Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N Hey everyone. HereÕs the new chapter. And guys, donÕt forget to comment on my songs. IÕd really like feedback on those. They are all mine, so please, please review for them as well.
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~0~*Chapter Three- Dark Secrets*~0~
~*~Dark Secrets~*~
She keeps her heart closed
Never opens up to anyone
Never puts herself up for show
And then she feels alone
But can you blame her?
Living in a secret world
SheÕs got her secrets
Those deep, dark secrets
She keeps them locked inside
SheÕs got her secrets
Those deep, dark secrets
Oh, yeah, sheÕs got so much to hide
I wish I could look into her eyes
And see what goes on in her mind
Closed off from everyone
Is the way she chooses to be
But why is everyone pushing her to be
Something she is not, let her run
SheÕs got her secrets
Those deep, dark secrets
She keeps them locked inside
SheÕs got her secrets
Those deep, dark secrets
Oh, yeah, sheÕs got so much to hide
When I look at her
I donÕt see whatÕs inside
I wish I could know
To help her to the path she should find
She needs to understand
That IÕm here to help, IÕm on her side
SheÕs got her secrets
Those deep, dark secrets
She keeps them locked inside
SheÕs got her secrets
Those deep, dark secrets
Oh, yeah, sheÕs got so much to hide
SheÕs got so much to hide
SheÕs got a wild mind
Tame her and sheÕll eventually die
Let her be, let her find
Her way, her way, her wayÉ
SheÕs got her secrets
Those deep, dark secrets
She keeps them locked inside
SheÕs got her secrets
Those deep, dark secrets
Oh, yeah, sheÕs got so much to hide
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Creeping in the darkness, hiding from prying eyes, mainly stormy blue.
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Draco arrived in the great hall after a night that was nearly sleepless. Why was she on his mind all the time? Hermione was always there, why hadnÕt he noticed her like this before. ÔMaybe because I wouldnÕt let myself.Õ He thought.
He sat down next to his friends, or his acquaintances for better use of theyÕre position. They began chatting animatedly about how ÔhotÕ Pansy had grown to be. Draco tuned them out and gazed across the room absentmindedly. He locked eyes with her. The one who had been haunting his thoughts, the only subject of his dreams. She smiled slightly and he winked at her.
She looked down at her plate and then took her bag and stood up. As she was walking, Draco looked at what she was wearing underneath her robes. Not her uniform, but a black, long sleeved shirt, similar to the one she had been wearing the other day and a knee length black peasant skirt. Draco smirked when he saw red Converse All Stars on her feet. ÔThatÕs Hermione for you. Full of surprises.Õ
Draco walked to his Care of Magical Creatures lesson, anticipating seeing her face again. He walked along the corridor slowly, careful not to let anyone know he was having thoughts about the Muggle Born Head Girl. That was unacceptable from a Malfoy. He shuddered. Why did his life have to be like that. It made him angry knowing that he could never get to know her. All the things that made her tick, what all her favorite things were.
When Draco arrived outside and made his way down the path to HagridÕs Hut. He noticed Hermione hadnÕt arrived yet, which was unusual. Potty and Weasel were they. He sneered at them and turned away, dropping his bag to the floor.
The class was fairly uneventful, very peculiar of HagridÕs usually adventurous nature. They studied a magical bird named Pytathion, thatÕs feathers resembled snakes scales in brilliant shades of orange and red. Its beak was long and pointed and its eyes were big and green.
The only thing odd about the class was that Hermione was not there. Nor was she at Arithmancy. And, upon overhearing Potty, she wasnÕt in Charms either. He prayed he would see her in DADA, their last class of the day.
Draco swaggered in, relief spreading over him when he saw Hermione sitting primly at her desk. He noticed she was extremely attentive all though class, but her participation was nonexistent, which was very strange in her case.
