Chapter 1
Hermione took her copy of The Daily Prophet from the morning owl and slipped
three knuts into the small leather pouch on its leg. She stroked it on the head
as an extra thank you. The Daily Prophet seemed to use the same owl most of the
time and she had become to think of it rather as her own owl. Even this year,
her last at Hogwarts, she had never gotten around to getting an owl for her own
use. She sighed and unfolded the paper. It was almost like it they were back in
second year, before Voldemort's return had been announced publicly. The news
was the same old stuff. This Ministry official had this comment, this Ministry
official had resigned, and all the while the paper managed to dance around the
fact that Voldemort was back. Hermione supposed that no one really wanted to
talk about anymore.
Still there was some good news. She and Ron had been declared head girl and
boy. He had buckled down in the sixth year and Professor McGonagall noticed and
rewarded him again with the prefect badge last year. It seemed foolish to
switch over to anyone else for the final year. Of course, all manner of
annoying rumors that she and Ron were really together secretly were flying
through the air faster than the owls in the Great Hall. Speaking of owls, she
had promised that she would send one to her parents to tell them she was still
okay, and how she had done at school this week. She grabbed a couple of pieces
of toast, made her excuses to Harry and Ron and made her way to the owlery.
When she opened the door she heard the comforting sounds of ruffling feathers,
soft hoots, and owls eating. Hermione always felt a bit safer around owls, they
did not ask anything of her but a kind stoke on the head or a little food and
in return she got an affectionate nip or a grateful hoot. Owls were easy. It
was humans that were so much trouble. She took out some parchment and scrawled
a quick note to her parents. "Dear Mum and Dad, I got an O on my
transfiguration paper last week, and am doing well in all my classes and I am feeling
fine. I hope you are well and having fun on your holiday. Love, Hermione."
Holiday, she thought grimly as she folded up the note. More like hiding out.
Unfortunately her parents had had to take a break from practicing dentistry for
their own safety and were hidden in a secret location. Only Hedwig seemed to
know where to take the letter, so she had to use her. She walked through the
rows of perches but found Hedwig's empty. She looked around, wondering whether
Harry had used her to send a letter, but she was sure Harry would have
mentioned it.
She called out for Hedwig and eventually she heard a hooting from the corner.
Hedwig obviously was in no mood to deliver any letters. She went to the corner
and found Hedwig with half an eye open, leaning on another owl. Hermione
smiled, and teased her, "Have you gotten yourself a boyfriend Hedwig?" Hedwig
opened both eyes and looked at her. The owl she was leaning against turned its
head and opened its eyes. Hermione hadn't been looking closely until that moment,
but she suddenly realized that the owl was Draco's. This was a bit of a shock,
although it shouldn't have been she chided herself. Animals are animals; they
don't care about their owner's thoughts outside of their service to them.
Draco's owl was not the same as Draco, luckily for Hedwig.
"Hedwig, I'm sorry. Would you please deliver this to my parents? They want to
know I'm okay." Hedwig hooted softly, seemingly in agreement and after Hermione
had tied the letter to her leg, she nipped Draco's eagle owl softly. She took
off out the window and Hermione turned back to Draco's owl. She stroked his
head.
"Get your mud blood hands off my owl!" Draco was standing a little inside the
doorway but began striding towards her.
"What do you think you're doing with my owl?" Hermione frowned but did not say
anything and continued to pet the owl. He had no objection. "He doesn't seem to
mind, Draco."
Draco faltered, but replied, "He might not but I do." He was standing a foot
away from her now and looking very angry. She removed her hand from the owl and
crossed her arms. Draco stayed where he was, glaring at her.
"Now what? I'm not touching him." Draco scowled and plunged his hand into his
robe but Hermione already had her wand out. She saw the fear in Draco's eyes.
"I wouldn't try it either if I were you. You might be good at the Dark Arts but
I'm still faster than you." She put her wand away and strode past him. She
didn't dare look behind her.
If she had, she would have seen Draco standing in front of his owl, shaking
slightly. Perhaps it was rage, perhaps not. He had, after all, just let a mud
blood threaten him and get off scot-free. He had also driven her away with his
temper and he wasn't sure which he was angrier about at the moment. He had to
do something about these conflicting feelings. He couldn't get her out of his
head; she was always on his mind. For seven years it had been like this. At
first it had not been so bad but after the fourth year he had realized that he
was in love with her. He denied it by persecuting her. He did hate her. He
hated the way she was always on his mind, the way she was so smart, everything.
