Draco's eyes fluttered slowly open. He easily recalled where he was, as he had been flitting in and out of consciousness for the past few hours. This time, though, he was acutely aware that there was someone else near him in the Hospital Wing. Grimacing slightly from the stiffness in his muscles, he turned over to inspect his surroundings. Only to find Hermione curled up in the chair next to his bed. He smiled at her sleeping form, the hair fallen across her face, and her chest raising and falling evenly in her sleep. She was so much more than anything he could have every imagined. Frustration, guilt and panic warred within him. They couldn't be seen. How many times must they go through this? He quickly pulled himself up from the bed, intent on waking her. Only to see her form disappear from sight. Confused, he leaned back, and saw her again. He breathed a sigh of relief as realization dawned. She had cast a Disillusionment Charm. Only partially, he gathered, so that her presence wouldn't startle him. His clever witch.
"You're awake." Hermione's sleepy voice broke his train of thought. He could hear the pleasure in it and found himself relieved by that.
"Only just. What are you doing here?" He needn't have asked. The look she gave him told him exactly why she was here.
"As if I would leave you right now. But you need to stop doing this to me you know. I'm not sure how much my heart can take." Her voice was teasing, but the undercurrent of truth to her words rang clear. That was twice this month she'd seen him like this. Cursed and unable to save himself. This time though, she wasn't the one who had found him. He hated to admit it, but he owed Snape another thanks for saving his life. If he wasn't careful he'd owe that cunning wizard a Life Debt. He was pretty sure he didn't want to be in that position under the circumstances. He had only just begun to trust him again, after all.
Hermione's fingers worried at the cuff of her robe, and he knew something was seriously troubling her. She looked at him through pleading eyes.
"Harry didn't mean – I mean, I know you two have your... differences," she hedged, knowing full well that the animosity between them went far beyond that, "but he just... the foolish boy just spouted something from that awful book and I warned him! I warned him that book was trouble... that cursed Half-Blood Prince" she murmured angrily, lost in her rage. Draco sat up a little straighter.
"What book?" Draco felt the unease trickle through him.
Hermione's face cleared as she attempted to get a hold of herself. As much as she hated that book, it wouldn't do to be revealing Harry's poor decisions to Draco. As it was, she knew that Draco had been suspicious of Harry's progress in Potions as well.
"Just some book he found by chance. It doesn't matter anymore," she said, sighing. "The book is gone and thankfully, you're alright. That's what matters now."
Draco looked away for a moment, hurt by her lack of trust in him. He had a strong suspicion that it wasn't just any random book. He'd heard enough over the years to suspect who this Half-Blood Prince was. And it would make perfect sense considering he'd known the countercurse almost immediately. Did he owe a life-debt when the person was responsible for the curse in the first place?
But his hurt was irrelevant. Evidently, Potter hadn't mentioned what else had transpired in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. In a moment of insane weakness, he had found himself reacting to Potter in the most hurtful way he could think of. He had been an easy target, a way to unleash his pain, frustration, and despair. The darkness had unfurled within him and found a way out through a dark curse. It wasn't right. But it had happened. He could hardly blame her for keeping her secrets when he was keeping so many of his own.
"You need to stop taking these risks, you know. I'll be fine." The words stung as they left his mouth. It touched him in so many ways that she'd come here for him, yet again. At the same time, he was tired of her seeing him like this. Weak, powerless. An injured victim that constantly needed care. Was that who he was now? Was that how she saw him?
"I know you'll be fine." She said the words adamently, wanting to believe them, knowing that there could easily come a time when he wouldn't be. "But this is what you do when you care about someone Draco. You stay by their side when they need you."
He softened a little, smirking gently. "Is it now? So you care about me?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, leaned forward and smacked his arm. "You just want to hear me say it again."
"Maybe," he confessed, feeling good for a minute. He grabbed her arm, tugging her closer. Hermione stumbled from the chair onto the edge of the bed.
"Draco!" she hissed, looking around worriedly. He scoffed.
"Oh so now you're worried about being seen? What about when you were sleeping by my side? You didn't think anyone would question that?"
