Storms

Chapter 4

And I did not deal with you I know

Tho the love has always been

Hermione couldn't remember when she fell for Draco Malfoy. She always felt something, but she always chose to push it aside, tell herself to stop being stupid. Sometimes at night she would sit and thinkof what happened between the two of them, wondering if he ever knew of their fate. It wasn't as if they were star crossed lovers, it wasn't love at first sight. Hermione didn't believe in any of that. Being with Draco never crossed her mind in the beginning. He was too much of a self centred arrogant prat as far as she was concerned. But sometimes she wished she could turn back the clock and undo all the hurtful things she said about him. How she wished now that Ron and Harry could have told her to shut up when she ranted on about him, but they didn't and she didn't keep quiet. And she couldn't reverse her actions or her words.

She heard the clock ticking in the kitchen, time passing by slowly. She tried to fill in the time but her mind kept drifting back, nostalgia sweeping over her again.

'Hermione we need to talk' Harry interrupted her from her book. 'You've been acting strange the past couple of days. Ron and I are worried about you. Can we help you at all?'

'No Harry, I'm fine.' Hermione was worried. She didn't want them both to know about her secret.

It had happened after Draco had gotten back from the holidays. Draco never mentioned what had happened on that night, and Hermione never asked him. They both shared a mutual agreement. They would never ask each other about their family life or anything personal for that matter. They didn't need to talk to each other, sometimes they both preferred not to, often it would lead to an argument. Yet they just enjoyed each others company. One day Draco started a conversation.

'Hermione' he began

'Yes Malfoy'

'That's just it. You never call me by my first name. Why is that? I've stopped calling you Mudblood, sometimes it takes all of my strength not to, and yet you still keep calling me Malfoy.'

'Would you like me to call you ferret instead? Remember that Malfoy?' Draco became angry.

'Look Granger' he replied emphasising the last word. 'I don't know what it is, we hardly talk to each other, but when we do, we fight. It surprises me that we even act normal around each other, but we have to change. Everything we know could be destroyed at the end of the year, stop being so Gryffindor proud and swallow your pride now and then. For someone very smart, you're very immature.'

'Immature, me? I'm not the one with the attitude Malfoy. Stop acting like the bigger person here. You never have been so don't try and start dictating to me how to behave maturely. You're a hypocrite, that's what you are, and you know what? You're just like your father.' Hermione stormed out of the room. Draco called after her. 'Wait Hermione.'

'What is it Draco?' After realising what she had just said, she fled out of the room, hand to her mouth as if she had just swallowed poison.

Later that night Draco was called into Dumbledore's office. He returned into the common room late into the night. Hermione was still up, not being able to sleep. She watched Draco walk into his bedroom, not once catching his eye.

Hermione could kick herself now. She had always been such a bitch to Draco. But he had deserved it. It had taken her a long time to call him by his first name. She guessed now it was because she was scared. She was still young and fragile. If she was to of called himby his first name to his face, it would of opened her up. She did not want him to see her for what she was. But she would never know now. Her mind drifted back…

'Hermione, listen to me. Listen to me good. I have to go away, Voldemort is becoming restless. He has hatched onto a plan to invade the school in the next couple of months. Dumbledore has worked out a plan so that I have to leave you. I cannot drag you into this; it is too dangerous for you. Though I hate to admit it, Harry Potter must come with me as well. We will be back next month. Go to Dumbledore and he will tell you fully. I must leave now. Farewell Hermione.' Draco turned towards her and for the first time, he gently kissed her on her cheek. He ran out of the room, carrying nothing but his wand.

She found herself in Dumbledore's office. 'Ah, Miss Granger, I was expecting you here.'

'Professor, can you please tell me what is going on.'

'Mr Malfoy came to me with word that Voldemort has been plotting an attack on the school. Mr Malfoy discovered this at a Death Eater meeting on the New Year. He was instructed to carry out a muggle killing, but bravely refused not too. To punish him, Voldemort gave him word of the attack, and told him they would be after him. Once young Malfoy had arrived back to Hogwarts, he directly came to me. He also told me that he had warned you of the attack earlier on. Miss Granger, what you must do now is become a friend to those who you usually aren't. This may sound like hard work, but our school needs to stick together if such an event is bound to happen. We need inter house reaction and friendliness if we are to win this war. It is our only hope. Is there any questions Miss Granger?'

