A/N: ok. so I only have 3 reviews so far. please review! I want to know
what im doing wrong and all that! But thanx to my reviewers; Draco is the
man, cutiepie99, and littlespeedy225.
Summary: Hermione goes back to Hogwarts as Head Girl. She wants to desperately find the one that was meant for her this year, but when she finds out who head boy is, she thinks everything will go wrong. Draco Malfoy is Head Boy. His father wants him to become what he is (read and you'll find out, but you should already know.), but Draco has something else in mind. When he disobeys his father and runs off for school, he puts not only his life in danger, but the life of three others; Hermione, her mother, and her father. What happens when they fall in love, and Lucius finds out? Dun dun dun . . .
Draco awoke the next morning to a scream, a crash, and a thud. "What is Granger d-d-doing?" He yawned. He looked over at his alarm clock. "6:30! What the *hell* does she think she's doing waking me up at 6:30?! Well, no use in trying to get back to sleep." Draco got up, stretched, and walked out the door yawning.
"Granger, what do you think you're-"
He stopped in mid-sentence, looking over the balcony into the common room. Hermione was sprawled across the floor, clutching her leg, trying hard not to cry. She didn't want Draco to think she was weak. The Desk from the corner was in front of the bookcase, and the desk chair was turned over next to Hermione.
"What happened?" Draco asked.
"N-nothing, go back t-to sleep. I'm f-fine." Hermione lied. She tried to stand up, which resulted in more pain, because she had fallen back on the floor. She groaned in pain. Draco laughed.
"You don't look fine to me, Granger. What did you do?"
"I was . . . I was trying to get a book-"
"What a surprise." Draco interrupted, walking down the stairs. Hermione glared at him, pausing for a second.
"I was trying to get a book, but I couldn't reach it. So, I thought I could try and push the desk over to get higher, but that didn't work. I still couldn't reach it. Then I took the desk chair over, and stood on top of that. I was standing on my toes, and I could just get it, but then I lost my balance and fell. But, I'm fine, so you can go."
"No. I'm already awake, why try to go back to sleep? There's no use is trying to stand up." He added, noticing Hermione. "It's broken."
"Oh yeah? And how would you know?"
"Trust me. I just . . . know."
"You're asking *me* to trust *you*?"
Draco acted like he didn't here this remark. "Come on, you need Madam Pomfrey." He put his hand out to help her up, but Hermione just raised and eyebrow. "Well, come on, you can't just lie there forever you know." Hermione thought this would have been a better idea, but took his hand none the less.
Draco pulled her up; put her arm around his neck, and his arm around her waist. At this move, Hermione felt her stomach drop. *what is he doing? This is Malfoy! Get off! Im a 'Mudblood' remember?*suddenly, a voice in the back of her head awoke 'You like it and you know it.' She tried to hide her smile. *no. I hate this.*
They made their way to the hospital wing.
~what am I doing?! Quick, say something Malfoy-like.~
"You know, I'm not enjoying this, just so it's clear. And, you realize I'm going to have to take the longest shower of my life after this." He sneered.
~Much better.~
*there's the Malfoy I know. *
The two looked at each other, and stopped at the Hospital wing door.
*oh my gosh his eyes look so different. I could just look into them forever.*
~God, her eyes are beautiful. I never noticed them before. ~
At the same time, they both thought the same thing. 'WHAT AM I THINKING?' they both turned away, blushing.
Just them, Madam Pomfrey came up behind them. "What is this? What happened?" she asked.
"Well, I think her leg is broken." Draco said.
"Oh dear, Miss Granger come with me please." She took Hermione from Draco, led her over to a bed, and closed the curtains. Draco headed back up to the common room. ~If only she wasn't a stupid mudblood. She's got everything; looks, intelligence, humor. Now I can see why everyone loves her. Wait, NO. Everyone except for Potty and the Weasel hate her. Especially me. Yes, that's it. But then . . . why did I help her?~ Hermione was thinking the exact same thing back in the Hospital wing.
"Here dear, drink this. Your leg will be back to normal in no time. Go on, lie down. You need some rest. It's very early." Madame Pomfrey said, forcing potion into Hermione's hands. She drank it, but tried her best not to make a face of disgust. It tasted horrible.
"Madam Pomfrey, will it be healed before classes start? I don't want to miss anything important." Hermione said impatiently.
"Calm down, dear. You should be free to go by lunch."
"But-"
"Here dear, sleeping drought. Now go on, drink up." She forced another potion into Hermione's hands. Hermione didn't want to drink it, but the immensely strong stare Madam Pomfrey was giving her, forced her to give in. She felt it kick in, and before she knew it, Hermione was fast asleep.
____________
"So we have Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, and Defense against the Dark Arts. Well, it's not all bad; we've got Hagrid and Professor Recitare. She's not too bad." Ron said at breakfast. During their sixth year, they had finally gotten a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that lasted the year.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, but if Malfoy had anything to do with it-" Ron started, but was cut off by Ginny.
"She probably had a late night, and decided to sleep a little bit, either that or she's in the library."
"I'm going with library." Ron said.
"Well, we should go find her and give her schedule to her." Said Ginny.
