Love and Hate

By Tennisplaya278

Well, I can certainly see why we're trying to keep them alive. Who wouldn't want pets that can burn, sting, and bite all at once?.

- Draco Malfoy -

-Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I don't own Harry Potter and neither do you. Bananas are yellow, tomatoes are red, stop reading this and read my story instead!-

"It's gone."

Those words echoed with thousands of meanings. Gone was the paper. Gone was any evidence they had about it. Gone was any chance of beating the Dark side.

Nobody moved, but instead, stared at the two of them. Draco could feel their eyes boring into the back of his head. Hermione looked like she could've tore Hogwarts down just to find it.

Through gritted teeth, she managed to say, "What do you mean it's gone."

Draco had never been so scared in his life. Sure, she had slapped him once before but this time she was much angrier and much more knowledgeable about hexes and spells. There was a lot more than a stinging cheek at risk here. "I don't have it."

"Then where is it?"

Draco looked thoughtful for a minute. "Maybe we left it up in the common room."

Hermione looked like she could kill at that moment.

"Do you mind telling us what you have misplaced?" Dumbledore asked them. Draco noticed that he had a twinkle in his eye.

She looked over at Draco, obviously wanting him to speak. He just looked down at his shoes as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. She rolled her eyes. "You see, Draco showed me a piece of parchment from a book. It was a page about a potion, The Final Potion. We're afraid that Voldermort may be trying to make this because the drinker will become immortal." Hermione explained.

Dumbledore just sat there, the smile on his face never leaving. It made Draco want to scream at him. Wasn't this the least bit important?

"Ah yes. I have been wondering which student would figure this out first. We have already known this for quite some time. In fact, we have some specialists studying it right now. You don't need to worry. However, if I may ask, where did you find this paper?"

Hermione looked at Draco. In truth though, Draco didn't want to get into this. He had never wanted to choose sides. Why did it seem like they thought he was working for the light? When had he said that?

Still, a world without Voldermort would be a splendid, more glorious place…

"It was in a book from the library. Can't remember the name." He stated simply.

"At least you informed us about this. That's all we can ask for." Dumbledore said. "Now, I think you two should head to bed. You have another long day ahead of you." He turned his back on them as Draco and Hermione walked out of his office.

&&&

Once out of hearing of the teachers, Hermione turned to Draco. "What do you mean you lost it? What do you mean you don't remember what book? Draco? What is going on? I can tell you know, so why won't you say anything?"

He stared helplessly at her. Here she was asking him questions that he should've been able to answer and yet, he couldn't answer them.

So many questions, so little answers…

"I just – Hermione it's just that – I don't know. It's all so confusing!" He threw his hands up in the air. "I think you should just – just stay away from me. I'm one of their targets aren't I? My parents are making me go home for Easter holidays and who knows what could happen. I just don't want to get them mad." He sighed.

"Doesn't your mom stand up for you? I thought she wasn't a death eater." Hermione asked curiously.

She saw him recoiled a bit. "Well – uh – you see – my - MY MOTHER'S DEAD ALRIGHT!" For the second time that year, he yelled at her. Only it wasn't a confused yell. It was an uncontrolled one. His eyes started to well up. Draco looked down, hoping that she wouldn't notice. However, she did.

She lifted his chin up and looked into his eyes. They were mesmerizing. "It'll be ok. Everything will be alright." An unnoticed tear fell down his cheek. She gave him a small smile before wiping it off. She hesitated a bit before pulling him into a hug, one that he gladly accepted.

For one brief moment, the pair of them became lost in each other's warmth. In that one second, they lost their identities. No longer were they Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, enemies since the day the met. Now they were nameless, unidentified people, almost becoming one. And yet, that moment had to end.

They pulled apart and just looked at each other. For the first time, Hermione saw him. She didn't see just his platinum blonde hair, his tantalizing grey eyes or those perfect lips that formed into a smirk so very often. Instead she saw a lost, lonely, little boy. He was just like everyone else. He had hopes, dreams and wishes. He wanted to be loved and to fall in love. He needed someone he could talk to. He needed a friend.

As she pulled him into another hug, she couldn't help but think -

She was seeing him. Really seeing him.

&&&

February slowly turned into March. The snow melted and the birds came out. The teachers were pestering them about their N.E.W.T.'s which were approaching at a deadly rate. Their homework piles were larger then ever and many 7th years suffered from exhaustion.

