Sleeping with Friend Or Foe- Story 2
Disclaimer: Characters, actions, words etc... taken from JKR's Harry Potter © and used in this fanfiction do not belong to me. Even though I'd love to have Draco Malfoy…..Yum LOL!
A/N: Hey FF readers. Happy New Year to you. I hope you guys had a good first week of the year 2012. I hope you guys are ready to read this chapter. Of course review and let me know how you feel about it. Loves ya Thanks xoxo TBG
Chapter Recap…..
"Hermione are you alright? We saw you come up here and you were in there awhile," Harry said. Hermione smiled and took one of each of their hands in her own.
"Yes. Why would you be so worried?" Ron and Harry glanced at each other. Ron spoke up first.
"We were using the Marauder's map and we saw you in here last week as well." Harry stared into Hermione's eyes.
"If there is anything really wrong with you Hermione, you can tell us. We just want to know," Harry said. Hermione stared at him for a long moment before she nodded. She bit her lip and pulled them both into an empty classroom and closed the door. She impervious the door and then turned to her two best friends. She shut her eyes and then said it.
"The reason I was in the hospital wing last week and last week is because…I'm pregnant."
Chapter 17: The Truth Will Set You Free
Hermione waited for a reaction. She waited for a few moments and then opened her eyes. Harry was wide eyed and staring at her and Ron seemed frozen. Then Harry went over to Hermione and took her hands.
"It's Malfoy's right?" Hermione nodded and Harry smiled and then hugged her. Harry held her tightly and Hermione held onto him almost for dear life. Harry didn't know everything that happened between her and Draco, but because he knew that Hermione had ended it with Draco and now she was pregnant, he was able to understand how hard this was for her.
He let go and Ron who was standing behind Harry caught Hermione in a hug as well. He kissed her on her cheek. When he stepped back, he smiled at both Harry and Hermione.
"It seems like we're going to have a new member added to our group." Hermione and Harry laughed.
"Thanks guys, it means a lot to me that you are ok with this," Hermione said.
"Well you're our best mate, and we're always going to take care of each other," Ron said. Harry stared at Hermione a moment as she smiled at Ron.
"How far along are you?" Ron asked.
"About three months," Hermione answered.
Harry wanted to ask her something else, something that had been bothering him a long time about Malfoy and Hermione's relationship. Harry went over to Hermione and smiled at her. He took her hand and then ran his fingers across her wrist, lifting her sleeve up. Hermione frowned as she saw what Harry was doing.
When he let go and locked eyes with Hermione, she suddenly understood as he did what he'd been looking for and her own eyes widened. Hermione took her wrist out of his grip and looked down. Hermione didn't know how, but somehow Harry was looking for the bruises that used to line her wrists, bruises that had looked exactly like fingerprints.
"Hermione now that you've told us this, you need to tell us everything. Everything that happened between you and Draco starting with why you really broke up with him," Harry said. Hermione turned away from her two best friends. She didn't want to tell them about the worst time of her life, of her weakest moments.
"Hermione you're our best mate and as Ron said we have to take care of each other. And we haven't been doing that since Draco was hurting you….hitting you. I didn't want to believe it at first and you never said anything so I didn't know what to think. But the way you were fighting with him and when you broke it off, I just knew something was off."
Hermione stood with her back to both Ron and Harry, she stayed silent but she felt almost like she couldn't breathe. Harry and Ron could see Hermione struggling internally and they both looked at each other before they went over and each took one of her hands. Hermione looked at Ron then Harry and she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.
"Guys I-" Hermione's voice broke as the tears really began to fall. Both Ron and Harry hugged her as she cried and together they comforted her by rubbing her back. They waited as she slowly stopped and then looked up at Harry.
"How long did you know?" Hermione asked.
"I saw the bruises on your wrist once when you scratched your arm. I only caught a glimpse so I didn't really want to believe it, but then I remembered seeing a bruise on your face and then I couldn't ignore it. But then you broke up with Draco and you never came to us about it, and you seemed so much happier and I didn't know how to ask so I left it alone," Harry answered.
"I thought I was hiding it so well. I was obviously wrong," Hermione said between sniffles. Ron wiped her tears.
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Ron asked.
"I couldn't, I felt so stupid and weak. And I didn't want anyone to know."
"You aren't any of those things. Besides we'd never think that about you. You are probably the smartest in the whole school and you are not weak. We should kill him. I think we can get away with it right Ron?" Ron nodded at Harry's suggestion.
"No," she said. Both boys looked down at her.
"Listen the abuse has stopped and I'm always on guard so he can't try it again. If it was still happening with my pregnancy, I would definitely report it to the Headmaster and leave that environment. Plus he's been better…" Hermione said. Harry and Ron stared at her.
"What's going on with him? This was not who he was before," Ron said, remembering the friendly banter he'd shared with Draco only a few months before.
