Disclaimer: Everything is owned by J.K Rowling except for the plot.

Ch. 14 Slytherins and Diagon Alley

Sheem. Sheem.

A glistening golden snitch fluttered quickly and spastically around Draco's head as he eyed it lazily and snatched it roughly midair. It struggled under his fingers trying to break free. With his elbow leaning on a table and his head rested on his hand, Draco looked down at it unamused as he opened his fingers one by one slowly. The golden snitch took its chance and escaped from its prison and shot up swiftly into the air. It fluttered and shimmered around this time higher than earlier. Disinterested, Draco stared off into space as he sat in a large armchair in one of his family manor's many large parlor rooms.

It has only been a week since winter break began and Draco's mother was holding her usual winter get together with the other pureblood families. The fathers were in his father's preferred parlor room drinking whiskey and such while the mothers enjoyed their time outside in the large spacious garden having tea and biscuits. The children, his housemates were there in the same room as him. The boys sitting around Draco whilst the girls were across the room from them gossiping the latest.

"I don't understand why mother insists on these pointless get togethers. It's infuriating." Draco huffed as he sighted the snitch in front of him, but made no attempt to catch it.

"It's more for the parents." Theodore Nott said as he shrugged his shoulder. He was playing the fifth round of Wizarding Chess against Gregory Goyle and hasn't lost yet. Vincent Crabbe sat next to Goyle trying to help his friend, but was failing miserably.

Blaise sat on a nearby armchair and just simply nodded. He was watching his friends' game silently. Spending the past few days pondering what to do about his relationship with Hermione or what was left of it, he was stressed and exhausted. He had thought originally before the ball that maybe he would have a chance with her. Just maybe, but she obviously made clear she just wanted to stay friends. He wasn't sure if he wanted to just stay friends, so he needed some time to think things through. He wanted to respect her decision, but he wasn't sure if his heart would listen to his head.

Coming to his best friend's place provided him a break from all his current headaches. As he watched one of Nott's rook viciously attack Goyle's remaining knight, he felt that he had eyes on him. He looked across the room and caught Scarlet's gaze. She smiled at him which he returned as she turned her attention back to the girls in front of her with a faint blush on her cheeks.

Scarlet sat on one of the room's loveseat with Pansy Parkinson next to her. She sat quietly and listened to the gossip Pansy was currently spewing to the girls in front of her. Millicent Bulstrode and Tracey Davis were diligently listening and adding on to her gossip as Daphne Greengrass also like Scarlet listened quietly, but nodding every now and then. They had a spread of light snacks and tea set in the middle of the them on a coffee table.

Draco ignored everything around him, but he heard a part of the girl's conversation that caught his attention which he concentrated on without making it evident.

"Did you see the gorgeous dress that one girl had on during the ball?" Tracey asked the others.

"Which one?" Millicent inquired. She picked up a biscuit from one of the trays and ate it in a few bites.

"Of course the royal blue one that was paired with the gorgeous butterfly mask." Tracey answered.

"The girl who wore it grabbed a lot of attention. Especially from the male population. Did you see how many went up to her? Animals." Pansy added shaking her head. She took a sip of her tea.

"The slag was probably asking for it." Proud of her insult, Tracey casually laughed.

Hearing Tracey's last comment, Draco unconsciously clenched his hand tightly into a fist and muttered under his breath. "She rejected them."

"Hmm? Draco, did you say something?" Theodore asked him when he heard his friend mutter. He then turned back to his chess game when he didn't get any answer back.

Taking his focus off of Goyle's apparent fifth defeat, Blaise, being his best friend, noticed something was off with his blonde friend. Yeah, sometimes he becomes moody, but he doesn't stay that way for long when everyone's together. He guessed that maybe the girls were talking about something he didn't agree with so Blaise also began to listen in.

"Did you guys see who it was when she took off the mask? It was Granger!" Tracey asked.

"What?! She thought she could pull off? How can that mudblood even-" Pansy said snootily.

"Don't call her that!" An irritated voice shouted across the room along with a loud bam as he slammed his hand on the table loudly interrupted the girl's conversation. Draco stood from his seat and glared menacingly at the girls.

Everyone stopped everything they were doing and turned towards the angry blonde who shouted.

"Drakey, what are you talking about? Call Granger a mudblood? You've been calling her that for years." Pansy said. Recovering from the shock of his abrupt interruption, she slowly set her teacup and saucer down on the table in front of her.

"Just. Don't." He said slowly with an air of danger hanging on both words. He turned and left the parlor room leaving the remaining occupants stunned and speechless.

"What's wrong with calling her that?" Pansy asked looking around at her friends.

