A/N Wow! I didn't know I'd get lotsa reviews asking about the dream sequence! I'm not going to say anything about it, except that it's a foreshadow about what's gonna happen later on x) im evil aren't I? Well I'm gonna start speeding up now, so I can wrap the story up soon and get more things in each chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, I have nothing for you to take, so don't sue!
Chapter 22: Escape!
Sooner or later people started to see that the Gryffindor and Slytherin kissed and made up. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws didn't mind so much, since when did they? The Slytherin's despised it but there was a rumour that Draco was going to dump Hermione again. Of course it wasn't true, but he (Draco) didn't care and encouraged it, leaving the Slytherins hanging on their fake hope.
The Gryffindor's were very much like Harry and Ron: they didn't mind bit didn't stop themselves from glaring at Malfoy whenever he talked to their Head Girl. The girls thought it was romantic and sweet, and couldn't help but stir disgusted looks from the boys. Lavender and Pavarti kept badgering Hermione trying to break her with questions like, "What does he look like topless?" and, being ditzy 17-year old girls, "What does he kiss like?" This then caused the Ravenclaw girls to join the inquisition and eventually, Hermione threatened them all with detentions with Filch, which shut them all up.
Teachers tried not to be amazed. After all, even in their Hogwarts years, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor relationship was absurd! Snape was foul that he lost his favourite student to a Gryffindor, that he was even ruder to Hermione in Potions. Although Prof. McGonagall was shocked that Hermione befriended Malfoy, let along have a relationship; she didn't let it interfere with teaching. Before they all thought it was hormones and it would pass eventually, but now, after 2-months of hormonal-hopes, they knew it would last. The only teacher not to raise an eyebrow was Prof. Dumbledore, who instead, raised his lip in a smile.
The weather was warming up as they entered May, and stress levels were also rising. The NEWTS were coming up fast and every 7th year was feeling the pressure. And it wasn't from the scrolls of homework they were walking under; it was the teachers' hauty attitudes.
One morning, Draco came in late to Arithmancy and as he muttered apologies to Prof. Vector, sat down next to Hermione. His face was stone-set and he was just looking at the board, but Hermione could tell he wasn't listening to the lesson. "Draco? Are you OK?" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
"Draco…" she whispered as she put her hand on his shoulder.
He jerked at her touch and shook her hand off. He growled, "What!" his eyes flashed dangerously.
"Are you OK?" she whispered.
"It doesn't concern you!" he snarled and stared at the board again.
She sighed and turned her attention to the Professor.
~*~
When class ended he pulled his bag from under his seat as he stood up. One of the straps was caught around a chair leg as he pulled at it. "Dammit!" he cursed and yanked out the bag, causing the chair to topple.
"Draco!" Hermione hissed as he stormed out of the class, ignoring the fallen chair. She sighed and huffed at the same time as she picked up the chair. Under the table was a crumpled piece of paper. She saw writing on it, and curious, she pocketed it, planning to read it later.
~*~
She was in the library that evening when she remembered the paper. It was a newspaper clipping and it was from the front page. She gasped when she read the headline: Malfoy Escapes Azkaban!
She continued to read it, picking out certain sentences:
"…yesterday at around 2 in the morning…"
"…don't know how…"
"Assumed to be heading towards his Manor."
"Or to supposed hidden vaults."
"…back to You-Know-Who!"
'So that's why he was tense." She thought.
As she raced out of the library, she saw a group of students in green Quidditch robes heading to the dungeons. She ran to their common room and quietly opened the statue. She saw the flickering shadow of Draco in one of the armchairs.
~*~
Draco skipped Quidditch practice. He stared blankly into the fire, the heat hardly reaching him. 'He's coming to get me…he knows I told on him.' He thought.
He was too caught up in his own thoughts to hear the common room door open, or the small footsteps heading towards him. He was jolted from his reverie by a piece of paper being thrust in front of his face under his nose. "Is this why you've been so stuck-up!" Hermione hissed at him.
He looked at it and his eyes darkened. He snatched the parchment and grabbed her wrist, pulling her forward. "Where did you get this?" he snarled.
"You dropped it! Is this why you've been so up tight?"
"It's non of –" he started, gripping her wrist.
"Don't you dare give me your 'It's none of your business' crap to me Draco Malfoy! Tell me what's wrong!" she ignored the numbness from her wrist.
"You wouldn't understand." He grumbled.
She couldn't take the pain and said quietly, "At least let go then…"
He immediately dropped her wrist. Then, before she could start to wring her hands together, he gently picked it up and examined it. There was a forming bruise starting to appear and he gingerly traced it with a finger. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" he said quietly.
She winced when he touched it, "No, it's OK. Really—"
"That's the thing!" he roared and she jumped back. He spoke normally, but a harshness in his voice remained, "It's not OK! Lucius escaped and it's my ruddy fault!"
"It's not your fault." She said.
