Draco Malfoy

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"Who really cares?

When I talk

Or what I feel

What I say

Nobody not really

Who wants to take

The time to understand

I would like someone to

Heal me with some empathy

But I can't find

Nobody not really

Maybe I'm invisible to the world

Is anyone in the world even think of me

As more than just a hopeless cause?

Who wants to help?

Mamma, but she's so tired

Pappa, your not here

I'm alone in a big empty space

With nobody not really"

'Nobody Not Really' Alicia Keys

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Draco slowly arose from bed on a chilly Christmas morning, feeling lonelier then ever. Crabbe and Goyle's beds were both empty, they had gone on vacation for the Holiday break. "With their families". He muttered to himself aloud. Draco rose from bed and glanced a sideways glance at the tiny bundle of Christmas gifts at the foot of his bed. Draco, who had grown accustomed to waking up to an array of extravagant gifts from his parents, was still trying to deny the fact that this will be the first Christmas without them.

The young man let out a sighed as he walked to the lavatories to use the bathroom and brush his teeth. Draco looked up at his likeness, his eyes lingers for a split second before snapping them back down towards the sink. He could not even bear to look at his own reflection, because when he looked he saw a selfish, guilty, and depressed person.

At first, seeking Hermione for comfort seemed like a good idea. He had carefully planned his words, seeking solace in her company. He did not plan however, for things to get out of hand. Strained emotions, and pent up frustrations caused everything to slowly lead from one thing to another. Once he had realized he had made a mistake, the act was already done.

The events of the night two days prior at first seemed fuzzy, but he simply opted to block it out of his mind, even though the throbbing pain of guilt and impending doom haunted his every step. He was dreading the day that would soon arrive in two days; when Sam and Eva would return. Draco spit out the mouthful of minty-fresh water and made his way towards his bed.

He down besides the small pile of presents and slowly opened each one. The first one was from Eva; it was wrapped in messy bright red paper and covered in bows. Draco smiled as he slowly unwrapped it. Eva's gift was a large scrapbook covered in old postcards and stamps. Draco flipped through the scrapbook full of moving photographs from the previous summer. Draco looked at the scrapbook for several minutes before slowly putting it aside. He quickly moved unto the large box that Sam had sent him, a postcard taped unto the front. Draco ran his hands over the large plain brown package before quickly opening it. Sam's gift was a long piece of black fiberglass with a design on either side. Draco noticed the design was the letter of his initials. The three letters were penned in an abstract smoke like fashion, each of them lacing together into one line that wavered it is way around the strange gift. Draco stared at it intriguingly before reading the post card. The front of the postcard was a moving picture of bikini-laden girls walking down a beach, the waves crashing noiselessly against the white shore. In bright orange lettering in the bottom corner it read: Everything's Better Down Under! Draco grinned before flipping over the card.

Hello there mate!

How's things been going up at Hogwarts? Cold? While you

Are in England freezing your arse off, I am at home

Here in the beautiful Australia. It was eighty-five

Today! Well that's not important, before I run

Out of space I'd figure I'd explain your

Christmas gift with you. When I first arrived here

I told my parents about you, and they figured

It would be nice if they could meet you in the near future.

So if you don't have anything better to do, I'd figure you wouldn't. you can Spend the summer with my family and I.

My family is going on a summer trip to The United States this

Summer and I thought it was the perfect opportunity for you

To learn the best thing to ever grace this Earth. Surfing.

I know you might not know what it is, but you will!  Your gift is called a surfboard. Muggles use it to go surfing, and it's actually quite fun! I did the design on the board myself! (Slytherin Colors) Merry Christmas! see you in two days!

Sincerely

Sam

Draco grinned to himself before setting the large surfboard aside and returned to his now shrinking pile of gifts. He quickly unwrapped another tin of cookies from Belinda Castlerock, who was still working on Draco's living arrangements after the term at Hogwarts was to end. He grabbed a gingersnap from the bright red tin before returning to his gifts.

Much to his surprise, he had received gifts from Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy. Crabbe had given him a collector's edition of a Quidditch Weekly magazine; on the cover was an image of a scowling Viktor Krum. Goyle had given Draco two bags of chocolate frogs, and a tin of his mother's home baked oatmeal cookies. Although Draco felt appreciative that Crabbe and Goyle had bothered to give him a gift, after all of the things he put them through, the young Slytherin could feel his heart break in two when he finally unwrapped Pansy's gift. In an expensive mahogany frame laid a beauty oil painting, which seemed to be done by hand. The large oil painting portrayed a younger Draco running around, followed by a younger Pansy, chasing each other in a vast open field. In the background of the picture stood the elegant gray edifice of Malfoy Manor, and two figures stood clearly in front of the wide kitchen glass doors. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's fingers slowly traced the outline of his parents as the tears began to well in his eyes. Draco bowed his head as he slowly let out his frustrations, crying for the first time in months.