He had worked hard to convince himself of this. He had the solution to his
problem after three years. She would be lovesick; she would be
the one who could not get him off her mind. And when she finally revealed her
feelings for him he would break her heart and he would be free of her forever.
He had been preparing all summer and he was finally ready. Tonight he would
have his revenge.
* * *
Chapter 2
Classes were fun this last year. Despite the fact that the final battle between
Voldemort and Harry was around the corner, perhaps at any moment, Hermione felt
almost happy. When this was all over she would see about setting up a post-Hogwarts
school. Muggles had universities, she reasoned, why shouldn't wizards?
McGonagall agreed that many people needed a secondary education after Hogwarts.
Meanwhile she was handing in an application to be an auror and if she did not
get accepted she would tutor per-Hogwarts students who wanted a jump on school.
Ron was also happy. She hadn't seen him so happy since they had all gone to see
the Quidditch World Cup a few years ago. He had practiced hard with Harry over
the past two summers (spent mostly at Hogwarts for their safety) and had been
offered a reserve position on the Chudley Canons. It wasn't the star position
but if he worked hard and proved himself he would soon move from the reserves
to the regular team. That combined with being appointed head boy had made him
more content than she had ever remembered him being.
He had grown to match his once over-large feet and nose. He looked remarkably
like Bill, but had retained his some of his boyish good looks. He was
attracting the attention of quite a few girls from all years. Ginny had tried
on several occasions to set him up with girls from various houses and years but
Ron wasn't interested in anyone. He had confided to her that he was seeing
Hannah Abbot and asked her to keep it a secret. Hermione agreed. It was
beneficial to them both that the rumors about them being a couple not go
challenged. Ron was free to see Hannah without bother, and Hermione was off the
market. She frowned, thinking of the time that everyone thought she had been
two-timing Harry with Viktor. What a mess that had been.
"What are you frowning about, then?" a voice came from behind her. It was
dinner time and she was seated at the Gryffindor table. It shouldn't really
have taken her by surprise, but it did. She turned and smiled at Ginny.
"Oh. Not much. Sit down." Ginny took the seat to her right, grinning.
"Is that so? Didn't look like nothing much." Hermione smiled and sighed
theatrically.
"Well, if you must know, I was thinking about Ron."
Ginny frowned suddenly, "You're not thinking of dumping him are you?" she said
in a voice loud enough that other people could hear, winking. "He'd never get
over it if you did." Hermione loved when Ginny played along. It was no only
amusing but helpful. Lavender and Parvati (who had both had their eyes on Ron
of late) were watching excitedly.
"Oh, Ginny I would never do that. I just…we'll see. I'm sure we'll work it
out." It would give them something to talk about anyway. She winked at Ginny
and Harry sat across from them.
"You two…how many times have you and Ron been on the brink of breaking up this
year?" Hermione and Ginny went through the list.
"Let's see," Ginny said pretending to think hard, "You nearly did when you got
that letter from Krum asking you to transfer." Hermione nodded,
"Yes, and when he didn't make it directly onto the Chudley Canons."
"And Harry when you stayed up all night with Hermione 'studying'." Ginny added
pointedly.
"And that time the sun came up…" Harry added grinning. Hermione laughed. Just
then Draco Malfoy had come up to sneer at them.
"Having a good laugh, Granger?" She turned, looking at the blonde boy behind
her. He leant down between her and Ginny. "I always knew you'd end up running
about with that common scum Weasley. Breaking up again are we?" Harry and Ginny
were on their feet, wands out. Hermione looked into Draco's eyes.
"Go away, Draco. I'm sure Ginny and Harry will be happy to make you if you
don't go willingly." Draco sneered.
"Hiding behind your boyfriend's sister and your ex-lover, mudblood?" This made
Hermione's blood boil, but before she could do anything a hand had grabbed
Draco's collar and pulled him away.