Professor Gurap, a lady who had been here for two years, and broken the jinx supposedly over the position she now possessed, spoke softly and clearly, ÒWe will be studying something slightly different today. It is not so much a Defense Against the Dark Arts, but instead, we will be learning the properties of a few wizarding diseases. Hermione squealed and raised her hand.
ÒYes, Ms. Granger.Ó
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ÒMay I be excused. IÕm not feeling well.Ó HermioneÕs voice quivered. The professor nodded wearily, and Hermione picked up her bag and nearly ran out of the classroom. Everyone looked around, puzzled, wondering if anyone knew what was wrong with her. Everyone was just a confused as the next. DracoÕs lips curved into a half smile. He was determined to find out what was eating Ms. Granger.
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Throughout the next week, Draco observed HermioneÕs actions carefully. He was actually starting to feel slightly worried for her, worrisome being a quality he seldom used. He noticed she rarely went to the classes the Slytherins shared with the Gryffindors. She would only turn up to Herbology, and Draco had no idea why. He found it rather dull.
One night, he stopped her in the Common Room. He had been waiting for her to return from where ever she had skipped off to and he knew he would catch her sneaking in.
ÒGranger? Where were you in Arithmancy today?Ó Draco and Hermione were the only students taking that class in seventh year, so they had to share classes with the 6th years, and it was incredibly annoying to be educated with a bunch of little kids, not that he enjoyed HermioneÕs company of course. Ha, yeah, right.
ÒI, uhÉ wasnÕt feeling well.Ó Hermione stammered, turning away from DracoÕs penetrating gaze. His eyes looked as if they could read her thoughts, and she didnÕt want him to know what she was thinking.
Draco frowned, ÒYou have been feeling under the weather for quite awhile now.Ó
Hermione looked panicked and her eyes began darting around madly, ÒLook, IÕm justÉ sick. Okay?Ó She turned to go when Draco grabbed her wrist. She looked down at it, willing him to let go with her mind. She didnÕt protest physically, but mentally, she was outraged. She kept her calm appearance, ÒPlease let go.Ó
ÒNot until you tell my whatÕs going on. You spend your days by yourself. YouÕre skipping classes, which is totally unlike you. You donÕt speak to anyone unless you have to, and sometimes not even then. Potty and Weasel havenÕt even noticed your absence from the Golden trio. Now, without you, theyÕre just the Clueless Two.Ó At this, Hermione smirked slightly. Draco, relieved to see he had had as slight effect on her, let go of her wrist. She looked down at it.
ÒI donÕt really have time for a heart to heart now, Draco.Ó Her eyes widened when she realized she had said his first name and she shook her head. ÔThat was something you would have been horrified at two years ago. YouÕre seventeen now. Grow up.Õ
ÒWhy notÉ Hermione?Ó HermioneÕs name rolled off DracoÕs tongue slowly and pronounced and he went over her name over and over in his head.
ÒI have a lot of school work to catch up onÓ, she smiled slightly, ÒYou know, with me being sick and all.Ó Her eyes lit up for the first time in weeks. They sparkled with such a radiance that shocked Draco. He was surprised he had never noticed them before. Large and amber-colored, they glittered by the light of the candles on the wall and had flecks of gold, yellow and green in them. They were round and brighter then Draco had ever seen. She looked so much more alive then she had the past couple weeks and she liked how it felt. Upon thinking that thought through, her face fell and her eyes returned to the muddy brown they had been before.
Draco looked crestfallen, ÔSheÕs unhappy.Õ He shook his head sadly and took her hand and pressed it up against his. She looked at their joined hand and put up her other one. Draco mirrored her movement. They laced their fingers together, puzzled by why each had done it. The moment had seemed like it had lasted forever, when they had only been joined for a minute.
ÒIÕll leave you to your work,Ó Draco said. Then he added, ÒHermione.Ó He couldnÕt get enough of saying her name. He pronounced it with such passion and flourish, like he was saying the name of a goddess. In his mind, he thought thoughts he shouldnÕt have been thinking. ÔWhen her eyes light up like that, sheÕs the most beautiful person in the world.Õ Had his father know what Draco was thinking, he would have murdered him on the spot. It was not proper to have such thoughts about a Mudblood.
