A/N- Thank you everyone for reviewing! They were much appreciated! Well, I
hope you all enjoy chapter four!
Ron, Harry, and Hermione were staring at the scene that had just taken place between Pansy and Draco; in fact, practically everyone in the Great Hall had been glued to Draco's outburst. They all watched as Draco stormed out of the room, his robes billowing behind him. Pansy huffed and turned with her nose in the air back toward the Slytherin table.
Ron turned to Harry, "Wow, I thought Malfoy actually liked that Pansy girl." He said and shoveled some eggs onto his plate.
Harry nodded, "Yeah, I thought they would turn out to be the perfect married Death Eater couple." Ron laughed at this.
Hermione pursed her lips and raised her glass to her mouth so her friends wouldn't see her disapproving face.
"I wonder what has Malfoy all fired up this morning," Ron wondered aloud.
"Probably found out that he couldn't become a Death Eater yet," Harry joked.
"It isn't funny," Hermione said abruptly jumping to her feet causing Ron and Harry to look up at her; Ron had his fork half way suspended in air and Harry's mouth dropped open. Hermione flushed, "I er...have to go," she said quickly and ran out of the Great Hall.
"Ron, what was that all about?" Harry asked his eyes still wide.
"Do you think we should follow her?" Ron asked back. They nodded in agreement and got up out of their seats and strode out of the hall.
Draco sat down in the library against a bookshelf in an isle that was abandoned. He sighed, why was he actually having feelings for Granger? He couldn't understand what kind of feelings they were, but he had never felt it before. And what was that dream about?
He placed his head back and closed his eyes. He considered all of his options; he could ignore the feelings and go on with life like it used to be; no, he didn't want things to be the way they used to be. He only now realized how many people he could hurt. He could talk to Granger about it, ha, yeah right, how could that have even crossed his mind? And then, he could talk to Dumbledore. This seemed the most likely, but he had never gone to Dumbledore about anything, in fact, he had never gone to anybody about anything. He growled in frustration.
"I thought I heard you over here,"
Draco's eyes shot open and his head whipped around to face the girl he was just thinking about, Hermione. He looked at her for a moment, the images of his dream were rushing into his head, and the girl he had killed reminded him of her. Was that why he didn't want to kill her?
"Um, Draco," Hermione nervously said after a moment or two of Draco staring at her silently.
Draco shook his head, "What is it Granger?" he asked turning his head away from her, making only too obvious that he wanted her to leave.
Hermione looked at him, "Could I," she hesitated, "Don't chicken out now you fool, Dumbledore is counting on you to turn him against Voldemort and become part of our side," She took a deep breath after mentally kicking herself for doing this, "Could I sit next to you?"
Draco's heart skipped, he felt this sensation in his chest, and he didn't want her to sit next to him, what would happen then? He couldn't act differently, she would suspect something different about him, "I don't care," he mumbled.
Hermione smiled and slid down next to him.
Draco cursed in his head, "Do what you want?" he asked himself, "that isn't Malfoy like, you should have cursed her and sent her away, now look, she is sitting next to you," He rolled his eyes, it wasn't very Malfoy like at all.
"I wanted to talk to you about something Draco," Hermione said quietly, she considered again if she should be doing this.
Draco didn't turn, if he did he wouldn't be able to turn back, he grumbled something, and Hermione continued.
"Listen Draco, I thought I might ask you about your Death Eater training, if you don't mind."
Draco narrowed his eyes, the one person he did not want to know about actually knew; he should have figured, Granger always has to do research on everything, her business or not.
"Draco, do you want to talk about it?" Hermione asked.
Draco stood up with his back to Hermione, "No, I have no idea what you are talking about," he said casually.
Hermione wavered, "but Draco, I could help you,"
Draco let out a loud laugh, "A mudblood like you help me, yeah right, I would like to see you try, I don't need your help Granger, and like I said before, I have no idea what you are talking about, so stay out of my business!" he yelled the last few words at her and turned to look her in the eyes.
Hermione let out a gasp, Draco's gray eyes turned colder then usual, even violently flashed for a moment. Then he turned on heel and headed out the door. She sighed and watched him go.
Harry turned to Ron, who was also staring transfixed on the spot where Hermione had confronted Draco about becoming a death eater. They stood there hidden behind a bookshelf in the next isle and watched quizzically as Hermione also left. Ron shook his head and muttered things under his breath.