"His father summoned him home and when he came back he was different and…he'd been branded with the Dark Mark. I think he may be a Death Eater." Both Ron and Harry reacted at the same time.
"What?"
"He's a Death Eater? How could that be? I don't think that Voldemort would be silly enough to include him in his ranks," Ron said. Harry began to pace as he thought.
"This could possibly be something to punish Draco's parents….or even something that has to do with Hogwarts. We know he's trying to fix that cabinet but we don't know what for. We need to continue to thwart his plan," Harry said. Hermione and Ron nodded in agreement.
"We at least know that Draco is now very dangerous. We have to make sure that we all keep an eye on him, so we can find out his plan and for Hermione and the baby's sake. We want to keep her as safe as possible," Harry said. Hermione smiled at him and Harry smiled back.
"I really am glad I told you guys. I feel like I've been set free. No one really knew, or no one that I could cry to anyway," Hermione said. Both guys didn't say anything to that or hear the small confession Hermione had just made about Snape knowing. Hermione didn't know how they would take it if they knew that. Harry had known about the previous relationship but she didn't think it was really of any importance at the moment for them to know about the current one.
"We should celebrate somehow," Ron suggested , changing the subject. Hermione shook her head and Harry looked confused.
"What?"
"Yes celebrate the new baby coming," Ron answered.
"No-" Hermione started.
"Yes we should. Don't worry Hermione, I'll figure it all out. Don't worry your pretty little head." Ron quickly left the classroom before either Harry or Hermione could stop him. Hermione shook her head as Harry came over and put his arm around her shoulders. Hermione leaned into Harry and sighed.
"Are you sure you are alright Hermione?"
"Yes. I feel really relieved now."
"Well I'm glad you told us, just not sure what Ron is going to do," Harry answered. Hermione laughed as they left the classroom together. Harry and Hermione went down the hallway and quickly ducked behind a tapestry which would be a short cut to the lower levels of the castle.
"Hermione you know we still need to stop whatever it is that Malfoy is planning."
"I know. We're wasting too much time, we need a breakthrough soon," Hermione said. Both Hermione and Harry went upstairs and went off to their next class. Draco was supposed to be in that class as well, but he was missing. Something both Hermione and Harry noticed.
Draco at that time was trying to get the report on the cabinet to sound convincing. He didn't want to disappoint anyone on his progress especially not the Dark Lord. Draco shuttered at the thought of the displeasure of the Dark Lord. He could not fail in this. He was not the same person he had been after he had become a Death Eater. He just needed to make sure that he helped for as long as he could without anyone suspecting that his loyalty was wavering.
Before Draco could finish, he decided to go to the Room of Requirement and test out the cabinet to know what exactly he should report on. Draco left the Head Boy and girl dorm and went up to the Room of Requirement. It was eerily quiet up in that vast room as Draco entered it, but he tried not to think of how alone he was. He went straight to the cabinet and did a few tests.
His initial tests were successful as they had been fixed by him, but a couple of the tests were faulty. For one, when Draco tried to put a living creature into the cabinet it rejected its presence. As soon as Draco closed the door, the door would fly open again and let the bird that Draco was using, fly out. Draco frowned and couldn't understand why this was happening, considering they'd sent a bird before but it had come back dead.
Draco gritted his teeth in frustration as he jotted down this new fault. He also looked at the physical appearance of the cabinet. It looked more scratched and worn then the last time he'd worked on it. He couldn't understand why the oak doors which had been shiny and brown, were now dark and lack luster.
It still took Draco quite a while to finish his letter. When he was satisfied with what he'd written, he made his way up to the Owlery. He went and stood in the vast space looking up at the high posts and beams. Draco spotted his grey eagle owl. Draco smiled and lifted his arm and Marquis came to him immediately. He landed easily on Draco's shoulder.
"Here, take this to father as quickly as possible. And make sure he replies," Draco said. Marquis nipped Draco's hand affectionately and Draco smiled. He walked over to one of the large windows and felt Marquis' wing gently touch his cheek before he left. Draco stood there for a moment as the owl flew into the distance.
Draco left the Owlery, dragging his feet as he walked through the castle. While walking, he caught sight in the hallway of Hermione walking with a bunch of Gryffindor but she did not turn in his direction. She seemed to be going to the Gryffindor common room. Draco watched her go, watching the camaraderie amongst all the people. He sighed once before he turned away and made his way down to the dungeons. He thought it would be a good idea to see the Slytherin common room and let Crabbe and Goyle know that he sent the report off. He didn't need want them bothering him about it again.
Draco stepped into the common room of the House of Slytherin and many heads turned in his direction. It had been a long time since Malfoy had graced the Slytherin common room with his presence. And now returning made him feel strange.
