Disclaimer- You and I both know that this all belongs to J.K.
A/N- Sorry I've taken way too bloody long to get this up, but as you all know it is summer holidays where I am, so I've been away places and then last week doing 'holiday homework' (don't you just love teachers?) It's here now though, and the next one is on the way (I Promise, I really do.) So get reading (
Chapter Nineteen- The Quidditch Final.
Abandoning Harry and Ron in the corridor outside Charms with the excuse of an overdue library book, Hermione rushed off to drop her books in her dorm then moved steadily towards Dumbledore's office. There was every possibility that he would be busy elsewhere, but she hoped fervently that he wouldn't be.
Reaching the gargoyle guard, she stopped, faced with the ever-present problem of not knowing the password. Deciding the only way to get in was to knock; Hermione pounded her fist against the wall, only to be greeted with no noise that could possibly alert Dumbledore of her presence, and an aching pain in her fist.
She was not left long in low spirits, however. Her amulet grew warm and glowed emerald and the gargoyle jumped respectfully aside. Hermione stood gaping at the spiraling staircase and then cast an odd look at the amulet around her neck, which had resumed its normal appearance.
"What's with you?" she asked it. "You're weird, did you know that?"
Without any further hesitation, Hermione walked through the entranceway, before the gargoyle had the chance to close in her face. She stood still while the staircase spiraled her upwards. When she reached the top, she faltered for only a moment before knocking on the door.
"Come in." she heard Dumbledore's voice say softly from inside.
Opening the door and walking in, she saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk with parchment strewn all over it. Once she had closed the door behind her, she turned and looked apologetically at him. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, Headmaster."
"No need for formality, Miss Granger. Come, sit down." He replied lightly.
Hermione sat down in a seat opposite his desk. "I have a few things I need to ask you."
"Of course." He said, laying his quill aside and resting his hands on the desk.
"Well, Draco and I believe the time of the Prophecy is coming closer. So we're trying to prepare for the confrontation with Voldemort. We have a few ideas, but one of them we can't do without your assistance."
Dumbledore leaned forward. "What is it you have in mind?"
Hermione decided to start from the beginning. She told him about Credere and the offer she had made. She told Dumbledore about Credere being the sacrifice, but that they needed her to pass as Hermione. She continued, "So, we've come to the conclusion that we need to perform a Human Transfiguration with this Unicorn, but don't know how well it will work."
Dumbledore nodded. "I see. That seems like the only thing to do."
Hermione cleared her throat uncomfortably. "Well, you see Professor Dumbledore, we need your help to do it. Neither of us have any idea how to perform such a complex transfiguration without having it take a very ugly turn."
"Hmm." Dumbledore thought for a few minutes, while Hermione sat watching him intently. He made no sign however, as to what he was thinking. "I think, Miss Granger, that you and Draco must complete this Prophecy alone to the very end."
Hermione's heart sank very quickly.
"But-" he continued. "I also believe that you both must survive to the very end; and if either of you is hurt in attempting this transfiguration, I shall never forgive myself. Therefore, I think I must complete it all myself. There is, I think, no harm in my doing so. You came up with the idea, and you have asked me for help, so it is not as if I am butting in."
Hermione smiled in relief. "What will you need?"
Dumbledore frowned. "I think a part of you that holds your DNA, so it can be replicated for Credere. Just a few strands of hair will do fine."
She quickly pulled her hair out of its ponytail and pulled a few strands out from the back with a grimace. Handing them to Dumbledore, she said, "If these aren't sufficient, let me know immediately."
He nodded, but replied, "They'll be fine." Dumbledore then looked at Hermione thoughtfully. "I will have this completed by the end of next week. Is that, do you think, enough time?"
"I hope so." She said. "Draco and I will be very busy from now on, so we greatly appreciate your doing this." She sighed and thought about what she and Draco would be doing for the next couple of weeks. Way too much, she concluded. By the end of it she would need a very long sleep. And a great deal of chocolate. Probably some butterbeers.a new book wouldn't go astray either.
Dumbledore smiled softly and her face glazed over in thought. "I wish you both the best of luck. I will let either you or Draco know when I am finished preparing, then you can take me to this Unicorn."
"Ok." Hermione said. "Oh, Professor?" she asked when she remembered a question she had wanted to ask him. "Do you know of anything that can take the eternal powers out of Unicorn blood? Anything at all?"
Dumbledore frowned. "I don't know actually. I'm sure there would be somewhere. I can find out for you if you'd like. And if possible, I'll get it. "
"That'd be fantastic." Hermione smiled. "Because it's kind of important." She sighed and slumped her shoulders slightly. "I'd better get going. Got some homework to do, and some spell writing."
"Have a good evening." Dumbledore said in farewell, and he turned his attention back to his scrolls and parchment.
Hermione left his office, and made her way back to the common room. She walked in and spotted Ginny sitting next to Harry at the far end of the room. Ron was at a table with Seamus and Dean laughing hysterically. Hermione smiled at him as she passed, and he managed a weak 'Hi, Hermione," before breaking down into fits of laughter again. Hermione figured they had been messing around with edible substances made by Fred and George, because of the empty wrappers and crumbs in the corners of their mouths.
Hermione nearly stopped at Harry and Ginny, but when she saw them exchange a cheeky smile and lean in towards each other she thought better of it, and continued up to her dorm with a pang of jealousy. It wasn't that Hermione didn't have someone to love, because Draco was all she wanted. But having to hide her relationship from every one wasn't her idea of happiness. She sighed and got out her homework.
A few hours later, she folded up her Potions essay and pulled out a blank piece of parchment. She needed to begin writing an incantation for their final meeting with Voldemort. Thinking for only a few moments, Hermione put her quill to paper and neatly wrote every idea that came to her head. ***
Draco woke up late Friday morning and rushed to class without breakfast or his books. Cursing loudly when he reached the Transfiguration classroom and realized he was empty handed, he turned on his heel, ready to run back to his dorm for his books, when the door opened and McGonagall's head popped out and surveyed him severely.
"Mr. Malfoy. What are you doing out here? You should have been in class ten minutes ago, not out here swearing for all the world to hear." she demanded, noting his lack of books and quills in a swift glance.
Draco slowly turned back around and said hopefully, "Just running an errand for.a Professor."
McGonagall looked at him over her glasses. "And which Professor might that be?
Draco knew that he had been caught, but wanted to get a smile out of this severe woman. "The one you don't know." He told her nodding his head slowly, as if with superior knowledge. "He's terribly elusive, I've noticed. Wears a long black cape and a white mask, most of the time. "
"I know all Professors teaching in this school, Mr. Malfoy." She replied with her voice firm, but a small twitch in the corner of her mouth. "And the man you described is utter nonsense. Where are your books?"
Draco sighed and faced her. "I slept in," he said in resignation. "I'm sorry, I left them in my dorm."
"Well," McGonagall pursed her lips. "Next time, don't. Ten points from Slytherin. If Quidditch practice makes you neglect classes the next morning, then perhaps you should be.no, you won't be here next year. Hmm." She said almost disapprovingly. "Well, there's no point in giving you a threat to be taken off the team next year, if you won't even be here." McGonagall looked at him sternly. "There's no time for you to go back and get your books now. Come in here, you'll have to borrow parchment and quills from another student." She turned and walked back in to the classroom with Draco following behind.
Draco moved to sit with Pansy, who was seated at the back of the classroom. But McGonagall turned on him as he lowered himself into the seat. He smiled at her weakly, knowing what was coming. "I don't think so. I can't trust you to work back here. Come on," she looked about the room with narrowed eyes. "Up the front, next to Miss Granger."
Hermione spun around in her seat to look at Draco, who looked back with an unreadable expression. They had to remember that they had 'just broken up.' Draco scoffed, "Anywhere else I can choose from?"
McGonagall's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?" she asked softly.
"I was just wondering if there was somewhere else." he looked at her expression, and knew immediately that he shouldn't go any further. Draco slumped his shoulders. "Nothing." He said grumpily, moving to sit next to Hermione. As he did so, he was aware of all eyes in the class on him and Hermione, waiting to see the inevitable fight that would break out between them.
Hermione watched him sit in the seat next to her with an icy glare on her face. "You should get an alarm clock, idiot."
"Piss off." Was his reply. The lesson resumed and students turned their attention back to the Professor, but they still had to keep up the act. "You gonna give me some paper or not?"
Hermione had to resist the urge not to laugh at the sulky look he had on his face. "Maybe not. It is mine, after all."
"What, you're getting protective over parchment?" he sneered at her, snatching a piece off her side of the desk. He looked, but couldn't see a quill anywhere. "How about a quill?"
"I don't trust you with one of my quills." She replied haughtily, picking up her bag from her feet and clutching it protectively to her chest. "Use someone else's."
"I want to use yours." He said firmly. "Pass it over."
"No."
"Then I'll get it myself." He reached forward and made to snatch the bag, but Hermione pulled it away from him. Therefore, instead of taking the bag, he grabbed her in a place she would rather him not. Or at least, not in front of a classroom of other students.
He pulled back in surprise, but could not suppress the grin that came immediately to his face. Hermione blushed scarlet and couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing. In a vain attempt to appear that she hated Draco, she hit him on the arm and shoved the bag on his lap.
Once they were writing down key points to remember in their practical exam from the board, Draco whispered to Hermione, "Sorry about that. Didn't expect you to move the bag."
"Shut up." she replied with a smile.
"Hey, you moved it at your own risk. In fact, I'll bet you did it on purpose."
"What ever you reckon." Hermione mumbled. After a few minutes, she whispered to him, "I went to see Dumbledore after classes yesterday."
"Yeah?"
"He'll do the transfiguration for us. He will try to be ready for us by the end of next week."
"That's good of him." Draco commented, continuing to copy down from the board. "Did you ask him that other question?"
"Yep. He didn't know. But he'll try find out, and locate it if possible." She replied.
"I'm sure there is something. I mean, there's got to be. And Dumbledore will find it, if anyone can. But I suppose wanting to halt the effects of Unicorn blood isn't very common."
"I'm worried about it." Hermione said in an undertone. "What if there isn't anything? Then we're out of ideas again."
"Don't worry." Draco said. "It'll work. It has to."
***
Friday evening, Hermione found that she was able to go to the cabin without having to make up any excuses. Harry and Ron were out practicing for the Quidditch Final, which was to take place the following morning. Ginny, along with most of the Gryffindor's, were out watching them train.
Hermione went down and watched for a while too, until it grew dark, then she sneaked away and used her amulet to get to the cabin. Upon entering there, she noticed Draco sitting at the table scribbling words down on parchment at a rapid rate.
"Putting your order in for a new and improved brain?" she asked him. "You know, one that actually works."
He smiled slightly at her comment, but continued to write. "No." he answered. "I'm on a roll."
"For what?"
"Writing up a Weakness potion. It's very simple really. The majority will be of Droysline. We'll add some other bits and pieces too, but Droysline is the main one." He told her, all the while continuing to write down the method.
"You sure it will work?" Hermione asked him, seating herself down next to him at the table.
