All of your reviews have been FANTABULOUS! I loved reading your guy's opinions and suggestion which I use by the way! Please keep it up and I have to say that I like updating quickly too, I'll see if I can keep it up!

For those of you who are still questioning who the 'bastard' is...it saddens me that some of my reviewers asked this. The name was explicitly mentioned in the previous chapter. Viktor Krum y'all that's who the bastard is.

Some one asked what a CONTRACEPTIVE was. A contraceptive is birth control. Just a more fancier word for it. Sorry for the confusion!

NOTE ONE: I believe that I will make this chapter and the next a bit longer than most...There's a lot to explain!

HUGE WARNING HERE! PLEASE READ THIS WARNING FIRST!

Mention of adult aspects are held within this installment. Please read at own risk. Mention of methamphetamines and other substances are held in this chapter. You are warned!

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone except John Ellermann.

Chapter 21: They Speak of Drama

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Hermione slowed her pace a bit as she saw the man she had been seeking standing a few feet in front of her. He stood there a bit stunned, whether it was that he found her or the face that she was coming out of Gryffindor Tower, she didn't know. She was happy however, to see him. He kept standing there without an actual expression, just sort of gazing at her. She finally reached him coming about a foot away.

His eyes were still completely transfixed on her. She finally became uncomfortable and hist his arm playfully.

"Draco!" she said softly. He shook his head to rid him of his state and smiled sheepishly.

"Ah...Hermione. What were y-you doing over here?" he asked impishly, still getting himself together.

Hermione's smile faded a little as she mulled over what to say to him. She could just imagine his reaction at her reply...

'I was with Harry. We were-'

'WHAT?' he would shout and then his eyeballs would pop. No, she couldn't say that. Maybe she could go with-

"Ginny! I was talking with Ginny because she wanted to-"

"Bullocks. I was with the Weaselette just now. I doubt she mastered the art of Apparating within the castle grounds," Draco said probing Hermione with his eyes and walking a bit closer to her, " You know she told me an array of interesting things. Things that urged me to come to you," Draco said.

Hermione stood there and twiddled her fingers, which by now Draco knew was a sign of nervousness in his dear wife. Hermione racked her brain for something else to say, but got nothing. 'How about the truth?' something inside her said. She looked at his face and saw that he was in a 'no bullshit' mood.

Hermione sighed. " I was talking with Harry." Her tone of voice sounded a bit guilty, but that did nothing to make her earlier vision of a pissed off Draco cease from coming true. His eyes almost did pop out. What was she doing talking to him? He could not believe that after everything he had said and done she would still grace him with her presence.

"Why in the world were you talking with him?" Draco asked in a strained voice as he approached Hermione predatorily. His angry gaze was aimed at her and he could see her flinch every time she met his eyes. Hermione took a few steps back not really expecting him to lash out in the hallway.

"I bumped into him and he wanted to apologise for what happened that day. Please Draco, calm down," she pleaded softly, holding onto his arm lightly.

Draco looked around seeing a few people give them weird and questioning looks. He looked back down at Hermione's pleading eyes and nodded in understanding. He held onto her hand making Hermione blush faintly; this was the fist time he held her hand. Pity it had to be while we're fighting. How romantic. He lead them back to their dorm where he directed Hermione in first and then slammed the door. He turned around quickly to Hermione not letting her prepare for his lashing out.

"Why in the hell were you even in the same room with that disgusting piece of crap?" he asked angrily as Hermione turned wide eyes on him.

"Draco please calm down! He's my friend. I couldn't just ignore him forever!" she bit back with rising fury.

"Is that what you call a friend? Well then I wonder what kind of sodding enemies you have! Hermione, friends don't hit their friends, alright?" Draco reasoned with a loud voice.

"Perhaps not, but they do forgive," Hermione rebutted. Draco stood there looking at her knowing that she had him stumped. He shook his head and went over to her and held her. She reluctantly let him slip his arms around her.

"Hermione understand that its not easy for me. That day when I saw that sodding prick strike you, I wasn't lying when I said I need all the power in the world to keep me from tearing him a new one," he said caressing her hair. She laid her head on his shoulder and breathed in his scent.

