Chapter Six: Answers
That night Draco couldn't sleep. Every now and then his eyes would leave the pages of Hermione's book, just to gaze up at the stars and think ' how does someone who lived though all this, stay happy?'
He was on her year ten chapter, he just passed the part where her grandfather and grandmother died because their house caught on fire. There were happy times in this book, they were small, like she went out to her parents work picnic with them, or one of her friends birthdays. One thing he did know, was that he was indeed crazy. Not like his dad but, what slythrin worth his title, would be reading a book that a muggle born wrote about her life, and actually care?
The first couple of chapters were brief, very brief. He guessed that she had to recall those memories. The real chapters started around age seven, though her art work seemed to progress slightly, her writing hadn't changed much. He laughed when he thought of how easily he could recall information about her that he learned from this book.
"I know more about her now, then any one else in this world." He suddenly said, once the thought became clear to him. "Why would she allow that?" he asked puzzled. "I'm her enemy after all. Oh yeah, the picture." Sighing yet again, he continued to read.
It just didn't seem right to flip though all these pages of her life, just to see a moment. It's the journey not destination after all, that has any meaning. It was about 12:04 when he finally looked back down, and continued to read.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione couldn't sleep either, she kept pacing her room, lost in thought, and annoyed. Since she was eight, she had never put aside her nightly drawings. She had never before, not gone eight hours with out reading or writing in her book, and it was driving her nuts!
Finally, exhaustion took over and she sat down. "I wonder if Malfoy is even still reading my book." She opened her window and looked out, and sure enough, a single light was still on in the mansion.
"He'll get board around chapter nine." She said to her self matter of fact. Shutting her window, and turned and got ready for bed.
Within an hour, she was dead asleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day Draco didn't come at all, making Hermione wonder weather of not her book was safe. Not to mention she was beginning to feel like a coffee addict who was separated from her coffee supply.
So she did what she thought necessary, she waited until her parents were gone, and went over to the Malfoy's to get her book back. she didn't realize until she was almost across the field, the Draco was sitting under a tree in his front yard.
"Hay granger! Came to get your book back?" he called tauntingly. "Well to bad, I'm on chapter thirteen and well enjoying my self thanks!" and he went back to reading.
Hermione stopped in her tracks, 'third year? Oh god' there were many things that Draco, of all people, shouldn't know that happened in that year. "Oh ha ha." And she walked right up and sat beside him. "Now that I know your going to read into the school year, you have to promise not to tell any of the things you learn from this book, that could very well hurt people and their reputations."
"Such as when you stole supplies from Snape's office in second year, and Potter and Weasley snuck into our common room, just to see is I was, or was not Slythrin's heir?" he said not skipping a beat, and he turned the page.
"Malfoy," she said in a very dangerous tone, a tone he honestly hadn't heard come from her at all.
"Don't worry, I wont tell, well at least if I don't have to." She was interrupting his reading! Why would she just leave! "I also promise not to tell the rest of the dream team, your deepest and darkest secrets. Now will you just leave me alone? I'm reading after all and your annoying!"
"Fine, I'll expect it back first thing tomorrow." And she started to leave.
"Wait, Granger." He said suddenly. "I'm confused on a few thing here, mind clearing them up?"
"Depends. You are after all the first person to read that book, it may just be a good thing to leave you confused, so you wouldn't be able to repeat any of the information." She looked over her shoulder with an ' I can be evil too' look.
"Funny Grang-"
"Hermione."
"What?"
"you will be addressing me by my first name. You know more about me then Harry Ron, my mom, dad, Ray and Dora all combined, so it seems natural."
"Fine Hermione." He scowled at her. "First, why in hell have we been enemies?"
This was not the type of question she had been expecting. "Because you've acted like that around me."
"Like what?"
"like 'I'm the big bad Slythrin prince, my word is law.'" She looked at him confused. "You have never once been civil around anyone, and you treat me like I'm the dirt under your toenails. You have never laughed, except at the pain and suffering of others. Never once, in all the time I've known you , have you smiled, or been friendly. You constantly are trying to get me Harry and Ron in trouble---."
"No." Hermione looked at him shocked. "only Ron and Harry, you were just there."
She smirked. "and you hate my friends, that's why."
"you do realize, that you Harry and Ron are just the same don't you?" his turn to look confused.
"meaning?"
