Smother Me

By Eriks_leadinglady

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A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews! And I know I said this chapter would have some DH, but, well… YOU GOT IT!!! Muahahaha… kinda… ;)

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Chapter 13: Apologies

When Ron came in the room, Draco nearly laughed. He hadn't seen the git in weeks – probably hiding out from pure humiliation; after all, his supposed girlfriend had been hanging around with the Slytherin Prince. Ron – red-faced – looked like he would hex Draco at any given moment. Still, Draco remained nonchalant with hands stuffed in pockets and raised his eyebrows at Weasley.

"You… you…" began Ron.

Draco remained unmoved, his stone features telling Ron to continue.

"You stole my girlfriend!" Ron at last shouted.

Now, Draco couldn't help but let a chuckle escape his lips. "Leave it to you, Weasley, to only think about something like that while we're in the middle of a crisis."

Ron tensed, but ignored the jib. "Well, what have you to say for yourself?"

Sighing, Draco knew nothing he said would get the Weasel off the subject. "I didn't steal anything."

"I haven't talked to Hermione in weeks! Instead, she's been hanging around you all the bloody time. If that isn't barmy, then I don't know what is! Just release whatever curse you have on her, and I'll be on my way."

"Curse? You think I've cursed Hermione into going out with me?" Draco guffawed. "Wow, Weasley, you really are losing your marbles. Since when have I ever needed a curse in order to get a girl?"

At Draco's smirk, Ron pulled out his wand and pointed it at him. "So you did steal her then!"

Draco smacked the wand out of his face. "No, actually, I didn't. I think she left you of her own accord. Maybe she finally realized that there's just an empty space between your two Weasley ears. Uninspired, I think she was."

"Why you..." started Ron. He lunged at Draco as if he were about to punch him square in the eye, but Draco was quicker. Seeing the punch coming, Draco dodged out of the way, ducking under the poorly thrown fist, and instead punched Ron right in the gut. Ron doubled over from the blow, and was about to try his luck at hitting Draco again, but before he could, Draco's fist hit him right in the nose.

Suddenly gushing blood, Ron stumbled back into the doorway.

"You're a bloody git, you know that?" mumbled Ron.

Draco, however, was unapologetic. "Maybe next time, don't accuse me of stealing Granger away from you. I can't be blamed for your insufficiencies."

"Think she's gone for good then?"

Shrugging, Draco responded, "I can't speak for her. Ask her yourself."

"She's been avoiding me."

"I haven't been avoiding you, Ron," another voice said suddenly from behind Ron.

He spun around to face none other than Hermione herself.

Upon seeing his startled look, Hermione offered a small wave and a polite, "Hi."

"H-Hey, Hermione. H-How've you been?"

She smiled softly, and then fixed his nose for him. He mumbled a quick, "Thanks," and then looked at her expectedly.

She quickly became somber. "Ron, I think it's time I've explained. I… I don't see us anymore. I see me, and I see you, just not... together. I've thought about this for a long time, and I just needed these past few weeks to really realize it."

"So, that's it then? You're breaking up with me?"

Hermione lifted her shoulders. "Sorry."

Slowly, Ron nodded his head. "Still friends?"

"Of course! You've been one of my best friends for eight years; I would hate for that to change."

Ron pursed his lips, but tried to smile.

Even if Hermione didn't realize it, Draco – who, by now, felt very out of place being here – could tell Ron was having a harder time with this than he was leading on. Still, seeing the two of them officially end it felt slightly… vindictive, on his part. But for the life of him, he couldn't place why.

Hermione entered the room then, and pretended to look at a book on Harry's bookshelf. Seeing that she wasn't leaving, Ron dawdled idly in the doorway.

"So…" he began. "I'll just be going then?"

Hermione flashed him a brilliant smile; probably not what he needs to see right now, thought Draco.

"I'll talk to you soon, Ron."

Then he waved and was on his way, looking downright sodden.

Hermione continued looking at the bookshelf for another minute or two, and Draco seriously wondered what she was playing at.

Then, without notice, she was a foot away from him, peering at him strangely. "First of all, before I say anything else, I must strongly reprimand you for attacking Ron. It wasn't even close to a fair fight, and you know it."

"But he –"

"Ah, I don't care if he made the first move. You should know better."

Draco mumbled something unintelligible.

"And now I want to apologize for storming out on you earlier. You often say things without intended harm, and I should know better. In times like these, we need to all stick together, and we can't afford to turn on each other like I did earlier."

She paused, as if waiting for him to say something as well. He ran a hand through his hair, opening his mouth, and then promptly closing it. Damn. This was hard.

