The Secret Admirer

Chapter 9

Author : Cornette

Disclaimer : A genius named JK Rowling!

(Plus she's rich, too, hee hee!)

The Gryffindor Common Room was alive with the `all night long victory party!!!`. Well, not really all night long. All of the Gryffindors had asked (begged) for it to McGonagall. Who, in the end, being practically cornered by bunch of students wearing their best `puppy-eyes` expression, surrendered.

`You could have a party tonight, as long as it stop in one o'clock sharp in the morning, and…` McGonagall added strictly, when screams and yell erupted, `all of the first, second and third year must go to bed on ten, or,` she lowered her voice dramatically, `there will be no other party…forever!`

Ignoring the continuos protests and grumbles from the juniors, everybody enjoyed it very much. The Common Room's tables and floors were covered with food, just name it; the twins had nicked it from the kitchen with all their favorite food. And McGonagall was kind enough to donate a gigantic mouth-watering chocolate cake.

On one corner, the die-hard Quidditch fans were comparing Seekers from around the world heatedly. Not far from it, professional gamblers collecting and loosing Galleon. Fred and George were easily eye-catching, in the middle of the room, in the center of the crowds, playing a very silly word games. Dean Thomas was pouring his concentration on drawing a picture that showed Harry hitting the Slytherin with his Firebolt, one hand holding a Snitch. Dennis and Collin Creevey gawked from behind his shoulder. Giggling girls, sat on a circular position, gossiping endlessly. They looked like a circus for Hermione, because they were wearing very frilly/flashy/furry/colorful night dress.

However, Hermione sat alone in the snuggest place on earth. She wished she didn't see Malfoy. Because his image kept entering Hermione`s mind, stood alone under the hammering rain, his hair soaked…Argh! She rested her head on the cool crimson marble beside her. She couldn't be happy at all. What if…if Malfoy was still standing there? Hermione went panic at that thought.

`Hey.`

It was Harry, the main star of this whole crowd. What did he do here? Cannot he leave me alone? Why did he happen to win all time?

`Didn't care to join the party, Mr. Seeker? Or you're tired signing autographs?`

Hermione was equally as startled as Harry when she burst that words. Harry scowled. Hermione blushed.

`I've just took a bath.` said Harry at last, with a surprising calmness. Hermione should have known that. His hair still damp, and he wore a pair of fresh dark blue pajamas. Harry looked nice on it, no wonder the girls kept glancing at him. And his usual strange but nice `baby-powder` smell spread gently from him.

Harry didn't speak for a long time, instead of it he stared at Hermione. He stared so long with such irritating expression that made Hermione began to wonder. It was as if he wanted Hermione to say something.

Oh, yeah, right .

`Congratulation, then, Harry.` said Hermione, rather flatly. She was very taken aback when Harry moaned.

`Oh, no! Not you too!`

`What do you mean?` asked Hermione, puzzled. Harry glanced around to check before said something.

`I should've cancel the result.` whispered Harry, his green eyes darkened. Hermione`s jaw fell. `I don't think it was fair, you know. Last match was just a mere luck.`

`Harry! Have you gone mad?` hissed Hermione angrily. `What will you say to the whole Gryffindor? To Ron? They'd kill you, for sure.`

Harry swept the packed Common Room with his eyes, then his face turn into one desperate face.

`That's why I speak to you…`he said miserably. `I-I- Dunno, but losing is not good at all. It feels bad, trust me! And, and I don't think the Slytherin`s is a very supportive friend.` explained Harry, thoughtfully. Oh, it`s about Draco Malfoy, thought Hermione. The buzzing sound that full of cheerfulness filled their ear. They were silent for some moment, both incapable on deciding the matter.

`OY!`

Hermione and Harry jumped. Ron, still wearing a ridiculous Quidditch merchandise and a goofy ear-to-ear grin. He looked at Harry's stressed face than to Hermione`s then his eyes narrowed.

`You push him to do his homework, don't you, Hermione? I can't believe it! He just won a Seeker duel, give him a rest! Have you forgot his Owl score? Harry's score passed the Auror standard! So you don't go forcing him like this. And-`

`Ron ,` cut Harry quickly, which was very good of him. Soon enough Hermione was going to be very enrage if Ron continue. `We're just discussing the Duel.`

`Oh! Oh…why so sullen? Join us there! ( Ron pointed the Quidditch fans corner that apparently on danger situation, because some already holding their wand, looking scandalized) Oh, and Harry, who do you think is best; Josef Wronski or Roderick Plumpton?` asked Ron eagerly.

