Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the plot (Though I wouldn't mind owning Draco wink). The song in this chapter is part of Hilary Duff;s "Comeing Clean". I don't care for her at all, but the excerpt is good for the story. shrug Again, I thank all the people who have reviewed. I'm touched by your comments. tear

Chapter Six

Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity
'cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean…

The water was scalding, and she liked it like that. Hermione let her head fall back, as she shower cleansed her. The hot water slithered down her body like silk. Slowly, her porcelain skin took on a rose color from the heat.

Hermione breathed in the steam being produced. The sir filled her lungs, breaking them of the congestion clogging her. The entire week she had obtained a gruesome cold. She had refused to see Madam Pomfrey, who would have wanted to examine her from head to toe. Instead she took on the illness stubbornly. Draco has also encountered the same beastly cold.

But it was so worth it.

A smile slowly formed on her face. The memories of that night came to her. She enjoyed remembering his words, his soothing touches, the warmth felt through freezing rain. Hermione wished that all of her past memories were like this.

Turning off the shower, she stepped out and grabbed a towel. After changing into comfortable clothes, she grabbed a book and headed down to the common room. She stopped at the base of the stairs when suddenly hearing her name.

"Hermione? Draco? You can't be serious!" giggle that of a female's voice.

"I'm positive. I swear it!" came a reply. Hermione recognized the voices. It was Lavender and Pavarti in deep discussion about her.

"What makes you think those two would be… together?" Pavarti asked.

"I saw them! Up on the astronomy tower. They were looking rather close." She said with an evil grin to her voice.

"Are you sure it as them? It just seems so impossible!" Pavarti squeaked.

"Of course it was them!" Lavender said hotly. "I saw it with my own two eyes. How many guys in this school have that gorgeous blonde hair of his. And it was Hermione, I saw it plain as day."

"I still don't believe—"

"Look, Draco DID go to St. Mungo's for the summer right? Maybe he's trying to be noble or something…"

"Or maybe this is some evil plot for he-who-must-not-be-named's benefit!" Pavarti said excitedly.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

They have no life, this is absurd.

"Haven't you seen the way Harry's been acting lately?" Lavender asked.

"Yeah. He's been drooling over Hermione and has been deathly jealous over Draco. Why else would he have punched him in class two weeks ago?"

"Maybe she's turning to Draco to MAKE Harry jealous!"

Now that's crazy.

Hermione pondered. She and Draco weren't lovers. She didn't even really consider them friends.

What are we?

Acquaintances? No, they were more than that. Enemies, they weren't really that either. Buddies? Not really.

We support each other…

Yes! That was it. They were supportive. They had each other's backs. That was it. Kind of like partners working together for a project. Yes, most definitely.

"Hermione is so lucky." Pavarti said whimsically.

"Yeah, Draco is so drop dead gorgeous." Lavender sighed.

"And I heard he was really good in bed. I wonder if they've slept together?"

"With him, most likely , but I'm not sure about her."

"Do you think she's still a virgin?" Pavarti wondered allowed.

"Probably," said Lavender. "Of course she and Harry did date for a rather long time, and they have been friends forever. I bet she lost it to him."

"Merlin, she IS lucky. Everything always works out for her. Why can't I be that way?"

Hermione snorted.

You have no idea…

"Oh! I have top meet Ron tonight in the library." Lavender said mischievously.

"Sneaking out to shag him again are you?" Pavarti asked. "You two kill me…"

Hermione had had enough of the conversation. She quickly emerged from the stairs pretending to have never heard a word. Both girls stared at her and looked at one another, smiling.

Oh for heaven's sake.

"Hello, Hermione." Lavender said cheerfully.

"Hello, girls," she replied before centering herself in one of the overstuffed chairs by the fire. Opening her book, she began to read and ignore their constant fidgeting and signals to each other.

The two girls left the room, heading upstairs in a fit of giggles.

Good God, they need help.


Draco examined himself in the mirror. His face was gaunt and lifeless. He looked down to his arms. Several large, deep cuts ran down them, staining his snow white skin with crimson blood. He felt the burning sting caused from the wounds. He sighed deeply and reveled in the pain.

Just one more…

Reaching for the counter, he grabbed the heirloom knife. The handle was made of ivory, embossed with thin gold and silver lines. It revealed the Malfoy crest on both sides of the handle.

Gingerly, Draco took it in his hand. He held it to his arm. Breathing in deep he slowly pushed down and pulled the knife for a few inches. His eyes began to water and his mind began to swirl as the blade dug deeper into his flesh. Yearning for release, that's all he wanted.

He began to feel faint, causing him to drop the knife. Fighting to gain his bearings, he slowly stumbled to his room over to the desk resting next to his bed. Sitting in the chair, he reached for the letter sent to him earlier by owl.

Draco,

As been discussed, a date has been set for your initiation for Lord Voldemort. You will return home over the Holiday promptly and sent before him. Don't even think about trying anything stupid, I'm two steps ahead of you. If you even consider putting yourself back in the hospital, I will not hesitate sending you even further to your death. I will not have you humiliate me like that again.

Be prepared to face your Lord when you return home. He awaits your arrival.

L.M.

Draco stared blankly at the words.

Bastard.

Not again. He couldn't go through this again. Yet he knew it was inevitable. He could never escape Lucius' wrath.

Hermione.

He closed his eyes. He needed her.

Go to her.

Slowly rising from his chair, Draco grounded himself and slowly made his way to his door. He grabbed his robes, covering his bloody arms from view, and left to find her.­­


Hermione walked the halls alone. So far, as part of Head girl Duties, she hadn't seen another soul to punish for being out so late. Halfway down the corridor, she stopped. She heard it, footsteps.

They weren't clean and crisp like normal footsteps. They were sloppy, drugged footsteps. Almost like that of a person struggling to walk. Hermione listened harder, taking another step forward.

A moan. A painful moan.

"Hermione…"

Hermione paled. Swiftly and quickly, she walked to the end of the hall and rounded the corner. The sight almost made her scream.

Draco, barely conscious, leaned against the wall as he took another step. His head hung low and his legs shook with each movements. Hermione rushed to him.

Holy shit!

"Draco?" she said as she reached him. As she put on hand on him, his body collapsed into her arms. She engulfed him and struggled to keep her balance with his added weight.

Her sweet voice reached his ears. He looked up at her. Her figured was barely visible and blurry as his eyes tried to adjust.

"Hermione…" he breathed, and passed out.

Hermione gently sat down on the ground, with Draco in her arms. She felt something warm and sticky emitting from his robes. Pulling out her wand she attempted to examine him.

"Lumos!" she said softly. She pulled his robes away and gasped to see the large amount of blood covering the entirety of Draco's arms.

Quickly, Hermione used her wand to levitate his passed out body. Panic stricken, she practically ran, towing him along after her, to her room.