Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize, J.K. Rowling does (and she's very very lucky)
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bChapter 27- One Last Time/b
When Harry woke up, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. He'd never felt so happy to be at Hogwarts than he had at that point. He sat up and looked around him. The room was nearly empty. He wondered how long he'd been out. The only ones still left were Malfoy, Colin Creevey, and himself. Madame Pomfrey, noticing he was awake, rushed over to him.
"Well it's about time. I was wondering when you'd snap out of it." She said harshley, but with contentment in her voice and a slight smile. After she'd looked him over and made sure he was okay, she informed him that he had vistors waiting in the hall. She came back with Ron, Hermione, the Weasley Twins, Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Lupin (who was bearing new cuts and scars), Moody, Neville, Luna, and Dumbledore.
"I would've come on my own, but Poppy refused to let me disturb you." Dumbledore said smiling.
"Oh, Harry. Thank you." Hermione said and threw her arms around him. He could tell by the sniffling that she was crying.
"If it hadn't been for you, who knows what would've happened. Thank you for coming after us. I never got a chance to say it before." she added.
"How is everyone else?"
"Well the Slytherins were sent home for the rest of the school year, to rethink their actions. I have a feeling a majority of them won't be returning next year though. They'll go join Voldemort's army." Ron replied. Harry nodded.
"Cho wanted to come too, but she couldn't seem to bring herself around to it. She's still rather shaken by the incident. Apparently, one of the Death Eaters had made her a personal slave, she has some things she needs to accept and lay to rest before she can really talk to anyone." Hermione told him.
"What about the Patils and the Corners?"
"Well I suppose they handled it better than some parents would've. Lavender's probably taking Parvati's death the worst." she answered. They were silent for a few moments. It was as if no one quite knew what to say.
"Well, I just came in to make sure you were well. There are some things I need to take care of. I will be calling you and Mr. Malfoy sometime after he wakes." Dumbledore stated, then excused himself from the room.
"How is he, anyway?" Harry asked looking over at Malfoy's bed.
"We weren't sure the first week. He finally woke yesterday. There's been some irreparable damage, but they don't know the extent yet." Hermione replied sadly, looking over her shoulder.
"How long have I been out?"
"Two and a half weeks, mate. Dumbledore said Voldemort had posessed you again. It took everything out of you. He kept you in a sleep for the first week because you kept waking up screaming. A few days ago you started sleeping on your own, and well today you woke up." Ron answered.
Harry was free to go the next day. Malfoy still hadn't woken up. He sat through classes and they past him like a blur. He felt as if time was moving fast around him, yet he remained in normal speed. He was confused about his last meeting with Voldemort. He wasn't sure what'd happened after they'd left Manchester. When he had a free hour he decided to go find Hermione. He hadn't gotten a chance to speak to her alone, and she was too focused in class to reply to the notes he kept sending her. He found her in the library doing research.
"Hey." he said quietly and sat down at the table across from her.
"Hey, I've just discovered some very useful information for S.P.E.W.. I'm going to have to talk with Dobby next time I get the chance and ask him some questions. How are you feeling?"
"That's what I was going to ask you. Are you still... um... well you know." he asked. Her mood changed suddenly, and she shifted in her chair.
"No...Lucius took care of that...I'm not really ready to talk about it, Harry." she replied. He nodded and grabbed one of her books, opened it to a random page and pretended to be reading.
"Have you talked with Malfoy at all since we've been back?"
"No, Harry. I went to see him a couple days ago, but he yelled at me to leave. I really don't want to talk about it right now."
"You'll have to eventually... and anyway, he'll be back to health soon. You can't avoid him the rest of the school year"
"Well I'm going to try. It was a mistake. Now if you're only here to question me about Draco, your free to go." she told him, rather cooly. He thought it'd be very stupid to get up and leave at this point, so Harry remained where he was until it was time for their next class.
The next day, Harry went to the hospital wing to visit Malfoy. Colin Creevy was awake again too. He shouted excitedly at Harry when he came through the doors.
"Harry that was amazing! You saved us! I don't know what we would've done without you, honestly! I told my brother how magnificent you were, oh he's just amazed too Harry!"
"Er... That's nice Colin." Harry responded and walked over to Malfoy who was watching the scene with what Harry took as resentment.
"Trust me, you don't want this kind of attention." Harry said as he pulled up a chair.
"Go away, what makes you think I want to talk to you?"
"Oh, I know you don't want to talk to me. I'm almost sure you're wishing I was dead right now because we pulled you away from killing your father... but you know he would've killed you if we hadn't rescued you."
"Shut up, Potter."
So Harry shut up and just stared at him until he started getting on Malfoy's nerves.
"Okay! What do you want?"
"Well really, I came to see how you are."
"Oh. Well I'll be okay. I've been trying to get Pomfrey to let me go, but the insufferable worry wort insists I stay here until I'm healed." he replied and glared at Madame Pomfrey who was tending to Colin.
"Hermione said there were irreparable damages..."
"Yeah well, it's mostly to my lungs and a few other organs. Nothing I can't handle though. I'll be able to walk fine again within a month or so." he said in a matter-of-factly tone.
"Dumbledore wants to see us when you're up to it." Harry told him. "Why didn't you say something sooner." Malfoy responded, irritably. He climbed out of bed, flinching for a moment, then regained his composure. Madam Pomfrey rushed over.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Headmaster wanted to see me. Thanks for the bed and food, I've got business to attend to" He waved her away. He stopped to see if Harry was following. Harry jumped out of the chair and caught up with him.
