-1 Harry Potter and the Strange Situation
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!!
Chapter 12
Draco stood in the warm sunshine as he looked at Hogwarts castle.
He had just returned from the Christmas holiday, and as he looked at the sunlight shining off the castle stone, he thought of Hermione who waited inside it's walls.
The walls that seemed now to emulate his love for her that was shining from within him.
He had to find her. He could wait no more. He ran to the castle doors.
Hermione sat in front of the fire of the common room. She looked into the flames and replayed all of the moments she had spent with Draco.
She could not understand her heart. What was causing all of these warm feelings towards him? Someone she had hated, despised! Now all she wanted to do was be wrapped in his arms.
"I must be going crazy!" She muttered to herself in disgust. But still her traitorous heart wanted to be near him. She had to find him.
She got up and started walking out of the common room, and before she realized it she was running towards the great hall, her heart beating as fast as she breathed.
She skidded to a stop when she reached the entrance to the Great hall. There was Draco running up the steps from the entryway.
The sunlight shone behind him in a radiant light. He seemed to be a knight to her, in all his splendorous glory, his armor shining.
He to had stopped at the sight of her. Nothing he had ever seen was more beautiful. His breath caught and his heart slammed against his chest in exhilaration. There she was, the one he would do anything for….even die for.
Their eyes had locked and he nodded towards the stairs. She knew what he meant. The room of requirement! Where they could be alone.
He took the steps two at a time and she was hot on his heels. It felt to both of them as if they would never get there. As the door to the room of requirement opened, he quickly pulled her inside and the door locked behind them.
Their lips met in a thunderous fury, as if each needed the others breath to survive. His hands in her hair and her arms around him. As she reached up to wrap her arms around his neck she bumped his right arm.
He immediately cried out in pain. "Draco, what's wrong?" before he could answer her, she had pulled up his sleeve and discovered his shame.
There on his forearm was the dark mark, dancing as if taunting her. She couldn't believe it. Her heart cracked in despair. He was a traitor! A Deatheater! How could she have been so stupid!
"NO! NO!" She screamed. She covered her face with her hands to try to stop the hot tears from streaming down her cheeks. But they couldn't be stopped. "How could you! I trusted you! I-I…" But no more words could come, she turned and ran for the door.
He tried to stop her. "Hermione! Wait! It's not what you think! Stop! I did it for you! I did it for you!" But his words failed to reach her as did his arms. She ran down the hall from him, as he still held out his outstretched hand. Then she was gone.
His hand dropped lifeless to his side and he hung his head. His heart was breaking. The heart he didn't know he possessed until she had come into it. What was he going to do now?
Harry and Ron were waiting in the common room for Hermione to return. Ron was absentmindedly stuffing popcorn into his mouth. Harry was pacing in front of the fire.
Hermione came storming in. Tears ran down her face and stained her shirtfront.
"Wufs a maffer Hermione?" Muttered Ron as he spit popcorn while he talked.
Harry spun around and caught her in his arms. "Hermione! What happened? Did that jerk do something to you? I swear I'll…!" But he didn't finish his sentence. She looked so pitiful.
She sagged against him and sobbed as though her heart was being wrenched out of her chest. It felt like it was. It was a good twenty minutes before she could tell them what happened.
"That doesn't make since, Hermione." Said Harry. "You have to go back and find out what's going on. I know it's going to hurt, but we have to remember this is for the order. We have to find out what he knows. That potion could wear off at anytime and then it will be too late. I'm sorry, Iwish there was another way, but…"
Ron handed her his handkerchief. She wiped her eyes and face, then blew her nose for all it was worth. She snorted and handed it back to Ron.
He wrinkled up his nose. "That's OK, you keep it." He told her.
She rolled her eyes and threw it in the waste basket. "Hey!" Ron hollered at her. "Scurgify" Harry said, and pointed his wand at the soiled wad in the trash. "Wingardium Leviosa!" He said, and the handkerchief flew back into Ron's hands, clean and spot free. Ron was still frowning at it though and looked as if he was wondering if it was safe to put back into his pocket.
"OK Hermione? Harry asked her. "OK." She sniffed.
Then she turned and walked back out the door. Towards the room of requirement, Draco, and her broken dreams.
