PART TWENTY EIGHT

Against All Odds

Ginny stuffed her wand back into her robe pocket the moment Hermione stood up beside her. She stood up as well and slung her bag over her shoulder. "That was some Charms class; I never knew seventh year was this tough!"

Hermione fixed the books she had piled onto her arms and frowned at Ginny beside her. "Can I ask why you're in my class again? Last time I checked, you were still a sixth year student here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ms. Ginny Weasley."

Ginny chuckled as students around them both started gathering their things and leaving the classroom of the last class of the day. "I told you; I had a Dummy take over my real class. I just came to your Charms class today because of this little game Dean and I are playing. Last time, Dean had a Dummy cover one of his classes too so that he could come to my sixth year class. It's cool that Professor Flitwick didn't even notice me in his class today."

Hermione rolled her eyes in an amused way. "You're lucky Professor Flitwick decided to move the Charms final to tomorrow, or else you'll be barging in this class with more than you bargained for." She looked over her shoulder at Dean, who was talking animatedly with Harry, Ron, and Seamus. She turned to look back at Ginny. "You and Dean are so cute."

Ginny giggled, obviously delighted. She bit her lip and leaned closer to Hermione. "So, I heard Malfoy's finally woken up from his coma this morning. Have you visited him yet?"

Hermione looked cautiously around her and whispered, "Actually, I sneaked off to visit him last night. That was when he woke up, not this morning. Talk about perfect timing, huh."

"Wow, it was meant for him to wake up the moment you arrived," Ginny winked. "So? Did he tell you why he has been acting like a total jerk up until the Quidditch Final? Does he still love you? Did you guys make up?"

"Er…" Hermione paused, debating on whether or not to tell Ginny about everything Malfoy had confessed to her last night. But she decided she couldn't spill it yet, not right now. "Let's just say that the reason he's been acting that way is because he loves me very much…" she replied, smiling to herself.

"Oooh…" Ginny giggled again. "See? I told you everything will work out fine in the end…because he did make that 'I love you' promise," she lowered her tone again. "Now, enough about what you guys talked about. With a smile like that on your face, now I'm more interested to know what you guys did."

Hermione blushed so hard that Ginny laughed out loud. When she finally caught her breath, she poked Hermione and said, "Well?"

Hermione cleared her throat and whispered, blushing, "We both didn't get to sleep at all last night…Don't ask me how many times it happened because he was so amazing that I actually lost count."

"Oh my god," Ginny almost squealed. "I guess he's still got tons of energy left even after having just woken up from a two-month coma."

They both giggled and it was at that moment that Harry, Ron and Dean approached them both. "How was Charms class?" Dean asked Ginny playfully.

"With someone like you in class? It was a total eye candy," replied Ginny, and she waved goodbye to Hermione as Dean took her hand and they both left the classroom.

Ron shook his head. "I never thought I'd see the day when Ginny would flirt so much."

Hermione and Harry chuckled and the three of them started leaving the room as well.

"So," Harry turned to Hermione as they approached the doorway. "Seamus told us that Malfoy's up and about already. Have you spoken to him yet? What happened when you visited him last night?"

"Well…" Hermione looked down and decided to skip the truth for now. "I slept by his bedside last night…he was still in a pretty deep coma. I'm glad he's awake now, though I haven't really spoken to him yet since he woke up this morning—"

She broke off and both Harry and Ron stopped in their tracks when the three of them exited the classroom. Malfoy was leaning against the wall across from the Charms class' door, waiting for Hermione. He looked up from the floor and spotted her by the door, so he pushed himself from the wall and started walking towards her. The students around that hall piped down and started whispering to each other again.

Hermione was frozen in her position as she watched Malfoy coming closer. Then, her eyes widened as Malfoy stopped in front of her, leaned close, and gave her a small peck on the lips. Everyone around them started buzzing, and Hermione could feel the tension coming off from her two friends on either side of her, especially from Ron. She knew they both supported the relationship, but she didn't think the two of them could handle any public display of affection just yet.

"Hey," Malfoy greeted her, acting as if Harry and Ron weren't there staring at him. "Can I talk to you for a sec…?"

"Er…" Hermione glanced at Harry and Ron and swallowed heavily, then she looked back at Malfoy and forced a smile. "Sure."

"Wicked." Malfoy grinned and gently took the pile of books from Hermione's arms to help her. Hermione bit back a flattered smile, and as she fell in step beside Malfoy, she turned back to mouth "See you later" to Harry and Ron. The moment she rounded the next corner with Malfoy by her side, she could almost hear the spectators behind her gossiping even more.

Hermione sighed and shook her head, choosing to ignore them. She looked lovingly at Malfoy, carrying her books for her beside her, and smiled again. "How are you feeling? I'm surprised Madam Pomfrey let you out of the hospital wing already." She eyed him up and down. "In fact, I'm surprised how incredibly fine you look."