"Are you sure that was the smartest thing to do? You can bairly walk."
"Since when do you care about my physical health? Anyway, I decide if I'm well enough to walk." Malfoy replied as he changed into his school clothes behind a screen. He grabbed his wand from the pantry and pulled Harry out into the hallway. They started walking towards Dumbledore's office. Harry had to stop and help Malfoy every now and then, as he was having trouble walking. Everytime though, Malfoy pushed him away. A third year Ravenclaw stopped.
"Do you need any help?" she asked kindly.
"Five points from Ravenclaw, don't talk to me again." Malfoy snapped at her.
They turned the corner leading to the Gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office. Malfoy stopped abruptly, causing Harry to run straight into him. He looked over Malfoy's shoulder to see why he'd stopped. Hermione stood there, also frozen in her footsteps. She looked down at the ground, then back up.
"Hi." she said, emotionless. It took a moment for him to respond, but it wasn't how she'd expected him to, although she felt she should've.
"Her... Move it, Granger. You're in my way." he regained composure and stared at her.
"Sorry... I'll see you tonight, Harry." she replied and walked quickly past them.
"Why are you treating her like this? It's not all her fault, you know. It's partially yours too. I think she's lost it anyway. You need to talk to her."
"When I want your advice, Potter, I'll ask for it." he sneered and continued on. Harry gave the password and they went up to the Headmaster's quarters. Dumbledore was waiting for them behind his desk. Faux was picking at his wooden post, making cooing noises like a normal bird. Dumbledore looked up and smiled.
"It's good to see you walking and moving about again, Mr. Malfoy. Please have a seat, both of you." He nodded towards the chairs. They sat down and waited for Dumbledore to address them again, but he continued writing something down on a piece of parchment. After about five minutes he looked up.
"Oh yes, I called the both of you because it seems that you two were the ones in charge of leading the group of students to Manchester. First I have to say, I'm extremly pleased to see that you two were able to put your differences aside. While both of you had different tasks you wished to complete, you were able to help each other along. I believe that it the best teamwork between Gryffindor and Slytherin that Hogwarts has seen in an age. You showed a perfect example of what I was speaking of when I said that I wanted the students to look at each other as equals and help each other along. I'm sad to say that your fellow housemates didn't follow suite, but no matter. It seems it is safe again to continue on with Hogwarts tradition and the House Competition has been brought back for the time being. For this extraordinary feat I'll reward both houses with fifty points. But I also cannot dismiss the danger in what you did." his toned changed and his smile faded and he continued on.
"You were very lucky to escape with your life. Going out there when I told you that the Order would take care of it was an extremly foolish thing to do. I understand both of your urgencies to see that Miss Granger and the others were safe, but you should've come to me instead of trying to do it on your own. I think I might have been a little too leniant with your rule breaking in the past Harry, and I'm sorry for that. But you're still a student here at Hogwarts, and even if you don't add my immense worry for you, it is my duty to make sure you are just as safe as the others in the school. So all that went shall be serving a week's worth of detention with Professor Snape and letters have gone out to the parents, except for yours, as your father was there Mr. Malfoy. Now with that out of the way, I want to answer any of your questions, because I'm sure you both have a lot of unanswered questions."
Both he and Malfoy started to speak at once. Dumbledore raised his hand and beckoned that they should speak one at a time. Harry got his question out first.
"Why didn't you come to help us?"
"I was detained here. I cannot speak of that yet, but as soon as I can I will let you know."
"Where are the rest of the Slytherin's?" Malfoy asked.
"The nine that followed you were sent home. I didn't feel the need to expell them, because they were not acting out of their own accord. They were under the imperius curse. Those that do return next year are to recieve special classes in Occlumency, as we know the ones that are going to Voldemort's army will not be here for their final year. Students from the other houses will be taught as well, as a double Defense Against the Dark Arts. I've discussed this with Professor Snape, and we were also considering having you be assistant with this, Draco. You seem to have a good hand in instructing students, and some might be more willing to learn from you as Severus seems to have a somewhat bad reputation amongst the houses."
"So does that mean Professor Snape is going to get the position next year?"
"Yes, our current instructor disappeared after the Hogsmeade visit, we're still looking into what happened. He starts next week." Dumbledore replied. Malfoy smirked and looked over at Harry.
"Why wasn't Professor Snape in Manchester with the other Death Eaters, or at least with Moody and Lupin?" Harry asked.
"Hey it was my turn to ask a question!"
"He wasn't there because he had other duties to tend to as a Professor at Hogwarts. Voldemort understood this, and excused him because he still believes that Severus is a useful inside tool and just like we've been trying to keep from him, he felt that by Severus being there, it could have exposed him and he's not ready for that yet. But I feel the time will come soon, and we've been working on what to do when that time comes."
"What am I supposed to do the rest of the school year? I highly doubt the other Slytherin's will listen to me, even though I'm a prefect."
"Then I suppose you'll be forced to take house points if they don't obey the rules. Your mind should be focused on your studies at this point. You both are extremly far behind. The NEWTs next year are going to be much harder than your OWLs were last year. You both did exceptionally well, but these determine your career after Hogwarts. Even if you remain working for the order, you will have to hold respective jobs out in the real world. You're both at an age now where this should be your main focus, social status in minut compared. I hope that answers your question, effeciently."