"Yep." He replied with such confidence that Hermione found she had no reason to doubt him. Hermione pulled out a few scrap pieces of parchment that held the work she had done so far on the incantation.
"How are you going on yours?" he asked, looking up for only a moment before writing again.
"Alright. Hard finding the appropriate words though." She responded, raising the end of her quill to her mouth and chewing on it unconsciously. Draco glanced at her again and smiled when her eyes widened as a thought struck her, and she too, began to scribble words down furiously.
Hermione and Draco sat together in silence for the next half-hour, both spending the majority of that time looking at the other as they worked. Draco was just writing the last line on his method, when he felt Hermione's eyes on him again.
"I'm just too sexy for you, ain't I doll?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and a hand through his hair. "And I mean, irresistible."
Hermione started slightly when she realized she'd been caught watching him, but replied quickly, "Oh no, I just find it easier to think when I'm staring into empty space so, you know, your head was the closest thing to that I could find." She feigned a look of concern. "You should send your order in for a brain quick smart. I'd hate for a bird to think it was a vacant nest and make a home in there." She thought for a second. "No wait, that would be really cute."
"Cute?" Draco asked in disgust. "You think it would be cute to have eggs on my head and bird crap in my hair?"
"It'd certainly be an improvement."
"Ha, ha. Aren't you funny?" He said sarcastically.
"Some people think so." She replied, continuing to gnaw at the end of her quill. Draco reached over and gently took it away from her. "Hey, that's mine." She protested. "Give it back."
"You shouldn't chew on your things." Draco reprimanded her softly. "You leave marks on them."
"Sorry. I didn't realize what I was doing." Hermione said.
"Don't apologize. It's not mine."
"Then can I please have it back?" she asked him, smiling faintly. "I do need to write you know. And the words just don't come out the same if I use my fingernail."
Draco began handing the quill over, then stopped, smirked to himself, and pulled it away again. "No."
"What do you mean 'no'?" Hermione asked, wondering what thought had occurred to him in that sly mind of his.
Draco found it hard to keep the smile off his face. "I don't trust you with one of your quills. You damage them. Use someone else's."
"I want to use mine, now pass it over." She said, then she frowned. A feeling of dejá vu came over her, and she realized this was the same conversation they had had earlier that day in Transfiguration, only reversed. She remembered with a faint blush how that exchange had ended.
"No." Draco replied, and he lowered his hand that held the quill to his lap.
"Draco." She said, repressing a smile. "I know how you want this to go, but I'm not going to reach for the quill. Sorry to disappoint you."
"Why not?" he asked, pretending he had no idea why she refused to reach for the quill.
"You know exactly why." Hermione told him. "I reach for it, you move it away at the last minute, I grab something else."
"Hermione!" Draco exclaimed. "How dirty. I would never have thought of that."
"Can I please have my quill, Draco?" she asked, her smile disappearing, being replaced by a frown.
"Sure. It's just there." he indicated to his hand, which still lay in his lap.
Hermione looked him in the eye, and he held her gaze steadily. "Don't you dare." She warned, and she reached over slowly. His hand didn't move, and her fingers curled around her quill and pulled it away to safety. When she looked at Draco he was watching her with an unwavering gaze.
"Don't you trust me?" he asked her quietly.
She started slightly at the question. "What do you mean? After this, not really."
"All I did was take a physically abused quill away from you. What reason is that not to trust me?" he said, still watching her.
Hermione frowned, "Well, you were going to move it and make me.you know."
"But I didn't." he answered. "I was just messing with you. I know you well enough to know that you wouldn't appreciate me doing that to you."
"Thank you." She responded. They were quiet for a few minutes while Hermione continued to write and Draco packed his things away. She packed her things away soon after him. They stood and faced each other.
Hermione kissed him on the cheek. "Play well tomorrow, my sexy Seeker."
"That was meant for me, right? That wasn't some message I'm supposed to give Harry? Because the whole kissing him on the cheek part might be a bit awkward." He told her.
"You think Harry is sexy?"
"I- well, you said.huh? No." he answered, crossing his arms across his chest.
Hermione laughed. "I'm just teasing you. You're the only sexy Seeker that I know. At least, the only Seeker who will agree with me that he's sexy."
"Well, I am." Draco said smugly.
"Uh-huh. I know." She replied. "So, good luck. Just don't beat Harry. I still want Gryffindor to win."
"What kind of good luck is that?" Draco asked her in confusion. "Why don't you just tell me to lose? It would be easier."
"Fine. Make sure you lose, sweetheart." She kissed him again. "Oh! Would you mind coming here again tomorrow night?" she asked.
"Uh, sure." He replied. "Any reason in particular?"
"Well, I don't get to see you enough." Hermione said. "And when I do, we have to pretend that we don't like each other."
"I see." Draco said. "Well then, tomorrow night it is."
Hermione smiled at him, grabbed her amulet and disappeared from sight.
***
Draco reached under his bed and grabbed the handle of his broom and pulled it out. Resting it over his shoulder and standing up, he examined himself in the mirror. With his green and silver Quidditch uniform, his sleek black broom and his masculine physique, Draco believed he could win the Quidditch Final just by smiling at Madam Hooch.
But, he supposed, it wouldn't hurt to give Harry a chance at winning, therefore he would make sure he avoided all eye contact with the Quidditch Umpire until at least twenty minutes of the game had passed.
Draco walked through the Slytherin Common Room, and as he went, received many wishes of luck and at least fifteen people clasped his hand. He finally reached the door, and stepped out of it with a wave of voices cheering his name. He closed the door behind him and almost ran into Chris, the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, who was also in his uniform.
"Draco!" He exclaimed. "I've been looking every where for you. The team is meeting in the change rooms in ten minutes for the pep talk. Make sure you're there."
"Absolutely." Draco replied. "I've just got to grab something to eat first."
"You haven't eaten yet?" Chris asked in shock. "I can't believe it, Draco. If you eat now, you might get a stitch while you're playing, and we can't afford that."
"Get a stitch while sitting still on a broom?" Draco asked. "I doubt it. But if you're that worried, then I'll skip breakfast."
"What? That's even worse! You might pass out or something while you are flying. We can't afford that either." Chris, it appeared, was suffering from a large amount of stress. "Harry ate a massive breakfast an hour ago. And when I passed him in the hall just before he was drinking from a water bottle."
Draco smiled at him, and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Mate, I'll be fine. There's nothing for you to worry about. I'll meet you in the change rooms in ten minutes." He turned to go. "Oh, and stop watching Harry. He's been doing this for seven years. He's knows what he's doing. Watching him will only make you stress more."
"But you've been doing this for six years, Draco." Chris protested.
"Compared to Harry, that doesn't seem to be enough." He said softly, and walked away. He slipped into the Great Hall and quickly ate a few pieces of toast and a large bowl of cereal. He sculled a large glass of water, and headed out towards the pitch. As he was walking across the grass with the sun on his face, he heard laughter from behind him and someone called out his name.
Stopping as he neared the change rooms, Draco turned around to see who it was. Raising his eyebrows in question, he waited until Harry and Ron had caught up to him. Draco noted that Ron stood a little off to the side, as if still not comfortable with conversing with the Slytherin that had caused him so much trouble over the years.
"What's up?" Draco asked curiously.
"We just wanted to wish you good luck for today, seems as it's the last match we'll ever play against each other." Harry said. Ron nodded his agreement.
"Oh." Draco said, taken aback. "Well, thanks. Good luck to you guys too. Not that you really need it."
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance. Ron spoke, "We're not entirely sure what Hermione would think if she saw us talking to you. You know, you guys have broken up, and all."
"I don't think she would mind." Draco said quietly. Ron frowned at this reply, and Draco quickly added, "And if she does, then that's her problem."
"Right. Of course." Ron nodded, but he did look over his shoulder to see if Hermione was anywhere in sight.
"Hey mate," Harry said to Draco in a half whisper. "Have you heard who's going to be here today?"
"What do you mean?" he asked with a frown.
"Apparently, the coach and assistant coach of the Chudley Cannons is going to be watching, and the coach of the Speeding Snitches." Harry told him with a grin. "Both are very good teams, and both are looking for new players."
Draco's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
Harry nodded and his grin widened. "Yep." Ron also smiled, but more at Harry. Draco guessed that Ron was happy for his friend, as it was obvious Harry would be asked to join one of the teams, but he didn't seem to have any confidence in himself. Which, Draco thought, was just as well. Besides, Ron was after a job at the Ministry so he could work with his father.
"How did you find out?" Draco asked curiously.
"Uh, I probably shouldn't say." Harry said, looking slightly uncomfortable. "It wasn't really meant to be known, that's all."
"Come on," Draco pushed. "Who told you?"
"Well," Harry said quietly. "Our head of house isn't entirely without resources."
"McGonagall?" Draco asked. "She told you Gryffindor's without even telling us? That's unfair."
"That's what we thought," Harry said. "So we came to tell you. Probably a bad choice on our behalf, considering you'll play even better now you know you're being watched. But, otherwise, it's just not fair."
Draco smiled faintly at Harry's good sportsmanship. "I thought you guys just wanted to wish me luck?"
"That too." Ron put in. He looked over his shoulder once more, still worried that Hermione would see them talking to her ex-boyfriend, and when he turned back around he had paled noticeably. "She's coming." He whispered. "We should go. Or maybe, you should go." Ron said to Draco. "She might yell at you or something. Her temper is wearing thin these days."
Draco concealed a smile behind a face of stubborn annoyance. "If she can't accept you guys talking to me then it's her problem. Besides, I can yell just as loud as she can."
Hermione reached them, believing Harry and Ron hadn't known she was approaching. She was quite unaware of Draco being there at all, as their tall figures had obstructed him from sight. Creeping quietly up behind Ron, she moved quickly to cover his eyes with her hands, and whispered in a deep voice, quite unlike her own, "I have you now. You shall never escape my wrath. Surrender, or suffer the consequences."
Draco smirked, knowing that if Hermione were aware of his presence, she wouldn't have acted quite so childishly. He couldn't see her, as she was directly behind Ron, but Harry glanced back at Hermione with a smile on his face. Harry then looked at Draco, and while Ron arranged with Hermione to 'suffer the consequences,' he was completely unaware of the small red headed girl who ran towards him from the castle.
Draco managed to let nothing show on his face, therefore Harry was completely startled when a pair of hands snaked around his head to cover his eyes. Ginny didn't say anything at all, just waited patiently for Harry to act with a smile lighting her face.
Suddenly feeling extremely out of place, Draco turned to walk to the change rooms without a sound. He had only gotten a few feet away however, when he heard Hermione scream. Almost instinctively, he turned back, although he knew she screamed not of fright or fear, but startled excitement.
He saw that Ron had reached over his shoulder and grabbed Hermione by the arms, and had lifted her over his shoulder. Hermione was now stuck high above the ground, without a chance of escaping Ron's grasp. Hermione started laughing and squirming to get down, and Ron gave her a few moments to fret, then set her neatly back on the ground in front of him.
Glancing over to Harry when he heard Ginny make a squeal similar to Hermione's, Draco saw that he had done the exact same thing to Ginny. It took a while before he set her down, and Draco had a feeling that these friends had done this before. Must be a Gryffindor thing, he thought.