Draco cried for his parents, for he will have no more holidays with them. No more birthdays, and no more trips. No more scolding from his mother, they were gone. He could never be angry towards his parents again, for they were now departed. Forever, leaving him alone, forever. He cried for Hermione, his feelings for her, and his confusion over Eva. He cried for Sam, someone who's considerably become a close friend, whom he had just betrayed. Draco let it pour out of him, slowly but surely as he cried.

Draco slowly walked into the Great Hall for dinner, twenty minutes late. A few eyes from the lone table in the Great Hall looked up at him before they quickly returned to their ham. Draco stared at them vacantly before his eyes fell unto Hermione. She was sitting besides Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter, they were laughing and a big smile graced Hermione's beautiful face. Draco winced when he shamefully thought of the feeling of his own hand over the plump curves of her visage. Draco slowly begin to walk, his feet fell like they was a ball and chain attached to each one of them. Draco finally reached his seat, and sat down. He suddenly felt a warm embrace from behind.

"Thank you for the perfume." The person whispered softly. Draco, recognizing the voice as belong to Pansy, stood up slowly. He did not know what had compelled him to do so, but he turned to face her and pulled her into a tight hug. Pansy, caught by surprise, slowly returned the gesture, patting his back reassuringly. Draco slowly pulled away, realizing that everyone had been staring at their embrace. Draco sniffed, fighting the stinging tears that were coming over him.

"Your gift." He managed to sputter. "It was really nice. Thank you Pansy." He whispered, as he slowly sat back down. Pansy sat down beside him, and ran her hand through her bright red hair.

"It was nothing, that's what friend's do for each other. Right?" Pansy smiled. Draco felt his heart sink, another feeling of immense guilt sinking over him. Even after he insulted and embarrassed her in front of her entire house, she still considered him a friend. Draco suddenly felt like he had been ungrateful towards all his friends. Pansy stared at him for a while before she turned to the plate that had just appeared on the table.  Draco listened mindlessly as Pansy began to talk with Millicent and a fourth year Slytherin whom Draco did not know. Draco stared at his plate intently while his mind drifted here and there. He thought of Blaise who he barely even spoke to anymore. He thought of Sam, the friend who he had just betrayed.

Draco tried to block out the fact that a week before Sam had left for Australia, he had told Draco candidly, about how he's never felt for anyone like he felt for Hermione. Draco remained silent, because he was afraid to open his mouth. Afraid if he were to say anything, would be to tell him how he loves Hermione.  How he loves her so deeply, she's the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up, and the last when he goes to bed. How he loves her so deeply his heart stops every time he lays eyes on her. How he loves her so deeply, he contemplates ending his own life if he could not have her. How he loves her so deeply that when he's making love to Eva, he imagines her, Hermione Granger. Draco was going to continue sulking when Pansy had interrupted him halfway through dinner.

"Why'd you lie?" she asked bluntly. Draco looked up at her, he knew exactly what she was talking about, but he figured if he played dumb, Pansy would drop the subject.

"What?" Draco mumbled; he shoved a forkful of yams into his mouth. Pansy sighed.

"You lied to Professor Dumbledore." Pansy said gravely, she paused before she spoke again. "You and I both know what curse Blaise used on Sam. I don't understand how you can call Sam your friend and let Blaise get away with using an unforgivable on him."

"Honestly Pansy, do we need to be talking about this. I mean bloody hell." Draco snapped; he paused to take a sip of his pumpkin juice. "It was nearly two fucking months ago. Now shut your bloody trap." Draco finished; he glared at her shortly before looking down at the table. He could hear Pansy breath a heavy sigh before she turned back around to face Millicent. Draco felt yet another pang of guilt, but instead of apologizing, he remained silent.

"Then we went to Sydney, where they have this incredible Quidditch shop." Sam's voice seemed to go on and on. He had been talking for half an hour, and Draco could feel his eyelids start to feel heavy. He had had his usual nightmare, however at the end of it, instead of Blaise morphing into his father, much Draco's horror the person torturing Sam's soul turned into himself. He awoke from his nightmare too terrified to close his eyes, and he had been awake ever since.  Draco held his books closely to him as they entered the Transfiguration classroom. Draco could feel the pace of his heartbeat quicken when he noticed Hermione standing by the doorway.

" 'Mione!" Sam exclaimed; he had not seen her since he had returned. Draco watched the pair embrace, and Sam place a quick kiss on her lips. Draco could feel his face redden in jealously as he sat down at the first table he saw. Sam smiled at him and dragged a reluctant Hermione towards the table. Draco breathed deeply, trying to keep his composure. He looked towards Hermione who was doing the same.

