Boggarts

Hermione POV

Draco had stormed out of the kitchens after hearing that his father was holding meetings for the death eaters and Hermione nodded apologetically to Dobby before rushing after him. She was determined to stop him before he did something that he would regret, but it was difficult to keep up with him. He was unsurprisingly faster than her, which was most likely due to his regular Quidditch practices and she lost him as he darted around a corner.

She stopped to catch her breath and glanced around the corridor she was currently standing in, hoping that it would give some sign to where he was going. She let out a breath of relief as she recognised the corridor and realised it only led to one place. The owlery.

Draco's body was hunched up over a piece of parchment and he didn't look up when she entered. He was scribbling furiously on it and as she edged closer to him she noticed that his hand was trembling.

"Stop Draco, stop." She said, gently placing her hand over his.

He paused and looked up at her, the quill dropping from his hand as soon as their eyes met. She took this opportunity to take the parchment from his hand and scrunch it up. He sunk to the floor and she knelt beside him, gently brushing away a strand of his blond hair that had fallen into his eyes. He leant into her touch as she rested her hand on his cheek.

"I'm sorry about your father." She said quietly and when he remained silent she continued. "I know you don't agree with what he's doing and, I- I think you're afraid that he's going to recruit you."

His eyes widened at this, surprised by how easily she understood him.

"It's okay to be afraid Draco. It doesn't make you any weaker."

Her words seemed to infuriate him and when he flinched away from her touch she drew back, hurt by his actions.

"I don't need your pity, Granger." He hissed.

She shook her head, exasperated, "I'm not trying to pity you, I just want to help."

In a brief moment of confidence she took

his hands in her own and was relieved when he didn't pull away.

"You don't have to put your guards up with me, Draco," She stated, "Now, will you let me help you?"

When he nodded, she helped pull him to his feet and led him out of the owlery hand in hand, leaving the scrunched up piece of parchment behind them.

Draco POV

"What are we doing here?" He asked, as they entered their empty defence against the dark arts classroom. She gestured to the middle of the room where a cupboard was placed.

"In order to overcome our fears we have to face them." She announced.

As if sensing their presence, the cupboard started rocking and Draco eyed it suspiciously.

"McGonagall mentioned to me that I would find this here, in case I ever needed it."

"It's a boggart." He breathed, as realisation kicked in and she nodded.

"Why would McGonagall think that you would need one?" He asked, puzzled.

"I can't explain it right now, but I promise I will tell you at some point." She said and he nodded, excepting her vague answer for the time being.

"Is it the same boggart from the maze?" He wondered aloud.

"Yes I think it is..." She answered. "So are you ready?"

His brows furrowed together at her question.

"Ready? Wait, you want me to face it?"

She walked over to him and grasped both of his hands, "You don't have to do it if you don't want to, I just thought that it would be a good idea."

He glanced over towards the cupboard and then back at her before nodding slowly. She stepped back from him and let him prepare himself for what he was about to face. He grasped his wand from his backpocket and fixed his stance, nodding again to show that he was ready.

She lifted her wand and with a quick swish the doors of the cupboard flung open.

Lucius Malfoy appeared, like he had in the maze, cane in hand but this time he lifted up his sleeve and brandished the dark mark. Draco instinctively stepped back but his father grasped his arm, forcing the sleeve of his shirt up.

Draco wrenched his arm away, hissing in anger and lifted his wand to his fathers chest, "Riddikulous!"

Lucius was slammed back into the cupboard, the doors closing behind him.

He didn't know how long he had been standing there taking in deep breaths, when he heard feet shuffling and remembered there was someone else in the room with him. He turned towards Hermione and started to make his way over to her but she put her hand up to stop him.

"It's my turn." She explained.

He nodded and stepped back, allowing her space to step forward and prepare herself. She grasped her wand firmly and aimed it in the direction of the cupboard.

"I'm ready."

At these words, Draco lifted his own wand and pointed it at the cupboard so that the doors flung open.

He sucked in a breath as he watched himself step out of it. Except it wasn't him, this Draco had dark shadows under his eyes and his skin had a yellowish tinge to it. He was extremely thin and his features carried no emotion.

He glanced at Hermione to see her reaction to the boggart's form but she was staring intently at something. He followed her gaze and it landed on the imposters arm, where he recognised familiar black ink. The dark mark.

He dragged his gaze back up to his imposters face, watching as its expression contorted into one of disgust when it saw Hermione. Then a harsh, cruel voice cut through the uncomfortable silence, sending a chill down Draco's spine.

"Step away from me, you filthy little mudblood."

Draco flinched at the crude words he had once naively used. He turned back to Hermione who was still frozen on the spot and edged closer, desperate to remind her that it wasn't him, not anymore. But as if sensing him, she snapped out of her trance and lifted her wand with a shaky hand.

"Riddikulous!"

The boggart exploded, dissipating into the air and he released a breath of relief.

He heard a choked sob and his heart tugged in his chest as he realised it was Hermione. She turned to face him, lowering her wand and her eyes brimming with tears. She flung herself into his arms and he caught her, pressing her tightly to his chest as sobs wracked through her body.

