A/N: Heylo people. I would firstly like to thank my bestie Amy for reviewing my story and giving me pointers. Oh and Mr Stumer my Ancient History and Tute English teacher for helping me work out a few things. And I would also like to thank YOU my reviewers. You are all so lovely!
Disclaimer: It is not mine. Just the plot.
Chapter Eight: The Growing Darkness
Hermione stopped walking and looked at Draco. He was watching her face closely trying to read what her facial expressions were saying.
"Well," said Hermione slowly, "I guess I can give you a chance... this is all happening fast."
"So we can try to be friends?" asked Draco.
"First I have to get to know you. The you that you say you can be."
"The me that I really am... not this mask I wear."
Hermione nodded and smiled a little, "I suppose we should get to McGonagall's office."
Draco nodded in reply and they both walked to McGonagall's office in silence.
Many students gave them strange looks. Normally they would see Hermione and Draco throwing insults at each other.
But both were deep in thought. Draco going over the fact that Hermione was giving him a chance to show the real Draco Malfoy and Hermione wondering how she was going to cope at the funeral.
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"Come in Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy," said McGonagall softly.
The Deputy Professor stepped back from the doorway allowing Hermione and Draco to come in. Already waiting in the office were Dumbledore, Snape and Flitwick.
"Shall we go Miss Granger?" asked Dumbledore.
Hermione nodded and all left for the funeral. Dumbledore led the way. Past the Quidditch Stadium, Hagrid's hut, down a dirt path and into a clearing.
Hermione noticed the two freshly dug graves with coffins held up above them by a thick black rope.
Hermione wiped away tears as they walked closer to the graves.
All stood in a circle around the two graves. Draco stood beside Hermione who was trying her hardest not to cry.
"Welcome," said Dumbledore, "We are gathered here today to bid farewell to Jo and Barry Granger.
They are the foster parents of Hermione Granger."
"They were not my foster parents," said Hermione. Her voice was growing louder with every syllable,
"They were my real parents! I don't care if I wasn't there's biologically! They are gone because no one could let things be! They didn't deserve to die!"
Everybody had backed away from Hermione who was crying and screaming all at once.
"Why couldn't you leave things alone?" screamed Hermione at Dumbledore, "You're the reason they are dead!"
Turning on her heel Hermione took off up the dirt path from where they came.
Draco looked at everybody. Last night he had been informed off attending a funeral with Hermione. He didn't know they were her parents though. All he knew was no one was to know about it, that was why he saved Hermione from her friend's questions.
Now he was confused. Why on earth did Hermione blame Dumbledore for her parent's death? What was going on?
"I think," said McGonagall, "We should go find Miss Granger. You as well Mr Malfoy."
Draco nodded and started running back to the castle. He knew Hermione would either be in the library or the meeting room.
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If he had only left everything alone my parents wouldn't be cold in the ground getting eaten by god knows what. They didn't deserve to die! Why... why is my life so confusing? What did I do to deserve a life like this? Did I do something completely wrong in my past life? Did I kill somebody and this is my punishment? I can't take it anymore. I just want out...
Hermione shut her journal and starred at the fireplace. Tears streamed down her face as they let her emotions out.
When she had ran away from the funeral, she ran straight to the meeting room. She couldn't go to the Gryffindor Tower as people would ask questions, and the library was further away.
"It would be so easy to jump off a cliff right now," muttered Hermione.
!
Draco ran up the staircase leading to the meeting room, taking two at a time.
When he reached the top we came face to face with Pansy.
"Hey Drakie," smiled Pansy, "So... where you going?"
"Some where far, far away from you Parkinson. Now if you'll excuse me," said Draco stepping around her.
Pansy gave a disappointed huff and stomped down the stairs.
Draco kept running shaking his head. Pansy used to be really nice and easy to talk to. Until she realized she could have any guy she wanted. Except Draco.
"Tycoon," muttered Draco to the meeting room door.
The door swung open and Draco stepped in. As the door shut Draco noticed Hermione curled up on the maroon couch her head in on her knees and her shoulder shrugging.
"Hermione?" said Draco softly as he stepped closer, "Do you want to talk?"
Hermione looked up allowing Draco to see the tears of pain, hurt and confusion, "I hate my life Draco. I hate it so much."
"Tell me."
Hermione nodded and moved over so Draco could sit beside her. Than she spilled it all. From her parents argument she heard on the day she left for Hogwarts all the way to yesterday's meeting with Dumbledore after Draco left.
"I can't cope. Everything is just too much for me to handle," said Hermione wiping tears away, "You're the only one I've told about this too. So please don't tell anyone."
"I promise I won't," said Draco, "And no wonder you in this state. A lot has happened to you in the past two weeks or so."
