Disclaimer: All characters and places in the Harry Potter series are owned by J.K. Rowling. I have created a few characters and places of my own in relation to this story. But everything else is owned by Rowling.

Chapter 4: "A Little Help, Please"

"Hermione, wait!" Harry called out.

"Go away!" she answered.

"What's the matter with you? Why are you acting strange?"

Hermione stopped and turned around. Harry caught up with her. "You wanna know what happened? Draco and I talked," she said.

"You did? About what?"

"About how I couldn't trust him. He asked me why, and I answered him."

"Why don't you trust him, Hermione?" Harry asked, eyebrows curled.

Hermione looked down. "Because I hadn't forgotten the things he did to me before."

Harry reached for her chin and moved her head upward. "But that was the past, Hermione. You know he's different now."

"Don't you think I know that? I'm afraid Harry!"

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid he would hurt me again!" she exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.

Harry quickly threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I'll never let him hurt you, 'Mione," he whispered to her ear.

"It's too late," she muttered in between sobs.

"What did you say, Hermione?"

"Nothing."

***

Harry had decided to walk with Hermione to class. Both of them were silent on their way, but they both knew there was still something unresolved between them.

"Hermione," he said, stopping her on her tracks. "What was that you were saying in the Great Hall?"

Hermione took a deep breath and looked back at him. "Didn't you notice, Harry?"

"Notice what?"

"How everybody was looking at us?"

"I didn't, and what did that had to do with what you said?"

"We've talked about this. I don't want people watching everything I do. I'm losing my privacy."

"You can't stop them from doing that, Hermione. You're famous now."

"You're famous, Harry. And I'm just being dragged. They think we have a relationship and they're curious about it."

"Don't we?"

"Don't we what?"

"Don't we have a relationship?"

Hermione didn't answer. She just started to walk again. Harry was left standing, watching her go, until she stopped and spoke again. "We never did have one."

"I know, Hermione. It's because you never wanted one," he whispered to himself.

***

They reached the Transfiguration classroom, Hermione entering ahead of Harry. Harry was just staring at her. He wanted to talk more, but he wasn't sure she was up to it. When he was about to enter the room, Ron suddenly appeared from inside, and grabbed Harry by the arm, dragging him outside.

"Ron, what are you doing?" Harry asked, apparently confused.

"Just hear me out," Ron replied. Harry merely nodded. "Everybody's talking about it. I mean everybody," he said.

"Talking about what, Ron?"

"Everyone saw what happened before we arrived. They saw Draco hurt Hermione." Harry's eyes widened in surprise and he had almost run inside the room to confront Draco when Ron pushed him on the wall. "Don't be stupid, Harry."

"What do you want me to do then?" Harry asked, breathing heavily in fury.

"Talk to her. Ask her what really happened. I know Draco wouldn't hurt her if he wasn't upset about something."

"Are you taking sides now, Ron?"

"I'm not taking sides, Harry. I'm just being rational. We both know Draco has changed."

"Well maybe Hermione's right. Maybe he's still not worth trusting!" Harry almost shouted.

But Ron pushed him on the wall again. "Listen to me. I'm guessing Draco was upset that Hermione couldn't trust her that he accidentally hurt her. They said he was grabbing her wrist and she looked like she was in pain."

"I don't care what made him upset. He has no right to hurt her!"

"I know that, but I know he didn't want to hurt her either."

"How can you be so sure?"

Ron loosened his grip on Harry's arm. "Because most of them saw the disappointment on Draco's face after he released Hermione's arm." Ron heaved a sigh. "It was all a mistake, Harry."

***

Harry and Ron entered the class in time before Professor McGonaggall arrived. They sat beside Hermione, who still wasn't speaking, while Draco was seated at the very back, observing the three of them. He really didn't want to attend his classes, because he was starving to death. He was practically pretending that he was okay, but he wasn't. Every word McGonaggall uttered reached him as inaudible sounds that had no meaning. His vision wasn't clear and his stomach was churning in pain. But the last straw was seeing Harry trying to talk to Hermione. He couldn't take it anymore that he suddenly stood up and barged out of the room.

"Mr. Malfoy! Where do you think you're going?" Professor McGonaggall shouted. But Draco didn't look back and continued his way out of the room. Everyone has turned to see what happened, including Ron and Harry, who looked like he could throw a chair at Draco's back. Everyone that is, except Hermione. She heard what happened but she didn't dare give a damn. "This is preposterous behavior!" the professor cried. "Everyone, ignore Mr. Malfoy. Let's disregard that our class has been interrupted by a display of immaturity."

