Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to him. I own the spell in this chapter so JK had better not get any ideas and steal it…although if she did, I think I'd be too speechless to care.
A/N: Hey everybody! I bet you all hate me right now huh? Well you probably hated me until right now but now you love me cause I updated right? That's what I thought. Well yeah here's another chapter, um I hope you like it, I didn't work very hard at all on it, but I'm graduating from high school tomorrow so I could really care less. Please review, that'd be just super and have fun. Oh and if you haven't seen the third movie yet, go see it. It's frickin' awesome, although I'm sensing a bit too much on the romance level between Harry and Hermione. Check out how often they hold hands…
Lol ok well, read and review.
Chapter 23-The Secrets We Keep
Draco awoke to the sound of a large book nearly flattening his head.
"Draco, have you found anything yet?" Hermione asked, exasperatedly as she flipped through one of the many large tomes sprawled about the dimly lit table. She and Draco had finally decided to seriously look into the Cor Una, Via Unum spell. So, they had devoted an entire weekend to researching in the library. Draco had been seriously hoping to look in the Restricted Section for the past five hours but every time he suggested it Hermione would rattle off into 101 reasons why not to look in the Restricted Section. Finally he had given up and drifted off to sleep, resting his head on his folded arms. He had been having quite a nice dream until his life, as he knew it, had been seriously threatened by that blasted book Hermione flung down. He smirked as he heard her sigh, obviously irritated.
"Draco?" She asked again.
"Hmm, yes Love?" He replied, opening his eyes just the tiniest bit.
"I asked you if you've found anything yet." She said, slumping back in her chair. Draco opened his eyes a bit more to look at her. Her hair was disheveled and he could tell she was as tired as he. Her eyes drooped as she stared at nothing in particular.
"Hermione, dear." He said grabbing her attention.
"Mhm."
"Does it look like I've found anything yet?" He said lightly. She smiled sleepily.
"Not in the least."
"You know we could always…" He started.
"Why don't we have a look in the Restricted Section?" She cut him off, smiling knowingly. Draco smiled and shook his head in disbelief.
"You know I've been suggesting that for the past five hours don't you?" He said, standing up and stretching.
"Yes, but I just couldn't let you get off being right that easily could I?" She replied still smiling. Draco laughed as he walked over and bent down placing his forehead against hers.
"Here's an idea." He started. "Let's come back tomorrow. It'll be a Saturday night, no one in they're right minds would be in the library, after hours, on a Saturday night."
"Are you suggesting that I'm not in the right mind?" She said.
"How could you have been if you fell in love with me?" He said smiling. She smiled too, but the smile was quickly replaced by an over-exaggerated pout. "What?" He asked, his eyes dancing with mirth.
"I hate when I'm tired. You're always more witty than I am." She said. He laughed and kissed her lightly on her forehead before helping her to stand.
"A fact you will undoubtedly have to get use to." He replied.
She yawned and stretched as he returned the books on the table to their shelves with a flick of his wand. After extinguishing the few remaining lights he took her hand in his and led her from the dark library.
They walked in silence towards their dormitory, both lost in their own thoughts.
"Mione?" Draco started.
"Yes?" She replied.
"Did I ever tell you about the prophecy?" He asked softly.
"Which prophecy Draco?" She questioned, yawning.
"The one about me saving the world." He said half-heartedly. She stopped and turned to look at him.
"No, I don't believe I heard that one." She stated, matter-of-factly. Draco chuckled and took her hand continuing down the corridor.
"Well, you know the man in our painting, Sir Erin?" He started.
"Mhm."
"He said there was a prophecy. A prophecy which stated that, and I quote, 'Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy would be the deciding factor in the final battle of the war between the Light Side and the Dark Side.'" He finished in one breath. Hermione stared at him disbelievingly.
"He…he really said that?" She asked quietly. Draco nodded his head. Hermione was about to say something else when she heard the scuffle of shoes behind her. She whirled around but found no one to be there. She shrugged, figuring she had just been hearing things but then looked to Draco who was glancing around suspiciously. He glanced at her.
"I heard it too." He stated. The both listened and watched intently for a few moments before Hermione pulled out her wand.
"Mione, what are you doing?" Draco asked concerned.
