A/N : Yes, I did change my summary. It wasn't a very accurate description
of the story anymore. For those of you who have their panties in a knot
about whether or not Draco and Hermione are going to end up together, just
be patient. Also, keep in mind this story is rated R for a reason. I'm
going to do my best to keep it civilized, but the rating stands, and I
don't want to write something I'd be proud to show my mother. That's what
the schoolwork I do is for. In the future, I will post a warning about
graphic content at the top of the chapter. This chapter happens to be
clean.
Chapter 17
Hermione headed back down Diagon Alley looking for Pansy. She hadn't gotten far when she ran into Harry and Ron.
"Hello Hermione! It's good to see you," Harry said, giving his friend a big hug. Hermione smiled.
"It's been far too long," she agreed. "Did you two have a nice summer?" she asked, walking with them.
"The best!" Ron exclaimed. "We went to visit the twins for a month. Better than Egypt anyday."
"It was fun," Harry agreed, much calmer than Ron had been. "How was California?"
"Loads of fun. And we did tons of shopping in Italy," Hermione added.
"Did you manage to get all your work done with all that traveling?" Ron asked.
"Of course," Hermione said. She had in fact completed most of her assignments within the first few weeks of the break. "I'm sure you have them all done," she said pointedly. Ron shrugged.
"Yeah, they're finished, just not my best work," He admitted. Hermione rolled her eyes. Some things never changed.
"Well, I have to meet up with Pansy, you're welcome to come along," Hermione suggested. The boys agreed and they headed off.
* * *
Breena and Sorcha walked side by side through Diagon Alley. It was difficult to be a twin, and even more difficult to be a twin when you weren't on speaking terms with your twin. They'd had a fight after Sorcha had discovered Breena sneaking out at night to visit boys. Breena could care less about her sister's opinion, but Sorcha found Breena's carefree attitude about using Harry atrocious. As a result, the two were refusing to speak to one another. Their parents were seemingly oblivious to the entire affair, but had noticed that the girls were pulling away from eachother, something they wholeheartedly encouraged.
The twins met Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Pansy outside Madam Malkin's. Breena didn't speak to Pansy or Sorcha, but she was close to civil with the rest of them. Sorcha tried to make up for Breena's bitter attitude with ferocious cheerfulness. The result wasn't quite what she'd hoped for.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked, looking back and forth between the two of them. Breena shrugged.
"Well, yes," Sorcha lied. She smiled brightly at Hermione. "Just new school year jitters. I sure hope its not much more difficult than last year. Have you gotten all your books yet? They don't look much more difficult than last year's," Sorcha babbled on. The others exchanged nervous glances.
"Why don't we go for a walk?" Ron suggested to Sorcha. She nodded, and took his hand. They walked away from the group. Breena threw herself into Ron's chair, and sat with her arms crossed staring at the passerby.
* * *
The next day, everyone had boarded the Hogwarts Express and was eagerly waiting departure. Hermione and Pansy sat in the compartment with Ron, Harry, and Sorcha. The train had just left the station when Draco slid the door open and asked to speak with Hermione.
"Anything you have to say to her, you can say right here, Malfoy," Harry snapped. Hermione stood up and left the compartment, as if in a trance. Harry looked at the others, who were just as shocked as he was. Harry was already in a rotten mood, Ron having told him just the night before about Breena and her not-so-good intentions.
Hermione followed Draco into an empty compartment. He motioned for her to sit down, and she did so.
"I wanted to make sure you knew I was serious about what I said yesterday. You're in way over your head, Hermione," he informed her. Hermione looked at her hands.
"He doesn't seem all that bad," Hermione said hopefully. Draco shook his head.
"You have no idea. No, you do. You know how terrible he is, you just don't want to admit it to yourself. You've seen what he can do, you've lived with an example of it since you started here at Hogwarts. Harry is living proof of the power he has," Draco explained. "You don't know what you're doing, Hermione, you're making a big mistake. It would be best if you got yourself out while you still can." He sat down next to her. Hermione's hand flew to her neck, where the necklace lay still feeling heavy on her skin. "He'll draw you in," Draco whispered in her ear. "He'll put you under his spell." Draco's fingers gently tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear. His touch lingered on her skin, and suddenly her eyelids felt heavy and the room felt warm.