"Well, for one, Colin Creevy. You guys weren't all happy to him, yes you were a bit kind, but you might as well have said, stay five feet from us or parish for all the good it did." He looked her in the eye. "there are multitudes more if I need to continue."
"point taken." Hermione glared at him so hard, they broke eye contact. " now, when you insulted Ron on our first day here while trying to make friends with Harry, big mistake."
"That explains Harry, and Ron, not you."
"you hate my friends, and were mean to me, that's why. Plus I'm Mudblood remember?"
"actually, it doesn't matter."
"what?"
"it doesn't matter. Are you def? Mudblood means that your muggle blood has spoiled and weakened you magical ability. Mudbloods are bad because they weaken us as a whole, and they tend to 'give away' our secret. You however are born of muggles, but you are not a Mudblood by my definition. Least, not anymore. "
"So I'm not a mudblood?"
"nope,"
"So no more calling me mud blood got it?"
"ok." He blinked. "how about this, we are under mutual terms tell no one of my family, and I wont call you mudblood around anyone, and I wont tell any one about your past, or of this book."
"Then you're going to have to tell me or make me read you past."
"Fair." He nodded "now second, you know where Black is, you have known since third year, and you haven't told any one?"
"Nope."
"Why?"
"because the only people he would harm are Voldemort, Wormtail, or any of Vlodies followers." She said simply.
"Ah." And he broke out laughing. "Voldie, that's great! You really aren't scared of him are you?"
"Not really. If he were in my face, then yeah maybe a little. But Dumbledore has always said 'if you fear something's name it increases the fear of the thing.' Or something along those lines."
"alright number four."
"what happened to three?"
"that was the are you afraid of Voldemort question."
"ok, ok number four."
"are we friends now?"
She paused, not quite sure on what she should answer. Then it came to her. "yeah, and I have a question for you."
"Alright, shoot."
" Are you a Death Eater?"
"Nope you must be at least eighteen to join."
"is that your only reason?"
"No, I have my pride. I want power, and not the kind that is given to a slave. So Voldemort has power, he didn't get it by following someone else. Also, he isn't using it to fix this messed up world of ours, he's just making it worse."
"Completely agree with you. Maybe I should lend you one of my books, 'The Life of Adolf Hitler.' It would really surprise you how similar the situations are."
"really, yeah I would like to borrow It." Within the course of the conversation, Hermione noticed that he never sat down the book.
"Ok now the rest of your questions." Hermione was really surprised, she was actually enjoying getting questioned on things about her that she would never tell any one, normally. It felt as though a great weight was being lifted from her.
"alright, number five, how do you manage to stay happy? You've had so many horrible things happen to you."
She looked down at her feet. Not the question she was hoping for, but, she still had to answer. "I don't know. My studies occupy most of my free time, that or my friends. I guess it would be because I always look ahead, not backwards, also so many good things have happened to me, enough to counter the bad."
"I see, but don't the bad things sometimes overwhelm you to the point where you just want to cry?"
"Sometimes, then while I'm crying I just let out all my anger and sadness and hatred, and realize. I've it made. I'm the smartest most powerful witch in my year. How can it get any better then that? Draco, you should know, that I believe highly in karma. That's why I come off as a goodie two shoes. But it also helps me keep a good perspective on my life."
He looked at her and smiled, for the first time. "I see. You know Mione? You a lot different then what you seem."
"Same for you." She looked at her watch. "whoa! I've been out here for two hours! My time flies." She looked back at the confused Draco. "I have to get home and do my chores before my parents get home." She stood up and brushed off all the leaves and grass bits off herself. "Well, it was really nice talking to you Draco, now remember to bring that book back to me tomorrow. I can't go to long without writing in it." And she ran off waving good bye.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Maybe Mione." Draco thought to himself that night as he came to the part where his picture was. "Maybe I'm exactly what I seem to you. You, and no one else." He shut the book as he finished it. He was right, she did know about his situation. He shut his eyes. And he was also right about the fact that she seemed to be able to see right though all the barriers he put around himself, and she knew. She knew it too.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: ok it's not a cliffy, at least I hope not. Ok here's the deal, I have a very busy week ahead of me so you probably wont be getting an update for a bit, but I think you can handle.
SO I wish you all a very happy beginning of October!
Also, thanks to all of my reviewers! You all are a very big help. Thanks!
