Here it is chapter three. Thank you to everyone who reviewed hopefully I
pull in as many reviews for this chapter as I did for the last one. 12
reviews, I love you people. Oh and the dotted lines are driving me nuts
(but it might only be on my computer) Ignore them they are not there for a
reason they are there because I cant get rid of them. Well, I wont keep
you. Read. Review. Suggest.
Chapter 3 - The real Malfoy
Hermione woke on a strange bed with a splitting headache; she groaned and opened her eyes. A blurry vision of an unknown room, filled with stuff that didn't belong to her. Her memory of what happened the night before came flooding back and she sat bolt upright, though, afterwards, she wished she didn't because as soon as she did, she felt weak and her body threatened to collapse on the floor. Hermione figured she must be in the house with those two horrible men, well, you can imagine her surprise when she saw Draco, wet and in nothing, but a towel.
"Hermione!" Before this, Hermione had not thought it possible for Draco's face to possess anything besides the emotionless expression it always wore, however, there it was, plain as day, a rosy pink blush appearing all over his normally pale face.
"Malfoy!?" Hermione could feel a smile trying to creep upon her lips, but she fought hard to keep it under control. "Um.Good morning!?"
I.um.Malfoy.he.I.Wow.Hermione you are acting like a school girl! Turn around, for goodness sake, don't stare!!! She scolded herself for looking and quick as she could she spun around and apologised profusely.
"Just gimme a minute will you!" Draco dashed back into the bathroom and shut the door locking it behind him. He hadn't expected Hermione to be awake yet; he walked towards the mirror and glanced at his glowing face. He never thought it a problem before, being naked in front of a girl. In fact, the girl was usually the one to blush and he would smirk at them and make some egotistical comment, but it was Hermione who was smiling at him! While rubbing his hair dry with the towel, he realised his clothes where near the bed, with Hermione. Dammit! Draco slapped his forehead with his hand. You idiot! What are you gonna do now, smart arse?
There was a soft knock at the door, "Um.Malfoy?" Hermione spoke through the door, "do you want your clothes?"
Draco shut his eyes and breathed out, "Yes, Granger. They would be helpful!" His harsh tone of voice sliced through the door and cut Hermione's hope of him being at least civil to her.
Okay, no blushing this time. She can't even see anything.
Draco opened the door, the towel once again wrapped around his waist, his white blonde hair messy and clinging to his forehead. The water from the shower was still covering his toned, muscular arms and his abdominals, which, by the way, were very nice also. Even Hermione had to admit she stopped breathing for a second. Draco smirked at Hermione and snatched his clothes from her hands, and slammed the door in her face.
Prick! I thought.well.I don't know what I thought, but I was a fool to even think it.
"I hate you!" Hermione said harshly through the door
"Likewise, Mudblood." Draco said plainly.
Hermione decided to leave the hotel room and try and find her way back to her parents. She glanced around the room; just to be sure nothing belonged to her. She opened the door and walked out into the corridor in search of the elevator. She did not get very far before she realised she didn't have any shoes on. I can be so stupid sometimes! She turned and made her way back to the hotel room, the door was locked shut behind her.
"Malfoy!" Hermione was pounding on the door. "Open up!"
Draco opened the door and leaned on the frame, looking very smug, "miss me?" he said.
"Get real! More like I missed my shoes." Hermione stalked in and searched the room for her shoes, "where are they?"
Draco pointed towards the closet, "In there, I guess I'll leave you to it." Draco watched Hermione walk past him to the closet, he had not taken two steps towards the bathroom, when he rushed to Hermione and pushed her in the closet, "Stay here and shut up!"
~~~***~~~
It was dark in the closet, but Hermione had barely enough time to think about this or anything else before she heard a familiar 'pop,' a sound only heard on the arrival of a witch or wizard apparating somewhere. Hermione was silent, straining to hear something, anything that would tell her who had just arrived and why.
"Father, this visit was unexpected, I was not aware you knew of my whereabouts." Draco's voice was solemn.
"Yes," the voice, which undoubtedly his father's was cold and uncaring, "I'm sure you never planned for me to find you, did you?"
Draco was silent.
"Answer me, boy!" His voice was not raised, though it would have been less chilling if it was.
"Yes, father."