"If you are talking about Granger, she was pretty hot that night." Theodore said finally grasping the contents of the girls' conversation. "I wouldn't mind if I-"

"Theodore, this is the only warning you get. If you finish that sentence, you will regret it." Blaise said suddenly and threatenedly. He rose from his seat, excused himself, and went to follow Draco.

"What's his problem?" Theodore asked wondering out loud.

"Why are they defending Granger?" Tracey asked ignoring Theodore.

"Who knows? Since Blaise started to share a dorm with her, Blaise and Draco have been around her a lot this semester. Shouldn't be a surprise...Anyways, how did she even afford that dress?" Pansy continued with her earlier question before she was rudely interrupted.

"I bought for her and I thought it looked perfect on her. I would greatly appreciate it if you don't speak ill of her anymore." Scarlet said elegantly with poise. She also excused herself and went out the same way Draco and Blaise went.

The girls stared at her with unsettling eyes. "...She is way too nice. She makes Daphne look seem bad. No wonder she was sorted to the Ravens." Pansy said when Scarlet turned the corner. Daphne nodded as she lifted her tea cup to her lips.

...

Draco angrily stomped out of the room partially furious at himself about his outburst as well as his fellow House mates. The past few days he tried to push any thoughts of the Gryffindor lioness out of his head. He had his mind filled with her on the night of the ball and that was already way too much. The moment he arrived home he decided he would try to forget what happened that night and Hermione entirely. The key word was try. No matter how hard he wanted to forget it, his mind kept drifting back to the enjoyable time he had with her before he found out it was Hermione. When he pushed away that memory, he mind would drift to the time he almost kissed her above the lake.

For the nth time this break, Draco roughly ruffled his hair and angrily groaned out loud. Since the beginning of the break, his hair has been unkempt unlike his usual combed back style. His parents noticed his behavior being more sour and bitter so they questioned him. Well, more like his mother questioned him. Lucius just ordered him to get his act straight. Draco assured his parents he was perfectly fine, but every time he did comb his hair neatly, it was messed up within an hour so he gave up trying. This morning, he attempted his usual hair style since his mother insisted because guests were coming over, but now it was back to the wild, loose, and over the eye style he's had the past few days.

He marched outside towards the large shed that housed his many prized Quidditch equipments. As he made his way outside, his mother caught sight of him and gasped at his hair. She quickly thought of an interesting gossip topic to talk about so the other mothers wouldn't turn around and notice him. Amused, Draco smirked when he saw his mother and her horrified and surprised expression.

He rounded the corner to the shed. They called it a shed but it was more the size of a guest house. Inside were neatly displayed and well maintained Quidditch equipments including at least five Firebolts, two sets of the Quidditch balls, body paddings, and more. He glanced down at the clear case that usually carried his Golden Snitch. It was empty and bare as he remembered he had taken it to the parlor room. He cursed inwardly at forgetting to grab it before he left.

"Looking for this?" He heard a voice behind him and turned. Blaise was smirking and leaning against the door frame holding up the said Golden Snitch.

"Thanks, mate." Draco returned the smirk. Blaise knew him too well. Taking it from Blaise, he placed the Snitch back in its case. He moved to grab one of the many Firebolts. Because his mind was so occupied, he had forgotten his Lighting Stream at school which also adding on to his sour mood.

"What was that about?" Blaise asked him aware that his friend paused at the question.

"What was what?" Draco asked back as he moved again to grab his usual Firebolt.

"You defended Hermione." Blaise said spelling out for him.

"No... I'm just sick of Pansy insulting people and acting all high and mighty." Draco said as he turned away from Blaise and walked to a table where the broomstick cleaning supplies were held.

"She's been doing that all day and you chose when she was insult Hermione to stop her?" Blaise pushed on clearing knowing something was up. Draco didn't answer as his back was still turned to him. He dabbed a cloth with some wax and began to apply it on the handle. Knowing Draco best, he knew his friend wasn't going to say anymore. Blaise sighed.

"You may already know this, but I have feelings for her. For Hermione." Blaise said as he looked up the ceiling. Draco's hand paused for a second as he listened. "And it's not like all the other girls I have had flings with, I have serious feelings for her and I can't help it." Draco slowly moved his cloth over the wood. Blaise continued. "I can feel it's different because she's always on my mind even when I'm not thinking about her. I can spot her quickly in any size of crowd. Whenever we touch, I feel electric."

"What are you telling me for? I don't want to hear you being all sappy." Not wanting to hear anymore, Draco snapped at him not turning around as he dabbed his cloth roughly with some more wax and continued on another part of the broomstick.