Hermione shouted at Ron, "That's it! You must suffer the consequences of your actions!" and she moved towards him, with hands outstretched and began to tickle him ruthlessly. Draco watched as Ron doubled over in laughter and wrapped his arm around Hermione and pulled her to him to try squash her efforts.
Knowing that he should walk away, and actually walking away were two separate things. Draco watched with something similar to jealousy as Hermione stepped back in defeat with her arms by her side, giggling like a child. She was completely at ease, all her guards down, now that she was with her friends. She didn't have to act like her relationship was something it wasn't; not like she did when she was with Draco in other peoples company.
Continuing to watch her silently from his point a few meters away, Draco realized that Hermione was never this relaxed with him, even when they were alone in the cabin, and didn't have to act like they had once gone out.
Harry and Ginny's encounter had taken on a different turn, and both were now absorbed in a long kiss, oblivious to all around them. Draco frowned, and looked back at Ron and Hermione just to be sure their intentions were innocent towards each other. He breathed a sigh of relief when Ron stepped away from Hermione and motioned to the change rooms. He nudged Harry in the ribs, smiled at Hermione, and jogged off.
Coming to his senses quickly, Draco realized he was in danger of being seen by Hermione. Not that he was in the wrong place or anything, but it would have been awkward if she saw him watching her.
Spinning on his heal, Draco made to move out to the change room before he was noticed, but he was out of luck. His name was spoken after a matter of seconds, then he was called out to. Thinking that he would just ignore it and continue, he quickened his pace.
He heard footsteps behind him and a hand grabbed his shoulder gently. Stopping, he twisted around to see Hermione standing right next to him. "I didn't know you were here." she told him softly, frowning at him.
He looked at the ground and shrugged her hand off. It dropped by her side. Draco looked over to where Harry and Ginny had been, and noticed them walking off hand in hand to the Gryffindor change rooms. "Well, I am." He said, wishing he knew what she was thinking.
"What.? Why didn't you say anything?" she asked, and Draco could tell she was confused.
"It was awkward." Draco said, not looking at her. "You just appeared, before I could leave. Then you and Ron were.I don't know."
"You felt out of place, I can understand that." Hermione said. "But you could have left without me noticing. Or at least let me know you were there. Why didn't you?"
Draco shrugged uncomfortably, not wanting to answer her, because he knew he wouldn't get away with lying. Not to Hermione. "Because.I was just-" he stopped and fell silent.
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Ron is just a friend, Draco. One of my best friends maybe, but only a friend. You didn't have to watch over us. Or over me. It's as if you don't trust me."
"I do trust you Hermione." Draco answered sincerely. "It's just that." he trailed off.
"What?" she asked.
"You were both very close." He replied, looking down at her with his cool gray eyes.
Hermione sighed, then pointed her finger at him. "Don't you even think about getting jealous. There's no bloody reason to. And we have more important things to worry about right now." She was about a head shorter then he was, and right then, with the wind blowing her hair away from her face and her robe up against her she looked perfect. Her eyes were bright and clear, her cheeks slightly flushed. Draco shook his head to get rid of his sudden need for her. Seeing this, Hermione's beautiful face crinkled with a frown. Draco looked away quickly.
"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly. "Are you alright, Draco?"
He mumbled, "I'm fine," but still wouldn't look at her. He needed to leave; to get away from her, or else he would forget that they weren't allowed to be seen together, and do something that would give them away. "I should go."
"Wait." Hermione commanded sharply. "You're acting ridiculous and I want you to stop. If you won't, then I'll cancel your order for a new brain, and your plans to take over the world will be ruined because of your stupidity." She paused when she saw him trying to repress a smile, and tried to make him look at her by standing in front of him. He didn't. "So don't be stupid." She told him softly, touching his shoulder again.
"Don't touch me." he said tightly. Hermione flinched from his words and stepped back as if stung.
"What?" she whispered.
"Control is difficult for a guy when a beautiful woman like yourself is tempting them. So don't touch me, and I won't do anything that I'm not allowed to do." His voice was now full of restraint, and his eyes continued to look away.
"Look at me." Hermione said. Draco didn't move, instead he repeated that he should get to the change room before Chris sent out a search party. "Before you go, I want you to look at me."
"I feel as if you're ordering me, instead of requesting." He said, but turned to look at her. Draco, the master of concealment, had never been able to clear his eyes of what he was feeling. Hermione knew that, and that's why she demanded to see them. He looked at her, the sharp steel long gone from his gaze, and Hermione's heart fluttered at what she saw. Annoyance was evident, but only for a few moments. Desire and love replaced it quickly, and without thinking she reached out and touched his cheek.
"I love you." She whispered, and Draco took her hand and kissed it softly. Her eyes filled with tears, but they did not spill over. "I don't want to keep you a secret anymore."
Dropping her hand silently, Draco didn't have to say anything to make it known he felt the same. "Soon." Was all he said, and before the large crowd of students came out of the castle doors, he turned and walked swiftly away from her to the Slytherin change rooms without a backward glance.
Willing away her unshed tears, Hermione took a deep breath, raised her head, and walked to the stand to join Ginny, who was no doubt wondering where she was.
***
At the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle, Harry kicked his feet off the ground and flew up high above the pitch, the students and all the other players. He was determined to win this match, that much was obvious, but he had told his other team mates that he would put off having to catch the snitch till the last possible moment, so Gryffindor could have as many points as they could get.
This was Harry's last match at Hogwarts, and he wanted to win with flying colors.
He circled the pitch, keeping out a sharp eye for the snitch, and also closely watching Draco's every move. It appeared Draco also wanted his team to score some real points before he'd start seriously looking for the snitch.
Harry's thoughts went back to his conversation with Draco earlier. Draco had been civil, even friendly, when he realized that Harry and Ron posed no threat. He was a nice enough bloke, Harry concluded. He was good for Hermione. Harry saw the way her eyes lit up whenever Draco was around, no matter what their expressions were, or what they were saying to each other. Harry could only imagine how hard it must be for them to hide their relationship.
Harry zoomed lazily around the pitch, heading for the Gryffindor stands. He passed close to where the two girls were sitting, and they cheered at him in excitement. Hermione shouted, "You make sure you win, Harry! I'll never live it down if you don't!"
Ginny shouted something similar, but when Harry was nearly out of earshot, she yelled, "I love you, Harry!"
Startled beyond imagining, he looked back at her. She was already blushing fiercely, and moved to hide her face behind Hermione. In his state of shock, Harry nearly got hit on the head with a bludger, almost flew into the stands, and as he changed direction to fly up higher, he narrowly missed colliding with Draco.
"Hey!" Draco shouted. "Keep your wits about you Harry! You need to stay on your broom as much as I do."
"Sorry." Harry managed to mumble, and he stopped his broom so he was hovering above the pitch.
Draco turned his broom around, and flew back to where Harry was flying motionless. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." He paused. "Well, no you don't, because you see ghosts everyday, and are probably used to them by now. But you know what I mean."
"I just- I mean, Ginny just said that.um, well." He paled as a thought struck him. "I should have said it back. She'll hate me!"
"What?" Draco asked curiously. "What did she say?"
Harry seemed quite unable to answer, just mumbled something incoherently. It didn't take Draco long to figure out what Ginny must have said. "It's obvious she loves you, mate. Surely you knew already." He told Harry with a grin.
Harry looked at Draco. "Well, I suppose, but-" he grinned helplessly. "I never thought that she'd say it."
"I know what you mean." Draco said dryly, his eyes scanning the pitch for the tiny golden ball. Slytherin had already scored thirty points, but Gryffindor just scored another ten, raising their total to fifty. The match was moving quickly.
Harry cast Draco a sidelong glance. "You mean that you guys.you know?"
"What?" Draco asked. "Do we love each other?" It would have been almost embarrassing to have this conversation with another guy, but Harry found that Draco's tone was very serious. Harry looked upon Draco with new respect, that he shouldn't feel ashamed of his feelings. It helped that they were about Harry's best friend.
Harry nodded with the question still in his eyes.
Draco replied quietly. "Yeah, we do."
"It must be hard for you, mate. Not to be able to act that way towards each other." Harry wished he hadn't spoken this as soon as the words were out of his mouth. It wasn't his place to go asking another guy about what he felt. Almost weird.
But Draco gave a twisted smile that didn't reach his eyes. "That's the truth. The self-control required is harder to maintain then anything I've ever done. It doesn't seem as difficult for her. I wonder if she doesn't."
"She does." Harry said firmly, not wishing to speak the actual words 'she does love and want you,' but managing to get away with just the first part. "I can see it when she looks at you and-" He paused, considering whether or not he should say the next part.
"And what?" Draco seemed to be in need of reassurance.
"Well earlier, you know, just before the match started and you two were talking. It was almost painful watching her walk after you. I could tell she feared you leaving her. Then when you started talking together." he looked at Draco, who looked back unembarrassed. "I could tell it was just as difficult for her to restrain from action then it was for you. She just hid it well, at first."
Draco nodded and said, "Thanks. It's just getting hard, that's all."
Harry smiled back and started to fly away. Draco yelled out after him, "You're right Harry! She'll hate you if you don't say it back. My advice is as soon as possible."
Harry looked back over his shoulder and nodded. Draco grinned at him, and said "And make it public, like hers was. That's the only way she'll get over her embarrassment!"
Knowing Draco was right, Harry flew on, trying to think of when to tell Ginny. He couldn't just fly passed her now and say it; that'd be stupid. She'd already snagged that method. But it did have to be in front of people.
***
The game went on, Slytherin scoring every couple of minutes, but Gryffindor scoring at least twice between them, sending them safely ahead of the Slytherin's. Harry knew that whenever he saw the snitch would be the right time to catch it. No more delaying. Even Ron reminded him of his job as he flew passed after a bludger.
"C'mon Harry!" Ron yelled at him. "It's about time for you to catch that golden bugger of a ball. Can't be that hard to find, surely."
"I'll just call it over now, then." he replied dryly, as he scanned the field closely for a hint of gold. Draco was also looking intently. Gryffindor only needed to score twice more before even the capture of the snitch wouldn't be enough to allow Slytherin to win.
Harry flew low to the ground, around the stands, passed the goal hoops and even alongside Draco for a while, but still no snitch. The two of them were beginning to get extremely irritated as they flew by the Ravenclaw stand. As they neared the Gryffindor's, both instinctively glanced towards their girl, and both froze at what they saw.
Hermione and Ginny were standing very still looking at a point no more then a meter in front of them, where a tiny golden ball hovered. Harry and Draco both waited a heartbeats time, judging the distance, before they launched in to a speeding dive. They continued to race, neck and neck, as they got closer. The snitch still hadn't moved.
For only seconds at a time would Draco be in the lead, then Harry, then Draco then back to Harry again. As they got increasingly closer, the snitch moved. But not very far. Only over a fraction so it hovered directly in front of Hermione.
The Seekers both noticed Hermione look about her, trying to find some passage to move away, but the crowd was gathered close, all watching the snitch with wide eyes, and she couldn't push passed them without great difficulty. So, she stayed where she was.
