Hope an early update makes up for the last one being so late. Thanks again, as always. Enjoy Chapter 12.
Hermione sat curled up on the couch in the common room reading a book. Ron was gone and she had assumed he was off somewhere snogging Lavender Brown.
As for Harry, he was with Dumbledore as usual. She worried about Harry. He was always doing favors for Dumbledore and running around at his beckoning call.
Ginny was sitting in the chair beside her. "So how are things going with Harry now that he knows?"
Hermione sat up a little straighter. "He seems fine. I think he's got bigger things on his mind than my love life." She paused. "What about you and Harry?"
Ginny instantly blushed. "There's actually something I need to tell you."
"What happened?" Hermione was getting excited, something she never usually did over silly girl stuff.
"When we went to hide his Potions book in the Room of Requirement I kissed him." She said proudly.
"Ginny! Oh that's so wonderful. You two are so perfect for each other."
"It's really not that big of a deal. It's not like we're going to get married." She laughed. "You and Draco are okay, right?"
"Perfect, why?"
Ginny shook her head, "It's just I worry about you two."
"Why's that?"
"Well for one you two are on opposite sides of a war. Have you ever thought about that?"
"Of course I have but Ginny no war is going on."
"Oh Hermione please stop being so naïve. It's so unlike you. A war is going to happen and when it does you and Draco will be no more. Besides, his family would never accept you. Not to mention you're whole relationship is based on a lie." Ginny didn't realize she had started to ramble.
Hermione slammed her book shut. "I'm going down to the hospital wing. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Hermione," Ginny called realizing what she had done but Hermione was already gone.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Draco was lying in the hospital bed staring up at the ceiling. His whole torso burned and he made a mental note to punch Potter in the face the next time he saw him.
He was bored and he needed to get out of here for many reasons. First and foremost he wanted to see Hermione. He wanted to hold her and kiss her. On the other hand, there was work to be done. He didn't like lying here with his thoughts haunting him.
Whenever Madam Pomfrey brought him food he had to force himself to eat it because she would always watch and make sure he ate every last bite. Then of course he ended up throwing it up which made the nurse even more concerned about his health and therefore prolonging his hospital stay.
Not tonight though. Tonight he was escaping this hell hole and going to see Hermione. He needed something to calm his nerves and she did just that. So when Madam Pomfrey's office light went out, he slowly and quietly rose from bed. He realized all he was wearing were a pair of long pajama bottoms. It was cold in the castle and was thankful to see his white button up shirt lying on the chair next to him. He threw it over his shoulders not bothering to button it up leaving his bandaged chest exposed.
He quietly snuck out of the hospital doors.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hermione walked the halls carefully making sure not to make too much noise since it was after curfew. Even though she was a prefect she didn't like abusing the power.
She was so caught up in her thoughts of Draco, however, that when she turned a corner she ran straight into another person.
"Oi!"
"I'm so sorry." She apologized. She then realized who she had bumped into. "Ron? What are you doing out so late?"
"I was just with Lavender." He blushed and she instantly knew that by being with Lavender he had meant that they had been snogging.
It didn't bother her any more now in a jealous way. It only bothered her because it didn't seem like he ever spent time with his real friends anymore. If she was being honest, she did miss him.
"Oh that's nice." She gave a fake smile.
"What are you doing out past curfew?"
"Oh um I was just," She debated telling Ron where she was headed. He wasn't aware of her relationship with Draco and she knew that he wouldn't be too fond of it.
"Are you going to the hospital wing?"
She was surprised that Ron knew that. He wasn't too swift at putting things together. She decided she wasn't going to lie. "I am."
"You're going to see Malfoy aren't you?" His ears started to turn red.
"Ron,"
"I thought you and Harry were done with that stuff." He started to raise his voice.
"We are Ron."
"Well then what are you doing going to see bloody Draco Malfoy in the hospital wing?" When she didn't reply he continued. "Hermione, Harry told you that you didn't have to keep this up anymore. You're free. You don't need to waste any more time pretending to like the bloke. You got enough information out of him already."
Hermione just stood there not sure how to tell Ron the truth but then his head snapped up and his lip curled and she turned around to see what he was looking at.
She gasped. "Draco," Before she could say anymore he turned around and started walking away. "Draco please, let me explain. It's not what you think!"
He abruptly turned around. "I trusted you! You! Out of all other people, I trusted you."
"Draco," She began to sob.
