"Harry! Can you hear us? Go get Madame Pomfrey, he's waking up!" Harry
opened his eyes slowly. Everything was a blur. Ron put his glasses on
and helped him sit up against the pillow. His head was killing him. Ron
and Hermione were at his side. He breathed a sigh of relief. It'd just
been a dream, clearly. Here was Hermione, right next to him. Safe and
sound.
"Oh we were so worried, Harry. You've been out for a week." she said and hugged him.
"What happened?" he asked weakly. Ron and Hermione gave each other looks. They didn't want to say anything. Madame Pomfrey broke them away from him and began looking him over.
"I can't count how many times I've had you since you've come to this school, Harry. You sure know how to find trouble. But the good news is you're okay, you'll be just fine." she stated and handed him a piece of chocolate.
"I think it's best you two be off. He needs his rest. You can see him tomorrow, he'll be out by then."
"I have to talk to Hermione." he bursted out.
"You can talk to her tomorrow, right now you need rest." Madame Pomfrey handed him a glass of an unknown liquid and told him to drink, soon he found himself slipping back into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
"Hermione!" he yelled out. Hermione stopped at the enterance of Gryffindor Tower. She smiled and came running over to him.
"Oh Harry!" she hugged him tight, he felt as if his bones were going to break.
"We need to talk."
"I have to go to Ancient Runes, I'm already running a bit late."
"Please, it's important." she saw the urgency on his face, and nodded. They dropped her things off in her room then went outside to walk by the lake.
"What happened? No one will tell me anything and everyone's looking at me oddly."
"Voldemort was in the castle, Harry, with dementors. That's why your scar hurt and why you passed out. I didn't know what it was either until I got back."
"Got back?"
"Malfoy and I were kidnapped. We were in Azkaban. We only just got back two days ago. Dumbledore got us out. Harry, it was aweful."
"I was with you, Hermione. I know what happened. I had a dream about it. I know about you and Malfoy." he admitted.
"How much do you know?" she asked, then nodded towards the castle entrance. Malfoy was outside with Crabbe and Goyle picking on a first year Ravenclaw. Malfoy looked over at Harry and Hermione, but quickly broke the gaze.
"You slept with him so he wouldn't kill you."
"It wasn't him, Harry. It was his father. I've been doing research since I got back. I think it was the Imperius Curse. It was a such a mess. He attacked me once he realized what'd happened. After the first time, it kept happening. Draco's been fighting it though.
"You're calling him by his first name? Hermione, he's a death eater. Why is he even still at the school?"
"Like I said, it wasn't him. It was Lucius."
"Is his father in control of him now? Is that why he's picking on first years. Hermione, you make it sound like he isn't accountable for any of his actions. Are you saying that he's actually a nice guy?"
"No. He's not. He still hates you. He hates all of us. More so now, I think. But I've learned to understand some things about him. And he is helping Dumbledore, he's on our side despite things."
"Does Ron know?"
"Not all of it. I couldn't bear to tell him. I told him what he needed to know. He knows that we were forced to stay together for almost a week. And he knows how Draco lied to Voldemort to save us."
"Good, he doesn't need to know the rest." Harry remarked. They started heading back over to the castle. Hermione went back up to her room to get ready for her next class. He started heading back to the common room, when he was stopped in the hallway by Malfoy.
"So I suppose you know. Granger, has a bad habit of not being able to keep her mouth closed."
"If you want to keep your face, Malfoy, I suggest you leave me alone."
"I can't, I need to talk to you."
"Talk."
"In private." Malfoy led him to an empty classroom.
"What do you want?"
"You have a weird gift at being able to see whatever Voldemort does. Either that or you have some freak obsession of seeing whatever he does in refrence to me. Either way, I know you know what happened. Maybe you didn't see anything, maybe she just told you. But if you breath a word of it to anyone. Even Weasel, you won't live. Remember our pact of trust."
"You broke that. You lied to us. You were working for him. Where's your mark? I'm sure he's branded you too!" Harry snapped. Annoyed, Malfoy lifted up the sleeve of his robe and shirt revealing the dark mark deep in his forarm.
"It's useless now, I won't answer the calls. But that doesn't mean that I'm not your enemy, keep that in mind, Potter."
"Do you just not want the rest of Slytherin to know you slept with someone who wasn't a pureblood? Are you ashamed and afraid to lose your reputation?"
"It's more like the other way around, she was just another notch in the bed post, Potter. But for her reputation, she'll just be a slut. If you care about Hermione, keep your mouth shut." he turned to leave.
