The Price to Pay for Loving a Dragon

By Lemust

Chapter 5- Do You Love Me?

Hermione silently rocked herself back and forth, wondering how she was ever going to survive the night. She felt things constantly crawling up her spine, and then trickle back down her leg. She screamed the entire night, wondering what had she ever done to deserve this kind of hell?

Thoughts of Draco then drifted back into her mind. 'It's not his fault!' she kept telling herself. But as she thought of all the reasons as to why she was here, it all limited it to down to him.

'I still love him!' she told herself. But at that time, it didn't really matter. What she wanted to do was go home. Yet, most of all, she wanted to see him. She missed him so much. Hermione remembered another time when they had been so comfortable, finding solace in one another's arms.

It was about ten minutes before she was supposed to meet Draco one night, and Hermione still hadn't worked up the courage to talk to Harry about the invisibility cloak. She wasn't supposed to go up to the boy's dormitory, but she seriously doubted that Professor McGonagall would catch her. It wasn't like Professor McGonagall would be there, either.

She tiptoed out of her room and down the staircase. She traversed the common room and started up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. Once she reached the top, she slowly opened the door. 'Which one is Harry?' She wondered. It was awfully dark in the room. She finally saw his glasses laying on a nightstand by one of the beds. Very quietly, went to his side and shook him awake. He sat up with a start.

"Who is it?" he asked sleepily.

"It's me, Hermione. I need a favor."

"At this hour? You're not even supposed to be in here." He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Hermione tapped him on the shoulder.

"Yes, I know. Listen; can I borrow your invisibility cloak? It's just for tonight." Harry mumbled something that she couldn't understand very well. It sounded something like, "What is it with girls?" but Hermione couldn't be sure. He reached underneath his bed and drew out the silver material.

"Be careful with it," he whispered to her. "Where are you going, anyway?"

"I will, thank you Harry!" She kissed him on the cheek and ran down the stairs, clutching the invisibility cloak. Harry stared after her, bewildered that she hadn't answered his question. What was she up to? He had to know. If Hermione was doing something stupid, as her friend, Harry was obligated to help, right? It sounded good to him, anyway. He fished around in his drawer for the Marauder's Map.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," he said to it. The intricate map of Hogwarts unfolded before him. Thank you Dad, Sirius and Professor Lupin, he thought. Harry couldn't see well in the dark. "Lumos," he said, lighting up his wand. That still didn't help, so he reached for his glasses. Much better.

He could see Hermione's dot racing out of Gryffindor tower and toward the entrance to the school. When Harry looked there, however, he did a double take. In the front hall was another dot, which was waiting (or so it appeared) for Hermione. This can't be right, Harry thought. Hermione's dot approached the other one, and Harry watched in horror as the two went through the front door and out onto the Hogwarts' grounds. Hermione is seeing Draco Malfoy?

Hermione and Draco ran hand in hand across the grass until they came to a small area surrounded by bushes. There was a tiny bench there, just big enough for two. They draped the cloak over their legs, laughing when they disappeared. Draco put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her up against him. The time had come to tell her.

"Hermione," he said, his breath could be seen in the cold air. "I have to tell you something awful." She looked into his eyes with a pained expression.

"Are you okay?" she asked, worried.

"I hope so." He looked up at the stars. "Hermione, my father wants me to become a Death Eater." He heard her gasp. "Soon. I don't want to join with Voldemort. I don't even think like that anymore. But I don't know what to do. I can't let down my father, it would disgrace my entire family. But on the other hand, it's my life." He felt her settle against him.

"Draco, your father cannot make you do something that you don't want to do." She reached up and brushed the hair out of his eyes. "I know you. You are strong and you will get through this, we both will. Together." He kissed the top of her head.

"I just feel so lost sometimes." His voice was quiet.

"I know you do," Hermione said gently. "Everyone feels lost at one point in their lives." She ran her fingers down his arm and took his hand in hers. "You know what I think you should do?"

