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Courage to Find the Strength

Chapter 18

It was four days after the manure-shoveling experience, and the morning of a big Quidditch match between Griffyndor and Slytherin. It had been unseasonably warm the past couple of days, so the teachers in an unexpected move allowed the next game to be held way before the ordinary Spring season should have begun. Both teams were eager to play and vowed that they'd practiced enough to be ready. Ordinarily, given the circumstances of the past week, neither Harry nor Draco should have been allowed to play, but the Houses involved being who they were and the intense rivalry involved, both Professor McGonagal and Professor Snape (with Dumbledore's consent) let the two seekers play. Half the fun was watching those two try to get the better of each other.

Neville plopped down next to Hermione in the stands. Even though he almost tumbled on top of her in his clumsiness, she didn't seem to notice one bit.

"Hey, Hermione. Sorry about that. How are you? Um, Hermione?"

"Hey, Hermione, snap out of it!" Parvati Patil gently shook the young witch's shoulder. "Where were you just now? The moon?"

"Oh, sorry, guys. Hey, Neville. Hey, Parvati. I was just going over some things in my head."

"But we don't have any tests scheduled for this week or even next. Don't tell me you're studying for finals already?" Neville asked incredulously.

"No, I think she's thinking about a certain Slytherin Seeker." Parvarti crooned and ignored the furious blushing and stammering from the girl next to her. "But he better not pull any of his usual tricks on Harry."

"Is it true then, 'Mione? You and Malfoy are really together? I mean, he's been so AWFUL to you. I even threatened him myself if he called you a mud- I mean any more nasty names again," Neville proudly declared.

"Well, that's awfully sweet of you, Neville, but really, Draco and I aren't together anymore. I mean, well, we were never together, only that, we just, I mean." she quickly tried to cover and failed miserably.

"So, it's 'Draco' now, is it? First name basis. That says a lot. And I mean, EVERYONE has noticed how he looks at you now that he's gotten over his latest bout of the nasties, and all of Gryffindor has watched you stare at him all moon-eyed. Especially yesterday when even old Flitwick had to bring you back to reality. And don't even try to tell me you were taking notes when I personally saw whose name you were doodling in your book." Parvarti winked at her.

Hermione was too mortified to speak, but luckily she was saved when the players entered the stadium, and everyone was on their feet cheering.

Throughout the intense game that followed, Hermione cheered for Harry just like everyone else, but her eyes kept searching for the blonde head of the other team's Seeker. She admired the way he maneuvered his broomstick, cautious, but more like a wild cat stalking its prey. Suddenly, he and Harry were darting through the skies at breakneck speeds. The crowds were roaring so loud as to almost drown out the excited screeching of the announcer. Hermione's breath caught as both boys evaded not one, but both bludgers, a few beaters, and surprisingly, even a mis-thrown Quaffle. They were neck and neck, both employing bold flying moves that sent electricity through the crowd as they time and time again narrowly avoided killing one another. Even greater surprise and which heightened the element of fun was that both boys were playing clean for a change. Malfoy didn't try even one of his dirty tricks, and it turned into a contest of who truly was the more talented Seeker. Hermione's nerves were strained to their fullest and was praying the match would end soon when Draco, in his most daring maneuver ever, stood up on his broom, somersaulted forward in the air to land of his broom again with the snitch held gloriously up in the air.

Hermione was the only one smiling amidst the moans and groans of her Gryffindor housemates. Parvarti nudged Neville and pointed at Hermione. "See, I told you so."

After the all the celebratory congratulations were over, Draco headed out of the Slytherin locker room to return to his room for a nice, hot, well- deserved shower. He always preferred bathing in his own dormitory rather than the rushed feeling he felt in the boy's locker room. He almost walked straight into Crabbe and Goyle when they skidded to a halt in front of him.

"What's SHE doing here? Gryffindors shouldn't be hanging around this place." Crabbe cracked his knuckles menacingly.

When Draco saw who it was they were staring at, he said to them, "Hey, guys, head on back without me. I'll take care of this."

"You sure, Malfoy?" Goyle asked, but the serious look in his ringleader's eyes sent him and Crabbe hurrying off as fast as their lumbering bodies would move.

Hermione slowly walked up to him after the two thugs disappeared around the corner. "Nice move today, Malfoy."

He grinned. "Thanks. Shouldn't you be consoling poor little Potter back with the rest of your heartbroken housemates?"

"Yeah, well, I guess I should, but I just wanted to say thanks for a clean game."

"So you were watching my moves, huh? Thinking I would cheat, did you?" He said it seriously, but there was humor in his eyes.

"It wouldn't be the first time."

"You're one to talk about cheating." He flippantly replied. It was said as a joke, but she reacted like he'd slapped her again.

As she turned on her heel, he caught up to her. "Hey, where're you going? It was a JOKE! All right, a pretty crappy one, but lighten up. Aw, come on, don't be mad. Okay, I shouldn't have said that, but can't we just get past all this between us?"

"Past all what? So, you really want to move on?"

"Well, yeah. Don't you?" Malfoy responded. At Hermione's sudden crestfallen face he asked, "Hey, are we talking about the same things here? I meant get past all the bad feelings between us. It doesn't change the way." he trailed off.

Hermione felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. "The way what?"

