14.
Hermione was shaken, she didn't really know what to answer him. On one side, she knew that he had done the best thing in order to save Pansy from a painful death but to arrive at the point of killing her!
She then thought what he said about not having problems to see other people suffering. Had he changed? Or was he still the same cold guy?
She cleared her throat "Draco, you said that you wanted other people to suffer and that you didn't care about them dying. Do you still feel the same way?"
He shook his head "No. I still have to do these things but I find it very painful both because it is not right and because it reminds me what I suffered by the Death Eaters' hands."
She took a deep breath "Draco, I would lie if I tell you now that I understand the way you behaved. In your situation, I don't know what I would have done. I think that it's admirable that you tried to save Pansy. But I need a bit of time to clear my head."
He lowered his head. He had gambled and he had lost. She would never look at him in the same way. Hell, he didn't look at himself the same way after he did all that horrible things.
She felt his sadness and she put her hands on his ones. "Draco, I'm not rejecting you and I haven't said that I don't want to be with you. I just need a bit of time to think it over. I definitely still care for you and I still want to marry you."
He raised his head and looked in her eyes. She was sincere! She was looking at him with a tentative smile but in her eyes, he didn't see dislike. Just sadness, the same feeling he had.
He then stood up "Take your time Hermione, I need to take a walk. We will speak soon then?"
She nodded and smiled at him but when he left she run in her room and cried. She was crying for him, for Pansy, for Harry and maybe even for herself. It was a difficult situation and she didn't know what to think or feel anymore.
Draco exited their common room and he felt that he needed fresh air. Maybe he could go to the Quidditch pitch and fly. Yes, it was a good idea. Flying was the only thing that could calm and relax him.
When he approached the pitch with his broom in his hand, he was surprised that there was someone else already flying. Harry Potter. Great! Of all the people he could meet, Harry bloody Potter was the least welcomed.
Harry, for similar reasons to Draco's ones, had decided to fly and to try to clear his mind about Hermione. When he saw Malfoy in the pitch he smirked. Perfect! No one was around at the moment, he got down from his broom and approached the blonde wizard.
"Malfoy! Just the person I wanted to see." Harry spoke in a cold and dangerous tone.
Draco eyed the other wizard "What do you want Potter? I've got no time for your insults at the moment. I just want to fly so if you have finished flying just leave me alone."
Harry got even angrier and swiftly took out his wand. Draco seeing the movement took out his one too.
"Malfoy, I don't know how you did it but Hermione fell for your lies. Now I want to settle this thing once for all. You leave her alone, withdraw your offer and I won't hurt you." Harry said calmly.
Draco snorted "As if I could be scared of you Potter! Hermione has made her choice, don't worry I will treat her well. I may even think about you on our first night together."
At Malfoy's words Harry lost it "Crucio!" Draco was quick enough to move out of the curse. "Well, well, well. Saint Potter is not so goody-goody two-shoes after all. But I guess you will have to try harder if you want to get me."
Draco didn't have any intention to duel with him. He hated Potter but Scarhead was Hermione's friend. He was trying so hard to conquer her and he knew that if he hurt Potter, he could kiss her goodbye.
"What Malfoy, too scared to fight back?" shouted Harry. He couldn't understand why Malfoy wasn't answering his curses.
"Potter, I don't want to duel with you. Hermione would not like it. I hate you but I care for her." Said Draco. He was surprised by his admission, probably it was still the effect of having confided in Hermione that night.
Harry watched his opponent "Good try Malfoy, but the day I will believe that you care for her, it will be the day hell freezes over. Rictusempra!"
Draco again avoided the curse and didn't fight back. "Potter, let's do it in a DADA lesson. In front of everyone. I won't fight with you tonight, I already told you."
Harry was angered and surprised, why was Malfoy behaving in this way? And then it clicked. The fact that Hermione hadn't received any offer from any member of the order. Her acceptance of his proposal and Snape's favouritism to Malfoy.