"I, uh," he began unsurely. "I didn't…mean to… make you angry earlier. I was only… kidding. S-Sorry?" he finished, eyebrows raised, uncertain if what he had given would be acceptable or not.

But Hermione only smiled at him. "Apology accepted."

Draco let out a sigh a relief. "That was right awful, and I don't know if I'll be able to suffer through anything like that again."

"I wouldn't expect you to."

Draco stared at her then and noticed that she was staring at him, too. She had a peculiar look in her eyes, and she took a hesitant step toward him. He didn't know what was happening. He felt…

No. Absolutely not. Impossible!

Abruptly, he turned and walked a few feet away.

"Draco…" Hermione said softly.

Draco's head was on fire. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening, could it?

He felt her approach him from behind, and she placed a hand on his arm. It was warm – and would have warmed him, too – had he not immediately stepped away from her touch.

With his back still to her, Draco was glad he could not see her face.

"I-I'm sorry," she said.

Draco turned his head and replied, "Enough apologies for today. See you tomorrow, Granger."

He quickly left the room, but couldn't seem to get away fast enough for his tastes.

And Hermione… well, she felt utterly rejected.

0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o

Draco was back at Malfoy Manor in an instant. His head was still in a buzz, and he wasn't even sure if what he had just experienced was a dream or reality. After all, it was Hermione Granger, and why would she ever want him – an arrogant, selfish, double agent Slytherin?

She wouldn't. This he was sure of.

And yet… why would she touch him like that? And the way she had said his name! Draco – it was a whispered caress; a soft plea to stand by her side. But if this was all true – and Draco wasn't imaging things – then the way he had responded was a rejection. He rejected Hermione.

That was it. This certainly was not possible.

But...

Okay, his mind reasoned, let's think about this. If it all happened – if Hermione really does want you in that way – then who's to say no? Do you want her, too? Was your rejection a mistake or a correct impulse to move away?

As he thought these things, Draco moved into the anteroom and plopped down on the armchair. He bent over – face in hands – thinking intensely. If anyone had walked by, they would have thought he was having a mental breakdown. And maybe he was.

Hermione, he thought. Hermione.

He mulled it over some more, swishing each new sensation, each new feeling throughout his mind, testing for a reaction.

Well, I certainly feel something.

No, you fool! exclaimed his voice of reason. Think about this. Hermione Granger, really? Frizzy-haired, know-it-all, mudblood Granger? You'd be better off with Pansy; hell, even that little Weasley girl would be better suited for your tastes. But Granger? No way. Push it all to the side, push it into the deepest corners of your heart, and leave it there! Let any feelings you have rot away.

But, as Draco sat there, that thought pained him. He didn't like the idea of just pushing Granger off to the side like some unwanted, rotten apple. She wasn't rotten; she was a very bright witch. She was smart, quick-thinking, agile – much like himself. And yet they were so different! Although her blood may be filthy, her mind was pure; she had a good heart. And he... well, he was black and tainted.

He opened his eyes, gazing at his left wrist. The Dark Mark remained there. That was proof of his treachery.

What? His mind interrupted. You think she's too good for you? A Malfoy? Ha!

But she was better than him in many ways – better in the sense of making the right choices and following a guided, straight path. His was nothing of the sort. Too many battles had been fought – and many lost. A former statue of brilliance, he was now crumbling, and no one could hold him together.

He had it resolved, then. He wouldn't taint anyone else with his black heart, least of all Hermione Granger.

0o0o00o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

The next day, Draco arrived at Hermione's office as planned. Luckily, Harry was already there so there were no awkward moments between Draco and Hermione; not that he would have allowed any, anyway.

Still, there was a blanket of tenseness hovering in the air, and Draco yearned to release it.

It was just nearing noon – the time when the muggle reporter was scheduled to arrive – and Draco let out a loud sound of annoyance.

Hermione didn't even bother to look at him, but Harry said, "It's not even twelve yet, Draco, relax."

"I just don't want this muggle to mess anything up; she's our one chance."

This time, Hermione responded. "She will be perfect; I think we should be worried about you muffing things up for everyone, as you're known to do."

Draco smiled at her response – she was looking at him now – and she was completely baffled by his look of compliance.

"Always so spot on, Hermione. How did you know I was already planning on hexing the woman if she said or did one thing out of line?" he asked, a little playfully, a little sarcastically - done as only a Malfoy could do.

Hermione, however, effortlessly kept up. "Easily: that kind of reaction is always the first out of a Malfoy."