Draco and Harry got closer, and noted they would have to do an amazingly sharp turn to avoid hitting Hermione once they got the snitch. Swallowing hard, Draco's eyes met Hermione's and he suddenly doubted himself. What if he didn't pull up in time? He could seriously hurt her, then he could never live with himself. Draco glanced at Harry, whose face was set in determination.
Only meters from the ball, Draco's heart was beating so fast that he thought it might break a whole in his chest and fall to the ground. He closed his eyes and pulled out of the dive, flying away from the stands. He knew Hermione's eyes followed him, but he didn't look back.
Harry flew the remaining distance at an astonishing speed. He reached out, felt the snitch in his warm fingers, and pulled the handle of his broom so hard it almost hit him in the head. He flew up so close to Hermione that he almost hit her, but he knew he wouldn't. Flying inches above her head, Harry zoomed passed and into the sky with the roar of the crowd following him.
Harry had won. Gryffindor had won.
Slytherin had lost. Draco had feared hurting who he was known to hate. He had hurt Hermione before in a duel; he hadn't cared then whether he hurt her or not. But now it was different. Now, even the possibility had weakened him. Love was his weakness. Draco flew over the pitch and continued until he was lost from sight, far away above the forest.
***
Hermione tried to smile and laugh, she tried desperately to make her happiness for the Gryffindor team seem unaffected, but it was very difficult. She had watched Draco and Harry fly side by side towards her. She had noticed the doubt come into Draco's eyes when he looked at her. Harry had had only eyes for the snitch, and his confidence to grab it before Draco did had been clear on his face.
But Draco had pulled out only seconds before he could have had the snitch. Why? Hermione wondered why he would have done that as she walked back to the Gryffindor common room alongside an ecstatic group of students. The rest of the team was carrying Harry. Ron looked as if he was about to burst, he was so happy. Even Ginny couldn't wipe the grin off her face.
When they reached the common room, banners were brought out, previously prepared by Dean and food and butterbeer was fetched from the kitchens. The celebratory party started, and everyone was smiling. After a half-hour, someone shouted at Harry, "Harry! I think it's about time for a speech!"
Grinning widely, his butterbeer bottle in hand, Harry walked to the end of the room, and stood up on a table so all could see him. "We won!" he shouted, causing the room to explode in cheers.
When the cheers died down, he continued. "In all my years of playing Quidditch, I've never been so happy to have won. The last match I'll ever play here, and you guys," he indicated to his team, "played spectacularly." The crowd cheered again.
"Our Keeper, Colin, who stopped Slytherin scoring so many times, that we owe our win to you." He paused. "To our two Beaters, Ron," he winked at his best friend, "and David. You guys pummeled the other team with the bludgers, that I'm surprised any of them have lived this long."
Ginny, who was standing next to Ron, gave him a slap on the back in congratulations, and Harry's eyes stopped on her for a moment, before he continued. "To our three fantastic Chasers, Isabel, Sally and Michael. You scored us so many points, that the Slytherin Keeper won't be able to walk with pride in these halls for weeks to come!" He stopped and there was an expectant pause. Harry didn't talk, just looked at his team with pride.
"What about you, Harry?" Ron called up. "Aren't you gonna thank yourself? You've done wonders for this team you know."
"Oh, yeah." Harry said, smiling. "And most of all, thanks to me." Every one yelled their agreement to this statement, and for almost a minute, Harry couldn't get their attention. "Hey! Listening to the man with the scar, here please!" he shouted, pointing to himself. "I still have a few more thank you's to make."
Every one went silent, all watching Harry. Hermione thought they were probably thinking back to check if they'd done anything to help Harry that might prove to get their name mentioned. "Thank you to everyone who has supported the team this year. We have had so much encouragement, that we never doubted ourselves on the field."
Hermione's eyes narrowed at the choice of wording, thinking immediately to Draco at the end of the game. Maybe if she'd been more supportive of him, instead of asking nicely if he'd lose.
"I'm sure everyone on the Gryffindor team has different people to thank, so I'll leave that to them, because I ain't bloody well gonna do it, I'll just thank those who helped me." Harry looked at Ron and said, "Thanks to my best mate Ron, who made me train even when it was raining, so persistent he was, and helped me deal with such a busy year. You certainly took the load off my shoulders, thanks." Ron grinned at Harry, called out, "Too right, I did!" and Harry continued, looking directly at Hermione in the crowd.
"Hermione." He looked at her strangely. "I know you've had a busy year yourself. But you have still made time for me, generously helped with a fair bit of homework so I could still train, and also so I could pass classes, so thank you."
Hermione smiled at him, and blushed slightly when people turned around to look at her. "No problem." She mumbled.
"And last of my small lot to thank," Harry said. "Is my beautiful girlfriend Ginny." He turned to look at her with a smile. "You've done everything you can to help. You came to most of the tedious training sessions, gave me advice, and you've been a fantastic shoulder to lean on." He paused, and looked as if he was considering saying something, but almost backed down. He quickly looked at her, and the silence in the room couldn't have been more profound. "And I love you too." He said quietly.
This caused the loudest cheer yet, and Harry blushed crimson, as did Ginny. Hermione laughed as Harry was pulled down from the table by his teammates, and shoved in the more specific direction of Ginny. From Hermione's place at the side of the room, her view was obstructed by people straining their necks to watch. Sighing, Hermione glanced around, and met eyes with Ron.
Being one of the tallest in the room, he could easily see his sister and Harry. Ron smiled and winked at Hermione, and she smiled, taking this as an indication that Harry and Ginny were most likely kissing. This was immediately confirmed when half the room began whistling.
The afternoon went by, and Hermione found herself getting restless. She talked to people, congratulated the team over again and ate enough to last her three weeks of fasting. Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Harry sought her out quietly.
"Hermione. You all right?" he asked.
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be, Harry? Gryffindor just won, it's fantastic." She smiled at him half-heartedly.
"I can think of a reason." Harry told her. "Draco lost the match. Surely your thoughts are with him, while he's grieving about the outcome of the match. And the reason that the match turned out as it did."
Hermione looked at him sharply. "What do you mean?"
"No one else may have noticed, but I'm sure you did." Harry said. "He pulled out at the last minute; he had as much chance of getting the snitch as I did. Hermione, he pulled out because of you."
"Why?" She asked. "Just because I asked him to lose yesterday? He knew I was kidding, surely."
Harry smiled at her tolerantly. "No, because he feared hurting you. Hermione, he loves you, and I don't think he knows how to live with that. I'd say it's not happened to him very often."
Hermione surveyed Harry closely. "Why do you assume he loves me?"
"He told me."
Hermione smiled. "Did he really?"
Harry nodded, then shoved her towards the door. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Now go find him. I think he'd like your company." As he said this, he placed two butterbeers in her hand and a large piece of chocolate cake in the other.
Hermione beamed at Harry, and slipped out of the common room unnoticed. Moving quickly down the corridor, she waited until the portrait hole was out of sight before she touched a few fingers to her amulet and pictured the clearing. Appearing there a few brief seconds later, Hermione noticed Draco's broom leaning against a tree outside the cabin. Frowning that he should have flown so far after the match, Hermione entered the cabin.
Walking in and placing the bottles and cake on the table, Hermione had a strange feeling that Draco wasn't in the cabin. Looking around in confusion, she concluded that it was in fact empty. Before she could get too worried, however, the door opened and Draco stumped in.
"I was sitting next to the lake. You didn't see me." he explained, not looking at her, and his voice was quiet.
Hermione wasn't sure what to say to him. Nothing that could be thought of as pity, that was for sure. "I've got butterbeer." She tried cheerfully. "And some cake for you. Not for me though, I'm stuffed like a great big elephant. I feel like the stitches of my skin are about to burst, which is actually kind of gross, so don't think about that. Eew, too late. That was the most disgusting visual I've ever had."
"Hermione, don't." Draco said shaking his head.
"Don't what?" she asked, feigning curiosity.
"Don't try to cheer me up, or act like nothing happened out there. I lost the game, but it's something more then that." He looked at her with so helpless an expression that she almost cried. "It was you. If it were anyone else standing behind the snitch, I would have raced Harry to the end. But it wasn't, it was you." Draco paused for a few moments, as if trying to put his thoughts into words. "I couldn't trust myself. I'm not so good at Quidditch as to be able to risk the life of the one I love just to win. Winning is not worth the guilt. Or the loss of you, my heart."
Hermione's eyes glistened with tears, but she wouldn't cry. She had to be strong and make Draco feel better about his choice. Or maybe forget it. "I see." she nodded her head. "So you're just using me as an excuse for losing. Nice try."
He looked at her unsmiling, but his frown softened for a moment. "I've never been weak before. I've never backed down from something I want. And I wanted to win the Quidditch Final more then anything. Except for you, Hermione. I need you more."
Hermione's tears spilled over, but she kept her sobs hidden down. "I know that, Draco."
He stood there, hands by his side, watching her as if he were storing up her image for times when she wasn't around. Then he looked into her eyes and a thought struck him, causing a cold shiver down his spine. Hermione noticed a haunted look cross his face and stepped closer to him, so they were barely touching.
"Tell me what you're thinking." She spoke.
"I don't think I can."
"Please." She reached up and touched his cheek gently. "Tell me."
Draco drew in a shuddering breath and struggled to keep himself under control. "I don't know what I'll do when we're facing Voldemort. Even the thought of losing you eats me up inside, but if he hurts you, or kills you then.I'll have to- it would make me-"
"Ssh." Hermione said, moving her hand so it covered his lips. "Don't think about that. I'm not going anywhere and you know it. That's what we have Credere for." It sounded awful saying that they were passing death knowingly on to an innocent creature. But now, Draco didn't care.
"What if he knows it?" Draco asked, reaching out despite himself to curl his hand around the back of Hermione's neck. "What if Voldemort knows that you're my weakness?" his hand traveled down her back, then back up again to gently tug the hair at the top of her neck.
"I think he does know it. Or will know it by the time we meet with him. But Credere will be in my form, and he'll attack her thinking it's me, to harm you. To get a reaction from you. But she'll change to her natural form before she dies, hopefully wound him with her horn, and hopefully force him to drink." Hermione trailed off. "You need to drink something, and probably have something to eat." She told him sternly.
"I'm not hungry." He mumbled in response, looking away from her, but wrapping his other hand around her waist firmly. Hermione put both her arms around his neck, moved closer and hugged him tightly. They stayed there for a long time, neither wanting to be the one to pull away. Hermione finally did, leaving her arms about him, but pulling away far enough to look in his gray eyes. "I want to see you eat something. You haven't eaten since breakfast."
"Not now." He responded, and his arms tightened about her even more. "After."
"After what?" Hermione asked, then he looked at her meaningfully. She felt a slow blush rise to her cheeks, but she didn't look away. Instead she leaned in and kissed him eagerly. He responded instantly, reaching into her robe and moving his hand on the bare skin of her waist. Then grabbing her gently and slowly, amongst their kisses and gasping for breath, Draco led her through the cabin to the bed.
***
A/N- that's it for now. I'm sending the next chapter off to my beta-reader this afternoon, so not long.
