Harry was tying his shoes when Ron burst in the room looking furious. Red in the face, Ron rushed over to Harry ready to beat him until he found himself staring at the tip of Harry's wand.
"Ron, I know your upset, but do you really think beating the mush out of me is going to help the situation at all?" Harry reasoned. "I know I should have told you about your sister and I but we both knew you would react this way. Man, you know you're my best friend and I would never hurt Ginny. Ever. And if thats what you're worried about then I guess we really aren't that great of best friends then." Harry lowered his wand and continued tying his shoes while Ron just stared at him in astonishment.
"H-Harry, I don't know what to say. I mean I always knew you would never really hurt Ginny on purpose, and I've always wanted her to be with someone who would treat her right. I just was shocked to see my baby sister in my best friends bed when I woke up. It kind of got my shaken up. I'm sorry mate for trying to come at you like that. Can you forgive me?" Ron was looking down the entire time during his speech. He felt like a right ass the way he over reacted.
"Aw, Ron you know I could never be upset with you over something like this. So, do you accept Ginny and me being together?" Harry asked uncertain.
"Of course mate. I mean, I know you'll treat her right. Unlike all the other guys she's dated at this blasted school. Just know this, if you even think about doing something she doesn't want to do, I will pumble you with or without that bloody wand of yours." Ron grinned. Harry still had to know that he wasn't going to let anything happen to Ginny. And he would be the first to do something if something happened to her. The two boys didn't notice Hermione and Ginny standing in the doorway during the entire speech. Hermione was looking back and forth at them both, happy that they weren't handling the situation the way Ron wanted to handle it. Unshed tears rested in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Ginny already had tears streaming down her face. Touched at how everything was handled. And how Harry stuck up for him and her. It was too much to bare, so Ginny ran to Harry who finally realized the girls presence, and embraced him in a hug.
"Oh, Harry! I'm so proud of you! Hermione and I thought you two were going to fight each other something awful! but you didn't! I love you!" The room went deadly silent at Ginny's rushed words. Ron's face turned slightly redder than it was and stared down at the floor. Hermione on the other hand let a smile grace her face and the tears finally fell. Her best friend finally found someone he could rely on and she loved him. This was just great. Perfect. Harry stared into Ginny's eyes while she turned even redder than Ron.
Cough cough "I'm sorry to interrupt but i think Ron and I should leave now." Hermione said turning around to leave but when Ron wasn't following her she turned to face him again. "Um...Ron its time to give them some time to themselves." Ron didn't move. "RON!"
"Fine!" he mumbled angrily. "Harry, don't forget what i said." he warned still not looking at anyone.
Hermione took one last look at the two, smiled and closed the door quietly. When Hermione reached the common room she looked around for Ron but she didn't see him. 'I guess he left for class. I should remind them class is about to start.' Hermione took one more glance at the boys dorm room. 'I think they can skip one class.' Hermione thought as she grabbed her things and left for Muggle Studies.
A few days passed and Harry and Ginny were going strong still. Ron had gotten somewhat comfortable with them being together but still would shy away from them when they showed public affection to each other.
Hermione and Draco on the other hand refuse to make amends again. Of course it wasn't Hermione's fault. Draco was just over reacting. She was not trying to kill herself. That tub accident was just that. An accident. But no, Draco wasn't going to listen to her. So now they both suffered. Hermione wanted someone to talk to but Harry and Ron was out of the question. Draco only wanted a true friend. Who he wouldn't Have to worry about them killing themselves.
Time in the heads common room was shallow. Hermione would be sitting on her side of the room and Draco would walk in and then tension would rise. Draco always started off with a rude comment.
"Here to dirty the common room with your mudblood? No doubt you've been cutting yourself like a common muggle." He would start.
and she would reply, "The only one dirtying the room Malfoy is you. Who spent months in a cabin with a house elf in the forest?" Draco would turn red in the face with furry as Hermione would rise off the couch and walk to her room.
Inside she would have a crying fit. Wondering why life is being so hard on her. But she would remain as quiet as possible so Draco wouldn't realize how distraught she really was. Draco stayed downstairs, staring at the headgirls door, breathing hard. He was caught up in hatred and sorrow for the way things were. Some nights, Draco would wake up to Hermione's screams but remained passive and not do anything though his heart reached out for her.
Draco still battled with his own problems everyday. The Slytherins and him remained at warlike tempers. Draco walked down the hallway, avoiding another attempt to end his life, and ran into McGonagall.
"Mr. Malfoy. Just the person I was looking for. I trust you've been looking for that person like we talked about earlier this year? And I trust you have someone in mind right?" She asked. of course Draco wasn't thinking about finding someone to help him out this year. He was too focused on avoiding the Slytherins and school work. When would he have time to think about something like that?
"Um, no, professor, I haven't really being focusing on that. You know, school work and all."