"You can't fight this, Draco, you know why you are in Venice, I was under the impression you wanted this. Why, then, are you fighting this? It's inevitable and you know it." Lucius' voice was calm, but still chilling.
"I don't wish to serve him. I don't want to be like you. I hate you!" Draco hissed venomously.
Lucius smirked, "stupid boy." Hermione will forever remember the words that came next, "Crucio"
Draco doubled up and collapsed on the floor, Hermione had never heard anyone scream like Draco did. His shrill, banshee like cries, pierced her ears, it travelled through her veins and all she could do was press the palm of her hands tightly over her ears and hope it would over soon.
"The Dark Lord will not be pleased with you, think about that Draco and I'll be back next week, perhaps he will join me. Don't try and run, I will always know where you are."
With a final smirk and a 'pop' he was gone. Hermione scrambled out of the cupboard, she crawled over to Draco who was still collapsed on the floor and breathing heavily. She sat close to him, she barely touched his back with hand when he sat up and glared at her with pure hatred.
"I don't want your sympathy, Mudblood," he snarled at her and curled up again.
She was strangely hurt by his words. She got up again and walked over to the kettle, preparing to make them both a strong coffee. By the time she was done, Draco was sitting at the small table watching her, she walked over to him and handed him the steaming mug.
"What is this?" He looked at her; in his eyes she could see hurt and shame. Why shame? What is he ashamed of?
"Coffee, it's good for you. It'll make you feel better." She smiled at him.
"I wished you didn't have to see that, I- my father, he-" He seemed so confused. "Get out," there was no readable expression in his eyes.
"I would, but I'm not leaving you." Hermione's voice was firm, "you're weak from the-" she stopped, she didn't want to continue, she couldn't bring herself to say the words.
"Cruciatus curse," Draco finished for her, "don't pity me, Granger, my father's a bastard and I couldn't wait to be like him. Now, I can't get away. I'm never going back to that place, Malfoy Manor. This is my final year at Hogwarts, I'll line up a job for myself at the ministry, get my own place and mother and I will leave that bastard, just us." There was something in his eyes that Hermione had never seen before; hope. Hope for a better future without his father.
After a brief silence, Draco asked, "This stuff is good, got any more?"
"Yeah, I'll make you some, then, can I have a shower?" Draco looked at her, obviously not expecting that.
"Um." Draco paused, unsure, "yeah, there are some extra towels in the cupboard."
"Well, if you don't want me to, just say. But I don't see why not I mean it's only a shower." Hermione was annoyed and Draco's hesitation in saying yes.
"No, no it's not that, just, well, I wasn't expecting you to stick around, that's all." He sounded sincere enough.
"Okay, I'll be out in 5 minutes," she bounced over to the cupboard with unknown energy. Draco was completely drained, but that was most probably from the Cruciatus curse. Hermione seemed to possess all the energy he had lost, even after last night, everything she went though, she was really surprising sometimes.
The sound of the water from the shower was soothing, and in a weird way, lulled Draco to sleep. Smack, Draco didn't even feel the branch whip his face, or the rocks and small shrubs he almost tripped on. Run, just run. Run away; leave his father in his own mess. Stuff him, he did this to himself. Ah, Lord Voldemort! And- a girl, someone with him, nothing but a child. A cold voice, "Think about this Draco, your own daughter. How will you tell that mudblood bitch of yours?" Mudblood bitch? MY daughter? What? "Say goodbye to Daddy, Liadan" The girl was not even 7 years old, but she knew what was going on, "Daddy, help." Draco was unarmed, he just dived at Voldemort, "Noooo"
"Malfoy" Hermione was shaking him, "Malfoy, wake up! Stop shouting, you'll wake up the whole hotel!"
Draco looked around, it was still daylight and Hermione was clutching him by the shoulders, her face was full of concern.
"What are you still doing here?" Draco scowled, pushing her away from him.
"Well, where shall I start," Hermione was sick of Draco and his unthoughtful comments. "Last night, I was almost raped and murdered, only to be saved you. I've never been in Venice before, besides the fact I don't know where I am, I don't where my parents hotel is. Now, where else do you propose I go?"
"Why are you so logical?" He turned over, so he wouldn't have to face her. "What's the time?"
"Half past 12" Hermione said checking her watch.
"Want some lunch?" Draco asked turning to face her again.
"Yeah, I suppose. What do you want? I'll get it." Hermione sighed and stood up to get her purse.