"Professor, I had an odd dream... well I'm not quite sure if it was a dream. I was back with my parents... it was more real than a dream. Then Voldemort told me that he would give me that lifestyle if I gave him the prophecy. Can he really do that?"
"Voldemort already has the prophecy. He knows that you're the only one who'll be able to defeat him. He posessed you while your guard was down and you were unconcious. He showed you exactly what your heart wanted to see. He was trying to trick you into accepting insanity freely. With you in St. Mungos, he wouldn't have to worry about you. Why he offered instead of just doing it or killing you, I'm not quite sure. My belief is he's becoming desperate. His attempts to capture you and kill you have all failed. He was sure you'd accept his offer and wasn't expecting that your love for your friends would overcome your longing to be with your family. As I've told you before, he doesn't understand love and death, and the power they have over a person."
"You saw him?" Malfoy asked Harry, who nodded.
"Is Hermione pregnant?" Harry blurted out. Malfoy shot him a look a fear and anger.
"I knew one of you would bring it up." Dumbledore stated, solomnly. He thought for a moment before answering.
"No, she is no longer with child. She was but Lucius deleted the pregnancy. We're still not sure if there is permanent damage. We won't know until she's older. I have to ask that neither of you discuss it with her. I've talked with Molly, and she will be spending the summer with her, because she's not ready to bring it up with her parents yet. Although I know you both care for her very much, she is grieved by the experience and has to fight her own demons and feelings about this. It's something that not even I can fullyunderstand, as she is a woman, and they are a bit confusing to all of us. " he smiled softly.
"So what's to happen now? Was my father and the others captured?" Malfoy asked, trying to change the subject as quick as possible.
"Most of them were caught and will be tried. Lucius however was not, along with a fair number of others, I'm sorry. We will do what we can to keep you safe over the summer. I'll call you before the end of the year to discuss this in more detail. Now judging by the time, you two should be off to dinner. The castle is safe now, and I do thank you for that." Dumbledore stood and walked them to the door.
Harry went to Gryffindor tower without speaking another word to Malfoy. Hermione was there knitting and watching the fire. He walked over to her and sat down in a chair next to her. She looked up and smiled.
"How'd things go with Dumbledore?" she asked.
"Found out some information. Voldemort's still trying to dispose of me, but hasn't quite got a method for it yet. Lucius wasn't caught, but a lot of the others were. We'll also be learning Occlumency next year as well." he replied. She nodded and continued knitting. She screwed up and went back to undo her mistake, then frustradely threw down the knitting needles.
"Harry, I need your help. I know you might not be up for it, but I need you to help me get into the Slytherin common room tonight." she pleaded.
"Sure." he replied. She was about to argue with him until she realized he'd agreed. She blushed a bit and picked the knitting needles back up.
"Thanks."
They sat there in silence. He didn't know what to say to her because he didn't know how she would respond. Finally, Harry gave up and went upstairs. Ron was on his bed reading a book on the Unforgivable Curses.
"Hey how'd you get that?" Harry asked and sat down on his own bed.
"A note from McGonagall. After Parvati's death, I was curious. She was kind of reluctant but I finally talked her into it. How's Hermione? She won't talk to me."
"I'm not sure, she won't really talk to me either."
"Has she talked to Malfoy yet?"
"No, I think she's going to tonight. She wants me to help her go see him." Harry replied and pulled out his bookbag and started looking over the homework assignments he'd missed.
He wasn't in the mood to study, but he couldn't think of anything else to do. When ten o'clock came around, and he was sure Ron, Dean, and Seamus were asleep, he grabbed his invisiblity cloak which had been returned to him by Dumbledore and went back down to the Common Room. Hermione was asleep, still holding her knitting needles. He went over to her and put them on the table next to her. He nudged her a bit to wake her up.
"You ready?" he asked. She stretched out a yawn.
"I don't want him to know your there. If he does anything drastic, or tries to hurt me, can you protect me? I'm really not quite sure if he wants to see more or not, and I don't know what kind of mood he's in." he nodded in reply.
He threw the cloak over them and they snuck out of the common room. They made their way down to Slytherin Common room. Goyle, who was now back to full health, was heading back into the Commonroom with a student Harry didn't recognized. He and Hermione followed behind them quickly. They went to Malfoy's room and knocked on the door. There was no answer.
"He must not be in there." Harry told her.
"Then we'll wait. I have to talk to him." she replied. They sat in the hallway between the Prefect rooms and the Common room for what seemed like an hour before they heard the familiar voice coming through the portrait hole.
"Marks, what are you still doing up? It's past curfew. You have two seconds to get to bed before I removed points." he lectured. The scared first year jumped out of his chair and ran as fast as he could down to his quarters. Malfoy smirked and made his way over to his room. Hermione stuck her foot out, causing him to trip. He pulled out his wand and looked around bewildered.
"Oh. It's you, Potter and your damn cloak. Where are you?" he started poking around near the wall.
"It's me." Hermione whispered. He stopped groping the air and paused.
"What are you doing here? Go back to Gryffindor Tower, you have no business here." he told her coldly.
"Please, just let me in."
"Fine. Come on." he opened his door and waited till he was sure Hermione was inside before closing it again. Hermione pulled off the cloak. Harry quickly moved away from her and found a place to seat himself in a chair near the fireplace.
