Disclaimer: I own nothing...all belongs to J.K. Rowling

Chapter Seven: Like Father Like Son

"I'll be right back guys." Hermione, as calmly as she could, got up from the table and made her way to the ladies room. Once out of view from Harry and Ron she rushed into the bathroom; luckily for her no one was inside. She pulled out her wand and magically locked the door shut. Once enclosed in nothing but privacy she slide down the door and fell onto the floor. "What...what happened to him?" She was shaking and utterly speechless. Obviously Draco had a run in with someone but whom? Could it have been his father? But his father was supposedly locked up in Azkaban; how could he have escaped?

She slowly started to collect her thoughts and stand up. She would need to make some excuse to tell Harry and Ron so that she would be able to make her way back to Hogwarts. It was as though her brain was composed of two entirely different sides. She wanted desperately to get back to Draco and yet since when did she start to care about him as a friend? Well, her conflicting thoughts would have to wait; right now she needed to make sure he was alright.

She unlocked the bathroom door and made her way back towards Harry and Ron. "Guy's I just realized I haven't finished my Transfiguration assignments I need to head back and complete them." As the words flowed from her mouth the thoughts flowing in her head were of another sort, 'they won't know it's not my homework that needs tending to.' 'I need to get back to make sure he is alright.' Harry and Ron both of whom knew this was exactly like Hermione, getting worked up over an assignment that wasn't even due for another week, also knew it was pointless to argue. "Alright Hermione, we will help you carry your books back to your dorm."

Ron took a bag of her books as Harry took another bag, leaving Hermione with one tiny bag to carry. Within ten minuets they had made their way back to Hogwarts and Hermione stared at Harry and Ron's retreating backs. It was still early so she guessed they were making their way back to Hogsmede. She grabbed her bags and threw them into a corner of the common room. Draco was what had her attention now.

Draco was lying on the couch wet with blood, with a puddle of it on the floor. From where she stood he appeared to be asleep, or at least she hoped he was. She rushed over and knelt down beside him getting down to eye level with him. "Draco... Draco please answer. What happened?" After a few seconds had passed he blinked a few times then preceded to open his eyes.

"Hermione? Why are you here so soon?" Even though his eyes gave the illusion that he was dead tired his words were spoken to give evidence otherwise. "I see you in the pub with a fresh slash across your face and blood dripping down and you expect me not to follow you home? Draco, please tell me what happened to you?"

All the anger that had built up from dealing with his father he could hold in check no longer. "Why the hell should I tell you Granger?" He stood up showing his higher ranking over her. "Draco I just want to help." "I don't need your help thanks." He looked down at her watching the tears swell up in her eyes. "Dra...Draco why won't you let me help you? I can't help if I don't know what happened." "Who the fuck are you to try and help me? You filthy mudblood. I don't need your help and never will." The tears that were threatening to fall began to drip down from her cheeks. Why was he doing this to her?

As he looked down at her a part of his newly established heart began to break. She didn't deserve this, why was he venting his anger out at her leaving her to deal with it? A voice in the back of his head was telling him 'Stop it! Stop it! She never did anything to you. She's trying to help you! Just let her in, drop your mask. You're not dealing with your father, you're dealing with Hermione.' And yet in perfect unison a clear echo was repeating what he didn't need to hear 'Keep going! Keep going! She's a mudblood and doesn't deserve to be in your presence. You don't need her help, no one does.'

"Stay out of my sight mudblood." He turned and stormed into his room bolting the door behind him. He threw himself down on his bed; his white clean sheets soon became red with his blood. He quickly did a spell to stop the bleeding yet he knew nothing on how to completely vanish the cut, like he really cared about that now anyway.

Before putting his wand away he did a quick spell to sound proof the room, allowing no sound to escape out. After placing his wand on the bedside table he let out a bloodcurdling scream. "Why the hell did I ever have to be born with that fucking excuse of a father I have? Why the hell did I have to be born at all?" All the anger left him leaving him rapped up in his own grief and guilt. "Why did I lash out at her? Why? God she is never going to forgive me. Why do I have to be the only one who knows the truth about her? Why do I have to be the one she relies on?"

He was furious with himself. How could he have let this happen? He was always so controlling of himself, why? Why the one time he let things slip his anger had to be directed at Hermione? Why? How was he ever going to make this up to her?

She couldn't pick herself up. She was too weak and the tears were falling too hard. Why didn't she just leave him alone? Why did she have to interfere into his life? She had put enough pressure on him.

"God, he is never going to want to see me again. Why couldn't my father had killed me off when he had the chance? After all this he's right, I am nothing but a mistake, I cause nothing but pain."

The carpet below her was dotted with drops where her tears continued to fall. She leaned against the couch resting her head down on her knees. "The one time I show who I am to another person it causes nothing put pain and hurt to them and me. When am I going to learn? I don't deserve him as a friend at all; all I do is screw up and cause mistakes. I wish I was never born."

The scene that had just taken place continued to repeat over and over again in her head. What she didn't know was that it was also replaying in Draco's mind.