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The portrait shut behind Hermione with a soft click and she leaned her back against it, hands trembling as she pressed them to the wood. She took a deep breath, jumping as Draco kicked over the side table. Her eyes followed him as he huffed, running his hands through his hair. Hermione slowly walked over to him, setting her broken wand down on the arm of the couch. She forced her mind not to linger on that dilemma for now.
"Draco, I need your wand. I need to…," she trailed off, gesturing to his chest.
He didn't reply, instead turning around and suddenly reaching out, tilting her face up towards him and turning her head to the side. She winced when his finger brushed against her skin. Blaise had gotten her good…
"Do they send you boys to a special class for that when you're young or something? Just teaching you how to properly smack a woman," she said.
Draco frowned down at her and she glanced away at his cold stare.
"Are you seriously joking, right now?"
"Sorry. It's a stupid coping mechanism," she quietly replied.
He pointed his wand at her face, Hermione letting out an appreciative sigh as the pain lessened to almost nothing. She swallowed as he backed away, a troubled expression on his face. He swallowed, clenching his jaw before suddenly raking his hands down his face.
"Shit."
He suddenly shoved the couch and it rolled over with a groan before landing with a thud, pushing the other table out of the way. Draco paced, twisting his hands into his hair, fingers tugging and pulling.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," he quietly chanted.
He flicked his wand and the bookcase went flying across the room, causing Hermione to shriek in surprise when it landed with a loud crash.
"Fuck!"
He ran his hand down his face again and let out a humorless chuckle.
"I think I killed him…I kind of hope I did," he said.
"Don't say that. Draco, this is serious. What are we going to do? You could get into a lot of trouble," she replied.
He could lose his head boy position, she thought. He turned his head towards her, eyebrow raised.
"We…?"
Hermione blinked.
"Well, yes. We-"
"I am the one who did this. Not you," he said.
She took a step towards him, shaking her head.
"No. I am just as much fault here as you. You…you warned me. Did you not? Blaise told me everything. He went on and on about how arrogant I had been. I didn't even really take your words into consideration, but his lies I believed so easily. Whatever happens…we're in this together," she said.
"Hermione, just…shut the fuck up, okay? You sound like some crappy romance novel or something. I'm the one who fucked up by going too far. He was goading me, I knew it and I finished him anyway. You've worked your prissy little butt off for this your entire life so…," he trailed off with a shrug.
"And you haven't? Your marks have always been right behind mine, Draco. You earned this just as much as I did."
Draco heaved a tired sigh, choosing to simply ignore her. She crossed her arms over her chest and took another step towards him.
"Why did you lie to me," she suddenly asked.
He sharply turned his head towards her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"What?"
"You told me that I had caught Blaise trying to force himself on some fifth year. He was trying to rape me. Why did you lie?"
Draco turned his head away, jaw clenching before walking up the stairs. Hermione followed, determined not to let this go.
"Draco," she called.
He ignored her, walking towards his room.
"Was it to protect me or something? Was that it?"
He paused at his door before turning around to face her. He seemed to consider something before shaking his head, raking his eyes over her hair, makeup, and costume. The corner of his lips quirked up for a split second.
"You look great, by the way. Goodnight, Hermione."
And then Hermione was met with sight of his door closing in her face.
"Ms. Granger, I am so glad that you decided to join us. I was just about to send for you."
Hermione frowned in confusion as she stepped into Headmistress McGonagall's office. She had gotten up bright and early to go down there. All night, she had tossed and turned, conflicted about what she should do. She had felt…largely responsible for everything that had happened and she didn't think it fair that Draco be the one to get in trouble when all he had ever done was try to protect her.
She was the one who had brushed his warnings off so easily. She was the one who had kept Blaise's true nature from McGonagall, possibly putting many other girls at risk. She was the one who had decided to handle this entire situation on her own, causing it to get way out of hand. She didn't act in the best way, she had made some very poor judgements and no one but her should have to pay for it. That was when she had decided that she would do the responsible thing and come clean to McGonagall about everything.
