Blood Traitor

Chapter 12

Lavender watched as Ron sat moodily in his chair. She knew it was only pride, ego and some grief that kept him away from Hermione. She was still angry with Ron for breaking up with her and going off with Hermione. What better time to hook-up Ron than this?

Mustering some confidence and plastering on her most sweet and seductive smile, Lavender walked over to Ron, her hips swaying threateningly from side to side. She drew herself a chair to sit beside Ron. He looked up and recognizing her, said, "Oh! Hi Lavender!"

Lavender just smiled and instead asked, "Is it Hermione? You're still thinking of her, aren't you?"

Ron gulped, wondering how on earth she had known. Slowly and cautiously, he nodded. However, before Lavender could say anything else, a scream shattered the window panes. It was Ginny's voice from the dormitory.

Ron stood up at once, his brotherhood taking control. He tore up the staircase.

"What's wrong, Ginny?" Ron asked as he carefully made his way to the crying redhead.

Ginny quickly composed herself. "No-nothing Ron. I think I need to talk to Hermione."

Ron's face showed slight signs of irritation, but he pushed his bad feelings for Hermione aside as he took in his sister's predicament. After all, Hermione had been Ginny's guide many times. Hermione had been the listening mother that Ginny had needed, not the caring, yet blustering Mrs. Weasley whose advice never solved her problems. That was another reason he had loved Hermione or maybe, he still did. As he thought this, he sensed Lavender coming closer and automatically moved away, not wanting to be unfaithful to Hermione.

He placed his hand on his sister's head and bent down to face her. "Good decision. I'm sure Hermione will help you. Don't go around worrying your little head with big problems." Ron assured his sister, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Ginny wiped her tears and smiled. "Goodnight Ron, "she said and tiptoed to give Ron a light peck on his cheek.

"Goodnight darling, "Ron smiled, but as Ginny left, he glanced at Harry with subtle warnings in his eyes.

However, Harry looked genuinely concerned with his brows knitted in such a way that he looked like an old man that Ron decided to leave the matter at rest. He shook his head and said, "Goodnight mate!"

Pulling the covers over himself, Ron shut out the entire world. Instead, his mind circled in the many problems that still were etched in his mind. He decided to make it up with Hermione again. That decided, Ron fell into a fitful sleep.

Draco awoke to find Hermione rechecking all his bandages and checking If there was any improvement in his health. Seeing that he was awake, Hermione greeted him with a smile and said, "Good morning Malfoy! How are you feeling?"

Draco was amazed to see the change in their relationship could happen over his injury and that to, in such a short span of time. He sighed as he realized the many good friends he had lost because of his ego. Before he could stop himself, he subconsciously blabbered, "Granger, I know that this is a bit late, but I'm sorry for all those venomous words I've spat at you these past few years."

Hermione could not respond as all the hurt from those memories flooded in her mind. Instead, she forced herself to smile and say, "You managed to string an entire sentence without stuttering. I take it that you are fine enough to come down with me to the hall for breakfast."

However, Draco wanted to be sure his apology had bee accepted. "Yes, sure, but only if my apology has been accepted." He stated.

Hermione could find no means of escape now. She broke down completely and cried. All the tears rushed out of her eyes as water would out of a broken dam. Draco sat there, awkward. He was not used to breakdowns, other's emotions or consoling the least bit. As a child, he had always been taught to scorn those who cried as they were weak. He had erased that thought off his mind, but he still did not know what to do when someone broke down. Instinctively, he put a reassuring arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. "Don't cry, Granger!"

At the sound of her last name, Hermione cried louder. Nobody called her by her last name other than the teachers and Malfoy. It only reminded her of those hurtful words again.

Draco was bewildered. He did not know what to do. He was confused and exasperated. In a state of extreme bewilderment, he pushed her onto the bed and pinned her, saying, "Oh god damn it, Granger! Stop being so difficult, will you? Please understand that I've never consoled anyone in my entire life."

Shocked and robbed off her speech, Hermione stared into the silver orbs. Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and the crying immediately ceased. She lay on the bed, her arms pinned down to her sides by Draco who was almost on top of her before his arms gave way and he rolled to her side, groaning in pain. Hermione got up and wiped away her tears. Forcing a smile on her face, she bent towards Draco's face and whispered, "Sorry! There, I'm smiling already! So, how about breakfast with me?"

"Yeah, sure if I don't collapse on the way, " Draco retorted though his features had softened a considerable bit.

Hermione could see he was joking and playfully hit him on the head. Draco feigned intense pain as Hermione pulled his arm over her shoulders. She stood up, staggering a bit, but quickly regaining her balance. Draco leaned on her shoulder to support himself as they started on their long, tiring walk to the Great Hall.