"I know. I believe you. But you have to understand that Harry is more than a friend to me. Him and Ron have always been there for me and we've been together for nearly seven years! A bond like that can't be thrown away over a heated discussion," she said pulling back enough to see his face. Draco nodded, but not with enthusiasm. He was still very irate at the happenings of that day and needed all the power in the world to keep from going to the Gryffindor Tower and sending Potter to where Voldemort currently resided; Hell.

"Well, your business I guess is your own just be careful around him please...for me. What did you tell him?" Draco said making conversation now. Hermione looked up to the ceiling as if for an answer and then rolled her eyes.

"I told him I needed more time to think on things. I mean, I know Harry is irrational at times and very impulsive, but this time he went a bit too far," she sighed, "I really don't know what to think. I feel that he's changed somehow. I know he's not the same."

"Neither are you," Draco said thoughtfully. Hermione left his arms fully and faced him.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I was referring to what the Weaselette told me," Draco commented.

"What pre tell did she tell you?" Hermione asked curiously.

"She said that...," he sighed not knowing where to begin, "You ask a loaded question Granger. I guess it sort of started when I told her something about me. I swear the Weaselette is very therapeutic," Draco said with lifted brows and a mirthful voice. Hermione smiled and shook her head. Damn you Ginny.

"What did you tell her?" Hermione asked.

"Let me ask you something first... Have I changed?" Draco asked seriously looking into her eyes. Hermione laughed and then sobered at the look on Draco's face. He's serious! Hermione then thought about it; he wanted to make their marriage work, he was being civil to other teachers and Dumbledore, and he also was treating other muggle-borns nicely. Yeah, big change.

"I guess so...yes you have. Quite a lot actually. What spurred it?" Hermione asked unconsciously caressing Draco's hand with her finger.

"That's what she asked me. Then I told her that my father had died. She kept interrogating me until she got to the crux of it," Draco said unconsciously clasping his hand with hers.

"What crux?"

"My mum. I told her that my mother cares for me now and I for her. Well mainly me for her. After Lucius died she struggled to manage her own life. You remember I told you this awhile ago," Draco said. Hermione nodded. Indeed she did remember.

"I told the Weaselette that my mother had begun to teach me about the value of life and what it really means to ridicule someone," Draco got very hollow when he spoke the last bit. Hermione furrowed her brows and with her free hand cupped his cheek. She could tell that there was importance in the way his mother had taught him the last one.

"How did you she teach you the last one?" Hermione asked softly. Draco looked into her eyes and for the first time Hermione saw sorrow within them. What in the world could make Draco Malfoy feel such profound sorrow?

"She said, 'Me.' I remember the way her eyes seemed to go a bit dim when she told me that one simple word, but she knew that I understood. And I did," Draco said holding tighter onto Hermione's hand. Hermione took in a sharp breath and let it out slowly. He was opening up to her. What really could build trust was confiding in each other and obviously Draco knew that.

"Obviously you understood that, but I'm having a bit more trouble following you," Hermione said with a half smile. Draco returned it and took her hand from his cheek and held that one as well.

"Lucius, Hermione. My father treated his wife as he would muggle-borns he came across. Only he was more merciful to the muggle-borns," Draco said.

"How was he merciful?"

"He granted them a quick death," Draco said with a derisive laugh.

Hermione covered her mouth with one of her hands and gasped. "Was he really that awful?" she asked, sounding a bit like a child when told about the Boogie Man for the first time.

"Yeah, he was. I would see the way he treated her in front of me and as I grew older my hate for him tripled. I was relieved the day when I heard he was dead. Only after that my mother and I were at a loss. She didn't know how to live without her husband and I simply didn't know how to live," he said with a shrug.

"What happened? I mean, obviously you both overcame your obstacles," Hermione said logically.

"She helped me learn about emotions, the value of a person, the possibility for love in my twisted life. I helped her as well. I took over the responsibilities of the male role and I gave her a bit of support for whatever she needed. Don't get me wrong though, not everything about me has changed," he finished with a grin.

Hermione smiled too and nodded at his explanation, but still wondered what this had to do with what Ginny told him. Yes he was being forthcoming, but he had lost himself in his old memories. Memories that brought upon sorrow that she could not bear to see in his cerulean eyes.

"What does this have to do with what Ginny told you?" Hermione asked lightly. Draco looked into his wife's eyes.