"I don't know who I am anymore... I'm such a mess."
"What you are going through is to be expected... I can't give you advice, as I haven't been through this. I've always known who I am; I've just hidden it."
Hermione nodded, "I'm sorry... dumping all my troubles on you."
"It's no problem. I swear to not tell a sole. But I can tell you one thing."
"What's that?"
"I know who the Verbatim's are. My father is friends with them... they are very loyal... very, very loyal Death Eaters. But they are really into the Dark Arts. Worse than my father. And they show no mercy to those below them."
Hermione looked at Draco wide eyed, "H-have you seen them?"
"Not in two years. I made sure I never was home when they came around. I always went to Blaise's or Pansy's... until she changed into what she is now."
Hermione nodded, "I understand. Do you think it's wrong of me to be at Dumbledore?"
"In my opinion no. He took you from a life you've never gotten to know. But he did do it for the better. If you stayed with your real parents you wouldn't be who you are now. You wouldn't be kind, funny... everything you are apart from smart. You would still be smart but really dark."
"I can kinda see myself that way."
"But you don't want to be that way?"
"No."
Draco nodded, "So do you want to go to Hogsmeade?"
"I'd better go. I can't hide away all day moping," sighed Hermione standing up, "Thankyou Draco for listening to me."
Draco smiled, "Like I said, its no problem. You've helped me begin to change into the real me."
Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "It was nothing."
Draco laughed and they left for Hogsmeade.
!
"Ginny will you please hurry up," snapped Ron as him and Harry waited impatiently at the door of the clothes shop Ginny had dragged them into.
"I'm coming," cried Ginny quickly pocketing her change, "God hold your horses please."
"We've been here for fifteen minutes."
"Oh and how long were we in the joke shop for? An hour."
"That was different."
"It was boring."
"Hey you two. There's Hermione," spoke up Harry stopping the fight.
Ron and Ginny looked in the direction Harry was looking. Sure enough there was Hermione and Draco walking and talking quietly.
"They're not fighting," said Ron slowly.
"They might be quietly," suggested Harry as they made there way over.
!
Hermione and Draco looked up to see Harry, Ron and Ginny walking towards them. Draco rolled his eyes while Hermione smiled at them.
"Hey Mione," smiled Ginny hugging her.
"Hey Gin. Hey Harry, Ron. What are you three up too?" asked Hermione.
"Shopping," replied Ron sneering at Draco, "So Malfoy... you'd better be not taunting Hermione."
"Ron, stop," sighed Hermione.
"No Hermione. I'm just warning him."
"I can take care of myself. I'm not 11 years old anymore. I'm 17."
Ron backed down but kept his glare on Draco who was glaring back.
"Is everything okay Herms?" asked Harry.
"I'm fine Harry. You three best be on your way. Malfoy and I have to check the outskirts for any disturbances. I'll see you all at dinner."
"Alright," said Ginny, "Come on you two."
Hermione let out a breath as they walked away, "Sorry about that."
"How can you put up with them?" asked Draco looking over his shoulder at them.
"What do you mean?"
"They watch your every move. Always ask what you are doing. Everything."
"They are just being like brothers. You get used to it after a while... and it does get annoying I guess."
"Tell them to stop."
"I can't. They'll get all...miffed."
"Hermione you are your own person. They can't keep you on a leash for the rest of your life."
"I'm not on a leash!" snapped Hermione.
Draco sighed. He'd put his foot in it again.
"Besides if you haven't noticed I got them to leave."
"After you discussed it basically."
"You don't know them okay? I'm only a girl who they believe needs constant help."
"No you don't. Look what you have been handling the past two weeks without there 'constant' help."
"Yeah but I came crying to you."
"I offered my help. I was being a... friend."
Hermione smiled, "Come on. We have to check the Shrieking Shack."
!
It was now Tuesday meaning two days had passed since the funeral. All the Professors were keeping a close eye on Hermione and her and Draco seemed to be keeping their forming friendship to a minium. Harry and Ron on the other hand were worried about Hermione's closed ness. She hadn't really spoken to them since Saturday and whenever they tried to catch her attention Hermione was always in deep thought. Even Ginny was becoming worried yet she would go to her Slytherin friend Blaise Zabini about her concerns, who in turn told Draco what was going on.
!
Hermione entered the Great Hall fully dressed and ready to give her speech with Draco on Salamanders in Care of Magical Creatures which was first.
"Morning Mione," grinned Harry looking up from his pile of ten pancakes.
"Morning Harry," replied Hermione sitting next to him and piling eggs and bacon on her plate, "Ready for your speech?"
"Yeah. Working with Millicent was a nightmare. She kept on smiling at me all weird like," shuddered Harry, "And would giggle at anything I said. None of it was funny mind you."
