A/N: Hey everyone, sorry this took me so long to get up. I moved and started college about two weeks ago, so this past month has been stressful to say the least. I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update but I'm hoping I won't take any longer than usual which is actually quite a long time, so sorry but bear with me I'm trying to finish this story up. Without further adieu, read and review. (I love rhyming!)


Chapter 27 - Silence


To say that the four students were shaken after what had happened in the Room of Requirement would be an understatement. Needless to say, Draco and Hermione opted to forget about combining their energy for a while. It had been three days since the incident and things weren't looking bright.

Draco stared moodily at his bowl, absentmindedly stirring his porridge about. He and Hermione had made a sort of unspoken deal that they wouldn't discuss combining their magic further or anything of the sort really. Unfortunately this deal seemed to extend beyond the borders of that conversation. Three days. He hadn't had a decent conversation with Hermione in three days. They halted their usual banters in the hallways, and the conversation in the common room was reduced to 'hi', 'hello' or 'goodbye'. To be quite honest it was driving him crazy. He picked up a spoonful of porridge and turned the spoon sideways, watching as the lumpy gruel slid off his spoon back into the bowl.

"Hey."

He nearly jumped out of his seat as he heard a voice in his head. His knees slammed against the bottom of the table causing a water goblet to fall over. A few people nearby cast curious looks towards him, but they turned away as he glared around, quickly righting the goblet and cleaning up the water.

"Mione, is that you?" He communicated back, glancing up at the Gryffindor table and catching her eyes.

"Yeah, sorry I gave you such a fright." She replied.

"Don't worry about it, it wasn't that much of a fright."

He heard her chuckle in his head. "Honestly Draco, I'm surprised you don't need a change of pants." He couldn't help but smile.

"It's so good to hear your voice again 'Mione. I've missed you." His breath caught in his throat as a small, sad smile flickered across her features.

"I know, I've missed you too." She replied, sadly. "What are we going to do about this Draco?"

"Do about what?" He asked, feigning ignorance. She sighed.

"You know what. This, our powers. We're supposed to be learning and sharpening our skills. The only thing we've managed to do is give Harry a concussion."

Draco smiled weakly. "Yes, but it was somewhat amusing." Hermione's glare pierced him, even from across the hall.

"No, it wasn't." She said angrily. "It was terrifying and you know it."

"I know, I know." He said quickly. His eyes searched hers, silently asking for forgiveness before being drawn to the movement around the Great Hall. It was almost time for class to start; all the remaining students were leaving their tables. He saw Harry lightly touch Hermione's shoulder and whisper something to her before catching his own eyes. They glared at each other for a minute before Harry was distracted by Ron. Draco watched as The Weasel left the Great Hall ahead of the other two. Once again Harry spoke to Hermione and finally she got up slowly, gathering her things. Draco stood also, never taking his eyes off her. He waited till she glanced across at him once more.

"Tonight, The Room of Requirement, 7 o'clock." He said hurriedly.

"All right." She replied, as she turned to head out of the Great Hall. Draco panicked suddenly; the conversation wasn't enough. He needed to talk to her more, to hear her voice more. He suddenly called out in his mind.

"Hermione!" She turned and looked at him from across the hall. He faltered, not having anything to say. "I love you." He finally managed to choke out. She nodded and smiled weakly before pushing through the huge oak doors and vanishing out of sight. Draco's shoulders slumped as he stared dejectedly at the, now closed, doors.

"She didn't say it back." He murmured to himself. He glanced around incoherently before shaking his head to clear it. He picked up his bad and stalked hurriedly out the doors and towards the Charms corridor. He stopped short as he spotted Hermione and Potter up ahead, about to part ways. She was heading towards Muggle Studies; Potter was headed who knows where. He scowled as Harry called after her. 'Love you!' Draco's eyes flashed dangerously, awaiting Hermione's reply. 'Love you too, Harry!' His eyes darkened as he clenched his jaw. He waited until he was sure no one was within earshot before he dropped his bag and flung his fist towards the stone wall, cursing angrily.

"Bloody hell!" His fist connected with a sickening crack and blood speckled the wall. He didn't care; the physical pain was just an escape for the emotional pain. He punched the wall again and again until finally it became too much to bear. He cleaned the wall begrudgingly and cradled his hand against his abdomen. Turning the opposite direction he headed for the Hospital Wing. He would miss Charms but that didn't matter, Hermione's silence would plague him without mercy but what scared him most was that he didn't know if it would stop.


"Hermione?" Harry asked lightly touching her shoulder. She gazed across the hall, seemingly lost in thought. He leaned down, "Hermione is everything all right?" He whispered. When she didn't answer he followed her line of sight to find Draco. The two boys' eyes met in a clash of green and silver. Sure, he had pretended that everything was peachy between them but, truth be told, he still didn't trust the slimy git.

"Bugger, I forgot my notes in the common room. I'll meet you in class Harry."

He glanced away from Draco's glare and found Ron looking expectantly at him.

"Oh, right. Sure." He stuttered before Ron turned to leave the Great Hall. "Hermione it's time for class." He said trying to draw her attention away from the Slytherin across the hall. Finally she seemed to realize what Harry was saying.

"Oh, right." She said softly, gathering her things. They stood and walked towards the door. He was about to say something to her when she turned round suddenly.

"Hermione?" He questioned, finding once again that her gaze fell upon Draco. He watched as she parted her lips to say something. She seemingly thought better of it though because she quickly closed her mouth and simply nodded, smiling faintly. "Let's go." He murmured, placing his hand on the small of her back to lead her out of the hall. They walked in silence for a bit before the tension was too much for Harry to take.