As they entered the Great Hall, Ginny lowly dragged her feet to meet Hermione. Hermione smiled as she caught sight of Ginny. Ginny's jaw fell open. She pointed to Draco, apparently at lost on what to say. "What happened to him?" she asked as she reached them.

Hermione and Draco looked at each other for a moment or two. "That's for him to know and for us to find out. "She stated simply and Draco squeezed her shoulder to thank her. "Anyways, Ginny did you want something?"

"Actually, yes…Hermione could I talk to you privately for a while?" Ginny requested.

Hermione considered where to seat Draco. "Tell you what, Malfoy, you sit at your table and I'll be there in a short while." She told Draco.

However, Draco refused. "I'll wait in an empty classroom next to the one you're discussing in, presuming that you are discussing in an empty classroom." He suggested, his left eyebrow raised.

Hermione agreed. She helped Draco into an empty classroom. She instructed him to wait for her and he obliged. Hermione and Ginny headed next door.

Hermione closed the door behind them. Ginny placed herself on a desk. "What is it that you need to talk about, Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Harry."

"What about him?"

Here, Ginny paused and looked down at the floor. Hermione walked over to Ginny and bent her knees so that she was in level with Ginny's face. "What's wrong?" she asked softly.

Ginny looked up with eyes brimming with tears. Hermione was shocked, but kept herself composed all the same. "Harry is no longer how he used to be!" wailed Ginny, tears spilling down her front.

Hermione formed an "Oh!" with her mouth, but did not say it. She sat down beside Ginny. Taking Ginny's hand in hers, Hermione prodded further. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Ginny cried louder and said, "He is so far from me nowadays. Yeah, his body is beside me, but his soul and his thoughts seem to be roaming around somewhere else. He has also started avoiding me. When I try to kiss him, he moves away; when I try to hug him, he just pats me on the head awkwardly and moves away!"

Hermione was surprised to hear this. Harry was not the type of person to play with someone's love like this. However, she simply asked Ginny what she thought of the entire affair.

Ginny bit her lip, her eyebrows knitted together. Her forehead wrinkled as she did some serious thinking. She began chewing her fingernails furiously, her eyes darting all over the room. "That's what I thought…" she began slowly."I thought that he has an affair, but he isn't close with any of the other girls other than you, that is."

Hermione stared at Ginny. "Are you trying to implicate that I have an affair with Harry?"

Ginny looked as if she was about to nod, but quickly changed her mind and said no. Hermione heaved a huge sigh of relief, but she was still numb with disbelief. "So, you suspect him?" she asked.

Again, Ginny looked as f she was about to nod, but a moment later shook her head then, completely gave up. Tears spilled down her cheek. "I don't know, Hermione!" she wailed in despair.

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Maybe you should give him some more space. I'm sure he is a bit stressed, knowing full well that the war is not over…and with Dumbledore dead…"

Ginny nodded. Sighing, Hermione patted Ginny on the head. "Everything will be alright, Ginny. Just keep your hopes high, but also in check."

Ginny nodded again and all of a sudden, she threw her arms around Hermione's neck. She embraced Hermione and said, "Would you still care for me after your child is born?"

A tear escaped Hermione's eyes, but she was quick to wipe it away. She forced a smile to form on her lips-she was doing this too often nowadays. Ruffling Ginny's hair lovingly, she assured Ginny that she would.

Ginny smiled a watery smile through her bleary eyes. Hugging Hermione tighter, she said, "You act just like Ron!"

Hermione's face hardened and she stood rigid for a moment. Ginny noticed this. "Hermione, don't worry. Ron will realize his mistakes and come back to you! However, at least now tell me how you became pre-"

Ginny was cut off in midsentence as Hermione cut in. "I left Malfoy outside for too long. I 's better go tend to him." She said abruptly before leaving, hiding her tears as best as she could.

Hermione walked briskly, her cloak billowing behind her. In a matter of seconds, she was at the door of the classroom she had left Malfoy at. Her hands reached out for the handle of the door, but froze in midair. She could hear voices inside. She pressed her ears to the door. Malfoy was not senile, was he? He would not be talking to himself, especially in two different voices of which, one sounded oddly like a certain Slytherin's.

While Hermione had been counseling Ginny, Draco had been standing at the doorway. He looked left and right and al around before spotting Blaise. He ducked his head quick and slammed the doors shut. He limped over to a desk and sat there, panting heavily in the dark.

However, Blaise had spotted the blonde. Flanked by Malfoy's ex-cronies, he marched over.

"Well, well…if it ain't the blood traitor."

Draco looked up to see Blaise in the gloom of the room. A smirk spread its way across his mouth. "I see an old friend of mine. May I know what may be the reasons for his unappreciated entrance…or should I say…intrusion?"

Blaises's face hardened. "Don't play with me, Malfoy. I am the new disciple. You can't show your arrogance to me. I'm sure the dark lord won't have it."