So imagine Hermione's surprise when she stepped into the office and saw that McGonagall was already expecting her. Not only that, but none other than Theodore Nott was sitting in front of McGonagall's desk. She stepped further into the office before sitting down in the chair next to Nott, glancing at him in question, but he avoided her eyes.
"What is this about," Hermione asked as she turned to face McGonagall.
"Young Nott here has confessed to what took place last night."
Hermione was sure that she had never turned her head so fast in her life. She stared at Nott with wide eyes, trying to wrap her head around what was happening.
"He's told me everything. Mr. Zabini is recovering in the infirmary, but rest assured that once he is better, he will be escorted out of Hogwarts immediately. He is expelled," McGonagall said.
Hermione turned to look at her, making sure that she had heard her correctly. Blaise was expelled? He was leaving? Hermione wanted to relax, wanted to let some of the weight off of her shoulders, but she knew that McGonagall was hardly finished.
"While I may not agree with how he handled it, if Nott had not been there…who knows what would have happened. You were protecting Ms. Granger the best way you knew how, but I still have a student –former student- in the infirmary, so a punishment must be dealt. Mr. Zabini has a rather severe head injury among other things. This can be looked at as a case of defense, but you very well could have killed him. You will be suspended for one week."
Nott nodded in acceptance and she saw him visibly relax. She suspected that he had expected much worse.
"As for you Ms. Granger…," McGonagall began.
Hermione swallowed before turning to face her again.
"I think I understand your reasoning for keeping quiet about all of this."
"I just didn't want this to reflect badly on the school. Hogwarts has been dragged through the mud too many times and you haven't exactly been Headmistress for long. I didn't…," Hermione trailed off, shaking her head as she recalled what had happened during their fifth year.
Umbridge's reign of terror was still quite fresh in her mind and she shuddered to think about the Ministry interfering with Hogwarts again.
"I understand that Ms. Granger, but that is not your place. You put other female students at risk…possibly male students as well considering what great lengths Mr. Zabini was determined to go to save his own skin. It was…poor judgement on your part. It seems to me that you made one bad decision after another, something that is the complete opposite of everything the Head position stands for…"
There was nothing but truth in McGonagall's words.
"You are relieved of your Head Girl Duties."
Hermione closed her eyes.
"…For one month."
Hermione's eyes snapped open and she looked up at her Headmistress in confusion.
"You will patrol tonight with Mr. Malfoy and then after that you will stay in the Gryffindor girl dormitories. We will have a replacement take over, more than likely the second choice for Head Girl, while you carry out your punishment. You will also serve detention every night next week and once your month is up, you may resume your position as Head Girl. That is all."
Hermione didn't even notice as Nott stood up, dragging her along with him as he exited the office. Hermione honestly didn't know what to think. She had been prepared to take full responsibility for everything, risking her position as Head Girl forever. While she was still sad about her punishment, she couldn't help but to be grateful considering the fact that she had expected much worse.
She turned to Nott as soon as they stepped into the corridor and wrapped her arms around him. He stood stock still, seemingly taken back by her sudden display of affection.
"Thank you," she breathed as she pulled away.
Nott cleared his throat with a shrug.
"No big deal…"
"But it is. You completely took the fall for Draco. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if he had lost his position as Head Boy because of me. You must really care about him," she said.
"He's my friend. Besides, he worked his ass off for it. I wasn't going to let that rat bastard Zabini get what he wanted. Anyway, I'm sorry about you…you know."
Hermione shook her head.
"Don't be. Honestly, it's nothing more than what I deserve. I'll be okay."
Nott shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking on the balls of his feet.
"Are you sure about that? I mean, everybody in this bloody school knows how much that Head Girl position means to you," he said.
Hermione cracked a small smile.
"Yeah…well, it's only for a month. I'll survive."
Nott nodded.
"Good. I guess I'll see you in a week then, Granger."