"Yeah, let's go." Said Harry.
To their surprise Hermione wasn't in the library, so they went to Transfiguration without her.
"I bet it was Malfoy. Where is that git anyway?" Ron said, walking across the grounds to Care of Magical Creatures. Then, he saw him walking down with his usual Slytherin gang, wearing a smirk. "There he is, lets go Harry."
"WHAT DID U DO TO HER MALFOY!?"
"What are you talking about, weasel?" Draco sneered.
"You know perfectly well just what I'm talking about. Now where is Hermione?"
"Granger? She's in the Hospital wing."
Ron pulled out his wand and pointed it right in between Draco's eyes.
"What did you do to her?" Ron asked angrily.
"Don't point that thing at me, Weasel. I didn't do anything to her. Go and check for yourself."
Ron and Harry glanced at each other, before running off to the Hospital wing together.
When they got there, they burst through the doors, and a startled Madam Pomfrey came running up to them.
"Boys! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Where's . . . Hermione?" Ron panted.
"I'm afraid Miss Granger's sleeping at the moment. Now, if you'll kindly-"
"It's okay Madam Pomfrey, I'm awake."
"Hermione! Are you okay?! What did that prick do to you?" Ron started. Hermione laughed.
"I'm fine, Ron. Malfoy didn't do anything to me. I just fell and hurt my leg is all. I'll be fine, really."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Ron. Did you guys get my schedule for me?"
"Yeah, here you go." Harry said, handing it over.
"Thanks. Oh I can't believe I missed transfiguration! Was professor McGonagall angry? What did we do? Did I miss anything important?"
"Whoa. Calm down Hermione. She wasn't upset. I don't think we did anything important, Of course, Ron and I never really ay attention." Harry said.
"That's it, I'm leaving. I can't afford to miss classes this year. N.E.W.T's are coming." She jumped out of the bed, relieved to find that her leg felt much better.
"Hermione, you're still in your night shirt." Said Ron.
"I know, that's why we need to hurry. Quick, before Madam Pomfrey comes back."
Ron and Harry followed her up to the portrait of the Princess bride Elizabeth and her groom. "You know, Malfoy really didn't do anything me, really. He actually helped me down to the Hospital wing. Sugar Quill." Hermione said. Ron and Harry looked disbelieving, however, as they followed her into the common room. As they walked in, Ron said, "Why is your common room bigger than Gryffindor? You've only got two people living here!"
Hermione laughed. "I'll be right down. Make yourselves at home." She walked up the stairs and disappeared behind her door. Harry spoke up.
"You like her, don't you?" he asked to Ron, who blushed furiously.
"What are you talking about?"
"I see the way you look at her all the time. And, well, I care for her too, Ron, but all you do is worry about her. Ever since you found out Malfoy was going to be liv-" Harry stopped talking, and a huge grin appeared on his face.
"What?" Ron asked.
"You're jealous."
"JEALOUS?! Jealous of what? Malfoy?!"
"You're jealous he gets to live with her. That's why you're always on his case. You don't think he should get this."
"I am not. I don't know what your talk-" a door opened, and shut again. Hermione came walking down the stairs.
"Well, let's go then." She said happily, walking out of the portrait hole, Ron and Harry staring after her.
___________
That evening, as Hermione was getting washed up for dinner, there was a knock on the bathroom door. "Come in." she muffled into a towel, drying her face. Draco opened the door.
"Oh-er . . . hi." She said.
"Hermione, we need to-er-talk. Not-well, not here. In the common room. When- your ready er . . . meet me down there." He turned and walked out, leaving a confused Hermione in the bathroom. *did he just call me by my first name?* It gave her the chills, but she liked it. She walked out onto the balcony and looked down into the common room. Draco was sitting on his chair, mumbling to himself. Hermione giggled. She walked down the stairs, and stopped.
"Er . . ."
"Oh . . . well, go on. Sit." Draco said.
She walked over and sat down on the couch next to Draco's chair. There was an extremely long pause, before somebody spoke.
"I'm sorry." Draco said.
"Wh-what?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Look, don't make this any harder than it really is for me okay? Just let me explain. I'm tired of people always thinking it's me. Whenever your hurt, or don't show up for something, or your upset, it's always 'Malfoy, what did you do to her?' or 'Malfoy I'm going to kill you'. I'm sick of it. I really am, and I would never hurt you, or anybody else. So, I'm sorry for the 6 years of hell I've given you. Now, you can go and tell all your little friends that I've apologized."
Hermione had no idea what to say. Draco got up and started towards the portrait hole. "Draco, wait." Hermione couldn't stop herself from saying his name. "We could, er . . . walk down together, and to prove that you would never do anything. Or at least, that we're friends now. We are friends now? Right?"
"I guess so." Draco said awkwardly.
"Okay, so do you want to walk down?"
Draco smiled. *wow, did he just smile? A real Draco Malfoy smile. Not a smirk, or an evil grin.*
"Sure." ~what is wring with me? Why am I feeling like this? I don't . . . *like* her do I? *NO* I most certainly don't. I can't like a mud-muggle born. But god, she is beautiful. ~
"Can we call each other by first names then? I mean, if we really are friends?"