"Shh." She said silencing him. She closed her eyes and made a few circling movements above her head with her wand whispering an incantation.
"Patefactum invisus."
Before their eyes a figured materialized in front of them.
"Harry…" Hermione sighed deeply, casting her eyes downward.
"Hermione." Harry said icily. "Do you mind me asking, what in the bloody hell is going on here?"
"Whatever do you mean Potter? Granger and I were just patrolling the corridors. We are Head Boy and Head Girl after all; we are allowed to be out after hours. You on the other hand have no reason." Draco cut in.
"So I flew for a bit after Quidditch practice." Harry retorted. "What are you going to do Malfoy? Send the Dementors after me? Sorry to spoil your fun, but I dare say I can handle them."
"Look Potter I don't want trouble. Just get to your common room." Draco spat.
"No, I'd like an explanation from Hermione, if you don't mind." Harry said.
"Well I do mind!" Draco sneered. He advanced towards Harry but was stopped when a small hand gripped his arm. He turned to see Hermione gazing up at him. She pulled him around so that his back was to Harry.
"Draco…" She whispered. "He needs to know." He looked away angrily but looked back at her and sighed, nodding his head resignedly. Hermione took his hand and they both turned to face Harry.
"Harry, this isn't what you are probably thinking…it's…exactly what you're thinking." She said heavily. Harry's face hardened.
"So you are together." He said. She nodded.
"You have every right to be mad, but I'm asking you, as a friend, not to be." She said. He nodded solemnly.
"I…I love him." She continued softly, looking up to Draco, who looked back at her adoringly. Harry let out a forced breath and turned around. He sighed and massaged the back of his neck with his hand.
"I thought you loved me." He said, breathing raggedly. Hermione let out a shuddering breath and squeezed Draco's hand reassuringly before going to Harry and embracing him from behind.
"I do Harry, I do." She whispered. "I love you in a way I will never love anyone else, including Draco." She stepped back and turned him around, taking his hands in hers. "But I am in love with Draco and I love him with all of my heart. Please, please understand." She said, choking back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. They stood in silence before Harry finally spoke.
"I understand Hermes…" He started heavily. "But I need some time."
"You can't tell anyone Harry. Not even Ron." She stated. He started to protest but she stopped him. "Dumbledore's orders." She said simply. He nodded and with that turned and started to walk back to his common room but before he could get very far he looked over his shoulder and spoke.
"I just don't understand how you could keep something like this from me." He spoke coldly. "I was your friend Hermione. I was your friend! And you kept his secret from me!"
Hermione, who had retreated back to Draco's side, turned angrily towards Harry.
"Secret? Do you really want to start on keeping secrets Harry?!" She called, tears streaming down her face. "I know about Sirius! I know how you kept his secret from me, even when we were dating! How could you Harry? You knew how much Sirius meant to me! You knew how much it killed me when he fell through that curtain! It hurt me almost as much as it hurt you!" She sobbed.
"No it didn't!" He screamed. "You will never know how it felt! You will never know what I've felt! Don't you even begin to assume you know, because you don't! You have no idea!" He angrily swiped his face, erasing the traces of tears from it before turning and stalking down the hallway.
Hermione stood, her chest heaving, staring down the hall where Harry had just vanished. Before long her ragged breathing became uncontrollable sobs. Draco's arms enveloped her as she collapsed to the floor. He stroked her hair and rocked her slowly back and forth, trying to calm her with reassuring murmurs. They sat there for what seemed like eternity. Finally Hermione's breathing became steady, but she began to shiver because of the frostiness of the stone floor. Draco wrapped his cloak around her and slowly picked her up, cradling her in his strong arms and quickly stalking toward the common room. He stepped across the threshold and proceeded to his dormitory. He managed to pull back the covers on his bed and placed Hermione down before lying next to her. He pulled her to him, as did she. The cool night air blew in the open window ruffling their hair and moonlight bathed the entire room in a urethral glow. Draco kissed her forehead lightly.
"I love you Hermione."
She didn't say anything, but he knew by the way she moved closer to him and rested her head against his neck, nestling against him, that she loved him too.
A/N: Well what did you think? It got pretty emotional huh? Must be Alfonso's influence…lol…never mind. Ok well review…now…go!!!
