I hope you guys loves the last chapter. Honestly, it is nothing at all similar to what I had planned. The train chapter was supposed to be over by now, but my fingers were just going.Draco is going away for a little bit, but I promise we will see him a bit, just not interacting with Hermione.
Hermione heard the train car door click shit behind her. She needed to get her shaking under control. Malfoy and Nott were right, her friends would have questions. She would think of something to say; she had no other choice, too many people knew already. Nott was smart. He coul and would deduce that something happened. Just as she was coming to the realization that Draco Malfoy and Theo Nott, of all people, knew her secret, she was out of time to think of excuses.
"'Mione! There you are!" Ron was speed walking down the hallway towards her. "Where did you go!? You went off with Lavender and never returned?" Ron was gripping her shoulders rather tightly, and it took all of her self-control to not whimper.
"We... Lavender just wanted to talk. She had questions about whether she did the practical of... of the potions exam right?" Hermione internally smiled at herself. She was getting good at lying to other people, now if she could just lie to herself.
"Lavender... wanted to ask you, a girl she makes fun of at least once a day, about exams, which she cares very little for?" Ron's fingers tightened just a little bit. "I don't believe you."
Hermione was terrified. Ron's temper had truly arrived. They were in the hallway of the train, anyone could see them. What was she going to do...
"You were gone for an hour and a half, 'Mione!" Hermione stared at Ron wide-eyed. He was raising her voice at her. She wasn't a good girl. She was going to get hit.
"No way Lavender took that long to ask a question." Ron finally released he, crossed his arms, and glared at Hermione.
Hermione fought not to cower into herself.
"Well... I... La... I didn't.. sleep much, yes. I didn't sleep much during exams." That much was true, but it wasn't actually because of exams. "After Lavender left... I went into an empty compartment. I just meant to rest in silence, but... I must have fallen asleep."
Ron humphed. That was believable. Now that the stress of exams was gone, Hermione would sleep like the dead. She just usually waited until she got home.
"Oh... okay. I just wanted to spend time with you" Ron sulked and reached out to take Hermione's hand, and she reluctantly let him.
"Let's go meet up with Harry and Ginny. Are your parents meeting you here this time? Or are you coming to the Burrow?"
Hermione allowed herself to be dragged along and only half listened. She just wanted to sleep. To sleep and not do anything at all, for months. She didn't care if she prepped for sixth year. She just wanted sleep. Maybe in sleep, she would forget all that Dolohov did to her.
"Mione? So, what is it? Your parents picking you up?" Hermione's head shot up to look at Ron. Oh, he had already asked her that, didn't he?
"Oh, you know my parents always pick me up, Ron." She smiled sympathetically, hoping to convey that she wouldn't be able to come to the Burrow. She tried not to react when she saw how sad that made Ron.
"Oh... Oh, no worries. I just thought it would be fun. Ya know?" Ron squeezed her hand tighter as they continued walking back to their compartment.
"Ron, you know I'll be over later in the Summer. I just miss my parents." Ron shrugged. Maybe Hermione should say more.
"The Ministry is hooking my house up to the Floo Network." Ron stopped in his tracks, spun towards her, and grinned from ear to ear. "But you can't just show up! I'll call you. It is for me to communicate with the wizarding world, not for the wizarding world to communicate with me." She watched as Ron's shoulders dropped a bit. "You never know when my parents might have friends over."
"Yeah, I guess you are right. It's nice that you will have the Floo available, though." Just as Ron finished his statement, they had reached their compartment. To the great dismay of Ron, Ginny was sitting on Harry's lap and beaming down at him.
Hermione realized how truly exhausted she was as she started to heave her Hogwarts trunk off the train. The one downside of not being able to stomach food was that she was getting weaker by the hour. As much as it hurt that Ron nor Harry had noticed her rapidly declining weight, she was thankful that she didn't have them needling her about what was wrong. To keep it that way, she struggled in silence and as quickly as possible. She just had to get her trunk to a cart, and then she would be fine. Her dad would put it in the boot for her.