"Er . . . okay."
*I think I was wrong about him. This isn't the old Malfoy I knew. This is the new Draco. But nobody will believe me when I tell him what he just told me. Well, maybe Ginny will, since she's my best friend. But Ron needs to believe me. I don't want him to keep tormenting Draco about me.*
They reached the Great Hall doors. "Well, here goes." Hermione said nervously. They both took deep breaths and opened the door. It felt like every single face was glued to the pair that had just walked in. Everything was quiet. Ron and Pansy Parkinson wore the same expression on their face. Hermione and Draco looked at each other and smiled, before heading off to their own tables. As soon as Hermione took her first step everybody started talking again.
She went to her table and sat between Ron and Ginny, both of whom was staring at her, along with Harry.
"Well, I'm starving." She said, reaching for a baked potato, trying to break the tension.
"Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Hmm?"
"Is there something wrong? What was that? What is Malfoy doing to-"
Hermione threw her fork down and stood up.
"Why do you always accuse him Ron?! She screamed. Every head in the Great Hall was facing her, but she didn't care. Her face was red with anger. "For the last damn time! NO! He didn't do anything to me! He never will!" Hermione stormed out of the hall, and Ginny got up to follow her.
*where am I going? The library. Yes. I always feel so relaxed there. *
"Hermione!" Ginny called after her. "Hermione wait!" Hermione whipped around. "What was that all about?" Ginny asked.
Hermione told her what Draco had told her earlier up in the common room.
"Wow, well you should tell this to Ron and Harry then. I'm sure they'd understand."
"No. That's just it, Gin. Well, Harry I'm sure would, but not Ron. You know how he is with Malfoy."
"Hermione, haven't you figured it out yet?"
"Figured what out?" Hermione asked, extremely confused.
"He *likes* you, Hermione. That's why he always worries about you being with Malfoy."
"No, Ginny I don't have time for this, I'm going to the library." She turned around to leave, but Ginny grabbed her arm.
"Hermione, believe me, okay? He likes you."
"If he likes me then why hasn't he done anything about it? Why doesn't he just ask me out?"
"You know how he is with girls. He's shy. He doesn't want to be rejected."
"Fine, but look, ive really got to get to the library. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, but Hermione, trust me he likes you." Ginny headed back to the Great Hall to finish her dinner, and Hermione made her way to the library. When she got there, she went to her regular spot in the back, took down Hogwarts, A History and began to read.
She yawned and glanced down at her watch. *10:30. I'd better head back.* Hermione put her book back, bid goodbye to Madam Pince, and walked back to her room. *Ron likes me. Wow. Well, why doesn't he just ask me out? He's such a . . . well I don't kno but what does he think I'll say? 'No, I'm sorry Ron, I would never go out with you, and I don't ever want to see you again. I don't think we should be friends anymore?' I definitely would not say that.* before she knew it, she was at the portrait of Elizabeth and her groom.
"You look troubled dear. Is anything wrong?" She asked.
"No." Hermione lied.
"Is it that young man, what's his name? Draco, that's it. Is it Draco, dear? You know, he came up earlier, and looked rather happy about something, but left a little bit after looking very upset."
"Oh no! I completely forgot about patrolling the halls! That must be why he's so upset. Is he back yet?"
"Well, yes-"
"Sugar quill." The portrait swung open, and Hermione ran in. Draco was slumped over the desk in the corner. "Draco! Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I completely forgot about the whole patrolling thing and- what's wrong?" Draco was facing her. His eyes were extremely bloodshot. He had been crying. "What happened? Draco what's wrong?"
"NOTHING! Just-just get away from me granger!" He yelled at her and ran up to his room slamming the door behind him. Hermione wondered whether she should follow him, but decided he just needed a little time.
About ten minutes passed, and Hermione deiced to go and talk to him. She approached his door cautiously and knocked.
"I said go away Granger!" Draco said coldly.
"My name is Hermione, Draco."
He opened his door, but only enough to reveal half of his face. He had wet spots on his cheeks. "What do you want?"
"I want to know what's wrong."
"No."
"Part of being friends is talking to each other." Draco thought about this carefully, and decided to let her in. He opened the door. For some reason his room looked bigger.
"Why is your room bigger? That's not fair." Hermione said.
"My room doesn't have bookshelves all along my walls."
"How do you know what my room looks like?"
"The day we came here I accidentally walked into your room."
"Oh. Well, why do you have a couch?"
"Because I'm just better than you." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"In you dreams. So anyway, tell me what happened?"
"Well, -I can't believe im telling you this- but first of all, can I trust you not to tell anyone what I'm about to tell you?"
"Yes." Hermione said honestly.
"Okay, well, you probably already knew this, but my father is a death eater." Hermione did in fact know this. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna Lovegood, and she had caught him in the act back in their fifth year. "Well, He got out of Azkaban, you know, he escaped, it was pretty easy, all the Dementors had gone over to the dark side. Now, he wants me to become one of them, you know. 'It's your destiny.' 'The dark lord looks forward to meeting his soon-to-be most loyal servant.' The thing is, though, I don't want to be one of them. I don't want to run around hurting and killing innocent people. I've only been acting the way my father wants me to act my whole life. But this year was going to be different. I wasn't going to live up to him anymore. Only, before I left for King's Cross, he told me I needed to prove my loyalties to the Dark Lord. He said he knew you were going to be Head Girl this year. He's got connections. I was supposed to well . . . er-"
"Kill me. Or at least hurt me." Hermione finished for him.
