A.N- I just want to say how much I enjoy your wonderful reviews, they make me feel absolutely wonderful. I am also really sorry that it took me so long to update.
Chapter 6: Complications and Realizations
The next few weeks passed by with little to no conflict between Draco and Hermione. Only minor insults were thrown between them. Draco was increasingly more busy, away from the Manor usually everyday. Hermione would often wonder where he would go off to. While he was away, she was forced to be locked in her room for hours at a time. Her only solace being her books, which Tilly brought to her diligently. She had been reading books for weeks now, and wondered why Draco had not found out yet. Little did she know that he more important matters on his mind than books...
Hermione was lying on her bed reading when she heard footsteps outside her door. She quickly gathered her books and hid them away. She heard the lock open and Draco barged through the door.
"We have to chat," he said impatiently. He acted very nervous, his usual colder than ice demeanor gone. He paced her room and would not sit down, he started to make her feel uncomfortable.
"What's going on?" she asked, somewhat concerned by his odd behavior.
Draco abruptly stopped pacing and walked over to her. He grabbed her roughly by her arms until she looked up at him. She tried to wiggle out of his grip, but he wouldn't loosen it. Draco noticed that she was becoming frightened, the look in her eyes told him so. He loosened the iron grip he had on her.
"For the next few hours I must put you in the dungeons," he said, with a hint of regret in his voice. It really was the very last place Draco ever wanted to put her, but he did not have another choice.
Hermione tensed up and started to shake her head at him.
"No, please no, Draco," she pleaded. "I have done nothing wrong, have I? Why are you doing this?"
Draco became frustrated, why couldn't she just cooperate for once. Could she not tell that he had enough problems to deal with without her giving him hassle as well?
"You ARE going to the dungeons, but just for a little while," he said firmly. "I unfortunately am expecting a few old friends of the family here for dinner, and I know they would not take kindly to a mudblood being around."
"Well can't I just stay in my room, I won't be heard, I swear, you can even put a silencing charm on me," she begged, trying to get out of being put in the dungeons.
'No, that will not work, if they did happen to find out you were here they wouldn't care if you were in the dungeons, they would care if they found you were staying in here," he explained.
"Oh, some of Daddy's old mates you need to impress!" she yelled. "Got to show off how you captured a mudblood?"
"Stop it Hermione, you have no idea what you are taking about!" he said with controlled anger.
"I know exactly what I am talking about, do you think I am stupid?" she asked. "I know what you've been up to!"
"Please, go right ahead, tell me what I have been up to?" he asked. "Hmm?"
"You've been chummy with Lucius's old friends, no doubt trying to rally with old death eaters!" she yelled furiously.
"You are so smart my clever little mudblood," he said. "To bad you are wrong half the time."
"What do you mean?" she asked, becoming alarmed.
"You know I am not a death eater, how many times must I tell you, don't be thick Granger, I have no mark," he explained.
"But that does not mean you can't be one!" she yelled defensively.
"I am as much of a death eater as you are a pureblood," he said, walking towards her, raising his wand. "Silencio!"
Hermione tried to yell her next string of insults, only to find that her voice was gone.
Draco then picked her up and threw her over his shoulder and began to carry her out of her room. She began punching and kicking him wildly, only to find she was hurting herself more than him.
"Don't tire yourself Granger," he said.
Hermione realized she was defeated and stopped her struggle. She let her body go limp against him, and rested her head of his back. She started to cry softly, her tears spilling on Draco's shirt.
Draco tensed at the feeling of her tears on his back. He could feel the wetness on his back where they flowed. He continued to walk with her towards the dungeons. He opened the door to the best cell he could find. He sat her down gently and looked into her eyes, they were sad and pleading. He knew in her mind she was saying, "Please, don't do this to me."
"I will come for you as soon as I am through," he told her. "I will remove the spell when I get back as well." He turned to walk out when he felt a slight tug on his sleeve. He turned around to see Hermione, tears flooding her eyes. She did not trust him, this he knew for sure. He knew she thought he would leave her for death. He felt his chest tighten to the point where he almost could not breathe. He saw her mouth visibly utter the word 'please.' He could not stand it any longer and quickly walked out of the cell, slamming the door behind him.
Hermione crumbled to the floor as she saw him leave her. She knew that she would never see the light of day again and fell to the floor in a fit of sobs.
Draco's mind tortured him as he briskly walked back to the lounge, visions of Hermione eluded his thoughts. Forget it Draco, she will be fine and you will have her out again in no time, he told himself. Draco put on his cold persona and readied himself for the people he would soon deal with. He walked through the hallway that led him to the dining room and threw both doors open, taking in the vile scum before him. Weak, mindless fools, just like my father, he thought bitterly.
"Oh Draco, how wonderful to see you!" gushed Pansy Parkinson, throwing her arms around him in a hug. It took Draco a great deal of self-control not to vomit.
"Yes, hello Draco," Antonin Dolohov's eerie voice said.
Draco looked at the man sitting in HIS chair at the end of HIS table.
"When they let you out of Azkaban?" Draco asked nonchalantly.
"Well, I gave the Minister some very important information that he needed, apparently more important than my being in Azkaban," he said smugly.