"I don't think so, miss I-know-everything, I'll get it. You stay here." Draco got up and grabbed his shoes.
"Well, I'm coming too." Hermione grabbed her shoes as well.
Draco walked over to her and snatched her shoes from her hands, "I don't think so," he said as he threw her shoes back in the corner.
Hermione walked over to the corner put her shoes on, grabbed her purse and stalked out of the room. Draco was silent the whole time, he followed her to the sandwich bar across the street from his hotel, they ordered and sat waiting for them to be made.
"Why haven't you gone yet?" Draco asked, this time he sounded sincere, however, Hermione took it the wrong way.
"I told you before, Malfoy," her tone was harsh.
"Don't get so fired up, I know what happened last night, but its broad daylight, you wouldn't be in any danger and it's not as if you couldn't ask anyone else for directions back to your hotel. Hermione, you and I both know that if you really wanted to leave, you could," he paused, "So, why stay?"
Hermione hesitated, thinking about this, "I-I don't know. I guess you just- I don't want to got back and face them. I left in a bit of a huff, my pride is getting the better of me and I can't go back." Hermione looked at the floor feeling silly. The sandwiches came and the first few bites were taken silently.
"Well you can always stay with me," he said finally, grinning at her, "Potter would love that, wouldn't he? Either that or go back and lose your self respect. I know what I would choose."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "has my life come to this? You or my parents?" Her tone was not harsh, but light and full of laughter. She giggled.
Draco grinned, "well, there are always those two guys we met last night, I'm sure they wouldn't mind having you for a while."
Hermione paled at the thought of what had happened, and her airy tone disintegrated immediately, "Not - funny - Malfoy" she whispered, her voice was tight and threatening.
Draco raised his hands defensively, "hey, only joking!"
Hermione finished her sandwich and stood to throw her sandwich wrapper in a nearby rubbish bin, "wanna get out of here?" she said casually.
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea, Granger," Draco hesitated.
"What not good for your image," Hermione joked, sitting next to him, she suddenly became serious, "take me back to England, Malfoy, I hate it here."
"What?" Draco was stunned, what ever he was expecting it wasn't this, "I can't, Granger, you heard my father, he's coming back and I have to be here when he does."
"Why?" Hermione looked at him, "What does he want from you?"
"I promised my mother that I would never serve Lord Voldemort, unless-" he stopped, deciding if he should tell Hermione this, "but I won't serve him, no matter what, because of her," he added.
"Your father," Hermione's voice was soft and gentle, knowing she was touching a very sensitive subject, "he wants to make you a death eater?"
"That's why I'm here, for my initiation." Draco put his wrapper in the bin, "I'm done," he said.
"We can run away, together, let's go back to England, he'll never find us" Hermione looked in his eyes, she was so sure, "you can keep your mum's promise and I can go back to the burrow, come on," she said grabbing the sleeve of his shirt.
"I can't" His tone wasn't harsh, but hurt. "You don't understand, you'll never understand."
How can she know? How can I tell her about me? She'd never ask me- trust me to take her back to England, if she knew. How can she stare at me and make me tell? Why can't I fight her? I hate her.
~~~***~~~
After Draco had left, she asked the sandwich bar attendant for directions to her parents' hotel. She was sure she'd scared Draco, been too enthusiastic, and been too desperate. Too desperate to get away from her parents. Too desperate to get back to Harry and Ron. When Hermione when back to Draco's room to collect the rest of her things, she didn't tell Draco, where she was going, she just bid him goodbye and thanked him for his help. He didn't try to stop her either.
~~~***~~~
Hermione stopped at the hotel door marked number '431,' she looked at the handle and willed herself to open the door. She didn't know what to do, what if they just had another fight and she walked out? What if they disowned her? She longed to have Harry or Ron next to her, to hold her hand or give her a hug, to reassure her and tell her to open the bloody door before they did it themselves!
"Please, open the door." Hermione was talking to the imaginary Ron next to her, "I don't think that I can."