"Well, yes. But I didn't want to. I couldn't. I'm just not like him.
"So then-Did you tell him?"
"I did. I told him no. I told him I wasn't going to touch you. Then I ran up to my room, grabbed my trunk, and apparated to King's Cross to get on the train. And tonight he-he sent me this." He handed a piece of crumpled up parchment to Hermione. She opened it and read to herself-
Draco,
You have been a very disobedient boy. Surely you didn't think you could get away? I know where that Mudblood girl lives. Her parents are here with me now. Quite stupid, aren't they, muggles? Don't know much. Can't resist the Imperius curse very well at all. They're a big mess. Getting sicker and sicker by the day, I wonder how long they can go without eating. But that seems to easy. Perhaps I should try the Cruciatus curse instead? Now, you listen to me boy, you are to bring the girl back to the Manor, you hear? Or she will never see her dear parents again. As you will never see your mother again. Yes, she's gone, and it's all your fault boy! Now, you have exactly one month to get her here. I don't care how, but she is to get here in one piece. I suggest showing that she can trust you, and then betraying her. Have fun.
Hermione looked up at Draco. Tears were pouring down her face. Her knees suddenly got weak, and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Draco ran over to her, pulled her up, and moved her over to the couch.
"My parents." She said quietly. "He has my parents. That *bastard* has my parents!" she was yelling now. "Draco, we need to do something! Dumbledore! We'll go to Dumbledore!" She walked over to Draco and pulled his arm. He wouldn't move. Tears were silently streaming down his face. *oh no, I forgot about his mother.* "Draco look, im really sorry about your mum, but we need to get to Dumbledore! He can help us! COME ONE MOVE!" but he wouldn't budge. "FINE!" Hermione screamed. She threw the piece of parchment at him, ran out of his room, into her room, slammed the door and plopped down on her bed. She was crying hard as ever now.
"How can he just sit there?! His father has my parents, who knows what he's doing to them right now, and he killed Draco's mum, but all he can do is sit there! What an idiot! We really need to-"
"Go to Dumbledore." Hermione looked up from her bed, and saw Draco standing in her door frame. He wasn't crying anymore, but Hermione could tell he wanted to. She tried to wipe away her tears. "Come on." He said.
"Wait." She said quietly. She had just thought of something. "Just wait. How do I know this whole thing isn't a trick? How can I be sure that all this isn't some kind of-of plan that you and your father thought up to get me?! Maybe your father doesn't really have my parents, and maybe he didn't really kill your mum! He could have wrote that letter to persuade me, and your little talk that you had with me could have been a lie! And you could just be trying to earn my trust and then betray like your father wrote! I'm not stupid you know! It's like that saying, 'like father like son'!"
"Hermione no, listen its not like that I-" he took a step forward.
"NO! Get back! Get away from me you cold blooded murderer! Out! Out of my room!!!" Hermione screamed.
"I'm not going anywhere until you let me explain." He sat down right where he was on the floor.
"Fine. You've got two minutes." Hermione stared at him, arms crossed.
"Listen, I've lived with this ass my whole life. I know how his mind works. Trust me, if he days he has your parents, he does. And my mum is most likely . . . dead." He said this last word much more quietly. Hermione looked into his eyes. There was something in them that hadn't been there the day he helped her down the Hospital Wing. They showed fear. Before Hermione could agree to go with him, Draco spoke again.
"If you don't believe me then look at this." He lifted his shirt so that Hermione could see the little bit of skin that showed before his pants began. There was a bright red mark on the bottom left corner of his torso. It was a capital M with a serpent curled around it. Hermione gasped.
"My father got the idea from the Dark Mark. When I feel it pinch it means . . . well I don't exactly know what it means, but nothing good ever comes after I feel it. Usually it's more pain. MY father would try and teach me discipline. When I felt it I needed to go to him. I f I wasn't on time, He would use the Cruciatus curse on me. He said it would make me stronger. I don't se how that worked. If anything, it made me weaker. So, if you want your parents back, we need to go now." Draco said seriously. Hermione nodded, but before she could control herself, her arms were wrapped around Draco's neck. Draco didn't know what to do. He simply stood there.
"Oh Draco, if I had known this I would never have so mean to you! I'm sorry about that whole 'like father like son' thing."
"Uh . . . no it's- its okay. I can see why you would think that, I mean after all I've done to you. Everyone thinks that about me anyway, especially Potter and Weasley."
Hermione unwrapped her arms. "Yeah, they do."
"By the way, er . . . thanks for standing up for me at dinner." Draco said, blushing slightly.
"Yeah well you know, I get sick of them always talking about you. I see enough of you everyday." She said sarcastically. They both laughed and headed off to Dumbledore.
