Things Snape would never say : "I think I'll wear pink today."

On with the story......

Chapter Eleven: Tatters of my Heart Lucius Malfoy

He would have her. She would have been his if that interfering hook nosed bat hadn't stepped in. Snape was obviously trying to protect the girl. Malfoy would make sure he'd fail, Snape always was a fool when it came to pretty young girls. Malfoy could never understand why he didn't want to break them in, which was a favourite pastime of most Death Eaters. Ex- Death Eaters. He was astounded at his own cunning when the war ended, instead of being convicted he was let off. Of course that was down to the incompetence of Fudge. Now Weasley was running the country he had to be more careful, but chasing this girl was like playing with fire. Hermione Granger was a Weasley family friend, he felt this was an excellent bonus.

He was thoroughly disappointed with Draco. If their 'relationship' doesn't stop he will have to dispose of the girl, a shame but a necessity. Draco is too much like his departed mother, it must be her fault the boys so pathetic.

He was broken from his thoughts by Snape coming into the room. The ugly potions master looked angry at the sight of him.

"What are you doing here Lucius? You seem to be frequenting the castle a little too often."

"I'm here to see my son of course."

"Most parents don't feel the need to visit so often."

"Draco needs extra attention, he has lost his mother after all, Severus. Or do you need reminding?"

He knew he'd got Snape now, the slight mention of Narcissa and the skin of the darker man went even paler.

"If you are thinking of trying to see Granger any more, don't. She's too close to Draco to want anything to do with you."

"If Draco can't keep away from the divine Miss Granger she will be taken care of. After all Draco's my heir, I want what's best for him."

And, with that he swept out of the room.

Snape

He had comprehended Malfoy's meaning perfectly. He had to find Draco. He left his office in search of the boy. It had been two days since the ball and Snape presumed the boy would be in his quarters with Miss Granger. He had half an hour before lunch was over and lessons would be resumed.

"Miss Granger is Mr Malfoy here?"

"Yes Professor." She said opening the door for him.

"What is it Professor Snape?"

"There have been some problems with your last homework, I would like you to accompany me to my office where I can discuss it further with you."

Draco

He'd been massaging Hermione's shoulders while she read him extracts from the 'Daily Prophet' when they heard a knock at the door. For the past two days Draco had been enjoying a feeling of utter contentment. He loved Hermione so much it hurt. She'd slept in his room since the ball, she hadn't wanted to leave him.

The tone of Snape's voice had told Draco that whatever Snape had to say wasn't about homework. He followed the potions master to the dungeons. He sat on a stool and waited for his formidable head of house to speak.

"I have spoken to your father today. He is once again in school. I must tell you Mr Malfoy, Draco, that your Father will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He wants Hermione. Lucius will not stop till he has her, and if he can't have her then no one can. Draco do you understand what I'm telling you? Your Father will kill her if don't stop seeing her."

Draco reeled back in shock. How could Snape ask him such a thing? There had to be another way.

"I won't stop seeing her, I love her."

"Do you want to see her defiled and abused by your own father, then killed right in front of your eyes? Do you?"

"No, no, of course not." He answered angrily. He felt sick, his voice was strained as he tried to talk.

"Then hurt her, hurt her to save her."

Draco felt numb, Snape was right. The pain he would have to cause Hermione was killing him inside. He was desperate to find a way of escape.

"We'll get away from here."

"You think he won't follow you? That he'll let you go so freely. He'd find you the way he always found your Mother."

Draco had never heard Snape talk about his mother before, he looked up, puzzled. Then the thought of Hermione came back. He couldn't do that to her, but he'd have too. He didn't speak as he left, he couldn't. He was choked with emotion.

Hermione

She was doing her transfiguration homework when Draco came back. She smiled at him. He was so beautiful, she loved him more than anything. She'd smiled all day even to Ron.

"Hi Guys" She said as she slumped down on one of the chairs in the Gryffindor common room.

"Hi Mione." Said Ginny who was reading 'Witch Weekly'.

Ron looked up from his homework and smiled, Hermione couldn't help giving him a small smile back. After all he seemed to be taking things really slowly with her. He was always trying to repay her for what he'd done. She felt as if she would never be able to fully trust Ron, the way his eyes had bore into her own chocolate ones had terrified her.

When Draco came into the room she was filed with a warm feeling. She loved him for the person he really was, not the boasting Slytherin he'd seemed.

"Hello." She said cheerfully.

He didn't respond. He seemed far away, distant.

"Draco?" She said. He tried to speak, but then walked out into the corridor, she followed.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

He took a deep breath then looked at her, his eyes were cold.

"What's wrong is a filthy mudbloods following me."

She was gob-smacked, this had to be a joke. Why would he say that?

"What?" She said in disbelief.

"You heard me Granger. I've done what I set out to do now fuck off."

She felt sick, she wanted to wake up from this horrible dream. Why was he torturing her in such a way? The bell rang, it echoed around her mind. The corridor began to fill with people.

"Why are you saying this? You love me." She didn't care who heard. There was a crowd around them now.

"Love a mudblood like you, you wish. I don't love you." He said looking deep into her eyes.

She felt tears fall down her face.

Draco

This was killing him. He wanted to wipe away her tears and tell her it was all right. Why did he have to do this? He hated himself. He hated his Father for taking away the one thing that mattered to him, the one thing he loved.

"But, I love you." She said.

He wanted to tell her he loved her. "I love you too" he thought.

"Get out of my sight Granger." He didn't know how much longer he could stand this. The crowd began to shout at him. The Gryffindor's were obviously livid.

"Fine." He heard her whisper as she brushed away her tears.

Hermione

She ran as far away from him as possible. How could he do this? She turned a corner and crashed into Snape.

"Miss Granger are you all right?"

"Yes." She answered trying to keep her countenance in front of the potions master.

"No." She said as her tears broke through. She clung to her potions master sobbing into his cloak. She felt him place an arm around her shoulders.

"Tell me it isn't true, please tell me it isn't true."

"I can't." He answered solemnly.

She felt enraged. She fought against his arm and pounded her fists against him. Why did this have to happen to her? Why had she trusted a Slytherin? She hated Slytherin's, so she took her frustration out on her teacher not caring for the consequences.

She continued her attack until she felt a blackness consume her and she fainted.

Snape

He lifted the poor girl into his arms and carried her to the hospital wing.

Hermione

A flash of silver clouded her eyes. She felt a tight grip on her arm. A man in black coming towards her saying the words she heard only in sleep:

"I want to destroy something beautiful"

She could see Ron coming towards her. He shouted at the man in black. Then he was gone. She frantically looked for Ron, but was then gripped by a gloved hand. She was trapped.

She then woke up to find her self in the hospital wing. Her thoughts clouded with dreams. She was lulled into a comfortable limbo where she remembered nothing of the previous day, then her memories came crashing back. She wept privately for what seemed like an eternity before sleep consumed her once again.