"The question she asked me that lead to the conversation about my mother was, 'Why are you trying to make your marriage with Hermione work?'" he said not bothering to explain. Hermione looked at him even more puzzled than before until a thought worked its way into her head. Lucius and his mother had a troubled marriage... Maybe Draco... Then Hermione's eyes widened and a look of understanding came upon her graceful features. She finally understood now why he had worked so hard to bring her passion back. He had tried so hard in the beginning to make her think the way she used to, before she was being taken advantage of by Harry and Ron. He had succeeded. She was her old fiery self again, only now she was confused.

What she did know is that Draco did not want the same marriage with her as his father had with Narcissa.. Hermione saw Draco look down and for the very first time, bit his lip. Draco Malfoy was nervous. Nervous because he knew that Hermione had figured it out. New feelings of warmth and happiness sprang up in Hermione. As she looked at Draco she though that she would ooze some of what was welling up inside her. She needed to let him know that what he did was appreciated. That his efforts were acknowledged...That she cared for him.

She kissed him.

Draco had been sitting there with his heart on his sleeve for once. He was nervous as hell because he knew Hermione was smart and would probably know now why his efforts were so entirely directed at her. As he looked up at her, he saw a confused and puzzled face. This was not what he had imagined. He thought that she would be happy and would blush and then maybe even smile, but no. She was confused. If that didn't hurt his Malfoy ego, then he was the spawn of Merlin. Yet, as he looked deeper still into those amber orbs, he could see clarity. He could see that a ray of lucidity had crashed upon her. Yet what was it?

Just then her two soft hands grabbed the sides of his head and pulled him towards her lips. He instantly felt the radiating intensity from her. She was full of some emotion that he could not place, all he did know was that she was feeling it for him. For what he had done. As her lips accommodated to his, he felt her hands grab his shirt and pull him closer. Draco put his hand on her neck to deepen the kiss. Hermione felt his tongue at her lip begging for permission to enter. She smiled inwardly, but knew that they had more to talk about.

She gently pulled away with a mental haze about her. Draco protested by holding her by holding her in with his hand on her neck. Hermione put her hand on his and removed it from her neck glaring at him playfully.

"We had a full night of this already, now we need to talk," Hermione said earning a groan from Draco. Hermione was now blushing as she remembered Draco's motives for making their marriage work. Draco saw this and smirked.

"Why so shy all of a sudden?" he asked with amusement.

"I was thinking that...we can make this marriage work," then her blush went away and was placed by a serious look, "but if we are, then now its my turn to speak."

"Yeah. The Weaselette asked my one simple question that I think will spur your conversation a bit more," Draco said.

"Oh? What's that?" Hermione asked curiously.

"'How much do I really about Viktor Krum's death?'" he said intentionally looking at Hermione to see her reaction. Hermione kept her face as clear as possible for she expected something leading to this past summer. Truth be told this was going to be exceedingly hard for her. She hasn't once talked about what happened with Krum to anyone...not even Harry. She sighed and stood. She walked towards the fireplace with an air of solemnity.

"Well Draco...What do you know about Viktor Krum's death?" Hermione asked quietly. Draco looked at her back puzzled, but answered anyway.

"Not much...Just what I read in the Daily Prophet. That Krum was into some bad muggle medicine and that's what killed him. Why are you asking me this though?" Draco asked sitting more upright and with his bum more towards the edge of the couch. Hermione slumped her shoulders a bit and sighed again.

"Did it ever mention my name in the article?" she asked finally turning around and facing him. Draco racked his brain as he remembered the article...

oooooooo

'Viktor Krum, at the age of 21, was pronounced dead at half past four this Thursday. He was found in his home lying motionless on the floor. Blood and other bodily fluids were spilled around him.

'...sources say that Krum was into Muggle remedies. He mostly went to a 'doctor' and was treated there. From a thorough search of his home investigators were able to deduce that he had been treated by 'doctors' for quite some time. Krum, it turns out, built up what we are now told is an 'addiction' or physical dependency on medications. More tests are being ran and other investigation are being held to decipher the true cause of death.

Viktor Krum may you rest in peace.'

ooooooo

That's how most of the article was written. Mostly stats on what had happened and would be done. But nowhere had they said anything on his devoted girlfriend, Hermione. Even then the article was spotty. It had declined to say who had found him dead and what exactly he had died from. Most wizards were used to the term 'drug addict', this Hermione knew. Draco did as well.

