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A/N: Here's chapter 16. Enjoy! And remember to review. I love to hear your opinions!!
The Bitter End
Chapter 16: Betrayal and Duels
When Draco arrived back at the dormitory, Hermione was sitting on the sofa studying her notes. She then looked up and gave a small smile.
"Hey, you look okay," Hermione sounded relieved. "What did he say?"
Draco sighed and then sat next to her.
"The dementor's are on the Dark Lord's side," Draco said looking at her.
"That's going to be a problem" Hermione said shocked.
"For you it is," Draco said quietly.
"I have to tell Harry," Hermione said getting up.
"Don't bother," Draco said grabbing her arm.
"Why?" Hermione asked looking at Draco as though he went crazy.
"Hermione, I don't know what it is, but I feel...no... I know that I'm getting stronger," Draco said looking at his Death Eater mask.
"What do you mean you feel like you're getting stronger?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I can't explain it. They just are," Draco said sternly.
"But how does that power feel?" Hermione asked still looking at him.
"It feels Dark," Draco said slowly. "Why does it matter how it feels?"
"It means a lot Draco," Hermione said concerned.
"Don't even dare start research on this," Draco said knowing what Hermione was going to do next.
"I wasn't going to," Hermione said offended.
"You and I both know that's what you were planning," Draco said with a smirk.
"Oh shut up," Hermione said annoyed. "I'm going to sleep."
"Okay, G'Night," Draco said looking at her as she walked to her room.
"'Night," she said and closed her room door.
As Draco and Hermione lounged in their common room the portrait made a knocking sound.
"That might be Alexa," Draco said looking at the portrait and then went to his room.
Hermione opened the portrait quickly.
"What?" she snapped.
"Sorry, was I interrupting something," Harry said slowly.
"Oh Harry, I'm sorry. Come in," Hermione said quickly. "I thought you were someone else."
"I know who you're talking about too," said Harry. "Where's Malfoy?"
"That's a good question, I'll go get him," Hermione said looking around for him.
"Draco?" she said opening his door slowly.
"Was that her?" Draco asked.
"No, it's Harry," said Hermione.
"That's not any better," Draco scoffed.
"Oh cheer up. He wants to speak to you," she smirked looking at his reaction.
"Me?" Draco asked looking dumbfounded. "Why me?"
"He didn't tell me anything," Hermione shrugged. "But if he's asking for you I bet it's important."
"Fine," Draco said and walked out of the room.
"Malfoy," Harry said coolly.
"Potter," Draco snapped back.
"I'm not here to fight," Harry said slowly. "I wanted to tell you something."
"Yeah, well if you got something to say…say it," Draco said coolly.
"I saw what happened yesterday," Harry said slowly.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked.
"With Voldemort, I heard everything," Harry answered.
"How?" Draco asked.
"To put a long story short, I dream it," said Harry.
"You dream it?" Draco said not believing a word.
"He does Draco," Hermione said cutting in.
"Fine, okay he does," Draco said still not believing it.
Harry shook his head and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"This is very important," Harry said seriously. "It deals with the two of you."
"What do you mean the two of us?" Draco growled.
"Malfoy, they know," Harry said looking at him.
"They know what?" Draco asked
"About you and Hermione," Harry replied bluntly.
"About me and Granger?" Draco repeated.
"Just call her Hermione. You did the last time I came here," said Harry.
"Okay," Draco said slowly. "What about me and Hermione?"
"Well," Harry started and looked at both of them. "Alexa told Voldemort about Hermione having feelings for you."
"WHAT?!?" Hermione yelled.
Draco felt his head go blank. "Did Potter just say what I think I heard him say?"
"Harry, you're sure that's what you saw or heard?" Hermione asked.
"Positive," Harry said sternly.
"What necessarily did she say?" Draco asked looking at him.
"That Hermione's in love with you," said Harry.
"And?" Draco asked hoping there was more.
"And...Voldemort has her watching you two to the core," Harry finished. "So just watch your backs."
"I always have," Draco snapped.
"So have I," Harry retorted.
"Harry?" said Hermione.
"Hmm," Harry said looking around the common room.
"Are you sure that's what you've heard?" said Hermione.
"Well, I also heard that the dementor's are on Voldemorts side," said Harry.
"Oh," Hermione said quietly.
"Look," Harry said and stood up. "I don't trust this girl and obviously you shouldn't either. I mean Malfoy, you may be her friend-"
"Which I'm not," Draco snapped.
"Let me finish," Harry replied. "Malfoy, you may be a friend. I don't care if you are or not but, she just put your life in danger as well. From what it looked like she's very and I mean very loyal to Voldemort. If you get caught, she'll tell. She's not stupid."
"Neither am I," Draco said feeling his anger rise.