Hermione smiled again and spun around, running down the hall to her room. Draco decided to take a walk around the grounds. It was a cool October day, and he loved watching the leaves drift slowly to the ground. He put his scarf on, snatched his cloak and strode out the common room.
When he emerged from the castle, he saw Harry and Ron walking to the Quidditch field, brooms slung over their shoulders. They chatting animatedly about something and suddenly Harry erupted with laughter. Draco bubbled inside knowing they were having so much fun without Hermione.
Draco now considered her a friend. Not a normal kind, not conventional, but definitely a friend. Draco couldnÕt define what a friend was. HeÕd never really had one before. His father told him there wasnÕt time for friends, especially Muggleborn friends. It made him sad to know that who he thought was his first real friend, he hadnÕt had until the age of seventeen. Draco knew that friends helped each other out. He was going to confront Potty and Weasel about dropping Hermione.
He ran towards the field. Ron and Harry were already in the air. They were tossing the Quaffle back and forth and laughing. When they saw Draco approach the field, they quickly landed and ran towards him.
ÒWhat do you want, Malfoy?Ó Harry spat out venomously.
Draco smirked in a rakish sort of way, ÒI wanted to have a talk with you about Her-Granger.Ó Harry looked puzzled. He turned to Ron, who gave him a quizzical look back.
ÒClarify, Ferret Boy.Ó Ron said simply. He was taller then both Draco and Harry, but was still gangly and very thin. Harry was the shortest of the three, but had grown to have the largest muscles out of the three. Draco was right in between the two, but he had smarts as his advantage.
ÒWell,Ó Draco thought it best not to say he was her friend, ÒI have noticed she was all alone. You three are usually joined at the hip. What happened? And my duty as Head Boy is to notice whether the students are comfortable, and I donÕt think itÕs very professional of Hermione,Ó ÔOh shit. I said her name.Õ, ÒUh, Hermione ÔMudbloodÕ Granger to miss classes. She is Head Girl.Ó There. That should suffice. It sounded probably enough.
ÒI dunno whatÕs up with her. SheÕs been ignoring us since September 1st. She seems different. Usually when she gets like this, she needs space, which we give her and she comes to us in her own time.Ó Harry explained. He always was the smarter of the two.
ÒI see. Does this bother you?Ó Draco asked cautiously. He didnÕt want to be too informative of his true desires.
ÒNot really. ItÕs kind of fun not having her nagging at us.Ó ThereÕs WeasleyÕs stupid big mouth. Harry elbowed him in the ribs.
ÒRight. Well, IÕm off.Ó Draco turned, hoping they wouldnÕt notice the oddity of this meeting. ÒWait a minute!Ó He heard Harry exclaim. He flinched and turned around, managing to look impassive and bored.
ÒYes?Ó
ÒWhy?Ó Harry asked. He looked at Draco intently.
Draco shrugged, ÒI donÕt have to explain myself to you.Ó He turned and left, jogging up to the castle, leaving Harry and Ron scratching their heads, figuratively of course.
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He arrived at the portrait, out of breath. Why had she ignored her friends? Why was she choosing to spend time by herself. Draco had never liked any of them, but he had always envied their close relationship, and he, having been deprived of something similar, couldnÕt believe why anyone would want to let that sort of closure go.
He looked at the portrait and said the password in a whisper and stepped slowly in. He saw the top of HermioneÕs head sitting on the couch. He guessed she had decided to come down to the Common Room to do her homework. He crept down the hall and up the stairs. He crossed the balcony, going all the way to the opposite side of the room so he could stand over Hermione.
He watched her every move. The way she chewed on her hair when she read. The way she bit her lip when concentrating. The way she stuck her tongue out slightly when writing, and shook her hand every few minutes after scribbling notes down furiously.
