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"You'll be expelled." Malfoy said in an irritatingly knowing voice.
"The fruits I'll reap from this act of justice will contain me long enough so I won't feel the pain." I muttered wandering the halls looking for Pug-faced Parkinson whom had been deliberately hiding from Malfoy since the incident at the lake. It was humorous however as how it was I instead she should be worrisome of.
"You can't murder her Granger." He sighed next to me and stopped making me come to a halt.
"Why not?" I asked whirling around.
"Because The Dark Lord will come after you and your friends." He said instantly quieting anything I was about to say.
Staring at him for a few more moments I violently turned my head away from him so I wasn't looking straight into his eyes. I felt that if I did stare long enough I'd see something I desperately felt wasn't there; betrayal.
"Well you'd get these cuffs off if he came after me wouldn't you?" I asked sarcastically.
"I want these things off, yes, but not in the way of death." He corrected grinning.
It was in this moment that I finally spat out acidly,
"You'd have no qualms if I was killed Malfoy, especially by Voldemort."
I was surprised when he didn't flinch at the name but stared at me in slight shock at the tone of my voice as well as the context of what I had said.
Ever since I had overheard Blaise and he talking in the infirmary a week ago, I wasn't too sure if it was wise to trust him.
"Why do you say that?" He asked narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Because it is blatantly clear to me that you believe this world would be heaps better if 'filth like me' was removed from it." I said scowling at him.
He opened his mouth slightly and shut it once more.
"I told you I didn't mean that Granger." He finally said getting agitated.
"No, I believe that you meant it Malfoy, you just didn't mean for it to come out how it did in front of me and witnessing eyes."
He took a quick step towards me that had me taking one backwards instantly. He caught this action and I could see realization coming over his eyes as he practically whispered,
"You're afraid of me."
"I have no reason to be afraid of you." I bit back.
"Why are you afraid of me?" He asked cocking his head to the side.
"I told you I wasn't Malfoy." I said glaring at him.
"That doesn't mean I believe you however." He countered and took another step forward making me take one back again.
A second later Blaise came out into the corridor we were standing in that was practically empty. I got a panicky feeling in the pit of my stomach of being alone with the two of them. I had doubts about Malfoy, but I knew I couldn't trust Blaise.
"Hullo Hermione." He greeted friendly enough.
I nodded my head curtly and scanned the halls to see if a familiar face would round the corner. When Blaise began walking towards me I held my hands up at him and took a step away from him.
"What's wrong?" He asked confused and looked towards Malfoy who was studying me intently.
"Nothing." I replied in what I hoped was an innocent tone.
He gave me a dubious look and took a step forward towards me again, which I allowed, and tried to remain calm. I brought my right hand into my robes and made sure to have a firm grasp on it just in case.
"Are you two coming to dinner?" Blaise asked after silence had enveloped us for some time.
"Yes but we'll be eating with the Gryffindors." I answered for both of us.
There was a frustrated sigh next to me,
"We've been eating with the Gryffindors almost every meal this past week, we'll be eating with the Slytherins tonight." He informed me.
Without waiting another beat, the three of us headed towards the Great Hall.
"Mashed potatoes." Malfoy said on my left.
Sitting stiffly I quickly handed him the bowl and sat stiff once more, re-gripping the wand in my hand.
"What the devil is wrong with you tonight?" He whispered in my ear.
The sudden close encounter caused me to tense and I knew this act didn't go unnoticed by some.
"Nothing." I said quietly and made sure to keep an eye on my surroundings while fingering my wand that was tucked inside my robes.
"Then why are you so bloody tense?" He asked again.
I slightly shrugged my shoulders and continued on watching the people around me. I was so wound up that when I felt someone tap my shoulder I whipped my wand out and aimed at the person's chest.
"Hermione?" The voice asked concerned.
I looked up into the emerald green eyes of Harry.
"Oh." I said breathing a sigh of relief and lowering my wand while the occupants at the Slytherin table watched on with immense interest.
"Don't worry." He said placing a soft hand on my shoulder.
Harry knew what I was thinking and he knew my worries so lately he had been keeping an extra eye one me just in case. I nodded my head and was relieved when he sat down next to me for the remainder of the meal, even amidst the glaring and cold eyes. It was nice having Harry sitting next to me, instant safety came over me and I was finally able to eat knowing that Harry was watching me and the other occupants at the table as well.
"Goodnight." I said reluctantly to Harry as he waved leaving Malfoy and I alone once more.
The second he left Malfoy turned towards me with stony eyes and backed me up against a wall.
"I want to know what's going on." He demanded.
"Nothing's going on." I said looking back into his eyes.
When he leveled his gaze I had no choice but to look away, feeling like he could read my lies if he was able to stare into them too long. When I looked up once more, I sagged against him as memories and pictures began to flow through my mind again and I knew he was using Occlumency.
"Stop." I said meekly as he began to get closer and closer to what I desperately didn't want him to see.
When I began to sag again he gripped me by my arms and held me up easily against the wall. I gasped when he slowed down the images and watched with keen interest at the memory being played for him. When he stopped I was breathing hard and had my head leaning against his chest.
"You were eavesdropping?" He asked incredulously.
"It was sort of unavoidable via our current situation." I replied sarcastically.
When I saw how close we were I tried to wriggle away from him but he sensed this and tightened his grip on me to keep me still.
"You're afraid of me." He stated as he had earlier.
When I wouldn't answer him he hooked a finger underneath my chin and forced me to look into his powerful eyes. I tried to wrench myself away from him but he pulled me roughly into him and wrapped his free arm around my waist, forcing me to remain where I was.
"How could you think I would hurt you?" He asked glaring.
"Look at our past history Malfoy and then take a look at the conversation I had overheard, it isn't hard at all to believe that you would hurt me." I replied and closed my eyes so I wouldn't have to look into his.
"Look at me." He commanded in such a forceful voice I had no choice but to obey.
I looked up into his and saw emotions raging in his eyes, which took me by surprise as he had always been able to keep his eyes guarded.
"I would never hurt you." He said softly.
I was too stunned to speak for a few moments from his declaration that I said the only thing I could think of,
"Why?"
"Because I ca…because I wouldn't." he finished.
Not entirely convinced I turned my head to the side. I started when I felt his hand softly cup my cheek and he said in a strong yet gentle tone,
"I'm not hurting you now Granger. I would never hurt you."
His words practically caressed my face and I looked back up at him, deciding I didn't need to ask for his motives, or question if he was lying…yet.
"Okay." I whispered and nodded my head slightly.
He gave me a slight smile and slowly retracted his hands from my face while we walked to the infirmary…together.
(I KNOW IT WAS SHORT BUT ONCE AGAIN THIS WAS NEEDED AND THIS CHAPTER HAD TO BE A STAND ALONE WITHOUT ANYMORE EVENTS TAKING PLACE)