A/N: wow that was a long chapter. I don't know when the next chap will be up. it might be a while though I sort of have writers block. Please review and tell me what you think!!!
*tfsbaby*
Summary: Hermione goes back to Hogwarts as Head Girl. She wants to desperately find the one that was meant for her this year, but when she finds out who head boy is, she thinks everything will go wrong. Draco Malfoy is Head Boy. His father wants him to become what he is (read and you'll find out, but you should already know.), but Draco has something else in mind. When he disobeys his father and runs off for school, he puts not only his life in danger, but the life of three others; Hermione, her mother, and her father. What happens when they fall in love, and Lucius finds out? Dun dun dun . . .
Draco awoke the next morning to a scream, a crash, and a thud. "What is Granger d-d-doing?" He yawned. He looked over at his alarm clock. "6:30! What the *hell* does she think she's doing waking me up at 6:30?! Well, no use in trying to get back to sleep." Draco got up, stretched, and walked out the door yawning.
"Granger, what do you think you're-"
He stopped in mid-sentence, looking over the balcony into the common room. Hermione was sprawled across the floor, clutching her leg, trying hard not to cry. She didn't want Draco to think she was weak. The Desk from the corner was in front of the bookcase, and the desk chair was turned over next to Hermione.
"What happened?" Draco asked.
"N-nothing, go back t-to sleep. I'm f-fine." Hermione lied. She tried to stand up, which resulted in more pain, because she had fallen back on the floor. She groaned in pain. Draco laughed.
"You don't look fine to me, Granger. What did you do?"
"I was . . . I was trying to get a book-"
"What a surprise." Draco interrupted, walking down the stairs. Hermione glared at him, pausing for a second.
"I was trying to get a book, but I couldn't reach it. So, I thought I could try and push the desk over to get higher, but that didn't work. I still couldn't reach it. Then I took the desk chair over, and stood on top of that. I was standing on my toes, and I could just get it, but then I lost my balance and fell. But, I'm fine, so you can go."
"No. I'm already awake, why try to go back to sleep? There's no use is trying to stand up." He added, noticing Hermione. "It's broken."
"Oh yeah? And how would you know?"
"Trust me. I just . . . know."
"You're asking *me* to trust *you*?"
Draco acted like he didn't here this remark. "Come on, you need Madam Pomfrey." He put his hand out to help her up, but Hermione just raised and eyebrow. "Well, come on, you can't just lie there forever you know." Hermione thought this would have been a better idea, but took his hand none the less.
Draco pulled her up; put her arm around his neck, and his arm around her waist. At this move, Hermione felt her stomach drop. *what is he doing? This is Malfoy! Get off! Im a 'Mudblood' remember?*suddenly, a voice in the back of her head awoke 'You like it and you know it.' She tried to hide her smile. *no. I hate this.*
They made their way to the hospital wing.
~what am I doing?! Quick, say something Malfoy-like.~
"You know, I'm not enjoying this, just so it's clear. And, you realize I'm going to have to take the longest shower of my life after this." He sneered.
~Much better.~
*there's the Malfoy I know. *
The two looked at each other, and stopped at the Hospital wing door.
*oh my gosh his eyes look so different. I could just look into them forever.*
~God, her eyes are beautiful. I never noticed them before. ~
At the same time, they both thought the same thing. 'WHAT AM I THINKING?' they both turned away, blushing.
Just them, Madam Pomfrey came up behind them. "What is this? What happened?" she asked.
"Well, I think her leg is broken." Draco said.
"Oh dear, Miss Granger come with me please." She took Hermione from Draco, led her over to a bed, and closed the curtains. Draco headed back up to the common room. ~If only she wasn't a stupid mudblood. She's got everything; looks, intelligence, humor. Now I can see why everyone loves her. Wait, NO. Everyone except for Potty and the Weasel hate her. Especially me. Yes, that's it. But then . . . why did I help her?~ Hermione was thinking the exact same thing back in the Hospital wing.
"Here dear, drink this. Your leg will be back to normal in no time. Go on, lie down. You need some rest. It's very early." Madame Pomfrey said, forcing potion into Hermione's hands. She drank it, but tried her best not to make a face of disgust. It tasted horrible.
"Madam Pomfrey, will it be healed before classes start? I don't want to miss anything important." Hermione said impatiently.
"Calm down, dear. You should be free to go by lunch."
"But-"
"Here dear, sleeping drought. Now go on, drink up." She forced another potion into Hermione's hands. Hermione didn't want to drink it, but the immensely strong stare Madam Pomfrey was giving her, forced her to give in. She felt it kick in, and before she knew it, Hermione was fast asleep.
____________
"So we have Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, and Defense against the Dark Arts. Well, it's not all bad; we've got Hagrid and Professor Recitare. She's not too bad." Ron said at breakfast. During their sixth year, they had finally gotten a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that lasted the year.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, but if Malfoy had anything to do with it-" Ron started, but was cut off by Ginny.
"She probably had a late night, and decided to sleep a little bit, either that or she's in the library."
"I'm going with library." Ron said.
"Well, we should go find her and give her schedule to her." Said Ginny.
"Yeah, let's go." Said Harry.
To their surprise Hermione wasn't in the library, so they went to Transfiguration without her.