A streak of red stained Malfoy's face as he looked down and blushed, and Hermione realized what she'd just said. "I—I mean…" she stammered, "What I meant was…er…you don't look like you just woke up from a two-month coma," she finished, blushing as well.

Malfoy bit his lip. "Madam Pomfrey was kind of surprised too, mind. She said she expected me to stay in the hospital wing for the remainder of the exam week." He shifted the pile of books on his arms. "But I'm okay now, though. The scars are still there but they don't hurt much, and I can pretty much move every part of my body normally. The only thing that still hurts a bit is my head, but maybe that's just because I stayed in bed too long. Besides," he looked sideways at Hermione. "I didn't want to be cooped up in that hellhole for long; I wanted to be out here with you."

Hermione smiled sweetly at him, and they continued walking in silence for a while. Hermione took that moment to take in what was happening right now; she and Malfoy were walking side by side as a couple, right in front of everybody. It was a picture she'd never thought would happen, and going public with their relationship was something she'd never thought would come true.

But here they were, going against all odds, and taking on the challenge of their controversial relationship, together. Just the way she'd always wanted it to be.

Hermione cleared her throat. "Draco…?"

"Yeah?"

"I know you've just been to the hospital wing, and you haven't been back here at the grounds for long, but…" Hermione paused. "Have you noticed how--?"

Malfoy grinned. "Of course I've noticed. I guess it's a pretty predictable reaction from everyone. In fact, I was putting a lot of thought into it last night while you were sleeping."

Hermione looked at him. "I fell asleep?"

"For about five minutes," Malfoy smiled teasingly. "You were pretty exhausted at around the tenth time."

Hermione giggled. "I can't believe you kept track!"

Malfoy winked at her and Hermione punched his right arm playfully, but for a split second she saw him wince so slightly that she almost didn't see it.

Almost.

Hermione's smile faded as she remembered that no matter how much they tried to go on with their lives, and no matter how much they tried to pretend that nothing was wrong, there was nothing that could change the fact that the Dark Mark was embedded clear and vivid on Malfoy's right arm underneath his robe sleeves. He was a full-fledged Death Eater.

Malfoy noticed her change in expression, so Hermione quickly changed the subject. "So, what did you want to 'talk to me for a sec' about?"

"Nothing really," he replied. "I just wanted you to be the first person I spent my time with the moment I stepped out of the hospital wing."

Hermione blushed again and looked down. Malfoy really was the sweetest.

"Listen," Malfoy said, rounding another corner with her. "I know you're having a hard time dealing with all these stupid students who have nothing better to do but snoop into our personal life. But let me just tell you that I don't give a damn about my father anymore; I'll always be here beside you to send his and everyone else's ass to hell," he grinned, then he lowered his voice to a more serious tone. "Besides…the moment we woke up from our first night together, I told you that no matter what problems may come, we'll face them together. And I intend to keep that promise no matter what."

Hermione was on the verge of tears when Malfoy finished talking. What he'd just said were the words she'd been wanting to hear ever since the accident during the Quidditch Final. And even though she'd waited this long, she knew it was all definitely worth the wait.

She was just about to say "thank you" when Malfoy stopped walking outside an office door, and Hermione realized they had been walking and walking and were now at the dungeons.

Malfoy set down Hermione's pile of books on the floor for a while and said, "Madam Pomfrey said Snape wanted to see me when I got out…" He reached out and tucked a few strands of Hermione's hair behind her ear. "Do you mind waiting for a while…? I'm just going to go see what Snape wants…I won't take too long, I promise."

Hermione smiled at him. "Don't worry about me; just go on and talk to him. I'll be fine waiting for you out here."

Malfoy looked uncertain. "Are you sure…?"

Hermione stepped closer to him and gave him a long, slow kiss, and when she stepped back she got the satisfaction of seeing Malfoy's eyes still closed in pleasure.

She smiled as Malfoy slowly opened his eyes. "There's plenty more where that came from," she said, tracing her lips with her own finger. "So go in there and get it over with so that I can have you to myself." She grinned.

Malfoy smiled and entered Snape's office at once.

She leaned against the dungeon wall the moment she was alone, pondering on everything that was about to change now that they were back together and out on the open…and most especially, now that Malfoy was a certified Death Eater. Pretty soon he would have to be at the Dark Lord's every command whether he liked it or not, or else suffer the excruciating consequences.

Hermione sighed loudly but regretted it the moment she did. Three figures were slowly making their way down the stone steps of the dungeons towards her, and she wished she'd held back the loud noise she'd just made.

Hermione bit her lip as the figures came nearer, but she sighed again when she saw whom they were.

Pansy was walking down the steps with Crabbe and Goyle on either side of her, and she rolled her eyes the instant she saw Hermione waiting outside Snape's office.

"I wonder," Pansy said out loud, pondering something in a mocking way, "what a grimy Mudblood like you is doing outside Snape's office?" She stopped right in front of Hermione, and the two boys did the same. "Come to sleep with the professor and ruin his life too, haven't you, Granger?" she sneered. "I bet you're deciding right now where the best place to do it in his office is."