Blaise shrugged unshaded by his friend as he continued to stare at the ceiling. "I finally told her at the ball, but she rejected me. Said it would be better if we were friends. I should have seen it coming. Finally, a girl that I genuinely like and I can't even have her." Blaise said with a sigh.

Draco stopped mid-waxing and turned to his friend. "Blaise, mate, I don't care about your casual flings, but I want to remind you that you have an obligation towards Scar. You are engaged to her, so ultimately she is the one you will have to be serious with." He looked to his dark haired friend as he folded the cloth carefully and set it aside.

"I know, but the past few days have had me thinking. I think I should call off the engagement. I don't think it's fair to her. To Scar." Blaise sighed again.

"If you are calling off the engagement just to have you a chance with Granger, then that's messed up." Draco raised his eyebrows at his friend.

"No, I wasn't thinking that." He shook his head and genuinely said. "I just feel Scarlet should have the opportunity to find someone she likes instead of locked down to one person. I want her to be able to find love. I don't want to deprive her of that. She's been homeschooled until recently and finally she has the opportunity to reach out.." Blaise shoved his hands into his pockets.

"If you are serious, mate. the only way you can break it off is if Scar agrees. Do you think she will?" Draco said as he crossed his arms.

"I know and I'm sure she will." Blaise said smiling solemnly.

...

Scarlet spotted Blaise standing at the doorway of the shed and walked over. She was about to say something but stopped when she heard: "...the past few days have had me thinking. I think I should call off the engagement." Dread filled her immediately. That was definitely Blaise's voice.

He wants to break off our engagement? He loves her that much? She thought sadly. She turned away quickly and started to head back inside the Malfoy Manor before anyone could spot her.

She knew she shouldn't have come here. It's only been a few days since her breakdown that night. She unconsciously started to wring her hands together. Since the dinner with her parents on the first day of break, they told her that they were going to Malfoy Manor for afternoon tea. There was no room for her to refute because they had told her the news as an order and not a choice.

I should have told father and mother I was unwell. She thought to herself until she heard someone call her over before she entered the building. Hearing the voice call her, she froze and looked down at her hands. She quickly settled them beside herself.

"Scar!" He called again. Frowning inwardly, she slowly turned with her perfectly poised smile.

"Blaise. Did you need something?" She said trying to keep her smile from slipping.

"Draco and I are going on a fly. I saw you from the shed. Good thing I spotted you, right? Want to join?" He smirked with a broomstick in either hands.

The three always flew around in broomsticks every chance they had since they learned how to walk especially at the Malfoy Manor. No one was more of a Quidditch enthusiast than Draco, but Blaise and Scarlet were still tough competition for Draco when it came to flying. Scarlet could easily be on the Quidditch team for Ravenclaw, but no one knew of her skill at Hogwarts other than Blaise and Draco.

Seeing how eager Blaise seemed, she reluctantly reached her hand forward for one of the broomsticks. "I will need a change of clothes though." She said as she motioned towards her high quality chestnut brown wool long coat with a belt around her waist.

"No worries. We know. We'll wait for you at the shed." Blaise smiled to Scarlet and headed back towards the shed.

Scarlet watched him walk away as she looked at the broomstick in her hand and sighed. She smiled sadly and shook her head. She called for Miffy, one of the house elfs she was familiar with, and asked for a change of clothes. Since she was there more times than she could count, Mrs. Malfoy always had several sets of clothes put aside for her. Miffy was more than happy and came back as quickly as she had disappeared with a set of appropriate attire to fly in. Scarlet changed and met the boys outside the shed.

"She's here." Blaise announced.

"Ready to lose, Scar?" Draco joked.

"I'm ready to win." She said as she grew a bit excited to fly with her best friends again.

They all mounted their Firebolts and zoomed off into the sky. After flying ten laps in their usual flying course behind the Malfoy Manor, Scarlet won by a few feet with Draco and Blaise finishing the last laps and trailing behind her very close respectively.

"Damn it. Bloody hell, Scar. You were just lucky!" Draco smirked at his friend as they landed on the ground and dismounted. He laid down on the grass and stared up into the blue and cloudless sky. He felt much better than earlier as he concentrated on his sore arms instead of a certain girl.

"Keep telling yourself that." She said as she sat down next to him and set her broomstick near his. Although she was still depressed about what she overheard, she still liked the company of her best friends.

"Scar has always been a great flyer. If she were in Slytherin, she could take your place in the team." Blaise poked fun at his friend. Draco turned his head only and glared at the Italian. He grabbed a tuff of grass and tossed it him as Blaise feigned a scared expression. Scarlet giggled at her friends as they continued their comfortable bantering.

