Chapter Eight: Dead Man Walking~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```

"She dumped me!" Ron cried as he finally got fed up with Harry's pestering as to why he seemed so miserable over the weekend. It was the class after lunch on Monday and for Harry and Ron it happened to be Divination.

"She dumped you?" Harry echoed staring opened mouthed at Ron in disbelief.

"Yeah the night of the dance too, that's why I didn't come back." Ron said sadly looking at the floor.

"Sorry Ron, I know how much she means to you." Harry said trying to comfort Ron.

"No, you don't know what she means to me! She's the only girl I've ever truly loved! She's the air I breathe; she's like a drug to me that I just can't get unhooked from." Ron said slightly hysterical.

"Why did she dump you in the first place?" Harry asked. Ron looked at the floor feeling guilty about what happened the night of the dance.

"Well, she must have seen me and Lavender dancing.... well, I guess you could say that we were grinding. That just seemed to break her. I just feel so bad that I didn't ask Hermione! If I asked her to the ball then this would have never have happened and we would still be together right now!" Ron said in the same hysterical voice. He was careful not to raise his voice or Professor Owls would ask him to share what they were talking about to the class instead of trying to read each others palms. (A/N: the new Divination teachers name is Linda Owls just so yawl knows ok?) Harry could feel Ron's pain He and Ginny almost broke up once and it tore Harry up inside.

"Ron I'm really, really sorry. I know how much you love her. But for our sakes don't do anything stupid because from what I've seen she really does love Malfoy I've seen them out by the lake almost every night about an hour after dinner. I know that this is killing you but you're just going to have to let her go and move on in life. You can't make her love you. And I think that she'd kill you if you even tried to break her and Malfoy up or if you tried to kill Malfoy, which by the way could get you the Dementor's kiss." Harry said taking Ron's hand and looking at it as Professor Owls passed by them.



It was after last class and Hermione was waiting by the broom closet in the dungeons waiting for Draco to walk down the hall. She had Harries invisibility cloak so no one could see her. Hermione had been waiting about a half hour when finally Draco started to walk down the hall way. Alone, just as Hermione had been hoping for. He was just about to pass her she grabbed his arm and put a hand over his mouth and pulled him into the closet. Hermione let go of him as soon as the door was closed.

"Who's there?" Draco hissed taking his wand out.

"Chill Draco it's me." Hermione said taking off the cloak revealing her self to him. Draco sighed and pulled her towards him wrapping his arms around her waist. Draco smiled as he noted her broad smile lighting up her beautiful face.

"My, my, you're certainly happy today." Draco said leaning his forehead against hers.

"Well, I have good reason to be." Hermione said "I dumped Ron and I have never felt better about it." Hermione continued wrapping her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. She could see warmth that wasn't there before and she liked it. She had opened up a Draco that no one had ever seen before, a Draco that could love. Hermione then leaned up and kissed him and quickly the kiss was deepened. Draco had turned her so that she was up against the door, but the broke apart for air soon after.

"I know that you like doing this your way, love, but it seems more logical that the guy pulls the girl into the broom closet in stead of the other way around. So, go out there and walk towards the closet and I will pull you in." Draco said opening the door and pushing her gently out. Hermione sighed and walked down the hall a little ways before turning around and walking back towards the closet as soon as she reached it Draco popped out grabbed her arm and pulled her in. As soon as the door was closed Hermione was pushed up against it and was kissed deeply by Draco. Draco had the feeling of having her then and there in this closet but, he thought better of it and pulled away.

"Why'd you stop?" Hermione asked playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"I think that we should go someplace more privet before someone finds us." Draco said opening the door looking around seeing that the corridor was empty pulled Hermione out and led her out of the dungeons. He led up and down a series of stairs and hallways before stopping at a portrait of Salazar Slytherin. The portrait frowned at him and Hermione.

"This is certainly a first now isn't it Mr. Malfoy?" Salazar sneered at him.

"Oh shut up!" Draco said angrily to Salazar.

"Password?" The portrait asked in a board manor.

"Enigma." Draco said; the portrait swung open and Draco stepped aside for Hermione to walk in first. Hermione gave him a nervous look them stepped in. Hermione gasped at what she saw. The room was beautifully furnished in mostly black, green, and silver with the occasional deep blood red accent here and there. On the wall to the left of her was a large black flag stone fire place with an overly large couch sitting in front of it. On the wall in front of Hermione was a very large book case filled to the bursting point with books of all sizes. Hermione walked into the center of the room and slipped out of her shoes. Hermione then made a 360 finally stopping at Draco with a raised eyebrows.