She could feels eyes on her, but she didn't dare turn around. Would it be Lavender, genuinely concerned for her well-being? Would it be Malfoy, the boy who had saved her from killing herself and knew part of her secret? Would it be Nott, Malfoy's friend who knew too much solely because he saw her break down? Or were the eyes on her back some other Slytherin, a Slytherin Malfoy had told? Was she in danger? Or just being watched?
Before her panic attack could become full-fledged, Mrs. Weasley was wrapping her in a tight hug, causing Hermione to wince.
"Oh, my Merlin, girl! Have you been eating? You're nothing but skin and bones!" Mrs. Weasley kept a tight grasp around Hermione while also spinning to glare daggers at her youngest son. "Ronald Weasley! You wrote home that you and Hermione were finally dating and that she was fine!" At this, Mrs. Weasley let go of Hermione, only to grab her shoulders and spin her to face Ron. "Does this look fine to you!?! Does it!"
Hermione was lost to the world around her. Mrs. Weasley couldn't possibly know better, but her manhandling of Hermione was just making her panic, not to mention her lack of eating being called to attention in the middle of the platform. She was just thankful that Mr. Weasley was there.
"Molly, dear," came Arthur's steady voice. Hermione could feel that Mr. Weasley had gently taken hold of Mrs. Weasley's arms by the weight change on her shoulders. "You know how Hermione is, she probably got so wrapped up in her studies. Isn't that right, Hermione?"
Hermione couldn't speak. If she spoke, her voice would crack, and where would she be then? She looked around frantically, searching for a way out when she knew there was none. That's when she locked eyes with Lavender.
Lavender could see Hermione's face. She had seen how Mrs. Weasley had whipped her around, tightly gripping her shoulders. She knew she had to intervene, but how? Hermione's eyes left hers. Apparently, Lavender was taking too long. Lavender was still watching Hermione when she saw Hermione's eyes lock with someone else's. Lavender followed the direction of Hermione's look and almost stumbled back in surprise. Hermione was all out pleading with Draco Malfoy to come and save her, and it looked like Malfoy was going to.
If Hermione had any chance at keeping her secret from her friends and the rest of the Weasley clan, Draco Malfoy could not get involved. Of that, Lavender was certain. If Malfoy walked over there and tried to rescue Hermione from her impending panic attack, everyone would know that something was up. Before Lavender could really think of a plan, her feet were carrying her towards the Weasley', and she was calling out for Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley was confused to hear Lavender, but she turned towards the girl and dropped her hands from Hermione's shoulders.
"Lavender? What is it, child? You sound troubled." Mrs. Weasley asked, always the mother hen.
"Oh... Well, my mom doesn't really cook..." Lavender glanced at Hermione and wished that she could silently tell Hermione to just get out of here. "And... well... I'm tired of having to rely on other people..." Mrs. Weasley tut-tutted at that. great... "so... so I was wondering.." Hermione finally seemed to figure out that Lavender had saved her, and she uttered a quick goodbye and then started pushing her cart away. "I want to learn how to cook."
Mrs. Weasley was so excited. She had been so excited when she had a daughter. She thought it would mean days in the kitchen together, but Ginny followed her brothers in every way. The only thing Ginny felt she needed to learn how to make was a sandwich.
"Oh, Lavender! I'd love to help you learn to cook!" Without a moment's notice, Lavender found herself in Mrs. Weasley's grasp, quickly getting the air hugged out of her chest. "You just come over to the Burrow any time. Just floo ahead to make sure we're in."
"Oh.. Thanks, Mrs. Weasley..." Lavender caught Hermione's bushy head disappearing through the wall to the Muggle side of King's Cross. "Well... I really have to be going. Bye!" and with that, Lavender quickly walked away.
She didn't actually want to learn to cook, but she couldn't watch Hermione have panic attack after panic attack. As much she didn't like the girl, she knew what it was to face the aftermath of trauma. As she got further away, she heard the Weasley's plus Harry start to question where Hermione had run off to. Lavender's stunt didn't save Hermione from having to face her friends, but it did buy her time. As Lavender reached the line to enter the Muggle world, she looked back at Malfoy. He had his head bowed and Narcissa Malfoy appeared to have tears running down her cheeks. They were probably talking about Lucius Malfoy, but... Draco Malfoy seemed to be doing all the talking while his mother looked sickened and grief-strickened.
