Chapter 13 Continued

Draco opened his eyes and groaned. So the letter hadn't been a dream? His father was planning something, and he was going to be getting a visitor though he couldn't imagine who it could be. What he did know, was that it hadn't been his imagination; he looked over and saw curly hair, and neither was Granger helping him.

She was still there, sitting in a chair next to him reading. "Why are you doing this?" He asked, rubbing his swollen eyes.

She looked up from her book. "Doing what?"

"Helping me."

"That's a stupid question. You need my help."

"No, I don't."

She rolled her eyes. "You were drunk in the middle of the bloody afternoon. If that's not a cry for help I don't know what is. "He didn't respond so she leaned forward. "What's going on, Draco?"

"Nothing."

"Yeah, it looked like nothing when I got here."

"So I drink sometimes, so what?"

"I think you drinking enough to pass out at 3pm on a Saturday means it's more than just sometimes."

He glared at her. "And somehow it wasn't nearly enough."

"Oh, I think you've had plenty." She scoffed.

"Hah, you wouldn't say that if you knew..." He cut himself off. He'd almost let it slip. How could he be so bloody careless!

"Knew what?"

"Nothing." He said quickly, hoping she would drop it.

But of course, he knew she wouldn't.

"It isn't nothing." She came over and sat on the bed. "Come on, Draco. Tell me what's going on with you." She reached out to him. "Please."

"I can't, Granger. Really." He said, still knowing that she probably wouldn't give up. "And even if I could, you couldn't help me. Not with this."

"I could try." She insisted. "And if it's about your father-"

"Don't!" he warned. "Just don't. I hate talking about him...he, he disgusts me."

"Maybe you'd feel better if you did." She said quietly. "Talk about him, I mean."

She just didn't get it. Nothing good would come out of him talking about his father. Nothing good would come from him disclosing pieces of his past. No good would come out of him telling her what his father planned to make him do. It just didn't need to be talked about. None of it did. "No. It's not worth it."

She leaned forward, her eyes full of compassion. "Why won't you let me help you?"

He couldn't help it. The way she was looking at him make his heartbeat quicken. He reached up and cradled her cheek with his right hand. "I don't want to hurt you..."

"You won't." She replied, bringing her hand up and placing it on top of his.

"You don't understand." He let his hand fall from her face but she kept holding onto it.

"You don't have to tell me what's going on." She said. "Just, promise me something."

"Yes?"

"Next time you feel like drowning yourself in a bottle of fire whiskey, call for me. I'll be your escape. Don't rely on alcohol to solve your problems." She noticed her hand was still in his and withdrew it. "Promise me that."

He managed a small smile. "I promise."

Sunday, September 13, 1998

Ron was sitting in the common room with Harry when he saw Hermione slip out of the door and out of sight for what seemed like the hundredth time this week.

"Harry, have you noticed that Hermione's been acting rather strange lately?"

Harry gave him a funny look before shrugging. "Not really."

Ron shifted in his seat as he looked at his best friend. "She's been sneaking off a lot."

"She's probably just studying or something."

"No, I don't think that's it." He continued. He'd been noticing a lot of things about Hermoine's behavior. He'd seen her exiting a broom closet, she was hardly ever in the common room after dinner, she would disappear after class, and late at night, (when he'd been doing some sneaking around of his own) he'd seen her creeping up the hallway. "Harry, do you think she's seeing someone?"

"Who?"

His eyes narrowed in irritation. "Hermione."

Harry thought about it for a moment. "Well...she hasn't been around much, but to say she was seeing someone? I highly doubt it."

"But what on earth could she be doing?" He asked irritably.

"I don't know...but honestly, Ron. Why do you care what she's doing? You dumped her."

"I know that!" He snapped. "But...I still care about her and maybe...maybe I was wrong to do that to her."

"There's no maybe in that statement mate." Harry pointed out. "You fucked her over and you know it."

"Shut up...I know..." He stared down at his hands. "I just...I was just scared. I felt like I was falling behind her. She has always been in front of me, and I thought maybe there was something more, someone more..."

"More than Hermione?" Harry laughed. "You're a bloody prat sometimes, Ron, you know that?"

"I fucked up Harry! I know I fucked up. I know I'm bloody stupid when it comes to love and especially when it comes to Hermione...but I'm trying. I thought I was getting in over my head to fast and lately I've thought that maybe I wasn't. Maybe she's always been the one for me. I can't believe I let her go. I still care about her and I want her back, but what if she's seeing someone? What do I do then?"