Oh, this is stupid! She was cross at herself for being afraid, afraid of her parents! Her! Hermione Granger! She had been petrified by a basilisk, had faced what she thought was a horrible murdering death eater (which turn out to be Harry's godfather), she had also been face to face with a hungry werewolf AND she had been held captive at the bottom of the lake at Hogwarts for goodness knows how long, all before her 15th birthday and was never as scared then as she was right now! But, now that she thought about it, Hermione had always had complete faith that Harry and Ron would save her, but now she was on her own and she would much rather be with Harry and Ron facing Voldemort right now than on her own facing her parents. It is truly sad when a child would rather be staring down the jaws of death with her two best friends than with her parents. Just do it! Stop being silly!
Hermione grabbed the door handle and held it, it felt like at least a minute but in reality it was probably only a few seconds. She only let go when she heard footsteps walking in her direction, Hermione dashed around the corner. She listened, the footsteps stopped, she poked head around the corner, just enough to see and be unnoticed at the same time. There was someone very familiar standing at the door marked number 431, Hermione's hotel room.
Draco! What is he doing here?
Hermione came out from her hiding place and walked over to Draco, but he was concentrating on something and, therefore, didn't notice her, if it wasn't for his constant composure, when she tapped him on the shoulder, he would have jumped in fright. Instead he turned in a graceful Malfoy way looked her up and down.
"Granger," he acknowledged her presence with a slight nod and turned back for the elevator.
I knew you couldn't do it, weakling. It seemed as if his conscience was mocking him, she'll never respect you, she'll never even fear you. Draco kept his breathing steady and continued to walk.
"Malfoy, what are you doing?" Hermione was confused, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice as she said this.
He stopped and turned to face her again. "I'm going back to my hotel," Draco said this as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and that standing in front of her door without any reason for being there, was not at all unusual in any way.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked again.
"Look, Granger, I won't ask you what you were going around the corner, if you don't ask me what I'm doing here, because the truth is I don't know." Draco was very serious.
"Well, I have no problem telling you why I was around the corner." She told him smugly, "do you want to know?" she smiled at him.
"Yes," he said, smirking back.
She looked at her feet, "I couldn't do it, I couldn't go in there." She smiled at him again, "now you have to tell me why you're here."
"No, I don't." He smirked, "I didn't ask you, you asked me."
Hermione thought about this and realised he was right, she huffed and frowned at him. Before Hermione could stop him, Draco moved towards the door and knocked loudly three times, and with that, he turned for the elevator and left Hermione standing bewildered in the corridor. Hermione spun around to see her red, puffy-eyed mother and fatigued father coming out of the room, number 431.
Chapter 3 - The real Malfoy
Hermione woke on a strange bed with a splitting headache; she groaned and opened her eyes. A blurry vision of an unknown room, filled with stuff that didn't belong to her. Her memory of what happened the night before came flooding back and she sat bolt upright, though, afterwards, she wished she didn't because as soon as she did, she felt weak and her body threatened to collapse on the floor. Hermione figured she must be in the house with those two horrible men, well, you can imagine her surprise when she saw Draco, wet and in nothing, but a towel.
"Hermione!" Before this, Hermione had not thought it possible for Draco's face to possess anything besides the emotionless expression it always wore, however, there it was, plain as day, a rosy pink blush appearing all over his normally pale face.
"Malfoy!?" Hermione could feel a smile trying to creep upon her lips, but she fought hard to keep it under control. "Um.Good morning!?"
I.um.Malfoy.he.I.Wow.Hermione you are acting like a school girl! Turn around, for goodness sake, don't stare!!! She scolded herself for looking and quick as she could she spun around and apologised profusely.
"Just gimme a minute will you!" Draco dashed back into the bathroom and shut the door locking it behind him. He hadn't expected Hermione to be awake yet; he walked towards the mirror and glanced at his glowing face. He never thought it a problem before, being naked in front of a girl. In fact, the girl was usually the one to blush and he would smirk at them and make some egotistical comment, but it was Hermione who was smiling at him! While rubbing his hair dry with the towel, he realised his clothes where near the bed, with Hermione. Dammit! Draco slapped his forehead with his hand. You idiot! What are you gonna do now, smart arse?
There was a soft knock at the door, "Um.Malfoy?" Hermione spoke through the door, "do you want your clothes?"
Draco shut his eyes and breathed out, "Yes, Granger. They would be helpful!" His harsh tone of voice sliced through the door and cut Hermione's hope of him being at least civil to her.
Okay, no blushing this time. She can't even see anything.
