Chapter Ten

The next two weeks were, well, Heaven. We spent our days pretending to despise each other, and our nights exploring each other's thoughts, pasts, and, of course, bodies. Sometimes we would simply sit in the common room reading, simply enjoying each other's company without speaking. It was times like those when Draco would say something I found rather strange.

"I'm a hypocrite," he said on more than one occasion. I inquired as to his meaning but he always went back to his reading, ignoring my question.

Then one night he stopped reading. He pushed my book down and looked at me.

"What?" I asked him.

"You know I love you, right?" he said. He looked completely tortured.

"I… you do?"

"With all my heart." He nodded, seeming completely sincere. I was more than a little surprised. It had only been a few weeks since we had mutually decided we didn't hate each other. And an even shorter time still since we had been going out.

I looked up at him. He was waiting for something, and I knew exactly what. But could I actually say it? Would I mean it? I cared for him, yes, but… love? Maybe I did… it was too early for me to say.

"Hermione?" he asked. He looked… there isn't even a word. Depressed, deflated, miserable. I had to say it back. Even if I didn't mean it completely right now.

"I love you, too." I said. He smiled. He was so beautiful when he smiled. So beautiful. I never wanted to look away from him when he looked at me like that. Like I had saved him from some horrible, horrible fate.

"Thank the Gods," he said, and hugged me. I was, again, surprised. He had never hugged me. Kissed me, caressed me, yes, but never hugged me. I kissed his cheek, and pulled away, holding him at arm's length.

"What's wrong?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Nothing," he said. I knew he was lying, but I let it pass. I forgot about that night entirely until about a week later.

We had just finished… studying (okay, so sex education wasn't offered at Hogwarts…still!) when I noticed something on his arm. A scar marring the pale skin of his left forearm. I froze. Oh, Gods… it couldn't be. I grabbed his arm. It was.

"What are─?" he started to ask.

"How could you?" I yelled. I dropped his arm, backing away from him. He shook his head, reaching out for me.

"Hermione ─" He started.

"Don't touch me!" I said. How could he betray me so thoroughly?

"Hermione, please!" He said, reaching out for me again.

"How could you… this is… I can't even talk." I said. And I couldn't. I couldn't talk… I could barely think. 'How could he?' was repeating in my mind over and over again. I turned around to leave his room.

"Hermione, please let me explain." He pleaded.

"Explain what?" I turned back to him, speaking harshly. "Explain how you betrayed me? Explain how you tricked me into…" I shook my head.

"It's not what it seems," he said.

"Oh, really?" I said, disbelieving. "You mean, you haven't sworn your allegiance to a lunatic determined to wipe out thousands of innocent people? People like me?"

"Well ─"

"That's what I thought."

"But, Hermione ─"

"No, Draco. I don't want to hear it." I turned to leave, then turned back to him again. "How could you?" I could feel the tears building up in my eyes. I refused to cry. I never cried! And I would not cry in front of him. For him.

"Hermione.." his voice cracked. Oh, fuck, he was crying too. I could feel the tears falling down my face. Fuck fuck fuck! I couldn't do this. I turned around and ran. I ran into my room and threw myself onto the bed. I cried for what seemed like hours until I finally fell asleep. And even then it was fitful. I would wake up and cry more. I stopped finally, and could hear Draco sobbing in his room. It only started me crying again.

I couldn't imagine how anything could be worse. I knew Harry and Ron would noticed my puffy eyes to-morrow. They would noticed how tired I was from lack of sleep. I would simply have to tell them what had happened. They would freak, I knew. But there was nothing for it.

Author's Note: I know... I took a long time... and it's short. But I'm kind of vaguely proud of this chapter. I hope you all review... you better review!! I know I made you wait... but PLEASE!! The more reviews, the faster the update... :-D