"Causing trouble again, Malfoy?" Ron asked. "I'll have to put you in
detention." Draco sneered and replied, "I was just leaving." He turned on his
heel and went back over to his table. No one had seen him tip the powder into
the goblet of pumpkin juice. He was grinning all the way.
Hermione sighed. He's never going to grow up, she thought. He'll
always be petty and rude and worst, a Malfoy. Harry and Ginny had put their
wands away and were now looking warily at Hermione, as if waiting for her
reaction. She smiled softly, not wanting them to think she was upset by this.
She wasn't really, having spent the fifth year summer in Grimmauld Place. It
had contained a painting with an attitude much like Malfoy's, only much more
vocal. She listened to a barrage of insults almost on a daily basis and had
become immune to them. Still, something about Malfoy did get to her. He always
came very close to her, sometimes only inches away from her face. It was like
he couldn't help himself.
Harry had suggested that he was in love with her. Hermione had questioned Harry
to no end, but she still didn't believe him. It made no sense that he was in
love with her, but would act like such a prick. Ron had readily agreed that
boys did indeed act like idiots about girls, and that it didn't make very much
sense at all. Hermione did not want to thin that they were right. Malfoy was a
selfish, perhaps violent boy. Or, really more like a man now. He had never lost
that sneering face, but was taller, leaner and well-defined. If he wore muggle
clothing, you could see the muscles under the cloth. She could feel herself
blushing. It wasn't a crime to notice his strong, muscular arms, or his broad
shoulders? Was it? She shook the thoughts out of her head, and noticed the
goblet of pumpkin juice next to her.
"Ginny, I don't much feel like eating. Have my pumpkin juice. I don't want to
waste it." Ginny looked concerned but took it. She was not going to argue.
"Are you okay Hermione?" Harry asked. She dismissed his concern away with a
wave of her hand.
"I, I'm okay Harry. I just need to be alone for a while.
"Do you want me to walk you to the tower?" Ron asked. She shook her head.
"Suddenly I'm not so hungry either." Harry announced and walked casually out of
the hall. Hermione smiled softly and excused herself, following him quickly.
She could feel the pairs of eyes on her.
As soon as she shut the door Harry grabbed a hold of her hand and pulled her
into a corridor. He pulled her into a close hug and she could feel herself
slump, her head falling onto his chest. She hadn't begun to cry yet but she
felt she would at any moment. She had been so happy and now she felt miserable.
Harry had his arms around her and was stroking her long hair. He chanced it and
pulled away from her for a moment, his hands resting on her slim shoulders.
"It's him, isn't it?" he asked, looking down slightly to see into her eyes.
Hermione could not bring herself to answer.
"Hermione?" She nodded. Harry pulled her closer to him
"It's all right. I can take care of him if you like." She sighed, tears welling
in her eyes.
"No, Harry. I don't know why he gets to me like this…" She wiped her eyes on
her sleeve. "I'm alright, really." Harry looked skeptical.
"Well, I'm going to walk you to the tower anyway and when you feel better I'll
get you some food from the kitchen."
Hermione was grateful but nonetheless her knee jerk reaction was to refuse.
Harry's eyes however, told her that he was not going to leave her until she
felt better.
"Okay," she said softly. He put his arm around her and they both walked to
Gryffindor Tower quickly. The Fat Lady looked at them both concernedly. Before
she asked them for the password she made sure Hermione was okay.
"Are you feeling all right, dear? It's not often I have a student escorting the
head girl back to the tower." Hermione appreciated the humor, and smiled.
"I'm fine, thank you," she replied and Harry said "Frogspawn," rather firmly.
He led her up to the girls' staircase and stopped there.
"Can I come up?" He asked, tentatively. She considered it.
"No, Harry. I'm sorry. I just need to puzzle things out by myself." Harry
nodded, slightly put out. She hugged him and he said,
"Remember what I've told you before Hermione. It's worth thinking about." She
sighed.
"Okay Harry, I will." Not that she gave the theory any credence personally. But
maybe there was something to the whole hate-love business. She watched Harry
sit in a chair, presumably to wait for Ron and Ginny. She walked up the stairs
and knew that her dormitory would be empty.