~~
"There you are Mister Malfoy," Snape said leading Draco to a spot in front of a large gargoyle, "Raspberry drops," he said a little reluctantly, "Professor Dumbledore's office is at the top of those stairs,"
Draco watched as the gargoyle sprang out of the way, revealing a large stair case, he muttered thanks to Snape and walked into the narrow passage of stairs. The stone steps twisted upwards as he stood at the bottom step. In seconds he was standing in front of a large wooden door.
Draco looked around at the cramped corridor around him and sighed, was he actually going to do this? He held his hand up to the door ready to strike it, but almost instantly the door opened for him.
Dumbledore stood on the other side of the door staring down at Draco, his mouth twisted into an old friendly smile, "Welcome Mr. Malfoy, I thought you might be coming here today."
Draco hesitated; he couldn't run back down the stairs now. He noticed his hand still in midair; he immediately dropped it to his side.
"Would you like to come in Draco?" Dumbledore smiled his almost father like smile. He gestured Draco forward.
Draco's lip twitched upward into a small smile and he walked slowly and proud into the office. He had never been inside before, as he starred around looking at all the different strange trinkets ever where. He knew his mother would not approve of all this clutter and waste of space.
Dumbledore sat down behind his desk, Draco took a seat on the other side. He wrung his hands around in his lap nervously. He had never done this before, asked for help, he wasn't for sure what to do or expect.
"Is there something that is troubling you Draco?" Dumbledore asked staring over his half moon spectacles at Draco.
Draco sighed inwardly, he then hesitated, "I was, er, wondering" he stopped and looked around at the office once more, "has my father given you any word?" he finished without looking at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore looked at Draco for a moment, he knew what he was talking about, it pained him deeply to see Draco falling like this, and he couldn't tell Lucius that he could not see his son anymore during the weekends, it was not his place. But if he could get Draco to start refusing, to pull away from his father and break the chains on him, then Draco would be free to do what he wished.
Draco looked up after a moment of silence, maybe Dumbledore hadn't heard him. He looked at his headmaster and was surprised to see him staring back. Draco swallowed nervously.
"Your father has given me a schedule of when he would like you back at your manor; he says you have privet extra training for school work." Dumbledore pushed a piece of parchment towards Draco.
Draco saw his father's handwriting on it. He read it silently to himself. When he had finished he sighed again, every other weekend he would be going home. Not to mention that winter break would be coming soon.
"Is there something wrong Draco?" Dumbledore asked hoping Draco would just open out to him.
Draco bit his lip and shook his head, "no professor, I was just curious as to when my father wanted me home." He looked down at his hands.
Dumbledore sighed, "What kind of school training is it Draco?" he asked.
Draco sat silent for a moment, what was he going to say? It was to long a silence and now Draco knew that whatever he said, Dumbledore would not believe him, "Transfiguration," he said finally.
Dumbledore smiled at him, "Your father has arranged for you to take Transfiguration lessons on your free time?" Draco nodded quickly, "Well, we could always have you signed up for some extra help here, would you like for me to find you a Transfiguration tutor here?"
Draco looked around, "thank you sir, but my father has the job taken care of already."
"Well, I don't see what the harm is in having a little bit more extra help, do you?" Dumbledore smiled.
Draco forced a smile on his face, "no thank you professor, I don't think my father would want that."
Dumbledore smiled, "alright then, but if you would ever like some help, I am here,"
Draco wasn't for sure if he was talking about the transfiguration lessons anymore, but then, could he really know what his father was up to? He was of coarse Dumbledore.
"Alright then Draco, I shall send an owl home to your father informing him that you have agreed to his meeting schedule."
Draco nodded and then proceeded to get up.
"Is there anything else you want?" Dumbledore asked.
Draco thought for a moment, "No," he said finally and went to the door.
Just as he was about to leave the room, Dumbledore called after him, "You know Draco, I am always here if you want to talk to me again, also, I am sure other classmates of yours will be there as well,"
Draco stood frozen for a moment, some of his classmates? Surely he didn't mean a Slytherin? "Good day professor," he mumbled and left the room.
~~
"Have a nice morning in the library?"
Hermione stopped as Ron's voice called to her when she walked into the common room, "What do you mean, I always have a nice time in the library?" she quickly said.
"We mean your little chat with Malfoy," Ron's face was slightly reddening, he and Harry both stood up from the couches they had been sitting on, "It isn't right,"
"Spying on me isn't right either Ron," Hermione said trying to stay calm.