"Malfoy! I have a question for you. How were you able to fight against the Imperius Curse? That wasn't your father who slept with Hermione, it was you. Yes, I saw."
"Shut up, Potter. Keep to your own business." Malfoy stormed out of the room, yelling at and scaring the two first years he'd been taunting previously who happened to be walking by. Just as he turned to leave, he was punched hard in the nose.
"Ron!" Harry called and ran over to him and Malfoy, who was nursing a bleeding nose.
"That's for Hermione!" Ron yelled as Harry led him away. They went to the Griffyndor common room.
"I heard you guys talking. I was heading over to see Hermione when I heard your voices. I didn't catch all of it, but I caught enough to know what you were talking about. I can't believe she didn't tell me."
"She didn't want to hurt you, Ron. She knows how you feel about her. That was a brilliant punch though. I would've done it, but I'm not allowed to touch him."
"It felt good."
"Rough luck though, we have to see him next class in Care of Magical Creatures. Let's go."
They headed over to Hagrid's hut. They had a free hour, so they decided to go to class early. They were greeted by Fang, who wagged his tail happily. They knocked on the door and heard Hagrid tell them to enter. He was baking again. Ron and Harry gave each other familiar looks. Hagrid wasn't known to be the greatest cook.
"Harry! Its good ter see yeh about. How're feelin'?" Hagrid asked and gave him a big bear hug.
"I'm fine, thanks. What are you baking?"
"Oh I thought I'd 'ave a hand at biscuits again. Improved the recipe, yeh see. Yer welcome ter try them fer yerselves."
"No thanks, we've already eaten." Harry smiled.
"How's Hermione holdin up?"
"She seems to be back to her normal self."
"She still tutoring that good fer nothin, Malfoy?"
"Yeah, every night." Ron replied. This took Harry by suprise. Surely, Dumbledore knew what happened. He wouldn't let them continue tutoring lessons after that.
"Ought to just let 'im fail, if yer ask me." Hagrid and Ron continued their conversation, but Harry's mind had left the table. He could talk to Dumbledore tonight, he'd ask him about it then. As it got closer to start class, they went outside and took their seats. Hermione joined them and Ron glared at her.
"How'd he find out?" she whispered to Harry. He explained to her about Malfoy's confrontation and then Ron punching him. Even she couldn't help but giggle when Malfoy showed up to class with a broken nose. He gave Ron the look of death and joined his group. After class, it was time for dinner. Everyone headed back to the castle. Malfoy passed them quickly, but Harry noticed them smiling at each other.
"Why are you still tutoring him?"
"He needs it."
"No, he doesn't. He even admitted he was failing as a ploy."
"Oh, it's not every class. It's just Care of Magical Creatures and Transfiguartion. He's not failing, he just has low grades. He wants to get them up. He has the same problem with McGonagall as we have with Snape, apparently." she explained, smiling. Harry decided not to question it, knowing he wouldn't get a truthful answer and decided to spy again that night.
He slipt out of the portrait hole after he was sure everyone had gone to bed. It was nine o'clock. He got to the transfiguration classroom and was relieved to find the door ajar. He slipped in. It was darker than usual, only the fireplace was lit. He heard Hermione giggle and found them in the corner of the classroom, kissing passionatly.
"We need to get back to work." she giggled, then kissed him again.
"Another notch in the bed post, huh?" Harry muttered to himself. He watched as Malfoy ran his hands along her body and whispered things in her ear. She wrapped her legs around him. It took Harry a moment to realize what they were doing, but when he did, he left to give them privacy. He had to talk to Dumbledore. He took off the invisbility cloak, and walked to corridors to the headmaster's office.
"Pea soup." he stated. The gargoyle moved, opening up the spiraling staircase up to dumbledor's quarters. He hopped up the stairs and knocked on the door.
"Come in, Harry, Come in." he heard a voice.
"I want to know what happened. I want to know everything. I was out for a week. I saw Hermione and Malfoy locked up in Azkaban. I saw their trial with Voldemort. I know what happened back in the chamber. Why is Hermione still tutoring Malfoy? Why are they seeing each other?"
"Harry, we must deal with one question at a time. You saw what happened. You saw all you needed to see. The rest between that and the time that the order got them out of Azkaban, is business between only Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy. They're at an age of innocence, descovering new things and enjoying each other's company, learning about life. I suggested they continue with the tutoring, because young Malfoy needs the help, and they need to learn to heal from the trauma of their experience. There is no better company, than those who've been through the same ordeals. They understand each other now on a level that neither you or I could, as we were not there with them. Let them be."
"Malfoy hates her. He's just using her. We can't trust him after what happened."