"No," Draco finally said, "no they didn't. They didn't even bother to mention who had found him. No names were mentioned at all actually. The article was shotty though. When I met Krum in fourth year he seemed to be more into the purity of blood than I was," he said earning a bit of a glare from Hermione. Draco shrunk a bit under her gaze and coughed.

"I mean...Obviously he had good taste. But I got that impression of him. What I do know is that he would never go to a...what did they call it...? Oh yes! A doctor. He needed quick recovery being a Quidditch player. That was the major flaw in the article," Draco commented. Hermione nodded. She remembered how he used to write her letter telling her about his 'war wounds' that he got out in the field. She smiled at the memory.

"It was the only way to explain it though," she said coming out of her trance. Draco shrugged.

"Explain what?"

"His addiction. Like you said he would never go to a doctor, but it was the only way they could explain without mentioning my name," Hermione said her voice quivering a bit at the end. Draco was starting to grow concerned. Just what skeleton lay in Hermione's closet? Was it something so horrible that it brought her to a fright just at the thought?

"Hermione...What are you talking about?" Draco said trying to keep his voice cool and unconcerned. Hermione shut her eyes tight and silently begged God for strength. She opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Draco...do you know what a drug addict is?" she asked carefully.

Draco nodded.

"Do you know how bad their condition can become?" she asked again in the same voice. Draco once again nodded. He hoped to Merlin though, that what Hermione was asking had nothing to do with Krum. From his studies in the Hippocrates class, drug addicts couldn't live without a certain substance. They became enticed by the effect and sometimes permanently dependent and that they could lead to death. He had seen pictures of what happened to the body and had seen many films on the psychological affects.

They were not pretty.

"Draco...Viktor was a drug addict," she said simply. She looked at Draco and waited for him to comprehend the situation before she went on. Draco looked at her astonishingly. Hermione Granger had been in a relationship with a drug addict. Draco processed the information with a small nod of his head. Hermione nodded as well getting the hint that he understood.

"What happened then?" Draco asked softly. Hermione had her hands clasped together and was looking into a far off place.

"It didn't start quick. It was very gradual, very progressive. I didn't notice for the longest time. He never did go to a muggle doctor and I knew that he didn't know what drugs were, but then I found out about his addiction and I tried to help him," she said her voice becoming hollow and her eyes were losing their spark.

"We were happy. For the longest time we were happy. We had been in a relationship for a year and a half before the problems started. I would notice little things about him. The funny smell in his clothes, the redness in his eyes that wouldn't go away, the times when he would go to the loo and I wouldn't hear a flush.

"I had a suspicion, this inkling in the back of my mind that told me something was wrong with him, but I didn't listen. I thought that we were still happy. The way he would talk to me about future plans and things he was already having made, like our house. I seriously thought that I would marry him one day," Hermione kept looking off into the distance.

Draco was growing concerned for she had not looked at him the entire time she was speaking. Her voice had become reminiscent and full of sorrow. Her eyes were dull and unblinking. Her knuckles were turning white from lack of circulation because she was clasping them so tight.

"Then I got the big hint. My suspicions had grown to the point where I couldn't sleep anymore. So then on a weekend during the Easter Holidays, I went to Hogsmeade and instead of going to the Three Broomsticks, I went for the Hogs Head instead. I know it was stupid of me to go there, but for some reason I felt like it was the right thing," she said finally letting a tear escape. Draco couldn't take it anymore and got up and went to her. He held her by the shoulders and led her over to the couch so that she would sit again. He unclasped her hands and intertwined them with his.

"I had my cloak on and I kept my face hidden. And then I heard the door open. I knew who it was before I even looked. I heard his deep voice talking to someone else and in English. The other bloke was American because he had an accent. That's when I heard them talking..." Hermione closed her eyes tight as she remembered that night...

oooooooooooooo

The door had creaked opened letting a breeze trespass. It hit Hermione gently in the face earning a wiggle of her nose. As she breathed in the air, she noticed a very familiar scent. He's here, she thought. She put her hood on and very carefully looked behind her. There stood her very handsome and very pale looking boyfriend. His complexion was pallid and his face was a bit gaunt. His appearance made Hermione's gut wrench.