"I think we had reason to be worried about you, he is bad trouble Hermione, and don't you remember what he has done to all of us?" Ron yelled.
"He is not trouble!" Hermione yelled back loosing her temper now.
"Back me up Harry, you also heard him say he was a death eater," Ron said turning to his friend.
Harry slowly shook his head, "I really can't understand why you would do this,"
Hermione laughed sarcastically, "He never said he was anything, don't you remember?"
Ron narrowed his eyes at her, "he is the enemy,"
Hermione stood shocked, "fine," she said quietly, "fine," she turned around and headed back out through the portrait hole, Ron shouting behind her.
"I don't care, go ahead and be mad, they will be sorry when Dumbledore tells them what I have been doing, and then Draco will come to our side, and everything will be good," Hermione muttered to herself as she walked through the halls. She turned a corner and ran head long into Draco.
"Man, how many times are you going to run into me before you finally watch where you're going?" Draco grumbled getting to his feet. Without thinking he put out a hand for Hermione to take.
Hermione looked up at the helping hand and smiled ready to take it. Maybe he has changed, she thought merrily.
Draco looked down and saw her clutch his hand, chills went through his body as her soft warm hand touched his and he pulled his hand back, causing Hermione to fall back, "What are you doing?" he asked trying to wipe off the tingling feeling in his hand.
Hermione flushed, "What do you mean what am I doing?" she asked, "You are the one who put your hand out for me."
"I didn't want you to take it," Draco hissed, he looked around, "do you think anyone saw?" he asked nervously.
"Who cares," she sighed, "Harry and Ron saw us in the library together," Hermione said getting to her feet.
"What?" Draco sighed angrily, "Why of all people?" he cursed.
"I can't believe they are so mad though, I mean, I know you guys aren't the best of friends, but they have to accept my decision of you, they just-"
"What decision of me?" Draco cut in, "there is no us, I am perfectly fine alone, with out you." He added.
"Draco," Hermione said quietly.
"No, maybe you don't understand something about me Granger," Draco shouted, "I don't need any sympathy, from you least of all, I noticed you have been following me around lately, you are always there,"
"Draco, I don't see where you are going with this?" Hermione said shaking her head slightly.
"I don't want people to think I am a good person, because I'm not," Draco bit his lip; he couldn't continue he had said too much already, but he couldn't stop, memories and images poured out from him and he couldn't stop talking. It was a really good thing that the corridors were empty.
"Draco, please tell me what is going on, I know I have never been your friend, but I truly want to help you, please." Hermione looked up at Draco and they stared into each others eyes for a while.
Draco shook his head and looked quickly away, "You wouldn't understand anything about it Granger," he sighed.
"You're right, maybe I don't, but it doesn't mean I won't listen to you, after listening to Harry's problems and troubles for seven years, I think I am a pretty good listener, and I can't even imagine what he has been through, but I help him none the less."
Draco looked down at Hermione, he didn't want to keep it inside him anymore, and he did actually for the first time in his life want to tell her all his secrets, pains, and troubles. He clenched his jaw and began to walk away motioning for Hermione to follow him.
He led her down a few long corridors and into an empty small classroom. They were silent as they walked, both wondering about how this session would turn out. Hermione's stomach kept twisting, could she handle what ever Draco was going to tell her? And Draco kept arguing with himself wondering if he really should do this, she was a Gryffindor.
The two sat down across from each other in large comfortable chairs. They sat in silence.
"Draco, maybe if you just told me, it would help," Hermione whispered.
Draco thought for a moment, "I have never done this before Granger, I have never needed anyone before," he tried not to let his voice get to soft, he kept it stiff and proud.
"You said something about you not wanting people to think you were good?" Hermione asked.
Draco nodded, "That's right, if anyone ever caught me with you like your friends did, I would be thought of differently, something Malfoys don't get thought of." He hesitated, "I am not like you or Potter or even Weasley, I can't be thought of as the good guy, it wouldn't work."
"Why not?" Hermione asked, he really want making too much sense.
"I am supposed to be a Death Eater, follow Voldemort, kill people, destroy the good side, that is what I am supposed to be,"
Hermione smiled at him, "I don't think you really want to be that though, Draco, people can change,"
Draco shook his head, "not me, my destiny is already sealed,"
"Draco, I think you can still be a good guy, it doesn't matter what you have done, if you want to change you can," Hermione pleaded.
