out a breath of relief. The same breath a runner would give after a long, treacherous run.
She scowled as she ran a tired hand through her hair. That had been a complete waste of time! She had found nothing except a disturbing series of how-to guides on Horcruxs. She tilted her head back and rubbed the back of her neck in stress. This entire thing was going nowhere? If the Horcrux wasn't in the room then where was it?
Hermione raked her brains but found no results.
She stifled a groan of exasperation and began to walk absentmindedly towards the exit of the Hogwarts castle.
Her chest was still heaving from the after effects of her dramatic encounter.
She raised a rand to wipe the sweat from her brow.
Hermione found herself wondering why she was heading towards the doors leading away from the castle. But she then wondered if she really wanted to go back to the Gryffindor Common room. She quickly shook her head. Perhaps a fresh breath of air was in order.
The Gryffindor stumbled down the stairs. She walked past girls and boys who were all laughing joyously. Playing jokes and enjoying their time. She ignored them all. As though there were an invisible wall between her and everyone else.
Everything rushed past her. As if Hermione was a stone in a river and everyone else was the water leaving her behind.
Eventually, Hermione found herself walking outside. She unconsciously walked past Hagrid's hut. She found herself pondering what was happening. Was Hagrid in there right now? Was he practicing his training as groundskeeper?
Her eyebrows knitted together. It was Riddle who took Hagrid's magical education from him, didn't he? Hermione shook her head. Was Riddle simply born horrible? All those people he used and screwed over…did he have any idea what would happen to them? Either he was completely oblivious or he simply didn't care.
She turned away from the hut and walked further down the school grounds.
Hermione looked around, it must have been beginning to get late for the students were beginning to file in from outside.
She didn't care, after an eternity being locked in her dorms, she felt like staying outside for a while.
Even though she had multiple precautions to take, like the fact that Riddle would find her and interrogate her. Or maybe his followers would do his dirty work for him. Wouldn't be the first time.
Despite the screaming sane part of her was demanding her to return to her sanctuary, Hermione continued forward. Allowing complete and utter calmness to wash over her.
It was what she saw next did she pull out her wand. Her sense of ease had left her immediately.
He inhaled then exhaled and repeated the procedure once more. He inhaled then exhaled and repeated the procedure once more. Then he proceeded to inhale then exhale again.
The Great Lake had always brought a sense of calm to him. He had come to the lake when he lost his first Quidditch game to Harry sodding Potter! He remembered how his visits to the lake became more and more frequent as the years went by. He came to the Lake nearly every night during his sixth year.
Draco shook the thought out of his mind. That was nearly a lifetime ago. He didn't need to remember what-once-was. He couldn't spare any more time on it. All those pathetic sleepless nights. All those weak wails of desperation as he recalled his family his friends. When memories came to haunt him during the night- He just had to accept that he was here and not back home.
The blond grasped a rock and threw it across the lake. Hearing a satisfying splash wave over his ears. He leaned back against the conveniently located tree. He breathed out and allowed his eyes to close. He summoned a sense of calmness once more.
Perhaps he would wake up and find that all of this would be some horrendous nightmare. Draco let out a cold chuckle escape. He brought his pale hand and ran it over his blond hair. Him and his wishful thinking. He had more important things to figure out and dwell on than hope and dream like a moronic Gryffindor.
"Hey, Caius!" Someone called over to him. Out of instinct his head snapped up and he reached for his wand. He silently cursed himself for that. He stared up and saw the figure of four boys approach. From his distance he could identify them all as Slytherins. He recognized them as Avery, Mulciber, Rosier and Lestrange.
Draco narrowed his eyes as the three boys approached him. What could they possibly want?
"Caius, why don't you come with us?" Avery leered towards him. Draco arched his eyebrow. He knew far too well that when a group of Slytherins asked you to go with them, they only had poor intentions. With that thought Draco simply shook his head.
"No thanks," He said curtly and returned to stare down at the glistening waters.
"Naw, we insist!" Lestrange said gruffly, menace hidden behind his words. Draco's eyes jumped from Lestrange to the others behind them. He couldn't help but notice that Rosier and Mulciber had drawn their wands. Draco also knew far too well that when wands were drawn, there were absolutely no good intentions.