"Hermione, it's time for supper." Mrs. Granger called up to her daughter.

"I'll be down in a second, mum!" Hermione called down from her room upstairs as she went through her mail. An owl she recognized was the Weasley's family owl brought her an letter addressed from Harry.

Hermione,

I hope you have a great break. It's sad that you aren't here with us, but it's nice that you are spending time with your parents. Mum and Dad are coming over soon. We will miss you. Ron and Ginny says 'Hi'. Everyone wishes you well.

Best,

Harry

Ever since Harry and Ron became friends in their first year, the boys took turn spending the beginning of their winter break in each other's homes. This time was at the Burrows. Ron was a good friend, but Harry was the one who held a special place in her heart. Hermione smiled at her friend's consideration. She took out some pen and paper and began to write out a reply of thanks and similar content to Harry's letter. Harry had always been so considerate and caring ever since they knew each other. Hermione smiled as she signed her name at the bottom of the letter.

FLASHBACK

The train arrived at the station. Everyone made their way out of their cabin until Harry and Hermione were the last ones left in it. Harry was packing up the remaining sweets that weren't touched as Hermione helped beside him.

"Hermione, thanks. You don't have stay behind to help." Harry said as he placed a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans into his bag.

"Nonsense, it's faster this way." She said smiling as she picked up a sweet and handed it to him.

Harry nervously let out an breath of air and said. "Hermione."

"Hmm?" She said as she continued to clean up.

"What do you think of me?" Harry asked nervously.

"What's with this question all the sudden?" Hermione chuckled as she continued to pick up candy.

She mulled over his question seriously. Even though there was that one time, I felt my heart skip a beat. I can't think of him any more than my best friend. He's been there from the start. If I were to trust someone with my life. It would be him. That. I am certain.

Hermione didn't see Harry's nervous expression, but she answered honestly. "You are one of my best friends, of course. If not, the best. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't know what I would if I lost you as a friend." She finally looked up and smiled to Harry.

Harry looked down at the candies on the floor with a strained smile. She didn't feel the same way he did, but he felt happy that he was such an important person to her, he smiled back warmly. "Me too." He said. Hermione hugged him and he hugged her back tightly. They then continued and finished collecting the candies and left the cabin.

END FLASHBACK

She folded the letter and sealed it as she opened Charcoal's cage. Charcoal flew to the window and hooted at her. She scratched the owl's head as he hooted it appreciatively. She spread out some snacks and water for her winged familiar. When he was finished, she handed the letter to him as he took it with one of his feet.

"Take this to Harry at the Burrows, please." Hermione asked him.

Charcoal who had flew all over London the past few days knew the area well. He nodded and hooted to his owner and spread his wings and soared into the sky. Hermione watched from the window as her owl's black body became a small black dot then to nothing as he flew away. She left the window open in case he came back and headed downstairs for supper.

"Mum, Dad, I'm headed out to Diagon Alley. Do you need anything while I'm out?" Hermione called to her parents. She wanted to see if she could find anything Christmas gifts for her friends.

"If you could bring back some milk, that would be great." Her mother called from the kitchen.

"Just be safe, dear. Do you have the pepper spray I bought you last year?" Her father asked her from the living room.

"Yes, Dad. It's in my purse." Hermione said as she patted her purse.

"Alright, see you later." Mr. Granger said.

"Bye, Dad." She said as she went up to him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Bye, Mum." She called out to the kitchen and left the house. She hauled a taxi and told him to drive to Charing Cross Road where the Leaky Cauldron was.

...

"Come, Draco." His mother ordered him to follow her as she put on her outer coat.

"Where, may I ask, we are going?" Draco asked lazily. He dragged his foot after his mother.

"We are going to Gringotts. I need to take out something from the safe. Make yourself look more presentable." She said as she stared pointedly at her son.

Draco groaned and huffed as he went to a nearby bathroom and tidied himself up. Although his hair wasn't gelled back, it wasn't hanging over his eyes and unkempt as it was when he ruffled his hair in frustration. Meeting his mother back at where she was, she looked up and down him and sighed. "That'll do."

She entered the fire place and shouted clearly: "Diagon Alley" She threw the floo powder down, thus green flames formed and engulfed her as she disappeared. Draco followed her example. Arriving at the other side, he coughed and brushed off the soot and saw his mother already heading for the exit. He went to follow her.

Outside, she turned to him and said. "I'm will be going to Gringotts alone. It will be at most one hour so go take a look around. You need it. I don't want you stuck in the manor all day." She said as she turned and walked away leaving Draco rooted to the ground. He cursed a few unmentionable phrases. His mother tricked him into coming outside...

