Chapter 14
Hermione was seated at her usual table next to a big window. Books covered the desk around her and stacks of parchment lay in front of her. She was currently reading a small scrap of parchment handed to her by Madam Pince, the Librarian, the moment she reached the Library.
"Granger," she read aloud softly. So much for first-name basis. "I won't be able to meet you for our tutoring session. I will, however, meet you and the two buffoons in the Library before lunch. Do not leave before I get there, Draco." She put the parchment down and looked around at her books. At least I'll be able to get some research done.
"Hello Hermione," Luna's dreamy voice called.
Hermione groaned inwardly as the younger girl sat down. There goes that idea. "Hello Luna. I didn't know you had this break, too."
"I don't normally but the Herbology Greenhouse is infested with Nargles so Professor Sprout let me leave after I informed her."
Hermione looked oddly at the other girl. "And everyone else stayed?"
Luna shook her head, her radish earrings swinging. "No, some left but they always say strange things when I'm around."
Hermione felt sorry for the Ravenclaw. Sure she's a little strange but she's kind and is a loyal friend to those around her. "You're always welcome with me, Luna."
"Thank you Hermione."
The two girls sat in silence. Hermione was busily scanning through books and Luna was writing a Transfiguration essay. Hermione glanced up and noticed Luna was fiddling with her bottle cap necklace.
"Luna, I forgot to ask you something." As Hermione explained the idea she had had, Luna listened intently. "Do you think you'll be able to make necklaces for Ginny and Neville?"
"Of course, I'll get started right away! See you later, Hermione!" Luna grinned and skipped happily from the Library.
Hermione smiled and turned back to her books. Good, now Luna's working on those, Malfoy is getting our trinkets and I have to find that spell. She scanned the titles of the books once again. I don't think any of these are the right book. Sighing, she held her head in her hands and glanced around the almost barren Library. Maybe it was in the Restricted Section? She walked slowly to the gated area, floating the other books carefully back to their shelves.
"Excuse me, Miss Granger, but where do you think you're going?" Madam Pince asked her snootily.
"I was looking for a certain spell, Madam, but I think it's in a book from there," Hermione said pointing to the gates. "May I please go look in the book? I know exactly where it is, I won't be long."
Madam Pince looked down her nose at the Gryffindor. She rolled her eyes and said haughtily, "Fine but you have ten minutes."
"Oh, thank you!" Hermione said gratefully before rushing behind the gates.
She walked quickly through the dimly lit rows and turned left into the Charms section. She looked up and spotted the book she was looking for. "'Charms for the Inactive' that has to be it!" Never one to use magic on books when it was unnecessary, Hermione stood on her toes and stretched as far as she could, her fingertips just brushing the spine. She let out a sign and tried again. The book tumbled from its spot and fell to the floor with a loud thud. "Bloody perfect," she swore while bending down to retrieve it; it wasn't there.
"Did you drop this, Miss Granger?"
Hermione whipped around and came face to face with Lucius Malfoy. She instantly reached for her wand and paled considerably. "How did you get in here?"
"Always the know-it-all, aren't you Mudblood?" He tossed her the book and she cradled it to her while keeping her wand trained on him. "Why don't we take a walk?"
"Why would I go anywhere with you?"
"Then you will have no choice, Imperio!"
"Ultima protezione!" she screamed and was pleased to see the Unforgivable bounce back. She rand through the bookcases dodging the spells Malfoy was throwing at her.
"You will be dead, Mudblood!" he screamed at her. "Crucio!"
Hermione collapsed on the ground and yelled before biting her lip and continuing on. Their spells clashed in the air and she could see the gates to the Library getting closer.
"Give up, Mudblood!"
"Never!" she yelled through gritted teeth, the Crutiatus Curse still pounding through her veins. Please, let me get to the gates. He wouldn't dare follow me through them. Another jet of red light flew over her shoulder and she sprinted to the gates. Crashing through them, she fell into a pair of strong arms.
"Hermione?! What in Merlin's name-"
"Harry!" she cried, dropping to the floor with the book. Harry dropped down beside her and gripped her shoulders.
"Hermione what happened?"
"Oh, Harry," she wailed, burying her face in his chest.
Harry looked up at a shocked Ron and Draco. Ron leaned down and touched Hermione's shoulder gently.
"Hermione, you're bleeding," he told her softly. She jumped at his voice and clutched Harry tighter. Ron gripped her hand and kissed it softly.
"Maybe we should take her to Madam Pomfry?" Draco asked.
At his voice Hermione leaped up and pointed accusingly at him. "You!" she screeched. "You let him in!"
Draco looked confused, "Who?"
"Your father!" she turned to Harry and Ron. "Lucius Malfoy was in the Restricted Section!"
Harry's eyes blazed and Ron took off running into the gated section. Harry grabbed onto Hermione's hand. "Hermione he couldn't have been-"
"He was! He tried the Imperious on me but I blocked it-"
"You blocked an Unforgivable?"
"-then he used the Cruciatus-"
"What?!" Harry yelled, grabbing her face in his hands and checking her over. "Are you alright?!"
"-I couldn't let it keep me down so I just bit my lip and ran-"
"Merlin, Hermione it's still in your body?!"
