I Believe in You

Chapter 8

A/N PLEASE READ: (I know it's long...but please) Alright. I realize I haven't been updating every week like I used to do...a long time ago. The truth is, I had decided to stop writing this story. I rarely ever find a D/Hr story that I really like. That was my most of my motivation for even starting this story: to write a story that I would actually want to read. I really do pay attention to my chapters. I really try to make sure everything is accurate, and I check for errors through and through. But it wasn't until I read chapter 7 about three times that I realized my story is going nowhere! I don't plan out my stories, I find my writing is more free if I don't. But then I get so caught up in my own drama, lol that it's really hard to write. It seems to me that chapter after chapter is just more crying from both Hermione, and Draco, and the Gryffindors throwing fit after fit. (FYI, I'm writing this about a month after I finished this chapter) So I just saw that I wasn't doing my plot justice. And my plot means a lot to me as it is based on someone I know. So I decided to stop. It wasn't until I looked into my old email account that I saw a review from 'hi' telling me to "update update update update goddammit" that I decided to give it another try. I know how disappointing it is to really like a story and just have the author give up on it. So here's another chapter. The point of this paragraph is: Please be patient with me and try to understand my struggle. I love everyone's reviews, they're a real motivation. So thanks guys. I know it doesn't sound like I have much faith in my writing, but...If you want the story to go a certain way please tell me, I'm totally open to suggestions. Thanks for taking the time out of your fic reading to read this. On with the story

Hermione tried to stop crying as she stumbled into the common room. She was so hysterical, that she forgot that at 9 o'clock people were still doing their homework. She became unpleasantly aware of the fact that everyone was staring at her. She raced up to her dorm, and locked the door behind her. She didn't want to talk right now. Not to anyone. She fell on her bed and cried into her pillow thinking of her sorrows. 'Gryffindor and Slytherin don't work. Maybe I should just forget it.' She thought. But then Draco crept back into her head, and she knew she couldn't forget. But could he? Did he already? She continued to cry until she fell asleep.

She was running around the grounds in the warm sun. She had a purpose...she knew she had to find someone. She didn't know who, but she felt an urgency in her heart that made her run faster. She ran until she reached the lake. Pausing for a breath, Hermione heard someone come up beside her. She turned to see Draco. The pull in her heart subsided as they glanced at each other. She knew now he was who she had been trying to find. But before she could speak, he raised his hand. It was holding a gun. Hermione was suddenly confused. This wasn't supposed to happen. Something was wrong. Suddenly she was surrounded by people, asking her why she wanted to kill herself. Hermione felt dizzy as she heard Draco shoot the gun. The bright sun turned black as the bullet pierced her flesh. She knew this time it had delved into her heart, and she fell backwards into the dark lake.

Hermione sat up in bed, screaming. The pain in her heart...she was going to die. A few seconds later she felt two figures at her side. They were saying something. Hermione stopped screaming, but she was still breathing hard and panicking. She grabbed her chest, trying to make the pain stop. Frantically trying to find the hole, but not knowing what to do when she found one. The strange thing was, was that she never did find one. "Hermione! Hermione! Are you okay? Shh just calm down." Lavender was hugging her. "What wrong Hermione?" Asked Parvati. She sounded very scared. "My heart, there's a bullet. I can't breath." Hermione gasped. "Parvati, go get Madame Pomfrey." Parvati ran hurriedly toward the exit and disappeared. Lavender continued to hug Hermione, and tell her to relax, slowly the pain subsided but still the only thought in Hermione's head was that she was going to die. Ten minutes passed, and Madame Pompfy strode over to Hermione immediately and started to do a check up. After Madame Pomfrey had satisfied her curiosity that Hermione was perfectly fine except for a fast beating heart, she asked Hermione what happened. "Someone shot me!" Hermione panted, leaving Draco out of it for some reason.

"Now?" asked Madame Pomfrey. "Yes!" Said Hermione still very scared. Why could no one see her bleeding? The nurse turned to Lavender and Parvati, as she gave Hermione a calming potion and said. "It's just a bit of post-trauma. She'll be alright. Just sooth her. Help her fall asleep again. Don't hesitate to come get me is something happens."

Hermione sat still in her bed, for a long time after Madame Pomfrey had left. Looking at the clock it read 12:00 am. Now that she recognized it was a dream, she felt sort of foolish. But the pain had been so real.

Lavender and Parvati shuffled nervously. "...You should get some sleep." Said Lavender after a while. Hermione was still too concerned with her heart to be too concentrated with what they were saying, but she still smiled at them wearily. They crawled back into bed. "Do you want us to talk you to sleep?" Asked Lavender. "No thanks guys. I need a walk. Don't wait for me. Just go to bed. I'll be fine. I need to clear my head." Lavender and Parvati looked worried but let her go.

Hermione wandered the grounds by the moon light. She felt scared. She had forgotten it was late. And she suddenly realized she had gotten out to the grounds without being caught. It was way past curfew. She heard foot steps behind her and absolute fear rose in her. She stopped breathing, and started to cry a little bit. She couldn't move. She had never been more afraid in her life.

He had used his invisibility cloak. He couldn't sleep so he got it out, and went out to the grounds. The coolness of the air made him shiver. He started to walk in the bright moon light. He saw a figure in shadow a little way a long. The persons back was turned to him, so he approached cautiously. When he was a ten feet away he saw the bushy hair, and knew with a flutter of his heart who it was. He kept walking until he was right behind her then said "Hermione?"

