A/N: Hello. How are you? That's nice. Anyway! Thankyou for the reviews... nearly at 200! Amazing isn't it? Okay... none of you gave me any ideas... so for this chapter... I will be making up stuff as I go along... um... err... yeah... now where to start...
DISCLAIMER: NO NOT MINE EXCEPT HERMIONES PARENTS AND HER BROTHER!
Chapter Twelve: Loosing It Again.
Draco tumbled into the common room and looked around. He thanked Dumbledore silently when he saw Hermione wasn't back yet. Lifting up his sleeve he examined the mark. He couldn't actually see the mark only the redness on his arm from where it was. A banging noise made him pull his sleeve down. He quickly dusted his robes and sat down and grabbed a book.
Hermione ran up the stairs to the common room. The meeting had been about Dumbledore asking how things were going. She entered the common room and spotted Draco on the lounge reading.
"Hello," said Hermione taking her robe off.
Draco looked up, pretending to be startled, "Oh hey. How was the meeting?"
"Alright I guess," sighed Hermione sitting beside him, "Just about how I was going and stuff like that. I told Dumbledore that Harry and Ron know. He suspected they did."
"That man knows everything pretty much. So what did he say about them knowing?"
"Well that he agrees with me about them talking about me behind my back... but he is going to talk to them and ask them what they think about it all. He also thinks its time to tell Ginny... and Blaise."
"Blaise?"
"Yeah. He said Blaise knows everything else that is going on and him and Ginny talk seeing that they are literally going out. So yeah."
"Do you want to tell them?"
"Ginny has the right to know. She is my best friend and Blaise is your best friend so we may as well."
"Right. So when do we tell them?"
Hermione bit her bottom lip, "Tomorrow. In the mean time I am going to get some shuteye. I think you should to. You look exhausted."
Draco smiled, "I agree."
Hermione hugged him and pecked him on the cheek, "Night Draco."
"Good night Mione."
Hermione stood up and ran up the stairs to her room.
Draco watched her until she disappeared into her room. He fell back against the couch and ran his hand through his hair.
Your amazing... everything I want in a girl Mione. And I think I'm... I think I'm falling in love with you.
!Z!
She walked into her room and reached down to grab her black robe. Her face was full of fear and her heart pounding a mile a minute. She didn't want to be here. She wanted to be with her friends only they all believe she had betrayed them. But she didn't ... this was for there on safety.
"I have it," said a clam voice.
"Good. When he arrives we give it to him," she replied, "He has to do it. No one else can."
"What if it doesn't work?"
"We can only hope it does. I want to be free again. Only two people know I am here... you can be free to you know."
"They think I'm just like the rest of them."
"But your not and I can vouch for that as well."
A knock at the door cut the conversation short.
Hermione woke up startled and breathing hard, "What on earth?"
The dream had really shaken her up. She felt scared as if she had to do something she didn't want to.
But who was that boy? He looked a lot like her only older by at least three years.
She laid back down and starred at the stars.
Whatever it was it was real, only it hadn't happened... yet.
!Z!
Two months past silently. Hermione and Draco kept their feelings to themselves but it was hard. There were moments where they would nearly kiss but one of them would make up and excuse and walk away.
Ginny and Blaise were informed of what was going on with Hermione and neither treated her any different. If anything they kept a closer eye on her.
Harry and Ron never changed. Sure Dumbledore had spoken to them but that never changed a thing.
Hermione slowly grew distant from them, she was tired of there behaviour and tension grew between them.
It was now March and the weather had warmed up a bit with no more strong winds. Draco had only been to one Death Eater meeting but only found out that Voldemort had been planning something top secret. Even though Draco found this information pointless Dumbledore took it to great interest.
Hermione entered the Great Hall with Ginny. It was a Saturday morning and they were excited about the Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
"What's to be excited about?" asked Ron when the boys asked what they were happy about.
"Because stupid," said Ginny, "Whoever looses is out of the running for the cup."
"Uh-huh," said Harry, "We are going to win anyway."
"Don't be so sure of yourself Harry," replied Hermione, "Slytherin have been doing well this year. They haven't lost a match. You've lost one against them."
"So your supporting Slytherin now? Why don't you just join the Slytherin house?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Hermione think about it? Your going to be a dark witch so it's pointless fighting that fact."
"Pointless?" said Hermione her anger growing, "Pointless you say? I don't want to be dark Harry! I was brought up to be a good witch! And you're saying it's pointless I fight that fact? You say I should just go and bow to Voldemort's feet?"
"Well why not? You snap at me and Ron all the time, you've nearly killed Pansy Parkinson!"