"I know what happened at Azkaban, Harry. The things he told Voldemort were things we'd decided on before the incident occured. He was only following under my instructions. This is a dark age we're in, Harry. The best you can do is accept that he's trying to do the right thing, even if you two do not always see eye to eye. It's a part of growing up, muggle and wizard alike. Now you best be off to bed. As I hear you have a potions exam tomorrow, and Professor Snape won't take too kindly if you're nodding off every now and then. Goodnite, Harry."
"Goodnite, Professor." Harry walked back to Gryffindor Tower. His feet felt like lead. He thought Dumbledore would understand his concern. He saw Hermione come up down the hallway, practically skipping.
"Harry!" she called and ran over to him. He didn't want to talk to her so he didn't stop.
"What's wrong?"
"Why'd you lie to me? We've been friends for five and a half years."
"I haven't lied to you, Harry." she said quietly.
"Draco Malfoy doesn't hate you, Hermione. He loves you. I saw you two, I didn't understand why you were still tutoring him, but I get the picture now, it's just so you two can go and have your little sessions without the school questioning it."
"You followed me? Did you not learn anything from your dream, Harry? I can take care of myself! Malfoy doesn't...love me." she hissed.
"Oh so now you're back to a last name basis again."
"Draco Malfoy doesn't love me. I don't love him. We're just..." she stopped. Harry wanted to say the word, it was at the tip of his tongue. But he couldn't bring himself to say it. He just looked at her, anger in his eyes. His feelings of betrayal and heartbreak were burning inside him.
"We're just trying to make the best of it, Harry. I mean, he doesn't pick on you as much."
"Of all the guys in the school, Hermione. You have to pick the one who thinks you're inferior to his pure...inbred blood. He will always be the way he is. Once he's tired of you, he'll find someone else. He'll never make you feel special or equal. He will never ever marry you. He told me that all you are to him is another notch in his bedpost. If he really wanted to be with you, Hermione, he'd go public. You've seen how he's been with the others before you. You're his dirty little secret."
"You're so full of yourself, Harry Potter. Your fame has made you synical and unappreciative of the things around you. The only reason Ron and I are still around you, is because no one else would be. You're bad luck, and everyone around you suffers. The sorting hat may have put you in Gryffindor like your father, but you are Slytherin to the core. Grow up, Draco has." she snapped back. The words hit him like a ton of bricks, but he had a feeling that he'd made the same impact on her. She ran off past him, trying to hide her tears.
"Oh we were so worried, Harry. You've been out for a week." she said and hugged him.
"What happened?" he asked weakly. Ron and Hermione gave each other looks. They didn't want to say anything. Madame Pomfrey broke them away from him and began looking him over.
"I can't count how many times I've had you since you've come to this school, Harry. You sure know how to find trouble. But the good news is you're okay, you'll be just fine." she stated and handed him a piece of chocolate.
"I think it's best you two be off. He needs his rest. You can see him tomorrow, he'll be out by then."
"I have to talk to Hermione." he bursted out.
"You can talk to her tomorrow, right now you need rest." Madame Pomfrey handed him a glass of an unknown liquid and told him to drink, soon he found himself slipping back into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
"Hermione!" he yelled out. Hermione stopped at the enterance of Gryffindor Tower. She smiled and came running over to him.
"Oh Harry!" she hugged him tight, he felt as if his bones were going to break.
"We need to talk."
"I have to go to Ancient Runes, I'm already running a bit late."
"Please, it's important." she saw the urgency on his face, and nodded. They dropped her things off in her room then went outside to walk by the lake.
"What happened? No one will tell me anything and everyone's looking at me oddly."
"Voldemort was in the castle, Harry, with dementors. That's why your scar hurt and why you passed out. I didn't know what it was either until I got back."
"Got back?"
"Malfoy and I were kidnapped. We were in Azkaban. We only just got back two days ago. Dumbledore got us out. Harry, it was aweful."
"I was with you, Hermione. I know what happened. I had a dream about it. I know about you and Malfoy." he admitted.
"How much do you know?" she asked, then nodded towards the castle entrance. Malfoy was outside with Crabbe and Goyle picking on a first year Ravenclaw. Malfoy looked over at Harry and Hermione, but quickly broke the gaze.
"You slept with him so he wouldn't kill you."
"It wasn't him, Harry. It was his father. I've been doing research since I got back. I think it was the Imperius Curse. It was a such a mess. He attacked me once he realized what'd happened. After the first time, it kept happening. Draco's been fighting it though.