"And the only reason you wanted to be with me is so that you could go running back to Potter with information about me!"
"Draco please it's not like that anymore!"
"Anymore? That's great, really great. When did it stop being like that, huh? Was it before or after we shagged?" He turned to walk away again.
"Draco, wait."
He turned around with tears in his eyes, "Stay the hell away from me." He turned around towards the hospital doors ready to open them.
"Please Draco." She managed to choke out.
He turned back around with malice in his heart. "My father was right. You're nothing but a filthy little mudblood." He spat and burst through the doors, leaving a hurt, crying Hermione.
But the pain wasn't over for her. She turned around and saw Ron. He looked more betrayed than ever.
"Ron,"
But he only shook his head as he slowly walked backwards and eventually he was out of her sight.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Shhh," Ginny sat on her bed, rubbing Hermione's bushy hair. "Shhh."
When Ron came bursting through the common room earlier, Ginny could tell he was furious.
"Ronald? Ron what's wrong?" But he didn't answer her. Instead he immediately headed towards the boys dormitory. "Ronald Bilius Weasley! Answer me."
He turned around on the stairs and nodded his head towards the portrait hole. "Why don't you ask her?"
Ginny turned around to see Hermione coming through the door. She realized Hermione had tears in her eyes. "Hermione," But before she could finish, Harry pushed past Ron. He seemed to be in a hurry.
"Harry where are you off to?" Ron asked.
"I'm leaving."
Hermione wiped her face. "Leaving? You can't leave Hogwarts."
"Why do have your invisibility cloak?" Ginny asked, seeing the cloak in his hands.
"Dumbledore. Dumbledore needs me. We're going to find a horcrux."
"Harry!" Hermione gasped.
"I don't have time for a lecture Hermione. I'll see you all when I get back." And with that he left the room.
Ginny turned to speak to Ron but he had already headed up the stairs so she turned to Hermione who was sobbing again.
Hermione shrugged. "D-draco overheard mine and Ron's conversation." She stopped to cry.
"What were you talking about?"
"Ron found me on my way to the hospital wing and started going off about how I didn't need to keep pretending to like Draco because we had already gotten enough information out of him." Hermione made her way into Ginny's arms.
"What did Draco say?"
"He started to walk off and I ran after him. He didn't want to hear a thing I had to say and he mentioned something about us shagging which is why Ron's upset and then," she stopped and released more tears.
"Hermione?"
"He, he called me a m-mudblood."
"Oh Hermione." Ginny sighed.
"You were right, Ginny. Everything just blew up in my face. I was kidding myself to think everything was going to work out perfectly."
"Hermione don't dwell on anything I said. Draco will come to forgive you." She lied. Ginny knew there was no chance of them ever getting back together. It would take a miracle.
"You don't believe that, Ginny." Hermione wiped her eyes and sat up. "It's over. It's really over. Draco and I are no more. He's a Death Eater. He follows You-Know-Who. I'm a mudblood. I follow Harry."
"Don't call yourself that."
"It's what I am Ginny and it's what I'll always be." She sighed looking down at her wrist. She could still see where she had slashed her wrist. She wiggled her arm and her bracelet fell over the scar. "There's a war coming and that's what we need to focus on; winning this war."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Draco had made quite the ruckus when he reentered the hospital wing, waking Madam Pomfrey.
"Mr. Malfoy! What on heavens name are you doing out of bed?"
He didn't reply instead he just sneered, making the old nurse return to her office once he made his way over to the bed.
He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment and let his head hang. Tears splashed down onto his hands that were clenched together.
He had never felt more betrayed in his life and he was a Slytherin where betrayal was a daily theme. He had finally trusted someone and let them in and all it had gotten him was a broken heart. He'd never quite felt this way before. His chest felt like it was about to explode and his stomach was in knots.
He got really hot and knew what was coming next. He grabbed the trash can by his bed and vomited. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and laid down on the bed.
He couldn't help the tears that streaked down the sides of his face.
"Mudblood. Stupid mudblood. I'm a bloody Death Eater. I was chosen." He thought.
He had lost focus on the task at hand and knew that's what he needed to be thinking about, not some stupid girl. He closed his eyes, clearing all thoughts and memories he had of her and instead filled them with what he was about to do.
So I imagine some of you aren't too happy right now but it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise. This had to happen sometime and I'm going to have to ask you to hang with me for the next 3 or 4 chapters. They might seem ridiculous but it'll all be ok. Just trust me. Thanks for reading.