She flushed. "Well… I was too concerned to care too much. And I had checked!" She protested weakly, even as she climbed up onto the bed beside him. "Madam Pomfrey had left and you are the only occupant tonight." She settled gently beside him, finding comfort in his embrace. "But maybe I can stay, for just a few more minutes."
She nestled into the crook of his shoulder and Draco gently stroked her arm, hating the barrier of her robes from soft skin.
"No funny business, Draco. You're still recovering."
He snorted and his hand continued its exploration. "That's never stopped us before." Hermione let him. She let him stroke and touch and distract her with the lightest of kisses. Because if he didn't, she'd go back to thinking. Thinking that Harry's actions only served to prove one thing – that if he found out about her relationship with Draco, their friendship could be over.
"Where has he gone?" Hermione looked up at Harry's agitated muttering. For the first time in what felt like ages, the three of them had been working together on their assignments in the library. The Golden Trio reunited. If a little fractured. Harry had finally gotten rid of that potions book and it was a relief to no longer have that issue to worry about. The other issues, well, they weighed on her mind and heart daily. After parting from Draco the other night, doubts niggled at her constantly. Would Harry ever accept a relationship between them? Was it worth the risk to anger and alienate him when there was so much at stake?
"Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione sighed as she looked up from her notes. The boys were a full assignment behind her. She had already finished her Herbology essay and had moved on to Defence. Harry's eyes were fixated on the book infront of him, but Hermione had a sinking feeling that it wasn't the text he was focused on.
Harry flushed guiltily, but gave her a defiant look. "Tracking Malfoy, alright? I know what you said, that Dumbledore would know if something was going on, but I don't trust him. He keeps disappearing, spending hours in the Room of Requirement…"
Tell him! Hermione felt her conscience desperately trying to voice the words that she determindly shut down. He was there to meet me, to see me. So many times they had met in that room. Once again, Hermione remained silent and the words sunk into the pit of her stomach.
"Merlin mate, have you been looking at that this whole time? Mione said we could break and grab a bite in the Great Hall when we've caught up on Herbology." Ron snatched Harry's book away. "You've barely even started," he groaned.
"Ron!" Hermione admonished. Ron was still shaking his head over the delay in his lunch.
"What? It's what you said. And at least I've been working." Ron snatched a piece of parchment from Harry's book.
"What are you doing? Give it here!" Harry hissed, but Ron just shoved the parchment at Hermione.
She gingerly tucked the Marauder's Map away, though she too wanted to see exactly where Draco had gone. Guilt gnawed at Hermione as she spoke. "You need to focus on your studies Harry. I'll hold onto this for today. Just until you've finished those papers."
"And we've gotten a meal." Ron added pointedly. Harry openly glared at the two of them.
"He is up to something. He's disappeared off the map." Harry crossed his arms and looked at them expectantly.
"I'm not saying your wrong about Malfoy. He's a prat. A pathetic one. But no matter what he's doing, we've still got to get a paper into Snape." Both Harry and Hermione were surprised by Ron's sudden defence of doing his homework.
Though… Hermione looked at him thoughtfully. He did want to become an Auror. And he'd absolutely need to pass Defence to do so. Perhaps it wasn't so surprising after all.
"Fine." Harry muttered, snatching up his book. Hermione watched him work for a moment, her emotions in turmoil. Her desire to confess to Harry was strong, but her desire to know where Draco was was stronger. After a few more minutes of work, she quietly got up to get another book. But while she was gone, she took the opportunity to take a look at the map. Hoping her suspicions were right, she trailed her fingers along the paths in the dungeons. And there, near Professor Snape's private quarters, she found Draco's name alongside the Professor's. So they had been talking. But what exactly did that mean?
Hermione sunk deeper into the frothy bubbles that enveloped her and tried to empty her mind. Being a Prefect certainly had its benefits, and this bathroom was one of them. The soothing scents of lavender and vanilla surrounded her in the luxurious setting. Tonight she needed the reprieve more than usual. Despite an intense week of lessons which should have dominated her attention, she had spent countless nights tossing and turning and thinking about Draco, about Harry, about everything. Draco had made no effort to contact her after his encounter with Harry. That alone would bother her, but in addition to Professor Snape's discovery and the meeting she knew they'd had… well she really needed to talk to Draco. She dropped her head back and sighed. What did this all mean? Was it a positive turning point? Someone knew now, someone who could help him. And yet with the secret out, the judgement was sure to come. Instead of relief, she felt wary and exposed.