Draco sighed then rolled up his left sleeve. Hermione gasped and placed a hand over her mouth, she had hoped she had been seeing things the first time she saw it, but she had known better, but still, Draco coming out and showing it was overwhelming. The faint outline of the Dark Mark still lingered on Draco's arm, a permanent reminder of what he was.
"My destiny is sealed," he said again.
"Draco, I know you must be going through a lot, with Voldemort and your father, but you have to fight them, don't you see," Hermione bit her lip and fought back tears, "they want to destroy you Draco, you cant keep going to see them, they will break you down until you don't have a soul anymore,"
"You clearly have never gotten to know my father, do you think he would stand for that." Draco felt his blood boiling, "my father would not hesitate to kill me if I shamed his name," he stopped, "how did you know I was seeing him and Voldemort?" he asked.
Hermione shifted in her chair, "I over heard you talking to yourself the other day in the corridor, and I saw the bruises on you, I put the two and two together," she paused, "what did they do to you?"
Draco thought for a moment, he remembered the boggart creature, his greatest fear, the Crucios. He turned his head away.
Hermione took the hint that he wasn't quite ready for that one.
"Why have you been following me around?"
Hermione looked at Draco, "Excuse me?" she asked.
"How do you know all this, it's like where ever I am there you are, why?" Draco looked back at Hermione his faced furrowed.
Hermione was taken back by this question and didn't know how to answer it, she merely shook her head.
Silence filled the room once more. The sun began to shine through the window indicating it was a little past noon. Hermione shifted uneasily around in her seat wondering about everything Draco had said and how it didn't really make sense to her.
"I killed a girl," Draco muttered so softly that Hermione had to think about what he said a few times over.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, she wasn't sure she wanted to know, was Draco really the bad guy like Harry and Ron said.
"It was over the summer, my father came home and wanted me to come with him," Draco was flabbergasted at how easy it was to tell her, "Voldemort led his Death Eaters into a small muggle town, they started killing people," the images rushed back to him as he recalled the night, "Voldemort brought me a young girl, he wanted me to kill her, I Crucioed her," he felt his eyes begin to burn and he realized he hadn't talked about this to anyone, "and she screamed, and I watched. The worst part was that she kept looking at me, even when she was dead, her brown eyes stared at me."
Hermione was holding her breath, she placed a hand over her mouth, "Draco," she whispered.
Draco's throat clenched and tightened, "that was when I was made a Death Eater, and Voldemort said he could get a great wizard from me, he knows my weakness now, and it is only a matter of time,"
"But you can stop it, I know you can," Hermione insisted.
"I am not a powerful wizard, I am a tool used for doing the dirty work."
"I think you are one the most powerful wizards I know," Hermione said softly and placed a hand onto Draco's. To her surprise he didn't pull away, he merely looked down at it and then turned away.
"I never knew killing someone was like that, it is still haunting me, and I have been worrying about everyone finding out, and then Voldemort now knows that is my weakness, and he just wants to break me with it, I feel trapped."
"Draco, I know you feel really bad about that girl, but you really have to get over it or else Voldemort will break you with it, if you don't stop, he will find away to get to you." Hermione advised.
"It isn't something you can just get over Granger," Draco sighed.
"If you want, I could help you get over it," Hermione blushed. This really wasn't the time to be cute, she told herself.
Draco looked over at her, and Hermione swore she saw is pale complexion darken slightly, "I don't know," he said quietly.
"Just be careful next time you go see Voldemort, when is your next session?" Hermione asked.
Draco remember the parchment with the dates on it, "next Saturday, and then after that every other weekend."
"Thank you Draco, for telling me this," Hermione said and stood up, "I really do have to get back up too my common room though, tomorrow is another week of classes." She smiled.
Draco nodded and also stood up, "alright then." He said wondering how long they had been there. As he was lost in his thoughts, something happened that he never would have expected. Hermione leaned into him and kissed his cheek. He was startled for a moment as he watched her hurry out the door, he wasn't sure if he should be mad or happy, he figured it didn't matter, it was too late to have an emotion now. But he smiled none the less as he also headed out the door toward his common room.