Then walked in another man. He was tall as well, but he was not Bulgarian. He was a bit shorter than Viktor and had light green eyes with tan hair. His face would have been beautiful had he not been matching Viktor's mal-nourished appearance.

They both sat a table. And started conversing again.

"Two fire whiskeys!" she heard Viktor call out. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. Viktor doesn't drink. He can't drink with the sport he plays... But as she turned to see, her eyes found the proof. The glass was brought to them by the bar tender and Viktor picked it up. Hermione saw the brief look of all-consuming desire to have it. The clear glass touched his lips and to Hermione's horror, watched as her beloved gulped it down ravenously.

She whipped her head around and bit her lip. She shook her head and licked her lips. She was being silly. He was of age and was entitled to have a drink with his mates here and there. But the look on his face just now... Hermione kept her ears perked trying to pick something up in the conversation.

"...so he said that he would be in town three months! That's enough time for you to scalp what you need and get the money to pay him off. He's a Muggle and won't know what to do with galleons. Scalp the rest of the kilos you have left and then get enough Muggle money to pay him off for some Ice," his American friend said with a grin.

Viktor nervously rubbed the back of his head and shook it.

"I don't know Jake," he said with his deep accented voice.

"C'mon Viktor! You haven't tried the good stuff until you've tried this. I'm telling you Ice is the greatest thing on earth," Jake said with enthusiasm.

"Vat is it? I mean...vat is the real name ov it?" Viktor asked.

"Uh...Crystal meth I think, but that's not important. Just tell me when you've got the money and I'll take it over to the Don alright?" Jake said gulping down another fire whiskey.

"I dunt know Jake. I haff been vanting to quit for a long time. I haff no reason to take them anymore. If my voman ever found out..."

"Your woman?" asked Jake with a bit of a laugh, "Why would she find out? Look just keep the doses low and she won't know. I mean you've been on all sorts of drugs for how long now? Six month? Has she noticed?"

Viktor looked at Jake, but didn't meet his eye. "Vell no, but-"

"But nothing! Have the money ready and I'll go and get the good for you. Trust me you won't regret it," Jake said in a sing song voice. Viktor looked at him with reluctance and then nodded.

"Yah, I'll haff the money for you in two veeks. You are sure that the Vizarding Vorld does not care about these 'drugs' as you call them?" Viktor asked worriedly.

Jake shook his head. "Nah. I've been on the American Quidditch team for years and doing this. Wizards know about the drugs, sure, but their naive about it. Being a muggle-born has its rewards. I know the best of both worlds."

"Yes, Muggle-borns are a specialty," Viktor said with reverence.

"So... Two weeks?" Jake asked with a grin.

"Two veeks," Viktor said downing another shot of fire whiskey.

oooooooooooooo

"...and that's how I found out. Jake was a Muggle-born from America who was into drugs rather badly. I later told Viktor that I knew. He denied it for the longest time, but then when I found his stash at our house, he admitted to it," Hermione said. Draco had been clenching his jaw while she had told her story about that night. He couldn't have imagined Krum ever going down that path. But as he saw Hermione's silent tears spilling from her eyes, he knew that there was more and that it was worse.

"Hermione if you don't want to continue-" Draco started, but Hermione cut him off with a shake of her head.

"No, I want to tell you everything Draco. Please, jut bear with me," she said tiredly. She breathed in with a slight shudder and wiped her eyes.

"He later told me that he would seek help and would try to quit. I went back to school and I saw him at times over the weekends. He was looking a lot better. His eyes were brighter, his skin got back its color, and he seemed to put on his natural weight. For a time more we were happy. Then before the end of Sixth year he asked me to live with him during the summer.

"I said yes. I moved in with him right after I got off the train. I lived in our house for a month and a half until..." Hermione gripped Draco's hands tighter and he knew why, "until he died..." she said telling him the memory of that night...

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

She ran as fast as she could up the steps to use the loo. She never did know why Viktor had decided to put three stories to their house. She guessed she wanted the best for her, but not having a loo on the first floor was poor floor planning. She finally reached it and went about her business. After she was done she decided to go back up to the third floor where their bedroom resided. Even though she was living with him, they had separate beds in the same room. Merlin knew the room was big enough to fit the Weasley's and their extended family.