"I was just telling Draco here about my trip back home." Sam said happily. Draco looked up at him shamefully, his friend looked so happy to be in the company of the girl he loved and his friend again. If only he knew that I shagged his girlfriend four days ago. Draco thought to himself grimly, he couldn't even begin to describe the sick feeling that was buried in the pit of his stomach.

"Did you have fun?" Hermione asked, her tone appearing strained.

"Yeah. Mum really enjoyed having me in the house again. Dad was in Perth…again." Sam replied half-heartedly. Hermione and Sam continued to talk while Draco remained silent, his eyes locked onto the minute hand of the clock, praying for eight o clock to arrive. I have only three more minutes until McGonagall arrives. Draco thought to himself, time seemed to slow down and he could feel fresh blood boiling up to his head. His eyes turned towards the doorway when Eva walked in. She smiled at him and waved, Eva looked sensational. Her normally black hair was now streaked with light red highlights, and her eyes were shimmering with happiness when she saw Draco. Draco stared at her and smiled hesitantly, the guilt he had suddenly intensified tenfold.

"Hey!" she said excitedly, she threw her arms around Draco before she sat down and squeezed his arm.

"Welcome Back." Draco smiled; he could feel Hermione staring at them.  "Did you get my gift?" he asked curiously.

"Yes I did indeed Mr. Malfoy." Eva giggled, she reached a hand inside the chest area of her school robes and pulled out a shimmering Diamond incrusted E attached to a platinum chain. Draco had bought it on a Hogsmeade trip a month prior.

"Did you like your scrapbook?" Eva asked gently. Draco smiled and opened his mouth to tell her how much he enjoyed it, and of Pansy's gift, but the door swung open, and a disheveled Ron Weasley came sauntering into the room followed by a content looking Potter. The red head's gaze immediately fell unto Draco's, a strange look of loathing in his eyes, far more intense than the usual. Draco's eyes glimmered at the opportune moment to bother Harry and Weasley. If there was one thing Draco was good at, turning his self-contempt into contempt again Potter and Weasley was it.

" 'Ello Weasel. Potty." Draco taunted. Potter looked up at Draco and rolled his eyes.

"Hermione, Sam, Eva." Potter acknowledged, completely ignoring Draco's open invitation for a confrontation, he sat down at the table behind them. Ron stood there and continued to stare at Draco, a look of pure hate appeared on his red freckled face. Draco stared back at him in mild confusion before Professor McGonagall emerged from her office. Ron sat down directly behind Draco. After McGonagall had begun to talk, he could feel Ron forcefully poke his back. Draco turned around and scowled.

"Meet me after lunch at the painting of Boris the Bewildered. By the prefects bathroom." Ron said, his voice barely above a whisper. Draco looked at him at first, trying to mask the confusion on his face, he turned around and looked straight head at Professor McGonagall blankly.

"What was that about?" Sam muttered underneath his breath halfway during the period. Draco did not answer because he was still puzzled, asking himself repeatedly the same question. Why would Ron Weasley want to meet him, by the prefects' bathroom of all places?

Draco slowly eased up the main staircase and up a few random staircases before he arrived at the fourth floor. Draco scowled at Ron as he drew closer, Ron was leaning lazily onto the wall besides Boris the Bewildered. When he spotted Draco approaching, he stood up and attempted to scowl at him. Draco smirked at him before stopping; he forcefully shoved his hands in the pockets of his robes, before looking up at Ron who was around his height.

"Surprised I showed Weasley?" Draco asked, his tone low. He cautiously turned his head to see if anyone else was in the corridor. Ron stared at him for a split second before he looked down at the ground.

"Now what is this all about?" Draco asked; he would be extremely irritated if he had gone out of his way just for the Weasley to chicken out and not say anything. He was in the same house as Eva; did he know something about her? On the other hand, perhaps it was about Hermione? Draco's mind was reeling with the possibilities of why Ron would want to be speaking to him.

"Look Malfoy." Ron snapped; his face was a bright shade of red, Draco noticing this, grinned at him maliciously. Draco was not exactly sure why he enjoyed making some people feel uncomfortable; perhaps it was his father's genes. Alternatively, maybe it was how empowering it was to have people fear you. Moreover, if there was anything Draco loved more, he loved the feeling of being in control of the situation. Draco was snapped out of his thoughts when Ron grabbed him forcefully by the robes and slammed him again the wall, Draco caught off guard slowly slumped to the ground in pain.

"Now you listen to me you git. I don't want to hear any of your sarcasam, but I just thought I'd tell you I know. I saw you two when I went to take a bath four nights ago." Ron spat, he stared down at Draco who was lying on the floor in disgust. Draco growled as he slowly crawled to his feet, he clutched his side hesitantly before he spoke.

