A/N: 'Echo' - TRAPT

Harry Ron and Hermione were sitting together in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Harry had been staring onward at Draco, and Hermione quickly caught him.

"Seriously, you're still on about him being a Death Eater?"

"I just know, Hermione. I just have a feeling."

Hermione turned toward Draco herself but caught the eye of Theodore instead. He smirked but looked away almost instantly.

"Gods. It's like the two of you were made for each other." Theo said absolutely to Draco.

"Right."

Professor Snape stepped out of his office and the rattling of chatter quieted down.

Theo began smiling which caught Snape's attention. "Is something humorous, Mister Nott?"

"No." Theo snickered, "Just curious, what do you do in your off time, Snapey?" Theo tried hard to keep his grin to a minimum.

"Excuse me, Mister Nott?"

Theodore started laughing, "Sorry, Professor! Just trying to diffuse the tension."

Snape looked at him hesitantly and walked forward, "Miss Granger, I am well aware that you are quite novice in nonverbal spells."

Draco's head turned quickly at her name, in return he got a kick to the shin by Theo, "Calm it down." he whispered through gritted teeth.

Hermione nodded, gulping slightly, "Yes, Professor."

"And tell me, what is the advantage of nonverbal spells?"

"Well," she began, "your adversary has no warning of what kind of magic you're about to perform which gives you a split-second advantage."

Snape raised a brow, "Almost word for word from Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six. But yes, you are correct."

Hermione held her chin high.

"Insufferable know-it-all." Snape then growled.

Draco did not like that. Neither did Theo, it seemed.

Theo shook his head ever so slightly at his mate. They both wanted to take up for her, but there wasn't anything that they could do in this moment.

Hermione pushed her seat, allowing the feet of it to screech across the floor, she stood defiantly against her teacher. "What is it with you Slytherin?" She pushed her books from the table and shot a look of apparent disgust toward Theo and Draco.

She stormed from the classroom.

Harry and Ron continued to sit, but Theo suddenly stood, and before he could stop himself he chased out of the classroom after Hermione.

"They're shagging." Zabini said crudely, he then received spiteful looks from Potter, Weasley and Draco.

As badly as Draco wanted to run out there, he did all he could to stay settled in his seat.

But why hadn't her two supposed "best friends" not follow her out?

"Granger!" Theo called as he jogged up behind her. She stopped; throwing her hand into her hair, "Now is not the time, Theo."

"Are you okay?"

Hermione scoffed, "I have to be."

"What's wrong?" Theo was adamant, he felt an overpowering protection of the witch. Seeing her so upset hit him in a funny way.

"What isn't wrong?" she stated matter-of-factly. "Harry has a book shoved up his arse half the time and doesn't shut up about his theory of Malfoy being a Death Eater. Ron is always snogging Lavender, and it's quite sickening. I'm finding more comfort in your company and believe it or not, Draco is growing kind of appealing; He's not such a twit when he's not speaking."

Theo chuckled, "Who would've thought?! Gryffindor Princess taking to Slytherin."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Though most of you are right gits, you know."

Theo smirked, "Most, but not all."

"Don't worry about Snape. Trust me, you have nothing to be ashamed of."

"How do you mean?"

"You're the brightest witch of your age."

"You're actually realizing this now? You're admitting to it?" a light growing in her eyes.

Theo wagged his finger. "Uh, uh, uh. I said witch, not wizard."

He tricked her into a laugh.

"Thank you, Theo."

Hermione and Theo skived off on the rest of class and made their way to the Great Hall.

They sat down at a table, as a house elf appeared before them "Can I get you two anything?"

Theo nodded, "Two hot chocolates please."

With a flash and a snap, the elf disappeared, then reappeared moments later with two mugs in hand.

"Thank you." Hermione said, and Theo nodded to the elf. It left once more.

"So, Granger."

She was holding the mug up to her lips, taking in a drink. Once she removed it, she had a line of a whipped cream mustache.

"So, Theo?"

He chuckled, "You got something on your lip."

She wiped it away, weirdly enough, she hadn't been too embarrassed about it. Actually she hadn't been embarrassed at all. Theo made her rather comfortable, in ways Harry or Ron hadn't.

"Do you believe in destiny? Or fate?" he asked.

Hermione took another sip, "Erm. Well. I'm not sure. I don't necessarily believe things happen for a reason, either. I believe that is only something that people say when they are uncomfortable with a situation. So I think that if something were to happen, it's the universe's way."

Theo pouted his lip in thought, "That's a good way to put it."

Hermione smiled, "Yes. So what about you?"

Theo looked at her in desperation, his thoughts shot back to watching her die.

"Theo?" she said once more, pulling him from his gaze.

"Huh?" he asked.

"I asked, what about you?"

"Oh. I believe in fate. You can't fight it."

Draco stormed into the Great Hall and spotted the two sitting close by.

"Oi! Draco. Class over already?"

Draco scowled, "No. But Potter is rambling on about some stupid nonsense, so, I left."

Hermione didn't look up to him, she bared her eyes to the floor and began sipping on her drink once more.

"What is Potter's obsession with me?" Draco threw at her.

Hermione choked on her drink, as it burned her throat.

The fact that Draco Malfoy was actually making a point to talk to her after how he'd been their last few encounters, took her by surprise.

"He's under the impression that you're a Death Eater." she stated coolly.

Draco swallowed, his face paled. "What do you think?"

"I think it's rather silly, honestly."

Theo and Draco exchanged glances before aiming them back at Hermione.

"I mean, there's only one way to find out for sure. Show me your arm."