"I think I'm fine, thank you." Draco said, his hand itching towards his wand.
"Someone wants to see you," Rosier sneered, a glower etching his feature. Draco began to get nervous. The palm of his hands beginning to sweat. If he were to begin dueling, the odds were against him. One against four…the numbers were not in his favor today.
"And who- may I ask- would like to see me?" The blond snarled defensively. His eyes watching the wands that were getting pulled out of the Slytherin's robes.
"Just a friend of ours." Lestrange explained, a cruel smirk making its way onto his face. "He has a few questions for you." Draco stared at the wand that was brandished towards his face. Malfoy simply blinked and looked back at Lestrange. Not allowing any sense of fear to be displayed.
"And he couldn't come here himself?" Malfoy asked, with mock innocence.
"Just come with us," Bellatrix's ancestor continued to insist.
"No," Malfoy said challengingly and looked back towards the lake. Silently dismissing the intruders.
"Are you sure?" One of the boys growled.
"Quite sure," Draco responded his wand now being gripped tightly. "Now if you will please leave,"
"I'm afraid we can't do that," Lestrange said, his intimidating stance nearly making Draco take a step back- almost.
That was when the first curse was fired. Draco didn't know who it was from, but he had been expecting that. Deflecting the red stream of magic with a quick flick.
"Caius knows a little bit of dueling, doesn't he?" Lestrange chuckled and he shot a curse towards Malfoy. With a silent Protego, the curse was deflected.
"Conjunctivitis" Rosier hollered and a stream was fired from his wand directed at Malfoy. Draco flicked his wand in a frantic movement and sent a Leg-Locker curse. Dodging Rosier's curse in the process. Mulciber didn't have enough time to deflect Malfoy's curse and fell forward from his locked legs.
When Mulciber's comrades found him face forward, their curses began to harsher and darker.
Malfoy waved his arm, shouting more defensive spells then offensive spells.
For a few moments, Draco saw red and shot a Flipendo. Rosier was knocked back and landed painfully. Draco spared no time to celebrate, but continued to block curse after curse and fire jinx after jinx. Lestrange began to get ruthless, firing dangerous and lethal curses at him. Draco was able to deflect them all. Perhaps Death Eater training had its benefits.
At one point, Avery had scared his arm. Blood beginning to leak down from his robe. He spared the injury no attention and fired an offensive curse at Avery. After Avery's attack, Draco received more and more injuries. Scars and cuts were beginning to form and weaken him.
Draco gave a yelp of pain when a curse whizzed pass his leg, creating a large, gaping gash. Lestrange took this opportunity to fire one last curse.
"Crucio!" Was all Lestrange had to say before Draco doubled over in pain. He hissed and screamed as the curse wove its way through his core. He had suffered the Cruciatious Curse from the Dark Lord himself countless times, but one could never get used to that Unforgivable.
He didn't know how long he was under the curse. It must have been hours because by the time it was over, Malfoy couldn't see or hear clearly.
"Hey! Let me try!" He heard a muffled voice jeer. There were a few laughs and whoops of agreement before the familiar searing pain continued to make its way through him. Malfoy screamed and wailed. Clawing at his own skin to rid of the pain. None of which helped one bit. His throat croaked and squawked as his continuous screaming caused his throat to dry.
When the curse was finally lifted, Malfoy heard laughs and mocking words directed at him. He heard none of their taunting words. All he could hear was his erratic breathing and uneven heartbeat.
"You sure you don't want to come with us?" A provocative voice leered. Malfoy desperately attempted to reach for his wand. Or any means of defense for that matter.
The harsh pressure of someone's foot, stomped onto his hand. Earning yet another yelp of pain. Malfoy heaved and gritted his teeth, fighting back rude curse words. Someone kicked him in the ribs and Malfoy felt a gasp crawl out of his lungs.
"How 'bout another round of the Cruciatious before we send 'im off to Riddle?" Lestrange chortled. Malfoy shivered as he braced himself for yet another torture session.
But instead of Malfoy screaming in pain, it was someone else who was squirming. Malfoy looked up and found Lestrange on the ground moaning. His face covered in boils.
Curiosity overwhelmed him as he searched for the meaning of the events.
"Oi!" He heard Rosier shout. "Who's out there? Show yourself-" He was cut off when a red stream of light flew at him, throwing him back a good ten feet. The rest of the Slytherins began to look around frantically for the culprit.