He saw her read pages after pages on Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration and Potions. Not once looking up form her work, she didnÕt know she was being watched.
After what seemed like a few minutes to Draco (it was in reality about 2 1/2 hours), Hermione yawned and stretched, raising her hands above her head. She looked around and saw Draco there on the balcony, smiling down at her.
She looked shocked, ÒWhat are you doing up there?Ó
He smirked more, ÒWatching you.Ó He began to walk towards the staircase leading down to Hermione.
ÒWhat? Why?Ó Hermione looked slightly flustered. ÒHow long have you been up there?Ó
ÒTwo, maybe three hours.Ó He was now standing in front of her, grinning an odd grin.
ÒJust watching me study?Ó Hermione asked incredulously.
ÒI guess.Ó Draco took her hand and led her over to the couch.
ÒWhy?Ó She said as she sat down uncertainly. ÒDraco, whatÕs going on?Ó
ÒI donÕt know. You tell me.Ó He sat down next to her, ÒI had a little chat with Potty and Weasel. I was wondering why you donÕt hang out with them anymore.Ó
ÒYou did what?Ó Hermione whispered. She shook her head, staring at her knees.
ÒThey told me itÕs you thatÕs been ignoring them. Why are you doing that to yourself? I would jump at the opportunity toÉÓ He trailed off.
ÒTo what?Ó She whispered, still staring at her knees.
He shook his head, ÒNo. WeÕre talking about you right now. I donÕt matter at the moment.Ó Hermione lifted her head in protest, ÒNo. I want to know whatÕs wrong.Ó
Hermione sighed deeply. She looked away. Draco put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned back to face him, ÒIÕve been having problems. My family isnÕt in the best shape. My dad is an alcoholic and he wonÕt get help. He comes home every night, really late at night, drunk out of his mind. My mom tries to calm him, but heÉ he hits her.Ó A tear ran down her face and she shook her head sadly, ÒAnd if she says one word about me, heÕll go up to my room and hitÉ hit me too. My mom thinks heÕs cheating on her too.Ó She suddenly burst out sobbing and slumped onto Draco. Her body was convulsing with tears. Draco held her, rocking her gently, whispering, ÒItÕs okayÓ over and over in her ear.
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A/N Hey everyone! Oh god, thank you all so much for reviewing. IÕm going to individually thank you. Here we go:
Arianne: Hey chica! WhatÕs up? Thanks for the review. I canÕt believe your reading this. You hate Harry Potter! (I know, isnÕt she odd???) Thanks so much for doing this. If you ever feel like helping me, please do! LOL.
Tenshi-Hotaru: Be patient hunny. I knowÉ it is a little confusing. I guess IÕm trying to make it suspenseful until you actually find out whatÕs wrong with her. Thanks for your review!
NONAME: Ooh, good, IÕm glad. I hoped it would be somewhat mysterious to keep you on the edge of you seat to find out why sheÕs acting so differently. DracoÕs dream was interesting to write. I really wanted to show the bullying of his father. I wanted it to gain Draco immense sympathy. I hope I succeeded. Thanks!
Erica G.: Hey, that is funny! But what do you actually think of the story? Can you do a proper review too next time. Thanks!
Foreveryours89: Thanks for loving my story. LOL. IÕm enjoying writing it. Slight writerÕs block problem coming on. Sigh. Oh well.
PolishPrincess: Thanks for your review. I know this whole issue with HermioneÕs secrecy and the blood thing is confusing. ItÕs supposed to be. Thanks!
Sweetbabe-101: I really donÕt feel like putting the disclaimer. Sighs. Everyone knows that IÕm not J.K. ItÕs V. obvious. ItÕs just such a snore. Thanks for review! Keep on being curious, it should be answered soon enough.
Lady Obsidian: Hermione and Drakie-poo will become friends in this chapter, so youÕll have to wait a sec before they actually fall for each other, but you all know itÕs coming. Thanks!
Blondie: Thanks for your incredibly sweet review! Keep reading and reviewing!