* * *
Chapter 3
She lay on her bed and closed her eyes. Harry had told her to think about what he
had said. What he had tried to convince her of in the past was that Draco was
in love with her. The fact that he was attracted to her and that she was a
muggle born made it worse he said. Hermione turned over and tried to sort
through things. Draco wasn't actually evil. No person was completely evil or
maybe even evil at all. Hermione did find him attractive, but who wouldn't?
When he wasn't sneering his face was soft and open.
If what Harry said was true, she wished Draco would just do something about it.
They were alone with each other on a daily basis, or at least semi-alone. He
had many a chance to pull her into a small dark hallway and tell her how he
really felt or heaven forbid, act on his feelings. Just once she'd like to feel
his arms around her or his kiss on her lips. But it didn't seem like it was
ever going to happen without something drastic happening. Just then she heard a
knock on the door.
"Hermione?" It was Ginny.
"Come in," she called. Ginny walked in with a plate of fish and chips. She had
the grace to save Hermione some dinner and Hermione was grateful.
"Thank you Ginny. I'm starving." Hermione took the plate and began to eat.
Ginny sat down next to her, seemingly waiting for something more.
"Is everything okay Ginny?" Hermione asked between mouthfuls. Ginny seemed
relieved to have been asked the question.
"I know that this is going to sound insane, but…" Hermione waited. Ginny was
actually turning the flaming Weasley red that matched her hair. Hermione waited
patiently. Ginny really was horribly embarrassed which was not a common state
of mind for her.
"Ginny?" She took a deep breath and mumbled something. Hermione waited again.
"I didn't hear you."
"I said that…I'm in love with Draco." She turned and buried her face in her hands.
"I never even realized until tonight, but I do. I do so much that it hurts when
I see him walk past. It hurts so much that I want to cry."
Hermione would have fallen over if she hadn't been sitting down. She knew
exactly how that felt. Something about this didn't seem right. Justin and Ginny
were getting on so well. Why would Ginny have begun to date Justin if she
really felt that way about Draco? She shrugged mentally. Why does anyone do
anything? Because. So often, the reason for things boils down to "because". She
sighed. Ginny seemed mortified.
"I'm insane aren't I?" she asked.
"No Ginny. He's very attractive, after all. I just don't think it could ever
work. He hates muggles and anyone who associates with them. It's about as
likely that he would date me." Ginny sighed.
"I suppose so. But I want him so much it hurts. My heart feels like it's going
to be torn to pieces when I look at him." Hermione nodded. She knew that
feeling too.
"Well Ginny, the best thing to do is to tell him. If it won't work you can go
back to Justin, and if it will, well…" But this did not seem to comfort Ginny.
"Oh, Hermione no! I'd die if he rejected me. I can't tell him."
"Well then, love and be silent is the best you can do. I'm sure if he feels the
same way he'll do something about it." Not bloody likely, of course. Ginny
seemed happy enough with that response. She came over and hugged Hermione.
"Thanks. I feel better just getting it off my chest. Are you okay?" Hermione
smiled.
"I'm fine Ginny. Now go spend some time with your friends, take your mind off
Draco. I'm going to bed early."
Ginny wished her goodnight and shut the door quietly behind her. All Hermione
could think was that this situation was not right. Usually when she was dating
someone she announced it publicly, she had never been so shy about boys before.
Draco was something else though. He certainly damn well was. He had better not
be leading Ginny on out of cruelty either, or she hand her wand would have
something to say about it. And Ron and Harry. Oh no, Ron and Harry. Ron would
almost assuredly fly off the handle and Harry…She wasn't sure what Harry would
do, but if Draco was out to hurt Ginny she could imagine it wouldn't be very
nice. She lay back down again. Draco was such a puzzle. A bastardly, gorgeous
puzzle. She would watch tomorrow and see how he treated Ginny. Then maybe she
could get to the bottom of this whole mess. She lay awake for some time
thinking about Draco and after an hour or so she fell asleep, the empty plate
on her bedside table vanishing quietly as she began to snore softly. Someone
pulled a blanket over her as she slept, and she awoke in the morning with the
strange feeling that Draco had been in her room. He was smiling at her. It had
just been a dream, though. There was no way Draco could get into Gryffindor
Tower, let alone into the dormitory via the stairs. And the fireplace hadn't
been used. It was just a dream, she thought. But it was a nice dream.