Draco's eyes bored into Hermione's back as he watched her weak body struggle with her trunk. Everything in him wanted to help her, but he knew he couldn't. He was also furious that her friends didn't seem to notice. How could the people who loved her be so blind to her struggle. He briskly walked over to where his mother always waited for him while keeping his eyes on Hermione. He flinched and grimaced when he saw how roughly the Weasley matriarch handled his witch.
"Oh, my darling boy!" Draco felt his mother's palms against both of his cheeks and he couldn't help but to let a small smile grace is features. "I'm so glad you are alright!"
Draco reached down and wrapped his arms tightly around his mother's waist. She had always been petite in physical size, though she dominated a room with her regal attitude. No one but himself knew how truly loving she could be. Thinking of how small she naturally was only made his stomach flip at how unnaturally small his witch was--an emotion that did not go unnoticed by his mother.
"My boy," Narcissa gently murmured. She pulled away slightly to look in his eyes, and her heart fell to the floor with the pain she saw reflected there. "Whatever is the matter?"
Draco just shook his head while releasing his mother, opting to stand there. He couldn't help it, and he looked over to Hermione. He instantly wanted to hex someone, better yet, he wanted to physically harm someone with his fists. Hermione looked exactly like she did when Theo had tried to comfort her but resulted in terrifying her. He wanted to stalk over to the Weasley brood, tuck Hermione under his arm, and stalk away with her. He wanted to protect her.
That's when Hermione's eyes met his. The entire platform seemed to be doused in red according to Draco's vision. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears, and he could tell by the look on her face that she wished he hadn't stopped her. Without another thought, he curled his hands into fists and started to march towards Hermione.
Theo was instantly in front of him with his hands up, practically pushing on Draco's chest. Theo then started pointing and desperately pleading with his friend to stop. Draco's vision cleared slightly, and he allowed his attention to drift slightly to the right, where he saw Lavender bustling towards Hermione. Lavender would save her. She had noticed that Hermione wasn't okay. He allowed himself to drift back the few steps towards his mother, who was instantly asking what was going on. He bowed his head and took a deep, stuttering breath.
"You've always known who, mother." He sighed as he heard his mother's sharp intake of breath.
"But... Your father..."
"He's in prison! Dammit!" Malfoy shouted, drawing the attention of some nearby families. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "Sorry, mother."
"Okay. Yes. I've always known. What of her?" Narcissa fought her nature of putting her hands on her hips, and instead settled for lacing her fingers in front of her.
"We... We actually talked today, mother." Draco looked at his mother's face then, and she was shocked that she was greeted with tears of pain and sorrow in his eyes instead of the excitement she expected to see there. She instantly moved to put a loving hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, no matter, dear boy. Show her you love her. She will come around."
Draco shook his head. She misinterpreted why he was going to cry. He wasn't crying because Hermione had rejected him. In fact, he thought he might be the first person she had told anything to. He took a deep breath to steady himself for the sentence we was about to say.
"Dolohov wasn't arrested because he wasn't there." His mother moved to interrupt him, but he rushed out the next part as quickly and quietly as he could. "He wasn't there because he had her someplace."
He watched as his mother staggered back, one hand over her mouth and the other over her heart. Her eyes were full of terror and her mind was racing. Dolohov had forced Lucius to participate in the breaking of some his "toys" and though Lucius was a cold, unfeeling man, what Dolohov did to the poor women he captured made even Lucius nauseous.
"No." Narcissa was instantly back in front her son, bracing a palm against his cheek. "Please, Draco, please. Tell me that isn't true." But one look at her son's face, seeing how utterly broken he was, she knew that it was true. She couldn't help the tears falling down her cheeks. Her heart truly broke for the girl. That she was able to be around people at all was a testament to her strength.
"Mother..." Draco's voice cracked, and he cleared his throat to continue talking. "Please. Just take us to the Manor."
Narcissa nodded and reached for his hand.
"Oh. And Theo will be staying with us this summer."
She stared at her son. He never spoke to her with such little emotion, he only talked like that to his father or the Dark Lord. She simply nodded to Draco and then Theo, and apparated them home.