"Why are you so angry with me? What the hell did I do to you?" she started and advanced on him. He held his wand out to warn her. He hated her temper.
"I'm not angry with you, Hermione. I just don't know what to say to you. What do you want me to say?" he replied.
"How about admitting that you didn't just come to Manchester to get back at your father? What about telling me the one thing you've been afraid to say for months? Why don't you drop this stupid act that you've been playing at since December?"
"What do you want to hear? That I love you?" he yelled back.
"Yes, Draco!"
"Fine! I love you! And if you ever tell anyone, I swear I'll-" she inturrupted him, forcing her lips on his. He dropped his wand and embraced her. They kissed feverishly. He pulled away and pushed her off of him.
"Why didn't you tell Krum about us?"
"What'd you expect me to say to him? 'Hi how are you, yeah sure I'll come and visit you this summer, oh by the way remember Draco Malfoy, the one I talked horribly about for over a year? Yeah, well we're sleeping together isn't that great?' It wasn't something I could just be open about. I mean how many people have you told about us? You wouldn't even admit it to yourself, let alone another human being."
"Shut up. I have more at risk with this. You know he fancies you, you could have at least told him that you were seeing someone!"
"No, I couldn't. Not without it leading at one point to who I was seeing. I never denied that we were together though. You're sure defensive about our relationship when others aren't around, but when even Harry or Ron questioned you, you'd just deny it and threaten them! Don't start on me about not telling anyone."
"Do you have to argue with me about everything?"
"What? I'm not the one who's arguing, Malfoy!" she screamed at him. He grabbed her wrist. Harry got up, ready to jump in. She tried to pull herself free, but couldn't. He forced her against the wall.
"Just stop." he told her as she struggled. He kissed her again and let go of her. He placed his hands on her hips. She pulled off his school robe, and held onto him tightly. He removed hers and then placed a hand on her cheek, forcing her to look up at him.
"I'm sorry about whatever my father did to you." he told her.
"I don't want to talk about it." she replied. He nodded and kissed her again. He pulled her away from the wall and over to the bed. She sat down.
"We don't have to... if you don't want to."
"I know that, Draco... I want to." she replied and began to unbutton her school shirt. He nodded again.
They undressed and Malfoy climbed into the bed next to her. She kissed him tenderly and pulled the blanket over them as he climbed on top of her. She ran her fingers down the cut on his side. It was healed, but left a deep scar.
"That'll always be there. My father did something to it, it won't heal properly." he explained.
"Probably to remind you." she said, softly. He kissed her passionatly and nuzzled her neck. He pulled her on top of him as they started to make in love. He winced a bit.
"You sure you want to do it this way? You're not well yet..."
"I'm fine." he replied and kissed her.
He kept his hands on her back, playing with the gentle curls of her hair as they fell over her back. She pressed her face against his as she reached climax. He closed his eyes and kissed her bottom lip, letting it linger. She removed herself from him and laid back down, allowing him to place himself between her lefs. She brushed away the bits of blond hair that'd fallen against his face and looked into his eyes.
"I love you." he whispered to her. She bit her lip, then pulled him closer to her. When they'd finished, they layed there in each others arms.
Harry sat back down in the chair. He'd realized why Hermione had been the way she was in Voldemort's vision. She was the one girl he could trust and who really understood him, aside from Ginny, and he could finally admit that he fancied her. He didn't want to see her with Malfoy. He had no choice at the moment though, if he were to leave, it would blow his cover and make the situation worse. He was stuck. He tried to focus on the fire.
Hermione got out of the bed and started to get dressed again. Malfoy looked at her, confused. She turned back around once she was fully clothed.
"Draco...we can't do this. It's not going to work." she told him.
"What do you mean? We're out of school in a year, then what difference does it make. It's only one more year."
"I know... but what's going to happen after Hogwarts? I'm not going to marry you and become some sort of house wife, and I know you. I know that's what you'll expect me to be." he started to responded but she silenced him with her hand and sat down next to him.
"You may say that you won't now... but you're just not ready for this. You're finally beginning to see things for yourself. You need to figure that out on your own. I'm not ready for this either. I can't be with you." she told him. He pushed her hand away.
"You force me to tell you I love you, you have sex with me, and then you tell me you don't think we can be together? Get out." he told her harshly.
"Just-"
"Get out! Keep your filthy mudblood hands off me, get out of my room!" he pushed her off the bed. Harry got up and went back to where he was standing when they arrived . He kept a firm grip on his wand, just in case. Hermione climbed under the cloak and they left the room.
"What was that about?" Harry asked as they made their way to Gryffindor tower.
"I thought that was what I wanted, to be with him. It's just not realistic. It can't happen. We're too different and he says he loves me, but he doesn't understand it yet. I'm also not sure if love is really what I feel for him, either. Thank you for your help. I'm sorry you were stuck in there with us. Please don't tell Ron."
They threw off the cloak once they reached the Portrait hole. They gave Violet the password and went to their rooms.