`Well, Ron, I'm sure Josef Wronski is the best, considering the fact that he is the most innovative Seeker, ever. G` night.` said Hermione, before she walk away. She could hear Ron`s amazed voice.

`How the hell she knew? She's never a Quidditch fans.`

`She read, Ron.` replied Harry, with a sigh.

* * *

Hermione didn't go to bed afterwards. Now she was walking slowly in the corridor. The torches that hung along the wall were brightly lit. It flames made a long gloomy shadows crisscrossed the corridor. Hermione`s pace were steady, although Hogwarts, was usually full of odd sound, creepy passing shadows, and ghosts.

She met McGonagall not long ago, told her to go to the Headmaster's office. Now, in the middle of the night. Hermione wondered what happen. Was it about the Order of the Phoenix? Suddenly she felt all worn out. She didn't think she could cope up with a bad news now.

Hermione confronted the drooling ugly Gargoyle, and recalled the password McGonagall gave to all Prefects.

`Chocolate toffee! Open up!`

The Gargoyle woke with a start when it moves aside. He was glaring at her when she jumped smoothly to the winding staircase. Of course Hermione was never been here, but Harry had told her about the `escalator`. With a nice long soundless journey, Hermione calmed down. She landed before a large oaken door, and a splendid gold griffin. Hermione knocked.

`Come in.` answered a heavy voice within. Prof. Dumbledore.

Hermione open the door nervously and stepped in. She couldn't help admiring Dumbledore`s office when she looked around, but her eyes stopped on the table. Whatever the matter was, Hermione had expected Dumbledore to be in his usual cheerful state. Hermione expected him to do something funny, as he always did, but reliable and would magically sort everythings out. What she saw was a totally heart breaking view.

Dumbledore was sitting behind his large desk, his finger crossed in it. But what concerned Hermione was his expression. As if he was too tired and too old, and something weighed him much. There were dark shadows under his blue eyes, that Hermione never see before.

`Please sit down, Miss Granger,` said Dumbledore. Hermione carefully sat on a chair across him. Dumbledore shifted his seat and suddenly looked powerful again, yet still so somber.

`Perhaps you wonder why I asked you to my office.` said Dumbledore, his half-moon spectacles shone softly.

`Yes, Professor.` answered Hermione.

`It`s because of my worry to one of the student. I believe you as a prefect will act wisely and help your friend. Indeed…`Dumbledore stopped, and he fell silent. Hermione felt that the soft clicking sounds that filled Dumbledore`s room fell silent as well.

`Two weeks ago, Lucius Malfoy was killed in a battle. It`s a terrible fate for a man with so many great talent. Worse is he fought for the Dark Side when it happened. It made a big secret but the Ministry told young Mr. Malfoy.`

Hermione`s head began spinning.

`That should make a young person huge shock. But I'm more and more concerned when Draco Malfoy holds the secret and grow more silents. He inherited all of the Malfoy`s family asset, and now is a head of his ancient clan. His fragile mother, Mrs. Narcissa had been ill since and she is in St. Mungo`s.`

` Miss Granger, I only wants you to watch Mr. Malfoy. He has been act strangely and he lost his Seeker Duel with Harry…Well, you should keep this secret.`

There was a loud pounding sound in her ears and a surreal view where everything seemed to zoomed in and out that she forgot how she get out from Dumbledore`s office. She forgot how she borrowed Harry's Invisibility Cloak and his Map. Because she was already covered in that cloaks and strolled half the castle.

Oh my God…Draco Malfoy…Hermione never want to see any person like she wanted now. But, it clicked! That's the day when he began to act strangely! Why didn't he tell anybody? Hermione felt her eyes watered. He must have been very sad, all last days! IF it was my own father, thought Hermione, I won't be as the same again.

She jogged past Filch, even managed to stomp his foot a little. She tried to concentrate on the Marauders map. She was getting close to a dot named Draco Malfoy. But the road to the room was dark, and winding. Hermione gripped her wand firmer and keep on going.

In the end, there she was. On a dark corridor in the north tower. The room itself were hidden, cause she was never been to this part of Hogwarts. Hermione shook her dizzy head, and stubbornly brushed her upcoming tears. She slipped inside.