Relena
That night Draco couldn't sleep. Every now and then his eyes would leave the pages of Hermione's book, just to gaze up at the stars and think ' how does someone who lived though all this, stay happy?'
He was on her year ten chapter, he just passed the part where her grandfather and grandmother died because their house caught on fire. There were happy times in this book, they were small, like she went out to her parents work picnic with them, or one of her friends birthdays. One thing he did know, was that he was indeed crazy. Not like his dad but, what slythrin worth his title, would be reading a book that a muggle born wrote about her life, and actually care?
The first couple of chapters were brief, very brief. He guessed that she had to recall those memories. The real chapters started around age seven, though her art work seemed to progress slightly, her writing hadn't changed much. He laughed when he thought of how easily he could recall information about her that he learned from this book.
"I know more about her now, then any one else in this world." He suddenly said, once the thought became clear to him. "Why would she allow that?" he asked puzzled. "I'm her enemy after all. Oh yeah, the picture." Sighing yet again, he continued to read.
It just didn't seem right to flip though all these pages of her life, just to see a moment. It's the journey not destination after all, that has any meaning. It was about 12:04 when he finally looked back down, and continued to read.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione couldn't sleep either, she kept pacing her room, lost in thought, and annoyed. Since she was eight, she had never put aside her nightly drawings. She had never before, not gone eight hours with out reading or writing in her book, and it was driving her nuts!
Finally, exhaustion took over and she sat down. "I wonder if Malfoy is even still reading my book." She opened her window and looked out, and sure enough, a single light was still on in the mansion.
"He'll get board around chapter nine." She said to her self matter of fact. Shutting her window, and turned and got ready for bed.
Within an hour, she was dead asleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day Draco didn't come at all, making Hermione wonder weather of not her book was safe. Not to mention she was beginning to feel like a coffee addict who was separated from her coffee supply.
So she did what she thought necessary, she waited until her parents were gone, and went over to the Malfoy's to get her book back. she didn't realize until she was almost across the field, the Draco was sitting under a tree in his front yard.
"Hay granger! Came to get your book back?" he called tauntingly. "Well to bad, I'm on chapter thirteen and well enjoying my self thanks!" and he went back to reading.
Hermione stopped in her tracks, 'third year? Oh god' there were many things that Draco, of all people, shouldn't know that happened in that year. "Oh ha ha." And she walked right up and sat beside him. "Now that I know your going to read into the school year, you have to promise not to tell any of the things you learn from this book, that could very well hurt people and their reputations."
"Such as when you stole supplies from Snape's office in second year, and Potter and Weasley snuck into our common room, just to see is I was, or was not Slythrin's heir?" he said not skipping a beat, and he turned the page.
"Malfoy," she said in a very dangerous tone, a tone he honestly hadn't heard come from her at all.
"Don't worry, I wont tell, well at least if I don't have to." She was interrupting his reading! Why would she just leave! "I also promise not to tell the rest of the dream team, your deepest and darkest secrets. Now will you just leave me alone? I'm reading after all and your annoying!"
"Fine, I'll expect it back first thing tomorrow." And she started to leave.
"Wait, Granger." He said suddenly. "I'm confused on a few thing here, mind clearing them up?"
"Depends. You are after all the first person to read that book, it may just be a good thing to leave you confused, so you wouldn't be able to repeat any of the information." She looked over her shoulder with an ' I can be evil too' look.
"Funny Grang-"
"Hermione."
"What?"
"you will be addressing me by my first name. You know more about me then Harry Ron, my mom, dad, Ray and Dora all combined, so it seems natural."
"Fine Hermione." He scowled at her. "First, why in hell have we been enemies?"
This was not the type of question she had been expecting. "Because you've acted like that around me."
"Like what?"
"like 'I'm the big bad Slythrin prince, my word is law.'" She looked at him confused. "You have never once been civil around anyone, and you treat me like I'm the dirt under your toenails. You have never laughed, except at the pain and suffering of others. Never once, in all the time I've known you , have you smiled, or been friendly. You constantly are trying to get me Harry and Ron in trouble---."
"No." Hermione looked at him shocked. "only Ron and Harry, you were just there."
She smirked. "and you hate my friends, that's why."
"you do realize, that you Harry and Ron are just the same don't you?" his turn to look confused.
"meaning?"
