A/N: Hey guys. Sorry it took so long for me to update. I've been up late editing and all that, and then there was my trip, but I'm not gonna go into that so you can read Chapter 3!!!!
Thanks to all who reviewed!!
-Dracoluver-13-
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Chapter 3: Slipped Information
"Hermione. Hermione!"
Hermione found herself being woken up in a cold sweat. She looked up into the eyes of Harry. "Harry!" she gasped.
"Hermione, it's time to get ready for-" he stopped, noticing his friend's shaken self. "'Mione, are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." She replied, trying to hide the shakiness in her voice. She propped herself up on her elbows, trying to detangle herself of her sweaty sheets. "It's just- just a nightmare."
Harry sat down beside her. "Can you tell it to me?"
"I can't remember it. Something about someone screaming, a girl crying, and a fading white light. I've been having that same dream every night since Malfoy and his father left." She got up. "I don't know. I'll ask Professor Dumbledore about it tomorrow." She walked over to her trunk but stopped when Harry grabbed her arm. "Harry, I'm fine."
"I know," he whispered, putting a finger to her lips. Hermione looked up into his emerald green eyes. Harry slowly lowered his head to hers until their lips met in a passionate kiss. She cupped his face in her hands and gently kissed him back, her tongue slowly slipping in. Harry put his hands around her waist and his tongue grazed gently over hers.
Mrs. Weasley burst in the room, seeing them hastily pull apart, embarrassed. "Come on!" She rushed. "We've got to leave in 10 minutes!" Before she left, she looked back at the two and smiled. "Ah, young love. I remember when Arthur and I met. We-" She caught herself and waved her hand. "I won't bore you with that." She left.
"I better get dressed," Hermione looked down at the floor. "Okay," Harry left.
Five minutes later, Hermione appeared downstairs in a blue halter and white capris.
-ooooooo-
In 30 minutes, the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione were aboard the Hogwarts Express and looking for a compartment. "See you," Hermione said to them. "I'll try and find you guys later." She left for the Head Boy and Girl Compartment.
"Come on," Ron said, following Ginny, who was a sixth year. They walked down the aisle, peeking in every once in awhile for an empty compartment. The only empty one was in the very back, second to the last compartment. Ginny left them to go sit with her boyfriend, Neville, who was just a few compartments away.
Harry and Ron slid in the empty one, changed into their robes, and sat down. "How do you think Hermione'll survive since she has to, you know, share a tower with Malfoy?" Ron asked.
Harry stared out of the window at the gloomy sky. "I don't know," he replied. He looked at Ron. "Around mid-year she'll be going crazy, I expect." He and Ron laughed. Then Harry's face got serious. "But if Malfoy so much as touches her, he'll wish he'd never been born."
"Harry," Ron tore his eyes from the window. "What do you think Malfoy meant when he said 'And you think your life is terrible'?"
"I don't know," he replied. "I was thinking about that, too. He's probably just trying to get attention. You know how he is. Always wanting attention, a liar, git, that sort of guy."
"But, when Lucius jerked Malfoy and the broom off the ground like that, and when he was hit and dragged, I don't know. . . maybe he was serious. . ." His voice trailed off. He couldn't believe what he was saying. And neither could Harry.
"Don't tell me you feel sorry for him?!" Harry stared him in the eye, apparently trying to read his mind.
"No! Not at all, mate. I was just thinking." They were quiet for awhile, deep in thought. They didn't even notice the Sweets Lady come by with the trolley. She eyed them strangely and walked away.
-ooooooo-
. . . In the Head Boy and Girl Compartment. . .
"I can't believe I have to be around a Mudblood all fucking year. Wait until Father hears about this. He'll for sure get a new Head Girl chosen," Malfoy drawled, pacing the compartment.
"You didn't tell your father about your being Head Boy?" Hermione asked, forcing herself to forget about the 'Mudblood' comment. Malfoy spun around.
"No," he spat. "Father doesn't care about all that. All he cares about is his work. Oh, sure, if I get a good mark, he's proud for a few seconds, but he doesn't care. All my life I've been trying to make him proud of me, but I'm never going to be good enough. He wants me to be just like him, but he's a--" Malfoy stopped himself, and, realizing he said too much, sat down and gazed out the window.
Three more hours until they arrived at Hogwarts. Hermione stood up and walked out of the compartment, grabbing her robes on the way. She peeked in each compartment looking for Ron and Harry. About 3 compartments away from her destination, she looking in one and quickly pulled her head back out, wide-eyed. She had just walked in on Lavender and Dean.
A few minutes later, Hermione found the right compartment. "Thank goodness!" she sighed, giving each of them a hug. Then she dropped herself into the seat. "You don't know how glad I am to see you guys! One more comment from Malfoy about Muggle-borns and--"
"Malfoy insulted you?" Ron asked, standing up. "When?"
"Just a few moments ago, but that's not important," she replied, gently pushing Ron back into his seat. "I've got something to tell you--"
"You're pregnant, aren't you?" Ron asked, laughing. Harry elbowed him in the ribs, and tried to keep from smiling.
"No!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's about Malfoy."
"Maybe he's really a circus clown outside of school and joined You-Know-Who and is trying to take over the world by throwing water balloons!" Ron exclaimed. This time both he and Harry burst out laughing.
"Stop interrupting me!" Hermione glared at Ron. Harry and Ron covered their mouths with their hands to stifle their laughter. "Like I was saying--" She eyed Ron. "—It's about Malfoy. He told me some interesting things about his father." She paused. "Well, he didn't mean to tell me, it sort of slipped." Hermione told her friends exactly what Malfoy had told her.
When she had finished, she stared at their somewhat shocked faces. "Well," Harry said, breaking the silence. "He deserves it. Look at--"
"Harry! No one deserves that!" Hermione interrupted, getting to her feet. "I've been thinking, what if we never knew the real Malfoy? Maybe he wears, oh I don't know, maybe some kind of mask? Maybe--"
"Hermione! We know the real Malfoy. If his father was forcing him to be like this when he didn't want to be, why would he pick on us so much at school? He would only do it around his father. Trust me, we know the real Malfoy," Harry said. Hermione grabbed her robes and headed for the door. "You're probably right. I'm going to go change. See you in a few. If not, see you at school." She left.
"Come on," harry said, getting something from his trunk. "Let's play Wizard's Chess."
"Prepare to lose," Ron replied, setting up his pieces.
Hermione reappeared from the bathroom a few minutes later, dressed in her Hogwarts robes, her Head Girl badge shining on the chest. Outside Harry's and Ron's compartment, she could hear chess pieces breaking and Ron's whooping. She rolled her eyes. 'Don't they ever stop playing that game?' she asked herself. 'But, I'd rather listen to that and watch chess pieces explode, then sit with Malfoy.' She opened the door and when in.