"You have a bed in here?" She asked giving a sideways glance at the huge bed with black and green sheets.

"You want to go to bed already?" Draco asked mockingly eyeing Hermione. She half heartedly glared at Draco. She then walked forward and slapped him hard on the arm.

"Ow!" Draco said wincing slightly. Hermione gave him a wicked smile and started to roll up his sleeve. She placed a kiss on the spot she had hit him and worked her way up to his neck and then his face. She kissed every part of his face except his lips which made him turn his face so that their lips brushed against each other. He kissed her with a fired passion that hadn't been there before. It was like he had been waiting thousands of years to kiss her again. Hermione was so into the kiss she didn't even notice that Draco had backed he up to the bed, until she felt her self being lowered never breaking the kiss. Draco was on top of her working his way down her neck. Hermione let out a small moan that was barley heard. Hermione ran her hands down his back till they got the where his shirt was tucked into his pants. She pulled it free and ran her hands underneath tracing her fingers around the out line of his lean muscles. Chills ran through his body at her touch. Who knew that a mudblood could do this to a Malfoy? Her shirt was off in a matter of seconds. He traced feather soft kisses down her neck before returning to her lips.

"We should be doing this." Hermione stated between kisses.

"And why not?" Draco asked brushing his lips against hers.

"Because, and you know that answer to your question." Hermione answered. Draco sighed in defeat and rolled off her so that he was lying propped on his elbow right next to her. She turned her head to look at him with a small smile.

"There's a Quidditch game tomorrow." She said stating the obvious

"So there is. And guess who's playing?" he answered mockingly chuckling softly at Hermione's obviousness about nothing particular

"Gryffindor and Slytherin." She answered "My two favorite houses. Except I think I might have to cross it off because of a certain red head." Draco's chuckle turned into a laugh when he heard this.

"So will you cheer for me?" he asked with eyes brows raised hopefully.

"Who else would I cheer for? Harry or Ron? Harry's good but not that good. And I don't think Ginny is the surest when it comes to flying. She's just lucky that she doesn't fall off." Hermione commented rolling her eyes.

"And why weren't you placed in Slytherin?" Draco asked laughing. She laughed too catching on quickly to what he said. She leaned in and kissed him. "Tomorrow night there's going to be a Slytherin party whether we win or loose. I want you to come, will you?" he asked

"Of course," Hermione answered then glanced quickly at her watch. "I've got to be going, I'll see you later." Hermione continued leaning over and kissing his gently before collecting her shirt and robes from the floor and walking to the door. When she reached it she blew a kiss and left, but not before watching Draco pretend to catch it and place it in his pocket. She smiled as she walked down the hallway heading towards the common room since she left her stuff in there for safe keeping before she went to wait for Draco.

She reached the common room in a daze. As if she was floating only to be brought back to earth by Ginny calling her name to have her come over.

"Where were you?" She asked pulling Hermione onto the couch. Hermione just stared at her dreamily. "Hello?" Ginny waved a hand in front of her face

"Oh sorry, I just had the best snog fest with Draco though." She said in a dreamy voice but was knocked back to reality when she caught sight of Harry and Ron entering the common room.

"Don't worry; I won't tell. I'm ok with you and Draco." Ginny whispered softly making Hermione smile. Harry sat next to Ginny and Ron Hermione but she edged away from him before standing.

"I got to go to the library. You know get things done." She said making for the portrait but a hand held her back. She looked up the arm to see that it belonged to Ron.

"Hermione, please, can we talk?" He asked pleadingly. She just stared at him with a raised eyebrow.

"About what *Ronald*? We have nothing to discus." She told him pulling her arm free from him and stalking away angrily from him. He hated the way she said his name, such hate, such disgust. He looked down his eyes filling with tears.

Hermione walked down the hall that lead to the library humming a soft tune to her self feeling happy and content for the first time in a while. She stopped and placed a hand on her forehead swaying back and forth placing a hand on the wall from a wave dizziness. Her vision started to blur until it was totally black before it cleared again to be back in the same hallway only it was darker and the torches were lit. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Antoinette walking over to her. She looked down but found she wasn't in her body but the head boy's Justin White. She opened her mouth to ask what was going on but she spoke as if speaking in a play.

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay away from me!" She hissed at Antoinette.

"I just can't stay away. You know how I feel about you," She said looking down sadly but looked up again moving closer "Why are you leaving me after everything that we had together?" Tear were brimming Antoinette's eyes and they were also pushing into James'.