She watched as he walked past her towards the dungeons, probably to get his stuff. She sighed, cracking another small smile as she thought about this turn of events. Her walk back to the dorm was a quiet one, her mind too focused on the fact that Nott had saved Draco's ass.
As soon as she walked into the dorm, she was met with the sight of her dorm mate walking towards the door. He stopped as soon as she stepped in and Hermione bit her lip, tempted to throw her arms around him as well.
"It's handled," she told him.
Draco frowned in confusion, taking a step towards her.
"What's…handled?"
Hermione let out a small chuckle.
"Nott took the fall for you. He told McGonagall that he was responsible for Blaise's injuries last night. He's suspended for a week, though. But-"
"Wait…wait a minute," Draco interrupted.
"Draco, Blaise is gone," she said, walking towards him.
"What do you mean?"
"He's expelled. It came with a bit of a price, but…it was worth it," she answered with a smile.
Draco reached for her before snatching his arms back, blinking. She could see that he was trying to process all of this, probably trying to figure out what questions to ask first, so she gave him time.
"Theo took the fall for me," he repeated.
"Yes. It was…completely unexpected. I walked in there and McGonagall was already expecting me… It was crazy," she replied.
Draco narrowed his eyes at her, jaw clenched.
"Why were you going there in the first place," he demanded.
Hermione paused, a little thrown as she sensed that something was wrong.
"I was going to tell McGonagall the truth, that all of this was my fault. I was prepared to-"
"Why would you do that?"
His question came out angry as he spat the words through his teeth. Hermione opened and closed her mouth, not exactly sure how to respond.
"What?"
"Why would you do that? This was my doing. What, you think I need to be protected or something?"
"Wha-No! Draco, this wasn't just about you, you know. This was about me finally taking responsibility for my part in all of this. All you did was protect me. I saw no reason for you to lose your Head Boy title just because you were protecting me!"
He crossed his arms over his chest.
"And you? What about you?"
Hermione started to answer, but instead looked away with a sigh.
"Hermione…?"
"Draco-"
"What about you," he asked again.
"It's only for a month," she answered, returning her gaze back to him.
"A month. You're…you're leaving," he stated with a frown.
"Draco, it's only for a month. I have to patrol with you tonight and then I'm off to the girls' dormitories in Gryffindor to carry out my punishment. The second choice for Head Girl will fill in and then I'll be back. I also have detention next week," she said with a sigh.
"Tonight. Tonight is your last night as Head Girl," he said, his mind clearly on something else.
She leaned forward, looking up at him from beneath her lashes.
"It's just a month."
"A month is a long time," he murmured.
"What?"
He suddenly shook his head.
"Nothing, I have to go," he said, brushing past her.
She spun around.
"Wait…I don't know why you're upset, but I didn't do this for the reasons you think. I know that you're more than capable of protecting yourself or whatever. I just don't think that you did anything wrong. It was time for me to man up, so to speak, time for me to own up to my own mistakes," she said.
He nodded, his back to her.
"Right, I need to go find Theo before he leaves," he said just before rushing out of the door.
Hermione heaved a sigh and turned towards her room, preparing to get her things together.
A knock sounded on the portrait door and Hermione dropped her shoes, frowning in confusion as she stood. Draco had long returned, so she assumed that he was having company over or something. However, when she didn't hear any footsteps she surmised that he wasn't expecting anyone. She made her way out of her room and to the entrance, picking her brain as she went. That did no good because as soon as she opened the door, she immediately began to shut it as soon as she caught sight of who it was. He stuck his arm through, preventing her from doing so.
"Please, Hermione…," he begged.
She pressed her hands to the door, briefly closing her eyes with a huff, before letting go and spinning around. She hurried to the other side of the room and turned around just as he shut the portrait behind him. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down.
"I just want to talk-"
"What could you possibly have to say to me?"
"I'm sorry," he said, throwing his arms out.
She pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow.
"Is that all?"
"I shouldn't have talked to you that way. It wasn't my place, I realize that now," he said.
"Oh, well, I'm so relieved that you realize that now," she spat.