Hermione knew that voice. She spun around to see...nothing? Confused Hermione said timidly "Draco?" And he suddenly appeared, pulling off a cloak. "Hi" He said awkwardly. Forgetting everything Hermione grasped out for him in a hug and wouldn't let go. He wrapped his arms around her, and held tight also. Still hugging her he said. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there. I had detention, for the fight."

Hermione smiled into his chest. Happy that that was the reason he had not showed up. She was so relived

Feeling the smile, he continued, guessing she wasn't mad. "It's been hell without you." She looked up at him and whispered "I know what you mean," Before pulling him closer so she could kiss him.

If, at that moment you asked Hermione when the first Goblin Rebellion occurred, she would not be able to answer you.

Hermione was woken the next morning at six thirty by Lavender and Parvati. 'Sorry to wake you...but if you don't get up soon, all the cinnamon rolls will be gone!" Said Parvati with a smile. 'Mmm Cinnamon rolls...' thought Hermione.

"How are you feeling?" asked Harry at breakfast. They had of course heard the news of the previous night's events from Parvati and Lavender. "Fine!" said Hermione smiling. How could she give a shit about anything else when she had had a lovely midnight stroll around the grounds with Draco? Harry was slightly unnerved by her enthusiasm, but returned to his cinnamon rolls anyway.

The school year finished as expected. No one's fear of Draco Malfoy really subsided, but Hermione and Draco grew closer than either thought was possible. They spent just about all their spare time together studying in the library. Which I might tell you was a lot of time. Draco wasn't one to study like that but anything that involved Hermione was okay by him. At least he aced all of his finals that way.

But now as he was seeing Hermione down to Hogsmeade station, he couldn't help but feel a bit sad that she was going home to her family, and leaving him behind.

Outside the train Harry and Ron nodded a goodbye, and went to find a compartment while Hermione stayed to bid a bit longer of a goodbye. Harry and Ron had by no means become friends with Draco, but they had figured that he wasn't going away anytime soon so they at least were respectful for Hermione's cause if not anything else.

Hermione pulled Draco away from the chattering students to find a bit more of a private place. She turned to look at him and smiled. Still holding his hand she went up on her tip toes and kissed him. He immediately kissed back, and smiled at the warmth that spread through him at her touch. He pulled her into a hug and they stood there silent for some time just enjoying the closeness. "I'm going to miss you so much" Draco spoke, feeling it was one of the most truthful things he had ever said in his life. "I know," said Hermione, and she went up to kiss him again. Draco stroked her hair, and took in as much of her scent as he possibly could. She was actually crying as she pulled away. "Aww come on Hermione, it won't be that long, and we'll write...your parents don't mind owls do they?" "No" Hermione said tearfully trying to see the best in things.

The train conductor called for all boarding passengers to get on the train, so Draco gave Hermione one more fleeting kiss before helping her onto the train.

Draco sat in the special room he had been given for the holidays looking out the window. "Draco?" Draco turned around suddenly to see Albus Dumbledore. 'I was hoping I could speak to you." "Yeah," said Draco turning more completely to show more courtesy to his headmaster. "Um. Sir" Draco began, "I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to stay here."

Professor Dumbledore waved his hand to show it was nothing and began his speech. "Draco there are many things I need to figure out before you get too settled in. First of all, I have checked the Ministry records often over the past few months and there have been no official papers of your fathers disowning. This does not mean however that you must go home if you do not wish to. Your father may have legal right to you, but it still is my job as headmaster to make sure that all of my students are healthy and happy. However, this does create problems. I take it he will not take this lightly. In fact he will most likely take it quite insulting. If he does try to contact you, it may not be pleasant. So now, Draco we must decide your future. If you want nothing more to do with your father, we must take certain measures to ensure that you are not harassed. But if you do wish to remain a son of Mr. Malfoy, it is best that we all sit down together and work things out. This is a big decision for you I know, so I will let you spend a few nights on this one. But please come up to my office before the end of the week. Even if you are still undecided." He paused to give Draco a searching stare.

"Now on to tings I'm sure you are more willing to discuss. Your wandering rights for the rest of the summer holidays. As I said you are allowed to visit Hogsmeade however often you like, but I must warn you to take caution whenever you do, and be back to the castle before dark. You may also have students come to visit you over the summer, if you would like."

Draco definitely knew he would like that. He made a mental note to invite Hermione back as soon as possible.

Draco spent most of the rest of the day staring out the window, and occasionally wandering around the castle. He had stopped counseling finally, so he could do what he wanted during the evenings. He also spent a lot of time, writing letters to Hermione, most of which he crumpled up in frustration. Writing words would not be as easy as he thought. Nor would it get rid of his wanting to be with her at all time. He finally decided on more of a basic letter rather than a heartfelt composition.

Dear Hermione,

It's really weird being at the castle all alone. It's so quite. I miss you loads. Well, Dumbledore said you can come and visit me...so, do you feel like getting back on the train? Ha-ha. Let me know how you're doing and if you can come back and see me.

Draco

Before he had time to reject that letter he called his owl, and sent it away, feeling jealous that the owl would get to Hermione before he did.

Hermione woke up the first day of the holidays with two owls waiting for her. She took the first one who was undoubtedly from Ron. He was inviting her to the burrow along with Harry for the summer. The next was from Draco asking her to come back to Hogwarts. 'Shit' Thought Hermione. She had two invitations and her parents wanted her to spend some time with them this summer too. Crap. She would have to talk this one over with her parents.

Damn it Malfoy. You promised me an heir, and I do not want to wait another eighteen years for one. You will get Draco back, or pay for him with your life. Is that clear?

"Yes, my lord"