A/N- I know it hasn't been the longest one, but bear with me. In the next chapter there will be a big fight, and Draco goes home again for more training, and we discover that he now has a new fear. DUN DUN DUN!!! Please review! Much thanks! LPI3
Ron, Harry, and Hermione were staring at the scene that had just taken place between Pansy and Draco; in fact, practically everyone in the Great Hall had been glued to Draco's outburst. They all watched as Draco stormed out of the room, his robes billowing behind him. Pansy huffed and turned with her nose in the air back toward the Slytherin table.
Ron turned to Harry, "Wow, I thought Malfoy actually liked that Pansy girl." He said and shoveled some eggs onto his plate.
Harry nodded, "Yeah, I thought they would turn out to be the perfect married Death Eater couple." Ron laughed at this.
Hermione pursed her lips and raised her glass to her mouth so her friends wouldn't see her disapproving face.
"I wonder what has Malfoy all fired up this morning," Ron wondered aloud.
"Probably found out that he couldn't become a Death Eater yet," Harry joked.
"It isn't funny," Hermione said abruptly jumping to her feet causing Ron and Harry to look up at her; Ron had his fork half way suspended in air and Harry's mouth dropped open. Hermione flushed, "I er...have to go," she said quickly and ran out of the Great Hall.
"Ron, what was that all about?" Harry asked his eyes still wide.
"Do you think we should follow her?" Ron asked back. They nodded in agreement and got up out of their seats and strode out of the hall.
Draco sat down in the library against a bookshelf in an isle that was abandoned. He sighed, why was he actually having feelings for Granger? He couldn't understand what kind of feelings they were, but he had never felt it before. And what was that dream about?
He placed his head back and closed his eyes. He considered all of his options; he could ignore the feelings and go on with life like it used to be; no, he didn't want things to be the way they used to be. He only now realized how many people he could hurt. He could talk to Granger about it, ha, yeah right, how could that have even crossed his mind? And then, he could talk to Dumbledore. This seemed the most likely, but he had never gone to Dumbledore about anything, in fact, he had never gone to anybody about anything. He growled in frustration.
"I thought I heard you over here,"
Draco's eyes shot open and his head whipped around to face the girl he was just thinking about, Hermione. He looked at her for a moment, the images of his dream were rushing into his head, and the girl he had killed reminded him of her. Was that why he didn't want to kill her?
"Um, Draco," Hermione nervously said after a moment or two of Draco staring at her silently.
Draco shook his head, "What is it Granger?" he asked turning his head away from her, making only too obvious that he wanted her to leave.
Hermione looked at him, "Could I," she hesitated, "Don't chicken out now you fool, Dumbledore is counting on you to turn him against Voldemort and become part of our side," She took a deep breath after mentally kicking herself for doing this, "Could I sit next to you?"
Draco's heart skipped, he felt this sensation in his chest, and he didn't want her to sit next to him, what would happen then? He couldn't act differently, she would suspect something different about him, "I don't care," he mumbled.
Hermione smiled and slid down next to him.
Draco cursed in his head, "Do what you want?" he asked himself, "that isn't Malfoy like, you should have cursed her and sent her away, now look, she is sitting next to you," He rolled his eyes, it wasn't very Malfoy like at all.
"I wanted to talk to you about something Draco," Hermione said quietly, she considered again if she should be doing this.
Draco didn't turn, if he did he wouldn't be able to turn back, he grumbled something, and Hermione continued.
"Listen Draco, I thought I might ask you about your Death Eater training, if you don't mind."
Draco narrowed his eyes, the one person he did not want to know about actually knew; he should have figured, Granger always has to do research on everything, her business or not.
"Draco, do you want to talk about it?" Hermione asked.
Draco stood up with his back to Hermione, "No, I have no idea what you are talking about," he said casually.
Hermione wavered, "but Draco, I could help you,"
Draco let out a loud laugh, "A mudblood like you help me, yeah right, I would like to see you try, I don't need your help Granger, and like I said before, I have no idea what you are talking about, so stay out of my business!" he yelled the last few words at her and turned to look her in the eyes.
Hermione let out a gasp, Draco's gray eyes turned colder then usual, even violently flashed for a moment. Then he turned on heel and headed out the door. She sighed and watched him go.
Harry turned to Ron, who was also staring transfixed on the spot where Hermione had confronted Draco about becoming a death eater. They stood there hidden behind a bookshelf in the next isle and watched quizzically as Hermione also left. Ron shook his head and muttered things under his breath.