* * *
Chapter 4
Ron was in a good mood at breakfast and was sitting over at the prefect's table
with Hannah. He waved at Hermione, who preferred to sit at the Gryffindor table
these days. Harry came down just after Hermione and sat tentatively next to
her.
"How do you feel?" he asked, as if she had been suffering from a mild fever the
previous night.
"I feel good, thank you." She began to eat her breakfast as did Harry.
"Are you coming to Hogsmeade?" Harry asked with a mouth full of bacon. He was
so amazingly charming. It was a wonder she hadn't ever considered dating him,
Hermione thought. She shook her head in response. Hermione had planned to fill
her weekend with the Arithmancy paper that was due the next week, and various
other homeworks. Hogsmeade had become almost boring. She did hand Harry a
galleon and asked him to pick up something from Honeydukes for her. She
couldn't work all Saturday with no reward, after all. Ginny came and sat
opposite them.
"What about you Ginny?" Harry asked.
"What about me what?" she asked, her head inclining towards the prefect table.
There was no sign of Draco but Hermione knew she was checking for him.
"About coming to Hogsmeade?" he asked, slightly surprised. Ginny was generally
wont to go with a gaggle of girl friends.
"Hm? Oh, no, I don't think I'll go this time," she said vaguely. Harry looked
over at Hermione who shrugged. She wasn't going to make any explanation.
"Well I guess it's just Ron and me then." Harry said almost sadly.
"I'm sorry Harry. I have that huge Arithmancy paper due."
"It's okay. There's nothing very much in Hogsmeade now anyway. We promised Fred
and George that we'd check out the stuff at Zonko's." Hermione smiled. Fred and
George were doing remarkably well for two teenage boys with their own prank
shop. Not that they were rich, but they were making enough to pay the rent and
had a little left over for saving and research. They were really geniuses in
their own right.
"I'm glad you gave then that start Harry. They
really needed it." Hermione said. Just then she saw Ginny staring at the
prefects table and noticed that Draco was sitting there. She was staring raptly
at him, as if there was nothing else in the world. Harry looked at Hermione
confusedly. She looked back. It really was true then, she was completely in
love with him. She watched Draco sit down. He noticed her and grinned. Ginny
turned around, turning pink. She looked at Hermione, her eyes wide open.
Hermione knew that the grin had been for her. Was it a triumphant grin? If so
he had been leading Ginny on, on purpose. This made her doubly angry.
There was an uncomfortable silence and after a while there was a call for the
students traveling to Hogsmeade. Harry got up and bade them farewell. Ginny was
sneaking glances at Draco, who seemed absorbed in bragging to Pansy Parkinson
about something. Hermione did not know how to feel. She decided instead go to
the library to start her Arithmancy paper.
She watched Ginny who was still looking at Draco. Draco definitely looked at
her again, but this time he seemed annoyed. Then again he always looked annoyed
so it was probably nothing to be worried about. She made her way to the
library, found an empty table buried deep within the library. She could find
some peace from other people at least.
* * *
Chapter 5
After four hours she was done with most of the research for the Arithmancy
paper and some of her homework. She realized that Harry and Ron would be back
in a couple of hours. She sighed and wondered what Ginny had been doing. She
didn't have to wait very long to find out. Draco came stalking into her little
cove looking very angry. He hadn't looked behind him and he was being very loud
and Hermione decided to ask,
"What do you want?" Draco whirled around quickly and hissed at her to be quiet.
He muttered a few words and ducked into the invisibility section just across
the way. Just then Ginny came up looking concerned. Bloody hell, Hermione
thought to herself.
"Have you seen Draco?" Hermione did not want to think about her motivation for
her answer but later she suspected that it was out of a kind of rival
selfishness.
"No. Why?" Hermione managed to keep a straight face. Ginny's face, however,
fell.
"I just…I saw him come in here that was all." Hermione nodded.
"Well, maybe he went out while you weren't looking?" Ginny seemed satisfied
with this explanation.
"I did wait a bit to come in here, being so nervous." Hermione looked up from
her homework.
"Are you following him Ginny?" She shook her head.
"Not exactly, just I saw him come this way and..." There was a noise from the
invisibility section and Hermione coughed quickly.
