Chapter 4 - The Unbelievable Horror
Draco entered the room to a very much red-eyed Hermione, who had obviously been crying. She was fine a while ago, Draco thought. Could it be - ?
Draco gulped and shook his head vigorously. It can't be. Probably missing Ron, he thought bitterly.
"Hermione?" Draco asked as tentatively as he could.
"Your father... " she blubbered, tears pouring down her cheeks.
Fear seized Draco almost immediately. He looked at her expectantly. When she did not reply, he prompted her. "My father... ?" He waited impatiently while she made a useless attempt to brush away her tears. Hermione opened her mouth but no sound came out. She choked back a sob as she pulled up her sleeves.
Dark, visible red marks were seen on her arms. "He..."
Hermione offered Draco a smile in return of his. This is more like the Draco I knew, she thought, grinning. Draco gave her a last smile and glance before closing the door.
Suddenly there was a flash, blinding her eyes temporarily. Determined, Hermione widened her eyes defiantly, willing them not to close.
"Hello, Ms Granger," Lucius Malfoy sneered before her, holding something which looked like a .... whip? Without warning, he lashed out, splitting the skin of her left arm.
Hermione screamed, quickly getting up to her feet and scrambled out of Lucius' touch. "What's the matter?" he taunted. "Scared?" Lucius walked over to Hermione slowly, savoring each second.
"Go away!" Hermione shrieked semi-hysterically. She immediately took out her wand and pointed at him.
Lucius simply smirked and took it out of her hand simply by using the whip. He clucked his tongue, which, to Hermione, was a rather annoying sound. "Didn't my Draco tell you never to play with Malfoys?" He swung the hand that was holding the whip and it hit Hermione on the same arm.
"Stop - " Hermione yelled. The sound of door opening was heard and Lucius disappeared with a dramatic puff of smoky white mist.
Draco's eyes were as big and round as saucers. "Explodére*! " Draco shouted, waving his wand at the cameras. "I don't believe him," Draco muttered. "I'm going to find him and clear this up."
He started to move towards the door, to which Hermione responded by tugging his leg, refusing to let him go. "Don't leave me here," she whispered, her eyes frantic.
Draco bent down and kissed the crown of Hermione's head gently, much to her surprise. "Leave it to me, 'Mione," Draco said quietly. Hermione shook her head. "Hermione..." he said in an exasperated tone, as if he didn't know how to deal with her.
Finally he gave up. "You are coming with me, then, " Draco said, firmly pulling a reluctant and protesting Hermione out of the room.
Draco jerked open the door to the study room, just to see Lucius Malfoy frowining at the television and talking to Beliarosa Atractivo. Lucius barely turned his head to "welcome" Draco. "Look who's decided to grace us with his presence," he said, twisting his head around. He raised his eyebrows. "And he brought the mudblood along," he continued with distaste.
Hermione hung her head, muttering in a voice that only Draco could hear. "Drop dead... "
Draco fought back a smile and glared at Lucius. "Father, how could you?"
It was at that point of time that Beliarosa launched herself from the couch and walked slowly to Draco, never faltering her seductive smile. "Oh, Draco... you are so caring... "
Hermione choked back her laughter. What a joke. Draco? Caring? There ought to be a law which says Draco and caring should never be in the same sentence. Draco glanced her way for a second before turning back to Beliarosa. A hurtful memory rose up, rattling some of Hermione's emotions, making her a little unstable.
Hermione suddenly hit the couch. Ouch, she thought, rubbing her head. Draco stood up and seemed to be in a hurry to get away. "Draco! What - ?" she started to ask.
He had not stayed to finish listening. He walked away from her briskly, out the prefects' common room. Is he possessed? she thought to herself, chasing after him.
Beliarosa Atractivo was standing outside the common room with a couple of guys trying to chat her up. She simply looked bored and waved them away.
Hermione saw Draco run over to Beliarosa and offering her his arm. They walked off like they dominated the school.
"DRACO!" she shouted, tears forming in her eyes.
He turned back puzzledly. "Do you know her?" Beliarosa asked.
Draco shook his head. "No," he said.
Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat. Draco was back to the old him in fifth year, hurting her again. She shrugged off the feeling. It's different, she told herself. I don't like him now. Hermione looked around the study room. Lucius was sneering at her, as if laughing about how stupid Hermione looked next to Beliarosa. Hermione ran her fingers through her hair self-consciously, knowing she hadn't comb it for days.
"Oh Draco... " Beliarosa said softly, eyeing him in a way that made him sweat. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a movement. Hermione!
That thought seemed to jolt him out of his daze. Draco pushed Beliarosa away. "Please maintain your distance," Draco said firmly. Beliarosa pouted, her mouth looking extremely kissable. Too kissable if you asked Draco.
He shook away thoughts of Beliarosa and looked at Hermione. She looked on the verge of tears. A vague recollection of memories in fifth year gave him the answer. Hush... Draco told her silently.
At that instant moment, Hermione vanished.
*Explodére - explode