Save Me from Myself
Disclaimer: You know the deal. JK Rowling owns all Harry Potter characters and such. I only own the plot.
Opening Comments: Well, here it is, the next chapter. I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter. I hope you all enjoy this one. Thanks again to all my reviewers!
Chapter Four: Scary Revolutions and the New Defense Teacher
Hermione was sitting in the Great Hall with Harry and Ron. She was smiling and laughing, but she really didn't feel like it. The whole thing with Draco the night before had continued bugging her. Suddenly, Ginny burst into the Great Hall and sat down beside Harry.
"Guess who the new Defense teacher is!" she said excitedly.
"Who?" they all asked.
"I'm not going to tell you. But, it's a way cool teacher."
"Tell us, Ginny," pleaded Harry.
"Nope. Sorry. When do you all have it?"
"Right after lunch," replied Hermione.
"Well, then, I would get there early." She was smiling giddily.
The Golden Trio shrugged and got up to leave. Harry kissed Ginny's cheek before they left. They walked down to the classroom talking about who their teacher might be. When they walked into the classroom, their jaws dropped to the floor.
"You're the new Defense teacher?" Harry asked laughing.
"And why is that funny?" asked none other than Sirius Black.
"It's not," laughed Ron.
"Okay, I'll admit, I laughed myself when Dumbledore came to me about it."
"What do you think?" asked Hermione.
"It's interesting. I keep writing Moony, asking him for advice."
"Well, I'm sure you're an excellent teacher. Ginny seems to think so," encouraged Hermione.
"Thanks. You know, though, that you all have to call me Professor when others are around."
The Golden Trio almost fell to the floor, doubled up with laughter. Sirius laughed and grabbed Harry by the belt-loop of his pants and held him in the air. Everyone couldn't stop laughing. Harry looked really funny hanging there.
The bell rang and they all calmed themselves before the others walked into the class. Everyone else was just as shocked as Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been. Luckily, Gryffindors were the only ones in there. Every Gryffindor had known that Sirius was innocent before anyone else because Harry had told them.
The class was great. Sirius really was an excellent teacher. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had to control themselves from laughing hysterically when they called him, "Professor," though. Hermione was really glad that Sirius was there. He had become like a father to her in some ways over the years. He and Lupin seemed to genuinely care about what she said, and what happened to her.
After class was over, Sirius asked Hermione to stay after.
"Hermione, can we talk about something?" he asked sitting at a desk beside her.
"Sure. What would you like to talk about?"
"You," he stated simply.
"I don't understand," she said, though that was a lie.
Sirius sighed, "Dumbledore talked to me this morning. He told me about last night."
"He did?" she asked, looking at the floor.
"Yes. I'm really concerned."
"I'm sorry."
He lifted her chin. "Don't be sorry. I just want you to know that I am here if you need someone to talk to. I know what family problems are like."
"Are you angry?"
"Why on earth would I be angry?"
"I don't know. Some people get really angry about stuff like that. Wait. You won't tell Harry or Ron about this, will you?"
"Not if you don't want me to. If you want to keep this between us, then that's the way it will be. You know, Dumbledore is trying to find a way to take you out of your house."
"He's doing that for me?" she asked, incredulous.
"Yes. He doesn't want you there anymore, and neither do I. We aren't sure what to do yet, but we are thinking of something."
"Thank you, Sirius."
"You're like family, kid. That's what a real family does. Remember, I'm here if you want to talk."
"Ok."
"Do you have any other classes that I need to write you a pass for?"
"Yea. I have Transfiguration."
"Ah. Okay. Well, we don't want you to be any later."
Sirius wrote her a pass and gave her a small hug. It was kind of a fatherly or big brotherly hug. Hermione walked to her Transfiguration class. McGonagall read the note and then sent Hermione to her seat.
That class was dedicated to turning tables into cats or dogs. Hermione, as always, did the best. Once, she saw Draco looking at her. When she looked at him, he quickly turned his head away.
Draco looked up when Hermione walked in the room. She seemed to be doing better that day, but he wasn't sure whether or not it was an act. He was really tired. He had spent all last night trying to figure out what the heck was going on with him. When he came to the only plausible conclusion, he literally slapped himself.
Draco watched as some of her sleek hair fell into her face. He watched her brush it back behind her ear. When she turned and looked at him, he hurriedly looked away. He was planning on talking to her later in the evening.
He couldn't help but watch her. The conclusion he came to last night was scary and confusing, but with each passing moment, he knew that it was correct. Of course that made everything even scarier. And then there was the fact that he was dealing with it pretty well. It was enough to make him crazy.
But he had to tell her what was going on. After all, she had asked him to. That, and if he didn't, it would kill him because it would be hard living with her without accidentally letting it slip at an inopportune time. His head was racing with everything. It took all he had to concentrate through class.