"Excuse me, I have a little cough. It must be all the dust in here." She shot a
glare into the invisibility section. Ginny was nervously making to go.
"I'll go and um...do my homework, I think." Ginny said. Hermione nodded.
"I think that's a wonderful idea. I'll let you know if I see Draco around."
Ginny practically ran out of the library, obviously planning to track down
Draco. After she was gone she signaled for Draco to come out. He came out
grumbling and looked at her grudgingly.
"Thanks, Granger." He said sourly and started to walk away. Hermione however,
was having none of that. She stood up with her wand out.
"Oh, no. You're not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell is going on
with Ginny." He turned around, much to her surprise.
"What is going in with that muggle-lover is that she's been following me around
all day. It's disgusting." Hermione let the anger wash over her and when it
ebbed away she composed herself.
"Well it didn't happen over night Draco. You've been leading her on." He
actually had the decency to look shocked.
"I would never!" Hermione wasn't convinced.
"You bloody well have, she told me last night!" Draco was not sure why he cared
about proving that he hadn't to Hermione, after all it would only lead to the
truth. Which couldn't possibly turn out well.
"I bloody well have not!" They were beginning to raise their voices and Madam
Pince was heading over to them. She very quietly told them to get out or be
quiet on pain of death. Hermione quickly scooped her homework into her bag and
left, arguing again with him as soon as they got out of the library.
"Prove it Draco. Because forgive me, but I have this strange desire to not
believe you." This hurt Draco more than he had expected. They both turned into
a smaller more private hallway. There was an open class room which Draco
grabbed her robe's sleeve and pulled her into. Hermione was surprised and
pulled away from him immediately.
"You want to know what's going on?" He asked.
"Yes!" Hermione practically screamed. Draco turned away from her and walked
towards the window. He put his hands on the windowsill and gripped it. She
could tell that he had something important to say. He whirled around.
"It's all your fault! If you had just drunk the damn pumpkin juice it would
have been you!" Hermione was gob smacked as Draco turned back to the window
fuming. She leant back on the wall for support. She wasn't sure what she had
just heard. He had slipped something into her pumpkin juice? Something that
would have made her become obsessed with Draco? He was still facing the window,
not able to look at her.
"You…you tried to charm me?" She was both shocked and disgusted, but right now
she was more shocked.
"Yes." Draco said softly. She could see he was gripping the windowsill. He was
very upset.
"But…why? What the hell for? To torture me?" Draco's head hung and she knew she
had hit a nerve. She was right. He had been in love with her; he was in love
with her. And that was his insanely twisted way of getting back at her for her
non-existent torture of him. She sighed and got up from her position against
the wall. She walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He turned
around and brushed it off angrily.
"Don't do that. You love me." Draco tried to deny it. But he couldn't. Here she
was again, so close. Also, she didn't seem to be killing him. Or storming out
of the room. Yet he was still reacting with anger which always bad. It always
drove her away. And, still, here she was.
"I. Yes." He looked at her tentatively. She didn't look angry. Or sound angry.
In fact she looked quite calm.
"You idiot…" Hermione sighed.
"You…you're not angry?" He asked.
"I am. But right now you have to fix what you did to Ginny. We can talk about
us later." Us. She was using the word us. What on earth was she thinking?
"You didn't happen to sneak into my dormitory room last night?" Hermione asked.
"Yes I did." Hermione nodded.
"Do you mind telling me how you did?" Draco shook his head. He pulled out his
wand and transformed himself into a small black mouse. Hermione picked him up
in one hand.
"It's small wonder you didn't get eaten by Mrs. Norris, you know." She set
mouse-Draco down and he changed back. She stood with her arms folded. He dusted
himself off and turned to face her.
"I would have but I was human up until I snuck in with some students I found
wandering around past bedtime. When they weren't looking I changed and snuck
through the portrait hole and into you room." Hermione nodded. He continued,
"Crookshanks was luckily out, or he would have eaten me for sure." Hermione
smiled.
"He's a good cat. Now, what did you put in my goblet?" Hermione asked matter of
factly.
"It's a fairly advanced potion." He pulled a piece of parchment on which he had
scrawled a list of ingredients and some instructions. She took the parchment
and looked over it.