"Fancy meeting you here, Granger." Hermione shrieked and swallowed a mouthful of water. She sputtered as Draco chuckled from across the room.
Heart still rapidly pounding, Hermione pointed angrily. "That door was bolted! How did you get in here?"
Draco smirked. "I have my ways Granger. You of all people should know that there are many hidden nooks and crannies in this old place. All sorts of hidden passagways." He raised an eyebrow suggestively.
Trying to be discrete, Hermione moved to the edge of the tub, attempting to regain some modesty. Yes, he had already seen her entirely exposed, but this felt different. Instead of feeling tranquil, Hermione felt like the lights were glaring and the bubbles were transparent.
"Do you make a habit of this? Waiting around to pounce on unsuspecting females in the bath? That's disturbing Draco," Hermione glared at him as she tried to see where she had placed her robe. Draco rolled his eyes and sauntered towards her. He crouched by the tub, placed a finger beneath her chin and tipped her face to look at him. Hermione glared, lips pursed.
"You're the only female I like to pounce on, as you well know." He brushed her lips with a kiss before straightening.
Hermione smiled a little, but wasn't deterred. "You haven't answered my question. How did you know it wasn't someone else in here? And how did you get in?"
Draco sighed dramatically. "Is there no mystery left between us Hermione?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow expectantly. Draco sank down to the floor and let his legs sprawl out in front of him.
"Behind the statue of Boris the Bewildered. It's been used for years for lovers to meet in secret. At least, Slytherins have been using it."
Hermione's lips quirked. "How convenient."
"Isn't though? I should have thought of using it sooner." Draco's eyes sparkled mischevously. "And I saw you turn down the corridor. Not a far stretch to figure out where you were headed."
"We need to talk Draco." There was no use pretending otherwise.
"A man's favourite words to be sure. I knew you would want to." Draco frowned, but leapt back to his feet. He eyed her bubble-shielded form in the bath. "So will I be joining you or will you be joining me?" His tone was suggestive, but without waiting for a reply, he grabbed her robe off the hook and held it open for her.
Hermione hesitated and felt the urge to live in the moment. They had this time together and they should make the most of it while they could. Kicking off the wall of the large tub, she moved away from the edge.
"You could join me." Draco turned his gaze on her, surprised pleasure darkening them. Hermione averted her eyes as she heard the rustle of fabric and the following splash.
"You can look you know. You've seen all this before." His words tickled her ear as he neared her.
"We still need to talk, you know." Hermione leant into him, enjoying the buzz of his close proximity. He moved her damp hair away from her neck and pressed a kiss to her nape.
"And we will. I couldn't resist seeing you a moment longer." She turned in his arms and his lips insistently pressed at her own. Nibbling, teasing, distracting. And Draco could admit he wanted to distract her. Because he didn't want to disappoint her. He wanted to soothe the tired lines around her eyes that he had seen over the past few days. He wanted to ease the troubling thoughts that kept her up at night. All he had was more trouble, more pain. But he could do this. He could seduce, arouse, touch, tease and play until every dark thought was overcome by pleasure.
Hermione, however, wasn't easily deterred. She broke away, breathless, and practically lapped the tub in her haste. Draco let out a growl as he watched her distance herself from him.
"Talk first." She instructed. He could see the flush of her skin, her lips red from his attention and knew that after a few more minutes, she could be thoroughly ensconced his arms where he wanted her. But she wanted answers and he would not deny her.
"About anything in particular?" He asked lightly, leaning against the edge of the tub. What was he to tell her? How much did she suspect? Was this about Snape? About Potter?
Hermione gave him an exasperated look. "You've been meeting with Professor Snape. We've barely even talked about that night, let alone anything that has happened between the two of you since."
Draco ran an hand through his hair. What to tell her? "We've talked mostly. That's it." Hermione was unconsciously inching towards him.
