A/N: Nothing more to say though. So here's Chapter 10!
Hermione's face was as white as chalk. So someone wanted her dead. Or at least, harmed. But who could that be? She racked her brains for any possible enemies, but faced the truth that the only people who would likely despise her is from the Slytherin house. She looked at Draco again, expecting him to laugh and say it was just all a joke. And no one wanted to kill her. "Draco…. Are you sure we heard right? I'm sure they're joking-" Hermione tried to reason but Draco cut her off, "Joking? JOKING? Those people want you dead, Hermione! Are you saying this is just a plot made by me to get you all psyched up?" Draco questioned her. He suspected it since he heard they're plan.
"No, of course not, I-" She hesitated. She looked into the sea of gray and decided to tell the truth. "Yes." She said quietly. She looked away as Draco looked shocked. She suspected him? He thought she has accepted him! He thought they had put all their differences and their hurtful pasts aside to start anew. He guessed he was wrong. "Let's go," He said through gritted teeth. This time, Hermione did not complain or throw a fit. She clambered on the broom obediently as Draco hit the branch as hard as he could. They were now speeding to Hogwarts.
They landed on the field. The icy weather January brought was not as comforting as she thought. She shivered as she struggled to walk. Draco was at ease. He was used to the cold weather, when Hermione, was not. She gave another shiver, this time, more pronouncing. Draco fumbled with the clasp of his cloak, with difficulty, and draped it over Hermione's shoulders. She was not as cold as a minute back. "You didn't have to," She mumbled. Draco shook his head. "You were shivering." He stated. Hoping his indifference would end the conversation. Unfortunately, it didn't.
"Are you angry?" Hermione asked quietly. They have reached the Great Hall, where students were already eating lunch. He thought for a moment. It was natural to suspect someone who has bullied her and her friends for over 7 years. But haven't they accepted each other? The pain came towards Draco like a speeding train. Would everyone's memory stained with Draco's wrongdoings and horrible past? He hoped not. He's changed. He knew it somewhere in his heart, he did. All he needed now was to prove to Hermione that he had changed. Then the next step was to everyone in the school to believe him. Better start now though. He turned to face Hermione who was watching the students in the Great Hall. "Hermione, look at me." Draco commanded. She looked at her feet uncertainly, then with much courage, looked into Draco's eyes. "I'm sorry. Not just for the things I did this year, but I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for calling you the M word. I'm sorry for bullying you and your friends. I'm sorry for everything. I've changed, Hermione. I want you to believe me before anyone else does." Draco explained.
"First of all, why me? You should start by convincing the people in your House then next the Gryffindor's, which is appropriate because of the rivalry we had for so many years, then to the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. That's what I would've done." Hermione said thoughtfully. He laughed out loud. And Hermione's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She muttered something like "or not.". "Hermione, I don't intend on being the only person in Slytherin that'll be going round handing leaflets saying, "Hi I'm Draco Malfoy, mind being my best friend?" Draco said.
Hermione's lips broke into a grin and shook her head at him. He always knows when she needed cheering up. "Want to eat lunch?" Hermione asked. Her stomach gave a rumble as Draco eyed it curiously. "Sure. Then can we shower afterwards? Seriously, I smell like Hagrid." Draco said in an arrogant manner. Hermione smacked him round the head as he grimaced and rubbed the part Hermione hit him. "Ouch." He mumbled. She shrugged and tugged them towards the Hufflepuff table.
"Can we go there?" Draco pointed to the bench nearest to the Entrance. And the bench was in the Slytherin table. "Er, Draco? I know you want to go over there but after what we heard in the forest, can we lay off and not cause trouble? I would still want to survive this school year." Hermione attempted to plead. He thought for a moment and said, "But if we sit there I could get them to talk to me and maybe one of them will spill. You know, they let me into their plan so that I could protect you better."
Hermione looked bewildered for a moment and let what he said sink in. He also said he could protect her better. "Fine. Just remember, when someone tries to hex me, I have full rights to hex them back. Understand?" She cleared. "Yes ma'am." Draco said with irony. He pulled her towards the bench. All heads turned to the pair. They sat down and started telling the empty plates what they wanted to eat. As Hermione and Draco started eating, more heads turned to watch them. There was silence except for the teachers chatter and Hermione and Draco's spoon and forks joining with the plates.
Draco noticed the silence and looked around them, glaring. "Any problem?" He asked towards the fellow Slytherins. Some turned away from fright, but others just shook their head. "Any problem?" He repeated a little more loudly because the other Houses still watched them. Almost at once people started talking like nothing happened. Hermione glanced at the Gryffindor table. Ron and Harry were laughing with Seamus, Neville and Luna. Her whole being ached to stay with them. Harry caught her eye and gave her an apologetic smile. Then Ron looked at her. Or glared was the more accurate word. She thought he believed him? She looked at the teachers table impatiently. She wanted Snape to hurry up with the potion. Snape caught her eye, and for a moment Hermione thought Snape could read her mind, and smirked at her.
She stared at him furiously. But he simply turned away. She sighed and started to pick on her food. "Are you 'kay mione?" Draco said as he finished his chicken. The sight was wrong to Hermione in a way, though. If it was Ron, he would be talking with his mouth full. Then she would laugh and dab him in the face. She could be herself around her best friends. She sighed. She missed them terribly. Draco seemed to notice. "You can tell me anything Hermione." He tried to sound reassuring. "Can we go out?" Hermione asked quietly. "Well, Hermione, I don't mind dating you but what would the others think?" Draco said in a lofty tone. Hermione gave him a small smile and punched him in the arm. "I mean out of here." She added seriously.