Draco froze. This was not supposed to happen.

"I've got to go to the bathroom."

Hermione and Theo nodded, and he turned away.

Draco stepped into a stall and silently cast a glamour charm over his dark mark, watching as it disappeared. He wished it'd stay that way.

He went back to the Great Hall and sat across from Theo and Hermione.

Hoping she'd have forgotten.

"Let's see then."

Damn.

He raised his sleeves on both of his arms, revealing pale, un-inked skin.

"Just as I suspected." Hermione shrugged.

Draco tugged his sleeves back down.

Oh how he loathed lying to her.

The house elf appeared once more, "Anything I can get you?"

Draco shook his head, "No thanks." The elf lowered its ears in defeat, and Draco immediately changed his answer.

"I'll have what they're having!"

The elf brought a mug back and left again.

Hermione watched in curiosity.

"What?" Draco asked, feeling nervous suddenly.

"Nothing. You were just so kind to the elf."

"Well I'm not a monster, Granger."

"Explain Dobby."

Draco rolled his eyes, "Dobby came from my father's family. We each have our own elf. Mother has Smee, I have Nora and Father had Dobby."

"Interesting." Hermione said as she set her mug down. "So once you get married, your elf will go along with you?"

Suddenly uncomfortable, Theo stood as did Draco, "Only if my wife agrees." And with that, Draco began his departure. Theo gave a sullen smile, "See you on Thursday, Granger Danger."

Hermione smiled and nodded, confused, "Yes, see you Thursday."

Professor McGonagall entered into the Great Hall soon after and noticed Hermione sitting alone.

"Miss Granger." Hermione looked up from her half empty mug, "Hi, Professor."

"You're not in class and I don't think you have a free period. Is everything okay?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes. Just a difficult day."

"I saw Mister Nott and Mister Malfoy were wandering the halls just now. Did they have anything to do with this?"

Hermione stifled a laugh, "Surprisingly, no."

McGonagall couldn't help but smile, "That's good to hear then, Miss Granger."

Hermione finished her cocoa and left the Great Hall.

Draco and Theo were back in the dungeons, "She's falling for me." Draco said lightly.

"And how d'ya reckon that?"

"I can just tell by the way she looks at me. It reminds me of the way she did in the memories. I need to stay away. But it's like fate is constantly jumping in the way of the plan."

Theo shook his head. "You can't fight fate." he said reluctantly.

"So what the fuck am I supposed to do?"

Theo didn't have an answer, he honestly didn't know what to say.

"I guess just keep trying to avoid her."

"It's hard to do when we get paired up as partners, or you're sitting with her, and fuck! Nothing is working out the way it's supposed to!"

Draco stood before the vanishing cabinet, he held a whole apple in his hand. He opened the door and placed the apple inside.

"Harmonia Nectere Passus"

Draco recited. With a thud, he reopened the cabinet and picked up a now half-eaten apple.

Draco stepped back slamming the door of the cabinet, resting his weight on his hands against the door, and began to whimper.

Gods why did he have to do this? Why did he get chosen. He pulled his sleeves up to find his Dark Mark back in view.

He hated his father for volunteering him. He hated The Dark Lord more than anything. He was angry with his mother for allowing him to be part of the stupid war that they all knew was coming. He pulled the phial from his shirt and held it tightly with a clenched fist.

Draco closed his eyes and imagined the amber ones he had grown to adore.

She believed in him, believed he wasn't a Death Eater. She believed that he was different, that there was something more to him. She was wrong. The thought made his head hurt.

He slipped out of the Room of Requirement and followed his feet down to the dungeons.

He rushed past the common room, completely ignoring Theo's gesture for him to join he and Zabini for a shot of firewhisky.

He slammed the curtains shut around his bed and cast a locking spell as well a silencing charm. He needed to see her.

He poured the memories into his personal pensieve, and drowned himself within them.

Hermione had just gotten out of the shower, she had a towel upon her head, and one wrapped around her body. Her skin glistened with water droplets.

Draco was untying his tie when he caught sight of her, he then removed it, throwing it to the bed.

"Hello, beautiful." Draco said as he edged his way to her, pulling her closer to him.

"Hi, handsome." she replied, pushing her fingers through the crown of his head. "I love you."

"I love you."

Draco watched as the two of them stood chatting about their respective days. He moved himself within his figure, facing Hermione head on.

She was staring back at him, her arms draped around his neck, smiling shyly, biting at her lip. He so badly wished he could place his hands on her waist for real. He wished he could feel her actual touch.

He watched the way her lips curved. He noticed a faint glimmer in her eyes. She was breathtaking. "I love you, Hermione."

Draco said once more, "I love you."

That was the first time Draco had ever said it to anyone. And yet, he wasn't saying it to anyone at all. Just a memory.

"I wish I could be with you. I wish I could hold you, kiss you. Feel your lips on mine. I wish I didn't make you cry, I wish I could tell you how I feel. I wish I could tell you what I've seen. I wish I could show you these memories."

A tear escaped his left eye. "I wish I didn't have to lie to you." he paused, "I wish you didn't fucking die."

Draco then realized that he was back on his bed. The memory had ended only moments before. He placed them back into his phial and set his pensieve to the side.

Suddenly there was a knock on the wall beside Draco's bed. He shoved his pensieve under his pillow and undid his locks and opened the curtains. The silencing charm still in place, Theo sat down beside him.

"I want to help this situation to be normal. But it's not likely, mate."

Draco nodded, releasing a sniffle.

"I just didn't think I'd become so attached." Draco said between more sniffles.

Theo shook his head, "Me either."