"Listen to me. Calm down." Draco commanded slowly, putting his hands up in surrender. The redheaded Gryffindor began to pace the floor. "I oughta…" he muttered to himself. Draco inhaled deeply, trying his best to maintain his composure. His relationship with Eva and Sam would be ruined if Weasley cracked to anyone.  You're so stupid Draco! Draco screamed at himself.  Several of the voices within his head began to pitch in; they had been silent for too long.

"Calm down! You're shagging my best friend! Don't you find that a little strange being that you're her supposed enemy?" Ron shrieked, still pacing around the corridor; fuming angry. "You!" Ron spat, "Your Draco Malfoy! You've been treating us like shit for five years now!" Ron shrieked again, his tone was growing louder and louder. Draco could feel a sense of panic overcome him; he quickly turned to see if they were still alone in the corridor.

"Shit." Draco muttered to himself, he buried his head in his hands in frustration. He could feel a sudden rush of blood to his head, and a strange twisting feeling in his gut. Draco muttered several long strings of obscenities before he could gather the right amount of brain cells to speak again.

"You can't tell anyone." Draco garbled, "It would ruin everything." He repeated again. Ron stared at him incredulously, as if he could not believe the words that were coming out of Draco's mouth. "Why should I care about you and your little…liaison?" Ron snapped irritably before he stopped pacing the floor and walked towards Draco, his facial expression changing as he pieced the puzzle together.

"You… you're going out with Eva."

"You just noticed that Sherlock?" Draco retorted coldly. Ron rolled his eyes; he hesitated before he spoke again.

"Your friends with Sam. Hermione's boyfriend." Ron said slowly. Draco rolled his eyes, the pain in his gut began to intensify, he could feel his skin grow clammy, he was seconds away from vomiting all over the red head.

"That's why you can't tell a soul about what you saw," Draco said suddenly feeling dizzy. He shut his eyes and tried to tune out his now returned voices.

"Why? It's not like you ever did anything kind for me." Ron smirked; he brazenly stepped closer to Draco. Draco could feel his jaw clench, and his hands close into tight fists as he remembered his wand resting in the pocket of his school robes.

"I mean, isn't this strange. You're begging me for some sympathy, and asking me to spare your reputation, when you insult and degrade me on a daily basis. I'm sick of it Malfoy. I'm bloody tired of it." The tone of Ron's voice lowered vastly, "It's your turn Malfoy. Your turn to be at the bottom of the fucking barrel." He said coldly, now only inches away from Draco. Draco stared at him for several seconds, his mind completely blank, trying to come up with a clever comeback.

"You want me not to tell anyone?" Ron asked sarcastically, "Fine. I won't, but..." he paused, his voice still bitter. "I should never, ever see you with Hermione. Seeing her, talking to her, you won't even be thinking about her. In addition, tonight you will give Harry a full public apology for the way you have treated him all these years. Along with Harry, you will apologize to everyone you have insulted, ridiculed, poked fun at or belittled. Do you understand me Malfoy?" Ron spat. Draco stared at before breaking out into a dry laugh; he was surprised at the sheer coldness of his own outburst.

"Are you serious Weasley?" Draco spat disbelievingly. "Is this your idea of blackmail?" he asked. Ron stared at him, as he remained silent. The tension between the pair was substantial.

"If you want a fucking apology well then, I'm sorry Weasley, but I'm not letting you walk over me. Never." Draco spat, he glared at him boldly before he turned and began to storm off.

"Well then Malfoy, if you don't agree by my terms, I'm afraid I'll have to tell everyone. I wonder who it should be first…Eva maybe?" Ron called after him, as if challenging him to loose his temper. This comment felt like a stab in a back to Draco, he turned back around and stormed the redhead. Draco forcefully pushed him sending him to the cold hard floor. Ron stared up at him in shock.

"You may think this is a fucking good idea and a good way to get back at me for the way I've treated you, but that was the past! I'm not the same person as I was before! Why won't you listen!" Draco shouted; Ron remained on the floor as he looked up at him in alarm.

"You think your pointing out to me something I haven't noticed yet! Do you think I don't feel an ounce of guilt for what I've done? Do you think I don't feel! Sam's the best fucking friend I've ever had!" Draco roared, his normal pale face was now flushed an intense shade of scarlet, as he let out all of his frustration unto the surprised and bewildered Ron Weasley.   "And..." Draco paused to fight back the tears of pure fury, "Hermione is the best thing that's ever happened to me! I love her more than life itself Weasley, and I'm sorry if you can't get that into your thick skull. So, you go right ahead and tell the whole bloody school! If you love her, you wouldn't do this! This isn't just my life, it's her's! Think about Hermione Ron!" Draco screamed. He let out a shriek of pure fury before turning on his heel and storming down the empty corridor, preparing himself for the worse.