"I promise I won't say a word, Hermione." Harry vowed before she left up to the girls' dormitory. She smiled at him and went up the stairs.
hr A/N: There's only one more chapter left. I was going to make this one 2 chapters, but decided against it and made it one. I have started writing a sequel though, so any unanswered questions will be answered there :) I'll post up the first chapter of that, as soon as I post the last chapter of this story. R&R please
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bChapter 27- One Last Time/b
When Harry woke up, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. He'd never felt so happy to be at Hogwarts than he had at that point. He sat up and looked around him. The room was nearly empty. He wondered how long he'd been out. The only ones still left were Malfoy, Colin Creevey, and himself. Madame Pomfrey, noticing he was awake, rushed over to him.
"Well it's about time. I was wondering when you'd snap out of it." She said harshley, but with contentment in her voice and a slight smile. After she'd looked him over and made sure he was okay, she informed him that he had vistors waiting in the hall. She came back with Ron, Hermione, the Weasley Twins, Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Lupin (who was bearing new cuts and scars), Moody, Neville, Luna, and Dumbledore.
"I would've come on my own, but Poppy refused to let me disturb you." Dumbledore said smiling.
"Oh, Harry. Thank you." Hermione said and threw her arms around him. He could tell by the sniffling that she was crying.
"If it hadn't been for you, who knows what would've happened. Thank you for coming after us. I never got a chance to say it before." she added.
"How is everyone else?"
"Well the Slytherins were sent home for the rest of the school year, to rethink their actions. I have a feeling a majority of them won't be returning next year though. They'll go join Voldemort's army." Ron replied. Harry nodded.
"Cho wanted to come too, but she couldn't seem to bring herself around to it. She's still rather shaken by the incident. Apparently, one of the Death Eaters had made her a personal slave, she has some things she needs to accept and lay to rest before she can really talk to anyone." Hermione told him.
"What about the Patils and the Corners?"
"Well I suppose they handled it better than some parents would've. Lavender's probably taking Parvati's death the worst." she answered. They were silent for a few moments. It was as if no one quite knew what to say.
"Well, I just came in to make sure you were well. There are some things I need to take care of. I will be calling you and Mr. Malfoy sometime after he wakes." Dumbledore stated, then excused himself from the room.
"How is he, anyway?" Harry asked looking over at Malfoy's bed.
"We weren't sure the first week. He finally woke yesterday. There's been some irreparable damage, but they don't know the extent yet." Hermione replied sadly, looking over her shoulder.
"How long have I been out?"
"Two and a half weeks, mate. Dumbledore said Voldemort had posessed you again. It took everything out of you. He kept you in a sleep for the first week because you kept waking up screaming. A few days ago you started sleeping on your own, and well today you woke up." Ron answered.
Harry was free to go the next day. Malfoy still hadn't woken up. He sat through classes and they past him like a blur. He felt as if time was moving fast around him, yet he remained in normal speed. He was confused about his last meeting with Voldemort. He wasn't sure what'd happened after they'd left Manchester. When he had a free hour he decided to go find Hermione. He hadn't gotten a chance to speak to her alone, and she was too focused in class to reply to the notes he kept sending her. He found her in the library doing research.
"Hey." he said quietly and sat down at the table across from her.
"Hey, I've just discovered some very useful information for S.P.E.W.. I'm going to have to talk with Dobby next time I get the chance and ask him some questions. How are you feeling?"
"That's what I was going to ask you. Are you still... um... well you know." he asked. Her mood changed suddenly, and she shifted in her chair.
"No...Lucius took care of that...I'm not really ready to talk about it, Harry." she replied. He nodded and grabbed one of her books, opened it to a random page and pretended to be reading.
"Have you talked with Malfoy at all since we've been back?"
"No, Harry. I went to see him a couple days ago, but he yelled at me to leave. I really don't want to talk about it right now."
"You'll have to eventually... and anyway, he'll be back to health soon. You can't avoid him the rest of the school year"
"Well I'm going to try. It was a mistake. Now if you're only here to question me about Draco, your free to go." she told him, rather cooly. He thought it'd be very stupid to get up and leave at this point, so Harry remained where he was until it was time for their next class.
The next day, Harry went to the hospital wing to visit Malfoy. Colin Creevy was awake again too. He shouted excitedly at Harry when he came through the doors.
"Harry that was amazing! You saved us! I don't know what we would've done without you, honestly! I told my brother how magnificent you were, oh he's just amazed too Harry!"
"Er... That's nice Colin." Harry responded and walked over to Malfoy who was watching the scene with what Harry took as resentment.
"Trust me, you don't want this kind of attention." Harry said as he pulled up a chair.
"Go away, what makes you think I want to talk to you?"
"Oh, I know you don't want to talk to me. I'm almost sure you're wishing I was dead right now because we pulled you away from killing your father... but you know he would've killed you if we hadn't rescued you."
"Shut up, Potter."
So Harry shut up and just stared at him until he started getting on Malfoy's nerves.
"Okay! What do you want?"
"Well really, I came to see how you are."
"Oh. Well I'll be okay. I've been trying to get Pomfrey to let me go, but the insufferable worry wort insists I stay here until I'm healed." he replied and glared at Madame Pomfrey who was tending to Colin.
"Hermione said there were irreparable damages..."
"Yeah well, it's mostly to my lungs and a few other organs. Nothing I can't handle though. I'll be able to walk fine again within a month or so." he said in a matter-of-factly tone.
"Dumbledore wants to see us when you're up to it." Harry told him. "Why didn't you say something sooner." Malfoy responded, irritably. He climbed out of bed, flinching for a moment, then regained his composure. Madam Pomfrey rushed over.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Headmaster wanted to see me. Thanks for the bed and food, I've got business to attend to" He waved her away. He stopped to see if Harry was following. Harry jumped out of the chair and caught up with him.