"This is from Most Potente Potions. Where did you get permission to get it out
of the library?"
"I didn't. It's from my family's library." Of course it was. She was betting
that it was still there.
"You didn't bring it with you did you?"
"No. I'm sorry." Hermione sighed.
"We'll just have to go back to the library after hours, then. I'll meet you in
front of the Great Hall after I've done the rounds. You can change into a mouse
and carry you with me in my invisibility cloak."
"Invisibility cloak? Where did you get one of those?" Hermione shrugged.
"Moody had an extra one. He gave it to me because he didn't really need it
anymore." Draco nodded.
"Oh. All right. I'll see you then." He positively
fled the room, Hermione thought.
* * *
Chapter 6
Hermione made her way to the Great Hall in her invisibility cloak undetected.
She looked about for Draco, and realized that he was halfway up a statue, and Mrs.
Norris was trying desperately trying to get at him. In her cloak she kicked the
cat gently, and it took off, presumably heading to get Filch. Hermione quickly
put the mouse in her jeans pocket and head off in the opposite direction for
the library. Filch didn't catch up with them.
When they got into the library Hermione took off the cloak and took Draco out
of her pocket. She set him down on the floor and he changed back. He had
dressed in muggle clothing, Hermione was surprised to see. They both began to
head to the restricted section. Hermione was the first to find it, having
checked it out before for the polyjuice potion.
Draco found the page quickly. It was obvious that he had considered using it
many times before. Hermione read exactly what the potion was designed to do.
The potionee would love the potioner as if he or she was the only person they
had ever loved. Also, until the antidote was administered the spell could not
be broken.
She looked at him and he looked away, ashamed. Which he deserved to be. The
catch about the spell was that it would only work if there was some tiny bit of
feeling in the potionee for it to expand. That meant that Ginny at least liked
him a little bit. It seemed that Draco knew this too. She hoped that made him
feel even worse. She scribbled down the recipe for the antidote, and snapped
the book shut. Draco went and put it back.
"I'll make the antidote and give it to Ginny tomorrow." Draco looked confused.
"Don't you want my help?" he asked. Hermione looked at him sternly.
"Don't you think you've done enough?" Draco looked away again.
"I know this is all my fault. That's why I want to fix it." Draco was taking
responsibility for something. Maybe he did have a heart. Hermione sighed and
looked at him.
"I mean, let me do it. I'll have a better chance to give it to her. If I'm
lucky I can still give this to her tonight." She checked her watch.
"It's only 8. I can have this done at 10 if I hurry." Draco looked surprised.
"Where are you going to get the ingredients?" She hesitated. Should she tell
him? It couldn't do any harm.
"There's a room here, called the Room of Requirements. It will have whatever I
need inside it." Draco was amazed.
"Will you show me?" Hermione wasn't sure she could. It was enough that she had
told him about it. But she would need some help with the potion. The faster
everything was ready for the potion the better.
"All right. Change into a mouse and I'll take you." She out the parchment in
one pocket and Draco in the other tossed the invisibility cloak over herself
and headed towards the Room of Requirements. She passed in front of it three
times, concentrating on the ingredients that she would need for the antidote
and when she opened the door there was a rather advanced looking potion set.
Again she set Draco down as she shut the door behind her. He changed back.
"I wondered what happened to the DA room," he said, half to himself. Hermione
pulled out the parchment and sat it down, trying not to remember the time that
they had all been caught in here by the Inquisitorial Squad of High Inquisitor
at the time Professor Umbridge. Draco looked around.
"It looks really different than when I was last in here."
"Mmm." Hermione said. She really didn't want to think about any of that right
now. She just wanted to undo the damage Draco had done. He came over and began
to watch.
"Could you get some of the ingredients ready please Draco? I'd like to get this
over with as soon as possible." Draco looked a little hurt and Hermione didn't
care. He had gotten himself into this mess and she was having to get him out of
it. But she had volunteered to help. She hadn't even gotten to yell at him for
the whole crazy idea to begin with, and she was still angry. Draco began to
silently chop roots, grind herbs, and soon the ingredients were ready. Hermione
added them all to the liquid and they watched it turn purple. After fifteen
minutes the potion was finished simmering and all the liquid had evaporated,
leaving a powder. Hermione transferred it into a small pouch and put it in her
pocket. It was 9:15. Ginny would still be up.