'Where have Draco and Harry gone Professor?'

'That I cannot tell you I'm afraid, for fear of being found. Do not worry Miss Granger. Both boys will be safe.'

'Thank you Professor.'

'Miss Granger, do not give up hope, everything will be okay. If we show love to each other, we shall win this war. You may go now.' Hermione walked out of Dumbledore's office feeling confused. Nothing seemed to be as it used to.

Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes. She had to stop brushing Draco off. What had happened had happened. She could not change that. How badly she wished she could have said things, done things to him, to reassure him everything would be okay. But she hadn't, and that was the consequence she had to deal with. She had loved him, he just never knew.

So I search to find an answer there

So I can truly win

Draco arrived back at Hogwarts the following month. Nothing between the two was said, even though they had not seen each other in such a long time. Not a word was said about Draco's kiss. Hermione didn't feel embarrassed about it; she just didn't think it was the right time to bring it up. Hermione picked up a Daily Prophet newspaper. The article on the front page was titled:

'Muggles killed in Horrific Attack'

A muggle family of four have been killed by what is suspected to be Death Eaters. The attack occurred in the middle of the night when the family was asleep. It is believed the family was tortured and then killed by the killing curse. Neighbours reported the commotion and noise to the muggle 'police'. Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge had this to say on the matter. 'We are looking into this terrible tragedy. No leads have come forward as such but we have a strong team working on this case. Let this be a message to anyone who tries to copy or commit this crime again. There will be terrible consequences and we will find you.'

When interviewed Minister Fudge was hesitant and agitated. The Daily Prophet asks for your opinion about the following question 'Is Fudge really serious about He Who Must Not Be Named? Who would make the ideal Minister for Magic? Write to us and have your opinion published.

Hermione read the article with disgust. Fudge still had not admitted to himself and the rest of the magical world that Voldemort had returned. Could it be anymore obvious? Even the Daily Prophet had caught on about it. Draco walked into the room.

'Malfoy, what happened when you went away?'

'Oh, nothing much, Potter and I bonded, played chess, caught up on old times' Draco replied, sarcasm dripping in his voice.

'No need to be sarcastic. I was only asking, trying to make conversation.'

'You know Granger; you are a very nosy person. Sometimes it is best that you don't go sticking your nose into other people business. You will find out sooner or later what we were doing.'

'You frustrate me sometimes Malfoy.'

'I frustrate you? You frustrate me. With your goody-goody attitude and your straight marks and your close friends, and your nice hair and pretty eyes, and your perfect body.'

'Excuse me Malfoy? What did you just say?'

'I said nothing Granger, the moment has gone.'

But Hermione moved closer to him. She was standing right near him; she could feel the warmth of his body, the chill in his eyes and the loneliness playing upon his lips. 'You were nice to me Draco' she whispered, touching his arm.

'No I never.' He replied, but it was too late. Hermione moved her hand to the side of his face. She leant in and gently kissed him. Her skin tingled at the sensation. She never thought she would do anything like that. Draco seemed shocked as well, but he returned the kiss, longing and lust crashing against her lips. They were embraced, revelling in one another. They were like this for sometime. They broke apart.

'I'm sorry Malfoy.'

'There is nothing to be sorry about Granger.'

Hermione touched her lips, remembering what it had felt like to kiss, to touch Draco Malfoy. It had been hard, but they had done it. Living at Hogwarts had been different after that togetherness. Life had seemed easier.

'No one must no about this Granger; we must keep it a secret from the school. There would be grave consequences if anybody found out about us. My father would become dangerous, to you and to me. Potter and Weasley would try and kill me. It just wouldn't work.'

'Malfoy, we can't keep it a secret. Dumbledore told me we needed house to house friendly interaction. It would be the best way.'

'I don't think he meant this kind of interaction Hermione. We have to keep it secret, and by the way, it'll make it more fun.'

'Grow up Malfoy.'

'Make me Hermione.'

Hermione's thoughts were distracted by the telephone ringing. Hermione picked up the phone. She was on there for a while. It was Harry. He had phoned to apologise for what he had done. To make amends, he invited Hermione over for dinner. Hermione couldn't refuse. Ginny was a wonderful cook, and she had something she needed to ask Harry.