Draco gave a nod of his head in agreement. "Sometimes, we do tend to get a little hot headed -- and do things we later regret – when caught off guard."

It was Hermione who nodded her head this time. "I see."

"Do you?"

But then their cryptic conversation ended when said muggle walked in: Ms. Lucy Williams.

Both Hermione and Draco stood up to greet her, but Harry remained seated, staring at his two friends with a very puzzled look on his face. Just what was he missing?

It was Hermione who stepped forward and shook the woman's hand first.

"Ms. Williams, I'm Hermione Granger. I'm so glad you decided to come today."

Draco nodded to Knightley – who had brought the muggle here – and said man closed the door and no doubt stood guard outside. Then Draco took in the muggle who would supposedly help them. She was tall, slender – very svelte. He thought she was pretty enough – long brown hair, green, wide-set eyes, but a small forehead. It made her look large in the chin and cheekbones. Still, she was arguably amiable to look at.

Ms. Williams smiled in response to her formal greeting. "Please, call me Lucy. And it was my pleasure to come today; the way you all are being attacked is completely uncalled for."

Her eyes then shifted around the room, noting the two other wizards – by now, Harry had gotten over his puzzlement and was standing on his feet.

"And who might these two wizards be?"

Hermione introduced them. "This is Harry Potter –" he offered a polite, "Hi", "- and this is Draco Malfoy." A nod.

Lucy smiled brightly at them. "It's a pleasure, really." Her eyes lingered longer on Draco, who, of course, couldn't help but notice her interest.

"Please, sit," he offered kindly.

Again, she smiled at him.

Her face does liven up when she smiles… he thought, before he, too, took a seat.

Hermione and Harry sat on one side of the table while Lucy and Draco were on the other; the conference table had been charmed out of Hermione's previous desk.

"First things first," began Hermione, pulling out her papers. "How many people would you say are on our side? And how many work for you?"

Lucy thought for a moment. "I can't say – precisely -- how many people in total are on your side. In England, though, I'd say it's split right down the middle. And as for people who work for me, I'd say about twenty. However, I do have colleagues and friends who would also be more than willing to help."

"A number, Ms. Williams," said Draco, looking at her hard.

"Of colleagues and such?"

He nodded.

Doing the calculations in her mind, she declared, "There are seven others like myself – people fighting for you – and then there are the people under them, as well, so, including me, I'd say we have a good 150 people to work with."

Draco looked at Hermione. "Well, it's doable."

"What do you have in mind?" asked Harry.

"We have a faux press conference."

"A faux press conference," said Hermione skeptically.

"Well, not exactly faux – we need cameras and everything – which is where your reporter friends come in. And all the people in the audience will be those who work for all of you. Of course, we will also need some reporters that are either neutral or against us there, as well."

"And then what?"

"Then, we get the muggles to act up against Slade and start a riot. We will have set up hidden barriers so we're sure he can't escape. Then, the muggles kidnap him. We will have no role in it – supposedly – so we can't be blamed. But the muggles, after they've kidnapped him, will bring him to us."

"Ingenious!" cried Lucy. "Simply ingenious! Tell, me what is your role in this posse?"

Draco smirked. "The Master Mastermind."

Hermione, however, rolled her eyes. "We're not really a posse, Lucy. Just people who are forced to work together under these circumstances."

"Except her and Potter, over there. They're best friends," added Draco.

Lucy looked between the three wizards. "So what are you?"

"I'm the former bad guy."

"Bad… guy? I don't understand."

Draco leaned back in his chair. "I've had my fair share of duels with Potter. And Granger over there punched me in the face once."

"Oh. So you guys just didn't get along, then? You're not really a bad guy –"

"No, I was. You see, I used to work for a certain dark wizard, and these two were against him ruling the world." Draco pulled up his sleeve and revealed the Dark Mark.

"You still have it…" Hermione whispered.

"What is that?" wondered Lucy, who peered curiously at Draco's forearm.

"His mark. My former Master and the former supreme dark wizard, Lord Voldemort."

Lucy nodded her head, but Draco knew she did not fully understand; it was not in her capacity. But he noticed both Hermione and Harry staring at his arm, appearing to be reminiscing. Rolling his eyes, he shoved his sleeve back down, covering the mark and the past; he dared not to relive those days under His power.

The mood in the room seemed to have changed immensely. Where once there was optimism and positivity now stood sadness and melancholy.

Draco preferred not to live in the past; it was over and done with. It was the future they had to deal with now. Looking around the table, he realized that these people would be the ones saving the world, and he found it slightly ironic that he was among them.