"What?" he closed his eyes and leaned against her, their fingers entwined.

"I think that if you are really seriously against this, you should talk to Dumbledore. He'll protect you against Voldemort and your father, if he has to. And if worse comes to worse, you can always stay with my parents and me. Or Ron's, I know they'll take you in."

"You would do that for me?"

"I would do anything for you, Draco." Her voice faded at the end of the sentence. His grip on her hand tightened as his heart sunk.

"I think I'll talk to Dumbledore tomorrow," Draco said quietly. Hermione settled against him again, gazing at the ring. He slid his arm around her, holding her close.

"Draco," she began.

"Yes?" The reply never came. Draco looked down to see Hermione fast asleep, her lips turned up in a smile. He smoothed her hair with one hand. How had he ever lived without her?

When Hermione awoke, she was in Draco's arms, being carried back to the Gryffindor common room. She had disclosed its whereabouts to him weeks ago. He had draped the invisibility cloak over the two of them. She breathed in deeply, taking in his musky scent. She loved that about him. She loved so many things about him. His strength, his kindness.

Draco stopped walking and slowly lowered her to the ground. He ran his fingers over her face and bent down to kiss her. Her eyelids fluttered open.

"You fell asleep," he whispered. "I brought you back to your dormitory. Will you be all right?" She nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. God, she could never get enough of him. Draco then pressed their foreheads together while they both closed their eyes.

The Fat Lady was quite confused. She could hear voices but had no idea where they were coming from. "Hello?" she called. "Is anyone there?"

"I'll see you tomorrow," Draco said as he kissed Hermione goodbye. He pulled off the cloak and started down the hallway. Hermione turned back to the painting, still concealed by the cloak. She was about to say the password when the painting swung open.

"Hermione? Is that you?" It was Harry. Hermione pulled the invisibility cloak off of her head and climbed through the wall. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" he whispered to her. She shook her head. "Hermione, it's almost two in the morning! Where have you been?" It was no use keeping it from him any longer. She walked over to the armchair closest to the fire and sat down, hugging her knees.

"I took a walk outside." It was partially the truth.

"Hermione, I could hear voices in the hallway. I know that you were with someone. And I know that it was Draco Malfoy." He stopped, a bit enraged.

"How could you know that? We were whispering. You couldn't possibly have heard his voice through the wall." She looked at his guilt-ridden face. "You didn't, you wouldn't, Harry-"

"Wouldn't what?"

"You did, didn't you? You were spying on me with that map of yours! Harry, you had no right-" Her voice was growing louder.

"I had every right!" He hissed at her. "What were you thinking? How long has this been going on?" He was fairly sure he knew that answer already. Hermione sighed and gave in.

"Do you remember the day when Crabbe said I wasn't even a girl and Draco yelled at him?"

"Yes," Harry answered.

"Ever since that night, we've, um, we've been seeing each other." She saw the look on Harry's face. "He's not a monster, Harry. He's everything that I have ever wanted. I'm finally happy, Harry. Please don't take that from me." Harry's face softened.

"Do you love him?" The anger was gone from his voice. Hermione nodded.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Is that from him?" He pointed at the ring on her hand. She nodded again. He inhaled deeply and then let the air out very slowly before he spoke again. "Hermione, I won't say anything to Ron or to anyone about this. If you really love him, I support you completely. I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I know, Harry." Hermione closed her eyes.

"Hermione, wake up." Harry stood up and walked over to Hermione. "You're going up to your own bed before McGonagall finds you down here. Come on." He ushered her over to her staircase. He gave her a quick hug and then went up to his room. Hermione smiled, glad to have a friend like Harry. She slowly climbed the steps, spelling out Draco's name on the side of the ring. D-R-A-C-O, D-R-A-C-O. She continued in this pattern all the way to the top.

She settled into bed that night, gazing at the tiny dragon on her ring finger. "I love you, Draco," she whispered to it before falling into a deep sleep.

