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All characters belong to J.K, Hope is one I made up and Brianna is one Ashley made up (ashley09)

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Secrets Unfold

Hope stood motionless for about ten minutes after Brianna left the room to go and check on Draco. She was too shocked to even think straight.

Hope replayed the last few moments that had happened, then what she had last said to Draco. He had smiled when she told him not to do anything too stupid. Then a thought hit her : Had he really intended for Harry to knock him off his broom?

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Early the next day Hope went to the Hospital Wing to see if Draco had gained consciousness. Taking a deep breath she stepped up to the bed so that she could see his face.

He looked a lot better than he had when he first came in, or at least that's what she was told. Even though Madam Pomfrey had already healed most of the major injuries there was still a small bruise on his cheek bone, and his arm was wrapped in a bandage that showed blood. Hope felt horrible looking at him. She thought, 'maybe if I hadn't said anything to Harry..'

Then suddenly she saw Draco's eyes slowly open. He had a confused look on his face and oddly smiled upon seeing Hope.

She couldn't help but smile as well, "Draco, what exactly happened? Did-" She didn't finish her next question, deciding to ask one at a time.

He smirked, apparently seeing Hope was anxious to know what happened, "I was knocked off my broom. Has no one told you?" He answered

Hope rolled her eyes, "Yes you idiot, I mean. Well, what did you do to make him do that?"

Draco just laid there, not answering her.

"Well?" Again, silence. "Fine.Look, I'll come back later. After classes."

"See you then."

"Yeah, great Draco.. Speak when I'm leaving..."

She didn't have to look back at him to know that he was smirking as she walked out the door.

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Her first class was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, with Gryffindor, and she desperately wanted to speak with Harry.

By the time she had arrived she noticed that Harry and Ron were sitting next to one another, so she took a seat next to Hermione, ignoring the comments from some Slytherins who disapproved her decision of where to sit.

Hermione looked up at Hope, "Hello"

"Hey.." She replied, smiling.

Harry and Ron glanced back at Hope. Unsure how to act, she kept a straight face.

Hope didn't seem to notice anything that Professor McGonagall was saying; she just took random notes and attempted to look interested. She was wishing she hadn't been as stupid as to not go the match. Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted when Professor McGonagall dismissed the class, Hope looked around and saw everyone getting up to leave.

She glanced over at Harry and Ron as she stood up. Harry looked back at her with an uneasy face that made her wonder what he was thinking.

"Harry." She called, walking down the hall, "I need to talk to you."

Harry didn't turn around, "Harry. Can you not hear me? I said I need to talk to you." Her tone was frustrated.

Hermione gave Harry a worried look, but just the same the three kept on walking. Hope muttered a few swears under her breath, caught up with Harry, and gently grabbed his arm to make him stop. He turned and looked, not at her, but just out of his way so as not to look her in the eye.

"Harry. I need you tell me what happened.." Her tone was soft, and yet he didn't answer. "I know you don't understand, but--"

"Then why don't you fill me in?" Now he was looking straight at her, and his tone was cold and demanding.

Hope sighed, "Fine, but not right now." She glanced over at Ron and Hermione, "Meet me by the lake after class."

"Fine." And with that he walked away.

Hope went in the opposite direction, but instead of going to her next class she went to the hospital wing.

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Draco was asleep when she entered, so she pulled up a chair and sat next to his bed. She sat there for a while, just watching him.

"Hope" He suddenly muttered. In shocked, she jumped. "What were you doing?" He asked now opening his eyes.

"Watching you. You look almost peaceful when you're asleep." She paused thinking, "You know what? I defiantly like you much better that way." She attempted to act like she meant every word of what she just said, but knew that she was failing to keep that act up.

A smile crossed Draco's face, "Oh really?... Sorry to have disappointed you then."

She sighed nodding. "So what did happen during the match?"

"I didn't do anything too stupid." He said in a mocking tone.

"Damn it Draco. Why the hell wont you just tell me?..."

"You should have been there. Although, even then I can almost promise you wouldn't know what happened."

She looked at him with a puzzled face, "What do you mean, 'I wouldn't know what happened?'." She paused thinking of the possibilities of what may have happened, "Draco what did you do?" She sounded worried.

"Shouldn't you have been in class?" Draco was avoiding her question, but she couldn't understand why.

"Yes, but-Look, that's not the point."

"So you skipped a class to come here?"

"Draco, stop it I--"

"Well now you have miss all of it. In fact it's already over. Hope you weren't planning on attending."

"Over?.." She remembered that she had to meet Harry. "Ok, fine. Draco look I have to go. but next time try not to be a stubborn ass ok?"

Once again he smiled and she left the room.

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As Hope made her way to the lake she couldn't see Harry anywhere, so she sighed and sat down under a tree. After about fifteen minutes she could see Harry walk out of the castle doors. Upon seeing him, Hope stood up and made her way towards him.

"Well?" He stated in a tone that Hope couldn't stand.

"What happened during the match. I've tired to ask Draco but he wou-"

"You tried to talk to Malfoy about it?"