When class ended, he practically ran out of the classroom. He was so nervous that he decided to skip dinner and go straight up to the common room.
Hermione had noticed that Draco was acting weirder than usual. He seemed over the edge. He didn't even go to dinner. Hermione looked up at the teachers' table and saw that Sirius was actually there. He looked at her and smiled reassuringly. She smiled back, but wasn't very real about it.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny must have noticed that something was really bothering her.
"Hermione, are you okay? You haven't been yourself today," Harry commented, concerned.
"I'm fine, Harry. Thanks."
"No you aren't," Ginny said. "You've definitely not been yourself. I mean, look at you. You haven't been eating much and you hardly participate in class anymore. Well, that's what I hear anyway."
"You guys, I swear, I'm fine. I've just got a lot on my mind."
"You know, you can tell us anything, 'Mione," Ron said.
"Yeah, I know. Listen, I'm really tired. I'll talk to you all tomorrow."
"You sure?" Harry asked.
"I'm sure." Hermione got up and hugged her friends. She gave one last look at the teacher table and walked out of the Great Hall. She knew she should tell her friends, but it was hard. She glumly walked back to the common room. Draco was asleep on the couch when she walked in.
What do you know? He actually looks peaceful. She saw his headphones on the floor and picked them up. She put them on.
Hey Dad, look at me
Think back and talk to me
Did I grow up according to
Your plans?
And do you think I'm
Wastin' my time
Doin' things I wanna do
But it hurts when you
Disapprove all along
And now I try hard
To make it
I just want to make
You proud
I'm never gonna be
Good enough for you
I can't pretend that I'm
All right.
And you can't change me
Cause we've lost it all
Nothin' lasts forever
I'm sorry I can't be
Perfect
Now it's just too late
And we can't go back
I'm sorry I can't be
Perfect
I try not to think
About the pain I feel inside
Did you know you used
To be my hero?
All the days you spent with me
Now it seems so far away
And it feels like you don't
Care anymore.
And now I try hard to make it
I just wanna make you
Proud
I'm never gonna be good enough
For you
I can't stand another fight
And nothing's all right
Cause we've lost it all
And nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry I can't be
Perfect
Now it's just too late
And we can't go back
I'm sorry I can't be
Perfect
Nothing's gonna change
The things that you said
And nothing's gonna
Make this right again
Please don't turn your back
I can't believe it's hard
Just to talk to you
But you don't understand
Cause we lost it all
And nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry I can't be
Perfect
Now it's just too late
And we can't go back
I'm sorry I can't be
Perfect
Cause we lost it all
And nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry I can't be
Perfect
Now it's just too late
And we can't go back
I'm sorry I can't be
Perfect ("Perfect" By: Simple Plan)
Hermione listened to the song and looked at the boy who was her enemy. The song was on repeat, so it had to mean that he felt that way about his own father. Hermione set the headphones back on the floor and looked at Draco's sleeping form. His shirt was unbuttoned to reveal his chest.
Hermione watched as his chest rose and fell with the rhythm of his deep breathing. She felt guilty about having to wake him, but he would have a crick in his neck in the morning if he didn't sleep in his own bed. Of course, she wasn't sure why she even cared.
"Draco," she said softly.
Nothing.
"Draco," she said a little louder, and tapped him on the shoulder.
He just rolled over.
"Draco," she said right in his ear.
"What?" he jumped.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just thought you would be more comfortable in your bed."
"Oh." He rubbed his eyes. "Thanks."
"It's not a big deal. I didn't see you at dinner. Are you okay?" she sat down beside him.
"Fine. I was just tired, that's all."
"Okay. Well, I guess I'm going upstairs. I'll see you in the morning." Hermione got up to leave. Draco grabbed her hand.
"Wait. There's…um…there's something I need to talk to you about," he said very nervously.
"Listen, I don't want to talk about the other night. I just want to forget about it," she said, looking at the couch.
"It's only slightly about that. It's really more got to do with what you said to me."
"What I said to you? Listen, I'm sorry if I-." He put a hand on her mouth.
"Just stop. Let me talk. This is hard enough without you babbling," he said softly, taking his hand away from her mouth. "Do you remember when you asked me why I helped you?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well, I told you I didn't know. But, I've been doing a lot of thinking. And I think I know now."
"What is it?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Are you sure you want to hear this?" he asked.
She nodded her head shakily.
"Well, the thing is, Hermione. I-the thing is…"
Closing Comments: I know, I'm terrible. I love cliff-hangers. LOL. Of course, you really smart people have probably figured it out already. Well, I promise to update soon. Please R&R! This chappy was updated thanks to some people who pointed out my terrible artist error. So sorry!