He was in her dreams, as always.

…

Draco woke up to the sounds of screaming coming from another room. It was definitely channeled in from the deep caverns of the floors below him, he knew it. And those sounds had been so extremely recognizable, he just couldn't think of why it was. Suddenly, it all clicked. Lucius! 'That sadistic bastard,' he thought. 'He took Mia here! Fuck…'

He pranced about in his room, trying to figure out what he would do next. No ideas would come to his head. He punched the wall in frustration as more tears slid down his cheeks. He shifted his weight on his feet, listening to the sounds of her crying coming from the other room. Oh, how much he had wanted to go over there. At that moment he wanted to hold her, soothe her with kisses and reassure her it would be alright. He, for once wanted to be her hero.

Draco pranced up to his bed, his hair flying wildly into the pillowcase. He held it in his chest, trying to pretend it was her. 'It was stupid,' he thought, but who cares. Suddenly, another idea popped into his mind. He fingered his official Malfoy emblem ring on his left hand, feeling it the way she had done it to him. It was that night, before the Yule Ball.

Hermione held her breath as the door opened wide. Someone stepped inside and closed the door. It was Draco. He saw her sitting on the couch and immediately went over to her. He pulled her hands away from her face and saw that she had been crying.

"Hermione, oh my god, what is it?" He wrapped his arms around her, rocking her gently. She continued to cry, burying her face in his neck. "Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?"

"No," she whispered into his ear. "You'll think this is so stupid."

"I will never think that anything you have to say is stupid, Hermione, never." He moved his hands in slow circles on her back.

"Professor Dumbledore mentioned the Yule Ball this morning at breakfast and, and-" She started crying again. "I want to go with you more than anything in the world but I'm afraid that if we do…" She stopped to take a breath.

"Hermione, we'll go to that ball. We may not be able to walk in together but we'll both be there. I promise."

"Why do we have to be from the two houses that hate one another?" It didn't seem fair. She wanted nothing more than to be able to walk into a room and declare loudly, I am Hermione Granger and this is my boyfriend, Draco Malfoy. "We won't be able to dance, will we." She sounded miserable.

"We'll dance, Hermione. Even if it isn't on the dance floor, even if we have to find an empty hallway, we'll dance." He kissed her gently on the lips, pulling her closer. His tongue met with her lips and they opened slightly. Their tongues began to dance with one another, reminding Draco of the flames he had watched months ago.

When the kiss ended, they sat side by side. He gripped her hand. "I spoke with Dumbledore this morning before breakfast," he said. "He told me that he would do everything in his power to help me stay away from Voldemort. I don't have to become a Death Eater after all." He felt relieved. Hermione hugged him.

"I'm so proud of you. You're the bravest person that I know. I love that about you." Embarrassed by her last comment, she kissed him quickly. "Well, I have to study this afternoon, but I'll see you tonight?" He kissed her back.

"Definitely. Right here?"

"Right here." She smiled and left the room. Draco leaned back on the couch in amazement, "I love that about you…" No one had ever said that to him before, not even his parents. Hermione loved his bravery. Did that mean, perhaps, that one day, she might love him too? He sighed as he departed the tiny room and started back towards the Slytherin common room.

…

A week had passed without any hesitation. Draco and Hermione still haven't seen each other, but now that Voldemort had arrived, everything had changed.

Draco was brought into the room where the ceremony was to be taken place. He was brought to the room by other Death Eaters, who had to strangle him and bring him in with uncertainty. He wondered if somehow, just a little bit, if there was any hope. He had talked to Dumbledore a few months earlier, and the old wizard was concerned about his life. Hopefully, the Order would arrive and beat these sadistic people once and for all.

Oh, his poor, sweet, Hermione was still locked in that filthy room with nothing, not even a window to look outside. She must have been so hungry, having nothing to eat for days. He knew that his father wouldn't even think of trying to give her food, it was no use anyway.