"Yes it is! I should've told Dumbledore that he has the plans to Azkaban memorized! Completely forgot! And now he's coming back to get me!" he yelled.
"Memorized!? How could he have gotten them in the first place?" she was utterly shocked.
"'Connections' is what he said. Dammit Hermione, it's all my fault!"
She was fed up with his lame self-pitying, "You see here Draco Artemis Malfoy! It's not your fault that you have a bastard for a father! It's not your fault that you have a good heart and you did the right thing by telling. And it isn't you bloody fault that he escaped! So stop your worthless self-pitying because it doesn't suit you! So suck it up and move on in life!" she yelled harshly at him, hands glowing red.
He had a slightly scared, but also shocked and impressed expression at her. After all, it isn't very often that anyone, especially a muggleborn girl, spoke back at him, in that tone of voice, lecturing him. He had to give her recognition. "You're right. But no matter what you say, he's still coming after me." He said flatly.
She sat on his lap. "What makes you say that? Still wants you to be a death eater?"
"You're joking! No way he still wants me to be a death eater! More like he wants to kill me for not becoming one. It would be a disgrace to him and the 'Malfoy name' if I were to be a death eater after all I've done." He ticked off his fingers, "I sent me 'father' to Azkaban, refused becoming a sniveling incompetent who follows the rules of a bastard, and dating a mud—muggleborn witch." He saw her eyes flash red. And caught himself.
"Oh well. He can't get you here." She shrugged.
"Hermione, if you haven't noticed, school ends in a month. After that, I go home and there's no more Hogwarts to protect me. I'm going back into the jaws of the beast by going home. I'm out in the world, all alone. He'll find me."
"Not completely alone." She grinned and leaned back on his chest.
"Why? We still going to be together after school, when I'm a wanted man?" he said sarcastically.
She faked misery; "I'm hurt! You don't love me anymore!" she laughed, "Of course we'll still be together. You haven't gotten any other plans right?"
"Apart from trying to escape the clutches of my lunatic father and every death eater in the country, of course not!" he laughed.
"We'll escape together then. Even if I'm then a wanted witch, running off with a wanted wizard." She smiled.
He smiled back. "Thanks." He murmured and kissed her gently on the lips. When they pulled apart, he said softly, "Together?"
"Forever."
~ End of Chapter 22 ~
A/N: Aww, talk about a fluffy ending. I wanted it to be more serious, where he gets upset at her wanting to run off with him, but it ended like that. :: rolls eyes:: oh well, what can you do about it? Haha!
Anyway, my dedications:
Mediterranean Queen: ::grin:: hehe, the dream HAS a meaning. Hehe. I can't tell you….but it plays a major part in the plot. But I don't know whether to make it still part of this fic or my sequel, which I'm still thinking about. Thanks for the review!
Chrissy: Yes very disturbing, but it's important! But I'll try and avoid queer dreams. J
Calypso In Love: Fine! ::sniff:: you can KEEP the purse! Haha! Is this soon enough to update? I SO like your fic, Pain is Bitter! To everyone reading this review (haha) for a good dark fic, read CIL's Pain is Bitter!
KrayZM: Nope, I'm not writing any other couples. Just want to focus on Draco and Herm. Sorry if you wanted me too though! Thanks for the complement!
Star Shine: I'll keep writing so keep reviewing too!
bLuegrEen: Oh I read your fic, reviewed it too. It's sweet! Thanks for reviewing!
Angelina LeFleur: Thanks! Yeah, D/Hr rules! Too bad that JKR's not gonna make it happen. Sad…
Colibi: Oh I don't mind really. 'Cause Draco/Hermione is common actually. It's the only type of fic I read. ::grin:: Good luck w. your fic!
porkypop: Ah it's OK. J and thanks for the complement! I can't WAIT for my graduation! 2 more months! Yay!
Ginny Dallaire : Thanks! Wow, nice to know that I keep people up at 4 in the morning to read this! Lol!
Ginn: Dontcha hate it when authors don't update for ages and you lose track of stuff? I know I do. Thanks for reviewing!
Maxwell: I've told you countless times not to talk gibberish on the review board! Perhaps Ravenclaw would like to suffer due to your childishness! Well, SORRY if I'm trying to write fast, along with doing my Muggle duties, AND create lessons! We all can't be as time-managable as you Cortex! And don't blame it on the coke.
Michee: haha! Perhaps a never disappearing scab would be good. But ick, I hate that word, it's so dirty and disgusting. Lol! What exactly do you mean "laugh at her discontorted face" explain please? Sorry if I'm being a bit stupid, stressing out w. work. J
Well, how was that for a twist in the plot? And Lucius escaping will play a HUGE part in the story later on. And by the way, I have an idea for a sequel, it's probably going to be a short sequel, but that's OK! LOL! If you have any ideas, send em in your review and I'll consider them. Now that you've read, now review!!!