Draco turned to look at Hermione and realized his warnings were too late. She was already trapped.
* * *
Harry wandered down the halls of the train, looking into the empty compartments for Hermione. He finally found her curled up asleep on a bench in the last compartment. He smiled and sat down across from her, so she wouldn't be alone when she woke up. He found her absolutely adorable when she slept.
Harry took his first time alone since the beginning of summer to really think about everything that had happened during the summer. Just thinking about Breena gave him chills, and made his stomach queasy. He felt cheated.
Hermione stirred and sat up suddenly, causing Harry to jump. She looked around, wondering where Draco had gone.
"We're almost there," Harry told her. He had already changed into his school robes, but Hermione was still wearing the khaki capris and black v- neck t-shirt she'd picked out to wear to the train station. She didn't really like v-neck shirts, but this one showed off her necklace exceptionally well. Hermione nodded and they hurried back down to join the others.
* * *
The Sorting Ceremony seemed to drag on and on for Hermione. She had slept almost all the way through the train ride, but she was still tired for some reason. Her eyelids seemed to permanently feel heavy. Hermione couldn't help but wonder if maybe she was getting sick.
After the feast, Hermione hurried up to bed. She fell asleep quickly, even though she'd been meaning to review her notes from the summer reading she'd done. Around midnight, Hermione woke with a start. She felt like she'd just woken from a nightmare, but she couldn't remember what she'd been dreaming about. The necklace felt warm around her neck, and she took it off, coiling it back into its box. Lying back down in her bed, Hermione couldn't sleep anymore. She stared at the ceiling, and wondered if it was safe to leave such valuable jewelry sitting out on her bedside table. Hermione reached for the box and tucked it under her pillow. Instantly she felt tired again, and closed her eyes for what seemed like only an instant.
She awoke with the sun shining in her eyes, feeling like she'd barely slept at all. She got dressed quickly and put the necklace back on. Somehow she didn't feel like it would be safe anywhere else.
Her first class of the day was Transfiguration. She sat next to Harry and struggled to keep her eyes open as she took notes. Inevitably, she dozed off.
All around her she could see emaciated figures, just shadows really. Their eyes bored holes into her, they hated her, she could feel it. From somewhere above her, she could hear a voice calling her name.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled. Hermione sat up fast. She looked around, the classroom was empty.
"How long was I asleep?" She asked. Professor McGonagall crossed the room and came to stand next to her.
"Too long," she answered, turning to Harry. "Go on to your next class, Harry. I need to speak with Miss Granger." Hermione felt her heart start to pound. Harry hurried out of the room.
"I'm terribly sorry, Professor, I've just been awfully tired lately," Hermione apologized.
"Noted, Miss Granger. I am extremely worried about you. You haven't been acting like yourself at all recently. Sleeping through class, and that display you put on at Malfoy Manor last week. I don't know what has come over you," McGonagall fretted.
"Display?" Hermione asked.
"Dancing with Draco all night. Really, Hermione, the boy is nothing but trouble, especially for a muggleborn like you," McGonagall was adamant about her beliefs.
"She's right, Hermione," A voice called. The women turned to look. It was Draco. "I have nothing but the absolute worst of intentions. I am Voldemort reincarnate, come to smite you," Draco laughed. Hermione laughed with him, but felt like biting her tongue when McGonagall shot her a look.
"This is no laughing matter, Miss Granger," the woman reminded her. Hermione shrugged.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but I'd be late for Potions," Hermione replied. The Professor looked taken aback. "Toodles!" Hermione called, linking her arm through Draco's.
"Toodles?" He asked, once they were out of earshot. Hermione dropped his arm and took a deep breath.
"I don't feel so well all of a sudden," she whispered. Draco took her arm again.
"You're fine," he lied. He knew all too well what she was going through. "It passes," he assured her. She turned to look at him.
"What passes?" she asked, suspicious.
"Time heals all wounds?" he suggested. "I didn't mean anything in particular."