He shook off any feelings of doubt and went straight to Goyle and Crabbe's chambers. Draco knocked on the closed door and heard a shuffling of sheets and people, and after a few moments, the door opened slightly to reveal a disheveled Goyle putting on his robes.
"What do you want mate?" Draco peeked in and saw a raven haired girl pulling on her robes.
"Wanted to talk about a few things. I can come back later if you'd like?" Draco answered with a grin on his lips. Goyle shook his head as the raven haired girl scurried out of the room. Draco eyed her for a moment before she disappeared down the hall. Goyle stepped into the room, letting Draco enter.
Draco opted out of sitting on Goyle's bed with the sheets all twisted and disheveled. He sat down in a chair that was nearby. He turned to Goyle.
"Where's Crabbe?" Goyle shrugged and Draco continued.
"I've just sent the progress report off. Now we must wait and see what they report back to us." Goyle nodded.
"Good, this will allow for us to continue on schedule. I think the cabinet basically works now, we just have to make sure that we try another bird that goes back and forth without dying." Draco frowned at this.
"Have you been working on the cabinet without me? Because I went up to test it out today for the report and the cabinet wasn't even letting me put the bird into it," Draco said. Goyle frowned at this information.
"No I haven't been to the Room since the last time I went with you and Crabbe. Well we should go down tomorrow and try to fix this new problem. We need this cabinet working soon." Draco nodded in agreement.
"By the way who was that girl who came out of here before?" Goyle blushed slightly before he threw a pillow at a laughing Draco.
Hermione took a bite of the delicious cake that had just been brought up. She was sitting in an armchair in the 7th year suite that Ron and Harry occupied. Somehow Ron had organized this celebration party which included exploding confetti birds who would squawk and then explode confetti all over everything, animated decorations which continually changed themselves to fit the party theme, platters of sweets and treats from the kitchens and a big box of Weasley Wizard Weezes products sent courtesy of Fred and George. Ron had hopped over via Floo network and gotten all the decorations. Fred and George themselves had come along with Ron in celebration of Hermione's good news, which Ron had informed them of.
Harry and Ron had gotten permission from Dumbledore to have their fireplace open to the Floo network so Order members would be able to come into the castle easier. And because that channel was only known to Order members, they had to give very specific and clear instructions to get through this fireplace so it was very safe.
Hermione looked around at Ginny, Harry, Ron, Fred & George, Neville, Luna, Cho, Lavender & Hannah. Not all of them knew what the celebration was about except for Harry and the other Weasleys, but all of them enjoyed their time together. After another hour Hermione was getting sleepy. She'd had a good amount of the sweets but now she just wanted to get back to her room. She said goodnight to everyone gave them each a hug and then left.
As Hermione walked down the halls, she began to think of the cabinet and how wasted time could never be regained and decided to go and see if she could tamper with it some more. Hermione quickly made her way to the blank space on the 7th floor, willed the Room open, and entered, immediately going to the cabinet and pulling out her wand. Hermione put down her bag, took a deep breath and began her assault. She threw quite a few spells, some causing the cabinet to react and glow for a second, but nothing else.
Hermione quickly threw a final spell at the cabinet, nearly causing it to lift off the ground with the power she had. It came down with a plunk and Hermione smiled to herself. This cabinet would not be working anytime soon. Hermione picked up her bag and left the room, brushing off a few pieces of the red and gold confetti that had stayed onto her clothes from the party. Hermione smiled to herself in remembrance. She was so lucky to have Ron and Harry in her life.
As Hermione came down a flight of stairs, she noticed Draco coming up. She gave him a quick nod before continuing on her way. Draco, catching sight of Hermione, immediately took in her appearance. She looked like she was glowing and she was glittering all over, even on her bag.
As she walked by, one piece of the confetti from her bag fell and fluttered in front of Draco. He bent down and picked it up briefly examining it before continuing on. He quickly entered the Room of Requirement and tested the cabinet for half an hour. It still was giving him trouble. Now the door seemed to not fit in its jam correctly.
"What in Merlin is going on?" He asked himself. He stepped back and began to pace. While he did, he noticed something on the floor, something that he recognized and something that made his blood boil. No, it couldn't be….but it would make sense, he thought. He hurried out of the room, striding through the halls with purpose as he made his way back to the Head Boy & Girl common room.
He entered and looked around. He caught sight of Hermione's bag near an armchair. As he examined it, Hermione entered the room with a plate of cheese, crackers and fruit.
"What are you doing?" She asked as she noticed Draco kneeled by her bag. She quickly placed her plate down and placed her hand on her wand in her robes. Draco stood up and walked over to her, and looked her straight in the eyes.
"What have you been doing in the Room of Requirement?" Hermione didn't bat an eyelash. She stayed cool as a cucumber even though her heart began to pound.
"Why do you ask?"
