****Hi everybody! Hi Doctor Nick. Haha, I'm joking. This is Harry Potter, not The Simpsons. Anyway, I really enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope you like it! It's a bit dark, I'm actually thinking of changing the rating to M… Let me know if you think it's necessary. Thank you so, so much to Ennun, Cirsei, and jessisthebestpersonever for your amazing reviews - they mean so much to me. Please, please continue to review, it honestly makes my week! Credits to Cirsei for being an amazing editor and friend (Happy Birthday too!). I'll let you read the story now… xx****
The next few weeks passed quickly as winter gripped the school. Torrents of snow showered the grounds as Hermione recovered from the loss of her parents. She spent most nights in my room, huddling close to me as I whispered in her ear, "I love you Hermione. I love you."
Some days, after lessons, I'd enter the common room to see Hermione crying silently by the fire. I would walk over to her and pull her into my lap, stroking her hair until she fell asleep.
Hermione threw herself into her studies with more fervour than I had ever seen. Our classes were spent in near silence as she scribbled down everything the teacher was saying. She only spared me an occasional glance to confirm something the teacher had said. Not that I minded, she needed a distraction.
Besides, we still had time together, out of lessons.
Hermione sighed in her sleep, her warm breath spreading across my bare chest, seeping through my skin to the heart below. I pulled her closer into me, planting a soft kiss the top of her head, the corners of her sweet mouth lifting as she dreamed. I simply could not believe that I once hated this godsend before me.
Gazing at her peaceful features, I felt myself drift gently to sleep.
Lucius was approaching me across the great library at the Manor. His face held a certain warmth and there was contentment in his silver eyes.
"Son."
He walked over to me and we embraced. It was as if he had never been to Azkaban.
"I've missed you, Dad."
"And I have missed you too, Draco. So how have you been, my boy?"
"Brilliant, Dad. I've been brilliant. I have so much to tell you."
"Speak away then, son!"
"Well, I've met a girl, Dad. And I love her more than anything."
He smiled broadly and gave me another great pat on the back.
"Congratulations, Draco! And who is the lucky woman?"
"Well, now Dad, I need you to try and be open-minded about this."
He raised a thin eyebrow, inquiringly.
"It's- It's Hermione Granger. I know this is unexpected, but… Dad, I love her so much."
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed. Darkness filled the edges of the room and the walls turned a blood red.
Lucius' eyes lost their warmth, glinting with deranged fury.
"Draco! How could you disgrace the family with her filthy blood?"
He lunged forward, grabbing the collar of my shirt.
"You disgust me! You are no son of mine."
Spittle flew from his mouth, spraying my face as he screamed with rage.
"But- But Dad! It doesn't matter! I love her. She's just as clean as we are! Don't you dare call her filthy!"
He let out a howl of rage and threw me to the ground, drawing back his foot.
"How!" His foot smashed into my ribs. I screamed as white-hot agony flashed across my chest ?.
"Dare," another blow, another scream.
"You," he picked me up and threw me sprawling to the ground.
"Compare," I felt my leg splinter as he brought his foot down onto it. My eyes bulged in agony, my cries reaching a new pitch.
"Us!" He finished, delivering a final blow to my abdomen.
"She is filth! She is dirt! I am nothing like that. I am not scum!"
Out of nowhere, Hermione sprinted through the grand doors of the library.
"Draco!" She cried.
Pushing Lucius away from me, she dropped to her knees before me.
"H- Hermione. You have to- have… get out!" I whimpered hoarsely, trying to string words together.
"I'm not leaving you. I lo-"
Suddenly, she screeched as Lucius dragged her away from me, by the hair.
"Hermione!"
I tried to move, but my injured leg would not hold any weight. I was glued to the floor.
"Father!" I sobbed. "Please, please, no! I'll do anything. Don't hurt her!"
He looked up at me as he threw Hermione to the floor, grinning maniacally.
"You will learn, Draco."
He pointed his wand to Hermione, eyes still fixed on me, glinting with insanity.
"Crucio!"
"No!" I screamed.
Hermione's piercing cries stabbed at my ears. I sobbed, watching her body buck and convulse.
"Stop! Father, make it stop! I'll do anything, please. You're going to kill her!"
Lucius looked directly at me and lowered his wand. The curse lifted and Hermione stilled, crying uncontrollably.
"You're right, Draco, I am."
He spun to Hermione.
"Avada Kedavra!" He shrieked. Green light filled the room, and Lucius vanished with a crack.
"NO! Hermione!"
I summoned every ounce of strength I had and crawled over to her, now lifeless, body.
"Baby, please. Hermione!"
Silence.
No.
No.
No.
It couldn't be. She can't be-
"Hermione! Hermione! Answer me, baby, answer me!" I shook her limp form, violently, desperate for any sign of life.
But no response came. Not a sound.
"HERMIONE!"
"Draco! Draco, baby, wake up. Please, Merlin, wake up!"
I was curled into a ball, in a cold sweat, sobbing violently.
My eyes snapped open and I flew into a sitting position, my neck turning as I looked wildly around the room.
"Hermione? Hermione!" I was shuddering, beside myself, as I searched blindly for her.
"Draco! I'm here. Baby, calm down. You're alright. You're safe." She was kneeling before me, on the plush quilt, her hands either side of my ashen face.
My ragged breathing hitched irregularly and tears coursed down my cheeks, as my eyes locked with hers.
She's alive.
I pulled her roughly into me and cried into her shoulder.
"Baby, you're alive. Oh Merlin, I thought- I thought I'd lost you."
"Of course I'm alive! Draco, what's happened? I don't understand. One minute I was sleeping, the next you were screaming and thrashing next to me. I couldn't wake you for ten minutes. What on earth happened to you?"
"I- I- You- He..." I stammered. I was shaking uncontrollably, my teeth were chattering and my body was slick with sweat. My breath caught as I remembered Hermione, dead on the library floor.
I retched over the side of the bed.
"Draco!" She exclaimed, panicked.
"He- He killed you. Lucius," I said, righting myself. "I-I couldn't save you. He did… awful things. I- I…" I looked down at my trembling hands.
"Shh…" She stopped my stammers, pressing a slender finger to my quivering lips. "Draco, baby, it's okay. He's never going to hurt you, or me, again. Ever." She tilted my face up and our eyes met. The compassionate warmth in hers clashed with the fear and pain in mine.
I leant my forehead against hers and exhaled shakily, finally calming slightly.
She's here. She's safe.
"I would die for you, Hermione," I choked.
"I know."
"Do you want to sleep again?"
I shook my head, my eyes fearful.
"Okay. I'll stay up with you."
We stayed, huddled together, until dawn opened its curtains on the new day.