She reached the second stair case and stepped on the third step that always squeaked. Hermione swore under breath and knelt down to see what was wrong with it. She saw that one of the tiny boards came out. She prodded at the board and took it off thinking that she would get her wand to mend it, when the sight of what lay under the little board stopped her heart. There was a bag full of Crystal meth.

Tears came to her eyes as she thought back to the day when Viktor had begged and pleaded with her not to leave him. He had swore that he would not do them again, yet here in her hand lay the contradiction. Here in her hand lay to the proof to almost three months of lies. She wiped the tears from her eyes and put the board back. She kept the bag and went to the nearest loo and flushed it. Damn him for lying to me...and about this.

She was beyond anger at this point and thought to make her anger known to him when he came home. Several hours passed and he had yet to come home. What worried her more is that he said he would be out with Jake. She sat on the couch in the common room and waited another amount of time, before she fell asleep.

The sound of a door slamming woke her. She grabbed her wand tightly in her hand and got up to see who it was. As she looked towards the front door she saw a staggering Viktor tumble in. She breathed in a sigh of relief and put her wand down by the coffee table. She then walked over cautiously to Viktor. As she got closer a familiar stench was about the air, his blood shot and heavy-lidded eyes gazed up at her she knew that he was intoxicated. She also knew that he had now blatantly broken his oath.

"Viktor? Are you alright?" she asked carefully. She stood about three feet from him.

Viktor looked up at her lazily and smiled dumbly with his head wobbling like Nearly-Headless-Nick's.

"Hermioninny! Vat are you still doin' up?" he said loudly and sluggishly. Hermione had to keep from puking at the horrible odor that oozed from his mouth.

"I was waiting for you...Viktor I found your stash of Ice underneath the floor board. Why have you been lying to me all this time?" she said keeping her voice calm. She didn't want to upset him while he was drunk and Merlin knew what else he had taken this night. He staggered a bit closer to her and blinked dumbly, but understood.

"Vhy did you go around snooping? I kept that little bit for...emergency," he said getting angry. Hermione backed up a little more.

"But Viktor you lied. You swore that you weren't going to do this anymore. You remember how hard it was a few months ago. Please let's not go through that again," Hermione pleaded. Viktor looked at her and smiled.

"No let's night fight. Instead I know vat vee can do," he said with a glint in his eyes. He walked quicker towards Hermione not giving her a chance to escape. He got her in his arms and began to forcefully kiss her. Hermione was overcome with the smell of his breath and clothes. She that he was drunk, but the smell of his clothes was different. Marijuana, she thought quickly as she struggled to get out of his grip. She finally succeeded in pushing him off of her, which was not easy given his weight.

"Viktor! Sod off! You're drunk and who knows what else! Please just go to bed and we'll talk in the morning," Hermione said straightening herself up. Viktor looked quizzically at her for a minute.

"Talk about vat?"

"Viktor, you've got a problem. I was thinking that the best things I can do for you right now is give you space and give myself some space too. I think I should go back home. I should leave tomorrow," Hermione said easing her way up the stairs. She wanted to maybe go to her bedroom and lock herself in. She mentally kicked herself for leaving her wand in the common room, but at least she would be safe for awhile in her bedroom.

Viktor had other plans. His eyes quickly focused on her and his brows furrowed in anger. She wanted to leave him? After he had built this house for her? After all of the years they had been together? She wanted to leave? No, that can't happen.

"I vant you to stay," he said forcefully and harshly, "You von't go anyvhere tomrrow. You live here vith me now. This is your home."

He was also walking up the stairs in front of her. Hermione heard the anger in his voice and knew that maybe she should have kept the last part for later. Too late now. She gingerly walked up until they reached their bedroom.

"Do you know how hard it is to sleep in the same room vith you and not haff you?" he began to say.

"I haff vanted you for so long now and you vill be mine," he said grabbing Hermione by her hair and throwing her into the room. Hermione struggled to get herself back up before he could have a chance, but it was too late. He was already on top of her roaming wherever he wanted to go. Hermione felt disgust, but her body was betraying her by feeling arousal. She tried to pry him off, but he was too heavy and too strong.

"Viktor! Please don't! Viktor! STOP PLEASE DON'T DO THIS PLEASE!" she screamed. Viktor ceased what he was doing, but only to make the back of his hand meet with Hermione's tender cheek. She slammed back against the bed, but didn't sob. Viktor got up and went to the bathroom that was in their bedroom. He came back with a small black bag.