"I snap at you and Ron because ever since you have found out my secret you both have been treating me like some kind of freak show! I am the same me! I am just fighting something to stop that fact changing! It is clearly obvious that I do not have your support in this. And to think... to think I have supported you in your fight against Voldemort... and here you are saying that I am going to end up just like him... wow Harry... some friend you are... you too Ron... I can't believe I dated you... or were friends with you both."
Hermione stood up and walked away her anger slowly subsiding.
"What about the other fact that you nearly killed someone?" said Ron.
Hermione spun around, the whole hall was watching and McGonagall was rushing out to get Dumbledore while Snape kept an eye on the proceedings.
"I had no control over that!" said Hermione, "I'll admit I lost control there! But I will say I am doing a damn good job of controlling it right now."
"Or maybe it's Voldemort that controls you," said Harry.
"That was low!" spoke up Ginny, "Even for you Harry Potter! I know what it is like to have someone control you. You don't remember a thing."
"And do you Hermione," said Ron, "Remember what you did to Parkinson?"
"Yes I do. I have nightmares about that for you information. I've lost sleep knowing I could turn into that monster with just a tad of anger coming over me," replied Hermione coldly.
!Z!
Draco walked into a silent hall and looked around to see Hermione standing in the row between Gryffindor table and Hufflepuff. She was glaring at Harry and Ron who were standing. He also noticed Ginny and standing glaring at the tow boys.
Draco stood where he was.
"Nightmares huh?" said Harry, "You sure your not plotting more ways to kill her? Or maybe us?"
"Why would I even think of doing a thing like that when I have been helping you fight your battle against Voldemort?" cried Hermione, "I haven't changed sides."
"But you will... it's only a matter of time before you become a killer... just like your boyfriend."
"I have no boyfriend."
"You sure about that?" asked Ron, "I mean you and Malfoy are living together after all. Are you sure nothing is going on there."
"I think I would know my own social life Ron. I am no killer."
"Ha! Sure," scoffed Ron.
That was it. She had lost it... again. Hermione whipped her wand out and aimed it at Ron.
Girls screamed and began running out of the hall followed by guys.
Ron and Harry's eyes were wide and full of terror, mixed with guilt. They both backed away from the table.
Hermione ran forward and dove over the top. Snape ran from the teacher's table and pushed Harry and Ron behind them. He looked at Hermione's eyes. She wasn't there her eyes were black. Yet he saw flashes of pained brown pass through them.
"Move," snarled Hermione, "No... I can't kill them... MOVE!"
"Mr Malfoy! Shut the doors!" barked Snape.
Everyone had left apart from the teachers, Ginny, Blaise and Draco. Just as Draco shut them McGonagall and Dumbledore hurried in.
"You two are arseholes," snarled Hermione, "They aren't... they don't understand!"
Dumbledore looked at Draco and he knew what to do.
Draco ran to Hermione and stood beside her, "Mione... ignore it... don't let it kill you... I know it is... but you can't let it."
Hermione fell to her knees screaming in pain, "I can't! It won't go away!"
Ginny was in tears watching her bestfriend fight for herself. Blaise walked over to Ginny and hugged her.
Hermione herself was in tears, "I can't... arseholes... go away... this is me... leave."
Draco knelt beside Hermione, "Come on Hermione. You've beaten this before. You're a good witch."
Hermione looked at Draco her eyes dark still, "No one else thinks so."
Hermione stood up her wand rose again, "Isn't that right Potter? I'm evil and dark. So why not live that way? Serve the dark lord."
Harry shook his head.
"Well you seem to think that's all I'm good for."
"Hermione, come on!" said Draco, "I believe you're a good witch. Sop does Ginny and Blaise."
Hermione fell to the ground again in pain, "Help me... please don't let me go!"
Draco held onto Hermione's hand, "I'm here Mione... you can beat this."
Hermione screamed. Her body felt as if a hundred knifes were stabbing her. She needed to fight this. She had to... for Draco. Hermione clung onto Draco's shirt as she pushed the darkness hovering over her away.
Draco held onto Hermione, his arms around her as she screamed in pain.
Ginny was still crying, she hated seeing Hermione like this. It was awful watching her bestfriend go through something, be something she didn't want to be. This was Harry and Ron's doing, not Hermione's.
"You two are foul!" screamed Ginny lunging for them only to be held back by Blaise, "You did this to her!"
Harry and Ron looked away from Ginny. They were in the wrong. They knew Hermione would never turn on them.
Draco was still holding Hermione her ragged breathing had clamed down. He looked down at her face and saw tear stains.
"Mione?" whispered Draco.
Hermione looked up at him. Her eyes where normal again, yet they were full of fear. Fear of herself and of what she could've done to Harry and Ron had Professor Snape not stepped in the way.
"I'm so sorry," said Hermione, "I... I... I don't know... I just snapped... lost it completely."
"It is okay Miss Granger," said Dumbledore, "We all understand the reason why."