"-I fought him all I could Harry, but he must have thrown a Stunner at me-"
"That explains your shoulder."
"-and the next thing I knew I was here with you," she turned her gaze onto Draco and narrowed her eyes. "And HE let him in!" she yelled pointing at the blonde.
Draco looked as if he had been slapped, "I-I wasn't even-"
"Hermione, Draco wasn't even in the castle. He couldn't have let him in," Harry said softly still checking over his best friend.
Hermione studied the blonde boy in front of her and knew deep down that she was wrong in accusing him. Hadn't he taken Veritaserum swearing he was on our side? Why would he let his father in here? "I'm sorry, I just-"
Draco waved his hand and shrugged. "It's alright," he said dismissively. "It will take time for you to remember whose side I'm really on." He looked at her tear-stained determine ridden face and bloodied shoulder and his heart ached for her. That sick bastard will get what's coming to him. He glanced at Harry and saw that although his face was set in stone his eyes showed fierce concern for the brunette.
"Why weren't you here?" Hermione asked Draco and he knew she meant more than him not being in the castle.
Does she blame me fore not being able to protect her? "I snuck into Hogsmeade," he answered staring into her eyes. "Hermione I'm so sorry my father did this to you. I wish I could have been here to-"
"To what?" she cut him off. "You would have blown your cover if you would have tried to stop him. It was better that you weren't." She closed her eyes; feeling very tired suddenly and leaned into Harry's side. Harry absently held her hand, stroking it gently, and continued to be deep in thought.
Draco felt jealousy surge within him. His eyes narrowed at the seemingly oblivious Harry. The fool doesn't even know what's right in front of him! Smirking to himself, he reached for the hand that was intertwined with Harry's. "Hermione," he said softly while freeing her hand from the other boy's. She looked at him with confusion on her face and a slight fear in her eyes.
Harry looked livid. What the bloody hell does he think he's doing?!
"Hermione, my father is a vile despicable man-"
"Tell us something we don't know," Harry muttered sarcastically, glaring at the blonde boy.
"- and I promise to you, I will make him pay for not only what he did today but what he's done in the past and what he's undoubtedly planning for the future." Draco looked deep into Hermione's tear-filled eyes and he captured a curling tendril of hair. He twisted it gently through his fingers and smiled at her. He felt his insides warm when she smiled back.
"Oy!" Ron's voice came loudly. "Get your ferret paws off her!" He came stomping over and got in Draco's face, causing him to step away from Hermione. "Let's get one thing straight, Malfoy: Hermione is off limits. If she wants to be friends with you from some mental meaning then fine. You do not touch her or get remotely close to her." His blue eyes flashed angrily at Draco. Then he turned and looked sheepishly at a glaring Hermione. "Hermy, I don't mean to sound like you're just a trophy. Me and Harry, we just don't want anything more to happen to you."
"I know, Ron," Hermione said, hugging him tightly. She looked at Harry, "What would I do without you?"
Harry shrugged and gave her a lopsided smirk. "Read 24 hours a day?"
"Constantly knit unwanted House Elf hats?" Ron quipped.
"Write a revised edition of Hogwarts, a History?"
"Teach every class in Hogwarts?"
"Alright, alright!" Hermione laughed, giving them both whacks on their arms.
Draco was watching them feeling awkward and insanely jealous. Why don't I have friends like them? Friends that know everything about me and tease me about stuff? Everyone I know fears me. Maybe if I can befriend them, we'll all be like that. "Ahem," he cleared his throat nervously. He reached down and held the book Hermione dropped. The Trio stopped their fooling and regarded him. "This was the book you were looking for?"
"I don't really know," Hermione shrugged. "I didn't get a chance to skim through it."
An uncomfortable silence followed before Ron's stomach growled loudly. The four laughed and unanimously decided to hurry down to lunch. With a promise to meet after dinner in the Room of Requirement, they went their separate ways to lunch.
Care of Magical Creatures went by uneventfully and Harry was glad for a little peace. He couldn't get the image of Hermione bursting through the gates of the Restricted Section and landing in his arms out of his mind. How did Malfoy get into the castle undetected? I'll have to talk to Sirius. Hagrid, he thought, must have sensed he was preoccupied and left him relatively unbothered. Getting up from the grassy patch he was sitting on, Harry stretched his arms above his head and watched his fellow Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs gather their notes and head back to the castle.
"'Arry," Hagrid called, beckoning Harry over. Harry walked to the half-giant and waved Hermione and Ron to go back to the castle.
"Listen, Hagrid," Harry started sheepishly. "I'm sorry that I wasn't paying more attention in class. I was-"
"Is alrigh'; I understand. Yer worried 'bout 'Ermione an yer got good reason." Hagrid looked uncharacteristically serious at the bespectacled boy. "Malfoy is trying 'ard to get 'er. Dolohov is scary when angry an somethin' 'Ermione is doin' is making the Dark Lord nervous an 'e wants 'er dead. 'Arry you can't let 'em take 'er." Hagrid sniffled loudly.
Harry placed his hand on his Professor's arm. "Don't worry Hagrid, I'll keep her safe."