"I bet it was Malfoy. Where is that git anyway?" Ron said, walking across the grounds to Care of Magical Creatures. Then, he saw him walking down with his usual Slytherin gang, wearing a smirk. "There he is, lets go Harry."
"WHAT DID U DO TO HER MALFOY!?"
"What are you talking about, weasel?" Draco sneered.
"You know perfectly well just what I'm talking about. Now where is Hermione?"
"Granger? She's in the Hospital wing."
Ron pulled out his wand and pointed it right in between Draco's eyes.
"What did you do to her?" Ron asked angrily.
"Don't point that thing at me, Weasel. I didn't do anything to her. Go and check for yourself."
Ron and Harry glanced at each other, before running off to the Hospital wing together.
When they got there, they burst through the doors, and a startled Madam Pomfrey came running up to them.
"Boys! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Where's . . . Hermione?" Ron panted.
"I'm afraid Miss Granger's sleeping at the moment. Now, if you'll kindly-"
"It's okay Madam Pomfrey, I'm awake."
"Hermione! Are you okay?! What did that prick do to you?" Ron started. Hermione laughed.
"I'm fine, Ron. Malfoy didn't do anything to me. I just fell and hurt my leg is all. I'll be fine, really."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Ron. Did you guys get my schedule for me?"
"Yeah, here you go." Harry said, handing it over.
"Thanks. Oh I can't believe I missed transfiguration! Was professor McGonagall angry? What did we do? Did I miss anything important?"
"Whoa. Calm down Hermione. She wasn't upset. I don't think we did anything important, Of course, Ron and I never really ay attention." Harry said.
"That's it, I'm leaving. I can't afford to miss classes this year. N.E.W.T's are coming." She jumped out of the bed, relieved to find that her leg felt much better.
"Hermione, you're still in your night shirt." Said Ron.
"I know, that's why we need to hurry. Quick, before Madam Pomfrey comes back."
Ron and Harry followed her up to the portrait of the Princess bride Elizabeth and her groom. "You know, Malfoy really didn't do anything me, really. He actually helped me down to the Hospital wing. Sugar Quill." Hermione said. Ron and Harry looked disbelieving, however, as they followed her into the common room. As they walked in, Ron said, "Why is your common room bigger than Gryffindor? You've only got two people living here!"
Hermione laughed. "I'll be right down. Make yourselves at home." She walked up the stairs and disappeared behind her door. Harry spoke up.
"You like her, don't you?" he asked to Ron, who blushed furiously.
"What are you talking about?"
"I see the way you look at her all the time. And, well, I care for her too, Ron, but all you do is worry about her. Ever since you found out Malfoy was going to be liv-" Harry stopped talking, and a huge grin appeared on his face.
"What?" Ron asked.
"You're jealous."
"JEALOUS?! Jealous of what? Malfoy?!"
"You're jealous he gets to live with her. That's why you're always on his case. You don't think he should get this."
"I am not. I don't know what your talk-" a door opened, and shut again. Hermione came walking down the stairs.
"Well, let's go then." She said happily, walking out of the portrait hole, Ron and Harry staring after her.
___________
That evening, as Hermione was getting washed up for dinner, there was a knock on the bathroom door. "Come in." she muffled into a towel, drying her face. Draco opened the door.
"Oh-er . . . hi." She said.
"Hermione, we need to-er-talk. Not-well, not here. In the common room. When- your ready er . . . meet me down there." He turned and walked out, leaving a confused Hermione in the bathroom. *did he just call me by my first name?* It gave her the chills, but she liked it. She walked out onto the balcony and looked down into the common room. Draco was sitting on his chair, mumbling to himself. Hermione giggled. She walked down the stairs, and stopped.
"Er . . ."
"Oh . . . well, go on. Sit." Draco said.
She walked over and sat down on the couch next to Draco's chair. There was an extremely long pause, before somebody spoke.
"I'm sorry." Draco said.
"Wh-what?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Look, don't make this any harder than it really is for me okay? Just let me explain. I'm tired of people always thinking it's me. Whenever your hurt, or don't show up for something, or your upset, it's always 'Malfoy, what did you do to her?' or 'Malfoy I'm going to kill you'. I'm sick of it. I really am, and I would never hurt you, or anybody else. So, I'm sorry for the 6 years of hell I've given you. Now, you can go and tell all your little friends that I've apologized."
Hermione had no idea what to say. Draco got up and started towards the portrait hole. "Draco, wait." Hermione couldn't stop herself from saying his name. "We could, er . . . walk down together, and to prove that you would never do anything. Or at least, that we're friends now. We are friends now? Right?"
"I guess so." Draco said awkwardly.
"Okay, so do you want to walk down?"
Draco smiled. *wow, did he just smile? A real Draco Malfoy smile. Not a smirk, or an evil grin.*
"Sure." ~what is wring with me? Why am I feeling like this? I don't . . . *like* her do I? *NO* I most certainly don't. I can't like a mud-muggle born. But god, she is beautiful. ~
"Can we call each other by first names then? I mean, if we really are friends?"
"Er . . . okay."
