Chapter 13- Draco's Task
A thin frost had settled on the grounds outside, the chill penetrated the castle. Hermione found herself the next morning wrapped in Draco's arms as the light hit her face, waking her brutally. Sighing, she turned to Draco and snuggled up against him in an attempt to get warmer. Draco felt Hermione's movement in his arms and smiled down at her, pulling her closer to him. Hermione suddenly gasped and sat upright, as she looked at her alarm clock.
"Do you realize that potions started half an hour ago?" she cried, frantically. Draco sighed.
"We can blow off potions, 'Mione. Don't ruin the moment." Hermione gave him a reprimanding look before her features softened as she started laughing at the look Draco was giving her.
"You realize we're going to get in so much trouble, don't you?" she said, giving in. Draco smirked.
"And luckily Slytherins are perfect at getting out of trouble when it comes to Snape. So stop worrying!" he cried. Hermione laughed and started to open her mouth again when Draco pulled her into a forceful kiss, which slowly became gentler and more caring. Hermione pulled away after awhile and slid off the bed before he could stop her. Draco just smiled at her as she began to gather her books for transfiguration.
"Dragon?" she finally asked softly, turning around to meet his eyes.
"Yeah?" Draco responded, looking at her closely.
"Are you getting the dark mark tonight?" she asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to make sure it wasn't a dream.
"Yeah."
"When?"
"Does it matter?" he asked, irritated.
"I'm sorry." She said, sympathetically. Draco felt aggravated with himself for snapping at her.
"I'm sorry 'Mione. I don't mean to be short with you." He stands and moves towards her.
"Draco… I know you're scared, and I'm scared too. I never believed I would say this to you, but I care about you. I want you to remember that. We're going to get through this."
"I know." He whispered, angry that he couldn't be strong for Hermione.
"I have to go to class." She said as the bell rang. She pulled him closer and kissed him lightly on the cheek before leaving for class. Draco sat motionless for a moment, before getting up slowly and making his way to his room. "Hermione might be fine going to class in her pajamas but I'm not quite that comfortable." He thought, smirking as he imagined the surprise look on her face when she found out she wasn't in uniform.
~
Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall with Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lavender waiting for the Halloween feast to end. She shoveled the food around her plate. Every once in awhile she glanced at the Slytherin table as if Draco would suddenly appear. "Of course he wouldn't be back so soon." Hermione scolded herself, trying to dispatch her fears. She didn't notice three pairs of eyes we're watching her very closely. Suddenly feeling sick, Hermione stood up. His face grave, Dumbledore looked down at her and gave her a small nod of approval, giving her permission to leave. Hermione exited the room and made her way to the common room.
"What's wrong with Hermione?" asked Harry, in a worried whisper to Ron and Ginny.
"She barely ate anything!" Ron said, looking horrified at the thought. Ginny snorted at Ron. Harry and Ron looked at her questioningly but she turned away from them. She knew what was wrong with Hermione. Ginny just didn't understand it. It all revolved around an absent Slytherin boy.
~
Draco bit his bottom lip holding back the tears of pain as he felt a dagger pierce the flesh on his left arm, carving a skull and snake into his skin. He had a lot of practice at keeping his pain to himself. He did not utter a sound. He looked around, trying to decipher which hooded figure was Lucius. Voldemort was saying something. They all were saying something. Draco felt sick to his stomach at the mere appearance of Voldemort. He was disgusting, revolting. Almost as if the deatheaters sensed his disloyalty, their chanting died down. "Most powerful wizard…" he thought quickly, allowing the chanting to start up once more.
~
Hermione entered the common room, her eyes scanning it frantically "Draco! Dragon!" she yelled, before concluding he was still gone. Not allowing herself to cry, Hermione grabbing her favorite book and she curls up on the sofa beside the fire, hoping to keep her thoughts from wandering to Draco. Her eyelids became heavier as she struggled to stay awake. She soon fell asleep, visions of Draco swarming in her head.
~
Draco entered the Great Hall as the last people were filtering out. He felt dizzy from the night's events, and wanted to go to his dorm straight away, but he needed to find Hermione first. Last to leave was Potter and his friends. Grinding his teeth, Draco made his way to them quietly.
"I think there's something wrong with Hermione." Ron mumbled for the umpteenth time.
"Maybe she really wasn't hungry Ron." Ginny said, exasperated at her brother's vigilance on the subject. But she certainly wasn't going to tell them her suspicions.
"Maybe it's that time of the month." Harry quietly said to Ron. Ginny whacked him on the back of his head.
"You guys just forget it." Ginny said, her mouth going dry.
"Hear, hear!" Lavender piped up, looking very putout that once again the conversation hadn't been surrounding her.
"So… where is Granger?" Draco piped in for the first time, making his presence known. Harry wheeled around.
"Why do you care?" he shot back, venomously.
"I think a better question is," Ginny said quietly, "where were you at the feast?" Harry and Ron stared gaping at Ginny. Her eyes were fixed intently on Draco. He stared coolly back.
"That's my business, Weasel." He replied, his eyes cold with disgust.
"C'mon Ginny." Harry said, putting an arm around her and pulling her to him.
"Need Potter to fight your battles for you now?" he asked, an eyebrow arched in amusement.
"While you only need Crabbe and Goyle stuck to you like glue to pick a fight with us. Only to use the same insults you've used since first year too." She replied, turning to Harry. "Let's go." She said quietly, leaving a disgruntled Malfoy alone in the hall. Holding Ginny's hand in his, Harry thought he couldn't be happier. His thoughts were interrupted however, when a certain thought popped into his head. Where had Crabbe and Goyle been this year? And Parkinson? Sure Malfoy sat with them at meals and classes, but he didn't seem to be near them outside of that. Then he realized that he hadn't seen Malfoy since he had walked in on him hugging Hermione. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. What was going on with Malfoy and Hermione?
A/N: I seem to be writing very short chappies… sorry about that I just need to give it out bit by bit before we get to Hermione having to turn away from all of her friends… gasp! Will she do it? Will she tell anyone? Lol review! :)