Coming to his senses, he walked to the main street of Diagon Alley and headed to the only shop he was interested in. The Quidditch shop. As he walked along the crowded street, he saw, a few feet in front of him, was the girl who haunted his thoughts. He rubbed his eyes roughly and looked in front again. It was clearly her.

"Granger." He muttered, but this time he didn't say it angrily. She neared a shop near the entrance to Knockturn Alley. Draco looked away trying not pay her any attention or have Hermione's presence affect him. He couldn't help but look back, but she disappeared from the spot. Instead he saw, two shady looking people dragging a poor defenseless girl into the alley way of Knockturn Alley. His eyes widen as he noticed the girl was Hermione.

"Granger!" He said her name urgently with surprise. Before he could stop himself, he pushed his way through the crowd and sprinted to the alley where he saw them drag her into.

He found them in the dark alleyway dragging her further down the dark narrow passage. "Oy! Let her go!" He said gathering their attention.

"Mind your own business, boy." The taller of the two said. They then ignored him and continued pulling Hermione with them. To their surprise as much as his own, he closed the distance between them in no time as he then pulled his arm back and right hooked the face of one of the guys holding her. Hard. The guy he punched now sported a bleeding nose as he bit back a cry of pain and released his grip on Hermione. He was the shorter one of the two. He then touched his face feeling blood gush out and looked at his hands. He clenched his fist angrily when he saw the blood on his fingers. He glared at Draco and lunged at him while Draco, younger and swifter, dodged out of the way.

The taller of the two shady men still had a hold on Hermione with one of his hand over her mouth and his other arm holding both her arms back. She was trying to say something to Draco with pleading and scared eyes, but all he could hear was the muffled words under her perpetrator's hand. She struggled under his arms trying to break free, but he was much stronger than her.

Draco positioned and readied himself as he held two fists in front of him. One of which was bruised a little from the first punch. The guy turned around and glowered. "You damn little bugger."

He tried to punch Draco, but the younger man was too fast. Instead, Draco sweeped his leg at the man and he fell face forward on the ground with a thud. Picking himself up slowly, the man, now bled even more from his face, struggled to stand and tried to land a punch. Assuming Hermione was less of a threat and wanted to take care of Draco once and for all for injuring his partner, the taller shady man became sick of watching and released Hermione to help his partner. Taking Draco by surprise as his back was turned to the Hermione and her capturer, the taller man hit the back of his neck so then Draco collapsed to the ground hard with a thump. He heard a shout of "No!" from Hermione.

"...Run." He muttered out, but she couldn't hear him.

They took this opportunity to kick and punch brutally at the collapsed boy. Draco tried to protect his ribs by bracing his arms in front of him, but they had already done the damage. He was repeatedly punched and kicked as he grunted and gasped from their seemingly never ending attacks. He felt several ribs crack from their assaults; every time they assailed, he could feel his insides screaming in pain as he suffered through.

"Stop it!" He heard Hermione shout. His vision was starting to blur. He continued to defend himself cursing that he was still underage to use his magic. He was definitely going to remember their faces. They will pay for this.

"R-un...ugh...Gran..ngh..ger." He grunted out in between the assaults. One of their boots pressed against his face. He clenched his teeth and grunted. As they grinded the sole of the boot with pressure on his face, he heard them laugh as another boot stomped and crushed his hand. "Ahh!" He yelled out when he heard his bones crack. Then suddenly the pressure on his hand and face wasn't as strong as they stopped their aggressive attacks. Next thing he knew, he heard two heavy thumps next to him.

"...Malfoy!" He heard Hermione call to him before he blacked out.

A/N: I apologize for hurting Draco. So. Sorry. La, La, La, La, La~~ Draco saved Hermione! Well, kind of. Maybe. Who knows?... You will! ...Well when the next chapter comes up! Haha. Hope you guys liked it! As always, would LOVE to hear from you guys! Please review if you can!

Update on soda resolution, I'm still good. *Thumbs up* Although I had a nightmare once that I did drink a coke, I woke up screaming. Yes, Yes. I consider that as a nightmare. :P Any hoo, One Punnnnncccchhh! (I remember this time, nbooklover.) XD

Only few weeks until Beauty and the Beast Live Action! I kind of wished the Beast would be played by Tom Felton, but Dan Stevens is good. Anyone heard Emma Watson sing "Something There"? No?... just me again?... okay...walks away and huddles to a corner.

Thanks to all readers again! Have a magical day!

Cheers,

DiagonAlleyorBust