* * *

The room was amazing for Hermione. It was not very large but the furniture's great. There was fluffy carpet spreading all over the floor. A magnificent tapestry of Hogwarts hung on one wall. A marble fireplace was put, but there was no fire in it. But what impressed her deeply was a circular glass window, that was right in the center of the room. It must be use to star gazing or something.

Now the moonlight had fell on the windows. The room glowed beautifully. Practically the room bathed with moonlight and made everything looked transparent. Hermione stood in awe for some moment. Then she spotted a blond head on the couch right under the window, his back on her.

`Malfoy.`

He turned, and Hermione saw him still wearing his Quidditch robes, hair still falling and damp. Malfoy`s silvery gray eyes widened.

`Hermione! What are you doing here?`

`I want to see you.` said Hermione, slowly. Malfoy shook his head earnestly.

`Just go. I've lost, remember? You're not supposed to be here.` said Malfoy coldly, turning his back on Hermione.

`Wait! I know about your father!`

He froze. Hermione gripped her robes tightly as she walked forward. When she was face to face with Draco Malfoy, she saw his usual pale face was as white as snow, and wondered whether it was because of the full moon. Hermione bit her lower lips, ready for a blow from him. Malfoy move at last, but he was as stiff as robot.

`Is it so?` asked Malfoy, with a flat tone. Hermione couldn't stand it any longer. She leaped forward and shook Malfoy`s arm roughly.

`Why don't you tell anybody, Malfoy? It`s your father! You have your right to be upset…`sobbed Hermione, her tears started to fall. Suddenly Malfoy gripped her hand, his face flushed.

`Stop it! STOP! You want me to do what? You want me to cry my eyes out, right? Don't you know that Id rather laugh out loud? `screamed Malfoy in a voice that Hermione never heard before. His breath turned harsh and short.

`…my father,` spat Malfoy bitterly. `He died without a single honor. Killed by an Auror! Now I have to lead my family. He left the whole family business to me, and Mother has been ill for him. I've never thought him decent since last summer. Come home with maniacs people, hitting my mother, torturing people and..and kept forcing me to join.. that-that..`

`..Death Eater,` whispered Malfoy, his tone was pure disgust.

`So-so, you don't wan-`cried Hermione, her voice shook violently.

`OF COURSE I DONT!` shouted Malfoy. `Do you think I'm mad? That sadistic crowd, they murder people for fun! And my father died for them! For You-Know-Who!`

He let out a mocking laugh that made Hermione`s heart hurts.

`I hate him! He was no good in both life and death! I really hate my father!` said Malfoy, his eyes blazing with anger.

After that the magical room which illuminated by the moonlight was still. Hermione was still crying, very silently. She was scared, shocked, tired, confused, but above all she felt intolerable pity towards Malfoy. Malfoy was already lowered his head, and Hermione was very taken aback when his shoulders shook.

`Malfoy…`said Hermione softly.

`…Even if I really hate him,` said Malfoy, covered his face in frustration. `… he is the only person in the world I could call `Father`.`

But Hermione had pulled him into her arms. The chill penetrated her clothes but she didn't let go of him. Thankfully Malfoy didn't made any move, because Hermione`s mind only filled with one thing. Malfoy loved his father! Poor him! She let her tears poured out. It made a large spot on Malfoy`s chest and it kept pouring on. Hermione knew Malfoy cried. He cried without a single tear, but his trembling shoulder was enough to tell her.

It seemed to lasts forever, until Hermione loosen her hug. She brushed her tears and looked up. Draco Malfoy stood before her, looked paler but calmer then before.

`Feel better?` asked Hermione, worried.

He smiled.

Then in Hermione`s very eyes, Malfoy`s face turned sickeningly bluish. All of sudden he collapsed. Hermione let out a long scream when Malfoy`s face hit the ground.

To be Continued……

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WOOOHOOOO! It's done! Yay! Read aaaand review this chapter, guys, or Ill be very angry! (HO-HO) Oh, well…^-^! It`s harder than I thought to write this! (Just ignore the Grammar, will you? ) It took 5 hours long. Phewww, and I'm glad it`s done! So, do you think Malfoy will die? I think so. (Kidding!) Shall we let him rest in peace, and let Harry won Hermione? You'll see on chapter ten!!! Love you all, bye!