~~
"There you are Mister Malfoy," Snape said leading Draco to a spot in front of a large gargoyle, "Raspberry drops," he said a little reluctantly, "Professor Dumbledore's office is at the top of those stairs,"
Draco watched as the gargoyle sprang out of the way, revealing a large stair case, he muttered thanks to Snape and walked into the narrow passage of stairs. The stone steps twisted upwards as he stood at the bottom step. In seconds he was standing in front of a large wooden door.
Draco looked around at the cramped corridor around him and sighed, was he actually going to do this? He held his hand up to the door ready to strike it, but almost instantly the door opened for him.
Dumbledore stood on the other side of the door staring down at Draco, his mouth twisted into an old friendly smile, "Welcome Mr. Malfoy, I thought you might be coming here today."
Draco hesitated; he couldn't run back down the stairs now. He noticed his hand still in midair; he immediately dropped it to his side.
"Would you like to come in Draco?" Dumbledore smiled his almost father like smile. He gestured Draco forward.
Draco's lip twitched upward into a small smile and he walked slowly and proud into the office. He had never been inside before, as he starred around looking at all the different strange trinkets ever where. He knew his mother would not approve of all this clutter and waste of space.
Dumbledore sat down behind his desk, Draco took a seat on the other side. He wrung his hands around in his lap nervously. He had never done this before, asked for help, he wasn't for sure what to do or expect.
"Is there something that is troubling you Draco?" Dumbledore asked staring over his half moon spectacles at Draco.
Draco sighed inwardly, he then hesitated, "I was, er, wondering" he stopped and looked around at the office once more, "has my father given you any word?" he finished without looking at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore looked at Draco for a moment, he knew what he was talking about, it pained him deeply to see Draco falling like this, and he couldn't tell Lucius that he could not see his son anymore during the weekends, it was not his place. But if he could get Draco to start refusing, to pull away from his father and break the chains on him, then Draco would be free to do what he wished.
Draco looked up after a moment of silence, maybe Dumbledore hadn't heard him. He looked at his headmaster and was surprised to see him staring back. Draco swallowed nervously.
"Your father has given me a schedule of when he would like you back at your manor; he says you have privet extra training for school work." Dumbledore pushed a piece of parchment towards Draco.
Draco saw his father's handwriting on it. He read it silently to himself. When he had finished he sighed again, every other weekend he would be going home. Not to mention that winter break would be coming soon.
"Is there something wrong Draco?" Dumbledore asked hoping Draco would just open out to him.
Draco bit his lip and shook his head, "no professor, I was just curious as to when my father wanted me home." He looked down at his hands.
Dumbledore sighed, "What kind of school training is it Draco?" he asked.
Draco sat silent for a moment, what was he going to say? It was to long a silence and now Draco knew that whatever he said, Dumbledore would not believe him, "Transfiguration," he said finally.
Dumbledore smiled at him, "Your father has arranged for you to take Transfiguration lessons on your free time?" Draco nodded quickly, "Well, we could always have you signed up for some extra help here, would you like for me to find you a Transfiguration tutor here?"
Draco looked around, "thank you sir, but my father has the job taken care of already."
"Well, I don't see what the harm is in having a little bit more extra help, do you?" Dumbledore smiled.
Draco forced a smile on his face, "no thank you professor, I don't think my father would want that."
Dumbledore smiled, "alright then, but if you would ever like some help, I am here,"
Draco wasn't for sure if he was talking about the transfiguration lessons anymore, but then, could he really know what his father was up to? He was of coarse Dumbledore.
"Alright then Draco, I shall send an owl home to your father informing him that you have agreed to his meeting schedule."
Draco nodded and then proceeded to get up.
"Is there anything else you want?" Dumbledore asked.
Draco thought for a moment, "No," he said finally and went to the door.
Just as he was about to leave the room, Dumbledore called after him, "You know Draco, I am always here if you want to talk to me again, also, I am sure other classmates of yours will be there as well,"
Draco stood frozen for a moment, some of his classmates? Surely he didn't mean a Slytherin? "Good day professor," he mumbled and left the room.
~~
"Have a nice morning in the library?"
Hermione stopped as Ron's voice called to her when she walked into the common room, "What do you mean, I always have a nice time in the library?" she quickly said.
"We mean your little chat with Malfoy," Ron's face was slightly reddening, he and Harry both stood up from the couches they had been sitting on, "It isn't right,"
"Spying on me isn't right either Ron," Hermione said trying to stay calm.