Dumbledore looked at Harry and Ron. Snape stepped aside and they glanced at Dumbledore before looking at there hands.
"Do you boys now know what Miss Granger is going through? Do you now believe she is fighting to not be dark?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes Professor," both muttered.
"Miss Granger does not intend to be dark. She does not dream of killing anybody."
Harry and Ron nodded.
"You both have disappointed a lot of people today, but you have both disappointed one person more than anyone."
"You sir?" said Ron.
"No Mr Weasley," said Dumbledore, "Miss Granger."
!Z!
It was finally May. The incident in the Great Hall was not forgotten by anyone involved. Hermione dreamt about it most nights, in some nightmares she actually killed Harry and Ron.
The two boys now finally understood what was happening with Hermione and began to actually support her.
But a good thing did come out of that ordeal, a couple was created.
Ginny and Blaise.
It was now exam time. Hermione and Draco had spent most nights studying together, but laughing at jokes and just mucking around would distract them. The chemistry between them was reaching highpoint yet they would keep their love for each other secret.
"Exams are tomorrow," sighed Hermione as she entered the common room followed by Draco.
"I know," said Draco, "And next month the ball in on for graduation."
"Dumbledore hasn't called us to his office to plan it."
"Maybe he's been busy. We'll go see him after the exams are finished. How's that sound?"
Hermione smiled and pulled out her study notes for potions, "Sounds great."
Draco pulled his notes out and they sat across from each other on the floor next to the fireplace reading them in silence.
"Hey... do you think we will be friends after school is over?" asked Hermione looking up from her notes.
She way lying on her stomach propped up on her elbows.
"I hope so," said Draco.
Hermione smiled, "Same here."
They both smiled, their eyes locked. Draco leaned closer... and closer.
"I need a shower," said Hermione standing up and running up the staircase to the shower.
She shut the door behind her and slid down it.
I want to. Oh believe me Draco I really do. But you'll only get hurt... if only you knew how much I love you... if only.
!Z!
"Please take a seat," instructed McGonagall, "You have two hours to complete the essay. Once the time in up you will be given the test questions. You will have an hour to complete them. Than you will be sent to do your practical examination."
The 7th and 5th years all nodded.
"As you know the first test is Transfiguration. Your next one after lunch is Potions. Tonight the 7th years will have Astronomy. The essay is on your table. You have two hours, beginning now."
Hermione picked up her quill and read the question. A smile appeared on her face. This was too easy.
Draco looked at the question frowning. He glanced two rows over at Hermione. Her quill was whizzing across the page, a true smile on her face. Sighing Draco re-read the question. This was actually an easy essay.
!Z!
Two hours passed.
"Quills down!" shouted McGonagall, "Accio tests!"
The essays rolled in the air and into McGonagall's arms. She caught them and then placed them in a brown box.
She then flicked her wand and tests flew into the air and landed on desks in front of the test taker.
"One hour! Starting... now!"
Again Hermione saw the questions easy as she answered every question.
!Z!
The next three days were like that. Even the practicals were fairly easy for them. But once they were over everyone was glad. The stress died down and now there was the graduation ball to look forward to.
The night after the final exam Hermione and Draco walked to Dumbledore's office.
"I hope he isn't busy," sighed Hermione.
"He shouldn't be," said Draco, "We have to organize it now before it is to late."
"At least everyone else can relax," sighed Hermione, "We have to stress over a ball."
"That's the fun of being a head."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "You find this fun?"
"I was being sarcastic."
"Chico," said Hermione to the gargoyle, "I was going to say. If you find planning balls fun... I don't know what I would do."
Draco smiled at Hermione and nudged her with his elbow, "I bet you just love planning this sort of thing deep down."
Hermione playfully pushed him, "Oh totally! It's just the highlight of my day."
Draco laughed, "I knew it."
"Yeah right," sighed Hermione as they reached Dumbledore's office door, "Well... we get to pick the DJ."
"Yeah I guess that is a highlight," said Draco knocking on the door.
"Come in."
Hermione and Draco walked in and took a seat.
"What may I do for you?" asked Dumbledore.
"We came to see you about the Graduation Ball," said Hermione, "It's next month."
"I believe you have both been stressing over it?"
They both nodded.
"Than don't. The professors and I have taken it into our hands and planned it ourselves. You both have been through a lot in the past year and need time to relax and live life like a teenager."
"Thankyou so much," said Hermione.
"You have no idea what this means to us," added Draco.
"Your welcome," said Dumbledore.
They both stood smiling and left.
A/N: Not as long as my last chapter but I think it was a good one and time has past meaning I will soon be getting to the part I am dying to write and finally get Hermione and Draco to admit something we want them to... my bestie keeps asking me about that... don't you Amy??? Well review!
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