"I never said you were," Harry snapped. "Don't get mad at me. Be mad at her, she's the one who told him this."
"Harry's right Draco," Hermione sighed. "She's going to be in the way till the end."
"No she isn't," Draco said.
"Yes she will," said Hermione. "Draco we only have three months of school left. She's going to be on our case the whole time."
"Yeah, well we'll have to see about that," said Draco.
"Thank you for warning us Harry," Hermione said hugging him.
"Don't mention it," Harry said quietly. "I have to go see Dumbledore now."
"What for?" Hermione asked and Draco looked at him.
"I have to train for battle. It's not going to be easy fighting a hundred Dementor's," Harry answered.
"Oh," Hermione frowned.
"Yeah," Harry said looking at her.
Draco stayed silent. So many things were going through his mind. Alexa was the main thing. Why did she do this? Why did she put his life in peril? Why was all he could think. It looked like he had to get as close to her as he can and find out.
Hermione and Draco got ready for classes in silence. Ever since Harry told them about what Alexa said they didn't speak to each other. They knew the consequences if they ever got together.
Hermione was dying inside. She wanted Draco so bad. She hoped he felt the same. Hoped he wanted her just as bad. She opened herself, she told him how she felt. But he never told her. He told her he liked her. But did he like her? Did he mean that? Hermione would fight the feeling of rejection immediately. She loved him and she was going to make sure he loved her back.
"Hi," Hermione muttered walking by Draco.
"Hey," Draco muttered back.
They then both left the common room and walked towards the Great Hall. Hermione walked up to Harry…Draco walked with Alexa.
"Hi and why do you so upset today?" Harry asked.
"Her," Hermione said and nodded her head towards Draco's direction. "She's ruined everything. He dosen't even talk to me anymore."
"Then talk to him," said Harry. "Make him listen to you."
"How?" Hermione said now sitting down in her favorite seat at the Gryffindor table.
"Hermione," Harry started. "I can't answer that for you. Just be the way you are, don't hide nor wait. That's all I can really tell you."
"Thanks Harry," Hermione said with a small smile. "Why are you helping me try to talk to Draco."
"Because I don't want to see you so heartbroken. I'm helping you not Malfoy," Harry replied.
"I need all the help I can get," Hermione said looking at Draco and Alexa.
"What's the first class?" Harry asked.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hermione replied as they walked towards their first class.
As they continued to walk many Slytherins followed.
"The Slytherins are sharing the same class," said Harry.
"This should be interesting," said Hermione. Then someone smacked into her shoulder with full force.
"OW!" Hermione winced.
"Watch where you're going, stupid Mudblood," Alexa spat out.
"You were the one who bumped into me," Hermione yelled at her but she kept walking. She then saw Draco look at her and make an apologetic smile. She nodded at him and kept rubbing her shoulder. "She has such a bad attitude."
"Hello Hermione," said Remus Lupin. He was made the DADA teacher again. Snape was furious with this. "Everything's okay?"
"Hi, Professor Lupin," Hermione said still rubbing her shoulder. "Everything's just fine."
"Okay," said Lupin. "Good Morning class."
"Good Morning Professor," everyone said in unison.
"Well today we will see how good your defense skills are," Lupin said and motion for the class to follow him.
"I wonder what we're going to do."
"Where is he taking us?"
"What are we doing?"
Hermione heard her fellow students whisper as they followed their Professor. They continued to follow him and then they stopped outside in an empty field.
"What are we doing?" Draco asked.
"Something that I call a Wizard's Duel," Lupin replied.
All the students then had excitement in their voices. They couldn't wait to start. Everyone did well their duels. Draco was paired up with Harry. When the duel was over they had cuts and bruises. But Hermione's world stopped when she heard who she was paired with…Alexa.
Hermione heard her blood pump in her ears. She could finally unleash the anger she had inside of her. As she and Alexa walked into their duel Alexa growled, "This will be over before you know it."
"Dream on," Hermione snapped wanting to say a hex already.
They both pointed their wands at each other. "On the count of three you will begin," Hermione heard Lupin say.
"One," Hermione had her wand at the ready.
"Two," Hermione gripped her wand tighter.
"Three!" Hermione hexed right away.
A/N: That's the end of this chapter. I hoped everyone liked it. Sorry I took so long to update. My computer has been giving me a whole lot of problems. Everytime I type and save something it tends to delete itself. I've already started typing the next chapter. Hopefully nothing will happen. Now to thank my reviewers...spychick989, your question will be answered in a later chapter, glad you liked it. nychick8990, lol, thanks. Herm-n-Draco, thanks. prin69, it's ok, I'm glad you loved them. oreo69not96, thanks. Kara Black, I'm the same way, lol. Thanks again everyone!!! Love ya!!!