A/N- Sorry I've taken way too bloody long to get this up, but as you all know it is summer holidays where I am, so I've been away places and then last week doing 'holiday homework' (don't you just love teachers?) It's here now though, and the next one is on the way (I Promise, I really do.) So get reading (
Chapter Nineteen- The Quidditch Final.
Abandoning Harry and Ron in the corridor outside Charms with the excuse of an overdue library book, Hermione rushed off to drop her books in her dorm then moved steadily towards Dumbledore's office. There was every possibility that he would be busy elsewhere, but she hoped fervently that he wouldn't be.
Reaching the gargoyle guard, she stopped, faced with the ever-present problem of not knowing the password. Deciding the only way to get in was to knock; Hermione pounded her fist against the wall, only to be greeted with no noise that could possibly alert Dumbledore of her presence, and an aching pain in her fist.
She was not left long in low spirits, however. Her amulet grew warm and glowed emerald and the gargoyle jumped respectfully aside. Hermione stood gaping at the spiraling staircase and then cast an odd look at the amulet around her neck, which had resumed its normal appearance.
"What's with you?" she asked it. "You're weird, did you know that?"
Without any further hesitation, Hermione walked through the entranceway, before the gargoyle had the chance to close in her face. She stood still while the staircase spiraled her upwards. When she reached the top, she faltered for only a moment before knocking on the door.
"Come in." she heard Dumbledore's voice say softly from inside.
Opening the door and walking in, she saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk with parchment strewn all over it. Once she had closed the door behind her, she turned and looked apologetically at him. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, Headmaster."
"No need for formality, Miss Granger. Come, sit down." He replied lightly.
Hermione sat down in a seat opposite his desk. "I have a few things I need to ask you."
"Of course." He said, laying his quill aside and resting his hands on the desk.
"Well, Draco and I believe the time of the Prophecy is coming closer. So we're trying to prepare for the confrontation with Voldemort. We have a few ideas, but one of them we can't do without your assistance."
Dumbledore leaned forward. "What is it you have in mind?"
Hermione decided to start from the beginning. She told him about Credere and the offer she had made. She told Dumbledore about Credere being the sacrifice, but that they needed her to pass as Hermione. She continued, "So, we've come to the conclusion that we need to perform a Human Transfiguration with this Unicorn, but don't know how well it will work."
Dumbledore nodded. "I see. That seems like the only thing to do."
Hermione cleared her throat uncomfortably. "Well, you see Professor Dumbledore, we need your help to do it. Neither of us have any idea how to perform such a complex transfiguration without having it take a very ugly turn."
"Hmm." Dumbledore thought for a few minutes, while Hermione sat watching him intently. He made no sign however, as to what he was thinking. "I think, Miss Granger, that you and Draco must complete this Prophecy alone to the very end."
Hermione's heart sank very quickly.
"But-" he continued. "I also believe that you both must survive to the very end; and if either of you is hurt in attempting this transfiguration, I shall never forgive myself. Therefore, I think I must complete it all myself. There is, I think, no harm in my doing so. You came up with the idea, and you have asked me for help, so it is not as if I am butting in."
Hermione smiled in relief. "What will you need?"
Dumbledore frowned. "I think a part of you that holds your DNA, so it can be replicated for Credere. Just a few strands of hair will do fine."
She quickly pulled her hair out of its ponytail and pulled a few strands out from the back with a grimace. Handing them to Dumbledore, she said, "If these aren't sufficient, let me know immediately."
He nodded, but replied, "They'll be fine." Dumbledore then looked at Hermione thoughtfully. "I will have this completed by the end of next week. Is that, do you think, enough time?"
"I hope so." She said. "Draco and I will be very busy from now on, so we greatly appreciate your doing this." She sighed and thought about what she and Draco would be doing for the next couple of weeks. Way too much, she concluded. By the end of it she would need a very long sleep. And a great deal of chocolate. Probably some butterbeers.a new book wouldn't go astray either.
Dumbledore smiled softly and her face glazed over in thought. "I wish you both the best of luck. I will let either you or Draco know when I am finished preparing, then you can take me to this Unicorn."
"Ok." Hermione said. "Oh, Professor?" she asked when she remembered a question she had wanted to ask him. "Do you know of anything that can take the eternal powers out of Unicorn blood? Anything at all?"
Dumbledore frowned. "I don't know actually. I'm sure there would be somewhere. I can find out for you if you'd like. And if possible, I'll get it. "
"That'd be fantastic." Hermione smiled. "Because it's kind of important." She sighed and slumped her shoulders slightly. "I'd better get going. Got some homework to do, and some spell writing."
"Have a good evening." Dumbledore said in farewell, and he turned his attention back to his scrolls and parchment.
Hermione left his office, and made her way back to the common room. She walked in and spotted Ginny sitting next to Harry at the far end of the room. Ron was at a table with Seamus and Dean laughing hysterically. Hermione smiled at him as she passed, and he managed a weak 'Hi, Hermione," before breaking down into fits of laughter again. Hermione figured they had been messing around with edible substances made by Fred and George, because of the empty wrappers and crumbs in the corners of their mouths.
Hermione nearly stopped at Harry and Ginny, but when she saw them exchange a cheeky smile and lean in towards each other she thought better of it, and continued up to her dorm with a pang of jealousy. It wasn't that Hermione didn't have someone to love, because Draco was all she wanted. But having to hide her relationship from every one wasn't her idea of happiness. She sighed and got out her homework.
A few hours later, she folded up her Potions essay and pulled out a blank piece of parchment. She needed to begin writing an incantation for their final meeting with Voldemort. Thinking for only a few moments, Hermione put her quill to paper and neatly wrote every idea that came to her head. ***
Draco woke up late Friday morning and rushed to class without breakfast or his books. Cursing loudly when he reached the Transfiguration classroom and realized he was empty handed, he turned on his heel, ready to run back to his dorm for his books, when the door opened and McGonagall's head popped out and surveyed him severely.
"Mr. Malfoy. What are you doing out here? You should have been in class ten minutes ago, not out here swearing for all the world to hear." she demanded, noting his lack of books and quills in a swift glance.
Draco slowly turned back around and said hopefully, "Just running an errand for.a Professor."
McGonagall looked at him over her glasses. "And which Professor might that be?
Draco knew that he had been caught, but wanted to get a smile out of this severe woman. "The one you don't know." He told her nodding his head slowly, as if with superior knowledge. "He's terribly elusive, I've noticed. Wears a long black cape and a white mask, most of the time. "
"I know all Professors teaching in this school, Mr. Malfoy." She replied with her voice firm, but a small twitch in the corner of her mouth. "And the man you described is utter nonsense. Where are your books?"
Draco sighed and faced her. "I slept in," he said in resignation. "I'm sorry, I left them in my dorm."
"Well," McGonagall pursed her lips. "Next time, don't. Ten points from Slytherin. If Quidditch practice makes you neglect classes the next morning, then perhaps you should be.no, you won't be here next year. Hmm." She said almost disapprovingly. "Well, there's no point in giving you a threat to be taken off the team next year, if you won't even be here." McGonagall looked at him sternly. "There's no time for you to go back and get your books now. Come in here, you'll have to borrow parchment and quills from another student." She turned and walked back in to the classroom with Draco following behind.
Draco moved to sit with Pansy, who was seated at the back of the classroom. But McGonagall turned on him as he lowered himself into the seat. He smiled at her weakly, knowing what was coming. "I don't think so. I can't trust you to work back here. Come on," she looked about the room with narrowed eyes. "Up the front, next to Miss Granger."
Hermione spun around in her seat to look at Draco, who looked back with an unreadable expression. They had to remember that they had 'just broken up.' Draco scoffed, "Anywhere else I can choose from?"
McGonagall's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?" she asked softly.
"I was just wondering if there was somewhere else." he looked at her expression, and knew immediately that he shouldn't go any further. Draco slumped his shoulders. "Nothing." He said grumpily, moving to sit next to Hermione. As he did so, he was aware of all eyes in the class on him and Hermione, waiting to see the inevitable fight that would break out between them.
Hermione watched him sit in the seat next to her with an icy glare on her face. "You should get an alarm clock, idiot."
"Piss off." Was his reply. The lesson resumed and students turned their attention back to the Professor, but they still had to keep up the act. "You gonna give me some paper or not?"
Hermione had to resist the urge not to laugh at the sulky look he had on his face. "Maybe not. It is mine, after all."
"What, you're getting protective over parchment?" he sneered at her, snatching a piece off her side of the desk. He looked, but couldn't see a quill anywhere. "How about a quill?"
"I don't trust you with one of my quills." She replied haughtily, picking up her bag from her feet and clutching it protectively to her chest. "Use someone else's."
"I want to use yours." He said firmly. "Pass it over."
"No."
"Then I'll get it myself." He reached forward and made to snatch the bag, but Hermione pulled it away from him. Therefore, instead of taking the bag, he grabbed her in a place she would rather him not. Or at least, not in front of a classroom of other students.
He pulled back in surprise, but could not suppress the grin that came immediately to his face. Hermione blushed scarlet and couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing. In a vain attempt to appear that she hated Draco, she hit him on the arm and shoved the bag on his lap.
Once they were writing down key points to remember in their practical exam from the board, Draco whispered to Hermione, "Sorry about that. Didn't expect you to move the bag."
"Shut up." she replied with a smile.
"Hey, you moved it at your own risk. In fact, I'll bet you did it on purpose."
"What ever you reckon." Hermione mumbled. After a few minutes, she whispered to him, "I went to see Dumbledore after classes yesterday."
"Yeah?"
"He'll do the transfiguration for us. He will try to be ready for us by the end of next week."
"That's good of him." Draco commented, continuing to copy down from the board. "Did you ask him that other question?"
"Yep. He didn't know. But he'll try find out, and locate it if possible." She replied.
"I'm sure there is something. I mean, there's got to be. And Dumbledore will find it, if anyone can. But I suppose wanting to halt the effects of Unicorn blood isn't very common."
"I'm worried about it." Hermione said in an undertone. "What if there isn't anything? Then we're out of ideas again."
"Don't worry." Draco said. "It'll work. It has to."
***
Friday evening, Hermione found that she was able to go to the cabin without having to make up any excuses. Harry and Ron were out practicing for the Quidditch Final, which was to take place the following morning. Ginny, along with most of the Gryffindor's, were out watching them train.
Hermione went down and watched for a while too, until it grew dark, then she sneaked away and used her amulet to get to the cabin. Upon entering there, she noticed Draco sitting at the table scribbling words down on parchment at a rapid rate.
"Putting your order in for a new and improved brain?" she asked him. "You know, one that actually works."
He smiled slightly at her comment, but continued to write. "No." he answered. "I'm on a roll."
"For what?"
"Writing up a Weakness potion. It's very simple really. The majority will be of Droysline. We'll add some other bits and pieces too, but Droysline is the main one." He told her, all the while continuing to write down the method.
"You sure it will work?" Hermione asked him, seating herself down next to him at the table.
"Yep." He replied with such confidence that Hermione found she had no reason to doubt him. Hermione pulled out a few scrap pieces of parchment that held the work she had done so far on the incantation.