Draco looked about the table, familiar faces meeting him everywhere he turned. Familiar faces he did not want to see ever again. To his left sat Crabbe and Goyle, obviously falling in their fathers' footsteps. To his right sat Pansy and her father. And of course, at the head of the table sat Dolohov, and his wife.
"We really shouldn't beat around the bush now should we Draco?" he asked.
Draco knew Dolohov did not particularly like him, he knew Draco was more powerful than any of them. Sometimes it did help having Lucius Malfoy as a father.
"No, we shouldn't, Antonin," Draco replied.
"As you know with the defeat of our Lord, his great conquest was not complete," he explained. "We wish to form an alliance with the remaining death eaters and finish the Dark Lord's and Salazar Slytherin's noble work."
Draco stared blankly at the man before him.
"Voldemort is dead, he lost, and when you are dead, you should lie down," he replied calmly. He heard the sharp intake of breath around him at the mention of Voldemort's name.
"How dare you speak his name and mock his downfall!" Dolohov yelled, pointing his wand at Draco. Draco countered quicker, pointing his wand.
"Don't be foolish, you know I am stronger than all of you put together?" Draco sneered.
"Yes my boy, you are Lucius Malfoy's son, and that is why you should be faithful to our Lord's memory, join us, it would make your father so proud!" Mr. Parkinson said.
"Well, very sorry to disappoint you sir," Draco said. "I am not my father."
"NO! You are not!" yelled Dolohov. "Cruc..."
"Expelliarmus!" Draco shouted before Dolohov ever finished. He took his wand and snapped it in half. "If anyone else wants to have a go then try me." Draco looked about the room menacingly.
The group all stood up from their chairs and quickly exited the room, most of them with looks of pure murder on their faces. No one ever challenged them, especially someone that was suppose to be their own.
'That's right cowards!" Draco yelled. "Don't ever come back! Get out Dolohov!"
Draco threw him the remains of his broken wand.
"My boy, you have made a terrible mistake here tonight, mark my words, you will pay," he said. "You will lose anything or anybody you have ever loved!"
"Well, good thing I don't love anyone," Draco hissed. An image of Hermione immediately flooded his brain.
"Yes, you do boy, I can see it in your eyes," Dolohov said knowingly. "You will join us or die."
Draco turned towards Dolohov and stared him deeply in the eyes.
"He ruined my life, turned my father into a cruel, heartless man, caused my mother to go mad from grief," he started. "I would rather die a thousand deaths before I saw that bastard glorified."
"Have it your way you foolish boy," Dolohov spat. "But note that your decision tonight was your last."
"Noted," responded Draco.
Dolohov turned and walked through the dining room doors, slamming them in his passing.
Draco sat in the dining room for a few minutes, letting the rage that was inside him calm a little. He then remembered Hermione in the dungeons and quickly got up to get her. He arrived at her door and quickly threw it open. She was lying on the ground, knees tucked to her chest, hands under her head for support. She looked cold and uncomfortable as she slept on the hard stone floor. Draco removed his cloak and knelt down beside her, covering her with the cloak.
"Wake up," he said gently. Hermione's beautiful eyes fluttered open. She tried to speak, but realized that her voice was gone.
Draco smiled at her when she became agitated. She looked at him, it was the first time she had seen him smile, not his usual smirk, but a genuine smile. He looked so handsome when he wasn't being a total git, and she noted that he was rather good looking. He had the steeliest gray eyes that scared her and at the same time took her breath away. He always looked so dapper and tonight was no different. He wore a white oxford shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, revealing muscular forearms, khaki pants, and the cloak he wore was currently wrapped around her shoulders.
"What's the matter Granger, lost our voice?" he asked playfully. Hermione could not help but to smile. "I actually think I like you much better this way."
Hermione became panicked when he said this. What if he never let her speak again?
"But if you are quiet all the time, who am I going to have a row with?" He took out his wand and muttered the incantation that lifted her silence.
"Thank you for keeping your word to me," she said. Draco held out his hand for her to take and helped her off the floor.
"I never realized how short you are Granger," he teased her. "Besides, I told you I would come for you."
"Did you honestly expect me to believe you?" she asked.
"Granger, I may be a lot of things, handsome, powerful..."
"Conceited, arrogant," Hermione interrupted.
"But a liar is not one of them," he said very seriously. He then gently took Hermione's arm and led her out of the dungeons and back to her room.
"Tilly will bring your dinner to you shortly," he told her. "Get plenty of rest, you and I will be leaving the manor tomorrow.
Hermione was confused, he was being so nice to her and now he was taking her somewhere. "Where are we going?" she asked softly.
"That is for me to know and you to find out," he told her. He opened her door and she stepped inside.
What Hermione did next she could not explain, she just did it. She stood up on her toes and gave him the lightest touch of a kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight," she said quickly, shutting the door. She didn't even give him the chance to respond. She heard the door lock click, caging her inside once again. Hermione sighed and walked over to her now favourite armchair. She curled herself inside it and stared into the fire, wondering why she had just kissed Draco Malfoy, her enemy, her sworn nemesis, the one person that teased her for so many years, was mean to all her friends and those that he deemed 'under' him. She could not explain her actions, but she did realize that she was starting to develop feelings for the very complicated and troubled young man.