"You just have to try to get her back." He stated before getting up. "But don't come crying to me if she punches you in the face and leaves your tail hanging between your legs."

Pansy watched him from her seat next a library window, this month's edition of Witch Weekly splayed out in front of her. She used it as a prop to keep an eye on him without being blatantly obvious. So far so good. She didn't look like a total stalker. Or at least, she hoped she didn't. (It couldn't be called stalking when it was your friend right?)

Right now he was sitting at a table, his brows furrowed together and his eyes glued to the book in front of him.

She'd tried to talk to him a few minutes ago, but he'd just brushed her off, rolled his eyes, and went back to reading.

He'd been blowing her off a lot lately and she was getting quite sick of it. What was going on with him?

He'd been acting rather strange the last few months. She would know. She'd been in his circle of friends since year one, and had been with him, on a physical level, since year four. Though she hadn't been in his bed for months now. That's what really started to raise her suspicions. They had never dated but whenever he was in a foul or randy mood he'd seek her out. So when he'd stopped coming onto her and ignoring her presence entirely, she began to worry.

It couldn't be another girl. She never saw him with any. Then again, she hadn't been seeing a lot of him at all. It was like he was avoiding her.

She sighed and flattened the magazine on her lap, openly starting at him, disregarding how stupid she might look. She just wanted him to look at her, to see her.

She missed him. Missed talking to him. Why couldn't he just give her a chance. Didn't he know she loved him? Didn't he know they would be a good match? She would do anything for him. She believed in him and supported him. She liked everything about him; his looks, his calm demeanor, and even the cold callous way he spoke. She thought it was insanely hot that he had been a death eater. It made him that much more alluring to her. After all, they came from the same roots. They were Slytherin's, came from old money, and their blood was pure. She could give him everything he wanted and wouldn't complain. They would be perfect for each other!

But he would never see it.

He'd never look.

She could confess her love for him at the top of her lungs and he wouldn't bat an eyelash.

She was invisible.

She shook her head and glared at him.

He was still looking at his book.

Damn him!

She noticed him look down into his lap and smirk, before shoving his hand into his pocket. She was wondering what was up with that when he suddenly rose from the table and hurried out of the room.

She got up quickly to follow him out. "Draco!" She called. "Wait up."

He slowed slightly but didn't respond to her words.

"Are you going to the Great Hall?" She asked cheerily. "Mind if I tag along? I'm famished."

"Sorry, Pansy, but I've got things to do." He said, his voice taking on a harsh tone. "I'm sure you don't need my assistance in finding food."

"Rude much?" She huffed, still keeping stride with him.

"I don't have the time to talk today."

"Today or any day. What has got you so busy lately?" She asked, trying to mask the hurt in her voice. "You hardly have time for your friends anymore, not to mention me."

"I'm not here to fool around, Pansy. I'm here to save face." He retorted gruffly, "So excuse me, I don't have time to play house with you."

She was speechless as she watched him just walk away, unaware of the pounding in her heart of the angry tears that wanted to spill from her eyes.

He had no idea what he was walking away from. She would do anything for him. She could make him happy. Determination burned through her veins. She'd make him see her.

She was worthy of him, she could prove it to him.

No one could love him as much as Pansy did.

No one.

Monday, September 14, 1998

It was after midnight when Ron spotted Hermione tip-toeing out of the Gryffindor Tower. He tried to follow her but he'd lost sight of her after she descended the stairs. Anger rose in his gut when he thought about what she might be sneaking off to do.

Jealousy was an ugly emotion and Ron was apparently prone to it.

Harry had been right.

He'd fucked up.

Now he'd just have to figure out a way to fix it before someone else stepped in and stole his girl.

Tuesday, September 15, 1998

Draco was losing his bloody mind.

After the night she'd come to help him, everything seemed to change. Every time he was near her his heart raced in his chest, and it didn't help when she teased him, shooting him hot looks that drove him insane. He couldn't wait to get her alone, to get her up against a wall and underneath him.

When he wasn't with her, he thought about her and when they were together, he drank in everything about her.

He couldn't figure out why this was happening. He'd never wanted to just be next to someone so bad in his life. Especially since the last two encounters he had with the brunette had ended without him getting laid. That in itself was strange. Their relationship was supposed to be purely sexual, so when he found himself not wanting to tear her clothes off the moment he saw her, and instead, wanted to have conversations with her, he started getting concerned.

This wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to crave her presence. He was supposed to use her, not want to talk to her about his problems. She was doing something inside of him and he had no idea what to do about it.