"How are you going on yours?" he asked, looking up for only a moment before writing again.
"Alright. Hard finding the appropriate words though." She responded, raising the end of her quill to her mouth and chewing on it unconsciously. Draco glanced at her again and smiled when her eyes widened as a thought struck her, and she too, began to scribble words down furiously.
Hermione and Draco sat together in silence for the next half-hour, both spending the majority of that time looking at the other as they worked. Draco was just writing the last line on his method, when he felt Hermione's eyes on him again.
"I'm just too sexy for you, ain't I doll?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and a hand through his hair. "And I mean, irresistible."
Hermione started slightly when she realized she'd been caught watching him, but replied quickly, "Oh no, I just find it easier to think when I'm staring into empty space so, you know, your head was the closest thing to that I could find." She feigned a look of concern. "You should send your order in for a brain quick smart. I'd hate for a bird to think it was a vacant nest and make a home in there." She thought for a second. "No wait, that would be really cute."
"Cute?" Draco asked in disgust. "You think it would be cute to have eggs on my head and bird crap in my hair?"
"It'd certainly be an improvement."
"Ha, ha. Aren't you funny?" He said sarcastically.
"Some people think so." She replied, continuing to gnaw at the end of her quill. Draco reached over and gently took it away from her. "Hey, that's mine." She protested. "Give it back."
"You shouldn't chew on your things." Draco reprimanded her softly. "You leave marks on them."
"Sorry. I didn't realize what I was doing." Hermione said.
"Don't apologize. It's not mine."
"Then can I please have it back?" she asked him, smiling faintly. "I do need to write you know. And the words just don't come out the same if I use my fingernail."
Draco began handing the quill over, then stopped, smirked to himself, and pulled it away again. "No."
"What do you mean 'no'?" Hermione asked, wondering what thought had occurred to him in that sly mind of his.
Draco found it hard to keep the smile off his face. "I don't trust you with one of your quills. You damage them. Use someone else's."
"I want to use mine, now pass it over." She said, then she frowned. A feeling of dejá vu came over her, and she realized this was the same conversation they had had earlier that day in Transfiguration, only reversed. She remembered with a faint blush how that exchange had ended.
"No." Draco replied, and he lowered his hand that held the quill to his lap.
"Draco." She said, repressing a smile. "I know how you want this to go, but I'm not going to reach for the quill. Sorry to disappoint you."
"Why not?" he asked, pretending he had no idea why she refused to reach for the quill.
"You know exactly why." Hermione told him. "I reach for it, you move it away at the last minute, I grab something else."
"Hermione!" Draco exclaimed. "How dirty. I would never have thought of that."
"Can I please have my quill, Draco?" she asked, her smile disappearing, being replaced by a frown.
"Sure. It's just there." he indicated to his hand, which still lay in his lap.
Hermione looked him in the eye, and he held her gaze steadily. "Don't you dare." She warned, and she reached over slowly. His hand didn't move, and her fingers curled around her quill and pulled it away to safety. When she looked at Draco he was watching her with an unwavering gaze.
"Don't you trust me?" he asked her quietly.
She started slightly at the question. "What do you mean? After this, not really."
"All I did was take a physically abused quill away from you. What reason is that not to trust me?" he said, still watching her.
Hermione frowned, "Well, you were going to move it and make me.you know."
"But I didn't." he answered. "I was just messing with you. I know you well enough to know that you wouldn't appreciate me doing that to you."
"Thank you." She responded. They were quiet for a few minutes while Hermione continued to write and Draco packed his things away. She packed her things away soon after him. They stood and faced each other.
Hermione kissed him on the cheek. "Play well tomorrow, my sexy Seeker."
"That was meant for me, right? That wasn't some message I'm supposed to give Harry? Because the whole kissing him on the cheek part might be a bit awkward." He told her.
"You think Harry is sexy?"
"I- well, you said.huh? No." he answered, crossing his arms across his chest.
Hermione laughed. "I'm just teasing you. You're the only sexy Seeker that I know. At least, the only Seeker who will agree with me that he's sexy."
"Well, I am." Draco said smugly.
"Uh-huh. I know." She replied. "So, good luck. Just don't beat Harry. I still want Gryffindor to win."
"What kind of good luck is that?" Draco asked her in confusion. "Why don't you just tell me to lose? It would be easier."
"Fine. Make sure you lose, sweetheart." She kissed him again. "Oh! Would you mind coming here again tomorrow night?" she asked.
"Uh, sure." He replied. "Any reason in particular?"
"Well, I don't get to see you enough." Hermione said. "And when I do, we have to pretend that we don't like each other."
"I see." Draco said. "Well then, tomorrow night it is."
Hermione smiled at him, grabbed her amulet and disappeared from sight.
***
Draco reached under his bed and grabbed the handle of his broom and pulled it out. Resting it over his shoulder and standing up, he examined himself in the mirror. With his green and silver Quidditch uniform, his sleek black broom and his masculine physique, Draco believed he could win the Quidditch Final just by smiling at Madam Hooch.
But, he supposed, it wouldn't hurt to give Harry a chance at winning, therefore he would make sure he avoided all eye contact with the Quidditch Umpire until at least twenty minutes of the game had passed.
Draco walked through the Slytherin Common Room, and as he went, received many wishes of luck and at least fifteen people clasped his hand. He finally reached the door, and stepped out of it with a wave of voices cheering his name. He closed the door behind him and almost ran into Chris, the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, who was also in his uniform.
"Draco!" He exclaimed. "I've been looking every where for you. The team is meeting in the change rooms in ten minutes for the pep talk. Make sure you're there."
"Absolutely." Draco replied. "I've just got to grab something to eat first."
"You haven't eaten yet?" Chris asked in shock. "I can't believe it, Draco. If you eat now, you might get a stitch while you're playing, and we can't afford that."
"Get a stitch while sitting still on a broom?" Draco asked. "I doubt it. But if you're that worried, then I'll skip breakfast."
"What? That's even worse! You might pass out or something while you are flying. We can't afford that either." Chris, it appeared, was suffering from a large amount of stress. "Harry ate a massive breakfast an hour ago. And when I passed him in the hall just before he was drinking from a water bottle."
Draco smiled at him, and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Mate, I'll be fine. There's nothing for you to worry about. I'll meet you in the change rooms in ten minutes." He turned to go. "Oh, and stop watching Harry. He's been doing this for seven years. He's knows what he's doing. Watching him will only make you stress more."
"But you've been doing this for six years, Draco." Chris protested.
"Compared to Harry, that doesn't seem to be enough." He said softly, and walked away. He slipped into the Great Hall and quickly ate a few pieces of toast and a large bowl of cereal. He sculled a large glass of water, and headed out towards the pitch. As he was walking across the grass with the sun on his face, he heard laughter from behind him and someone called out his name.
Stopping as he neared the change rooms, Draco turned around to see who it was. Raising his eyebrows in question, he waited until Harry and Ron had caught up to him. Draco noted that Ron stood a little off to the side, as if still not comfortable with conversing with the Slytherin that had caused him so much trouble over the years.
"What's up?" Draco asked curiously.
"We just wanted to wish you good luck for today, seems as it's the last match we'll ever play against each other." Harry said. Ron nodded his agreement.
"Oh." Draco said, taken aback. "Well, thanks. Good luck to you guys too. Not that you really need it."
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance. Ron spoke, "We're not entirely sure what Hermione would think if she saw us talking to you. You know, you guys have broken up, and all."
"I don't think she would mind." Draco said quietly. Ron frowned at this reply, and Draco quickly added, "And if she does, then that's her problem."
"Right. Of course." Ron nodded, but he did look over his shoulder to see if Hermione was anywhere in sight.
"Hey mate," Harry said to Draco in a half whisper. "Have you heard who's going to be here today?"
"What do you mean?" he asked with a frown.
"Apparently, the coach and assistant coach of the Chudley Cannons is going to be watching, and the coach of the Speeding Snitches." Harry told him with a grin. "Both are very good teams, and both are looking for new players."
Draco's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
Harry nodded and his grin widened. "Yep." Ron also smiled, but more at Harry. Draco guessed that Ron was happy for his friend, as it was obvious Harry would be asked to join one of the teams, but he didn't seem to have any confidence in himself. Which, Draco thought, was just as well. Besides, Ron was after a job at the Ministry so he could work with his father.
"How did you find out?" Draco asked curiously.
"Uh, I probably shouldn't say." Harry said, looking slightly uncomfortable. "It wasn't really meant to be known, that's all."
"Come on," Draco pushed. "Who told you?"
"Well," Harry said quietly. "Our head of house isn't entirely without resources."
"McGonagall?" Draco asked. "She told you Gryffindor's without even telling us? That's unfair."
"That's what we thought," Harry said. "So we came to tell you. Probably a bad choice on our behalf, considering you'll play even better now you know you're being watched. But, otherwise, it's just not fair."
Draco smiled faintly at Harry's good sportsmanship. "I thought you guys just wanted to wish me luck?"
"That too." Ron put in. He looked over his shoulder once more, still worried that Hermione would see them talking to her ex-boyfriend, and when he turned back around he had paled noticeably. "She's coming." He whispered. "We should go. Or maybe, you should go." Ron said to Draco. "She might yell at you or something. Her temper is wearing thin these days."
Draco concealed a smile behind a face of stubborn annoyance. "If she can't accept you guys talking to me then it's her problem. Besides, I can yell just as loud as she can."
Hermione reached them, believing Harry and Ron hadn't known she was approaching. She was quite unaware of Draco being there at all, as their tall figures had obstructed him from sight. Creeping quietly up behind Ron, she moved quickly to cover his eyes with her hands, and whispered in a deep voice, quite unlike her own, "I have you now. You shall never escape my wrath. Surrender, or suffer the consequences."
Draco smirked, knowing that if Hermione were aware of his presence, she wouldn't have acted quite so childishly. He couldn't see her, as she was directly behind Ron, but Harry glanced back at Hermione with a smile on his face. Harry then looked at Draco, and while Ron arranged with Hermione to 'suffer the consequences,' he was completely unaware of the small red headed girl who ran towards him from the castle.
Draco managed to let nothing show on his face, therefore Harry was completely startled when a pair of hands snaked around his head to cover his eyes. Ginny didn't say anything at all, just waited patiently for Harry to act with a smile lighting her face.
Suddenly feeling extremely out of place, Draco turned to walk to the change rooms without a sound. He had only gotten a few feet away however, when he heard Hermione scream. Almost instinctively, he turned back, although he knew she screamed not of fright or fear, but startled excitement.
He saw that Ron had reached over his shoulder and grabbed Hermione by the arms, and had lifted her over his shoulder. Hermione was now stuck high above the ground, without a chance of escaping Ron's grasp. Hermione started laughing and squirming to get down, and Ron gave her a few moments to fret, then set her neatly back on the ground in front of him.
Glancing over to Harry when he heard Ginny make a squeal similar to Hermione's, Draco saw that he had done the exact same thing to Ginny. It took a while before he set her down, and Draco had a feeling that these friends had done this before. Must be a Gryffindor thing, he thought.