"I told you. You know why. I love my girlfriend and I don't want to see her get hurt walking in on us one day. I cheated on her and I don't know why. She didn't deserve it and I don't deserve you." James said starting to turn away "I'll see you in class, I'm sorry Antoinette. I really am." With that he turned away and started walking away to finish his patrol of the school for the night.

"Yes, but not sorry enough." Antoinette whispers. James turned around looking confused while saying.

"Did you say something?" What he saw instead of Antoinette was a huge cat like creature with blood red eyes and bone spikes sticking out of its neck. James stood frozen staring transfixed on the creature that stood before him ready to strike. One of the massive clawed paws lifted from the ground ready to swipe when James turned and ran. He didn't get far when the paw came down on him knocking him to the ground leaving many slash wounds on his back. James screamed in pain and cried for help but no one came.

"Help! Some body help me!" He screamed fumbling for his wand sending as many curses he could think of at the creature but having no affect. The creature swiped and jabbed making him weaker by the moment with the loose of blood. A crowed started to form around Hermione as she screamed for help getting large gashes out of no where sending cursed and jinx' flying in all directions. Most hit students and they fell to the ground in a scream of pain.

"Arvada-." Hermione was about to scream when the killing blow came knocking her into the wall where she slowly slid down the wall her eyesight coming back to the present blurrily seeing the crowd around her before she started to fade into black. The last thing she saw was blonde hair and strong arms.

***************

Hermione groaned in her hospital bed and opened her eyes slowly to see only white everywhere except for one dark figure who was seated almost directly in front of her.

"Am I dead?" she asked weakly raising a hand to her forehead wincing in pain.

"No, you're not. Not yet love, I still need you." Came Draco's voice from the solitary dark figure. "Here." He continues placing something on her head that lessens the pain. "Pomfry told me to put this on your forehead when you wake." Hermione grunted her reply not really caring just wanting to leave.

"Help me up." She said holding out a weak hand. Draco took hold and gently pulled her into a standing position leaning against him slightly. "Where are my cloths?" she asked looking around for them.

"They're over there, are you sure u want to wear them you're hurt pretty badly." Draco said eyeing her condition.

"Just give them to me. I have to warn someone. At least give me my pants." Hermione said noting Draco's look he was giving her about having her get back into her cloths. When she had slipped on her pants she leaned against Draco even more holding onto him tightly closing her eyes in concentration. A grey smoke encircled them and in a brief few seconds they were in the head boy's dorm. Hermione collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion from the exertion she put into getting there.

"Oye White!" Draco yelled checking his bedroom starting to look around. The was the opening of a door and James stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"What do you want Malfoy?"

"Not me her." Draco retorted nodding his head towards Hermione who was trying to stand but having some trouble doing so. Draco rushed over to her helping her up and helping her walk over to James.

"I came here to tell you not to go on your patrol tonight. If you do you will die." Hermione said staring him right in the eye.

"And why should I listen to you?"

"Because I saw it all happen and I felt it. Just look at me!" she cried turning to show him what was to come.

"I don't believe you."

"You don't have to just don't go on your patrol tonight. I can give you proof that this it real too."

"Then prove it."

"I know that you've been cheating on your girlfriend with Antoinette. She still wants you but you don't want her anymore because you love your girlfriend and don't want to see her hurt."

"How did you know that?"

"Because I saw it."

"How?"

"Because I can see things like that."

"Really now?"

"Do you love her?"

"Who?"

"You know who? You have an interesting way of showing your love to your girlfriend though. Antoinette's a monster stay away from her."

"Get out." James said pointing to the door shaking with anger.

"Whatever." Hermione said moving to the door with Draco's help. "But when your dying in the hall all your going to hear is me saying 'I told you so.'" Hermione continued before closing the door behind her.

"You know I should take you back to your common room. Pomfry told me that once you wake up to also take you back to your common room and put you to bed so you can get a few more hours rest before the game. Here." Draco said removing him Slytherin scarf and placing it around Hermione's neck. She did the same smiling up at him before giving him a quick kiss wrapping her arms around his neck pulling herself up into his arms so that he was carrying her.

"I'm too weak to walk you must carry me." She said simply grinning at him. "Now, onward to the common room!" She cried pointing Draco in the direction of her common room.

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A/N: I'm sooo incredibly sorry that you guys had 2 wait this long 4 this chapter to be posted. Accept my apology and review please!!!!!