Pansy wasn't making any progress.

She couldn't get any time alone with him at all. It was as if the world was against her being with him.

Even now, as they were sitting in class, he was doing his work. Everyone was busy with their own projects as well, but she'd never seen him work so hard on something.

She couldn't believe he was actually listening to the professor. He was always goofing off before, saying he could do this in his sleep.

She glanced back over at him and saw that his head was raised and his lips were moving. Maybe he wasn't working hard after all.

She was about to try to get his attention when she saw something that threw her off.

A wink.

Draco had winked at someone.

Her eyes shifted to the front of the room just in time to see Hermione Granger smirk in Draco's direction before turning around.

No way.

She rubbed her eyes in irritation.

She couldn't have seen that right.

Draco would never flirt with a mudblood. Especially, Hermione Granger.

He was probably just making fun of her.

Yes, that was it.

There was nothing to worry about.

They had always bantered in the past. It was just what they did, but even as she thought it may just be a joke, there was an unsettling feeling in her stomach. She couldn't help but remember the kiss during the Celebration Party. He hadn't seemed disgusted by it at all. Then when she'd asked him about it, he'd only gotten angry and stopped talking to her.

Something was definitely going on.

And she was going to find out what it was.

Wednesday, September 16, 1998

Hermione couldn't stop herself. She was addicted to him.

No matter how hard she tried to stay away, he drew her back in.

If it wasn't for the flirting, then she might have a better chance. But unfortunately for her, he excelled in foreplay and she fully enjoyed the bantering. He brought out a side of her she didn't know existed. A flirty, sexy side that she now embraced. She knew exactly what to say or do to drive him crazy and get him back for making her quiver in excitement. This took their minds off things they didn't want to talk about. Like his father, and her parents.

She enjoyed this physical relationship, though it seemed they'd been spending a bit more time talking, and less time shagging lately. They'd done some studying and talked about their favorite artists and authors. Despite being a pureblood wizard, he seemed to enjoy Monet. It didn't bother her like she thought it would. She liked spending time with him. Any form of time. It was crazy to think it, but she was beginning to wonder if she actually saw him as a friend now. She certainly cared enough about him that she didn't want him suffering anymore. It was also strange to think she woke up every day and he was the first thing she thought about, instead of Ron now. It was only natural, she supposed. She'd spent so much time with him. It couldn't be helped.

Luna had been great the last couple of days as well.

It helped to have someone who knew.

She hadn't been able to ask Luna much regarding it, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she'd want to talk about her this... relationship. Luna knowing made her feel at ease. At least, she had someone out there supporting her.

Thursday, September 17, 1998

Blaise knew what was going on. He didn't miss the fact that his best friend had disappeared from the room a few minutes ago. He also didn't miss the fact that Pansy was now scouring the room, searching for him.

He headed her direction, knowing all to well that she would try to find Draco. She'd been persistent recently and that didn't' bode well. If anyone would find out about Draco's secret, it would be her.

After all. The poor girl was in love with him.

At least...she was in love with the idea of the old him.

She spotted him and called out. "Blaise!"

He stopped in front of her. "What's going on, Panse?"

"Have you seen Draco?"

"Can't say that I have." He said with a shrug.

She placed a hand on her hip and frowned. "Why are you lying to me?"

"I'm not-"

"I know you're covering for him."

"You're paranoid.'

"I'm not paranoid!" she hissed. "Where is he? I have to talk to him."

"I don't know."

"Fine." She relented and hurried out of the room.

It took a moment before it clicked.

She didn't need Blaise to tell her where Draco was.

He ran out of the room, praying to Salazar that he'd find her before she found them.

The day started out as good as any other. The sun was shining, and it seemed like everyone was in a great mood. Draco and Hermione included. They had just finished their projects in Potions class and chose to celebrate their triumph with a little fun back in his dorm room. Draco had made sure Blaise was still with Theo in the common and thought nothing of locking the door. That would prove to be their downfall.

They were in the middle of their tryst when they heard a shuffling at the door. He stopped mid-thrust, their eyes shooting over towards the door as they both became as still as statues. They could hear voices coming closer and watched in horror as the door handle turned and heard Pansy's irate voice drifting in from the other side of it. "Blaise, seriously I can do what I want! Draco, are you in there? Honestly, I'm fed up with you ignoring me all the bloody ti-" Her mouth dropped open when she flung the door open and caught sight of Draco in bed, still on top of Hermione. All three of them remaining still and blinking at each other. "What the fuck is going on in here?"