He comforted her, stroking her hair and whispering soothing words until her tears subsided. When she had calmed down he pulled her back so that they were facing each other. Tears glistened down her cheeks and he wiped them away with his thumb before hesitantly pulling away from her, almost afraid to touch her.

"Draco?" She whispered, her voice hoarse from crying.

"Are- Are you afraid of me?" He asked, shakily.

"No, no of course not!" She said, her eyes pleading him to believe her. "I'm not afraid of you, it was just who you could have been if you agreed with your father's ways."

"That thing, it could be me. I could become like my father."

She shook her head and then tentatively placed a hand on his cheek, "Draco, you are nothing like your father. You're good, I know you are."

He placed his hand over hers, "How? How do you know that?"

"Because you've changed."

She leant in and closed the gap between them, placing a light kiss against his lips. When she went to pull away he grasped her around the waist and pressed his lips firmly against hers. She gasped but quickly recovered, returning the kiss just as eagerly.

When they finally pulled apart he rested his forehead against hers, briefly closing his eyes.

He heard her whisper, "Stay with me."

He nodded and took her hand, intertwining their fingers and leading her out of the room.

Hermione POV

"So this is what the Slytherin common room looks like." She said taking in the low underground room. Emerald lamps hung on chains from the rough stone ceiling and several leather sofas filled the expanse interior. A fire was crackling beneath an elaborately carved mantelpiece, providing warmth and light to the dim room.

"What did you expect? A cold dungeon filled with jars of floating mutants?" Draco smirked, collapsing onto one of the leather sofas and making himself comfortable.

"Well, no I just expected it to be more... Cosy?" She offered. "And less dull."

"That's probably due to the fact that it extends partway under the lake." He explained.

"Actually now that you say that, it rings a bell. I think I read about it in Hogwarts A History."

"Of course you did." He snorted and she sent him a glare.

"Is anyone else staying here?" She asked, suddenly anxious.

"No everyone's gone home for the holidays."

Relieved by this, she sunk into the seat next to him.

"Except for Blaise, he's staying."

She stiffened at his words and only realised he was joking when she felt his body shake with laughter. She huffed an playfully smacked him on the shoulder, before allowing herself a small smile.

"What are you going to do about your father?" She asked, returning the seriousness to their conversation.

She heard him take in a breath before he spoke, "Honestly, I don't think there is much I can do."

"Maybe there is something you can do..." She said slowly, as an idea came to mind.

He turned to look at her curiously, "What do you mean?"

"Do you remember earlier when I said that McGonagall told me where the boggart was?"

He nodded, "You said you couldn't tell me why, but you would explain later."

"I trust you enough to tell you now and I think you could help."

"Tell me what?"

She took a deep breath, "We haven't been learning anything in defence against the dark arts from Umbridge so, this year Harry started a group called Dumbledore's Army and he's been teaching us how to defend ourselves."

"Great name." Draco commented sarcastically but she ignored him and carried on.

"It has helped a lot and we've recently started to think that it could benefit The Order."

"The Order?" He asked clearly puzzled, so she elaborated.

"The Order is an organisation that was set up by Dumbledore to fight against Voldemort."

He scowled at the use of his name.

"And where exactly are you practicing, without being noticed?" He asked.

"The room of requirement." She answered.

"The room of re- what?"

"The room of requirement," She corrected. "It's a hidden room on the seventh floor."

"How did you find it if it's hidden?"

"Actually, Neville found it." She said, proudly.

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"What?" She huffed.

"Nothing, I'm impressed."

She grinned, "Like I said before, I think you should join."

Draco laughed at her suggestion then stopped abruptly when he realised she wasn't smiling, "Wait you're serious?"

She nodded.

"I can't join!" He exclaimed. "My father would have a fit!"

"I thought you didn't care what your father thought anymore." She frowned.

"I don't, but it's not like Potter and the rest of the Gryffindor's are going to accept me with welcome arms!"

"Well, no I suppose not... But they will after a bit of persuading." She added quickly.

Draco looked skeptical, "A bit."

"Alright, I know it doesn't sound like the most appealing idea but promise me you'll think about it." She said, biting her lip.

He sighed, "Okay, I'll think about it but I'm not promising anything."

She practically beamed at him.

"Why do you think I can help anyway?" He asked, curiously.

"I don't think I should tell you, I don't want to boost your ego anymore than it already is."

He smirked, "Oh please, continue."

She hesitated. "You're intelligent and one of your best subjects is defence against the dark arts. Not to mention you're brilliant at potions and..."

His brows furrowed together when she paused.

"And your family kind of has some experience in the dark arts." She finished, anxiously waiting for his reaction.

He nodded slowly and she let out the breath she had been holding.

"Now are you going to show me your room?" She asked, hoping it would break the tension.

"Of course." He said, standing up and offering her a hand. She took it and he led her up a set of stairs to the boys dormitories.

A/N: Sorry for the really late update but I wrote out this chapter and then it deleted so I had to re-write everything. I hope you enjoy it anyway as I've had the idea of writing a boggart chapter for a while.

Reviewers:

empc523- I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, thanks for reviewing.

christineocheallaigh- You guessed right! I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Thanks for the reviews and follows.