"About?"
Draco turned from her, staring at the walls beyond them. "About that night. About our lessons in Occlumency. About the war."
Hermione frowned as she moved closer. "Is he going to help you Draco? With your mother?"
Draco stiffened. "There's nothing he can do for my mother." Draco had to do it all or face the consequences. He felt Hermione's hands on his back, soothing, comforting.
"I thought…" Hermione whispered, unwilling to believe that someone in the Order wouldn't help with this. Draco turned to her.
"I don't want to talk about her anymore, alright?" Hermione nodded, a little hurt, but trying to be understanding of his pain. They were silent a moment as she worried about why Snape wouldn't help Draco save the person he loved.
Finally, she asked the question she needed to hear the answer to most. "And what of us? What has he said about that revelation?"
"What you'd expect him to say." Draco's voice was hard and cold and Hermione turned away from him. Hurting now because she had been disappointed by someone she trusted, Draco went to her, pulled her close against him. "He doesn't exactly approve." He tried to make it sound light, but the words were stilted, curt.
"He's not going to help us, is he?" she aked quietly. Draco stilled behind her, then tightened his hold.
"No." Not in the way you want. Snape was helping him, yes, but that knowledge wouldn't do Hermione any good.
He let his fingers trace over her skin, over her arm until he reached her hand. Entwining their fingers, he pulled her pack to him, pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
Hermione looked despairingly at his hand holding hers. No one would ever understand. She pulled his arm around her waist and sighed as his lips trailed along her skin.
"He thinks this is madness," Hermione surmised, her voice soft and knowing. Draco's breath tickled her ear.
"Isn't it though?" He nibbled her earlobe, kissed her jaw and oh so slowly she turned in his arms.
She stared thoughtfully into his darkened grey eyes. Storm clouds. She slid her arms around his neck, absently playing with the ends of his hair. She kissed him. Soft, gentle, teasing. Desperate, wanting, urgent.
"Utter madness."
They dressed quietly, eyes averted, tension simmering. In these moments, time came to a standstill. But eventually they would leave their cocoon, enter the real world, and have all their troubles crashing into them.
Hermione leaned against the vanity, eyes troubled. He didn't look away as he finished the buttons on his robes. The beautiful buzz of their afterglow wasn't enough to keep her from speaking, not now.
"We need a plan."
"For what exactly?" Draco hated this. Hated having these moments of perfection ruined by all the bad in his world. It was exhausting, frustrating, unfair. He wanted to run from it all. Though he doubted Hermione would consider that a viable "plan".
Hermione began to twist her hair into a knot and he watched mesmerized by her elegant movements. How had he ever hated Muggleborns, people like her? Had he even really truly understood that emotion until now? Because he could honestly say he hated anyone that would try and keep them apart.
"A plan for us. Telling Snape was a mistake, I see that know." She gave up on her hair and moved closer to him. "I can't fully regret it, after all he saved you. But perhaps I should have behaved more cautiously with him."
Draco shook his head. This was his mess, not hers. His mess. All of it. And all that was to come.
"And that latest incident with Harry…" Hermione sighed. "Let's just say that I've had some time to think about it. If telling Snape was a mistake, telling Harry would be a catastrophe."
"But you don't want to lie to your friends anymore. I understand that." He didn't, but he wanted to.
Hermione eyed him warily. "I don't want to. But I will."
"Hermione, you can't-" His protests were met with her hand across his mouth.
"This isn't simply about us, although I won't deny that I want to keep you in my life. I love Harry, but where you're concerned he refuses to behave rationally. I'd rather have him angry with me later, once we've gotten through all this, than have him angry at me now and possibly endanger himself and the Wizarding World."
An unpleasant feeling sank into his stomach. It felt uncomfortably like guilt. "You think he would take it that badly?"
Hermione thought of his gulf with Ron in fourth year. Yes, he would take it very badly. And she cared for her friends too much to let this come between them now. It was too dangerous. Possibly life-threatening. They needed each other now more than ever. Instead of revealing all this, she kissed Draco soundly.
"I won't let anyone tell me who I can love."