Time had passed quickly and before she knew it, Hermione was driving over to Harry's house. When she arrived she was greeted warmly, with hugs and kisses from both Harry and Ginny. Ron was also there as well, accompanied by Lavender. The five of them sat down for dinner.

'Harry, Ron, I need to ask you two something. Did you know about Draco and me in the beginning?' The two men looked at each other. Ron spoke up.

'We always suspected something Hermione. We had a good idea it was Malfoy, but we didn't say anything. We love you, and at the time, you were happy. We both chose to ignore it.'

'Ron's right Hermione, it's what we thought. We didn't want to disturb you; we had done so much in the past. NEWTS were stressing us all out and with the brink of war looming over our heads, we thought it was best we left you. You were happy, even though it was Draco, you were happy. That's all we cared about.'

Hermione had tears in her eyes. 'Thank you so much guys, you don't know how much that means to me. You don't know how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends like you.' They all raised their glasses in a toast and carried on with their delicious meal. After dinner, the party retreated to the lounge room. Harry sat next to Hermione. He turned towards her.

'Harry, theres something else I have been meaning to ask you. You know how you and Draco went away for that month, where did you go? What did you do?'

Harry paused for a moment, as if deciding whether or not to tell Hermione. He began to speak. 'Dumbledore sent the two of us away to the ministry, deep into the ministry, underground somewhere. I cannot remember how far exactly. From there we were trained. Highly skilled Aurors taught us everything we needed to know. It was hard work for a 17 year old. We were told of the dangers, of the terrible things that the Death Eaters could do. We were shown pictures and read stories of terrible, terrible crimes committed against humanity. It took me many years to be free of them. They wanted to toughen us up. Prepare us for what lay ahead. It was scary Hermione, I was scared. Draco was scared.'

'What did you talk about though, Harry?'

'At first, we didn't speak to each other. We had too much of a past and we both held a lot of grudges against one another. But as each day went past, we began to act more civilly towards one another. We would greet each other in the morning. One night, we were sat together by the fire. We began to speak. We held a conversation in which I will never forget. He began to tell me about his father. How Lucius would curse him, over and over again. He would beat Draco, and he forced him into becoming a Death Eater. At that point in time Hermione, I felt lucky. I hated the Dursleys, but they never beat me or cursed me.' Harry stopped and took a sip of red wine. He continued. 'Then he began to tell me about you, Hermione. How no one had ever been nice to him before. No one had cared about him like you had. He was scared. Draco didn't want to get you hurt. That is why he distanced himself from you. He was afraid, for your life and for his. His father was a powerful man, he had many spies, if you two were found out, you both would have been killed. It was the hardest and most painful decision he ever had to make, and Hermione…'

'What Harry?'

'He did it because he loved you.'

Hermione started to sob. Harry put a comforting arm around her and let her cry; the tears flowing like a river.

Hermione decided to stay the night. She was in no fit state to drive home. Everything troubled her. She never knew that. She hated it all so much. Draco had caused her so much pain. She hated it. And she hated the fact that she didn't hate him. She held no grudge but she wanted to. She wanted to hold a million grudges, one for each of the times he had hurt her. But he never had, and she held no grudge. The meal in which Hermione had eaten lay in her stomach, the wine in which she had drunk made her drowsy. She was soon fast asleep.

Hermione awoke the next morning to a clear day, though it was winter, but Hermione knew the weather would change. She walked down the stairs and found Harry and Ginny at the table eating breakfast.

'Morning, Hermione.'

'Good morning you two, thank you for dinner last night. I'll just have a shower and I'll get off. I just need to phone work and let them know I wont be coming in today.'

'Got anything planned Hermione?' Ginny asked her.

'No, I thought I'd just go home, watch some trashy talk show, you know, chicken soup for the soul.' Harry and Ginny laughed at this.

'Well, if you need anything, just phone wont you?'

'Will do.' Hermione made her way to the shower. She had decided what she was going to do today. She was going to visit Draco. Clear all grudges and be free of the demons and ghosts haunting her. It would be hard but she had to see him. She needed answers, it was the only way she would heal.