"Are you sure that was the smartest thing to do? You can bairly walk."
"Since when do you care about my physical health? Anyway, I decide if I'm well enough to walk." Malfoy replied as he changed into his school clothes behind a screen. He grabbed his wand from the pantry and pulled Harry out into the hallway. They started walking towards Dumbledore's office. Harry had to stop and help Malfoy every now and then, as he was having trouble walking. Everytime though, Malfoy pushed him away. A third year Ravenclaw stopped.
"Do you need any help?" she asked kindly.
"Five points from Ravenclaw, don't talk to me again." Malfoy snapped at her.
They turned the corner leading to the Gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office. Malfoy stopped abruptly, causing Harry to run straight into him. He looked over Malfoy's shoulder to see why he'd stopped. Hermione stood there, also frozen in her footsteps. She looked down at the ground, then back up.
"Hi." she said, emotionless. It took a moment for him to respond, but it wasn't how she'd expected him to, although she felt she should've.
"Her... Move it, Granger. You're in my way." he regained composure and stared at her.
"Sorry... I'll see you tonight, Harry." she replied and walked quickly past them.
"Why are you treating her like this? It's not all her fault, you know. It's partially yours too. I think she's lost it anyway. You need to talk to her."
"When I want your advice, Potter, I'll ask for it." he sneered and continued on. Harry gave the password and they went up to the Headmaster's quarters. Dumbledore was waiting for them behind his desk. Faux was picking at his wooden post, making cooing noises like a normal bird. Dumbledore looked up and smiled.
"It's good to see you walking and moving about again, Mr. Malfoy. Please have a seat, both of you." He nodded towards the chairs. They sat down and waited for Dumbledore to address them again, but he continued writing something down on a piece of parchment. After about five minutes he looked up.
"Oh yes, I called the both of you because it seems that you two were the ones in charge of leading the group of students to Manchester. First I have to say, I'm extremly pleased to see that you two were able to put your differences aside. While both of you had different tasks you wished to complete, you were able to help each other along. I believe that it the best teamwork between Gryffindor and Slytherin that Hogwarts has seen in an age. You showed a perfect example of what I was speaking of when I said that I wanted the students to look at each other as equals and help each other along. I'm sad to say that your fellow housemates didn't follow suite, but no matter. It seems it is safe again to continue on with Hogwarts tradition and the House Competition has been brought back for the time being. For this extraordinary feat I'll reward both houses with fifty points. But I also cannot dismiss the danger in what you did." his toned changed and his smile faded and he continued on.
"You were very lucky to escape with your life. Going out there when I told you that the Order would take care of it was an extremly foolish thing to do. I understand both of your urgencies to see that Miss Granger and the others were safe, but you should've come to me instead of trying to do it on your own. I think I might have been a little too leniant with your rule breaking in the past Harry, and I'm sorry for that. But you're still a student here at Hogwarts, and even if you don't add my immense worry for you, it is my duty to make sure you are just as safe as the others in the school. So all that went shall be serving a week's worth of detention with Professor Snape and letters have gone out to the parents, except for yours, as your father was there Mr. Malfoy. Now with that out of the way, I want to answer any of your questions, because I'm sure you both have a lot of unanswered questions."
Both he and Malfoy started to speak at once. Dumbledore raised his hand and beckoned that they should speak one at a time. Harry got his question out first.
"Why didn't you come to help us?"
"I was detained here. I cannot speak of that yet, but as soon as I can I will let you know."
"Where are the rest of the Slytherin's?" Malfoy asked.
"The nine that followed you were sent home. I didn't feel the need to expell them, because they were not acting out of their own accord. They were under the imperius curse. Those that do return next year are to recieve special classes in Occlumency, as we know the ones that are going to Voldemort's army will not be here for their final year. Students from the other houses will be taught as well, as a double Defense Against the Dark Arts. I've discussed this with Professor Snape, and we were also considering having you be assistant with this, Draco. You seem to have a good hand in instructing students, and some might be more willing to learn from you as Severus seems to have a somewhat bad reputation amongst the houses."
"So does that mean Professor Snape is going to get the position next year?"
"Yes, our current instructor disappeared after the Hogsmeade visit, we're still looking into what happened. He starts next week." Dumbledore replied. Malfoy smirked and looked over at Harry.
"Why wasn't Professor Snape in Manchester with the other Death Eaters, or at least with Moody and Lupin?" Harry asked.
"Hey it was my turn to ask a question!"
"He wasn't there because he had other duties to tend to as a Professor at Hogwarts. Voldemort understood this, and excused him because he still believes that Severus is a useful inside tool and just like we've been trying to keep from him, he felt that by Severus being there, it could have exposed him and he's not ready for that yet. But I feel the time will come soon, and we've been working on what to do when that time comes."
"What am I supposed to do the rest of the school year? I highly doubt the other Slytherin's will listen to me, even though I'm a prefect."
"Then I suppose you'll be forced to take house points if they don't obey the rules. Your mind should be focused on your studies at this point. You both are extremly far behind. The NEWTs next year are going to be much harder than your OWLs were last year. You both did exceptionally well, but these determine your career after Hogwarts. Even if you remain working for the order, you will have to hold respective jobs out in the real world. You're both at an age now where this should be your main focus, social status in minut compared. I hope that answers your question, effeciently."