Draco stormed down to the dungeons later that night after dinner. He had contemplated skipping all of his classes after lunch, but soon remembered that he had been on a warning from Snape about being caught skipping another class, so managed to sit through his afternoon classes and detention. He was relieved however to discover when he arrived to detention, Blaise had still not returned from his vacation.

Draco did not care about much anymore. His marks when his father alive was a main component of what was important in his life, but since his parent's unfortunate demise, Draco had become more secluded and slowly let his marks slips to less than mediocre. Draco quickly rounded another corner, but had wished he hadn't when he saw Sam and Hermione cuddling in a dark corner. Draco groaned and tried to turn around and avoid the couple, but his feet kept carrying him towards them.

"Draco." Sam said softly when he realized Draco's presence. Draco muttered a small hello; his gray eyes fell unto Hermione. Her eyes were lacking their usual gleam, and her face was pale. Hermione quickly looked away from Draco, he could feel the guilt radiating from her small frame. She slowly pushed back a strand of hair.

"That's strange for you to show up. I was just beginning to wonder why you weren't at dinner." Sam smiled; he obviously did not notice the tension between Draco and Hermione. Draco finally tore his eyes off Hermione, and looked at Sam. He attempted to smile at him, but Draco could feel his face contort into more of a grimace than a smile.

"I wasn't feeling well." Draco lied; he knew the real reason why he failed to show up at dinner was because every moment he spent with Sam, the more painful the twisted the pit of his stomach grew.

"Where were you?" Hermione asked gravely. Draco looked at her sadly before turning back to Sam.

"The owlery, why?" Draco asked; he didn't understand why Hermione all of a sudden would want to know of his whereabouts.

"Well, Dumbledore and McGonagall were looking for you." Sam said, the tone of his voice lowering. Draco looked down to realize that Sam and Hermione were holding hands. Draco inhaled sharply; he could feel the heat rushing to his face. Just looking at her was causing him agony. The blonde suddenly felt grateful that he had taken the Draught of Peace after his row with Ron.

"It must be about my marks…" Draco's voice trailed off, he shoved his hands in the pockets of his robes as the three teens gawkily stood in silence.

"Yes… I suppose so." Sam mumbled, running his hands through his hair subconsciously. Hermione scowled at him before looking down at the floor again.

"Don't lie to him Sam." She mumbled, her voice indistinct. Draco looked at the pair in confusion, they both looked at each other. Hermione flashed Sam a forewarning look. Sam sighed loudly before he spoke.

"I… I talked to Dumbledore this afternoon. He kept asking me questions about you and how you were…mentally." Sam muttered. Draco scowled at Sam before he looked at Hermione again.

"Well… you didn't tell him anything. Right?" Draco asked, his tone blank. Draco was too tired to become frustrated by old Professor Dumbledore and his meddling.  Sam stared at him uneasily; his eyes shifting uneasily to the floor, to Hermione, then finally back to Draco. Draco rolled his eyes, and rubbed his face in frustration.

"I'm sorry, but I had to. He's going to get you help Draco." Sam said; his voice strained. Hermione remained silent desperately trying to avoid Draco.  Draco mumbled a few obscenities under his breath. Can today get any worse? Draco thought to himself, he shook his head in frustration before he spoke.

"I don't need any help." He said sharply, he could feel his ears glowing red. Not only did Sam tell Dumbledore that Draco was losing his mind, he was bringing it up in front of Hermione too. Draco groaned realizing they probably were speaking of him before he had showed up. Sam, who was still clutching onto Hermione's hand, looked up at Draco.

"Don't need any help? If you don't need help why can't you look me in the eye and tell me you don't." Sam said, his voice unusually cold. Draco remained frozen to his spot; he could feel a lump raise into his throat, and his stomach twist violently. He looked at Hermione, who's face remained vacant.

"Sam," Hermione paused, her voice barely above a whisper, "I should go back to my dormitories." She mumbled. Sam turned back to her; he nodded at her and gave her an uneasy smile, as if he had forgotten of her presence. Sam kissed her softly on the cheek as he released her hand, Hermione turned to look at Draco, a pleading look in her eyes before she turned to walk away. Draco watched her slowly round the corner before he turned back to Sam.

"Thanks for looking out for me." He mumbled. Sam stared at him, a confused look on his face. Draco turned and walked off in the direction Hermione had gone.