Hermione shouted at Ron, "That's it! You must suffer the consequences of your actions!" and she moved towards him, with hands outstretched and began to tickle him ruthlessly. Draco watched as Ron doubled over in laughter and wrapped his arm around Hermione and pulled her to him to try squash her efforts.
Knowing that he should walk away, and actually walking away were two separate things. Draco watched with something similar to jealousy as Hermione stepped back in defeat with her arms by her side, giggling like a child. She was completely at ease, all her guards down, now that she was with her friends. She didn't have to act like her relationship was something it wasn't; not like she did when she was with Draco in other peoples company.
Continuing to watch her silently from his point a few meters away, Draco realized that Hermione was never this relaxed with him, even when they were alone in the cabin, and didn't have to act like they had once gone out.
Harry and Ginny's encounter had taken on a different turn, and both were now absorbed in a long kiss, oblivious to all around them. Draco frowned, and looked back at Ron and Hermione just to be sure their intentions were innocent towards each other. He breathed a sigh of relief when Ron stepped away from Hermione and motioned to the change rooms. He nudged Harry in the ribs, smiled at Hermione, and jogged off.
Coming to his senses quickly, Draco realized he was in danger of being seen by Hermione. Not that he was in the wrong place or anything, but it would have been awkward if she saw him watching her.
Spinning on his heal, Draco made to move out to the change room before he was noticed, but he was out of luck. His name was spoken after a matter of seconds, then he was called out to. Thinking that he would just ignore it and continue, he quickened his pace.
He heard footsteps behind him and a hand grabbed his shoulder gently. Stopping, he twisted around to see Hermione standing right next to him. "I didn't know you were here." she told him softly, frowning at him.
He looked at the ground and shrugged her hand off. It dropped by her side. Draco looked over to where Harry and Ginny had been, and noticed them walking off hand in hand to the Gryffindor change rooms. "Well, I am." He said, wishing he knew what she was thinking.
"What.? Why didn't you say anything?" she asked, and Draco could tell she was confused.
"It was awkward." Draco said, not looking at her. "You just appeared, before I could leave. Then you and Ron were.I don't know."
"You felt out of place, I can understand that." Hermione said. "But you could have left without me noticing. Or at least let me know you were there. Why didn't you?"
Draco shrugged uncomfortably, not wanting to answer her, because he knew he wouldn't get away with lying. Not to Hermione. "Because.I was just-" he stopped and fell silent.
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Ron is just a friend, Draco. One of my best friends maybe, but only a friend. You didn't have to watch over us. Or over me. It's as if you don't trust me."
"I do trust you Hermione." Draco answered sincerely. "It's just that." he trailed off.
"What?" she asked.
"You were both very close." He replied, looking down at her with his cool gray eyes.
Hermione sighed, then pointed her finger at him. "Don't you even think about getting jealous. There's no bloody reason to. And we have more important things to worry about right now." She was about a head shorter then he was, and right then, with the wind blowing her hair away from her face and her robe up against her she looked perfect. Her eyes were bright and clear, her cheeks slightly flushed. Draco shook his head to get rid of his sudden need for her. Seeing this, Hermione's beautiful face crinkled with a frown. Draco looked away quickly.
"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly. "Are you alright, Draco?"
He mumbled, "I'm fine," but still wouldn't look at her. He needed to leave; to get away from her, or else he would forget that they weren't allowed to be seen together, and do something that would give them away. "I should go."
"Wait." Hermione commanded sharply. "You're acting ridiculous and I want you to stop. If you won't, then I'll cancel your order for a new brain, and your plans to take over the world will be ruined because of your stupidity." She paused when she saw him trying to repress a smile, and tried to make him look at her by standing in front of him. He didn't. "So don't be stupid." She told him softly, touching his shoulder again.
"Don't touch me." he said tightly. Hermione flinched from his words and stepped back as if stung.
"What?" she whispered.
"Control is difficult for a guy when a beautiful woman like yourself is tempting them. So don't touch me, and I won't do anything that I'm not allowed to do." His voice was now full of restraint, and his eyes continued to look away.
"Look at me." Hermione said. Draco didn't move, instead he repeated that he should get to the change room before Chris sent out a search party. "Before you go, I want you to look at me."
"I feel as if you're ordering me, instead of requesting." He said, but turned to look at her. Draco, the master of concealment, had never been able to clear his eyes of what he was feeling. Hermione knew that, and that's why she demanded to see them. He looked at her, the sharp steel long gone from his gaze, and Hermione's heart fluttered at what she saw. Annoyance was evident, but only for a few moments. Desire and love replaced it quickly, and without thinking she reached out and touched his cheek.
"I love you." She whispered, and Draco took her hand and kissed it softly. Her eyes filled with tears, but they did not spill over. "I don't want to keep you a secret anymore."
Dropping her hand silently, Draco didn't have to say anything to make it known he felt the same. "Soon." Was all he said, and before the large crowd of students came out of the castle doors, he turned and walked swiftly away from her to the Slytherin change rooms without a backward glance.
Willing away her unshed tears, Hermione took a deep breath, raised her head, and walked to the stand to join Ginny, who was no doubt wondering where she was.
***
At the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle, Harry kicked his feet off the ground and flew up high above the pitch, the students and all the other players. He was determined to win this match, that much was obvious, but he had told his other team mates that he would put off having to catch the snitch till the last possible moment, so Gryffindor could have as many points as they could get.
This was Harry's last match at Hogwarts, and he wanted to win with flying colors.
He circled the pitch, keeping out a sharp eye for the snitch, and also closely watching Draco's every move. It appeared Draco also wanted his team to score some real points before he'd start seriously looking for the snitch.
Harry's thoughts went back to his conversation with Draco earlier. Draco had been civil, even friendly, when he realized that Harry and Ron posed no threat. He was a nice enough bloke, Harry concluded. He was good for Hermione. Harry saw the way her eyes lit up whenever Draco was around, no matter what their expressions were, or what they were saying to each other. Harry could only imagine how hard it must be for them to hide their relationship.
Harry zoomed lazily around the pitch, heading for the Gryffindor stands. He passed close to where the two girls were sitting, and they cheered at him in excitement. Hermione shouted, "You make sure you win, Harry! I'll never live it down if you don't!"
Ginny shouted something similar, but when Harry was nearly out of earshot, she yelled, "I love you, Harry!"
Startled beyond imagining, he looked back at her. She was already blushing fiercely, and moved to hide her face behind Hermione. In his state of shock, Harry nearly got hit on the head with a bludger, almost flew into the stands, and as he changed direction to fly up higher, he narrowly missed colliding with Draco.
"Hey!" Draco shouted. "Keep your wits about you Harry! You need to stay on your broom as much as I do."
"Sorry." Harry managed to mumble, and he stopped his broom so he was hovering above the pitch.
Draco turned his broom around, and flew back to where Harry was flying motionless. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." He paused. "Well, no you don't, because you see ghosts everyday, and are probably used to them by now. But you know what I mean."
"I just- I mean, Ginny just said that.um, well." He paled as a thought struck him. "I should have said it back. She'll hate me!"
"What?" Draco asked curiously. "What did she say?"
Harry seemed quite unable to answer, just mumbled something incoherently. It didn't take Draco long to figure out what Ginny must have said. "It's obvious she loves you, mate. Surely you knew already." He told Harry with a grin.
Harry looked at Draco. "Well, I suppose, but-" he grinned helplessly. "I never thought that she'd say it."
"I know what you mean." Draco said dryly, his eyes scanning the pitch for the tiny golden ball. Slytherin had already scored thirty points, but Gryffindor just scored another ten, raising their total to fifty. The match was moving quickly.
Harry cast Draco a sidelong glance. "You mean that you guys.you know?"
"What?" Draco asked. "Do we love each other?" It would have been almost embarrassing to have this conversation with another guy, but Harry found that Draco's tone was very serious. Harry looked upon Draco with new respect, that he shouldn't feel ashamed of his feelings. It helped that they were about Harry's best friend.
Harry nodded with the question still in his eyes.
Draco replied quietly. "Yeah, we do."
"It must be hard for you, mate. Not to be able to act that way towards each other." Harry wished he hadn't spoken this as soon as the words were out of his mouth. It wasn't his place to go asking another guy about what he felt. Almost weird.
But Draco gave a twisted smile that didn't reach his eyes. "That's the truth. The self-control required is harder to maintain then anything I've ever done. It doesn't seem as difficult for her. I wonder if she doesn't."
"She does." Harry said firmly, not wishing to speak the actual words 'she does love and want you,' but managing to get away with just the first part. "I can see it when she looks at you and-" He paused, considering whether or not he should say the next part.
"And what?" Draco seemed to be in need of reassurance.
"Well earlier, you know, just before the match started and you two were talking. It was almost painful watching her walk after you. I could tell she feared you leaving her. Then when you started talking together." he looked at Draco, who looked back unembarrassed. "I could tell it was just as difficult for her to restrain from action then it was for you. She just hid it well, at first."
Draco nodded and said, "Thanks. It's just getting hard, that's all."
Harry smiled back and started to fly away. Draco yelled out after him, "You're right Harry! She'll hate you if you don't say it back. My advice is as soon as possible."
Harry looked back over his shoulder and nodded. Draco grinned at him, and said "And make it public, like hers was. That's the only way she'll get over her embarrassment!"
Knowing Draco was right, Harry flew on, trying to think of when to tell Ginny. He couldn't just fly passed her now and say it; that'd be stupid. She'd already snagged that method. But it did have to be in front of people.
***
The game went on, Slytherin scoring every couple of minutes, but Gryffindor scoring at least twice between them, sending them safely ahead of the Slytherin's. Harry knew that whenever he saw the snitch would be the right time to catch it. No more delaying. Even Ron reminded him of his job as he flew passed after a bludger.
"C'mon Harry!" Ron yelled at him. "It's about time for you to catch that golden bugger of a ball. Can't be that hard to find, surely."
"I'll just call it over now, then." he replied dryly, as he scanned the field closely for a hint of gold. Draco was also looking intently. Gryffindor only needed to score twice more before even the capture of the snitch wouldn't be enough to allow Slytherin to win.
Harry flew low to the ground, around the stands, passed the goal hoops and even alongside Draco for a while, but still no snitch. The two of them were beginning to get extremely irritated as they flew by the Ravenclaw stand. As they neared the Gryffindor's, both instinctively glanced towards their girl, and both froze at what they saw.
Hermione and Ginny were standing very still looking at a point no more then a meter in front of them, where a tiny golden ball hovered. Harry and Draco both waited a heartbeats time, judging the distance, before they launched in to a speeding dive. They continued to race, neck and neck, as they got closer. The snitch still hadn't moved.
For only seconds at a time would Draco be in the lead, then Harry, then Draco then back to Harry again. As they got increasingly closer, the snitch moved. But not very far. Only over a fraction so it hovered directly in front of Hermione.
The Seekers both noticed Hermione look about her, trying to find some passage to move away, but the crowd was gathered close, all watching the snitch with wide eyes, and she couldn't push passed them without great difficulty. So, she stayed where she was.