"Professor, I had an odd dream... well I'm not quite sure if it was a dream. I was back with my parents... it was more real than a dream. Then Voldemort told me that he would give me that lifestyle if I gave him the prophecy. Can he really do that?"
"Voldemort already has the prophecy. He knows that you're the only one who'll be able to defeat him. He posessed you while your guard was down and you were unconcious. He showed you exactly what your heart wanted to see. He was trying to trick you into accepting insanity freely. With you in St. Mungos, he wouldn't have to worry about you. Why he offered instead of just doing it or killing you, I'm not quite sure. My belief is he's becoming desperate. His attempts to capture you and kill you have all failed. He was sure you'd accept his offer and wasn't expecting that your love for your friends would overcome your longing to be with your family. As I've told you before, he doesn't understand love and death, and the power they have over a person."
"You saw him?" Malfoy asked Harry, who nodded.
"Is Hermione pregnant?" Harry blurted out. Malfoy shot him a look a fear and anger.
"I knew one of you would bring it up." Dumbledore stated, solomnly. He thought for a moment before answering.
"No, she is no longer with child. She was but Lucius deleted the pregnancy. We're still not sure if there is permanent damage. We won't know until she's older. I have to ask that neither of you discuss it with her. I've talked with Molly, and she will be spending the summer with her, because she's not ready to bring it up with her parents yet. Although I know you both care for her very much, she is grieved by the experience and has to fight her own demons and feelings about this. It's something that not even I can fullyunderstand, as she is a woman, and they are a bit confusing to all of us. " he smiled softly.
"So what's to happen now? Was my father and the others captured?" Malfoy asked, trying to change the subject as quick as possible.
"Most of them were caught and will be tried. Lucius however was not, along with a fair number of others, I'm sorry. We will do what we can to keep you safe over the summer. I'll call you before the end of the year to discuss this in more detail. Now judging by the time, you two should be off to dinner. The castle is safe now, and I do thank you for that." Dumbledore stood and walked them to the door.
Harry went to Gryffindor tower without speaking another word to Malfoy. Hermione was there knitting and watching the fire. He walked over to her and sat down in a chair next to her. She looked up and smiled.
"How'd things go with Dumbledore?" she asked.
"Found out some information. Voldemort's still trying to dispose of me, but hasn't quite got a method for it yet. Lucius wasn't caught, but a lot of the others were. We'll also be learning Occlumency next year as well." he replied. She nodded and continued knitting. She screwed up and went back to undo her mistake, then frustradely threw down the knitting needles.
"Harry, I need your help. I know you might not be up for it, but I need you to help me get into the Slytherin common room tonight." she pleaded.
"Sure." he replied. She was about to argue with him until she realized he'd agreed. She blushed a bit and picked the knitting needles back up.
"Thanks."
They sat there in silence. He didn't know what to say to her because he didn't know how she would respond. Finally, Harry gave up and went upstairs. Ron was on his bed reading a book on the Unforgivable Curses.
"Hey how'd you get that?" Harry asked and sat down on his own bed.
"A note from McGonagall. After Parvati's death, I was curious. She was kind of reluctant but I finally talked her into it. How's Hermione? She won't talk to me."
"I'm not sure, she won't really talk to me either."
"Has she talked to Malfoy yet?"
"No, I think she's going to tonight. She wants me to help her go see him." Harry replied and pulled out his bookbag and started looking over the homework assignments he'd missed.
He wasn't in the mood to study, but he couldn't think of anything else to do. When ten o'clock came around, and he was sure Ron, Dean, and Seamus were asleep, he grabbed his invisiblity cloak which had been returned to him by Dumbledore and went back down to the Common Room. Hermione was asleep, still holding her knitting needles. He went over to her and put them on the table next to her. He nudged her a bit to wake her up.
"You ready?" he asked. She stretched out a yawn.
"I don't want him to know your there. If he does anything drastic, or tries to hurt me, can you protect me? I'm really not quite sure if he wants to see more or not, and I don't know what kind of mood he's in." he nodded in reply.
He threw the cloak over them and they snuck out of the common room. They made their way down to Slytherin Common room. Goyle, who was now back to full health, was heading back into the Commonroom with a student Harry didn't recognized. He and Hermione followed behind them quickly. They went to Malfoy's room and knocked on the door. There was no answer.
"He must not be in there." Harry told her.
"Then we'll wait. I have to talk to him." she replied. They sat in the hallway between the Prefect rooms and the Common room for what seemed like an hour before they heard the familiar voice coming through the portrait hole.
"Marks, what are you still doing up? It's past curfew. You have two seconds to get to bed before I removed points." he lectured. The scared first year jumped out of his chair and ran as fast as he could down to his quarters. Malfoy smirked and made his way over to his room. Hermione stuck her foot out, causing him to trip. He pulled out his wand and looked around bewildered.
"Oh. It's you, Potter and your damn cloak. Where are you?" he started poking around near the wall.
"It's me." Hermione whispered. He stopped groping the air and paused.
"What are you doing here? Go back to Gryffindor Tower, you have no business here." he told her coldly.
"Please, just let me in."
"Fine. Come on." he opened his door and waited till he was sure Hermione was inside before closing it again. Hermione pulled off the cloak. Harry quickly moved away from her and found a place to seat himself in a chair near the fireplace.
