Chapter 11 Who Is There to Support You?
Authors Note: So today to be exact I've had so many ideas for this story. Some may break your heart but for now try and enjoy the lustful parts. Anyway, enjoy!
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"Harry!" Hermione jumped from her seat and ran to hug him. She moved on to Ginny and Ron but he was currently stuck to Lavenders face. "Guys come sit down."
They enjoyed a nice peaceful dinner but Hermione could tell something was bothering Harry. The way his brow creased every time he looked at her scared her. What was he not saying?
After dinner, she was walking to the common room when Harry pulled her into an alcove. Okay, now she was really starting to worry.
"Hermione over the break I got more information on the book."
"Okay." Her full attention was drawn to the uneasy boy standing in front of her.
"Well I asked Lupin and he said my dad was never called the Half-Blood prince, but by the look of the book it had to be someone around his time at Hogwarts. Most likely in his year."
"That's good. We at least have a time range now. I could look in the library for…" She started to leave the alcove when Harry pulled her back in.
"One more thing. After Slughorn's party I saw Snape pressing Malfoy against a wall. I didn't hear what they were saying but we know Snape is a Death Eater. So, he must be helping the ferret. It all makes sense."
Hermione tried not to show to much reaction from his words. She on the other hand heard every word of the supposed private conversation and wished she hadn't. "Harry please. You are just going off speculations. There is no physically proof Draco is a Death Eater." Her heart skipped a beat when she realized her mistake. She used his first name. She also hated the fact she was lying to Harry. But it wasn't her secret or life to share.
"Oh trust me Hermione, if there is, I'll be the one to find it." She let out a sigh of relief rather than frustration as she joined Harry on the walk back.
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The last day of break had started very lustful for Draco. Thinking of the kiss made his skin tingle. But in this moment, he stood there staring at the cabinet that could possibly be the death of him. The bird he tried weeks ago had died when he checked the cabinet again. But he had to be determined.
He spent the rest of the day in the library, looking over countless books. Why couldn't Hogwarts have a book on just Vanishing Cabinets. Oh wait, because that would be to bloody easy and Hogwarts most likely wanted him dead anyways.
He smashed his head against the old wooden library table before a would you rather popped in his dead. Die because you failed the Dark Lord or die because you asked the Golden Girl for help? He shrugged his shoulders. Both ways ended in death so which could really be worse.
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The first day of classes were coming to an end as Snape droned on about the potion they would be making tomorrow. Today seemed to be the prep and Hermione of all people couldn't even care to listen. Instead she was doodling when her quill started fighting her movements. Once she complied the quill worked in unison with her hand movements to produce the test.
I need your help. -D
At first Hermione was frustrated he interrupted her note talking. Her anger however plummeted when she realized she was doing quite the opposite.
No. -H
She knew how to play hard to get! In fourth year Victor Krum had to ask her to the ball four times before she said yes.
Don't you want to help your favorite Slytherin? -D
Who says you're my favorite Slytherin? -H
Me. -D
She could feel the smirk from the paper. She would never give him the satisfaction by stealing a glance at his stuck-up face.
Oh, come on, you know you want to help me. -D
Maybe. -H
I'll take that as a yes! See you in RR at eight. -D
She went to verbally scoff but quickly covered it with a horrible cough. In the end, she lost five points from Gryffindor. Receiving smirks from the Slytherins and frowns from her friends.
It's not like she meant to. Draco was just so much of an git she had to express it verbally.
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After class Hermione went start to the library. Then from the library to dinner and back. Dinner was rather pleasant with Harry's longing glances at Ginny and Ron and Lavenders fighting. She just wanted to finish all her homework for the week.
Another hour passed before she checked her watch. "Bloody hell!" It was already 7:55pm and going up four flights of stairs wasn't the easiest. She tried to relax. It's not like Draco would hex her for being late. Wait on second thought that's exactly what he would do. She shoved the rest of her books in her bag before sprinting up four flights of stairs. She tried taking two at a time but with her height and amount of stuff she was carrying, that wouldn't be the best idea.
Once she reached the wall the door appeared immediately. She cautiously opened it and found Draco standing there, arms crossed.
"Your late." The hostility of his voice and the way he tapped his foot on the stone floor brought back the Draco from years ago. Yet he was the same Draco as before. The only difference they were afraid to admit was love was a key factor now.
"By like three minutes." She pushed passed him and took a seat on the couch. He quickly joined her. "So what did you need my help with?"
Draco let out a sigh before grabbing her hands and turning on his serious face. "What I'm about to ask you, and what we are about to talk about cannot be repeated."
"Okay."
"No. Look me in the eyes and promise."
"I promise." She squeezed his hands to prove she wasn't joking.
"Do you remember the cabinet I stopped you from going to weeks ago?"
"Yes." Her heartbeat was starting to rise at his serious tone.
"As you know I am a Death Eater so I can only assume you also think or know the Dark Lord has given me a job." She nodded her head for him to continue. "One of my tasks was to fix that cabinet."
"The Vanishing Cabinet." She never broke eye contact with him.
At first Draco was shocked but knew she always knew too much for her own good. "Yes and I've been working on it for weeks but can't seem to fix it." He finally broke eye contact and removed his hands from hers to mess with his fingers.
