Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot
**Stars mean thought**
Draco Malfoy was fuming as he walked down the hallway from Gryffindor Tower. He had just walked a crying Hermione back there, and right now he was on a mission. He didn't care how many points were taken from Slytherin; this was something that he had to do.
He was searching for Ronald Weasley, and that boy better pray someone was watching over him, because when Draco was through with him, he'd be lucky if he could walk. He turned a corner, and whom should he find, but the red head himself.
"Weasel" Draco said, shaking with rage "What do u want, Malferret?" he replied in an attempt to sound threatening. It didn't work, not on Malfoy anyways. "I challenge you to a Wizarding Duel" Draco said to him, holding his wand out. Weasley looked taken aback, but shrugged it off, and his fury came to surface "Finally got the courage to face me?" he taunted.
"No Weasel, I could have taken you whenever I'd have felt like it, but your not too important to me, not until now that is" Draco replied "And why are you now?" he asked me.
"Granger" that's all he had to say and Ron knew what he was talking about. He looked shocked and even a little scared. "Why do you care Malfoy? Taken a liking to our little mudblood have you?" Ron said to me, gaining a confidence no one knew he possessed.
"Don't you talk about her that way!" Draco yelled at him, and Ron looked like he was pretty scared too. That's when the first curse went flying, sent by Ron of course. It was a tickling spell and Draco dodged it easily and sent a disarming spell his way. Ron just barely missed it and threw another weak spell and Draco barely had to do anything to block it.
"Come one Weasel! Is that he best you've got?" Draco taunted him and he could tell that Weasley was getting very pissed off. They threw hexes and curses back and forth blasting the walls and everything around them until Ron just threw his wand aside and lunged at Draco whose wand went flying across the hall.
Draco threw a fair amount of punches at Ron and was pretty much kicking his ass, Ron may be stronger than Hermione, but not Draco who was built well and had muscles from Quidditch. They were both bruised up a lot and were bleeding in areas, but neither of them cared. Draco was so angry about what he did to Hermione that he just let go, five years of anger and annoyance plus what he did to her, all pent up, meant ass kicking of the century.
It was a while before anyone came to find them, and by then both of them were unconscious and had to be floated to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomphrey was practically hysterical when she saw them. Professor Snape brought them both in, and was waiting for them to wake up so he could get a story out of them.
Finally, they began to stir, and he said, "Enervate" to wake them both. They opened their eyes and took in their surroundings. When they realized that they were in the hospital wing, they turned to glare at each other.
"What is the meaning of this? Two students obviously fighting, I want to know why" Professor Snape stared at them. He looked at both of them and finally Draco said "I challenged Weasley to a Wizarding Duel"
Snape looked shocked "Mr. Malfoy, you've never acted this way before, what brought on this sudden urge to challenge Mr. Weasley to a Duel?" he drawled to Draco. He answered with one simple word "Granger"
That obviously wasn't the answer that Professor Snape was expecting from his star student and his face showed it too. He quickly covered it up though and requested more information. Draco answered with "I don't think it's my place to tell anything else, and if you want to know, then you'll have to find Granger and ask her"
Professor Snape just looked at Draco and then Weasely and one could tell that he was desperately trying to figure things out. "Why don't we talk to Professor Dumbledore?" Ron suggested, thinking he would get off easy.
Snape just smirked at him, but there were traces of despair written clearly all over his face if one looked clearly. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Mr. Weasley." Then he continued "Cornelius Fudge has taken control over the school, after turning in all 12 signatures from the School Governors. If you have any trouble, you'll have to go to him with it" Snape had a look of disgust on his face.
"Mr. Malfoy, will you please find Ms.Granger and bring her to my office. Mr. Weasley, follow me" Malfoy and Weasley both had a look of shock on their faces after having heard the news about Dumbledore. They didn't speak, but just followed Snape's orders.
Draco Malfoy knocked on the portrait that led into Gryffindor Tower. Potter opened it up and asked "What are you doing here Malfoy?" then he seemed to notice Draco's face. Draco just ignored the once over he was getting from Potter "Have you talked to Granger?" Draco asked Harry. His face just got a little white and then filled with fury. "I'll take that as a yes then"
"What's it to you Malfoy?" he asked me "Well I just got into a fight over it with Weasley and Professor Snape found us unconscious, but I didn't think it was my place to tell him why exactly we were fighting, so he sent me to get Granger" Draco replied, in a civil tone
"Okay, I'll go get her" he returned a few moments later with Hermione in tow. "Can Harry come too?" she asked Draco "I suppose so" he replied, and the three of them walked away to the dungeons, where Snape's classroom await.