Harry turned in his seat and looked at Hermione. He wanted to talk to her so badly that he almost grabbed her so that she would look at him, if Ron hadn't slapped him in the back.

***

Draco didn't know where his feet were taking him but he didn't care. All he wanted was to get away from the classroom as far as possible. But his hunger wasn't going to take him very far. Gradually he felt weaker and weaker, until he couldn't take it anymore that he dropped down the side of the corridor and doubled up in pain. The Great Hall was still very far, and even the Slytherin common room was way down the dungeons. Closing his eyes, Draco wished someone would come and help him. In his reverie, he even craved for Hermione to be there, to be the one to give him food. But she didn't come.

Draco had almost given up when a hand suddenly appeared in front of his face and was asking to be taken. He looked up and saw a young male student. He had no choice but to take his hand. But even if his weight was supported by the other person, Draco couldn't manage to stand on his own two feet. He still eventually gave in and landed on the cold marble floor.

"Here, take this," the boy said, reaching from inside his bag and drawing out two large sandwiches.

Draco looked up in disbelief that someone was actually helping him, but he had no time to waste on doubt. He reached for one of the sandwiches, unwrapped it and took a huge bite. He was chewing like he hadn't eaten his whole life.

"Do you like it?" the boy asked, sitting beside him.

Draco didn't answer. He just kept on eating. Before he knew it, he had finished the whole sandwich in less than three minutes. The boy handed him a bottle of water, which he willingly took, drinking almost half of its contents. He showed Draco the other sandwich, but he refused. "I'm full, thanks."

"You're Malfoy, aren't you?" the boy said.

"I prefer to be called Draco," he answered.

"Me, I prefer to be called Dylan. Because I don't like my father's name. Actually, I don't like my father at all," the boy replied, staring into empty space.

Draco got to his feet and reached his hand for Dylan to take. "Here, let me help you up."

"I can stand up in my own two feet, thanks," Dylan said.

This came in as a surprise to Draco. As Dylan stood up, Draco surveyed him carefully. The boy had straight brown hair and brown eyes. He was of average stature and looked clean and neat. It was also not difficult to notice his arrogance. Draco had never seen someone as arrogant as he is. Nevertheless, he was thankful this boy came, because if he hadn't, he would have literally starved to death.

"Thank you for the sandwich," Draco said.

"Don't thank me yet," Dylan answered.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you are madly in love with Hermione Granger," he replied.

Upon hearing this, Draco suddenly lunged forward and pinned Dylan on the wall, grabbing his neck. "What else do you know about me? Are you a spy?"

"You can call me that, but I still prefer to be called as Dylan," the boy said amidst his situation.

Draco tightened his grip. "Don't play on me. I'm asking you one more time. What else do you know about me?"

Dylan flashed an annoying smile. "More than you know."

"What are talking about?" Draco asked, releasing his grip.

"It doesn't matter what I mean. I'm here to help you," he said, touching his neck.

"Help me with what?"

"Help you in getting Hermione Granger."

Draco started to become curious. Why was this stranger trying to help him?

"What's in it for you?"

"More than you know."

"Why do you keep on saying that?"

"Because it's the truth."

"Why don't you just tell me the truth?" Draco said, starting to get mad again.

"You might not to able to handle it."

Draco was silent for a while. That reminded him of Hermione. What she said after it hurt him a lot, and he was afraid to know something else that might hurt him again.

"I won't ask. But are you really going to help me?"

"I said I will."

"What year are you anyway?" Draco asked, surveying Dylan's body.

"First Year, Slytherin," Dylan answered proudly.

"I know you're a Slytherin. I can see from the badge, and from your attitude. But that's why I've never seen you here before. You just came at Hogwarts."

"Exactly."

Draco started to pace in front of Dylan, and from the look on Dylan's face, he was actually enjoying this. "Tell me again. How do you intend to help me get Hermione?"

"Simple," he said, grinning widely. "First we start separating her from her boyfriend."

"Harry?" Draco responded. "But we don't even know if they are together. And besides. Harry's my friend."

"I can't believe you're saying that," Dylan replied, shaking his head.

"You don't know me." Draco began, then he bit his lip. "Forget I even said that."

"I know Harry's standing on your way. And besides, it will be for his own sake, for all of us."

Draco raised his eyebrows. "There's something you're not telling me."

"Of course, there isn't. But everybody's got secrets, so you can't blame me," he said with another smile.

"How come you know my secrets?"

"That you're in love with Hermione? That's not a secret, Draco. Just by observing, I already knew about it."

"You're good," Draco said.

"I learn from the best," Dylan answered. Then, he held out his right hand to Draco. "So, do we have a deal?"

Draco immediately took his hand. "Why do you have to ask?"