"Wait!" Sam called after him, "That's not the way to the common room!"  He said perplexedly. Draco paused and slowly turned around to look at him. He sighed, for he knew what he was about to do was wrong, but his heart and his body was craving to follow Hermione. He turned back around and sauntered off. Draco was like a fiend, a drug fiend yearning for his next fix. However, his drug was Hermione. He rounded the corner to find Hermione standing by in a dark stone alcove nestled in the walls of the stone corridor. She sat down on the bench inside of it; her books lay at her feet. She looked up at him and smiled at him uneasily. Draco remained stone faced as he sat down beside her, his leg accidentally brushing hers. Her face flushed a bright shade of red, before she looked down at the floor. He stared at her for what seemed like minutes, observing her ever detail. From her round button nose, her natural rosy cheeks, her somewhat bushy chestnut brown hair, to her troubled eyes. He sighed, breaking the silence between them. His eyes lingered to the clock on the opposite side of the corridor; it was an hour past their curfew.

"Is it wrong for me to be more in love with you then I was before." He whispered. She looked up at him; the moonlight from a nearby window illuminated her face. The Draught of Peace had left Draco's mind completely uninhibited, he felt like uttering all his feelings to her.

"This is wrong." She whispered back. "Wrong." She repeated, this time more sharply.  He continued to stare at her mystically while she avertedly her gaze to the window.

"Wrong because you knew you made a mistake last summer?" Draco asked as he slowly rose to his feet. He turned to be look toward a red-faced Hermione, and outstretched his hand. She stared at his outstretched hand hesitantly before accepting it. He slowly lifted her to her feet and brought his hands to her waist. He had never wanted something he couldn't have so badly. His grip around her waist tightened, he could feel her whole body tense up.

"No one has to know." He whispered as he brought his face closer to her. She remained cemented to her spot. Draco attempted to loosen her tense body by softly pressing his lips onto the soft skin of her neck.

"Draco please…" She pleaded with him as he continued to gently kiss her neck.

"What do you feel for him that you don't feel for me?" Draco asked gently. He inhaled her scent, closing his eyes as he tightened his embrace around her. She smelled faintly of a light flowery perfume and milk chocolate.

"That's not the point. I can't do this with you again. I just can't." She muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Draco continued to hold her in his arms, trying to deny the fact that he'd eventually have to let her go. He placed a soft kiss upon her soft succulent lips; the kiss sent a sudden shiver down his spine. Draco closed his eyes, his forehead still touching Hermione's. For a few seconds, the only sound being emitted from the pair was their hushed breathing. Draco felt Hermione's arms slowly wrap around his body, as her body began to shake softly. He reassuring rubbed her back, as small whimpers escaped her mouth. Draco could feel his mouth go dry, because deep down he knew exactly what this moment meant.

"So, we're done." He whispered, his eyes remained dry, but inside he could feel a dull ache replace the guilt he had been holding up inside of him. He withdrew his arms from Hermione and tried to step back, however she grabbed a handful of his black school robes. She looked up at her, the saddest look in her eye with caused Draco to stagger backwards. Draco continued to stumble back, trying to escape her reach, and her awful sad eyes.  She continued to walk towards him, her arms outstretched, the moonlight illuminated her face. Draco suddenly slipped on the base of a suit of armor, causing him to come crashing into the floor. She kept walking towards him, the features of her face slowly changing. Draco watched in horror as he watched Hermione's visage slowly morph. Her round cheeks became more narrow, her eyes smaller, and her hair light. She grew taller, and her demeanor more evocative, her arms still outstretched. Everything seemed to blur around her and all Draco could see was the haunting spitting image of his deceased mother. Her skin glowed a ghastly shade of white, as she continued to walk towards him. Draco could feel the pace of his heart quicken as he stumbled to crawl to his feet but only stepped upon his own robes sending him crashing to the floor.

"No…" he muttered. The specter stared at him vacantly, before it spoke. Its voice was booming, and at first, Draco could not believe it was real. The ghastly being opened its sallow mouth to speak from dry and cracked lips. "Where's my son? Where is he?" The specter began to glow as its tone rose. "Where is my Draco!" the specter shrieked. The shriek brought a sharp piercing pain to Draco's head; he clutched it in pure agony.

"I'm here!" he screamed. "I'm right here! Don't you see me?" Draco shouted at the specter. The ghastly image glared at him before it suddenly swooped over his body, Draco felt a cold numbing sensation hit his body, and as quick as it had come, it was gone. He opened his eyes to see a terrified Hermione at his side, her hands still tightly gripping his robes. He let out a stifled sob when he looked into her eyes, her awful sad eyes.

                                                                                    

Hermione Granger

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Don't hold yourself like that

You'll hurt your knees

I kissed your mouth and back

That's all I need

Don't build your world around

Volcanoes melt you down

What I am to you

Is not real

What I am to you

You do not need

What I am to you

Is not what you mean to me

You give me miles and miles and mountains

And I ask for the sea

Don't throw yourself like that

In front of me

I kissed your mouth and back

Is that all you need?