"I know you were there tonight. I saw this confetti in there on the floor and a piece of it fell by me when you passed me on the stairs. Now what were you doing?" Draco took a step towards Hermione. She took one back and to the side. She cursed herself for being stupid enough to leave such an obvious piece of evidence for Draco to find.
"Why do you sound so nervous Draco? What's so important in there?" He gritted his teeth and got right in her face. He clenched his fists, forcing himself not to touch her. Hermione was gripping her wand tightly and was ready if he made any more moves toward her.
"I'm not nervous just answer the question." Hermione stared at him a moment before answering.
"The Room of Requirement hides many things. Yes I was there tonight but I keep my own secrets in that room and I won't be revealing them to you." Draco sighed and nodded.
"Fine, just stay out my way Granger."
"What will you do if I don't stay out of your way?" She asked defiantly.
"Hermione..." A tick was going in Draco's cheek in frustration.
"Whatever it is that you are doing up there, if it's for Voldemort, we can help you. Protect you-" Hermione was cut off by Draco's bark of a laugh.
"Protect me from the Dark Lord? No one can protect me, I can only protect myself. Just don't get in my way." He turned away and began to leave the common room. Hermione felt brave and angry and she felt the tears well up even as she tried to will them away.
"Or what? You'll toss me around like a rag doll again?"
Draco stopped and turned around. He stared at her angry face and her bright eyes shining with tears and her defensive stance and he fell in love with her all over again. He ached to take her into his arms and kiss her until she felt his love and felt how sorry he was. All he saw now was what he'd done to her, he felt guilt grip and twist his heart. He shut his eyes for a moment before he spoke. He spoke clearly and slowly, almost as if it pained him to speak about it.
"No. I deeply regret ever putting my hands on you. I don't know what I've become these past months, but even if you never forgive me, I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I am sorry for any feelings other than happiness that I gave you because of my actions. I'm trying to find my way back to myself and I'm so sorry for hurting you on the way Hermione." He quickly turned and left Hermione in a state of shock. She had never expected him to apologize.
Hermione went and got her plate and sat in an armchair. She tried to eat so as to calm her nerves as well as took in deep breaths.
The things Draco had said continued to haunt Hermione the next day. So much so, that she answered no questions in Potions which troubled Snape. When class ended he called Hermione to stay afterward.
When the class had cleared and he had shut and impervioused his door, he'd swept her into his arms and taken her chin in his hand. He titled her face up to his and had just looked at her. Looked at how her thoughts clouded her usually clear hazel eyes and how she seemed detached from her body. Something was bothering her deeply.
"What is wrong Hermione? Is the baby alright?" She looked up at the kind face of a man who she could trust.
"Yes the baby is fine it's just…" she trailed off as she slipped back into her thoughts again. Snape stared, he'd never seen her like this before, he shook her ever so slightly.
"Hermione come back to me. What is troubling you so deeply you can't focus on our conversation or anything for that matter?" Snape asked. Hermione stepped away from Snape and began to pace.
"It's Draco. He said something to me last night. Something about trying to find himself….and he apologized for what he'd done to me. I don't know what he's playing at or whether he's becoming who he was….but all I know is he's unpredictable and that's dangerous."
"Don't you think you are over-thinking this? Draco isn't dangerous, he's just troubled," Snape replied. Hermione looked at him and went over and took his hands.
"Please don't underestimate him. He is dangerous. His thoughts, actions and motives cannot be predicted. I have no idea who he'll be from one day to the next and he is still a Death Eater to a degree. Plus you have all those remedial potions with him so just be careful, alright?" Snape smiled at her and kissed the back of her hand.
"Of course. I always am." She smiled and moved in to kiss him gently on his lips. Snape held her closely as she kissed him. He didn't try to take more in the kiss, the sweetness of this one was enough. Hermione pulled back and wrapped her arms around Snape and hugged him. She threaded her hands through his silky hair and pressed her face into his neck. They just held each other for a moment, Hermione just enjoyed the strong warm arms.
Snape's robes enclosed her into his body and she couldn't help but kiss his neck before she pulled back enough to see his face. She stroked his face and sighed.
"I have another class in alittle while but I'm glad I spoke to you. You seem much more alert now," Snape said with a grin.
Hermione grinned and stuck out her tongue at him. She gave him one more kiss before she collected her bag and left the classroom
When she reached the Great Hall, Ron and Harry stopped her and pulled her aside. They both looked a bit flustered.
"Harry and I just went up to the Room of Requirement to see if we could work on the cabinet again and we couldn't find it. It wasn't where it usually is and we didn't have enough time to look for it deeper in the Room. Do you know what happened?" Hermione sighed.
"I might have an idea. And I need to tell you guys something that happened last night with me and Draco. C'mon. "With that Hermione pulled them behind a hidden hallway and told them what she'd told Snape.