A few feet away, his father was standing near a pole in this Death Eater room. Lucius stared proudly as his son as he was taken to Voldemort's feet.

"Can we start, my Lord?" The older Malfoy asked.

Voldemort smirked. "Where's the girl?" he asked evilly.

"Oh yes… her!" Lucius said, recalling the moments of Hermione.

"What do you mean? Are you saying you forgot about her?" Voldemort demanded.

Lucius bowed down earnestly. "Yes, my Lord. I am ever so sorry. Would you like me to go and get her?"

"Get her? Of course! She's the only reason why he'll do this!" The demon ordered. Lucius thinned his lips, pushing them inside ashamedly. How could have he have been so stupid as to forget her? The older man straightened himself, and sighed.

"Yes, my Lord." And with that, he left the room.

Draco watched as his father went out of the room. At least he'd be seeing Hermione… but not for long. His hands were tied behind his back, and as silent tears dribbled down those high cheekbones, he couldn't wipe them away. Voldemort looked at him in disgust, but in a way he was relieved. The only way he could pledge himself anyhow was to kill someone he had affection for. Even if it was just a little bit, such as 1%. But if it was only 1%, he would have wanted to kill Pansy instead.

'Damn them,' he thought.

A few minutes later, Hermione was brought into the room. Her hands were all stained with blood, her eyes were puffy and red from all the crying that she had inevitably done. Her hair was more disheveled than ever, and she hadn't taken a shower in days. Lucius scrunched up his nose as he held her collar with one long hand, and then released her from his death grip.

"Ah!" she cried as she fell over to the other side of the room. The brunette merely looked around, before spotting him. Him.

'Think good thoughts!' she said. 'Don't think of the bad! You're going to be dead anyways. Might as well make the best of it!'

But no thoughts came. She couldn't think of anything but being trapped inside this small, abandoned cell.

Voldemort finally raised his hood, and beckoned for his followers to untie Draco. He collapsed on the side of the floor, before picking himself up carefully. Hermione too was locked to the floor, and they slowly, slowly tilted their heads in unison. He tried to smile at her, but no smile came back from her. She looked so cold, and fragile. Her eyes were saddened as if gray had washed all around her.

He held out his hand, trying to tell her to pull her hand out too. Hermione just stared at him.

'She hates me now,' he thought. 'I can't go living without her.'

"It is time!" Voldemort commenced. He walked slowly over to Draco, folded the sleeve on his left arm, and roughly scraped a mark on his skin. Draco gasped, and Hermione immediately widened her eyes. She couldn't take this. She couldn't take anything anymore! She looked around the room frantically, trying to block out the sounds that her lover was making out from the pain.

After he finished scraping, Voldemort took another deep breath, before staring back at Hermione. "Get the knife!" Ordered Voldemort. "Tie the girl up. It's time!"

Lucius smiled evilly from his corner of the room. He remembered the first time he did it as well.

Cassius Malfoy looked around the room, turning his head towards Voldemort. The two smiled wickedly, before bringing Lucius into the room. He too was smiling. And just as soon, he saw Evelyn. She too had brown hair, almond shaped eyes, and a curvaceous body. Not only that, but she happened to be the smartest witch in school. They fell in love under the stars just like how Draco and Hermione did. And the best of her was that she wasn't like Narcissa at all.

He remembered that she kissed him very gently. His lips quavered against hers. She slid one hand behind his head and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. Her fingers became entangled in his hair. Lucius slowly wrapped his arms around her, melting into the feel of her mouth on his. Evelyn could taste his tears as they dripped down his face. When she finally pulled away, they sat, gazing into each other's eyes. He traced the outline of her jaw with his finger.

And then, Cassius ran over to the two lovesick couples and tore them apart. Lucius was then given a knife.

"Prove your loyalty, or you die." Voldemort said blankly.

Lucius stared at her for one moment. She looked at him innocently frightened, as many tears left her eyes. But, he knew he had to do it. He did love her, no doubt about that. But what about Cassius? He was even a worse father than Lucius, and he knew it.