"Hermione what's wrong?" He asked softly.

"Hmm?" She murmured, watching the floor.

"I asked what was wrong." He repeated.

"Oh," she said, shaking her head, "it's nothing." He gazed at her skeptically. "Really." She added, meeting his gaze and smiling weakly.

"I don't believe you." He said kindly.

"I know." It was barely a whisper, but he heard it and knew that was his cue to drop the subject. When it came time to part ways to go to they're separate classes he stopped and watched as Hermione turned down the opposite hallway not glancing back. "Love you!" He called suddenly. She stopped and turned round to face him.

"Love you too, Harry." Her words betrayed her eyes. She was somewhere else; she didn't know what she was saying. He sighed and watched as she turned and rounded another corner before heading to his class. Something was definitely wrong. He had a feeling it had to do with a certain Slytherin but one thing was for sure, he was going to find out.


Hermione silently opened the door to The Room of Requirement. She set her bag heavily on the plush carpet and sank into an armchair that had appeared, seemingly just for her. She closed her eyes and sighed, this day had been far too long already. What she needed was a nice nap. She yawned and got into a more comfortable position on the chair.

"Don't go to sleep just yet."

She lazily opened her eyes, as Draco's voice came from behind her. She was too tired to be jumpy.

"I didn't hear you come in." She said, yawning again.

"Correction." He stated walking around the chair to sit on the footstool in front of her. "You didn't see me when you came in. I was already here."

"Oh." She said sleepily. She let her eyes go out of focus as she gazed at the young man in front of her. The candles from behind him gave him a kind of iridescent glow. She smiled.

"My knight in shining armor." She said amusedly. Draco missed the humor. He clenched his jaw angrily and stood up, walking over to a bookshelf. He picked up a random book and leafed through it before tossing it to the side and beginning to pace around the room.

"Draco what's wrong?" Hermione asked, turning in her seat to watch him pace. He stopped and cast her a glance that insinuated she should know, before resuming his stalking back and forth across the room. His arms were stiff at his sides, his eyes dark and his upper lip curled in agitation.

"Draco you're pacing like a caged animal. What's wrong with you?" She asked worriedly, standing up to approach him.

"What's wrong with me," he repeated to himself, incredulously. She placed a hand on his forearm but he shook it off and rounded on her yelling, "What's wrong with me?!" She took a step back fearfully. Draco lowered his voice, if only slightly. "Hermione do you love me?"

"Yes, of course I do Draco, you know th-" She said. He cut her off angrily.

"Then say it!"

"Say what?" She asked, becoming agitated herself.

"Say that you love me!"

"I love you!" She yelled. They both stood facing each other, breathing heavily.

"Was that so hard?" Draco asked, his voice cracking.

"No, but Draco what does this-" Hermione replied, but he cut her off again.

"Then why don't you tell me?" He asked, his voice heavy with emotion. "Why don't you tell me when I pour my soul into telling you?" She faltered.

"I..."

"Why is it so easy to say it to your friends?" He continued. "You toss it around like it means nothing, yet when it comes to me..." He trailed off. He looked so desperate. Hermione's heart ached, suddenly aware of the pain she had caused him.

"Draco, that's just it. Don't you see?" She asked softly. "It means something when I say it to you. With you I don't want it to be where we just toss it around just for the sake of saying it. When I say it...it means everything."

"And you think it doesn't mean everything every time I say it to you?" He asked angrily turning away from her.

"Draco that's not what I meant."

"So it means nothing when you say it to Potter and Weasel?" He interjected. "Are you sure they'd want to hear that?"

"No, that's not it at all! You're putting words in my mouth!" She replied becoming angry.

"There are only three words I want to put in your mouth but it seems even then it wouldn't matter."

"Draco you're being ridiculous! That didn't even make sense!"

"Oh so now everything has to make sense?" He replied still not facing her.

"You, are being childish." She retorted, speaking each word very clearly.

"If wanting the woman I love to respond when I confess my undying love for her makes me childish then so be it." He stated.

"What do you want from me Draco? Do you want to become like Harry and Ron? Do you want the phrase to be just something we throw around?" She threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. Draco clasped his hands behind his neck, his eyes downcast.

"I don't know." He responded quietly. Hermione shook her head disbelievingly.

"Well neither do I, but I'm not about to waste another minute arguing with you about it." She turned and picked up her bag. She walked to the door and opened it angrily before turning to face him. "I'll see you when I see you, but right now I'm hoping that's not anytime soon." With that she stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Draco took a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly. He walked over to the door that Hermione had just left through and put one hand to it, resting his forehead on his hand.

"What have I done?" He whispered to himself. He turned and put his back to the door, sliding down into a sitting position with his arms propped up on his knees. He hung his head, breathing raggedly. Suddenly he slammed his head against the door.

"What. Have. I. Done?!" With every word that escaped his throat came the heavy crack of his head against the solid wood of the door. Maybe if he was lucky he'd knock himself out, if he was lucky. But as of now luck was not on his side. He continued to slam his head against the door and it was several hours before the blackness finally overtook him. Whether it was from being knocked unconscious or from sheer exhaustion, he didn't know. But he would not go to Madame Pomfrey in the morning. Whatever pain he felt, he knew he deserved it because it would be nothing compared to losing the only person he'd ever loved.

A/N: Laughs evilly I make you wait months for another chapter and when it comes you get THIS! Hahaha! ...Wow I'm really sorry. But I was getting tired of them being all lovey-dovey all the time. So I had to throw this in there. So yeah, go review. Oh and thank you to everyone who has already reviewed!!! I broke 300!! Yay! I'm excited. This is me excited.