"I feel really sick," she said, pausing to steady herself. Her head was spinning, and her stomach felt like she was going to be sick if she took another step.
"Lean on me," he instructed, wrapping his arm around her. He watched the color drain from her face and his heart went out to her. He knew exactly what she was going through. "It's easier if you don't fight it," he whispered. Slowly the color returned to her cheeks and she stood up on her own. For a fleeting second, Draco wondered if she had won. But when she turned to look at him, her eyes flashed red, and he knew she was losing.
"We can go now," she said, squeezing his arm. He nodded and they went down to the dungeon.
After class, Draco turned to Hermione. "Meet me in the lounge after dinner," he said. "Unless you're still feeling sick," he quickly added. It was important to make sure the timing was right. Hermione gave him a look that plainly said she didn't understand his instructions.
"Okay," she said tenatively. Hermione gathered her books and headed for lunch. Now she knew she must be getting sick, but she took comfort in the fact she wasn't so tired anymore. She wondered exactly what it was that Draco wanted to talk to her about that had to wait until later that night.
* * *
"Albus, I am very concerned," Minerva McGonagall impressed upon her superior. Dumbledore heaved a sigh.
"Minerva, I thought we had been down this road before," he said, speaking softly. "Hermione is one of our brightest students. Wasn't she supposed to be made a prefect this year?"
"Well, I thought she was, but she doesn't seem to be taking any of her responsibilities as a prefect. She doesn't even wear the badge, Albus. That is what concerns me the most. I just have this feeling that something is terribly amiss," Minerva said, her eyes growing distant.
"There may be forces at work here that are simply beyond our scope, Minerva," Dumbledore said, his gaze focused somewhere behind McGonagall. "Everything happens for a reason, and I'm sure this will work itself out in due time," he added. "Please, be patient. I'm sure things will work themselves out in the end."
"If you could just talk to her," Minerva pleaded. Dumbledore held his hand up.
"I will not interfere," he said. "Please, this matter is finished." He turned to face the wall behind himself, leaving McGonagall to exit. As he heard the door click, he let out his breath. "Please, please, please, Hermione. Don't prove me wrong," he said to himself. "I know it'll work out alright in the end, but if you could just hurry things up a little?"
As she left his office, Minerva McGonagall had the feeling that Albus Dumbledore knew a lot more about Hermione than he was letting on.
Chapter 17
Hermione headed back down Diagon Alley looking for Pansy. She hadn't gotten far when she ran into Harry and Ron.
"Hello Hermione! It's good to see you," Harry said, giving his friend a big hug. Hermione smiled.
"It's been far too long," she agreed. "Did you two have a nice summer?" she asked, walking with them.
"The best!" Ron exclaimed. "We went to visit the twins for a month. Better than Egypt anyday."
"It was fun," Harry agreed, much calmer than Ron had been. "How was California?"
"Loads of fun. And we did tons of shopping in Italy," Hermione added.
"Did you manage to get all your work done with all that traveling?" Ron asked.
"Of course," Hermione said. She had in fact completed most of her assignments within the first few weeks of the break. "I'm sure you have them all done," she said pointedly. Ron shrugged.
"Yeah, they're finished, just not my best work," He admitted. Hermione rolled her eyes. Some things never changed.
"Well, I have to meet up with Pansy, you're welcome to come along," Hermione suggested. The boys agreed and they headed off.
* * *
Breena and Sorcha walked side by side through Diagon Alley. It was difficult to be a twin, and even more difficult to be a twin when you weren't on speaking terms with your twin. They'd had a fight after Sorcha had discovered Breena sneaking out at night to visit boys. Breena could care less about her sister's opinion, but Sorcha found Breena's carefree attitude about using Harry atrocious. As a result, the two were refusing to speak to one another. Their parents were seemingly oblivious to the entire affair, but had noticed that the girls were pulling away from eachother, something they wholeheartedly encouraged.
The twins met Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Pansy outside Madam Malkin's. Breena didn't speak to Pansy or Sorcha, but she was close to civil with the rest of them. Sorcha tried to make up for Breena's bitter attitude with ferocious cheerfulness. The result wasn't quite what she'd hoped for.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked, looking back and forth between the two of them. Breena shrugged.