Before Lucius knew that he was doing, he lifted the dagger, and brought it to Evelyn's heart. With one slick push, it was in thoroughly. He recalled the day her eyes went lifeless, her body became frail, and her heart stopped beating.

He knew it was not a mistake. There was possibly just no way. He did love her in one way, or at least he knew he showed a great amount of affection. But even so… even so…

"Well done, Lucius!" Voldemort said proudly.

"Good job, son." Cassius said.

"Let's clean her up!" Voldemort snapped his fingers, and within two minutes Evelyn was gone…

At the present, Lucius stared at his son once more. The dagger was placed into his hands, and he held them over to get a better look.

'Make me proud,' the older Malfoy thought.

Draco scrutinized it more, tilting the blade so that the reflection hit the ceiling. His eyes were completely cold, and even if flames danced exotically before him, they'd still remain the same shade of cold grey.

'Hermione,' he thought. 'Look at me. Just look at me. Please.' His prayer was answered shortly. She turned her head around to stare at him, as he came over to her.

"You know what to do boy," Voldemort hissed under his breath.

Draco ignored him, and continued walking. He stopped once he got to her, and sat down casually. She stared at him in confusion, wondering why not just get this the hell over with?

"I'm not going to do it," Draco said.

"Draco!" hissed Lucius.

"Be quiet, Father!" Draco snapped.

"Excuse me?"

Draco sighed and shook it off with a wave. He stared back at Voldemort. "She doesn't deserve to die a wizard's death."

"Do it, Draco. Just do it!" Hermione said forlornly. "I know I'm dead either way."

He sighed, before wiping her tears with the pad of his thumb. Then he put two hands on her cheek. "Don't ever say that, Mia." He said quietly.

"Don't tell me what to do!" she yelled back angrily as he came closer. Hermione tried to shove him off, but he was too heavy.

"Get the fuck off me, Draco!" But Draco just buried his face into her neck and brought her hands up to clasp them around him. She obliged hesitantly, yet she shakily brought it up to clasp them around his neck. Finally, she could feel the warmth of him, the manly smell of him. She closed her eyes in bliss, trying to savor the moment.

"Do you remember the time you asked me why I loved you, my love?"  he murmured into her skin.

"Yes," she replied softly.

"Remember I couldn't give you a reason?"

"Mm-hmm," came her muffled reply. "But Harry could always give one to Ginny."

"Yes, I know. Well… I've been thinking about it, you see." He said.

Hermione pulled back, her eyes widening. "You have?"

"Yes," he said.

"And…?" she waited patiently, her hands interlacing with his fingers.

"If it's because of your beauty that I love, how can I love if you're covered with cuts and bruises? If it's because of your sweet voice, how can I love if you can't speak? If it's because of your caring and thoughtfulness that I love, how can I love if you can't show them? If it's because of your smile that I love, how can I love you if I cannot see?"

Hermione looked at him solemnly.

Draco went on. "If love needs a reason.. Mia how do I live with a reason? How can I express why I love you if no words exist? No, I still love you. Very much. And I want to tell you that love needn't any reason. But do you still love me?

Tears started welling up in his lover's eyes.

"Even though you brought me through this, yes. Yes, Draco." She whispered into his hair.

Draco inhaled once, before opening his eyes. "Then you'll know why I do this." He quickly left his embrace into her neck and took the blade away from her.

'What are you doing now? Just kill me,' she thought.

What happened next was volatile.

With one last whimper, a glimpse of her, he brought the dagger right to his heart, before placing it in.

…to be continued…

Author's Note- I know this chapter sucks and is unbelievable, but I'm really sorry. Finals are just coming next week, and I knew I had to post this to make you guys happy. If you are disappointed, then I won't finish it. But thank you for reading it this far. There is only going to be two chapters left. One chapter and an epilogue. Yes, it is a short story. But this story came from a dream I had. Please review, but if you don't I understand completel.