"Oh, Draco, what happened to you?" She asked him concerned "Nothing, Granger, don't worry about it" Draco shrugged her off. "I know this has something to do with our conversation in the kitchen," she said "Maybe it does," he returned and he sent her a look that said 'don't ask anymore questions' and she just quieted herself.
Potter noticed the way they interacted with each other and for some reason he smiled at their antics. They didn't even realize it either, that was what made it so priceless.
"Did you guys hear about Dumbledore?" Draco asked them. Dark looks passed over their features and he knew that they had. "This is positively awful!" Hermione screeched, "What are we going to do!?" she finished
"Fudge is blind to everything going on around us, Death Eaters will be able to sneak in when ever they want!" Harry commented, clearly pissed off.
"No he isn't, but he's refusing to say anything cause he's loyal to Voldemort himself, how else do you think he's been in that position for so long, with Voldemort's supporters keeping him in office" Draco said, adding to the conversation
The information didn't look it surprised them too much. "Well, that certainly explains his reluctance to make an announcement that Voldemort is back," said Hermione, still shaken up a bit from the events of today and then the news that Dumbledore was being taken away from the School.
They arrived at Snape's office and Draco hesitated before showing them in. "Hermione, he's going to ask you the reason why I was fighting Ron, which is in all honesty because of what he did to you, but he's going to ask what happened, are you prepared to answer his questions?" Draco ask her
"You bet I am, that bastard is going to pay" She said violently and Draco and Harry both backed away from her a bit. She pushed open the door and walked in sending death glares at Ron the entire time.
Professor Snape looked up when they walked in and asked them to sit down. He looked towards Hermione and asked "Ms. Granger, were you aware that Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley were fighting in the halls today? Both of them landed themselves into the Hospital Wing"
"Yes Professor, It has been brought to my attention, I suppose your wondering why" she said getting uncomfortable.
"Yes Ms. Granger" Professor Snape said, looking at her, waiting for her to continue. So she did, she told the story of how she was walking through the halls and thought someone was following her. How Ron threatened her and asked her to take him back. Then she got really stiff and shifty in her seat. She relayed everything that happened in tears almost, about how Ron raped her. She told about how she ran into Draco and he comforted her in the kitchens and then just burst into tears again.
Snape glared at Ron with everything he had and surprisingly looked at Hemione with sympathy. He said that he would bring up the matter with Fudge and would try to get Ron punished by Wizarding Law. Meanwhile though, he had detention until the end of the year. He sent them all away for the night and Hermione raced to the library claiming to have to get some books.
Ron just walked dejectedly back to Gryffindor Tower, finally realizing just what he had done and not being proud in the least bit. Draco told Hermione to keep herself safe and offered to walk her to the library, but she politely declined saying that she could take care of herself. Harry stopped Draco on his way to the Dungeons and asked to speak with him for a moment. Draco nodded in response and they began walking in silence until Potter broke it.
"Do you love her?" he asked Draco, indicating Hermione. Draco was speechless, he didn't know what to say to that, he wasn't sure if he loved her or not. There's a chance that he could, but he just replied with "I don't know what your talking about Potter" and he turned to walk away
Potter yelled after him "I can see it Malfoy, you're falling for her and she might be falling for you too! Don't let that slip away" That got his attention and he turned around, facing Potter "What are you on about, I don't feel anything for Granger" And then he went to walk away but Potter's voice rang in his ears
"Anyone who sees you two together can see that you care for her!" he yelled to Draco, who just replied with "Yeah, and I can see it too" he looked at Potter and he said, "You know that she's in danger being around people like us don't you?"
"Of course I do, maybe I should just end our friendship, if we even have that" Malfoy couldn't believe he was here having a conversation about Granger with Harry Potter, his enemy for years.
"Don't even try it Malfoy, she wont have any of that, I've tried distancing myself to keep her safe, but there is nothing you can do, all you can do is live your life" And then Potter walked away from Draco Malfoy, towards Gryffindor Tower to join the rest of his year mates for bed.
Draco Malfoy just stood there, contemplating all that had just happened. Did he love Granger? He didn't know if he loved her, but there was certainly something about that girl, that made him feel like he'd never felt before, like he had to shield her from anything bad in the world, and if he couldn't, then he felt that someone should.
He walked to the Slytherin dormitories with questions running through his head. Things were starting to fall apart; Voldemort was tearing people apart and bringing them together as well. What was to happen in the coming days? Draco didn't know, but it wouldn't be good. With that he fell into a fitful sleep.