"Well, yes," Sorcha lied. She smiled brightly at Hermione. "Just new school year jitters. I sure hope its not much more difficult than last year. Have you gotten all your books yet? They don't look much more difficult than last year's," Sorcha babbled on. The others exchanged nervous glances.
"Why don't we go for a walk?" Ron suggested to Sorcha. She nodded, and took his hand. They walked away from the group. Breena threw herself into Ron's chair, and sat with her arms crossed staring at the passerby.
* * *
The next day, everyone had boarded the Hogwarts Express and was eagerly waiting departure. Hermione and Pansy sat in the compartment with Ron, Harry, and Sorcha. The train had just left the station when Draco slid the door open and asked to speak with Hermione.
"Anything you have to say to her, you can say right here, Malfoy," Harry snapped. Hermione stood up and left the compartment, as if in a trance. Harry looked at the others, who were just as shocked as he was. Harry was already in a rotten mood, Ron having told him just the night before about Breena and her not-so-good intentions.
Hermione followed Draco into an empty compartment. He motioned for her to sit down, and she did so.
"I wanted to make sure you knew I was serious about what I said yesterday. You're in way over your head, Hermione," he informed her. Hermione looked at her hands.
"He doesn't seem all that bad," Hermione said hopefully. Draco shook his head.
"You have no idea. No, you do. You know how terrible he is, you just don't want to admit it to yourself. You've seen what he can do, you've lived with an example of it since you started here at Hogwarts. Harry is living proof of the power he has," Draco explained. "You don't know what you're doing, Hermione, you're making a big mistake. It would be best if you got yourself out while you still can." He sat down next to her. Hermione's hand flew to her neck, where the necklace lay still feeling heavy on her skin. "He'll draw you in," Draco whispered in her ear. "He'll put you under his spell." Draco's fingers gently tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear. His touch lingered on her skin, and suddenly her eyelids felt heavy and the room felt warm.
Draco turned to look at Hermione and realized his warnings were too late. She was already trapped.
* * *
Harry wandered down the halls of the train, looking into the empty compartments for Hermione. He finally found her curled up asleep on a bench in the last compartment. He smiled and sat down across from her, so she wouldn't be alone when she woke up. He found her absolutely adorable when she slept.
Harry took his first time alone since the beginning of summer to really think about everything that had happened during the summer. Just thinking about Breena gave him chills, and made his stomach queasy. He felt cheated.
Hermione stirred and sat up suddenly, causing Harry to jump. She looked around, wondering where Draco had gone.
"We're almost there," Harry told her. He had already changed into his school robes, but Hermione was still wearing the khaki capris and black v- neck t-shirt she'd picked out to wear to the train station. She didn't really like v-neck shirts, but this one showed off her necklace exceptionally well. Hermione nodded and they hurried back down to join the others.
* * *
The Sorting Ceremony seemed to drag on and on for Hermione. She had slept almost all the way through the train ride, but she was still tired for some reason. Her eyelids seemed to permanently feel heavy. Hermione couldn't help but wonder if maybe she was getting sick.
After the feast, Hermione hurried up to bed. She fell asleep quickly, even though she'd been meaning to review her notes from the summer reading she'd done. Around midnight, Hermione woke with a start. She felt like she'd just woken from a nightmare, but she couldn't remember what she'd been dreaming about. The necklace felt warm around her neck, and she took it off, coiling it back into its box. Lying back down in her bed, Hermione couldn't sleep anymore. She stared at the ceiling, and wondered if it was safe to leave such valuable jewelry sitting out on her bedside table. Hermione reached for the box and tucked it under her pillow. Instantly she felt tired again, and closed her eyes for what seemed like only an instant.
She awoke with the sun shining in her eyes, feeling like she'd barely slept at all. She got dressed quickly and put the necklace back on. Somehow she didn't feel like it would be safe anywhere else.
Her first class of the day was Transfiguration. She sat next to Harry and struggled to keep her eyes open as she took notes. Inevitably, she dozed off.