"Pansy!" Blaise shouted crashing through the door behind her.

"You've got to be bloody joking. You've been screwing the mudblood?" She screeched covering her mouth with her hand. "Un-fucking-believable!"

Draco seemed to be coming back to his senses and started to move.

Blaise blocked her as she tried to back out. "Draco, I'm sorry! I tried to stop her!"

"I cannot fucking believe this!" She said again, spinning around and yelling at Blaise. "Blaise, move!"

Draco finally found his voice as he fumbled to get up. "Don't let her leave!"

Hermione, still unfathomably shocked at both Pansy and Blaise's presence, grabbed the covers and pulled them around her while Draco pulled up his pants and grabbed his wand. "Petrificus Totalus!" He exclaimed, pointing it at Pansy's retreating back. Her body froze under the spell and she stayed rooted to the spot.

Hermione quickly dressed underneath the covers as Draco made his way towards Pansy and Blaise, her stomach lurching with each passing second.

"Couldn't mind your own damn business could you?" He spat at her petrified form.

"Sorry mate. I really did try."

Hermione realized then that Blaise must have known all along.

"It's not your fault. I should have known she'd be sneaking around sooner or later." He sighed. "She's been coming onto me quite a lot recently. It's my fault for allowing her diluted behavior. I should have nipped it in the bud." He shook his head and lifted his wand.

Hermione noticed this and got up from the bed. "Draco? What are you doing?"

He was quick with his answer. "I'm going to obliviate her, of course."

"You can't do that!" she suddenly cried, catching both boys off guard.

"And why the hell not?" Draco asked, stepping away from Pansy and walking in Hermione's direction. "She'll tell everyone, don't you get that?"

She did get it. She just didn't know if she could watch someone else be obliviated in front of her. "Yes, but I just can't let you obliviate her…."

"You can't be serious," Blaise interjected.

Draco raised a hand to silence him.

"She's angry, Granger. Just fucking look at her. If I didn't keep her here she would have run out that door shouting our secret down the bloody hall. Do you understand that? She'll do whatever she can to get back at me. She's a vengeful person and will drag you into the dirt along with me…." He kept his gaze steady on hers. "Or do you want everyone to know about us?"

"No…"

"Then let me do what I'm good at, alright?" He flicked his wand at Pansy but at the last second Hermione grabbed his arm.

"Just let her go, Malfoy." He remained still and silent, but his glare fortified his displeasure. "Please."

He sighed and turned to his friend. "Blaise, just get her the hell out of here."

Blaise nodded and grabbed Pansy's arm, dragging her out of the room.

Draco whirled around to face Hermione, his jaw set and eyes ablaze. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

"I stopped a girl from losing her memory." She stated calmly though her nerves were shaken. "It's dangerous to be using that spell all the time, especially for long-term memories. We don't know how much damage it really can cause the person affected-"

"I don't give a shit about that!" He retorted. "Her leaving with this knowledge is more dangerous than fucking memory loss."

"But-"

"No! No, but's Hermione." His eyes softened but his body remained rigid, telling her that he was still very angry. "I hope you're prepared because by this time tomorrow everyone in Hogwarts is going to know about us."

She felt sick again. "Everyone…"

"Yes. Everyone. Including Potter and lil Ronnikins."

"They'll understand…." Even as she said it, the words had no meaning.

"Yes, I'm sure they'll just lovethe fact that you've been fucking me behind their back for a month." He said storming past her.

She followed him across the room, her temper rising right along with his. "Why are you being such an arse about this?"

"Why?" He exclaimed, exasperated. "Because it's going to ruin everything! Don't you get that?" He asked, his hands making their way to grasp her shoulders. She didn't pull away from the contact. "What we 's going to end! Just like that! No more sneaking around or flirting in class. We won't even be able to speak to each other. You're going to be labeled a traitor by your friends, and I'm going to be shunned by mine."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked up at him. "So that's what you're worried about? You being shunned?"

He let her go and shook his head. "No, that's not-"

"It is. You want to keep your reputation..."

"Haven't you been listening?" he grunted. "I don't want to lose-"

She didn't wait to hear the rest. "Just stop, Malfoy! You don't have to explain anything." She turned away from him and began gathering the rest of her things off the floor. "We should have known this wouldn't last. I'm glad this happened."

"You're glad?"

"Yes, I'm glad." She punctuated the word with an angry snatch of her socks from the rug. "I'm glad it happened before things got out of control; before we got too serious."