Draco and Harry got closer, and noted they would have to do an amazingly sharp turn to avoid hitting Hermione once they got the snitch. Swallowing hard, Draco's eyes met Hermione's and he suddenly doubted himself. What if he didn't pull up in time? He could seriously hurt her, then he could never live with himself. Draco glanced at Harry, whose face was set in determination.
Only meters from the ball, Draco's heart was beating so fast that he thought it might break a whole in his chest and fall to the ground. He closed his eyes and pulled out of the dive, flying away from the stands. He knew Hermione's eyes followed him, but he didn't look back.
Harry flew the remaining distance at an astonishing speed. He reached out, felt the snitch in his warm fingers, and pulled the handle of his broom so hard it almost hit him in the head. He flew up so close to Hermione that he almost hit her, but he knew he wouldn't. Flying inches above her head, Harry zoomed passed and into the sky with the roar of the crowd following him.
Harry had won. Gryffindor had won.
Slytherin had lost. Draco had feared hurting who he was known to hate. He had hurt Hermione before in a duel; he hadn't cared then whether he hurt her or not. But now it was different. Now, even the possibility had weakened him. Love was his weakness. Draco flew over the pitch and continued until he was lost from sight, far away above the forest.
***
Hermione tried to smile and laugh, she tried desperately to make her happiness for the Gryffindor team seem unaffected, but it was very difficult. She had watched Draco and Harry fly side by side towards her. She had noticed the doubt come into Draco's eyes when he looked at her. Harry had had only eyes for the snitch, and his confidence to grab it before Draco did had been clear on his face.
But Draco had pulled out only seconds before he could have had the snitch. Why? Hermione wondered why he would have done that as she walked back to the Gryffindor common room alongside an ecstatic group of students. The rest of the team was carrying Harry. Ron looked as if he was about to burst, he was so happy. Even Ginny couldn't wipe the grin off her face.
When they reached the common room, banners were brought out, previously prepared by Dean and food and butterbeer was fetched from the kitchens. The celebratory party started, and everyone was smiling. After a half-hour, someone shouted at Harry, "Harry! I think it's about time for a speech!"
Grinning widely, his butterbeer bottle in hand, Harry walked to the end of the room, and stood up on a table so all could see him. "We won!" he shouted, causing the room to explode in cheers.
When the cheers died down, he continued. "In all my years of playing Quidditch, I've never been so happy to have won. The last match I'll ever play here, and you guys," he indicated to his team, "played spectacularly." The crowd cheered again.
"Our Keeper, Colin, who stopped Slytherin scoring so many times, that we owe our win to you." He paused. "To our two Beaters, Ron," he winked at his best friend, "and David. You guys pummeled the other team with the bludgers, that I'm surprised any of them have lived this long."
Ginny, who was standing next to Ron, gave him a slap on the back in congratulations, and Harry's eyes stopped on her for a moment, before he continued. "To our three fantastic Chasers, Isabel, Sally and Michael. You scored us so many points, that the Slytherin Keeper won't be able to walk with pride in these halls for weeks to come!" He stopped and there was an expectant pause. Harry didn't talk, just looked at his team with pride.
"What about you, Harry?" Ron called up. "Aren't you gonna thank yourself? You've done wonders for this team you know."
"Oh, yeah." Harry said, smiling. "And most of all, thanks to me." Every one yelled their agreement to this statement, and for almost a minute, Harry couldn't get their attention. "Hey! Listening to the man with the scar, here please!" he shouted, pointing to himself. "I still have a few more thank you's to make."
Every one went silent, all watching Harry. Hermione thought they were probably thinking back to check if they'd done anything to help Harry that might prove to get their name mentioned. "Thank you to everyone who has supported the team this year. We have had so much encouragement, that we never doubted ourselves on the field."
Hermione's eyes narrowed at the choice of wording, thinking immediately to Draco at the end of the game. Maybe if she'd been more supportive of him, instead of asking nicely if he'd lose.
"I'm sure everyone on the Gryffindor team has different people to thank, so I'll leave that to them, because I ain't bloody well gonna do it, I'll just thank those who helped me." Harry looked at Ron and said, "Thanks to my best mate Ron, who made me train even when it was raining, so persistent he was, and helped me deal with such a busy year. You certainly took the load off my shoulders, thanks." Ron grinned at Harry, called out, "Too right, I did!" and Harry continued, looking directly at Hermione in the crowd.
"Hermione." He looked at her strangely. "I know you've had a busy year yourself. But you have still made time for me, generously helped with a fair bit of homework so I could still train, and also so I could pass classes, so thank you."
Hermione smiled at him, and blushed slightly when people turned around to look at her. "No problem." She mumbled.
"And last of my small lot to thank," Harry said. "Is my beautiful girlfriend Ginny." He turned to look at her with a smile. "You've done everything you can to help. You came to most of the tedious training sessions, gave me advice, and you've been a fantastic shoulder to lean on." He paused, and looked as if he was considering saying something, but almost backed down. He quickly looked at her, and the silence in the room couldn't have been more profound. "And I love you too." He said quietly.
This caused the loudest cheer yet, and Harry blushed crimson, as did Ginny. Hermione laughed as Harry was pulled down from the table by his teammates, and shoved in the more specific direction of Ginny. From Hermione's place at the side of the room, her view was obstructed by people straining their necks to watch. Sighing, Hermione glanced around, and met eyes with Ron.
Being one of the tallest in the room, he could easily see his sister and Harry. Ron smiled and winked at Hermione, and she smiled, taking this as an indication that Harry and Ginny were most likely kissing. This was immediately confirmed when half the room began whistling.
The afternoon went by, and Hermione found herself getting restless. She talked to people, congratulated the team over again and ate enough to last her three weeks of fasting. Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Harry sought her out quietly.
"Hermione. You all right?" he asked.
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be, Harry? Gryffindor just won, it's fantastic." She smiled at him half-heartedly.
"I can think of a reason." Harry told her. "Draco lost the match. Surely your thoughts are with him, while he's grieving about the outcome of the match. And the reason that the match turned out as it did."
Hermione looked at him sharply. "What do you mean?"
"No one else may have noticed, but I'm sure you did." Harry said. "He pulled out at the last minute; he had as much chance of getting the snitch as I did. Hermione, he pulled out because of you."
"Why?" She asked. "Just because I asked him to lose yesterday? He knew I was kidding, surely."
Harry smiled at her tolerantly. "No, because he feared hurting you. Hermione, he loves you, and I don't think he knows how to live with that. I'd say it's not happened to him very often."
Hermione surveyed Harry closely. "Why do you assume he loves me?"
"He told me."
Hermione smiled. "Did he really?"
Harry nodded, then shoved her towards the door. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Now go find him. I think he'd like your company." As he said this, he placed two butterbeers in her hand and a large piece of chocolate cake in the other.
Hermione beamed at Harry, and slipped out of the common room unnoticed. Moving quickly down the corridor, she waited until the portrait hole was out of sight before she touched a few fingers to her amulet and pictured the clearing. Appearing there a few brief seconds later, Hermione noticed Draco's broom leaning against a tree outside the cabin. Frowning that he should have flown so far after the match, Hermione entered the cabin.
Walking in and placing the bottles and cake on the table, Hermione had a strange feeling that Draco wasn't in the cabin. Looking around in confusion, she concluded that it was in fact empty. Before she could get too worried, however, the door opened and Draco stumped in.
"I was sitting next to the lake. You didn't see me." he explained, not looking at her, and his voice was quiet.
Hermione wasn't sure what to say to him. Nothing that could be thought of as pity, that was for sure. "I've got butterbeer." She tried cheerfully. "And some cake for you. Not for me though, I'm stuffed like a great big elephant. I feel like the stitches of my skin are about to burst, which is actually kind of gross, so don't think about that. Eew, too late. That was the most disgusting visual I've ever had."
"Hermione, don't." Draco said shaking his head.
"Don't what?" she asked, feigning curiosity.
"Don't try to cheer me up, or act like nothing happened out there. I lost the game, but it's something more then that." He looked at her with so helpless an expression that she almost cried. "It was you. If it were anyone else standing behind the snitch, I would have raced Harry to the end. But it wasn't, it was you." Draco paused for a few moments, as if trying to put his thoughts into words. "I couldn't trust myself. I'm not so good at Quidditch as to be able to risk the life of the one I love just to win. Winning is not worth the guilt. Or the loss of you, my heart."
Hermione's eyes glistened with tears, but she wouldn't cry. She had to be strong and make Draco feel better about his choice. Or maybe forget it. "I see." she nodded her head. "So you're just using me as an excuse for losing. Nice try."
He looked at her unsmiling, but his frown softened for a moment. "I've never been weak before. I've never backed down from something I want. And I wanted to win the Quidditch Final more then anything. Except for you, Hermione. I need you more."
Hermione's tears spilled over, but she kept her sobs hidden down. "I know that, Draco."
He stood there, hands by his side, watching her as if he were storing up her image for times when she wasn't around. Then he looked into her eyes and a thought struck him, causing a cold shiver down his spine. Hermione noticed a haunted look cross his face and stepped closer to him, so they were barely touching.
"Tell me what you're thinking." She spoke.
"I don't think I can."
"Please." She reached up and touched his cheek gently. "Tell me."
Draco drew in a shuddering breath and struggled to keep himself under control. "I don't know what I'll do when we're facing Voldemort. Even the thought of losing you eats me up inside, but if he hurts you, or kills you then.I'll have to- it would make me-"
"Ssh." Hermione said, moving her hand so it covered his lips. "Don't think about that. I'm not going anywhere and you know it. That's what we have Credere for." It sounded awful saying that they were passing death knowingly on to an innocent creature. But now, Draco didn't care.
"What if he knows it?" Draco asked, reaching out despite himself to curl his hand around the back of Hermione's neck. "What if Voldemort knows that you're my weakness?" his hand traveled down her back, then back up again to gently tug the hair at the top of her neck.
"I think he does know it. Or will know it by the time we meet with him. But Credere will be in my form, and he'll attack her thinking it's me, to harm you. To get a reaction from you. But she'll change to her natural form before she dies, hopefully wound him with her horn, and hopefully force him to drink." Hermione trailed off. "You need to drink something, and probably have something to eat." She told him sternly.
"I'm not hungry." He mumbled in response, looking away from her, but wrapping his other hand around her waist firmly. Hermione put both her arms around his neck, moved closer and hugged him tightly. They stayed there for a long time, neither wanting to be the one to pull away. Hermione finally did, leaving her arms about him, but pulling away far enough to look in his gray eyes. "I want to see you eat something. You haven't eaten since breakfast."
"Not now." He responded, and his arms tightened about her even more. "After."
"After what?" Hermione asked, then he looked at her meaningfully. She felt a slow blush rise to her cheeks, but she didn't look away. Instead she leaned in and kissed him eagerly. He responded instantly, reaching into her robe and moving his hand on the bare skin of her waist. Then grabbing her gently and slowly, amongst their kisses and gasping for breath, Draco led her through the cabin to the bed.
***
A/N- that's it for now. I'm sending the next chapter off to my beta-reader this afternoon, so not long.