"Why are you so angry with me? What the hell did I do to you?" she started and advanced on him. He held his wand out to warn her. He hated her temper.
"I'm not angry with you, Hermione. I just don't know what to say to you. What do you want me to say?" he replied.
"How about admitting that you didn't just come to Manchester to get back at your father? What about telling me the one thing you've been afraid to say for months? Why don't you drop this stupid act that you've been playing at since December?"
"What do you want to hear? That I love you?" he yelled back.
"Yes, Draco!"
"Fine! I love you! And if you ever tell anyone, I swear I'll-" she inturrupted him, forcing her lips on his. He dropped his wand and embraced her. They kissed feverishly. He pulled away and pushed her off of him.
"Why didn't you tell Krum about us?"
"What'd you expect me to say to him? 'Hi how are you, yeah sure I'll come and visit you this summer, oh by the way remember Draco Malfoy, the one I talked horribly about for over a year? Yeah, well we're sleeping together isn't that great?' It wasn't something I could just be open about. I mean how many people have you told about us? You wouldn't even admit it to yourself, let alone another human being."
"Shut up. I have more at risk with this. You know he fancies you, you could have at least told him that you were seeing someone!"
"No, I couldn't. Not without it leading at one point to who I was seeing. I never denied that we were together though. You're sure defensive about our relationship when others aren't around, but when even Harry or Ron questioned you, you'd just deny it and threaten them! Don't start on me about not telling anyone."
"Do you have to argue with me about everything?"
"What? I'm not the one who's arguing, Malfoy!" she screamed at him. He grabbed her wrist. Harry got up, ready to jump in. She tried to pull herself free, but couldn't. He forced her against the wall.
"Just stop." he told her as she struggled. He kissed her again and let go of her. He placed his hands on her hips. She pulled off his school robe, and held onto him tightly. He removed hers and then placed a hand on her cheek, forcing her to look up at him.
"I'm sorry about whatever my father did to you." he told her.
"I don't want to talk about it." she replied. He nodded and kissed her again. He pulled her away from the wall and over to the bed. She sat down.
"We don't have to... if you don't want to."
"I know that, Draco... I want to." she replied and began to unbutton her school shirt. He nodded again.
They undressed and Malfoy climbed into the bed next to her. She kissed him tenderly and pulled the blanket over them as he climbed on top of her. She ran her fingers down the cut on his side. It was healed, but left a deep scar.
"That'll always be there. My father did something to it, it won't heal properly." he explained.
"Probably to remind you." she said, softly. He kissed her passionatly and nuzzled her neck. He pulled her on top of him as they started to make in love. He winced a bit.
"You sure you want to do it this way? You're not well yet..."
"I'm fine." he replied and kissed her.
He kept his hands on her back, playing with the gentle curls of her hair as they fell over her back. She pressed her face against his as she reached climax. He closed his eyes and kissed her bottom lip, letting it linger. She removed herself from him and laid back down, allowing him to place himself between her lefs. She brushed away the bits of blond hair that'd fallen against his face and looked into his eyes.
"I love you." he whispered to her. She bit her lip, then pulled him closer to her. When they'd finished, they layed there in each others arms.
Harry sat back down in the chair. He'd realized why Hermione had been the way she was in Voldemort's vision. She was the one girl he could trust and who really understood him, aside from Ginny, and he could finally admit that he fancied her. He didn't want to see her with Malfoy. He had no choice at the moment though, if he were to leave, it would blow his cover and make the situation worse. He was stuck. He tried to focus on the fire.
Hermione got out of the bed and started to get dressed again. Malfoy looked at her, confused. She turned back around once she was fully clothed.
"Draco...we can't do this. It's not going to work." she told him.
"What do you mean? We're out of school in a year, then what difference does it make. It's only one more year."
"I know... but what's going to happen after Hogwarts? I'm not going to marry you and become some sort of house wife, and I know you. I know that's what you'll expect me to be." he started to responded but she silenced him with her hand and sat down next to him.
"You may say that you won't now... but you're just not ready for this. You're finally beginning to see things for yourself. You need to figure that out on your own. I'm not ready for this either. I can't be with you." she told him. He pushed her hand away.
"You force me to tell you I love you, you have sex with me, and then you tell me you don't think we can be together? Get out." he told her harshly.
"Just-"
"Get out! Keep your filthy mudblood hands off me, get out of my room!" he pushed her off the bed. Harry got up and went back to where he was standing when they arrived . He kept a firm grip on his wand, just in case. Hermione climbed under the cloak and they left the room.
"What was that about?" Harry asked as they made their way to Gryffindor tower.
"I thought that was what I wanted, to be with him. It's just not realistic. It can't happen. We're too different and he says he loves me, but he doesn't understand it yet. I'm also not sure if love is really what I feel for him, either. Thank you for your help. I'm sorry you were stuck in there with us. Please don't tell Ron."
They threw off the cloak once they reached the Portrait hole. They gave Violet the password and went to their rooms.
"I promise I won't say a word, Hermione." Harry vowed before she left up to the girls' dormitory. She smiled at him and went up the stairs.
hr A/N: There's only one more chapter left. I was going to make this one 2 chapters, but decided against it and made it one. I have started writing a sequel though, so any unanswered questions will be answered there :) I'll post up the first chapter of that, as soon as I post the last chapter of this story. R&R please