Draco motioned for her to lead the way out, and she did. They ran a couple flights of stairs and a bunch of corridors till they reached a secluded corner in the 7th floor. Hermione broke down, there and then. Since she sat on the ground, Draco was pulled rather forcefully. He patted her back awkwardly. She cried a bit more. "What the hell," He said loudly as he reached Hermione and cradled her in his arms. Hermione sobbed on Draco's chest. She cried about everything that went wrong. Since her first year, until now.
"Mr. Malfoy? What are you doing to Ms. Granger?" Snape's voice echoed in the corridor. Draco looked up and glared at him. As if to say 'We're kind of having a moment here, so mind backing off?' But Snape ignored him. Though he thought he saw a small smile from him. "If you two would come into my office." He said curtly. He walked down the corridor, meaning Hermione and Draco to follow him. "It's okay if we can do it later." Draco said quietly as he stroked her hair. Hermione sniffed, but shook her head. "We need to say what Professor Snape wants." She stood up and motioned Draco to follow her.
Once they got to Snape's office, Draco sat down on the only chair available. Hermione looked around for another available chair but found none. Draco patted his lap and grinned mischievously at her. She rolled her eyes and sat on his lap. "The potion is ready." Was the only thing Snape said. He motioned towards the two vials holding transparent liquid. Hermione took the two vials with her free hand and handed one to Draco. Snape muttered a spell that opened the cork of the vial. Hermione smelled it gingerly. It appeared to be odorless.
She looked at Draco and he nodded. He clinked his vial against hers, and drank the vial. As did Hermione. Pain shot through them like javelin. The same pain that they experienced five months ago. And as quickly as the pain came, it stopped. Hermione rose up from the floor panting. She looked at her right arm. Her hand was detached from Draco's. There was a sinking feeling that erupted in her heart. She should be happy right? She's finally free. She could do anything she wanted. She could go back. But would things go back to normal between them?
She didn't want to forget everything that happened between them. Those memories were too precious to forget. She looked at Draco and saw that he was looking at her already. "What?" She asked weakly. She knew the weakness didn't come from the pain she just experienced awhile ago. "Nothing." He replied as he averted his eyes from hers. He was free. He can go back to the common room, he could play pranks again. To make matters simple, he could go back to being the new-but-old Draco. And for some reason, he did not want that.
He wants to be with Hermione as if they were still joined. He wouldn't forget those moments when they were alone. Has time flown so fast that it has already been five months? "Dismiss." Snape said. Hermione got out of his office and sat on the floor just outside of it Draco followed suit.
"So, we're free." Hermione said after an uncomfortable silence. "Yeah," was the only thing Draco could say. How could he express his feelings and at the same time not give himself away? "Well, this is goodbye," Hermione said as she stood up on her feet and Draco did too. She held out her hand for him to shake. He looked at her hand and back at her. Did she think a handshake was enough? He snarled at her. She withdrew her hand quickly, gave him one last fleeting look, and walked down the opposite way.
Draco watched her go. If he didn't do it now, it would be all over. She would forget. And he would live with this regret until the end of time. He rushed up to her, turned her around, and kissed her full on the lips. Hermione stood in shock for a minute but then gave in. Their lips moved in sync as Draco's hands were around her and Hermione's hands were running through Draco's soft hair. After an eternity or even a second, they broke apart, panting as they did so.
"Draco?" She asked. He knew what she was asking. "Hermione. Please don't forget everything. I want you to remember….what we had. I hope you don't forget the new Draco. The one standing before you know. Please. Don't forget." Draco said. He said it with much sadness that Hermione's heart broke for him. "I won't forget you arrogant git. I will never forget." She said quietly. Draco gave a chuckle.
"So, are we going back to being enemies or stay as friends?" Hermione asked as she walked side by side with Draco. Their steps echoing in the deserted corridor. "You know we're more than friends." Draco responded quietly. Hermione halted and so did he. "I know that. But what if they don't approve? You don't need me, Draco. You'll find a pretty, pure-blood Slytherin who would meet all your wishes without hesitation." She said bluntly. Draco took her shoulders in his hands and started to shake her. "Are you serious? Do you think I would go for a girl just for her looks? If you really knew me, you would never think that. I have a bit human in myself too, if you have forgotten." He spat. He released his holds.
"I'm not saying you're not human! I'm just telling you that there are more girls out there. More girls better than me. You deserve better. You don't need a filthy-" "Don't. Say. It." Draco said through gritted teeth. He glared at her. "But I'm filthy! Remember? I'm just a lowly Muggle-born! I'm just a crumb beneath your-" The rest of her rant was cut off by Draco kissing her. Again. She withdraw and took deep breaths. Draco cupped her nape. Their foreheads were touching but neither of them opened their eyes.
"Why me?" Hermione asked. She finally opened her eyes and found herself lost in a sea of beautiful grey. "Because you're smart, beautiful, amazing and wonderful. Never underestimate yourself or your intelligence. You're better than every other girl here, Hermione. At least, in my eyes." He said softly, as if not to disturb anyone sleeping. "Do you like me?" Hermione asked again. "My dear Mione, you should've known that months ago." Draco said as he gave her a small smile, and to his relief she returned.