**Stars mean thought**
Draco Malfoy was fuming as he walked down the hallway from Gryffindor Tower. He had just walked a crying Hermione back there, and right now he was on a mission. He didn't care how many points were taken from Slytherin; this was something that he had to do.
He was searching for Ronald Weasley, and that boy better pray someone was watching over him, because when Draco was through with him, he'd be lucky if he could walk. He turned a corner, and whom should he find, but the red head himself.
"Weasel" Draco said, shaking with rage "What do u want, Malferret?" he replied in an attempt to sound threatening. It didn't work, not on Malfoy anyways. "I challenge you to a Wizarding Duel" Draco said to him, holding his wand out. Weasley looked taken aback, but shrugged it off, and his fury came to surface "Finally got the courage to face me?" he taunted.
"No Weasel, I could have taken you whenever I'd have felt like it, but your not too important to me, not until now that is" Draco replied "And why are you now?" he asked me.
"Granger" that's all he had to say and Ron knew what he was talking about. He looked shocked and even a little scared. "Why do you care Malfoy? Taken a liking to our little mudblood have you?" Ron said to me, gaining a confidence no one knew he possessed.
"Don't you talk about her that way!" Draco yelled at him, and Ron looked like he was pretty scared too. That's when the first curse went flying, sent by Ron of course. It was a tickling spell and Draco dodged it easily and sent a disarming spell his way. Ron just barely missed it and threw another weak spell and Draco barely had to do anything to block it.
"Come one Weasel! Is that he best you've got?" Draco taunted him and he could tell that Weasley was getting very pissed off. They threw hexes and curses back and forth blasting the walls and everything around them until Ron just threw his wand aside and lunged at Draco whose wand went flying across the hall.
Draco threw a fair amount of punches at Ron and was pretty much kicking his ass, Ron may be stronger than Hermione, but not Draco who was built well and had muscles from Quidditch. They were both bruised up a lot and were bleeding in areas, but neither of them cared. Draco was so angry about what he did to Hermione that he just let go, five years of anger and annoyance plus what he did to her, all pent up, meant ass kicking of the century.
It was a while before anyone came to find them, and by then both of them were unconscious and had to be floated to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomphrey was practically hysterical when she saw them. Professor Snape brought them both in, and was waiting for them to wake up so he could get a story out of them.
Finally, they began to stir, and he said, "Enervate" to wake them both. They opened their eyes and took in their surroundings. When they realized that they were in the hospital wing, they turned to glare at each other.
"What is the meaning of this? Two students obviously fighting, I want to know why" Professor Snape stared at them. He looked at both of them and finally Draco said "I challenged Weasley to a Wizarding Duel"
Snape looked shocked "Mr. Malfoy, you've never acted this way before, what brought on this sudden urge to challenge Mr. Weasley to a Duel?" he drawled to Draco. He answered with one simple word "Granger"
That obviously wasn't the answer that Professor Snape was expecting from his star student and his face showed it too. He quickly covered it up though and requested more information. Draco answered with "I don't think it's my place to tell anything else, and if you want to know, then you'll have to find Granger and ask her"
Professor Snape just looked at Draco and then Weasely and one could tell that he was desperately trying to figure things out. "Why don't we talk to Professor Dumbledore?" Ron suggested, thinking he would get off easy.
Snape just smirked at him, but there were traces of despair written clearly all over his face if one looked clearly. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Mr. Weasley." Then he continued "Cornelius Fudge has taken control over the school, after turning in all 12 signatures from the School Governors. If you have any trouble, you'll have to go to him with it" Snape had a look of disgust on his face.
"Mr. Malfoy, will you please find Ms.Granger and bring her to my office. Mr. Weasley, follow me" Malfoy and Weasley both had a look of shock on their faces after having heard the news about Dumbledore. They didn't speak, but just followed Snape's orders.
Draco Malfoy knocked on the portrait that led into Gryffindor Tower. Potter opened it up and asked "What are you doing here Malfoy?" then he seemed to notice Draco's face. Draco just ignored the once over he was getting from Potter "Have you talked to Granger?" Draco asked Harry. His face just got a little white and then filled with fury. "I'll take that as a yes then"
"What's it to you Malfoy?" he asked me "Well I just got into a fight over it with Weasley and Professor Snape found us unconscious, but I didn't think it was my place to tell him why exactly we were fighting, so he sent me to get Granger" Draco replied, in a civil tone
"Okay, I'll go get her" he returned a few moments later with Hermione in tow. "Can Harry come too?" she asked Draco "I suppose so" he replied, and the three of them walked away to the dungeons, where Snape's classroom await.
