CHAPTER 4
Draco went back to his dorm instead of going to the Great Hall to eat lunch. He noticed that his owl had come back. The note from Cephius read:
Hey Draco, It's good to hear from you. Sorry about your father, dude, That sucks. Anyway, about telling Hermione the truth, you definitely Should. You want her to trust you, Right? Well, to gain that trust, you Have to tell her the truth. I wouldn't Be to keen on telling your father yet. He'll probably go psycho on you or Something. Good luck with the girl. Tell me how everything goes.
Your friend, Cephius
"Okay," Draco thought. "I'll do it. I'm gunna do it tonight."
He headed down to the dungeons for Potions. When he got there, he heard voices arguing.
"What do you mean he kissed you?" Harry yelled.
"We were just talking and he-" Hermione started.
"And did you kiss him back?"
"Yes, but-"
Draco felt that it was time to get involved and save Hermione from Dumb and Dumber. "Potthead and Weasel, if you don't leave her alone, I'm gunna have to hurt you," Draco drawled.
"Sod off, Malfoy," yelled Ron.
"Yeah, this is none of your business, you goddamn asshole!" Harry chimed in.
"No need for the rude names, Potthead. I simply told you to leave Hermione alone. Why are you being so damn cruel to her anyway? She can do whatever she wants with whoever she wants. And she doesn't need friends like you to get in the way. I think Hermione's a big girl now; she's capable of making her own decisions. Are you not?" He looked over at her, and she smiled and nodded. "There you go. I don't think she wants you two being so protective of her all the time. Keep that in mind, won't you?"
"What the hell would you know," asked Ron. "What the hell would you care anyway?"
"Oh, I know and care more than you would think. I care about her and how she feels. I care about the way people treat her. And she shouldn't be treated like scum, which is what you're making her feel right now. Since I do care, I won't punch the crap outta you either because I know how much you mean to her. Though I don't see why anyone would possibly wanna be friends with you." With that, Draco stalked off into the classroom.
He sat down at his usual seat. Mostly everyone was there and waiting for the bell to ring. When it did, Professor Snape came barreling through the door. "Today we will be making a potion. It's called the Imperial Potion. It's sort of like the Imperius Curse, except it's not illegal. This potion will make you do the stupidest things you could possibly imagine. It will embarrass most of you a great deal." An evil smile played across his lips. "Since there is so much work involved in the making of this potion, I will divide you into pairs. Let's see here: Malfoy, Granger; Crabbe, Weasley; Goyle, Potter; Parkinson, Brown; Zabini, Finnigan." This went on until everyone was paired up. "Get with your partners and get working. Hurry up! You don't have time to waste!"
Draco watched Hermione walk over to him and started unloading her ingredients. They both began to work silently. When they were about half way through the potion, Hermione said, "What were you sorry about before?"
"I'll explain after class. I can't risk anyone overhearing right now. It's very complicated," he answered throwing his armadillo bile into the cauldron.
"Okay," she said.
They worked for the remainder of the first period, and by the time they were finished, the potion had turned midnight blue, the color it was supposed to be.
Draco looked around the classroom and noticed that Neville Longbottom and Millicent Bullstrode weren't having much luck. Their potion had turned neon pink. They both stood there, staring at the potion and looking flabbergasted.
When the second period began, Snape said, "Now, we will be testing everyone's potions. This is going to give me great enjoyment. Malfoy, Granger, split your potion and drink it."
They did as they were told. Draco felt like he was flying. It reminded him of the time that he and Cephius had gotten high.
"Both of you hop around the classroom on one foot." Draco heard Snape's voice but it sounded kind of distant.
"Okay," was Draco's initial thought, but he soon realized that it was a stupid idea. "No, that's dumb. I 'm not in the mood to be laughed at." He actually said this out loud without meaning to.
He saw that Hermione was contemplating whether or not to do it, and then she said, "No, I think I'll pass."
"Did you drink all of your potion?" Snape barked.
"Yes, Professor. Why wouldn't I?"
"Maybe so that no one would think any different of you. You're always thinking that you're better than everyone else. Just because you're Head Girl doesn't mean that you can ditch the rules."
"Professor Snape, I finished the potion. Maybe, just maybe I'm strong enough to fight it off. You didn't accuse Draco of not finishing the whole thing when he fought it off," she answered innocently.
"That's because I can trust Mr. Malfoy. He hasn't been breaking any rules over the past seven years, as you have been. That's ten points from Gryffindor for being an insolent fool!"
"But, Professor," Dean began. "Why are you punishing her for doing what she was supposed to do?"
"That's another ten points from Gryffindor for questioning my authority. Keep it up, Thomas, and I'll make it 50," threatened Snape.
Snape forced every pair to take their potion. Draco watched as girls started dancing on tables, and the guys were doing the dumbest gymnastics he had ever seen.
Neville and Millicent sprouted an extra set of arms when they took their potion, and were sent off to the infirmary. Snape took another 30 points from Gryffindor. This sent the Gryffindors in an uproar, but the Slytherins were quite content.