*I think I was wrong about him. This isn't the old Malfoy I knew. This is the new Draco. But nobody will believe me when I tell him what he just told me. Well, maybe Ginny will, since she's my best friend. But Ron needs to believe me. I don't want him to keep tormenting Draco about me.*
They reached the Great Hall doors. "Well, here goes." Hermione said nervously. They both took deep breaths and opened the door. It felt like every single face was glued to the pair that had just walked in. Everything was quiet. Ron and Pansy Parkinson wore the same expression on their face. Hermione and Draco looked at each other and smiled, before heading off to their own tables. As soon as Hermione took her first step everybody started talking again.
She went to her table and sat between Ron and Ginny, both of whom was staring at her, along with Harry.
"Well, I'm starving." She said, reaching for a baked potato, trying to break the tension.
"Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Hmm?"
"Is there something wrong? What was that? What is Malfoy doing to-"
Hermione threw her fork down and stood up.
"Why do you always accuse him Ron?! She screamed. Every head in the Great Hall was facing her, but she didn't care. Her face was red with anger. "For the last damn time! NO! He didn't do anything to me! He never will!" Hermione stormed out of the hall, and Ginny got up to follow her.
*where am I going? The library. Yes. I always feel so relaxed there. *
"Hermione!" Ginny called after her. "Hermione wait!" Hermione whipped around. "What was that all about?" Ginny asked.
Hermione told her what Draco had told her earlier up in the common room.
"Wow, well you should tell this to Ron and Harry then. I'm sure they'd understand."
"No. That's just it, Gin. Well, Harry I'm sure would, but not Ron. You know how he is with Malfoy."
"Hermione, haven't you figured it out yet?"
"Figured what out?" Hermione asked, extremely confused.
"He *likes* you, Hermione. That's why he always worries about you being with Malfoy."
"No, Ginny I don't have time for this, I'm going to the library." She turned around to leave, but Ginny grabbed her arm.
"Hermione, believe me, okay? He likes you."
"If he likes me then why hasn't he done anything about it? Why doesn't he just ask me out?"
"You know how he is with girls. He's shy. He doesn't want to be rejected."
"Fine, but look, ive really got to get to the library. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, but Hermione, trust me he likes you." Ginny headed back to the Great Hall to finish her dinner, and Hermione made her way to the library. When she got there, she went to her regular spot in the back, took down Hogwarts, A History and began to read.
She yawned and glanced down at her watch. *10:30. I'd better head back.* Hermione put her book back, bid goodbye to Madam Pince, and walked back to her room. *Ron likes me. Wow. Well, why doesn't he just ask me out? He's such a . . . well I don't kno but what does he think I'll say? 'No, I'm sorry Ron, I would never go out with you, and I don't ever want to see you again. I don't think we should be friends anymore?' I definitely would not say that.* before she knew it, she was at the portrait of Elizabeth and her groom.
"You look troubled dear. Is anything wrong?" She asked.
"No." Hermione lied.
"Is it that young man, what's his name? Draco, that's it. Is it Draco, dear? You know, he came up earlier, and looked rather happy about something, but left a little bit after looking very upset."
"Oh no! I completely forgot about patrolling the halls! That must be why he's so upset. Is he back yet?"
"Well, yes-"
"Sugar quill." The portrait swung open, and Hermione ran in. Draco was slumped over the desk in the corner. "Draco! Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I completely forgot about the whole patrolling thing and- what's wrong?" Draco was facing her. His eyes were extremely bloodshot. He had been crying. "What happened? Draco what's wrong?"
"NOTHING! Just-just get away from me granger!" He yelled at her and ran up to his room slamming the door behind him. Hermione wondered whether she should follow him, but decided he just needed a little time.
About ten minutes passed, and Hermione deiced to go and talk to him. She approached his door cautiously and knocked.
"I said go away Granger!" Draco said coldly.
"My name is Hermione, Draco."
He opened his door, but only enough to reveal half of his face. He had wet spots on his cheeks. "What do you want?"
"I want to know what's wrong."
"No."
"Part of being friends is talking to each other." Draco thought about this carefully, and decided to let her in. He opened the door. For some reason his room looked bigger.
"Why is your room bigger? That's not fair." Hermione said.
"My room doesn't have bookshelves all along my walls."
"How do you know what my room looks like?"
"The day we came here I accidentally walked into your room."
"Oh. Well, why do you have a couch?"
"Because I'm just better than you." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"In you dreams. So anyway, tell me what happened?"
"Well, -I can't believe im telling you this- but first of all, can I trust you not to tell anyone what I'm about to tell you?"
"Yes." Hermione said honestly.
"Okay, well, you probably already knew this, but my father is a death eater." Hermione did in fact know this. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna Lovegood, and she had caught him in the act back in their fifth year. "Well, He got out of Azkaban, you know, he escaped, it was pretty easy, all the Dementors had gone over to the dark side. Now, he wants me to become one of them, you know. 'It's your destiny.' 'The dark lord looks forward to meeting his soon-to-be most loyal servant.' The thing is, though, I don't want to be one of them. I don't want to run around hurting and killing innocent people. I've only been acting the way my father wants me to act my whole life. But this year was going to be different. I wasn't going to live up to him anymore. Only, before I left for King's Cross, he told me I needed to prove my loyalties to the Dark Lord. He said he knew you were going to be Head Girl this year. He's got connections. I was supposed to well . . . er-"
"Kill me. Or at least hurt me." Hermione finished for him.