"Are we finished?" Draco asked.
"Yes. I have to get back and give this to Ginny. She must be dying inside."
"Before you take me back will you tell me how the room works?" Hermione sighed.
He'd figure it out, he already knew where it was and how she had gotten in it.
"You walk past it three times concentrating on what you need to get, or have in
there. And when you open the door it will be there."
"Thanks, Hermione." He changed back into a mouse for the last time and Hermione
again put on the cloak. She let him out and he changed back to Draco at the
Great Hall. He whispered one last thank you as she walked away.
* * *
Chapter 7
Hermione took the cloak off once in her room and magicked up 2 glasses of hot
chocolate. She put the antidote in both, so whichever Ginny chose it would cure
her. She made her way down to the common room and sought out Ginny, who was
looking like Death warmed over. She sat next to her and handed her some cocoa.
Ginny barely seemed to feel it pressed into her hand.
"Ginny?"
"Hm?" Hermione sighed. She shook Ginny's shoulders. It didn't work. Draco had
really gone too far, this spell was like you were going into withdrawal. She
sighed again and risked it.
"Draco told me to give this to you." Ginny immediately perked up.
"Really?" Hermione felt like crying. She pressed the cup into Ginny's hand
again.
"Yes, Ginny." Ginny took the mug weakly and sipped on it. Immediately the color
began to ebb back into her face. She seemed to wake up.
"Hermione?" She smiled.
"Hey Ginny. How do you feel?"
"I feel…tired. I feel really weak." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. That
was one of the signs that the antidote had worked.
"Do you want me to take you up to your room?" Ginny looked around.
"Yes. Yes I think I would."
Hermione wrapped her arm around Ginny's shoulders and led her to her dormitory.
She watched Ginny go in and crash on the bed. She shut the door and cast a
silencing spell over it, so Ginny would sleep off the spell reasonably
undisturbed. Hermione was tired too and she head up to her own room. She shut
the door and crashed on her own bed. She slipped her hand under the pillow to
pull it closer and felt a letter under her pillow. She pulled it out and
unfolded it.
It was the same scrawl as the list for the original bastard potion Draco had
tried to use on her. It said, "Meet me in the Room of Requirements at eleven."
She looked at her watch. It was 10:30.
She went to the bathroom and took a quick shower and changed into her brown
pajamas that so nicely brought out her blue eyes. Whatever Draco wanted it
better not take too long. She just wanted to sleep. She put on the cloak for
what felt like the hundredth time that night and set out for the room. When she
got there the door was already there. It had something weird carved into it,
some kind of flower. She pushed the door open and was amazed as she walked in.
There were peach colored roses everywhere. Vines of them grew all over the
walls and entwined into what looked like a bed. When she looked closer the bed
frame was made of intricate metal roses. She heard the door shut quietly behind
her and she turned around. Draco was there, holding a bunch of red roses which
he handed to her. Hermione was overwhelmed. She did not know what to say. She
stood there clutching at the roses, for how long she could not say. Eventually
Draco reached out and lay them on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her,
pulling her closer.
"You know the worst thing my mother ever told me?" Draco asked.
"No, what?"
"Love, and be silent."
* * * * *
Author's Note: This is dedicated to my very own Draco, Daniel, who
convinced me this relationship was meant to be in the first place. Also, I know
that the canon says Hermione's eyes are brown, but I don't find it a big issue.
Also I apologize for the abruptness, I had a lot of college work and I had no
time to work on this. My apologies to my valentine. I hope I did a passable job
in only a few days. Love to everyone, especially the mods who asked me to
participate.
* * * * *
The following fic is in response to Fic Request #70 which stated the
following conditions:
Rating(s) of the Fic: PG-13, R
3-5 Things to Include in the Fic:
1. Happy!Ron, maybe in his own relationship
2. A spell gone wrong
3. Draco's eagle owl/Hedwig
4. Set seventh year
5. Begin at the beginning, with Hr and D loathing each other
What Not to Include in the Fic:
death, rape and other obvious angst devices, fanon!Draco, 'Mione Granga (beauty
queen/punk hermione)