"You're calling him by his first name? Hermione, he's a death eater. Why is he even still at the school?"
"Like I said, it wasn't him. It was Lucius."
"Is his father in control of him now? Is that why he's picking on first years. Hermione, you make it sound like he isn't accountable for any of his actions. Are you saying that he's actually a nice guy?"
"No. He's not. He still hates you. He hates all of us. More so now, I think. But I've learned to understand some things about him. And he is helping Dumbledore, he's on our side despite things."
"Does Ron know?"
"Not all of it. I couldn't bear to tell him. I told him what he needed to know. He knows that we were forced to stay together for almost a week. And he knows how Draco lied to Voldemort to save us."
"Good, he doesn't need to know the rest." Harry remarked. They started heading back over to the castle. Hermione went back up to her room to get ready for her next class. He started heading back to the common room, when he was stopped in the hallway by Malfoy.
"So I suppose you know. Granger, has a bad habit of not being able to keep her mouth closed."
"If you want to keep your face, Malfoy, I suggest you leave me alone."
"I can't, I need to talk to you."
"Talk."
"In private." Malfoy led him to an empty classroom.
"What do you want?"
"You have a weird gift at being able to see whatever Voldemort does. Either that or you have some freak obsession of seeing whatever he does in refrence to me. Either way, I know you know what happened. Maybe you didn't see anything, maybe she just told you. But if you breath a word of it to anyone. Even Weasel, you won't live. Remember our pact of trust."
"You broke that. You lied to us. You were working for him. Where's your mark? I'm sure he's branded you too!" Harry snapped. Annoyed, Malfoy lifted up the sleeve of his robe and shirt revealing the dark mark deep in his forarm.
"It's useless now, I won't answer the calls. But that doesn't mean that I'm not your enemy, keep that in mind, Potter."
"Do you just not want the rest of Slytherin to know you slept with someone who wasn't a pureblood? Are you ashamed and afraid to lose your reputation?"
"It's more like the other way around, she was just another notch in the bed post, Potter. But for her reputation, she'll just be a slut. If you care about Hermione, keep your mouth shut." he turned to leave.
"Malfoy! I have a question for you. How were you able to fight against the Imperius Curse? That wasn't your father who slept with Hermione, it was you. Yes, I saw."
"Shut up, Potter. Keep to your own business." Malfoy stormed out of the room, yelling at and scaring the two first years he'd been taunting previously who happened to be walking by. Just as he turned to leave, he was punched hard in the nose.
"Ron!" Harry called and ran over to him and Malfoy, who was nursing a bleeding nose.
"That's for Hermione!" Ron yelled as Harry led him away. They went to the Griffyndor common room.
"I heard you guys talking. I was heading over to see Hermione when I heard your voices. I didn't catch all of it, but I caught enough to know what you were talking about. I can't believe she didn't tell me."
"She didn't want to hurt you, Ron. She knows how you feel about her. That was a brilliant punch though. I would've done it, but I'm not allowed to touch him."
"It felt good."
"Rough luck though, we have to see him next class in Care of Magical Creatures. Let's go."
They headed over to Hagrid's hut. They had a free hour, so they decided to go to class early. They were greeted by Fang, who wagged his tail happily. They knocked on the door and heard Hagrid tell them to enter. He was baking again. Ron and Harry gave each other familiar looks. Hagrid wasn't known to be the greatest cook.
"Harry! Its good ter see yeh about. How're feelin'?" Hagrid asked and gave him a big bear hug.
"I'm fine, thanks. What are you baking?"
"Oh I thought I'd 'ave a hand at biscuits again. Improved the recipe, yeh see. Yer welcome ter try them fer yerselves."
"No thanks, we've already eaten." Harry smiled.
"How's Hermione holdin up?"
"She seems to be back to her normal self."
"She still tutoring that good fer nothin, Malfoy?"
"Yeah, every night." Ron replied. This took Harry by suprise. Surely, Dumbledore knew what happened. He wouldn't let them continue tutoring lessons after that.
"Ought to just let 'im fail, if yer ask me." Hagrid and Ron continued their conversation, but Harry's mind had left the table. He could talk to Dumbledore tonight, he'd ask him about it then. As it got closer to start class, they went outside and took their seats. Hermione joined them and Ron glared at her.
"How'd he find out?" she whispered to Harry. He explained to her about Malfoy's confrontation and then Ron punching him. Even she couldn't help but giggle when Malfoy showed up to class with a broken nose. He gave Ron the look of death and joined his group. After class, it was time for dinner. Everyone headed back to the castle. Malfoy passed them quickly, but Harry noticed them smiling at each other.