Don't drag my love around

Volcanoes melt you down

What I am to you

Is not real"

'Volcano' Damien Rice

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Hermione lay beside Draco several hours after curfew. Her body was numb from the pure mixture of elation and guilt while she was in his presence.  She turned on her side and slowly brought her hand to his face, he stared back at her his eyes dull and glazed over. Hermione sighed as her thoughts returned to Draco's outburst in the dungeons. She was surprised when Draco began to plead for her to continue their illicit affair, half of her told her to refuse, while the other half was telling her to accept his offer. What would be the difference? She found herself asking, but then another half of her simply replied Sam.

She couldn't deny the fact that she did feel something for Sam, but she knew it wasn't love. It was nothing compared to how deeply she loved Draco Malfoy. Hermione was haunted by these thoughts, and the strange behavior of Ron and Eva. Then her thoughts shifted to Draco, falling on the floor, screaming and pleading towards thin air. Just watching him in pain made her wish she could help him, cure him, never have him feel pain again. What do I have to offer to him? Nothing. She whispered. The chestnut haired Gryffindor was jerked out of her thoughts by Draco's touch upon her exposed waist. Hermione suddenly feeling cold shivered as she pulled up the dark green blanket that he had summoned from his dormitories an hour prior.

"So Ron knows?" Hermione asked, still in shock. She looked up at the clock on the wall of the prefects bathroom, it was now two 'o clock in the morning.  Draco silently nodded his head. She could feel her face contort into a grimace.

"You know this is going to have to stop, do you not?" she asked, her tone low. Draco avoided her intent gaze, but continued to trace the outline of her figure underneath the wool blanket.

"No." he said sullenly. Hermione sighed, she propped herself up to face him. She could see the sadness in his eyes, and before she even realized what she had been saying she had asked, "Do you miss them?" her voice low. She watched his expression suddenly change to a glimmer of sorrow, then right back to its vacant expression.

"Have you even talked about your parents Draco?" she asked when she realized he was not going to respond. She could feel him remove his hand from her waist as he turned to lie on his back.

"Of course I have." He replied gravely.  Hermione stared at him, analyzing his every move.

"Well… have you talked about your feelings about them dying?" she asked again. Draco inhaled sharply before he spoke, his eyes still glued to the ceiling.

"How would you feel if your parents died?" he replied tartly. Hermione, surprised by his tone, paused before she responded.

"I'd feel awful. But then again, your relationship with your parents was drastically different then my relationship with my parents." She said dejectedly. Draco finally turned to look at her, his gray eyes ablaze.

"No matter how much I may have resented my parents for the way they raised me, I loved them more than anything." Draco said sharply, he paused to readjust the blanket over their bare bodies. "My relationship with them wasn't that severed until the summer before fifth year." He sighed, his eyes still glossed over. "My father had been arranging plans for me to become a Death Eater after graduation. I never really told him if I wanted to receive the Dark Mark, but I never told him I didn't. One night in around late August, he took me to London. To a Muggle doctor…" his voice trailed off, as if he was having a painful memory.

"Why? Your father hated anything having to do with Muggles." Hermione wondered. Draco closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I was having anxiety attacks and hallucinations and delusions, he couldn't take me to St. Mungo's because he was ashamed that he had a basket case for a son. So he took me to a Muggle doctor." The young Slytherin paused again to rub his now red face. "The Muggle doctor confirmed all of my father's suspicions. He said I had some…Muggle disease and that it would be best if he just locked me away." He said dismally.

"At first he just opted to ignore the doctor's warnings about me, and brought me back to Malfoy Manor. He told me that he refused to promise the Dark Lord my servitude for I was not his son anymore. No son of his would hear voices inside of his own head, no son of his would be insane, no son of his would be have a filthy Muggle disease like schizophrenia. I was nothing to him anymore." Draco muttered, Hermione watched him painfully as a fat tear rolled down his cheeks. Hermione looked at him, under the pale light of the room realized how sickly he looked. She wrapped her arms around his insipid and emancipated frame, and brought her lips to his cheek. She closed her eyes as the name of the strange disease was repeated inside of her mind. She remembered faintly, watching a television program about schizophrenia, but it was so long ago she could barely remember it.

"Your father loved you Draco." She said reassuringly, rubbing his back. "I know he did." She muttered. Draco suddenly pushed her away and sat up. He put his head in his hands while Hermione looked on in confusion.

"I feel so alone and it's getting worse."  Draco muttered. "They stopped but their back now. They came back today. I can't ignore them because they're so loud. I want them to stop." He muttered, the tone of his voice growing louder and louder as Hermione looked on in utter confusion. "I'm seeing my parents every where. In my dreams, even when I'm awake. Talking to me, telling me how insignificant I am. I even feel empty." He muttered; it seemed as if he wasn't even talking to her, his eyes were staring off drearily into the distance.