Hermione stared at Pansy in the eye loathingly. "You're a slut, right Pansy? You should know."

Pansy's eyes flared and she immediately raised her hand to slap Hermione, but Crabbe grabbed her wrist and put it down. He took a step towards Hermione, making her press herself more against the wall, and glared menacingly. "Listen here, Mudblood; you better learn to shut your dirty mouth up. Just because Draco's by your side now that he's awake, doesn't mean we can let you off the hook just like that."

"You bloody better know that you ruined Draco's life, Granger," Goyle, who had also taken an intimidating step towards her, spitefully said. "Everything was fine and he was living his life the way he should until you came along. You changed everything and you took him away from us, his real friends. And we won't just stand idly by and support the fact that he fell in love with a disgusting Mudblood like you."

Hermione's eyes darted between the two of them, looming over her with death glares in their looks. She knew she was helpless right now, but she glared strongly at them both and spat out, "Some friends you are, then."

The minute she said this, both boys frowned and she briefly saw Goyle reach abruptly into his pocket to raise his wand at her before she shut her eyes tight and gritted her teeth, prepping herself up for the blow she knew was coming. But instead of hearing Goyle's enchantment and her own cry of pain, she heard something else—there was a sudden smack, a thud, and Goyle was now groaning in pain, with Pansy shrieking in the background.

Hermione flicked her eyes open and the first thing she saw was Goyle sprawled on the dungeon floor, clutching his stomach, his face contorted in pain. She looked up to see that Malfoy was standing over him with his fist raised, an extremely angry look on his face.

For a millisecond Crabbe stared in shock at Goyle on the ground, before he frowned at Malfoy and went at him. But Malfoy pulled out his own wand from his pocket and pointed it directly at Crabbe's throat, causing him to freeze in his position and gulp. Pansy was practically in tears as she watched Malfoy's face, and Hermione looked at him intently and saw why.

It was a look Hermione had never seen on his face before, a look that could've made everyone seeing it to jump a hundred yards away from him, a look that told anyone who would see it to lay off—it was a look of pure death, something that explained to Hermione why his rumored Dark spells were so popular and why everyone in Slytherin feared and respected him. It was the first time Hermione saw why he was meant to be a real Dark follower…a true Death Eater. It was the most evil look she had ever seen.

Malfoy gripped his wand tighter as he pointed it even nearer to Crabbe's throat, and Hermione noticed that his hand wasn't trembling one bit. "If any of you ever even think of touching her again—"

"Draco, stop it," Hermione pleadingly said, placing a hand on his chest and another on his hand that was holding the wand. She watched as the deathly expression on his face faded away when he looked at her, and then he slowly lowered his hand and shoved his wand back into his pocket.

Pansy was sobbing silently in the background as Crabbe knelt on the floor to help Goyle up, and the moment they were both standing, Crabbe looked at Malfoy with a disappointed look that crushed Hermione's heart. "What's happened to you, Draco…?" was all he said, and as he supported Goyle, the two of them walked away.

Malfoy turned to look at Pansy, who looked at Hermione and then at him with tears in her eyes as if to ask, "Why are you doing this?" She stayed that way for a few seconds before she spun around and ran, her now more evident sobs echoing through the dungeon walls.

The moment they were alone, Malfoy sighed heavily and shook his head, then he cupped his hand on Hermione's cheek and whispered, "You okay?"

Hermione feebly nodded as she couldn't find the strength to answer him, and Malfoy wrapped his arms around her in an embrace. Hermione closed her eyes as she felt him kiss the top of her head, and then she looked up at him and asked, "Goyle was right, wasn't he?"

Malfoy blinked, clueless, at her. "What?"

"What Goyle said to me a while back…" replied Hermione sadly. "That everything was fine until I came along…I changed everything, Draco…I took your friends away from you…I ruined your life…"

Hermione looked down and Malfoy studied the sad look on her face for a moment, before he gently lifted her chin up to face him. "My life has been damned from the start and I've lived as a pawn day by day…The people around me aren't really true friends, and I've never felt love the way I'm feeling it for you. I've been dead and doomed and I've never been truly alive until I fell for you…" Malfoy smiled sweetly at her. "You saved my life, Hermione…you're my angel…"

Hermione snuggled closer to him and they stayed that way, cuddled in an embrace outside Snape's office, for a long, long time.

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Sorry for the little delay! Hope I didn't keep you guys waiting too long:D You are all so amazing, you know? I almost fell out of my seat when I saw that I was on 71 author alert lists!!! OMG…it's too overwhelming…sniff sniff…hopefully this new chappie is satisfactory for you guys:D Malfoy's kinda cheesy, isn't he? Wish he'd go that cheesy on ME hehehe! Anyways, I think everybody's ready for a little hot intimacy again…so stick around guys!!! Please keep r&r-ing!!! I simply looove your support!!! :D