There were more offensive streams of magic and the remaining standing Slytherins were knocked back. Draco began to panic. Was he about to face the same fate as them? He heard the groans of agony coming from a crouched Avery who was gripping his stomach.
Malfoy heard rushed footsteps and another flick of a wand. Immediately he watched Letrange who was attempting to stand up, fall backwards with a loud crash!
"Get her!"
There was a weak spell that whizzed past a figure who stepped aside before they were hit. Draco watched as the figure shot multiple Stunning Spells before there was complete silence. Malfoy heaved and strained his arm to reach for his wand. His right hand bloodied and torn from being stepped on harshly.
"Oh, sweet Merlin!" A female voice cried. "Are you okay?" He felt himself behind hauled up. Draco attempted to stand himself up, but the after effects of the Cruciatious Curse refused to allow any movement.
"Can you hear me?" The female figure called at him. Draco shook his head, groaning in pain. "I'm going to get you help." The figure stated. Draco could only shake his head at the mysterious figure.
"No," Was all he managed to say. He refused to arouse suspicion by walking in with after effects of the Cruciatious Curse. Let alone the humiliation he would endure from being ganged up on a cursed upon.
"Shush, Malfoy, we're almost there." Draco narrowed his eyes. That couldn't be…no, impossible. She hated him. Why would she out of all the people come to his rescue?
"Granger?"
"Yes, it's me," Hermione huffed as she dragged the battered form of Malfoy towards the castle. How was it that she was always dragging Malfoy all over the place?
"W-Why?" He grumbled. Hermione didn't answer him and continued forward. Thankful that the sun had set and everyone had returned to the castle.
She didn't know why those young Death Eaters wanted to hex him, but Hermione had a hunch that it was under Riddle's orders.
She pulled out her wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm on the both of them and a Silencing Charm. Slipping past students unnoticed.
She hauled Draco over and dragged him up the stairs, unsure if Levitating him would further damage his wounds.
"Almost there," She mouthed to herself as they quickly scattered towards the Room of Requirement. She pulled him to the side as a rather large group of girls skipped by them. All talking loudly and giggling at an obnoxious rate.
She blew a stray hair from her face and dragged Malfoy's form. She bit her lower lip. He had many scars and a large one on his leg. Bruises were sure to begin to form. And the after effects of the Unforgivable cast on him were already taken effect.
With quick and rushed movements she led him to the Seventh floor and pushed open the door the Room of Requirement.
She threw him on the bed and couldn't help but have a sense of déjà vu. Shaking the thought out, she removed the spells.
She grimaced when Malfoy's injuries and scars were revealed to her. A large, vast injury gawked at her from his leg. She drew in a breath and tore open the leg of the pants. She heard Malfoy grumble something about Hermione being an 'eager-little-slut'. The Gryffindor ignored his rude slurs and continued to heal his injuries.
She waved her wand over his wound and murmured an Episkey, like she had done countless time on her injured comrades. Hermione banished the memory from her mind and continued on the task at hand.
"What happened?" She asked as she healed a scar on his cheek. Malfoy's grey orbs snapped up to look at his healer. His eyes narrowed.
"I-I don't really know." Was all he said. Hermione arched her eyebrow and continued to work on him.
"You sure? I'm sure no one just goes up to someone and uses an Unforgivable…-" Hermione trailed off when she realized who she was talking to. Hermione frowned down at the former Death Eater and shook her head. She had thoughts of turning away and leaving him, yet her Gryffindor heroics wouldn't allow it.
She conjured some bandages and wrapped them around Malfoy's injured leg.
The Room of Requirement had provided towels and other healing products of use. She once again marveled at the wonderful room.
Hermione turned her attention to the slice on his arm. She drew her hand and muttered a spell which caused the soaking sleeve to disappear.
A shiver rolled up her spine when she caught sight of his stained arm. But it wasn't the injury that caused such a reaction. Her small hand reached out to touch the strange Mark. Like a child would reach out to something shiny.
She felt his arm being ripped from her grasp as Malfoy glared up at her defensively.
