Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other character. Neither do I own the places. All I own is the plot. The rest belongs to J.K Rowling.

Chapter fifteen: Confusion

"Water...please..." One of the voices croaked.

But no one moved.

"Oh sweet mother of god..." someone whispered.

"It can't be..." Ginny sobbed.

The two figures straightened up and brushed the hair out of their faces. Everyone looked at them silently. They all looked up as Harry stormed through the door and stopped dead in his tracks. He stared at them.

"Her-Hermione?" it sounded weakly from his lips.

He took a step forward, stretched out his hand. But she stepped, hiding behind the other who stared at Harry coldly.

Harry breathed heavily. "Malfoy...get away from her! Leave her alone you bastard!"

He ran forward and before Draco knew what was happpening Harry had punched him in his face. Draco fell to the floor. Hermione screamed. She fell to her knees and helped him up.

Harry grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him, happiness radiating in his eyes. "Hermione...I thought...I thought you had-"

"Don't touch me Harry!" she said shrilly, pulling her wrist out of his grap. She breathed heavily and shivered. Draco layed a hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down Hermione...it's okay."

She nodded and her breathing calmed. Everyone was still looking at them silently. Hermione stepped forward and grasped the nearest thing to prevent a fall. Mrs. Weasley hurried forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Oh...oh we thought you were...dead! My god you're in a terrible state! What happened?"

Hermione didn't answer. She snapped around when she heard a groan behind her. George and Fred had run forward and grasped Draco. He was forced on his knees and his arms were held behind his back.

"What are you doing here Malfoy." Fred hissed. "What have you done to Hermione."

"You're not so clever now eh...shouldn't have come here you filthy little Death Eater bastard." George spat.

Hermione tried to pull herself free from mrs. Weasley's grasp.

"No! Leave him alone!" she shouted.

But they didn't listen to her and forced him into the kitchen. Ginny and mrs. Weasley took the struggling Hermione into the livingroom.

"No! Please don't hurt him! He's innocent!"

"Shh dear...you're traumatised by whatever happened. Don't worry, they won't let him escape. Let me clean those cuts you have."

But Hermione started to kick anything within reach so they had to let her go.

She ran into the kitchen. There she saw Draco, tied to a chair. The Weasley boys and Harry were stationed at the sides of the room, with grim looks on their faces. She stared at them unbelievingly.

"Don't touch him! He's suffered enough already!"

She ran forward but was stopped by Harry.

"Hermione...why are you doing this? He's a Malfoy and a Dea-"

"No! He's not a Death Eater. Let me go!"

She pushed him aside and started to untie the ropes Draco was bound with.

"Don't worry Draco...I'll get these off."

He smiled at her. Even when all the others were against him, even when she was back with his friends, she still chose his side.

"Hermione, get away from there. He's dangerous." Ron said harshly.

Harry grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a deep hug. "Oh god...I thought I'd lost you. I thought you were dead."

"Like you care." She sneered.

Suddenly he let her go. "What do you mean...?" he said weakly.

"Exactly what I said." She answered coldly.

She turned away from him and gave Ron a hug.

"Please Ron. Believe me. Draco's not-"

"Draco?" Ron said, raising his eyebrow. "Are you on first-name terms with him?"

He opened his mouth to say more, but then Dumbledore hastened through the door.

"Untie mister Malfoy at once."

The others looked at the old man with unbelief written all over their faces.

"What?"

Hermione took her chance and untied Draco. He thanked her as she helped him up.

Dumbledore shook his hand. "I do apologise for this situation. I didn't tell them...so they could not possibly have known."

Draco nodded.

"That's okay professor. I understand."

"Couldn't have know what?" Ron asked confused.

Dumbledore faced them all.

"The reason...why I never told you who our contact was...was not only because I was his Secret Keeper. It was also because you would not have believed or trusted his honesty." He said testily.

"So...what you're saying...is that Malfoy was the contact?" Ron said, even more confused than before.

Dumbledore nodded.

Harry looked completely taken aback. "...You work for us Malfoy?"

"Yes I do."

"And you saved Hermione...I owe you...we all do. Thank you."

Harry stuck out his hand. Draco stared at it coldly until Harry pulled it back again. There was an awkward silence.

Then, brightened by the happiness inside him, he stepped over to Hermione, layed his arms around her waist and leaned in to kiss her.

Before he quite knew what was happening she had slapped him in the face.

"How many times Harry! Don't touch me!"

"You heard her Potter. Leave her alone." Draco sneered.

He put one arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Harry felt jealousy and misunderstanding grow inside him.

Why did she slap him, Harry, when he tried to kiss her, his girlfriend, while she allowed Malfoy to hold her like that.

"I don't think you've quite got the picture Malfoy, but Hermione's my girlfriend." He said menacingly.

Draco looked back at him.

"...No, I'm pretty sure I got the picture right. But maybe you're the one in need of new glasses."

"Come on Draco...let's go to a different room." Hermione said, taking his arm and leading him out of the kitchen to prevent another arguement.

"I just wanted to set him straight Mione. He can't expect you to act as if nothing has happened. Not after the stunt he pulled."

Hermione looked into his eyes, her hands around his neck, his arms around her waist.

"You are the the sweetest, Draco. Truely you are." She leaned in and kissed him.

When the broke apart he smiled.

"What's so funny?" she said.

"Well," he answered, "You should really look in the mirror. You look terrible." He snorted.

She grinned. "You're face isn't the cleanest either, you know."

He looked in the mirror, examening his face. "...Yeah, you're right...is there somewhere I can freshen up?"

Hermione took his hand and lead him up the stairs.

"This is the bathroom. You take a shower while I ask mrs. Weasley for some new robes for both of us."

He grinned mischievously. "New robes? I think this ripped-and-torn look rather suits you."

She laughed and pushed him inside, closing the door behind him.

"Right...new robes." She muttered.

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I got such lovely reviews form EVERYONE!!!!!!! 12 reviews for ONE chapter....that's a lot......and as for my exam....I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With flying colours! Muahahahaa...... Okay......

Mojo the Rock Chick Munchkin: And there are many more chapters to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iron Morgan: Well, I did great in my exam apparently. That's what the sensei told me. Anyway, thanks for the review.

Dark Angels: Your dark and evil plan worked perfectly And as for being a fiend...only here to do my job (

Shadowrayne: Thanks for the tip. I already have Holy for Yuna. I used that and three Aeon overdrives to beat Seymore in Gagazet...but yunalesca has this thing called mass death or something...it's EVIL.

Xcharmedx: NO don't die!!!!!! Quick someone get an ambulance!

May-ann: thanks for the review!

KeWlGal9tH: yeah...it was pretty obvious who they were wasn't it....though, it was kinda a nice cliffie

Kitimat-born: I updated!

Dotty: yay! You luv the story! And there are about 9 more chapters to come! So lots and lots of reading fun is awaiting you.

Regina-terrae: I love karate too. I've been doing it for about two years now. Yesterday I got the blue belt, which is 4th kyu. What's yours?

Butterfly-elf: Yeah, Draco's nice. But he still kinda get's on Harry's nerves and stuff. They're not getting along THAT well. But you might have noticed that.

Hd4ever: you're testing for black! KEWL. One of my friends is too. But he's the only one this year in the country, so there's a bit of a problem for him...but I'm pretty sure he'll pass. Good luck on your test! Did you see LOTR III? I cried at that part where Frodo says 'I don't need you anymore. Go home Sam.' I cried! It was sooooo sad! And my friends laughed at me because of that. But I don'care. It was a real emotional moment, so I was allowed to cry. Right?

see you all at the next chapter!

- Raven55