After class was over, they headed down to the Great Hall for dinner. Draco ate quickly and didn't talk to anyone. He was so hungry because he hadn't eaten lunch. When he was finished, he grabbed his bag and hurried out of the Great Hall. He was going over what he was going to say to Hermione when she walked in the common room.
After a few minutes, Hermione walked in and said, "Draco, what did you wanna talk to me about?"
"When I said, 'sorry,' it wasn't because I was sorry for kissing you. I'm sorry for not telling you the truth from the start."
"What do you mean? You've been the only person that has given me any faith, or anything at all since my parents died."
"Hermione, you might wanna sit down. Please don't interrupt me either. This is hard enough, just telling you." He watched her sit down, then continued, "Last year, my father was sending me notes that said he'd kill me if I didn't join You-Know-Who. When I got home over the summer, he kept putting me under the Cruciatus Curse until I said that I'd join. I went to the next meeting, and the Dark Mark was branded into my arm. It hurt so much. After that, I was sent out pretty much every night to kill muggles. I would get home at 8-9 in the morning, sleep all day, then go back out. At the beginning of August, when I got my letter that said I was Head Boy, my dad pissed me off. I sent a letter to Dumbledore, and he said I could spend the rest of the summer here." He watched Hermione's facial expressions change, but he ignored them. "Then a week before the start of term, you came and said the Death Eaters killed your parents. I began to feel guilty because if I was still at home, I might have been involved, and I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. When you locked yourself in your room, I took a knife from the kitchens and cut the Dark Mark out of my arm, and I did a charm to re-grow my skin." He showed her his arm to prove that there was nothing there. "There's something else I have to tell you. I've liked you since we were in our third year, and I never wanna do anything to hurt you." Draco stared down at his feet, he didn't know what she was going to say. "I'm sorry, Hermione."
"How come you didn't tell me before?" Hermione asked very calmly. Almost too calmly in Draco's opinion.
"I didn't know how. I thought you'd hate me forever if you knew I was one at any point in time," he shrugged.
"I don't blame you for what those assholes did to my parents. You weren't there."
They sat in silence for a while. Hermione broke the silence by saying, "If you've liked me since third year, how come you were so mean to me?"
"It was more to piss off Potthead and Weasel. They always got more pissed than you did."
"Thanks, Draco," she said while she was getting up.
"For what?" he was slightly confused.
"For telling me the truth. That took a lot of courage." She began ascending the stairs to her room.
"Hermione, do you like me?" He asked before she walked through her door.
She looked at him and said, "No."
Draco went back to his dorm instead of going to the Great Hall to eat lunch. He noticed that his owl had come back. The note from Cephius read:
Hey Draco, It's good to hear from you. Sorry about your father, dude, That sucks. Anyway, about telling Hermione the truth, you definitely Should. You want her to trust you, Right? Well, to gain that trust, you Have to tell her the truth. I wouldn't Be to keen on telling your father yet. He'll probably go psycho on you or Something. Good luck with the girl. Tell me how everything goes.
Your friend, Cephius
"Okay," Draco thought. "I'll do it. I'm gunna do it tonight."
He headed down to the dungeons for Potions. When he got there, he heard voices arguing.
"What do you mean he kissed you?" Harry yelled.
"We were just talking and he-" Hermione started.
"And did you kiss him back?"
"Yes, but-"
Draco felt that it was time to get involved and save Hermione from Dumb and Dumber. "Potthead and Weasel, if you don't leave her alone, I'm gunna have to hurt you," Draco drawled.
"Sod off, Malfoy," yelled Ron.
"Yeah, this is none of your business, you goddamn asshole!" Harry chimed in.
"No need for the rude names, Potthead. I simply told you to leave Hermione alone. Why are you being so damn cruel to her anyway? She can do whatever she wants with whoever she wants. And she doesn't need friends like you to get in the way. I think Hermione's a big girl now; she's capable of making her own decisions. Are you not?" He looked over at her, and she smiled and nodded. "There you go. I don't think she wants you two being so protective of her all the time. Keep that in mind, won't you?"
"What the hell would you know," asked Ron. "What the hell would you care anyway?"
"Oh, I know and care more than you would think. I care about her and how she feels. I care about the way people treat her. And she shouldn't be treated like scum, which is what you're making her feel right now. Since I do care, I won't punch the crap outta you either because I know how much you mean to her. Though I don't see why anyone would possibly wanna be friends with you." With that, Draco stalked off into the classroom.
He sat down at his usual seat. Mostly everyone was there and waiting for the bell to ring. When it did, Professor Snape came barreling through the door. "Today we will be making a potion. It's called the Imperial Potion. It's sort of like the Imperius Curse, except it's not illegal. This potion will make you do the stupidest things you could possibly imagine. It will embarrass most of you a great deal." An evil smile played across his lips. "Since there is so much work involved in the making of this potion, I will divide you into pairs. Let's see here: Malfoy, Granger; Crabbe, Weasley; Goyle, Potter; Parkinson, Brown; Zabini, Finnigan." This went on until everyone was paired up. "Get with your partners and get working. Hurry up! You don't have time to waste!"