"Yes I did, and what is up with everyone intrupt--"

"And what did he say?" Harry's tone was curious.

"Like that." She sighed, "He didn't say anything. Every time I tried to ask he stayed silent or changed the subject."

Harry nodded understandingly, but said nothing.

"Harry, you need to tell me what happened. Why did you knock Draco off his broom?"

He stood there, thinking, "I don't remember doing it." He paused thinking, "Well, actually I don't remember wanting to do it...In fact I didn't realize what was happening until." Harry had stopped speaking unsure of how to complete his sentence.

"Until?...." She repeated, wanting him to finish what he was saying.

"Until Ron came next to me and said something about Malfoy."

Hope remained silent, so Harry continued.

"It wasn't until then I realized he was lying on the ground."

"So you didn't do anything?" Hope's tone was slightly confused, but eager to understand.

"I remember flying, then heading towards Malfoy, and then...." He stopped speaking, but Hope knew what happened next.

She nodded understandingly, "And then you knocked him off his broom.. Didn't the teachers do anything after seeing you do it?"

"Well, I don't think any of them saw what was happening. Although after some Slytherins shared with Professor Snape what they saw.." Harry's words stopped, as if he were remembering what had happened.

"What did Snape do?"

Harry gave her an odd look, "No one told you? But your in Slytherin, have they all been ignoring you or something?"

Hope looked at the ground, "Most of them don't like me." She sighed, "And it's because I'm kind to you."

She looked back up at him and noticed that he was now staring at her. "But now, I'm seeing that maybe that was a huge mistake."

He suddenly had a look of deep confusion, "How would that be a mistake?"

She looked him straight in his eyes as she spoke, "Because, All that will come out of it is that you'll get hurt."

"Hurt how? What are you talking about?"

"I don't want to be apart of it anymore. But he won't give me a choice, I have to be. "

"What ar-"

"Just listen, Things are going to be different this year, and a lot harder.. This I can promise. But you have to be careful."

In the distance someone with blonde hair had just come out of the castle and was walking towards the lake.

"Why? Hope what are you talking about?"

Suddenly the boy was right behind Harry, "Yes Hope, what were you talking about?"

Hope suddenly didn't know what to say. Had Draco known what she was telling Harry?

"Nothing.. I wasn't saying anything." She was still shocked to find that they had released him from the hospital wing. "Are you feeling better?" She tried to change the subject, but that seemed to only make things worse.

"Nothing? Do you honestly think I'm stupid enough to believe that?"

"I do" Harry commented glaring at Draco

Draco looked furious, so she decided to say something before things got worse, "Look, Draco I think we should go to the common room. I mean you just got out of the hospital wing and--"

"What's the matter? Afraid I might find something out?"

Hope could tell Draco knew exactly what she had been trying to do, "No, I was just.." She stopped speaking, unable to find the right words.

"Just what Hope?" She was silent, now out of things to say. Suddenly Draco firmly grasped Hope's arm and headed back to the castle with her.

Glancing back she saw Harry running after her, apparently so did Draco. He took his wand out of his robes and whirled around, his hand still tightly keeping hold of Hope's arm.

"What were you planning on doing Potter?" He raised his wand and pointed it towards Harry's heart, "Is she really worth it? I bet you didn't even know she was plotting against you."

Harry looked from Draco to Hope trying to decide what to do.

"Harry, listen to me I'll be fine." She looked at the ground, praying that Harry didn't listen to Draco.

Draco smirked, "Yes Potter, she'll be fine. but can't say for how long."

Hope looked at Draco, now afraid, "What are you talking about?"

He said nothing, but started once again to the castle, forcing Hope to follow.

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When they finally arrived in the common room, Draco pushed Hope into a chair, and began pacing.

"What happened out there?"

"Nothing.." She repeated once more, now rubbing her arm where he had griped it.

"Nothing? Then that's exactly how you can explain it to our fathers when we return for Christmas break."

"What?" She seemed confused, but didn't want to be anywhere near her father anytime soon.

"A letter came today, from my father. He said that we were both to come home for Christmas, apparently there will be a meeting we need to attend"

"Meeting?..." She paused realizing who he said had sent him the letter, "Your father is out of Azkaban?" Her tone was slightly afraid.

"Yes."

"But wouldn't it be all over the Daily Prophet?" Draco said nothing, just stared at her so she continued, "You know, with the headlines saying 'Extremely Dangerous Death Eater escapes from Azkaban.'."

He smirked, "If anyone knew.. But they don't."

"Oh."She nodded, "So what did the letter say?"

"Just to make sure you understood your place.." He gave her a look that made her feel like running out of the room just to get away from his watch.

She sighed, "Leave me alone Draco." And with that she stood up and headed for her dormitory, glad Draco didn't come after her or do anything to make her stay.

Hope wished she had the smallest little idea of what would happen. Then she realized that there was one thing she was sure of:

Harry wouldn't be safe now that Lucius was out of Azkaban, and neither would she.