Draco opened the door, the towel once again wrapped around his waist, his white blonde hair messy and clinging to his forehead. The water from the shower was still covering his toned, muscular arms and his abdominals, which, by the way, were very nice also. Even Hermione had to admit she stopped breathing for a second. Draco smirked at Hermione and snatched his clothes from her hands, and slammed the door in her face.
Prick! I thought.well.I don't know what I thought, but I was a fool to even think it.
"I hate you!" Hermione said harshly through the door
"Likewise, Mudblood." Draco said plainly.
Hermione decided to leave the hotel room and try and find her way back to her parents. She glanced around the room; just to be sure nothing belonged to her. She opened the door and walked out into the corridor in search of the elevator. She did not get very far before she realised she didn't have any shoes on. I can be so stupid sometimes! She turned and made her way back to the hotel room, the door was locked shut behind her.
"Malfoy!" Hermione was pounding on the door. "Open up!"
Draco opened the door and leaned on the frame, looking very smug, "miss me?" he said.
"Get real! More like I missed my shoes." Hermione stalked in and searched the room for her shoes, "where are they?"
Draco pointed towards the closet, "In there, I guess I'll leave you to it." Draco watched Hermione walk past him to the closet, he had not taken two steps towards the bathroom, when he rushed to Hermione and pushed her in the closet, "Stay here and shut up!"
~~~***~~~
It was dark in the closet, but Hermione had barely enough time to think about this or anything else before she heard a familiar 'pop,' a sound only heard on the arrival of a witch or wizard apparating somewhere. Hermione was silent, straining to hear something, anything that would tell her who had just arrived and why.
"Father, this visit was unexpected, I was not aware you knew of my whereabouts." Draco's voice was solemn.
"Yes," the voice, which undoubtedly his father's was cold and uncaring, "I'm sure you never planned for me to find you, did you?"
Draco was silent.
"Answer me, boy!" His voice was not raised, though it would have been less chilling if it was.
"Yes, father."
"You can't fight this, Draco, you know why you are in Venice, I was under the impression you wanted this. Why, then, are you fighting this? It's inevitable and you know it." Lucius' voice was calm, but still chilling.
"I don't wish to serve him. I don't want to be like you. I hate you!" Draco hissed venomously.
Lucius smirked, "stupid boy." Hermione will forever remember the words that came next, "Crucio"
Draco doubled up and collapsed on the floor, Hermione had never heard anyone scream like Draco did. His shrill, banshee like cries, pierced her ears, it travelled through her veins and all she could do was press the palm of her hands tightly over her ears and hope it would over soon.
"The Dark Lord will not be pleased with you, think about that Draco and I'll be back next week, perhaps he will join me. Don't try and run, I will always know where you are."
With a final smirk and a 'pop' he was gone. Hermione scrambled out of the cupboard, she crawled over to Draco who was still collapsed on the floor and breathing heavily. She sat close to him, she barely touched his back with hand when he sat up and glared at her with pure hatred.
"I don't want your sympathy, Mudblood," he snarled at her and curled up again.
She was strangely hurt by his words. She got up again and walked over to the kettle, preparing to make them both a strong coffee. By the time she was done, Draco was sitting at the small table watching her, she walked over to him and handed him the steaming mug.
"What is this?" He looked at her; in his eyes she could see hurt and shame. Why shame? What is he ashamed of?
"Coffee, it's good for you. It'll make you feel better." She smiled at him.
"I wished you didn't have to see that, I- my father, he-" He seemed so confused. "Get out," there was no readable expression in his eyes.
"I would, but I'm not leaving you." Hermione's voice was firm, "you're weak from the-" she stopped, she didn't want to continue, she couldn't bring herself to say the words.
"Cruciatus curse," Draco finished for her, "don't pity me, Granger, my father's a bastard and I couldn't wait to be like him. Now, I can't get away. I'm never going back to that place, Malfoy Manor. This is my final year at Hogwarts, I'll line up a job for myself at the ministry, get my own place and mother and I will leave that bastard, just us." There was something in his eyes that Hermione had never seen before; hope. Hope for a better future without his father.
After a brief silence, Draco asked, "This stuff is good, got any more?"
"Yeah, I'll make you some, then, can I have a shower?" Draco looked at her, obviously not expecting that.
"Um." Draco paused, unsure, "yeah, there are some extra towels in the cupboard."