All around her she could see emaciated figures, just shadows really. Their eyes bored holes into her, they hated her, she could feel it. From somewhere above her, she could hear a voice calling her name.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled. Hermione sat up fast. She looked around, the classroom was empty.
"How long was I asleep?" She asked. Professor McGonagall crossed the room and came to stand next to her.
"Too long," she answered, turning to Harry. "Go on to your next class, Harry. I need to speak with Miss Granger." Hermione felt her heart start to pound. Harry hurried out of the room.
"I'm terribly sorry, Professor, I've just been awfully tired lately," Hermione apologized.
"Noted, Miss Granger. I am extremely worried about you. You haven't been acting like yourself at all recently. Sleeping through class, and that display you put on at Malfoy Manor last week. I don't know what has come over you," McGonagall fretted.
"Display?" Hermione asked.
"Dancing with Draco all night. Really, Hermione, the boy is nothing but trouble, especially for a muggleborn like you," McGonagall was adamant about her beliefs.
"She's right, Hermione," A voice called. The women turned to look. It was Draco. "I have nothing but the absolute worst of intentions. I am Voldemort reincarnate, come to smite you," Draco laughed. Hermione laughed with him, but felt like biting her tongue when McGonagall shot her a look.
"This is no laughing matter, Miss Granger," the woman reminded her. Hermione shrugged.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but I'd be late for Potions," Hermione replied. The Professor looked taken aback. "Toodles!" Hermione called, linking her arm through Draco's.
"Toodles?" He asked, once they were out of earshot. Hermione dropped his arm and took a deep breath.
"I don't feel so well all of a sudden," she whispered. Draco took her arm again.
"You're fine," he lied. He knew all too well what she was going through. "It passes," he assured her. She turned to look at him.
"What passes?" she asked, suspicious.
"Time heals all wounds?" he suggested. "I didn't mean anything in particular."
"I feel really sick," she said, pausing to steady herself. Her head was spinning, and her stomach felt like she was going to be sick if she took another step.
"Lean on me," he instructed, wrapping his arm around her. He watched the color drain from her face and his heart went out to her. He knew exactly what she was going through. "It's easier if you don't fight it," he whispered. Slowly the color returned to her cheeks and she stood up on her own. For a fleeting second, Draco wondered if she had won. But when she turned to look at him, her eyes flashed red, and he knew she was losing.
"We can go now," she said, squeezing his arm. He nodded and they went down to the dungeon.
After class, Draco turned to Hermione. "Meet me in the lounge after dinner," he said. "Unless you're still feeling sick," he quickly added. It was important to make sure the timing was right. Hermione gave him a look that plainly said she didn't understand his instructions.
"Okay," she said tenatively. Hermione gathered her books and headed for lunch. Now she knew she must be getting sick, but she took comfort in the fact she wasn't so tired anymore. She wondered exactly what it was that Draco wanted to talk to her about that had to wait until later that night.
* * *
"Albus, I am very concerned," Minerva McGonagall impressed upon her superior. Dumbledore heaved a sigh.
"Minerva, I thought we had been down this road before," he said, speaking softly. "Hermione is one of our brightest students. Wasn't she supposed to be made a prefect this year?"
"Well, I thought she was, but she doesn't seem to be taking any of her responsibilities as a prefect. She doesn't even wear the badge, Albus. That is what concerns me the most. I just have this feeling that something is terribly amiss," Minerva said, her eyes growing distant.
"There may be forces at work here that are simply beyond our scope, Minerva," Dumbledore said, his gaze focused somewhere behind McGonagall. "Everything happens for a reason, and I'm sure this will work itself out in due time," he added. "Please, be patient. I'm sure things will work themselves out in the end."
"If you could just talk to her," Minerva pleaded. Dumbledore held his hand up.
"I will not interfere," he said. "Please, this matter is finished." He turned to face the wall behind himself, leaving McGonagall to exit. As he heard the door click, he let out his breath. "Please, please, please, Hermione. Don't prove me wrong," he said to himself. "I know it'll work out alright in the end, but if you could just hurry things up a little?"
As she left his office, Minerva McGonagall had the feeling that Albus Dumbledore knew a lot more about Hermione than he was letting on.