Draco watched Hermione walk over to him and started unloading her ingredients. They both began to work silently. When they were about half way through the potion, Hermione said, "What were you sorry about before?"
"I'll explain after class. I can't risk anyone overhearing right now. It's very complicated," he answered throwing his armadillo bile into the cauldron.
"Okay," she said.
They worked for the remainder of the first period, and by the time they were finished, the potion had turned midnight blue, the color it was supposed to be.
Draco looked around the classroom and noticed that Neville Longbottom and Millicent Bullstrode weren't having much luck. Their potion had turned neon pink. They both stood there, staring at the potion and looking flabbergasted.
When the second period began, Snape said, "Now, we will be testing everyone's potions. This is going to give me great enjoyment. Malfoy, Granger, split your potion and drink it."
They did as they were told. Draco felt like he was flying. It reminded him of the time that he and Cephius had gotten high.
"Both of you hop around the classroom on one foot." Draco heard Snape's voice but it sounded kind of distant.
"Okay," was Draco's initial thought, but he soon realized that it was a stupid idea. "No, that's dumb. I 'm not in the mood to be laughed at." He actually said this out loud without meaning to.
He saw that Hermione was contemplating whether or not to do it, and then she said, "No, I think I'll pass."
"Did you drink all of your potion?" Snape barked.
"Yes, Professor. Why wouldn't I?"
"Maybe so that no one would think any different of you. You're always thinking that you're better than everyone else. Just because you're Head Girl doesn't mean that you can ditch the rules."
"Professor Snape, I finished the potion. Maybe, just maybe I'm strong enough to fight it off. You didn't accuse Draco of not finishing the whole thing when he fought it off," she answered innocently.
"That's because I can trust Mr. Malfoy. He hasn't been breaking any rules over the past seven years, as you have been. That's ten points from Gryffindor for being an insolent fool!"
"But, Professor," Dean began. "Why are you punishing her for doing what she was supposed to do?"
"That's another ten points from Gryffindor for questioning my authority. Keep it up, Thomas, and I'll make it 50," threatened Snape.
Snape forced every pair to take their potion. Draco watched as girls started dancing on tables, and the guys were doing the dumbest gymnastics he had ever seen.
Neville and Millicent sprouted an extra set of arms when they took their potion, and were sent off to the infirmary. Snape took another 30 points from Gryffindor. This sent the Gryffindors in an uproar, but the Slytherins were quite content.
After class was over, they headed down to the Great Hall for dinner. Draco ate quickly and didn't talk to anyone. He was so hungry because he hadn't eaten lunch. When he was finished, he grabbed his bag and hurried out of the Great Hall. He was going over what he was going to say to Hermione when she walked in the common room.
After a few minutes, Hermione walked in and said, "Draco, what did you wanna talk to me about?"
"When I said, 'sorry,' it wasn't because I was sorry for kissing you. I'm sorry for not telling you the truth from the start."
"What do you mean? You've been the only person that has given me any faith, or anything at all since my parents died."
"Hermione, you might wanna sit down. Please don't interrupt me either. This is hard enough, just telling you." He watched her sit down, then continued, "Last year, my father was sending me notes that said he'd kill me if I didn't join You-Know-Who. When I got home over the summer, he kept putting me under the Cruciatus Curse until I said that I'd join. I went to the next meeting, and the Dark Mark was branded into my arm. It hurt so much. After that, I was sent out pretty much every night to kill muggles. I would get home at 8-9 in the morning, sleep all day, then go back out. At the beginning of August, when I got my letter that said I was Head Boy, my dad pissed me off. I sent a letter to Dumbledore, and he said I could spend the rest of the summer here." He watched Hermione's facial expressions change, but he ignored them. "Then a week before the start of term, you came and said the Death Eaters killed your parents. I began to feel guilty because if I was still at home, I might have been involved, and I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. When you locked yourself in your room, I took a knife from the kitchens and cut the Dark Mark out of my arm, and I did a charm to re-grow my skin." He showed her his arm to prove that there was nothing there. "There's something else I have to tell you. I've liked you since we were in our third year, and I never wanna do anything to hurt you." Draco stared down at his feet, he didn't know what she was going to say. "I'm sorry, Hermione."
"How come you didn't tell me before?" Hermione asked very calmly. Almost too calmly in Draco's opinion.
"I didn't know how. I thought you'd hate me forever if you knew I was one at any point in time," he shrugged.
"I don't blame you for what those assholes did to my parents. You weren't there."
They sat in silence for a while. Hermione broke the silence by saying, "If you've liked me since third year, how come you were so mean to me?"
"It was more to piss off Potthead and Weasel. They always got more pissed than you did."
"Thanks, Draco," she said while she was getting up.
"For what?" he was slightly confused.
"For telling me the truth. That took a lot of courage." She began ascending the stairs to her room.
"Hermione, do you like me?" He asked before she walked through her door.
She looked at him and said, "No."