"Don't touch it," He growled. Hermione could only turn away from the strange and Dark Mark. But it didn't stop her hand from gripping onto her wand with anger. Malfoy must've noticed his anger because he spoke once again:
"Don't hate me just because of the Mark." Malfoy hissed, hatred seeping into his tone. Hermione snorted aloud, causing a strange reaction from the Slytherin.
"You are telling me not to be prejudice?" She drawled with sarcasm. A bitter laugh escaping her lips.
"Yes, I am. Because you have no right to judge me based on a stupid Mark." So many thoughts whirled through her head when he said. So many rude things she could've said. She could've snapped at him and reminded him of all those times he had judged her because of her blood status and nothing more. She could've told him that she wouldn't judge him on the Mark but rather based on all those horrible things he did. She could've prompted him with the fact that he was a hypocrite for demanding her not to judge him.
But she looked down at him, staring back at him challengingly as he glared at her. Hermione didn't know why she said it, but she did so anyways.
"If that is what you want," The blonde's eyes widened in surprise. As if she had grown a second head.
"What?" He sputtered. "No snarky remark? No demands or rude comments?" Hermione stared down at him with arched eyebrows as if to mock him.
"Yes, Malfoy. Because I am not you. I don't judge people based on their heritage, their looks or simply-" Hermione dropped her gaze to stare at the offending Mark. "A stupid mark."
"Oh so that's it, isn't it?" He sneered as he attempted to stand up. Hermione pushed him back down on the bed.
"Yes, Malfoy. If you don't want me to be a prejudice prat and judge you based on your Mark. Fine. But that doesn't mean I won't judge you based on what you've done." She elaborated with cruelty.
"If I'm so terrible, why did you save me back there? Why are you healing me now, huh?" He snarled at her with venom spat at her.
Hermione hesitated before she spoke. Unsure if her words would further provoke Malfoy. Was she intending to provoke him? She was unsure, and Hermione Granger was never unsure.
"Sit down, Malfoy." Hermione spoke gently, a futile attempt to calm him down.
"Trying to change the subject? Answer my question, Granger." He demanded. Hermione could only sigh and sit down on a conveniently located chair. She stared at Malfoy as if to contemplate something.
"What? Are you trying to stare me to death now?" He taunted as he moved to get up. Hermione already knew that his muscles were far too weak from the Unforgivable Curse cast on him. "Why did you save me, Granger?"
Hermione brought a hand to run through her wild hair. Much like she had done after she had broken into Riddle's dorms.
"Don't you think," Hermione began, her eyes narrowed, choosing her words carefully. "Don't you think that all this fighting has gotten a little…old?"
The Gryffindor watched as a sense of dawning shadowed over Malfoy's face. As if he had stopped to consider something. It was confusion that caused Hermione to continue her explanation.
"You know, we've been fighting ever since we were kids. And it's only gotten worse since then. Don't you think it's a little…overdone?" Hermione asked gently like she was calming a child.
"What are you saying?" Malfoy asked, his nervousness arising.
"I'm saying that we put our differences aside and call a truce. After all, you and I are both stuck fifty years in the past. We mind as well get used to each other's presence while we're at it." Hermione gave a light chuckle to bring ease to the mood.
Malfoy gave a huff of thought and suddenly, Hermione wasn't so sure he would agree. After all, why would a Pureblood crazed boy be willing to call a truce with Hermione? They weren't even compatible to be neutral towards one another. She was everything he was raised to hate. She was a Muggleborn and a Gryffindor Muggleborn.
She was friends with Harry Potter, Malfoy's childhood enemy. She was fighting against them in the war. They were supposed to be killing each other.
But wasn't it getting old? Wasn't all this fighting and loathing beginning to get pointless? Hermione looked back at Malfoy who was looking at Hermione. The Gryffindor could sense that there was some internal battle raging within him.
Malfoy looked back at Hermione and she noted the recognition in his eyes.
"I suppose we could." He said. Hermione was caught off guard. She had expected a rude remark. An insult about her blood status and heritage. She would have never guessed he would've agreed.
Hermione blinked back into reality and couldn't stop a small smile from gracing her face.
"Great," She said, getting up from her chair beaming. "Now let me fix those wounds."
A/N: Yay! They called a truce! How relieving. I was getting sick of writing fight after fight after fight after…- well, you get the idea :P
~We're All Just A Little Mad