"Well, yes. But I didn't want to. I couldn't. I'm just not like him.
"So then-Did you tell him?"
"I did. I told him no. I told him I wasn't going to touch you. Then I ran up to my room, grabbed my trunk, and apparated to King's Cross to get on the train. And tonight he-he sent me this." He handed a piece of crumpled up parchment to Hermione. She opened it and read to herself-
Draco,
You have been a very disobedient boy. Surely you didn't think you could get away? I know where that Mudblood girl lives. Her parents are here with me now. Quite stupid, aren't they, muggles? Don't know much. Can't resist the Imperius curse very well at all. They're a big mess. Getting sicker and sicker by the day, I wonder how long they can go without eating. But that seems to easy. Perhaps I should try the Cruciatus curse instead? Now, you listen to me boy, you are to bring the girl back to the Manor, you hear? Or she will never see her dear parents again. As you will never see your mother again. Yes, she's gone, and it's all your fault boy! Now, you have exactly one month to get her here. I don't care how, but she is to get here in one piece. I suggest showing that she can trust you, and then betraying her. Have fun.
Hermione looked up at Draco. Tears were pouring down her face. Her knees suddenly got weak, and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Draco ran over to her, pulled her up, and moved her over to the couch.
"My parents." She said quietly. "He has my parents. That *bastard* has my parents!" she was yelling now. "Draco, we need to do something! Dumbledore! We'll go to Dumbledore!" She walked over to Draco and pulled his arm. He wouldn't move. Tears were silently streaming down his face. *oh no, I forgot about his mother.* "Draco look, im really sorry about your mum, but we need to get to Dumbledore! He can help us! COME ONE MOVE!" but he wouldn't budge. "FINE!" Hermione screamed. She threw the piece of parchment at him, ran out of his room, into her room, slammed the door and plopped down on her bed. She was crying hard as ever now.
"How can he just sit there?! His father has my parents, who knows what he's doing to them right now, and he killed Draco's mum, but all he can do is sit there! What an idiot! We really need to-"
"Go to Dumbledore." Hermione looked up from her bed, and saw Draco standing in her door frame. He wasn't crying anymore, but Hermione could tell he wanted to. She tried to wipe away her tears. "Come on." He said.
"Wait." She said quietly. She had just thought of something. "Just wait. How do I know this whole thing isn't a trick? How can I be sure that all this isn't some kind of-of plan that you and your father thought up to get me?! Maybe your father doesn't really have my parents, and maybe he didn't really kill your mum! He could have wrote that letter to persuade me, and your little talk that you had with me could have been a lie! And you could just be trying to earn my trust and then betray like your father wrote! I'm not stupid you know! It's like that saying, 'like father like son'!"
"Hermione no, listen its not like that I-" he took a step forward.
"NO! Get back! Get away from me you cold blooded murderer! Out! Out of my room!!!" Hermione screamed.
"I'm not going anywhere until you let me explain." He sat down right where he was on the floor.
"Fine. You've got two minutes." Hermione stared at him, arms crossed.
"Listen, I've lived with this ass my whole life. I know how his mind works. Trust me, if he days he has your parents, he does. And my mum is most likely . . . dead." He said this last word much more quietly. Hermione looked into his eyes. There was something in them that hadn't been there the day he helped her down the Hospital Wing. They showed fear. Before Hermione could agree to go with him, Draco spoke again.
"If you don't believe me then look at this." He lifted his shirt so that Hermione could see the little bit of skin that showed before his pants began. There was a bright red mark on the bottom left corner of his torso. It was a capital M with a serpent curled around it. Hermione gasped.
"My father got the idea from the Dark Mark. When I feel it pinch it means . . . well I don't exactly know what it means, but nothing good ever comes after I feel it. Usually it's more pain. MY father would try and teach me discipline. When I felt it I needed to go to him. I f I wasn't on time, He would use the Cruciatus curse on me. He said it would make me stronger. I don't se how that worked. If anything, it made me weaker. So, if you want your parents back, we need to go now." Draco said seriously. Hermione nodded, but before she could control herself, her arms were wrapped around Draco's neck. Draco didn't know what to do. He simply stood there.
"Oh Draco, if I had known this I would never have so mean to you! I'm sorry about that whole 'like father like son' thing."
"Uh . . . no it's- its okay. I can see why you would think that, I mean after all I've done to you. Everyone thinks that about me anyway, especially Potter and Weasley."
Hermione unwrapped her arms. "Yeah, they do."
"By the way, er . . . thanks for standing up for me at dinner." Draco said, blushing slightly.
"Yeah well you know, I get sick of them always talking about you. I see enough of you everyday." She said sarcastically. They both laughed and headed off to Dumbledore.
A/N: wow that was a long chapter. I don't know when the next chap will be up. it might be a while though I sort of have writers block. Please review and tell me what you think!!!
*tfsbaby*