"I think we had reason to be worried about you, he is bad trouble Hermione, and don't you remember what he has done to all of us?" Ron yelled.
"He is not trouble!" Hermione yelled back loosing her temper now.
"Back me up Harry, you also heard him say he was a death eater," Ron said turning to his friend.
Harry slowly shook his head, "I really can't understand why you would do this,"
Hermione laughed sarcastically, "He never said he was anything, don't you remember?"
Ron narrowed his eyes at her, "he is the enemy,"
Hermione stood shocked, "fine," she said quietly, "fine," she turned around and headed back out through the portrait hole, Ron shouting behind her.
"I don't care, go ahead and be mad, they will be sorry when Dumbledore tells them what I have been doing, and then Draco will come to our side, and everything will be good," Hermione muttered to herself as she walked through the halls. She turned a corner and ran head long into Draco.
"Man, how many times are you going to run into me before you finally watch where you're going?" Draco grumbled getting to his feet. Without thinking he put out a hand for Hermione to take.
Hermione looked up at the helping hand and smiled ready to take it. Maybe he has changed, she thought merrily.
Draco looked down and saw her clutch his hand, chills went through his body as her soft warm hand touched his and he pulled his hand back, causing Hermione to fall back, "What are you doing?" he asked trying to wipe off the tingling feeling in his hand.
Hermione flushed, "What do you mean what am I doing?" she asked, "You are the one who put your hand out for me."
"I didn't want you to take it," Draco hissed, he looked around, "do you think anyone saw?" he asked nervously.
"Who cares," she sighed, "Harry and Ron saw us in the library together," Hermione said getting to her feet.
"What?" Draco sighed angrily, "Why of all people?" he cursed.
"I can't believe they are so mad though, I mean, I know you guys aren't the best of friends, but they have to accept my decision of you, they just-"
"What decision of me?" Draco cut in, "there is no us, I am perfectly fine alone, with out you." He added.
"Draco," Hermione said quietly.
"No, maybe you don't understand something about me Granger," Draco shouted, "I don't need any sympathy, from you least of all, I noticed you have been following me around lately, you are always there,"
"Draco, I don't see where you are going with this?" Hermione said shaking her head slightly.
"I don't want people to think I am a good person, because I'm not," Draco bit his lip; he couldn't continue he had said too much already, but he couldn't stop, memories and images poured out from him and he couldn't stop talking. It was a really good thing that the corridors were empty.
"Draco, please tell me what is going on, I know I have never been your friend, but I truly want to help you, please." Hermione looked up at Draco and they stared into each others eyes for a while.
Draco shook his head and looked quickly away, "You wouldn't understand anything about it Granger," he sighed.
"You're right, maybe I don't, but it doesn't mean I won't listen to you, after listening to Harry's problems and troubles for seven years, I think I am a pretty good listener, and I can't even imagine what he has been through, but I help him none the less."
Draco looked down at Hermione, he didn't want to keep it inside him anymore, and he did actually for the first time in his life want to tell her all his secrets, pains, and troubles. He clenched his jaw and began to walk away motioning for Hermione to follow him.
He led her down a few long corridors and into an empty small classroom. They were silent as they walked, both wondering about how this session would turn out. Hermione's stomach kept twisting, could she handle what ever Draco was going to tell her? And Draco kept arguing with himself wondering if he really should do this, she was a Gryffindor.
The two sat down across from each other in large comfortable chairs. They sat in silence.
"Draco, maybe if you just told me, it would help," Hermione whispered.
Draco thought for a moment, "I have never done this before Granger, I have never needed anyone before," he tried not to let his voice get to soft, he kept it stiff and proud.
"You said something about you not wanting people to think you were good?" Hermione asked.
Draco nodded, "That's right, if anyone ever caught me with you like your friends did, I would be thought of differently, something Malfoys don't get thought of." He hesitated, "I am not like you or Potter or even Weasley, I can't be thought of as the good guy, it wouldn't work."
"Why not?" Hermione asked, he really want making too much sense.
"I am supposed to be a Death Eater, follow Voldemort, kill people, destroy the good side, that is what I am supposed to be,"
Hermione smiled at him, "I don't think you really want to be that though, Draco, people can change,"
Draco shook his head, "not me, my destiny is already sealed,"
"Draco, I think you can still be a good guy, it doesn't matter what you have done, if you want to change you can," Hermione pleaded.