Hermione laughed, "Seems like Harry's got a friend."
"It was scary. I'm never working with her again."
Hermione laughed as Harry stabbed hid pancakes still shuddering.
"Clam down Harry. You will survive."
"Hopefully. Anyway how are you today? Not in la la land yet?"
"I'm fine. Trust me, I've just had a few things on my mind. You know school work, head duties."
"You sure that's all? You can tell me anything Hermione."
Hermione closed her eyes then opened them and looked at Harry smiling, "Harry I'm fine."
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"See," said Ginny standing near the Great Hall doors with Blaise.
They were both looking at Hermione and had just seen her close her eyes before answering Harry.
"She does it all the time whenever we talk to her. That's not the Hermione I know."
Blaise sighed, "Like I've been telling you Gin. Give her time, she will come around."
Ginny nodded and hugged Blaise. Before she pulled away she pecked him on the cheek.
"You're a good friend Blaise," smiled Ginny, "I'll talk with you later."
Blaise blushed a little and nodded walking to the Slytherin table.
Draco smiled at his mate as he sat beside him, "Hey man. What's up?"
"Dude, you know how I said I didn't have a full blown crush on the Weasley girl?"
"Uh-huh."
"Man I do. She just pecked me on the cheek."
Draco shook his head, "Lord help me."
Blaise punched Draco on the arm, "Shut up. Anyway it seems Hermione is not Hermione anymore. She rarely speaks to anyone and looses her patience easily whenever they ask her something."
Draco nodded and looked at Hermione. Blaise knew him and Hermione had a growing friendship.
"What can I say?" sighed Draco, "Did you tell Weaslette she needs space?"
"Yeah."
"That's all they can do. Anyway, we'd better go. Grab some toast. Class starts in ten."
!
"I'll see you two at class," said Hermione standing up.
"Wait. We'll walk with you," said Ron.
"I can walk on my own you know."
"Yeah but you never know..."
"Never know what? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is going to jump out of the bushes and murder me?"
"You never know," said Harry seriously.
Hermione gave an impatient sigh, grabbed her bag and walked out of the Great Hall.
"I don't get it!" yelled Harry, "I'm sick of her mood swings! Why won't she talk to us?"
"I don't know mate. I really don't know," sighed Ron.
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"It's happening," said Dumbledore to McGonagall, "It's coming over her."
"We have to do something," said McGonagall, "We can't let this happen to her."
"He will summon for her by the end of this year. He will threat her with something and she will do as he says."
"What can we do to help her?" asked Snape.
"We must ask Mr Malfoy to be a spy for us. He must join Voldemort's forces. It won't look suspicious to anyone as it is what Lucius will demand him to do."
McGonagall sighed, "It is a big task Dumbledore. What if the darkness fully takes Miss Granger?"
"We can only hope it doesn't."
!
Draco and Blaise reached Hagrid's hut minutes before class started. Just as Draco was about to sit down him and Blaise jumped at a loud bang.
Both spun around to see Hermione pointing her wand at herself.
"Hermione!" cried Draco running to her.
He reached Hermione quickly and stood behind her and grabbed her arms firmly and pulled them down.
He grabbed her wand and pocketed it. Hermione slumped in her arms and let out sobs.
"Hermione... what is wrong?" asked Draco turning her around.
"It won't go away! I can't control it!" cried Hermione clinging to Draco's robes.
"What won't go away?"
"I... feel like this darkness is covering me making me say things I wouldn't say. Now I just don't talk... I keep to myself... my friends are starting to hate me... I can't stop it Draco... I can't."
Draco hugged Hermione and looked at Blaise.
Blaise nodded knowing what to tell Hagrid.
"Come on Hermione," said Draco softly leading her to the Quidditch Stadium.
Hermione clung on to Draco afraid that the growing darkness would envelope her again.
!
Draco led Hermione up the stairs of the Quidditch stand and they sat down in silence.
"What's wrong with me Draco?" said Hermione quietly, "I'm changing. I know I am but it's not good. I'm hurting my friends with my current attitude."
"I don't know Hermione. I wish I could help you... the only way I can is support you and help you fight what ever is coming over you."
Hermione nodded and wiped away a few tears, "It's so strange. My friends are starting to notice my distant behaviour. They are really worried too. I'm starting to loose them."
Draco hugged Hermione, "I won't leave you. I'll be by your side like a true friend."
Hermione smiled and hugged Draco back and kissed him on the cheek, "Thankyou. I just don't want to bring you down with me. You've changed so much and I don't want to ruin that."
A/N: Ohh, I bet you all weren't expecting Hermione to be going like that? Huh? Were you
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