"You are on the side of the light!" Harry shouted incredulously.
Draco watched realisation downing on his nemesis' face. He laughed then "It took you long enough to realise it, Potter."
"Why?" it was the only word Harry said.
Draco sighed, not another confession. He had come here to be alone and to fly and instead he was almost duelling with Potter and admitting to be a spy.
"Listen Potter. I'm not in the mood for friendly conversation. I'm here to fly so if you really want to go on annoying me, let's do a challenge. I will get the snitch and we see who's gonna get it. What do you say?"
Harry thought about it. And then he nodded. "All right Malfoy. But we will put a bet on it. If I win you tell me all the story and if you win, what do you want?"
Draco smirked "If I win you will support Hermione and Ginny's decisions on both me and Blaise." Harry was surprised once again by his nemesis' offer but he accepted.
They shook hands and then after getting the snitch, they started their challenge.
From the shadows down in the pitch, the Potion Master smirked. Malfoy had handled the situation very well. He was proud of him and Hermione could sleep peacefully, her future husband and her best friend were going to patch up things somehow.
He then left for the meeting in Dumbledore's office. Tonight, Blaise and Miss Weasley were going to either accept or refuse his offer. He knew deep down that troubles would pop up for them. He was very concerned about the Dark Lord's interest in Virginia.
When Severus arrived in Albus' office, the two young wizards were already there, sitting and sipping tea. When Albus saw Severus he smiled "Ah Severus, take a sit please. We were waiting for you."
Severus smirked "Sorry about my delay. I had a business to take care of." Albus nodded and then asked "is everything all right?"
Severus nodded as well "I believe that it will be. So, have you decided?" he then asked turning his attention to Blaise and Ginny.
The couple looked at each other and then Balise spoke "Yes, we have decided to accept the offer. I will be a Death Eater and Ginny will spy with me."
Albus lost the twinkle in his eyes "Thank you, Mr Zabini and Miss Weasley. I'm sorry that I have to ask you this immense sacrifice. I believe that you will have to organise meetings with Severus. He will teach you how to lie convincingly to Riddle."
Ginny was listening carefully and she knew as well that she didn't need lessons. She wasn't going to lie to Tom anyway. He had called her, in her dreams, last night again. She could hear him whispering to go and see him. He told her that he missed her and that he couldn't wait to see her again.
She hadn't told anyone about it but before leaving to meet Tom she would speak with Hermione. She wanted someone who could understand her pain and dilemma. She was called out of her reverie when she saw that Blaise and Severus were standing up.
"Me and Blaise will continue to talk in my office Albus. I will let you talk with Miss Weasley." Said Severus.
Blaise kissed his girlfriend goodbye and left with the Potion Master.
Ginny was left facing the Headmaster. Albus looked at her and then he said "Anything you want to talk about Virginia? Any question?"
She smiled at him "I would like to know how you will tell my family. Ron is still not speaking with me and my mother sent me an owler last week."
Albus sighed "Well, I was thinking that if it's possible we could keep it a secret."
Ginny was surprised "I believed that you were going to tell them. Do I have to lie to my family?" she looked upset, but she knew that she was already lying to everyone. It didn't matter much to her.
Albus sighed again "Virginia, you will be a spy and nobody but me, Severus and Balise will know what you do. So I guess we could keep it between us. I promise you that if anyone from your family rises any problem I will tell them. What do you say?"
She seemed thinking a bit about it and then she nodded "Ok, we won't tell them. Now if it's all, may I leave? I'm a bit tired."
Albus nodded and smiled to her "Yes, you may leave. I will see you soon Virginia."
As soon as she left, a frown appeared on Albus' face. "Fawkes, have you felt the dark aura around her? I hope that I'm wrong to feel that she is not what she wants us to believe she is."
Fawkes sang as to confirm Albus' fears and to try to support the old Headmaster.
AN: Thanks for reading. Next chapter, Harry and Draco's challenge and Ginny's confession to Hermione.