Draco sighed then rolled up his left sleeve. Hermione gasped and placed a hand over her mouth, she had hoped she had been seeing things the first time she saw it, but she had known better, but still, Draco coming out and showing it was overwhelming. The faint outline of the Dark Mark still lingered on Draco's arm, a permanent reminder of what he was.
"My destiny is sealed," he said again.
"Draco, I know you must be going through a lot, with Voldemort and your father, but you have to fight them, don't you see," Hermione bit her lip and fought back tears, "they want to destroy you Draco, you cant keep going to see them, they will break you down until you don't have a soul anymore,"
"You clearly have never gotten to know my father, do you think he would stand for that." Draco felt his blood boiling, "my father would not hesitate to kill me if I shamed his name," he stopped, "how did you know I was seeing him and Voldemort?" he asked.
Hermione shifted in her chair, "I over heard you talking to yourself the other day in the corridor, and I saw the bruises on you, I put the two and two together," she paused, "what did they do to you?"
Draco thought for a moment, he remembered the boggart creature, his greatest fear, the Crucios. He turned his head away.
Hermione took the hint that he wasn't quite ready for that one.
"Why have you been following me around?"
Hermione looked at Draco, "Excuse me?" she asked.
"How do you know all this, it's like where ever I am there you are, why?" Draco looked back at Hermione his faced furrowed.
Hermione was taken back by this question and didn't know how to answer it, she merely shook her head.
Silence filled the room once more. The sun began to shine through the window indicating it was a little past noon. Hermione shifted uneasily around in her seat wondering about everything Draco had said and how it didn't really make sense to her.
"I killed a girl," Draco muttered so softly that Hermione had to think about what he said a few times over.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, she wasn't sure she wanted to know, was Draco really the bad guy like Harry and Ron said.
"It was over the summer, my father came home and wanted me to come with him," Draco was flabbergasted at how easy it was to tell her, "Voldemort led his Death Eaters into a small muggle town, they started killing people," the images rushed back to him as he recalled the night, "Voldemort brought me a young girl, he wanted me to kill her, I Crucioed her," he felt his eyes begin to burn and he realized he hadn't talked about this to anyone, "and she screamed, and I watched. The worst part was that she kept looking at me, even when she was dead, her brown eyes stared at me."
Hermione was holding her breath, she placed a hand over her mouth, "Draco," she whispered.
Draco's throat clenched and tightened, "that was when I was made a Death Eater, and Voldemort said he could get a great wizard from me, he knows my weakness now, and it is only a matter of time,"
"But you can stop it, I know you can," Hermione insisted.
"I am not a powerful wizard, I am a tool used for doing the dirty work."
"I think you are one the most powerful wizards I know," Hermione said softly and placed a hand onto Draco's. To her surprise he didn't pull away, he merely looked down at it and then turned away.
"I never knew killing someone was like that, it is still haunting me, and I have been worrying about everyone finding out, and then Voldemort now knows that is my weakness, and he just wants to break me with it, I feel trapped."
"Draco, I know you feel really bad about that girl, but you really have to get over it or else Voldemort will break you with it, if you don't stop, he will find away to get to you." Hermione advised.
"It isn't something you can just get over Granger," Draco sighed.
"If you want, I could help you get over it," Hermione blushed. This really wasn't the time to be cute, she told herself.
Draco looked over at her, and Hermione swore she saw is pale complexion darken slightly, "I don't know," he said quietly.
"Just be careful next time you go see Voldemort, when is your next session?" Hermione asked.
Draco remember the parchment with the dates on it, "next Saturday, and then after that every other weekend."
"Thank you Draco, for telling me this," Hermione said and stood up, "I really do have to get back up too my common room though, tomorrow is another week of classes." She smiled.
Draco nodded and also stood up, "alright then." He said wondering how long they had been there. As he was lost in his thoughts, something happened that he never would have expected. Hermione leaned into him and kissed his cheek. He was startled for a moment as he watched her hurry out the door, he wasn't sure if he should be mad or happy, he figured it didn't matter, it was too late to have an emotion now. But he smiled none the less as he also headed out the door toward his common room.
A/N- I know it hasn't been the longest one, but bear with me. In the next chapter there will be a big fight, and Draco goes home again for more training, and we discover that he now has a new fear. DUN DUN DUN!!! Please review! Much thanks! LPI3