"Oh, Draco, what happened to you?" She asked him concerned "Nothing, Granger, don't worry about it" Draco shrugged her off. "I know this has something to do with our conversation in the kitchen," she said "Maybe it does," he returned and he sent her a look that said 'don't ask anymore questions' and she just quieted herself.
Potter noticed the way they interacted with each other and for some reason he smiled at their antics. They didn't even realize it either, that was what made it so priceless.
"Did you guys hear about Dumbledore?" Draco asked them. Dark looks passed over their features and he knew that they had. "This is positively awful!" Hermione screeched, "What are we going to do!?" she finished
"Fudge is blind to everything going on around us, Death Eaters will be able to sneak in when ever they want!" Harry commented, clearly pissed off.
"No he isn't, but he's refusing to say anything cause he's loyal to Voldemort himself, how else do you think he's been in that position for so long, with Voldemort's supporters keeping him in office" Draco said, adding to the conversation
The information didn't look it surprised them too much. "Well, that certainly explains his reluctance to make an announcement that Voldemort is back," said Hermione, still shaken up a bit from the events of today and then the news that Dumbledore was being taken away from the School.
They arrived at Snape's office and Draco hesitated before showing them in. "Hermione, he's going to ask you the reason why I was fighting Ron, which is in all honesty because of what he did to you, but he's going to ask what happened, are you prepared to answer his questions?" Draco ask her
"You bet I am, that bastard is going to pay" She said violently and Draco and Harry both backed away from her a bit. She pushed open the door and walked in sending death glares at Ron the entire time.
Professor Snape looked up when they walked in and asked them to sit down. He looked towards Hermione and asked "Ms. Granger, were you aware that Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley were fighting in the halls today? Both of them landed themselves into the Hospital Wing"
"Yes Professor, It has been brought to my attention, I suppose your wondering why" she said getting uncomfortable.
"Yes Ms. Granger" Professor Snape said, looking at her, waiting for her to continue. So she did, she told the story of how she was walking through the halls and thought someone was following her. How Ron threatened her and asked her to take him back. Then she got really stiff and shifty in her seat. She relayed everything that happened in tears almost, about how Ron raped her. She told about how she ran into Draco and he comforted her in the kitchens and then just burst into tears again.
Snape glared at Ron with everything he had and surprisingly looked at Hemione with sympathy. He said that he would bring up the matter with Fudge and would try to get Ron punished by Wizarding Law. Meanwhile though, he had detention until the end of the year. He sent them all away for the night and Hermione raced to the library claiming to have to get some books.
Ron just walked dejectedly back to Gryffindor Tower, finally realizing just what he had done and not being proud in the least bit. Draco told Hermione to keep herself safe and offered to walk her to the library, but she politely declined saying that she could take care of herself. Harry stopped Draco on his way to the Dungeons and asked to speak with him for a moment. Draco nodded in response and they began walking in silence until Potter broke it.
"Do you love her?" he asked Draco, indicating Hermione. Draco was speechless, he didn't know what to say to that, he wasn't sure if he loved her or not. There's a chance that he could, but he just replied with "I don't know what your talking about Potter" and he turned to walk away
Potter yelled after him "I can see it Malfoy, you're falling for her and she might be falling for you too! Don't let that slip away" That got his attention and he turned around, facing Potter "What are you on about, I don't feel anything for Granger" And then he went to walk away but Potter's voice rang in his ears
"Anyone who sees you two together can see that you care for her!" he yelled to Draco, who just replied with "Yeah, and I can see it too" he looked at Potter and he said, "You know that she's in danger being around people like us don't you?"
"Of course I do, maybe I should just end our friendship, if we even have that" Malfoy couldn't believe he was here having a conversation about Granger with Harry Potter, his enemy for years.
"Don't even try it Malfoy, she wont have any of that, I've tried distancing myself to keep her safe, but there is nothing you can do, all you can do is live your life" And then Potter walked away from Draco Malfoy, towards Gryffindor Tower to join the rest of his year mates for bed.
Draco Malfoy just stood there, contemplating all that had just happened. Did he love Granger? He didn't know if he loved her, but there was certainly something about that girl, that made him feel like he'd never felt before, like he had to shield her from anything bad in the world, and if he couldn't, then he felt that someone should.
He walked to the Slytherin dormitories with questions running through his head. Things were starting to fall apart; Voldemort was tearing people apart and bringing them together as well. What was to happen in the coming days? Draco didn't know, but it wouldn't be good. With that he fell into a fitful sleep.