"I was angry! I was so angry, Hermione," he yelled.
"Which I don't understand! What reasons could you possibly have for being angry at me," she harshly demanded.
"You kissed Zabini!"
"No, he kissed me, you prejudice bastard. If you had taken the time to look past your hatred of all things Slytherin for one minute, you would have seen that. You also would have seen that I wasn't exactly a willing participant," she hissed.
Harry heaved a heavy sigh, running his hands through his unruly hair.
"I'm sorry, alright? Rumors, there were so many rumors about that night. People were saying that the two of you were hooking up behind Lavender's back…"
Hermione snorted.
"They were saying that he tried to force himself on you. Hell, some were saying that he did. Then not even two months later the two of you are kissing in front of everyone in the Great Hall. My mind was…my mind was fried. I didn't know what to think! How was I supposed to possibly guess the truth?"
"Harry, you never even gave me a chance," she whispered.
"That is not true. We asked you-"
"No! When the two of you confronted me in the corridor that day, you had already made up your minds. You weren't there to question me, you were there to accuse me and you know it."
Harry frowned, biting his lip.
"Well…you got so defensive," he weakly defended.
"I had every right to be defensive! Like I told you before, the two of you acted like I didn't exist for weeks, practically since we first stepped foot into Hogwarts. The minute that I clearly have some crap going on with my own life, here the two of you come, prepared to drag me back into your little bubble with nothing but you two," she said with a humorless laugh.
Harry's eyes widened.
"That is not true, Hermione."
"Yes, it is. For whatever reason, the idea of me having a life outside of you two rubs you the wrong way…"
She swallowed, shaking her head and cursing herself for getting emotional. She couldn't help it though, they had been leaving her behind for some time now and the minute she had just started to move on from them…
"I don't get it, Harry. I really don't, because…because you guys seem to have no problem living a life that doesn't involve me," she whispered.
Harry shook his head.
"That…that's not… Is that really what you think?"
"It's not just what I think, Harry, it's what I believe because it's what I've seen."
Harry stared at her with a mix of disbelief and confusion.
"Well, I'm sorry if that's what we've made you feel," he whispered.
"It doesn't matter anymore," Hermione sadly said.
Harry took a step towards her.
"Yes, it does. Hermione, I want all of us to get past this. I want all of us to just talk this out-"
"If you think that I'm even going to look at Ronald for one second, you're wrong," she snapped.
"Look, I'm angry with him too, but-"
"You're angry with him too. Funny, it didn't look that way to me the last time we were all together," she hissed.
"I didn't know what to think, Hermione! I was speechless and just so...upset," he said.
"You were angry over something that didn't even happen. I didn't kiss, Blaise, hell, I didn't even want to kiss him. Besides, I don't care how you apparently felt about Ron's actions. Fact of the matter is that you stood there! You stood by him," she incredulously said as if she still couldn't believe it.
"I wasn't condoning it if that's what you're thinking! Believe me, Ron knows how angry I am with him. I haven't spoken to him since that day. I imagine the Malfoy comment really got to him before he realized what he was doing. You knew the affect that would've had on him" Harry whispered.
"I'm sorry, are you blaming me for Ron shoving me like some child?"
Harry's eyes widened.
"No-!"
"What?"
Hermione turned around and they both looked up towards the harsh voice that came from over her shoulder. Draco stood behind the railing, glaring at Harry with every fiber of his being. Hermione hurried towards the stairs just as Draco did.
"What did she just say, Potter?"
Hermione held her hands out towards Draco as he stepped down the stairs.
"This has nothing to do with the likes of you, Malfoy," Harry spat.
"Harry, please," she warned, glancing over her shoulder at him.
She turned back around when she felt her fingers graze Draco's chest. Draco glared down at her, eyes blazing.
"Did Weasley put his hands on you," he demanded.
"Draco, please," she pleaded.
"Draco?"
"Harry, not now!"
She gasped in shock when Draco wrapped his hands around her arms.