"The way I feel about you," he finished. He looked into her eyes, then looked away, embarrassed in case she didn't feel the same way about him. After all the terrible things he'd done and kept doing to her. All their painful past together. Maybe it was too foolish to think she'd EVER forgive him. In fact, he reminded himself again just how much he truly didn't deserve Hermione Granger. Still, a part of him had to hope. When he'd seen her standing there waiting for him, he knew he couldn't mess up this opportunity because, in truth, it would probably be his last with her. He tentatively raised his eyes to see if he could discover what she was thinking. As soon as their eyes met, he didn't have time to react when she launched herself into his arms and locked her mouth onto his.

Draco and Hermione kissed each other for what seemed to them to be an eternity, just joyful to be with each other again. Their problems could wait. Right now, it was a time for celebration for his victory on the field and the second chance he was being given in the arms of the witch he loved.

Finally, inevitably, Hermione pulled back. "What? What is it?" Draco asked, instantly feeling the loss of contact.

"Nothing," she replied, but he could tell something was wrong.

"No, there's something. Out with it."

"Well, it's just that. I don't know how to say this. Okay, here it is. Draco, darling, you really need a bath." He stared at her for a moment, then burst into the deepest, best laugh he'd had in a long, long time.

***

They agreed to meet later that night in an old, unused classroom. Hermione had recently learned a soundproofing spell. She coupled that with a spell that darkened the windows of the classroom so that it would appear as if no light was inside and set about placing little bowls of magical fire around so they wouldn't trip over the furniture stored there. A few moments after setting down the last bowl of fire, Draco entered.

"I almost missed this place because of the charm on the window. Nice job."

"Thanks," she smiled.

Draco looked around the room. "Hey, nice setup you've got here," he said appreciatively. "How'd you find out about this?"

"A legacy of Fred and George Weasley."

"Figures," he said with a frown, but even if it was linked to a couple of Weasleys, it still had its advantages. He walked over to her and bent down to kiss her, but she backed off.

"Hey, I showered, okay?! What's the deal, Granger?"

Hermione couldn't help laughing. "No, it's not that. We really need to talk things out, you know. First, how's Pansy?"

Draco was at first taken aback by her question. He was bracing himself for something much different and much more difficult. "Um, fine, I guess. Swearing to take vengeance, that sort of thing. By, I wouldn't know, we're not on exactly speaking terms right now."

"Same trouble with your father again?" Hermione inquired.

"No. Completely unrelated. Me and my father are on really good terms again." The instant he said it, he regretted it.

"Oh, yeah? How come?" Hermione prodded just as Draco knew she would.

"Listen, if this is about the Death Eaters again, I'm not going to," Malfoy began but Hermione interrupted him.

"You're right, I shouldn't have asked." She kicked herself for being so blatant. Next time, she would need to be a lot subtler.

"Right then, so that leaves talking about you and me. Or would you rather I fill you in on what you missed in Flitwick's class when you went on your journey to outer space?"

"Oh my God! You knew?! Does the whole school know I daydreamed just once in my life?!'

"When a Professor asks Hermione Granger a question and she responds with 'Huh?' it's an international event," Draco teased. "Seriously, we really do need to talk."

And they did. They talked about the mistakes they made during the Holidays and that led into the mistakes of their childhood. Hermione was impressed with his sincerity and just how much he'd changed. Draco was impressed by her insight and objectivity even where she was concerned. After a couple of hours and each having a couple of rounds of tears, they'd never felt closer. Suddenly, Hermione felt the time was right. Draco was sitting there, head bowed, considering the last bit of insight she'd given him when he felt her staring at him.

"What is it?" he asked softly.

She didn't answer, but instead moved closer, her eyes never leaving his. The next time he opened his mouth was in response to her own. Slowly, their kissing increased in passion, and before he knew it, he was spreading their cloaks on the floor. A charm he'd learned in fifth year to guard against the cold made the soft cloaks nice and warm. He lay her down on top of them and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure about this?"

"Draco, I love you."

Malfoy crushed his mouth to hers and held her close. Soon, they were rolling around and stripping each other's clothes off. Too late, he remembered as she let out a small scream.

Hermione was staring horrified at the almost healed mark on his forearm.

"Oh my God, Malfoy! Tell me that isn't what I think it is! Tell me I'm wrong!" She angrily yelled, holding her blouse to her chest.

"Hermione! I can explain! You see, after I left your parent's house, I went home, and I made a huge mistake!"

"Save it, Malfoy! I should have known. You said you and you dad were on great terms again, and there's only one way that could have happened. You became a disgusting, horrid DEATH EATER!"

"'Mione! You've got to believe me! I was angry! I was out of my mind! But, I'm renouncing them! I swear to you I don't want to be a Death Eater!" Malfoy's voice was one of desperation and heartbreak. He HAD to make her understand and believe him!

"NO!" Hermione reached out and grabbed his arm careful to not touch the Mark. "This looks pretty damn permanent to me. You did the one thing I can't forgive. You allied yourself with the darkest evil there is. You allowed yourself to be polluted by their foulness FOREVER! This! This makes you one of THEM! You belong to them!"

"No, I belong to you. I LOVE you, Hermione Granger! Don't you see!"

"You can't love me as long as that is on your arm. It may have been a mistake, Draco, but it's one you're going to have to live with for a VERY VERY long time." With that, Hermione burst into tears and finished dressing herself. As she extinguished the bowls of fire, Draco tried to take her into his arms.

"GET OFF ME, YOU DIRTY DEATH EATER!!!" She screamed. Only the soundproofing spell stopped the entire school from running to her aid. He dropped his arms to his side and looked utterly defeated, but Hermione didn't notice because she was already out the door.