"You should go to bed." Hermione sighed as she put her hand reassuringly on his back. Draco shook his head furiously and grabbed Hermione's hand forcefully.

"Just…" Draco paused, his eyes wide, "Just stay with me tonight. I can't go back down there." He pleaded with her, holding fast to her hand. Hermione sighed deeply before she spoke.

"I have to go back Draco, I've been gone since dinner." She said drearily, the warmth from his hand suddenly making her feel guilty that she would have to leave him. He looked at her, his gray eyes glistening. "Thanks for listening to me." He said softly. Hermione smiled uneasily, unsure of what to feel. She had just cheated on her boyfriend, yet again, but then she felt a since of satisfaction that she could be someone Draco could talk to. She slowly rose to her feet and collected her clothes from the white marble floor. Draco stared at her a few minutes before he did the same.

When they both where dressed they slowly exited the prefects' bathroom and cautiously made their way down to the first floor where they would have to part ways. Draco caught her by surprise by pulling her into a deep loving embrace, Hermione slowly returned before kissing him on his pale forehead.

"Be careful." She whispered, he nodded, and quickly turned around and made his way to the dungeons. Hermione sighed, the events of the night pressing heavily on her mind the entire way up to the north tower. She breathed another sigh of relief when she safely arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Boiled Cabbage." She whispered.

"Aren't you arriving a little late?" the fat lady asked perplexedly. Hermione ignored the portrait's question, her mind and body both exhausted.

"Fine." The fat lady snapped as the portrait swung open. Hermione crawled inside the hole grateful to be a few feet from her bed.

"Hermione." A voice snapped; Hermione jumped sending her books crashing to the floor, the loud clobber echoed through the silence in the common room.

"Ron?" Hermione asked, her eyes falling on the messy coiffure of red hair. He was seated on the couch, his heard turned towards the crackling fire going on in the fireplace.

"It's a little late isn't it?" Ron asked forlornly from the couch.

"I was in the library with Sam." Hermione replied hastily. She continued walking towards the girls' dormitories; she still couldn't face the fact that he had seen Draco and her together. She knew the conversation was going to be more than awkward because she had been getting more than friendly vibes from Ron over the years, and she couldn't bear with the thought that she had been hurting him inadvertently for months by being with Sam.

"I looked, you weren't there." Ron said rather dejectedly as he stood up and walk towards her. Hermione froze desperately trying to avoid his gaze. She sighed; her best bet was just to be forward with him.

"Is this about the Draco thing Ron?" she asked. Ron silently winced at the mention of his fame.

"He's Draco now?" Ron spat. Hermione frowned

"Ron, why don't you just leave me alone? This is my business." Hermione said tartly, she could feel her blood slowly start to boil.

"Well, being that you're supposedly my best friend, your business is my business too. He's trouble Hermione!" Ron snapped. Hermione stared at him, his words almost identical to the constant warnings from Harry's part.

"Please, this is my problem not yours Ron." Hermione said curtly. "Mind your own business." She repeated from gritted teeth. Ron's normally kind eyes were ablaze in fury.

"Well, I guess I haven't heard of the bloody two for the price of one special going on in Slytherin." He spat viciously. Hermione stared at him at first in shock, then in anger. She stared at him in contempt, her mind too jumbled and confused to respond. Ron sneered at her before he spoke again.

"I don't understand what's going on with you Hermione," he paused before jabbing his finger forcefully into the chest of her robes. "But your acting like a bloody whore." Ron seethed. Hermione's mouth dropped in surprise; the words hit her like a dagger in the back. Before she even knew what she was doing, she fiercely slapped Ron in the face. Hermione winced from the pain from the force of her skin hitting his, Ron reared back before putting his hand over his now red cheek, his eyes wide in surprise. Hermione who couldn't bear to look at him a second longer, quickly picked up her books that had fallen on the floor and ran up the stairs to the warmness of her sheets.

She fell asleep in all of her clothes that night, her mind throbbing from guilt, confusion, hurt and anger.

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That took me a WEEK. Oh dear… I'm starting to feel ashamed of myself. I'm trying to stick to my Draco POV/ Hermione POV format, and I'd hate to separate them, so even when I'm done with one of their POV's, I can't update until I'm done with both of them, so that's why it takes me so long to write them.  Draco's POV this part is significantly longer than Hermione's, but I was doing that for plot purposes. I was going to write more to Hermione's but I realized how long it has been since I've updated and I hate leaving people in the dark, so I decided to cut it off. I'd like to thank all my reviewers! Thanks for the support!

That's all for now folks!