Chapter 9

Hermione woke up and stared out the window. The lake glittered in the fading night, and she remembered what had happened the night before. She shivered slightly. Things seemed so strange, now that she knew Draco liked her, and now that the doppelganger was vanquished, it seemed as if he was free. But freedom seemed so ambiguous to Hermione…

She rushed down to the Common Rooms, and found that Harry had stayed up all night working on his Transfiguration homework.

"You should have asked for help," Hermione said, stamping slightly. "Harry, you're a complete wreck."

Harry shook his head woozily. "Am not!" he protested, his words slurred and slipping around in his mouth like marbles. "I'm perfectly awake. Bloody awake!"

"Where's Ron?"

Harry furrowed his brow angrily. "Dunno!"

"What's going on between you and him?" Hermione asked, slightly alarmed. "Are you two fighting?"

"Of course not!" Harry snapped, and then drooped. "Fine, Ron and I got into a fight. A rather big one."

"About what?"

Harry looked up, his handsome face were an expression that can only described as guilty. "Well…"

"Spit it out, please."

"You and Draco."

Hermione shrugged, somehow she knew that something like this would have happened. "Let me guess, Ron doesn't approve of me being romantically entangled with Draco?"

"Actually," Harry looked uncomfortable. "I'm the one who doesn't approve. Ron thinks we should give him a chance."

Hermione let her jaw drop. "You? Harry?"

Harry looked up angrily. "Hermione, you can't just change with the drop of a hat, he's always going to be a Malfoy. You just can't erase blood."

"So is that the way you feel about it?" Hermione demanded, her heart breaking in two. "The only person I knew wouldn't judge me for loving who I do, the only person I could trust, turns on me. Don't you think that I could say the same thing about you and Ron? But, I don't, Harry. I love you, so I don't judge. But you'll judge who I love?"

Harry was furious. "I'm not judging him, Hermione! He's evil, pure and simple. There is no question about it, and I don't wanting you dating someone who's parents had a hand in killing my mother and father."

Hermione slapped him, the sound reverberating around the Commons room. Others looked up, surprised and shocked.

"You bastard," she hissed. "The world is not black and white Harry, no matter how much you want it to be, there are shades of grey. You just need to learn to see them."

Hermione stormed out of the Commons Room, skipping breakfast entirely, and heading out to the lakeside.

She was supposed to meet Draco at Professor Dumbledore's office right after breakfast, but she didn't want to see Draco right then.

She was angry, she couldn't help it, but why was she the one who ended up being embroiled in messes that couldn't be solved using books?

The lake was shining, and a tentacle poked up between a wave every few minutes.

Hermione sat down on the sand and watched the waves lap against the shore.

Presently, she heard footsteps, and she turned around to see Draco coming down, his dark cloak whipping around his feet, his pale hair fluffing slightly in the wind.

"Hey," he said quietly, sitting down next to her. "What's wrong?"

"Harry doesn't really approve," she said, sifting her fingers through the yellow sand. "He says that you'll always be a Malfoy."

Draco watched her sift the sand, his blue eyes focused on each grain passing through her pale fingers. "Well, he's right."

"But he meant it negatively," she said, with a faint smile. "As if it's bad for you to be who you are. He also partially blames your parents for his mum's and dad's death."

"If I were him, I would too," Draco said. "Don't get so mad at Harry. He only wants what's best for you."

"Don't get all patronizing on me," she muttered. "I can take care of myself."

"Then why do you like me?"

She stared at him fearlessly. "Why do I love you? How can I answer a question like that?"

"Try."

Hermione shook her head. "The fact that I love you should be enough. Why, even I can't explain that. It'd be easier if I didn't."

Draco turned his head, and stared out over the lake. "That's what I was thinking."

"What do you mean?"

"Hermione, I love you," he said, firmly, looking back at her. "But this relationship isn't going to work. My future doesn't look all that great, and I don't want you to suffer just for being with me."

"You don't think you're worth it?" she asked coolly. "Draco, I can't decide who I love. Neither can you."

"Hermione, your friends hate me, everyone hates me," Draco murmured, looking down at her. "I don't want to make them put up with me."

"I'll make them," she said fiercely. "Don't you understand, Draco? I was willing to die for you yesterday, you think I'd change my mind overnight?"

"No one will approve," he said.

She stood abruptly. "Then we won't tell them."

"Everyone is bound to find out," he said angrily, standing. She looked up at him, with a determination that was intimidating.

"True love has no bounds," she whispered. "I refuse to hold my love within everyone else's limits." She reached up and placed her palm on his cheek. He leant down to kiss her.

Her face rose to meet his, and as their lips brushed she wondered what she was doing. His mouth caressed hers and he hoped no one was watching.

They parted ways after a few minutes, her heading up to the Great Hall to eat, he to the dungeons to talk to his one adult confidant.

Professor Snape was cursing soundly why throwing something into his cauldron.

"Damn toad crap," he muttered crossly. "Goes all soft on me, just when I need it…"

"Hello Professor," Draco said calmly, watching the professor with faint amusement.

"No need to distract me," Snape hissed without turning around. "I already knew you were there, Draco."

"You know me well, Professor," Draco smirked with his usual bravado. "I needed to talk to you."

Snape threw the vial he was holding into the cauldron, glass and all. "What?"

"It's about He-" He stopped. "G-Granger."

"What about her?" Snape said, suddenly interested. His eyebrow rose, and it seemed as if he were examining Draco's very soul.

"Well," Draco said hesitantly. He was no longer sure if this was a good idea, but it was too late to leave. "It seems she likes me."

Snape laughed, a blue vein bulging from his pale neck. "That stupid girl! Just like a mud-blood…"

Draco laughed nervously, hoping to go along with a joke that he didn't quite understand. "Eh, very funny."

Snape smiled evilly, and Draco felt something very strange knotting up in his stomach. "You should play her along, as if you like her," Snape said, rubbing his hands together.

"That would be-!" Draco stopped himself. "Funny. Very funny. But no, I don't want to."

Snape straightened up suddenly as if he had been electrocuted. "Something's come over you Draco, and I'm not sure I like the change. What's troubling you, boy?"

"Nothing, nothing," Draco stammered. "I just don't feel like wasting my time on a mud-blood like Granger."

Snape did not relax as Draco hoped he would, instead, he remained suspicious. "Draco, don't lie to me. There's something wrong with you."

"I wish I could tell you Professor," Draco said solemnly. "But I really don't think that you would understand." Snape smiled, something that was both terrifying and beautiful in it's own right.

"There are many things about me that you don't know, Draco. You'd be surprised at what I would and would not understand."

Draco was silent for a moment. "Professor, what if you were in love with someone who was completely unsuitable and the exact opposite of everything you've ever been taught?"

Snape was silent for a moment. "Let me tell you a story about myself, and perhaps that will answer your question."

A/N: Yes, Snape has more to him that slimy greasy git we always imagined... There has to be some reason behind the madness... eh? Please review or email me! anglachel