Chapter 3- A Nightmare and Contemplating

Draco rushed back into the house. He had heard a scream and knew it Hermione's scream. He ran towards the house when he heard a deep male voice recite a spell. Draco heard Hermione scream again. He looked up in horror to see Hermione rising up over the house in front of his eyes. Draco remembered this from his fourth year. Death Eaters had attacked innocent Muggles during the Quidditch World Cup and Draco saw the whole thing. He closed his eyes as Hermione's body contorted sickingly.

Draco ran towards the small group of the now laughing Death Eaters. "Leave her alone, you bastards!" he shouted. He looked up at Hermione. His girlfriend was now hanging limply in the air. The Death Eater with the wand murmured a spell and Hermione came falling onto the ground. Draco ran towards her.

"Mione? Are you okay?" Draco whispered, gently stroking her cheek and holding her in his arms.

Hermione's eyes opened. "My back...I think it's broken. Draco...what happened?"

Draco whispered, "You were attacked. I was walking around outside and I heard you screaming. Death Eaters tortured you."

Hermione had tears coming out of her eyes. "It hurts to breathe."

Draco kissed her lips softly. "I won't let anything happen to you again. I promise."

Hermione kissed him back. She whispered, "I love you." Then she fell limp in his arms...

Draco gasped in pain and fear. He had been having this dream on and off ever since he had gotten the Dark Mark. Was it foretelling something that Voldemort was going to do to Hermione? Or maybe it was guilt?

Why am I dreaming of Hermione being tortured like she was worthless? Draco thought to himself. He was seeing Hermione today, so that was something to look forward to. Last time he heard from Hermione, she was headed to France to live with her grandparents. Hopefully, Hermione would accept his proposal when the time was right. Draco sighed deeply. He missed Hermione so much. He realized that she didn't deserve to lose both of her parents, but he did because he was always such an asshole to anyone who wasn't his friend.

Draco sighed again. Just then a tiny owl flew into his window. It had a note. It was from Hermione. Draco smiled and opened the note.

My love-

How are you? I'm really, really missing you here. France just seems to dull without my parents. We had a funeral for them today. I feel so miserable, Draco. I know I told you I was going to India with the Weasleys, but my grandparents invited me to stay with them in their chateau in France. I have some news you might be happy with. I'm Head Girl. I just got my letter today. Hopefully you'll get Head Boy.

Draco smiled at this part. He had been made Head Boy. Smiling again, he read the rest of the letter.

I would be so glad if you did, Draco. I better be going now. Love you lots.

Love,
Hermione

Draco sighed as he closed Hermione's note. She was already devastated that she lost her parents. If she ever found out about Draco and his Dark Mark... He pictured her reaction-

"Come on, Draco. Tell me what's been bothering you ths whole time." Hermione said, sitting next to him on the couch and putting a hand on his shoulder.

Draco sighed. He knew it was time to tell her. But how.

She's going to leave me, Draco thought to himself. I know it. She's going to leave me.

"Draco. Please?" Hermione whispered. "I'm your girlfriend. I deserve to know."

Draco looked at her. Her usually loving brown eyes were full of sorrow. It hurt him to look at her. Hermione's hand was still on his shoulder. He took it off and placed it in his own.

"What I'm about to tell you might make you reconsider how you feel about me." Draco started.

Hermione nodded and squeezed Draco's hand, encouraging her boyfriend to go on. Draco told her the whole story. From when his mother told him to be honest with Hermione, to when he received the Mark. When he was finished, Hermione's mouth was almost wide open. Draco almost braced himself preparing for the physical damage Hermione was going to do to him. But, Hermione wasn't going to slap him.

"So...can I see it?" Hermione asked Draco, who nodded and rolled his sleeve up. Hermione gently ran her finger over Draco's Mark.

Just then, Draco was interrupted by the knocking of his bedroom door.

"Come in," he said.

It was his mother. She sat beside him and hugged him.

"So, are you going to see Hermione today?" she asked.

Draco nodded. "Is it alright if she stays here for the rest of the summer? She lost her parents and she has nowhere to stay."

Narcissa nodded. "Just be sure those fiends you call Death Eaters stay away from this house."

Draco hugged his mother. "Thank you. You'll love Hermione. She's so sweet."

Narcissa nodded. "So I finally get to meet the girl who has my son head over heels?"

Draco nodded and apparated to Diagon Alley.