"Ah…so it is true. The dark lord is diminishing or he would not have chosen you for the weak little vermin that you are." Replied Malfoy, cooly.

Blaise tried to act as if he was not disturbed, but Draco could hear the fear lingering in his voice. "Why do you try so hard? I can see the fear in your ryes, feel it radiating from you, and hear it in your trembling voice." Draco said.

He knew he would not be able to fight Blaise. He was not afraid of death, but death while kneeling defenseless at Blaise's feet was not his idea of a very honorable death either. He had to break his brave exterior and play with Blaise's emotions. True enough, when Blaise spoke his legs were shaking. "Don't even try, Malfoy."

"Oh shouldn't I? Expelliarmus!" Draco roared, shedding his calm exterior.

Draco reached out his hand and caught Blaise's wand in midair. Blaise stared helplessly. He opened and closed his mouth several times as if he was unsure of what to do. "What happened? Cat got your tongue?" Draco asked carelessly, flicking Blaise's wand up in the air and catching it. "Oh yes! You know what I can do with just one wand, so of course, naturally the idea of two wands in my hands sends you the shivers, doesn't it?"

And as if to emphasize the point, Draco aimed Blaise's wand at him and shot with his own wand, catching him off guard. A golden spark hit Blaise and in a moment a gash appeared on his knee and blood spilled out. "Tsk…tsk…you never learn, do you?" said Malfoy, clearly enjoying himself. "And don't think of asking those fools to help you."

Blaise stared at Draco in disbelievement. "Occlumency. You should never leave your mind open like a book." Draco told him.

Just as he said this, Draco whipped around and plunged Blaise's wand into Crabbe's heart. Crabbe froze, but Goyle neared Draco. Draco shook his head and pocketed his wand. Instead, he removed the glove he always wore on his left hand. There was no hand there. Just blue-gray smoke swirling in the shape of a hand. Just as he was about to thrust it in Goyle, Blaise crawled over and pulled Draco' leg.

Draco stumbled and came crashing to the ground. He lay there for a moment as all his injuries erupted in pain. Goyle quickly held Draco. Draco had no energy to fight. Instead, he looked Blaise in the eye and spat. Blaise wiped the saliva off his face. He got his wand out of Crabbe who immediately unfroze and lifted the curse off himself. Draco was pretty much fearless. His eyes only reflected hatred and anger. His face was scrunched in fury.

That was when it happened. Draco closed his eyes and opened them to reveal that the grey orbs in his eyes were no longer there, leaving a translucent white behind to fill his socket. "What are you waiting for? Christmas eh? Do it! Crucio me! Or better Avada me right now or you'll regret it, I assure you, you would."

Blaise knew Draco was at the very end of his composure. He glanced at Draco's hand again to make sure it was well out of his way. Relieved, he said in a low and menancing voice, "Death is not enough for you. You should die a slow painful death. Crucio!"

Draco repelled the curse instantly and Blaise's eyes widened in shock, but it left Draco drained. Draco lay on the floor, panting. "The old trick eh? You won't be able to block this slow torturous death. "Sneered Blaise.

For once, there were signs of fear in Draco's eyes. "What is it that I see in your eyes? Surely it isn't fear?" mocked Blaise.

Draco growled. "If you see fear in my eyes, that's your own reflection that you see in my eyes. So, stop fantasizing!" he shot.

"Is that so? Well, in that case…liquidatorous!" He yelled.

Draco had never experienced such pain before. His entire being was on fire. His head was surely about to explode. His jugular vein seared as if it was being slowly pulled out with a pair of sharp tweezers. It was as if a hand had reached in him to draw out his soul. There were no external wounds, but his previous wounds burst open, spilling blood as he thrust about it the warm, sticky liquid. His eyes were glazed with tears.

However, he closed his eyes a moment and felt rejuvenated again. Tables flew and smashed themselves on his attackers as he floated in midair, glowing an eerie electric blue. Blaise recognized this. He was in his full regalia of Draco Malfoy in his utmost rage.

Blaise cowered in fear. "Get out! I might change my mind and kill you! Get out before I do! " Draco roared.

Draco's attackers scampered out, glad to be alive. Draco's hand was glowing gold by now.

Hermione was startled as the door burst open and Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle ran out. She jumped away in alarm. Confused, she entered the room to find a Draco in his full regalia of wrath. Nervously, she edged near and touched his hand lightly. Draco's hand trembled and all of a sudden, he collapsed to the ground in a heap. Hermione knelt down beside him and placed his head on her shoulders and shook it gently. No response. He had blacked out.

A/N: Finally, a long chapter and well, like I said, I won't destroy Malfoy's character for the sake of a story. And since Draco is in a better shape, is usual smarmy self is cropping up again.