"Did I or did I not just hear him correctly, Hermione?"
Hermione flinched at the poorly concealed anger in his voice. This wasn't going to end well…
"Draco, I've handled it, okay? I-"
"Get your hands off of her!"
"Harry, don't-"
Draco had gently pushed her aside, stepping front of her as Harry approached them.
"You're telling me that that trash you call a best friend put his hands on her? And you just stood there," Draco hissed in Harry's face.
Hermione reached for his arm, but he shrugged it off.
"This isn't any of your business, Malfoy," Harry angrily said.
"Well, I'm making it my business," Draco spat, shoving Harry.
"Draco, stop it!"
Harry shoved him back.
"What's it to you? Hermione, what is going on in here?"
"Guys, please…"
"Now that isn't any of your business, Potter," Draco snapped.
"She's my best friend, so yeah it is-"
"Some best friend you are!"
"Don't talk about things you don't understand, snake!"
"Better a snake than a shitty boyfriend and best friend," Draco harshly replied.
Before Hermione knew what was happening, they were falling into the couch, the harsh sound of their fighting reaching her ears. Hermione stared in horror as they rolled on the floor, Draco eventually getting the upper hand and sinking his fist into Harry's cheek.
"Stop! This isn't funny," she pleaded.
They ignored her, too preoccupied with trying to kill one another. Hermione suddenly turned and ran upstairs, dashing into Draco's room, eyes searching. She jumped across the bed, hand outstretched as she grabbed his wand off of his nightstand. She quickly ran back into the common area and aimed his wand, satisfied when the two of them flew apart, Draco landing by the bookcase and Harry by the kitchen.
Hermione stood on the stairs, pushing her hair away from her face, not entirely sure who to go to. Draco made the decision for her as he was up on his feet first and striding towards her. She frowned at the shiner on his cheek and the blood on his lip.
"Draco-"
She cut herself off as he snatched his wand out of her hand, turning around and pointing it at Harry. Said boy was struggling to stand, gripping the counter for support.
"Get the fuck out of my dorm, Potter."
Harry glared at the blonde as he stood, his eyes shifting to Hermione.
"Hermione…?"
"Now, Potter!"
"Harry, I think you should go," Hermione said.
Harry's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hermione, you can't be serious. I'm not leaving you here-"
"You'll do whatever the fuck she tells you to do. She said leave," Draco spat.
Harry took a step forward, glaring at Draco.
"Hermione…"
"Harry, I promise, we'll talk later. We'll finish talking, I'll…I'll hear you out. Just please, leave," she said.
She was positive that whatever was left of Draco's patience had just evaporated. Harry glanced between the two of them with a frown before turning around and storming out, the portrait slamming shut behind them. Hermione's shoulders sagged with relief as she let out a sigh.
"What the hell, Draco," she found herself asking.
Draco spun around, eyes blazing.
"I could ask you the same thing. Why would you even let him in? Why the hell didn't you say anything about-?"
"Because it wasn't exactly something I wanted to advertise, okay!"
She didn't have time to move as Draco stepped up and cupped her cheek. She blinked, forcing her heart to still as he grazed her cheek with his thumb. He suddenly let go, shaking his head and letting out a humorless chuckle.
"Why would you even consider talking to him? He just stood there while-"
"Draco, I really wouldn't expect you to understand," she quietly interrupted.
"Heh. You're right…I don't understand and I don't want to. You sure do know how to pick em," he spat, brushing past her.
Hermione closed her eyes and sighed as his room door slammed shut.
Hermione heaved a sigh as she walked along the dark corridors. She absolutely loathed patrolling. That was probably something that a lot of people didn't know about her. They probably figured that because she was Hermione Granger, she loved all things that required keeping rule breakers in check. While that was kind of true, patrolling was not one of those things she loved. Maybe it had something to do with the dark…
The dark had always made her hair stand on end. You couldn't really see in the dark, so all of your other senses were heightened. Maybe that was a good thing, but it could also be overwhelming, making you hear things that weren't actually there. Darkness had a tendency to force your own mind to play tricks on you. However, the darkness wasn't so bad when you're not alone. That being said…the darkness was worse when you're alone with Draco Malfoy, an irate Draco Malfoy.