"Well, if you don't want me to, just say. But I don't see why not I mean it's only a shower." Hermione was annoyed and Draco's hesitation in saying yes.
"No, no it's not that, just, well, I wasn't expecting you to stick around, that's all." He sounded sincere enough.
"Okay, I'll be out in 5 minutes," she bounced over to the cupboard with unknown energy. Draco was completely drained, but that was most probably from the Cruciatus curse. Hermione seemed to possess all the energy he had lost, even after last night, everything she went though, she was really surprising sometimes.
The sound of the water from the shower was soothing, and in a weird way, lulled Draco to sleep. Smack, Draco didn't even feel the branch whip his face, or the rocks and small shrubs he almost tripped on. Run, just run. Run away; leave his father in his own mess. Stuff him, he did this to himself. Ah, Lord Voldemort! And- a girl, someone with him, nothing but a child. A cold voice, "Think about this Draco, your own daughter. How will you tell that mudblood bitch of yours?" Mudblood bitch? MY daughter? What? "Say goodbye to Daddy, Liadan" The girl was not even 7 years old, but she knew what was going on, "Daddy, help." Draco was unarmed, he just dived at Voldemort, "Noooo"
"Malfoy" Hermione was shaking him, "Malfoy, wake up! Stop shouting, you'll wake up the whole hotel!"
Draco looked around, it was still daylight and Hermione was clutching him by the shoulders, her face was full of concern.
"What are you still doing here?" Draco scowled, pushing her away from him.
"Well, where shall I start," Hermione was sick of Draco and his unthoughtful comments. "Last night, I was almost raped and murdered, only to be saved you. I've never been in Venice before, besides the fact I don't know where I am, I don't where my parents hotel is. Now, where else do you propose I go?"
"Why are you so logical?" He turned over, so he wouldn't have to face her. "What's the time?"
"Half past 12" Hermione said checking her watch.
"Want some lunch?" Draco asked turning to face her again.
"Yeah, I suppose. What do you want? I'll get it." Hermione sighed and stood up to get her purse.
"I don't think so, miss I-know-everything, I'll get it. You stay here." Draco got up and grabbed his shoes.
"Well, I'm coming too." Hermione grabbed her shoes as well.
Draco walked over to her and snatched her shoes from her hands, "I don't think so," he said as he threw her shoes back in the corner.
Hermione walked over to the corner put her shoes on, grabbed her purse and stalked out of the room. Draco was silent the whole time, he followed her to the sandwich bar across the street from his hotel, they ordered and sat waiting for them to be made.
"Why haven't you gone yet?" Draco asked, this time he sounded sincere, however, Hermione took it the wrong way.
"I told you before, Malfoy," her tone was harsh.
"Don't get so fired up, I know what happened last night, but its broad daylight, you wouldn't be in any danger and it's not as if you couldn't ask anyone else for directions back to your hotel. Hermione, you and I both know that if you really wanted to leave, you could," he paused, "So, why stay?"
Hermione hesitated, thinking about this, "I-I don't know. I guess you just- I don't want to got back and face them. I left in a bit of a huff, my pride is getting the better of me and I can't go back." Hermione looked at the floor feeling silly. The sandwiches came and the first few bites were taken silently.
"Well you can always stay with me," he said finally, grinning at her, "Potter would love that, wouldn't he? Either that or go back and lose your self respect. I know what I would choose."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "has my life come to this? You or my parents?" Her tone was not harsh, but light and full of laughter. She giggled.
Draco grinned, "well, there are always those two guys we met last night, I'm sure they wouldn't mind having you for a while."
Hermione paled at the thought of what had happened, and her airy tone disintegrated immediately, "Not - funny - Malfoy" she whispered, her voice was tight and threatening.
Draco raised his hands defensively, "hey, only joking!"
Hermione finished her sandwich and stood to throw her sandwich wrapper in a nearby rubbish bin, "wanna get out of here?" she said casually.
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea, Granger," Draco hesitated.
"What not good for your image," Hermione joked, sitting next to him, she suddenly became serious, "take me back to England, Malfoy, I hate it here."
"What?" Draco was stunned, what ever he was expecting it wasn't this, "I can't, Granger, you heard my father, he's coming back and I have to be here when he does."
"Why?" Hermione looked at him, "What does he want from you?"
