Laughter and Loneliness
4th chapter is kind of angsty. I had finals and stuff so I really had no time to update but now I do. So here it is.
Maria-lupin : Hermione didn't run away cuz she wasn't sure she wanted it or not. u'll c.
ProwlingKitKat: don't ask so many questions. hope u like the story though.
Alley Mack: Herm's isn't as helpless as she looks. i didn't intend to take the story that way so don't worry!
Chapter Four "The Snake's Appearance"
Harry and Ron were on the Quidditch pitch feeling uneasy.
"Where the heck is Hermione? She better not be with Malfoy!" said Ron anxiously.
Harry's eyes scanned the horizon. Something didn't feel right.
"I have no idea. We've waited more than half an hour. Well of course we were playing Quidditch as well, but still, I'm worried."
"You don't think she's angry at us?" asked Ron sulkily.
"No. But we can't wait any longer! We have to take matters into our own hands. We're going to find her," said Harry with a determined face.
He clenched his broom. Suddenly he smiled at Ron.
"I have an idea."
Draco Malfoy glanced at his book. He just couldn't read with the queasy feeling he had in his stomach. He turned to one side and opened the book again. Then he turned to his other side. Tossing he tried to read on. But even as he did he wasn't catching a single word. Finally he got up and flung the book aside. He was thinking of Hermione. He felt worried about her. Draco thought of what his father would say if he found out his feelings. He remembered over the summer break his father's harassment towards him.
FLASHBACK
Draco was sitting in the large library of the Malfoy mansion gazing into the fireplace. He was thinking as he heard the crackling of the fire. It always calmed him. Suddenly he heard footsteps echo behind him.
Startled, he looked up. There was his father.
"Draco, when will you get the Dark Mark? Master wants you to get it before your next birthday."
Draco felt beads of sweat on his forehead as a pang of fear swept through him. He had never been confronted with a question like that.
"Father, I don't want a Dark Mark," he said nervously.
"What? You stupid boy! How DARE you say that! You will displease the Dark Lord," said Lucifer, cruelly yanking him by the arm.
Draco wanted to howl out with pain but he didn't. He would show no sign of weakness because that was all his father wanted to see. Draco didn't even move, but looked hatefully at him.
His father beat him mercilessly, at last throwing him to the floor. A small smile twitched on his father's lips.
"I trust you will reconsider your decision. I will be back," Lucifer said, walking out.
Draco felt hot tears in his eyes. He touched his forehead and found blood. He got up, dragging his legs up the large purple velvet staircase and into his room, locking his door. Once there, he flopped on his large bed. He took out a wooden pocket knife and cut into his flesh. He watched contentedly as he saw deep red blood drops form on his arm.
END OF FLASHBACK
He looked down at the scar on his arm. Since then he had many times cut into it. Sighing he got up.
"Hogsmeade," he whispered to himself.
He ran down the hall and into the tunnel. His cold, ice blue eyes looked deep into the hidden tunnel he thought only he knew of. He had found out this secret tunnel from a few scripts his father had left lying around in his study. He jumped into the dark tunnel.
"Lumos," he cried as his wand lit up.
He walked down the stony path, breaking into a run. Suddenly he heard a cry.
"Aaaah! Get off me! Argh – oww! HELP!"
He slowed down. Someone knows of this tunnel! And to make matters worse, someone is being murdered in it! Yiykes! Of all the stupid things I do this must be the stupidest. Oh well he thought. He creeped on, scanning the path ahead.
Meanwhile...
"Get off of me" yelled Hermione.
Ernie MacMillan stared at her. "You'll thank me for what I'm doing someday," he said, staring at her beautiful long, wavy hair, her silvery skin, and her perfect form. He felt himself harden.
Hermione wasn't sure herself if she wanted it. Perhaps then the girls would stop ridiculing her for being a virgin. Maybe then her life would get better, and more guys would like her. But no – she didn't want him. He was about to enter her when she screamed and kicked him right in the eye.
"OWW! You stupid little- " he yelled.
Hermione suddenly flipped out her wand.
"You're at my mercy," she said shakily.