She understood his request and walked over to the cabinet. Leaving a slightly dumbfounded Draco on the couch. Hermione tried numerous spells and found that nothing was wrong with the cabinet. He was standing behind watching intently.
"Draco I can't find anything wrong with the cabinet. Your work here is quite exceptional. Maybe it's the brothering cabinet at Borgin and Burkes." She turned to face him ad show shock written all over his face. He picked up his dropped jaw form the floor and rushed over to her.
His hands slide around her waist as he pulled her into a bone crushing hug. Swinging her around in the air. "Brilliant! Completely brilliant!" He put her back done. Placed a quick kiss on her cheek and left the room.
Hermione reached up to touch her warm cheeks. "What have I got myself into."
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The next few days were crucial for Draco. He sent a coded letter to his father about the cabinet. Every day since he had tried countless times to vanish things. Nothing was working but he could only hope others were working on the Cabinet as well. His other task was proving rather difficult. He had poisoned a bottle of alcohol Slughorn was meant to give to Dumbledore. But every time he checked, the bottle was still there. Dumbledore receiving the bottle from Slughorn had to work. And old man like himself would never expect his old friend the potions maker to poison him. Yet again Draco secretly hoped this plan also failed.
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Hermione's stress level was increasing every day. Dumbledore and Harry's meetings were taking longer each night. The beloved headmaster also asked Harry to retrieve a memory from Slughorn on You-Know-Who. The thoughts stressed her. Harry was never really one to get something done unless it was important. Hopefully he would realize the importance of this. But none the less today was Ron's birthday and she kindly asked a house elf to deliver his present.
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Ron woke up rather excited. He saw all the presents at the end of his bed and started ripping them open. He got a box of chocolates and ate five without question.
"Harry who is Romilda Vane?"
"Um a 5th year in Gryffindor." Harry remembered seeing her in the library and how she had gotten him a box of chocolates. Hermione however warned him they were filled with love potions. "Why?"
"I'm in love with her. She is breath taking."
Harry's head shot up from his pillow. He found an opened box of chocolates on his bed. "Ron where did those come from?"
"Oh I don't know. But where is Romilda? He must be missing me!" Harry started laughing realizing what had happened. A book suddenly came flying at his face.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"Take me to Romilda now!"
"Fine, fine. Follow me."
In reality Harry was going to take Ron down to Professor Slughorn in hope that he had the antidote. Slughorn had been avoiding him since he asked about the memory but he had to help them now. He knocked on the wooden door with a dopey Ron behind him.
"Professor?"
"Sorry Harry I can't talk right now."
"Please professor. Mr. Weasely has taken a love potion and I thought you might have an antidote."
Slughorn looked at the two before opening the door. "Well Harry I'm actually surprised. With your skills in potions I would assume you could make one."
"Well yes professor, but I thought it would be better from the teacher himself." Harry set Ron down on the couch.
Ron was currently singing to himself. "Oh Romilda! Romilda Vane! My love. You smell so good. La la la!" Harry quietly handed Ron the antidote while covering a laugh.
"Okay Ron drink this and Romilda will appear."
"Okay!" He grabbed the glass and drained it in one gulp. Soon the hearts from his vision started to disappear. "Blimey Harry, what happened?"
This time he openly laughed and gave Ron a quick pat on the back. "Love potion mate."
"Bloody hell."
Slughorn broke thorough. "Well this calls for a celebration. Plus, if I'm not mistaken its Mr. Weasley's birthday."
They both nodded their heads in agreement as Slughorn grabbed the bottle he planned on giving to Dumbledore. "I was going to save this for later but I believe we could both use a swig." He handed the two boys a glass before joining them by the fire. Ron was the first one to drink and instantly feel to the floor. Foaming at the mouth.
Quickly Harry dropped to his knees and started shaking his life time friend. "Ron! Ron! Professor please do something!"
Slughorn stood there dumbfounded as Harry ran to the potions closet. He found a bezoar and shoved it down Ron's throat. The foaming stopped but he still was responsive.
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Dumbledore, Snape, Slughorn, Harry, and Hermione all stood over the sleeping Ron. Hermione was sitting by his side.
Slughorn was the first to break the uncomfortable silence. "If it wasn't for Harry, Ron would be dead." Snape openly scoffed.
Dumbledore was next. "Professor It I may ask, who was the bottle meant for."
"Well actually you Albus." Snape and Dumbledore didn't respond but both new what this meant.
Suddenly Lavender come bursting in. 'Won-Won!" She then looked at Hermione. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same."
"He's my boyfriend!"
"Yeah and he's … he happens to be my friend!"
Lavender scoffed. "Oh really! You two haven't been on good terms for weeks."
Harry's voice broke through the awkward argument in from of the professors. "I think he is trying to say something." All eyes were on Ron.
"Lav …. en …. der. L …." Lavender sent Hermione a smirk as her face paled. She said goodbye to Harry and the professors and left the room. Clearly she wasn't important to Ron.
How could she be so stupid! She knew Ron never liked her but she still allowed herself to get caught up on every single word he spoke. The thought infuriated her and she slammed her fists against the closet wall. She could feel her pulse in her aching palms as she leant her head against the coldness of the wall. Tears were streaming from her eyes and dropping one my one onto the floor beneath her.
"Hermione…?"
She slowly turned around to find the last man she ever thought would always be there for her.