This conversation wasn't going the way he planned. "What if I don't care if we went out of control? What if I wanted it to get serious?"

She scrunched up her brows and laughed mockingly. "Yes, and I'm the Queen of England."

"Who?"

"Just forget it." she sighed. "You're not getting the point." She brushed past him and headed for the door.

"I'll tell you what I am getting. I'm getting that you'd rather let everything between us end, than oblivate that stupid girl."

"That's not fair, Draco." she said, her hand resting on the doorknob and turning around.

"No, what's not fair is you running out on me." He retorted, bitterly.

Her hand fell from the knob. "That's not what I'm doing."

"Isn't it?" He asked, angry again. "Someone finds out and you don't let me stop them from telling. Then you run away from the problem."

"I just need a break from you!" She finally yelled.

"You need a break from me?"

"Yes..." she started then shook her head. "No...not from you, from this. We got too carried away, and it's not like we're together, we are just fucking."

"That's exactly why we shouldn't end it." He tried to pursue her. "Fuck them...I know I said I cared about what they say, but not enough to end this thing we have going. I don't want you to leave..."

"Why do you want me to stay so bad? I'm nothing to you...and you're nothing to me."

She didn't miss the hurt expression on his face but she still turned away from him.

"Wait, you can't just leave!" He hated how his voice cracked in sudden desperation.

"This is pointless, Malfoy. Pansy knows now." He could tell she was trying hard not to cry. "So...this has to end...We can't keep seeing each other."

"You don't mean that."

"I'm sorry, Malfoy." She said, her back rigid as she made her way to the door. "But I do."

"Hermione, wait!" He called, but she was gone and he felt like a piece of himself had left with her.

Pansy was pissed, and Blaise's presence wasn't helping.

They walked in silence as he escorted her down the halls and to her dorm. When they were almost there she heard him sigh. "I'm sorry Pansy."

"You knew." She accused, hot, angry tears streaming down her face. "You knew he was defiling himself with that mudblood."

"He's free to make his own decisions."

"He's ruining himself!" She spat. "He's going against everything he stands for, everything that he believes in!"

"Maybe his beliefs have changed."

"How could you let him do this, Blaise? You know the consequences."

He shook his head and she grew more furious.

"He's a bloody fool," She hissed. "And you are too for helping him."

He looked at her with an understanding glow in his eyes. "Pansy, I'm sorry he hurt you."

"Hurt me?" She laughed cruelly. "I'm not hurt, I'm furious." She wiped the tears from her eyes. "But not as angry as his father will be when he hears of this."

"He's not going to find out."

"How do you know?" She asked. "I could tell the whole bloody school about this in the morning. I'm sure someone will let it slip."

Blaise's eyes became slits as he stepped toward her. "You're not going to tell anyone."

"What makes you so damn sure?"

"You love him too much to hurt him."

Her heart thumped in her chest. "Fuck off."

He looked at her a moment before sighing. "Just sleep on it." He said, turning to leave. "I'll come back tomorrow and we can talk about it."

"Like hell!" She called after him, slamming the door behind her.

Fuck him! Fuck Draco! And fuck that damn mudblood for getting in her way!

How dare he? How dare he blow her off for that fucking mudblood bitch! Why would he choose to shag bloody Granger over her? Her blood was pure! She was everything he would need. She'd do anything for him. Screwing the mudblood...It went against their very nature.

It had to be the Gryffindor's doing. She must have done something to him. Blackmailed him or something. Otherwise, Draco would have never stooped so low.

Unless...he liked her all along. She hated to think that, but she couldn't deny the fact that she'd been wondering about them for awhile now. She just never thought her assumptions would have been right. He was ruining everything!

She slumped down at her desk, burying her head in her arms. She ran through the past two months in her head. They hadn't had sex during that time at all. In fact, all the times she was with Draco, he never even listened to her. He didn't look at her. And anytime the filthy mudblood had been around, he had been looking at her. The kiss between them at the party was real too. He'd disappeared after that. To go after her no doubt. Her suspicions had been right all along. He'd been having a secret affair behind his friends back this whole time!

He'd betrayed them, betrayed his blood. And Granger helped him do it.

Blaise was right about one thing, though. She loved Draco. She wouldn't want to hurt him. But her hatred for Granger and what they'd done overrode the love she had in her heart.

She sat up and grabbed a piece of paper, furiously scribbling her pen across it. They would regret what they did. That was for damn sure.

Note: This chapter has been revised as of 4/2/16