"Very well, I thought you'd be tided up with school." 'and a certain Griffindor too.' She thought to herself. "I've found someone for you. Someone I trust. Please follow me back to my office." She began walking to her office on the third floor, the fifth office she tried out this year.
'Man, why won't this blasted teacher stay in one spot?' he said in his head. 'Great its going to be someone I don't like. she would pick someone I don't like.' they arrived to the office and Draco and McGonagall walked inside. Unfortunately, there was someone inside waiting for them. That person stood up at the Headmistresses arrival.
"Miss Granger." McGonagall acknowledged the head girl. "I'm glad you are here." Hermione was hardly listening. her eyes remained on the other person who had walked inside. When their eyes locked, Draco snapped out of it and turn to his professor.
"Um, professor, what is Granger doing here?" Draco asked hesitantly.
"Take a seat you two, I will explain everything." she said taking a seat herself. "Miss Granger, I called you down here to ask a favor of you. One of our students here at Hogwarts are in danger. Since you're Headgirl, I know you will not object to my request." Hermione just shook her head yes.
'Oh, Merlin, please don't let it be Malfoy.' Hermione said desperately in her head.
'Please don't let her have anything to do with me.' Draco pleaded frantically in his own head.
"Miss Granger you are going to help Mr. Malfoy here." Hermione and Draco jaws dropped at the same time before Draco started objecting.
"Professor please don't worry Granger with my problems. I'm sure-" but he was interrupted.
"Mr. Malfoy, you yourself said you didn't have someone in mind. Granger is headgirl and the most responsible student here at Hogwarts." Draco begin to argue again but thought better of it. He sat back in his chair.
'And to think I was trying to avoid being around her. Now I'm going to have her following me everywhere.'
"I think this a great opportunity now that I think about it." McGonagall continued. "It'll show excellent house unity. I trust you two can handle something like this?" she asked. "If I hear so much as a disagreement out of you two, I might have to reconsider my choice of heads." she told them. showing how serious she was, the two nodded their understanding and got up to leave. "Professor Schulenburg will need to add your blood tomorrow. please meet him after your afternoon classes." and with that Hermione and Draco left the office, maintaining five feet between then.
"You never told me that the Slytherins and you were fighting," she said first, breaking the silence.
"I believe I did," he said arrogantly.
"I don't believe you did." Hermione argued again.
"I believe I did! And it doesn't matter anyway. McGonagall shouldn't have told you about my problems."
"She didn't."
"So you don't know anything?" he asked. Hermione shook her head no. "Good, I don't want you knowing my business anyway. It might make you depressed and you'd go cut yourself again." Hermione stopped in her tracks, tears threatening to spill from her amber colored eyes.
"Why are you like this?! I haven't done anything to you for you to act this way with me but yet you do!"
"Hermione you tried to kill yourself! You cut for the hell of it!" he yelled.
"You don't know what its-"
"Don't you dare say that to me! Don't even think about telling me I don't know what it's like!" he said walking toward her, closing the seven foot gap between them. "All my life, it's been about beatings, and murders! In case you forgot, my father beat my mother to death and she didn't want to live! I've had to live in a cabin in the middle of the woods! The Dark Lord is hunting me down all because of my last name! But not once have I done something so extreme as trying to cut my arm off!" Draco finished breathing hard from yelling. Hermione wiped tears off her face before she started to talk.
"M-maybe I'm not as strong as you." She resolved after a few minutes of silence. Her lip trembled and Draco wanted to kiss her for acting so damn foolish. "I don't know what to do Draco." she said quietly. "I've tried so hard to just not want to cut but it's so hard. It makes me feel better. I don't feel like the world is caving in on me anymore. I have all this built up pain inside and there isn't any other way to let it go but to cut. And I know its bad for me. Its terrible as a matter of fact and I know I'm smarter than this but you have to understand! it feels like I can't breath when I'm so upset and can't do anything about it. It's so restricting so the only way I know how to let it all out is to cut." She finished, tears streaming down her face. In that one second Draco ran to her and embraced her into a hug letting her soak his robes through.
"Hermione, I don't ever want to see or hear about you cutting yourself ever again. You could end your life and I wouldn't have anyone with me anymore. If you have something going on and you don't know how to deal, come talk to me okay? Promise me that," he told her looking into her tear soaked eyes. She shook her head yes. "No. I want to hear you promise me that."
"I promise I'll never cut anymore Draco." she whispered to him wiping the tears off her face.
"We only have each other now." He said, not meaning to speak out loud but his mouth just wouldn't stop. "If I was to lose you, I-I'd-" suddenly the bell rung signaling time for lunch. Students passed the hallway and looked at the two heads in an embrace in the middle of the corridor. Realizing they were still together, Draco and Hermione snatched away from each other.
"Um, I'll see you after lunch" Draco said turning the other way to the Great hall. Hermione still hadn't said anything as she turned around to leave to the grounds, with a small smile gracing her face.