Hermione repressed another sigh as she looked out of the corner of her eye at her patrol partner. He had hardly said a word all night and Hermione didn't know what to do or say to make things better. She didn't like this awkward tension that was between them and she honestly wished that it would just go away on its own. She didn't exactly want to speak with him because, well, she was a bit peeved with him herself.
She couldn't believe that he had actually gotten into a physical fight with Harry and for what? Over something that she was dealing with? His concern was touching, really it was, but it wasn't any of his business, like Harry had said. Okay, so maybe that wasn't really what was bothering her. She honestly didn't mind the concern, she just wished that he had not have acted like such a Neanderthal about it. Admit it, Hermione, part of you liked it, she thought. She bit her lip and glanced up at him in the darkness, the only light coming from his wand.
Okay, so maybe she did like the fact that he'd been so protective of her. However, she was determined to not read too much into that. She simply liked it because he did what Harry, her supposed best friend, should have done. That was all. She hurriedly glanced away as he looked down at her. Don't forget that he just wants to sleep with you again.
That little voice inside of her head was right. How did she know that he didn't act that way on purpose just to woo her or something? She suddenly shook her head, dismissing that train of thought. No, Draco would never go through that much trouble. Besides, he was just reacting the way any normal guy would, the way Harry should have. She suddenly halted as Draco came to a stop, seemingly listening for something.
"What is it," she asked.
"Shush," he hissed, eyes trained on a closed classroom door.
They both stood there for a few seconds, Hermione struggling to hear whatever it was that he was hearing.
"Stay here," he suddenly said before going into the classroom, disappearing into the darkness.
Hermione glanced around as she waited for him. After about three minutes she began to grow quite anxious, wondering just what the hell was going on in there.
"Draco…?"
Nothing. She licked her lips. Just what on earth could he have possibly heard? She was extremely tempted to go in, but he had demanded that she stay there. Why are you even listening to him? That was a good question. Just as she had made up her mind, she heard a thud from inside the classroom. Without a second thought, she ran inside, hands outstretched.
As soon as she stepped foot inside the classroom, the door slammed shut behind her and a firm hand was over her mouth. The other arm snaked around her waist and she gasped in shock. Draco leaned his back against the classroom door as he pressed his lips to the right side of her neck, his teeth nipping and tugging. She felt her eyes roll to the back of her head as he sucked on the sensitive flesh. He ground his hips against her backside and she couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips, the sound vibrating against his hand.
Before she knew what was happening, everything was spinning and she found her back pressed against the classroom door instead. She gasped as he reached down and lifted her legs, wrapping them around his waist. She opened her mouth to finally protest when he covered her lips with his own, his tongue immediately seeking hers out. One hand was digging into her waist and the other was pressed against the wood behind her. This is wrong, Hermione, she reminded herself. She was right, this was wrong. Then why does it feel so good?
As if to prove her point, Draco ground his pelvis into hers, sending jolts of pleasure through her. Suddenly they were moving and she was being deposited on a desk. He hooked his hands under her knees, yanking her closer and letting out a growl before capturing her lips in another searing kiss.
"You want me," he quietly asked, his lips brushing against hers.
She nodded. Yes. Why even deny such truth any longer?
"Say it," he whispered.
"Yes, I want you," she gasped.
Of course she wanted him. He chuckled, pulling away.
"You want me, Hermione?"
"Yes," she hissed, reaching for him.
She frowned in confusion when he smacked her hand away. He kept his intense gaze on her as he trailed his wand down her shirt. He licked his lips before diving in again, eliciting a moan from her before he pulled away again, this time backing up.
"If you want me…," he began.
He backed towards the door, waving his wand, the door flying open. His eyes never left hers as he stared at her with a hunger she'd seen only one time before.
"Come and get me."
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