"I promised my mother that I would never serve Lord Voldemort, unless-" he stopped, deciding if he should tell Hermione this, "but I won't serve him, no matter what, because of her," he added.
"Your father," Hermione's voice was soft and gentle, knowing she was touching a very sensitive subject, "he wants to make you a death eater?"
"That's why I'm here, for my initiation." Draco put his wrapper in the bin, "I'm done," he said.
"We can run away, together, let's go back to England, he'll never find us" Hermione looked in his eyes, she was so sure, "you can keep your mum's promise and I can go back to the burrow, come on," she said grabbing the sleeve of his shirt.
"I can't" His tone wasn't harsh, but hurt. "You don't understand, you'll never understand."
How can she know? How can I tell her about me? She'd never ask me- trust me to take her back to England, if she knew. How can she stare at me and make me tell? Why can't I fight her? I hate her.
~~~***~~~
After Draco had left, she asked the sandwich bar attendant for directions to her parents' hotel. She was sure she'd scared Draco, been too enthusiastic, and been too desperate. Too desperate to get away from her parents. Too desperate to get back to Harry and Ron. When Hermione when back to Draco's room to collect the rest of her things, she didn't tell Draco, where she was going, she just bid him goodbye and thanked him for his help. He didn't try to stop her either.
~~~***~~~
Hermione stopped at the hotel door marked number '431,' she looked at the handle and willed herself to open the door. She didn't know what to do, what if they just had another fight and she walked out? What if they disowned her? She longed to have Harry or Ron next to her, to hold her hand or give her a hug, to reassure her and tell her to open the bloody door before they did it themselves!
"Please, open the door." Hermione was talking to the imaginary Ron next to her, "I don't think that I can."
Oh, this is stupid! She was cross at herself for being afraid, afraid of her parents! Her! Hermione Granger! She had been petrified by a basilisk, had faced what she thought was a horrible murdering death eater (which turn out to be Harry's godfather), she had also been face to face with a hungry werewolf AND she had been held captive at the bottom of the lake at Hogwarts for goodness knows how long, all before her 15th birthday and was never as scared then as she was right now! But, now that she thought about it, Hermione had always had complete faith that Harry and Ron would save her, but now she was on her own and she would much rather be with Harry and Ron facing Voldemort right now than on her own facing her parents. It is truly sad when a child would rather be staring down the jaws of death with her two best friends than with her parents. Just do it! Stop being silly!
Hermione grabbed the door handle and held it, it felt like at least a minute but in reality it was probably only a few seconds. She only let go when she heard footsteps walking in her direction, Hermione dashed around the corner. She listened, the footsteps stopped, she poked head around the corner, just enough to see and be unnoticed at the same time. There was someone very familiar standing at the door marked number 431, Hermione's hotel room.
Draco! What is he doing here?
Hermione came out from her hiding place and walked over to Draco, but he was concentrating on something and, therefore, didn't notice her, if it wasn't for his constant composure, when she tapped him on the shoulder, he would have jumped in fright. Instead he turned in a graceful Malfoy way looked her up and down.
"Granger," he acknowledged her presence with a slight nod and turned back for the elevator.
I knew you couldn't do it, weakling. It seemed as if his conscience was mocking him, she'll never respect you, she'll never even fear you. Draco kept his breathing steady and continued to walk.
"Malfoy, what are you doing?" Hermione was confused, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice as she said this.
He stopped and turned to face her again. "I'm going back to my hotel," Draco said this as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and that standing in front of her door without any reason for being there, was not at all unusual in any way.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked again.
"Look, Granger, I won't ask you what you were going around the corner, if you don't ask me what I'm doing here, because the truth is I don't know." Draco was very serious.
"Well, I have no problem telling you why I was around the corner." She told him smugly, "do you want to know?" she smiled at him.
"Yes," he said, smirking back.
She looked at her feet, "I couldn't do it, I couldn't go in there." She smiled at him again, "now you have to tell me why you're here."
"No, I don't." He smirked, "I didn't ask you, you asked me."
Hermione thought about this and realised he was right, she huffed and frowned at him. Before Hermione could stop him, Draco moved towards the door and knocked loudly three times, and with that, he turned for the elevator and left Hermione standing bewildered in the corridor. Hermione spun around to see her red, puffy-eyed mother and fatigued father coming out of the room, number 431.