He withdrew. Suddenly he grabbed his clothes and ran. She felt relieved as she put her clothes on. Her heart was pounding hard. But was it from fear? Had she really done wrong by making him leave?
She didn't feel like leaving the tunnel. She felt too drained and weary. She glanced at her arm. Oh no she said devastated, seeing her wound had begun to bleed. It was a large scratch at her veins in her wrist.
Maybe she wouldn't live through this; she could bleed to death. But then again her problems would be over. Her drunk father would stop yelling at her all the time. She lay against the cold wall. It's sad really that I have to die like this. She heaved a large sigh.
Footsteps echoed down the tunnel hall, sending shivers down her back. She limped to a dark corner and waited. Someone was approaching.
Maybe it's Ernie again? Maybe he knows I'm bleeding and he's come to save me? she thought hopefully.
Time went by. Then the footsteps became louder. A dark figure emerged from the shadows. It saw her. She knew it did. It slithered toward her. She suddenly breathed in sharply. She began to tremble.
It was a snake - it was Nagini.
Draco was coming down the hall. Finally he had reached it.
It isn't far to Hogsmeade now he thought.
His stomach lurched as he saw the figure of a snake down in another corner watching someone. That someone was a girl. He picked up his pace. He reached the figure.
"Hermione- errr, Granger! What the fuck are you doing here?" he said.
"It's Nagini" she said with a petrified glance at the other side of the room.
"Oh my god," said Draco slowly.
It was going to attach them. He got out his wand.
"No use" said Hermione, tears coming to her eyes. She suddenly felt closer to Draco than anyone. "I've tried all the curses I could think of!"
"And?" he asked.
"Immune to all of them. Its V-vol – it's HIS doing."
Suddenly they heard loud clomps of shoes racing down the tunnel. It was Harry and Ron!
"Hermione? Are you okay?" asked Ron.
Hermione didn't dare to move as she saw Nagini twitching and slithering towards them at the loud shouts. At least Draco had been stealthy. Now it was all over. They were all going to die!
"It's Nagini behind you," screamed Hermione.
Harry Potter turned and began to hiss. Of course! He knew Parseltongue! But would it be enough to send away the Dark Lord's snake?
"Run!" yelled Harry, turning around for the fraction of a second. Then he began to hiss attackingly.
Hermione and Ron began to run with all their strength down the tunnel.
The snake then was about to pounce on Harry! Draco, who had stayed behind, didn't know what to do. He couldn't leave Harry to die! But what if his father found out?
He then made a decision.
Madly, he began to kick the snake. Its evil red eyes watched him angrily. Draco took out his wand. He would use an Unforgivable curse. Of all spells, she couldn't be immune to this one!
"Ava Kedavra!"
Two bright jets slashed the serpent. Harry had said it at the same time! Their powers together made the snake jerk into a convulsion and pass out.
"Come on" shouted Harry. They disappeared into the shadows, running at a mad pace.
At Hogwarts, Hermione found Draco after he had washed up.
"It was really brave of you to stay behind for us," she said looking straight into his eyes and then down to the floor.
"Well, I didn't do if for you! I did it to make sure my father's master would be pleased," he said coldly. It was his lie.
"oh yeah, well," she said softly. "I'll leave then."
He grabbed her wrist. Right at the wrong place.
"Oww," she breathed as the wound began to bleed freshly.
"Hermione, what's that?" he asked, his voice full of concern.
"Nothing," she said, covering it with her hand and fighting to keep the tears out of her eyes.
"You cut?" he asked. His frigid, silver eyes stared down at her.
"Oh Draco" she said, not being able to keep the tears back any longer. Large drops flowed down her cheek. "You have no idea what it's been like since my mom died! My life has been horrible!"
He suddenly hugged her. Hermione was so surprised she stopped crying.
"It's gonna be okay," he said calmly.
Hermione sniffed. Suddenly she felt his cold lips press against hers. It felt so soft and tender. Draco Malfoy is kissing me she realized with a jolt.
That's it! This chapter was really angsty 4 a comedy, but hope u still liked it. Stay tuned for next chapter!
Thanx TomygurlAngel123 for giving me a reasong 2 right on! u're like the only one who always has something good 2 say about my story!