"You might haff found the Ice, but you did not find this," he said opening up the bag and pulling out a needle. Hermione's eyes widened and her lip trembled.

"What is that Viktor? What are you going to do?" Hermione said, her voice quivering with fear.

"Don't worry. I'll take some first so that I can relax a bit more. Then I'll give you some so you can relax too," he said filling the syringe with a clear liquid. He then grabbed his wand and pointed it at Hermione.

"Petrificus Totalus!" he said sluggishly. Hermione then went rigid. Tears were now streaming out of her eyes as she saw Viktor walk up to her and inject her right hand with the clear venom that was inside the syringe.

"There now Hermioninny! You can relax now," he said going to the bathroom and throwing away the used syringe. He then grabbed another needle from the bag and filled it up with double what he gave Hermione. He injected himself with it, having an expression of joy on his face as he did so. He then retracted the needle and threw it away as well. He grabbed his wand again and pointed it at Hermione so that she was no longer rigid.

Hermione quickly went to sit up, but saw that the room was starting to spin. She saw Viktor take one step towards her with a smile on his face before he fell to the floor. Hermione tried to get up to see if he was alright, but the room kept circulating until she saw darkness in her vision take over.

She didn't know how much time had passed until she awoke. Her eyelids fluttered open and there was a pounding ache in her head. She finally managed to keep her eyes fully open. Her vision was somewhat blurred, but was coming back into sharper focus. She groaned as she tried to sit up, the events that had transpired earlier came flooding back into her aching mind. She remembered that he had fallen.

She quickly got to her feet and stabled herself. She looked down and in front of her lay her boyfriend, the love of her life, in a heap of blood, vomit, and other fluids. Hermione quickly took in a breath and rushed out of the room. She went down the stairs to the first loo and walked inside unaware that she was bleeding and leaving a trail. She went to vomit in the toilet but missed. She quickly drenched herself with water and walked back up to Viktor.

There he lay on the floor with one hand on his chest and the other to the side of him. Hermione thought he was dead until she saw his chest rise and then fall. She quickly went over to him and took him up in her lap.

"Viktor! Viktor!" she said slapping his cheeks to rouse him. He made choking sounds, but opened his eyes. The hand on his side reached up to Hermione's face.

"Hermione...I am...s-s-s-soorrry," he struggled to say. Hermione made hushing noises at him. Tears were cascading down her face as she tried uselessly to clean up the blood that was pouring out of his nose and mouth. His hand was still caressing her face leaving blood stains on her cheeks.

"Ple-please...love...For-forgive me," he heaved, his accent still there, "I...never wanted...to do this...I love you..."

"I love you too Viktor. Please just stay right here I am going to go get the Healers or help," Hermione sobbed. Viktor held on to her.

"No...no time...Please...don't 'member this...Hermione...just remember...," he said with his breathing becoming faint, his pupils beginning to dialate, and his hand starting to drop . Hermione heaved in another sob as she heard the last three words that Viktor Krum would ever say.

"I love you."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"...that was the very last thing he said to me. Even after he drugged me, tried to rape me, and hit me he apologised and told me that he loved me," Hermione said to a very shocked and upset Draco.

Draco held her close and caressed her hair. He wiped the tears that were streaming down her face gently.

"Hermione I had no idea. I never knew that...I am so sorry, love," he said with a soft voice.

Yes...A very sad, but very informative chapter. This is the plot I had for Hermione's past love. I thought it was a nice twist. Please tell me what you guys think!

Note two: I will try to update once more before this Thursday. And sorry about the no Ishtar and Nergal. That is why I said in the beginning that this is part of another chapter. This chapter was 15 pages which is longer than any of the other chapters. I am expecting the next one to be the same length or longer.

Note Three: Thank you all seriously for the reviews. Please help me hit a thousand soon. The reason I have been reviewing so quickly is becuz of your fab-o reviews! So keep them coming!

Note Four: During the memories with Viktor Krum...I have bad grammar so to speak, because I want to make his accent known. So I know there are spelling errors there because I thought that is what his accent would sound like!

Don't be a prude, review!

For all of those who want to get to know me better, my Myspace name is Cocaina!

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