"Why are you still tutoring him?"
"He needs it."
"No, he doesn't. He even admitted he was failing as a ploy."
"Oh, it's not every class. It's just Care of Magical Creatures and Transfiguartion. He's not failing, he just has low grades. He wants to get them up. He has the same problem with McGonagall as we have with Snape, apparently." she explained, smiling. Harry decided not to question it, knowing he wouldn't get a truthful answer and decided to spy again that night.
He slipt out of the portrait hole after he was sure everyone had gone to bed. It was nine o'clock. He got to the transfiguration classroom and was relieved to find the door ajar. He slipped in. It was darker than usual, only the fireplace was lit. He heard Hermione giggle and found them in the corner of the classroom, kissing passionatly.
"We need to get back to work." she giggled, then kissed him again.
"Another notch in the bed post, huh?" Harry muttered to himself. He watched as Malfoy ran his hands along her body and whispered things in her ear. She wrapped her legs around him. It took Harry a moment to realize what they were doing, but when he did, he left to give them privacy. He had to talk to Dumbledore. He took off the invisbility cloak, and walked to corridors to the headmaster's office.
"Pea soup." he stated. The gargoyle moved, opening up the spiraling staircase up to dumbledor's quarters. He hopped up the stairs and knocked on the door.
"Come in, Harry, Come in." he heard a voice.
"I want to know what happened. I want to know everything. I was out for a week. I saw Hermione and Malfoy locked up in Azkaban. I saw their trial with Voldemort. I know what happened back in the chamber. Why is Hermione still tutoring Malfoy? Why are they seeing each other?"
"Harry, we must deal with one question at a time. You saw what happened. You saw all you needed to see. The rest between that and the time that the order got them out of Azkaban, is business between only Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy. They're at an age of innocence, descovering new things and enjoying each other's company, learning about life. I suggested they continue with the tutoring, because young Malfoy needs the help, and they need to learn to heal from the trauma of their experience. There is no better company, than those who've been through the same ordeals. They understand each other now on a level that neither you or I could, as we were not there with them. Let them be."
"Malfoy hates her. He's just using her. We can't trust him after what happened."
"I know what happened at Azkaban, Harry. The things he told Voldemort were things we'd decided on before the incident occured. He was only following under my instructions. This is a dark age we're in, Harry. The best you can do is accept that he's trying to do the right thing, even if you two do not always see eye to eye. It's a part of growing up, muggle and wizard alike. Now you best be off to bed. As I hear you have a potions exam tomorrow, and Professor Snape won't take too kindly if you're nodding off every now and then. Goodnite, Harry."
"Goodnite, Professor." Harry walked back to Gryffindor Tower. His feet felt like lead. He thought Dumbledore would understand his concern. He saw Hermione come up down the hallway, practically skipping.
"Harry!" she called and ran over to him. He didn't want to talk to her so he didn't stop.
"What's wrong?"
"Why'd you lie to me? We've been friends for five and a half years."
"I haven't lied to you, Harry." she said quietly.
"Draco Malfoy doesn't hate you, Hermione. He loves you. I saw you two, I didn't understand why you were still tutoring him, but I get the picture now, it's just so you two can go and have your little sessions without the school questioning it."
"You followed me? Did you not learn anything from your dream, Harry? I can take care of myself! Malfoy doesn't...love me." she hissed.
"Oh so now you're back to a last name basis again."
"Draco Malfoy doesn't love me. I don't love him. We're just..." she stopped. Harry wanted to say the word, it was at the tip of his tongue. But he couldn't bring himself to say it. He just looked at her, anger in his eyes. His feelings of betrayal and heartbreak were burning inside him.
"We're just trying to make the best of it, Harry. I mean, he doesn't pick on you as much."
"Of all the guys in the school, Hermione. You have to pick the one who thinks you're inferior to his pure...inbred blood. He will always be the way he is. Once he's tired of you, he'll find someone else. He'll never make you feel special or equal. He will never ever marry you. He told me that all you are to him is another notch in his bedpost. If he really wanted to be with you, Hermione, he'd go public. You've seen how he's been with the others before you. You're his dirty little secret."
"You're so full of yourself, Harry Potter. Your fame has made you synical and unappreciative of the things around you. The only reason Ron and I are still around you, is because no one else would be. You're bad luck, and everyone around you suffers. The sorting hat may have put you in Gryffindor like your father, but you are Slytherin to the core. Grow up, Draco has." she snapped back. The words hit him like a ton of bricks, but he had a feeling that he'd made the same impact on her. She ran off past him, trying to hide her tears.