"Well, for one, Colin Creevy. You guys weren't all happy to him, yes you were a bit kind, but you might as well have said, stay five feet from us or parish for all the good it did." He looked her in the eye. "there are multitudes more if I need to continue."
"point taken." Hermione glared at him so hard, they broke eye contact. " now, when you insulted Ron on our first day here while trying to make friends with Harry, big mistake."
"That explains Harry, and Ron, not you."
"you hate my friends, and were mean to me, that's why. Plus I'm Mudblood remember?"
"actually, it doesn't matter."
"what?"
"it doesn't matter. Are you def? Mudblood means that your muggle blood has spoiled and weakened you magical ability. Mudbloods are bad because they weaken us as a whole, and they tend to 'give away' our secret. You however are born of muggles, but you are not a Mudblood by my definition. Least, not anymore. "
"So I'm not a mudblood?"
"nope,"
"So no more calling me mud blood got it?"
"ok." He blinked. "how about this, we are under mutual terms tell no one of my family, and I wont call you mudblood around anyone, and I wont tell any one about your past, or of this book."
"Then you're going to have to tell me or make me read you past."
"Fair." He nodded "now second, you know where Black is, you have known since third year, and you haven't told any one?"
"Nope."
"Why?"
"because the only people he would harm are Voldemort, Wormtail, or any of Vlodies followers." She said simply.
"Ah." And he broke out laughing. "Voldie, that's great! You really aren't scared of him are you?"
"Not really. If he were in my face, then yeah maybe a little. But Dumbledore has always said 'if you fear something's name it increases the fear of the thing.' Or something along those lines."
"alright number four."
"what happened to three?"
"that was the are you afraid of Voldemort question."
"ok, ok number four."
"are we friends now?"
She paused, not quite sure on what she should answer. Then it came to her. "yeah, and I have a question for you."
"Alright, shoot."
" Are you a Death Eater?"
"Nope you must be at least eighteen to join."
"is that your only reason?"
"No, I have my pride. I want power, and not the kind that is given to a slave. So Voldemort has power, he didn't get it by following someone else. Also, he isn't using it to fix this messed up world of ours, he's just making it worse."
"Completely agree with you. Maybe I should lend you one of my books, 'The Life of Adolf Hitler.' It would really surprise you how similar the situations are."
"really, yeah I would like to borrow It." Within the course of the conversation, Hermione noticed that he never sat down the book.
"Ok now the rest of your questions." Hermione was really surprised, she was actually enjoying getting questioned on things about her that she would never tell any one, normally. It felt as though a great weight was being lifted from her.
"alright, number five, how do you manage to stay happy? You've had so many horrible things happen to you."
She looked down at her feet. Not the question she was hoping for, but, she still had to answer. "I don't know. My studies occupy most of my free time, that or my friends. I guess it would be because I always look ahead, not backwards, also so many good things have happened to me, enough to counter the bad."
"I see, but don't the bad things sometimes overwhelm you to the point where you just want to cry?"
"Sometimes, then while I'm crying I just let out all my anger and sadness and hatred, and realize. I've it made. I'm the smartest most powerful witch in my year. How can it get any better then that? Draco, you should know, that I believe highly in karma. That's why I come off as a goodie two shoes. But it also helps me keep a good perspective on my life."
He looked at her and smiled, for the first time. "I see. You know Mione? You a lot different then what you seem."
"Same for you." She looked at her watch. "whoa! I've been out here for two hours! My time flies." She looked back at the confused Draco. "I have to get home and do my chores before my parents get home." She stood up and brushed off all the leaves and grass bits off herself. "Well, it was really nice talking to you Draco, now remember to bring that book back to me tomorrow. I can't go to long without writing in it." And she ran off waving good bye.
*~*~*~*~*~
"Maybe Mione." Draco thought to himself that night as he came to the part where his picture was. "Maybe I'm exactly what I seem to you. You, and no one else." He shut the book as he finished it. He was right, she did know about his situation. He shut his eyes. And he was also right about the fact that she seemed to be able to see right though all the barriers he put around himself, and she knew. She knew it too.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: ok it's not a cliffy, at least I hope not. Ok here's the deal, I have a very busy week ahead of me so you probably wont be getting an update for a bit, but I think you can handle.
SO I wish you all a very happy beginning of October!
Also, thanks to all of my reviewers! You all are a very big help. Thanks!
Relena