One thing that everyone was waiting for were the Easter holidays. Now, with only two weeks away, many people were telling each other about what they were going to do over holidays. It was clear that everyone had the same thing on their minds. It was going to be a week of relaxation and absolutely no homework.

For the unlucky few…

The people in the extra DADA class were asked to stay over the holiday as to work on some more curses. It was supposed to be much easier to do without so many distractions. Most people said yes right away. Draco on the other hand, had a tiny problem.

"Professor Snape?" He asked one day while in his potion's class.

"Yes Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked. Everyone else had left.

"I don't think I can stay over the holiday for…you know."

Snape looked thoughtful for a moment. "What reason do you have?"

Draco hesitated a bit before telling. "Father wants me to come home…" His voice trailed off.

"Ah. I see. Don't worry, I will speak to your father tomorrow [it's Friday] and tell him that…Well I'll tell him something. Now get along. You are already late for lunch." His long black cloak was the last thing Draco saw of him.

&&&

On the next Monday, Professor Snape didn't show up for class. Draco was worried. He said that he was going to go talk to Lucius about allowing Draco to stay over break. It shouldn't have taken 3 days to do it. Did Snape get hurt, possibly even killed?

He shook those thoughts out of his head. Snape was a grown man and could take care of himself. But perhaps he had also gone to visit Voldermort. Yes, that was it. He had gone to Voldermort last night and just hadn't returned yet. Of course. Snape wasn't a person to go missing without a logical reason.

The bell rung and he hurried up to clean up his books when Shacklebolt (Their substitute) stopped him.

"Malfoy," He said that word with utter disgust. "Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office."

Draco nodded once to show that he understood before leaving. He swiftly left, not wanting to be in the dungeons for much longer. They brought back memories, terrible memories…

&&&

He knew something was wrong before Dumbledore even opened his mouth. The office, which was usually happy and cheery, suddenly seemed cold and lonely. Dumbledore's face showed that something terrible was about to be unveiled. But the biggest clues were in his eyes. There was no twinkle in them.

"Mr. Malfoy, I have a, well, a mission if you could call it that." Dumbledore began, his voice firm and calm. "Professor Snape has gone missing. I believe he was going back to ask your father if you could stay at Hogwarts for Easter. He hasn't returned as of this moment. I think that your father may have kidnapped him or something rather like that. What I am asking you to do is to go home tomorrow and find Professor Snape. Of course, you don't need to. If you do accept, your professors and myself will help you devise a plan. What do you say?" He asked before turning around and looking at Draco.

There was no question here, nothing to argue about. The pros outweighed the cons easily. "Yes. What do you need me to do."

"I need you to learn how to make yourself invisible by tonight."

-Author's Notes-

Ugh. Yes, yes. I know it's a REALLY short chapter. Really, it is. I just wanted to get it updated for you guys. It's been quite a while actually. Hope you liked!

Guess what? My birthday is coming up REALLY soon! June 25th!! XD I'm turning 13, I'm turning 13! Woot woot!

And the award for hottest guy goes to…

TOM FELTON

&

DAN RADCLIFFE!

Thanks a bunch to:

CassandraTheEvil: Ah, well yes I knew that. XD I just needed to ask everyone! Thanks for reviewing!

Emily and Jessica: Oh. My. God. That has got to be the single longest review I have ever gotten! Yeah, the last chapter was confusing, only cause I wrote it too fast. Erg…but in book 5, Luna talks about them someplace…yes. Thanks for your ideas but I don't know if I want to kill her off. If I don't end up doing that, I'll be sure to write your ending anyways and send it to you! Thanks for the review!

Horsemaster1: I'm sorry you didn't win…Thanks for reviewing though!

Sarah Tajuddin: Thanks for the review! As you can see, he won!

Kathryn-Colby: Uhm…will you shoot me if I didn't have a good day? Then I did! Thanks for the review…no matter how threatening it was…

Tal6: Wow. I inspired somebody…well…kinda. Anyways, thanks for reviewing!

Elfaghetti: Oh yes. Thanks for the review!

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WeluvweKR: I do too. No worries. Thanks for the review!

CCBChunks: Yes. Mugglenet. I love it. Anyways, if you would like to see what a heliopath is, read Emily and Jessica's response. Arthur was minister cause JK said Fudge wasn't anymore and Arthur is cool. Thanks for the review!

Someperson: Yeah I know. Thanks for the review!

Rain Drops: Sadly, he didn't win. Thanks for the review!

The rest of my reviewers (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!): Dan Radcliffe tied because of you! Thanks for the review!

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