Staying Strong

Chapter 7

Disclaimer: As much as I would absolutely love to own Draco Malfoy, I do not own a thing.

A Very Special Author's Note: Before you read this chapter, I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my good friends Peachy and Kyp! Happy 16th! AND in celebration of your birthday, I have dedicated this chapter to you! Now, on with the story!

"Ms Granger," Snape said loudly as he shook her from her sleep. "Ms Granger, wake up!"

Hermione groaned as turned on her side, the light from the other room blinding her. "What is it?" She mumbled, placing her hand over her eyes.

"We need to get you to the basement right away." said Snape frantically.

Confused by what was going on, Hermione pushed the blankets from her legs and got to her feet, following Snape through the next room and to a dark, cobweb filled stairway, leading down to the basement.

"Quckly," Snape ordered as he shut the door behind him. Hermione pushed through the cobwebs that covered the stairs and reached the cold stone floor, bits and pieces of the webs stuck in her hair. Pulling out his wand, Snape pointed towards a couch at the other side of the room.

"Take a seat, quickly."

Hermione did as she was told, still half asleep. Dust flew up from the cushions as Hermione plopped down on the couch, hugging her legs to her chest. "Professor," Hermione said softly, wrapping her arms around her legs. "Why do I have to go down to the bloody basement in the middle of the night?"

Snape remained at the bottom of the stairway, his eyes fixed on the door, his wand ready at his side. "I assure you, Ms Granger, that everything will be all right in a few minutes or so. Until then, please stay where you are and remain as silent as possible."

"I just want to know why I am being held in the bloody basement?" Hermione growled.

Snape glared at Hermione. "All right, Ms Granger, I will tell you." Snape quickly turned towards the stairs, and after making sure that nothing was there, that it was only his imagination, he turned back to Hermione. "Draco Malfoy has been spotted in this area."

Hermione gasped, her hand covering her mouth, her heart racing. "D-Draco is h-here?"

Snape nodded, his eyes still fixed on the door. "He has indeed returned, but no one is sure of where he is at this moment. That is why you are here, and not upstairs where he could possibly find you."

Hermione understood why she was being held in the dusty old basement, and remained as silent as she could possibly be. So many feelings raced through her body as she thought about what Snape had just revealed to her. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach as she thought about the possibility of her dream really coming true, and that Draco really would be the reason for the death of the innocent man. At that same moment, she was also filling with joy, for she knew that Draco really did care for her, just as he always told her.

Her body went numb as she sat there, expressionless, her eyes fixed on nothing but the floor. It wasn't until a few minutes later that she looked up from her trance and noticed Snape sitting in the corner, his eyes continued to watch the stairs. Both Snape and Hermione jumped to attention as a knock was heard from the other side of the door.

"Who is it?" Snape said, slowly getting up from the chair and watching the stairs closely.

"Serveus, it's Remus."

Snape let down his wand. "Come in,"

Remus quickly opened the door and flew down the steps, hitting the stone floor with a thump. "Serveus, where is she?" He asked frantically.

Snape pointed to the other side of the room where Hermione sat. Remus quickly hurried over to Hermione, crouching down to her level. "Hermione," Remus's hands were shaking. "Draco has been captured."

Hermione lowered her head, tears falling down her pale cheeks. "Is he all right?"

Remus nodded his head. "He's just fine, Hermione. Other than the few cuts and bruises, he is looking well."

"Where is he?" She said in a soft voice.

Remus looked back at Snape and then at Hermione. "He is being held upstairs until further notice from Dumbledore."

Hermione instantly looked above her at the ceiling, imagining Draco being held down by angry men. "Can I see him?"

"Hermione," Remus took her hands in his. "Draco has not been cleared of any charge. Until then, you are not to go anywhere near him."

"I need to see him." Hermione said a little louder than before.

Remus let go of Hermione's hands and frowned. "Hermione," he said sternly. "We must follow the orders."

Hermione shook her head. "I need to see him, Remus!" She yelled.

Clearing his throat, Remus shook his head. "Hermione, love, Draco Malfoy has killed a man. How could you possibly want to talk to him after what he has done to not only the bloke, but to you?"

"I love him, Remus." She said through her teeth.

"What is love to you, Hermione? Honestly, I would really like to know."

This angered Hermione. Remus was acting as though Hermione was a bloody child! "What are you getting at?" She growled.

Remus rasied his hands. "I was only asking a simple question, Hermione."

"Bloody hell, Remus, get off what ever you are playing at. You are just jealous because you know that I love Draco and not you."

Remus got to his feet in a huff, turning his back to Hermione and placing his hands on his head. "What do you think I would be feeling, Hermione? I mean, of course it's tarring me up inside, seeing you with such love and hope in your eyes, your greatest wish that Draco would return to you, finally granted. What, do you think that I would be happy to see you love someone else? Of course I wouldn't! Don't get me wrong Hermione, I would want nothing but for you to be happy, but with someone else, no, no I am sorry but I cannot ever wish such a thing. I can handle only so much pain, and that just reaches the limit."

"Why are you telling me this?" Hermione said loudly, not caring that tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"I am telling you this because I love you Hermione!"

Snapes face went pale as he watched the two scream at each other, their feelings now out in the open.

"Why now? Why are you telling me this now?" Hermione said, throwing her arms in the air.

Remus reached for Hermione's face, cupping her cheeks in his palms. "I love you, Hermione Granger, more than words could ever explain. I love you more than all of the stars in the sky, more than anything that I have ever felt before. You are the piece that completes my puzzle, the piece that I have been searching for my entire life. You complete me in so many ways, the feelings that I get when I am around you, the sweetness of your kiss. I need you in my life, Hermione. I know that there are so many things that are going to prevent us from ever being together, but I feel as though we can accomplish anything, that we could truly be together. I need you, Hermione. I really do need you."

Hermione shook her head, trying not to look at Remus. "I'm sorry," Remus grabbed her face, looking deep into her eyes.

"Don't say it, Hermione. Please," Remus said in a soft voice, knowing too well what Hermione was about to say.

"I can't be with you." Hermione looked away, squeezing her eyes shut, blocking out the painful look that appeared on Remus's face. His hands slowly fell from her face, falling freely to his sides. His eyes filled with tears, just as Hermione's, and his body went numb with the painful feeling of rejection; the feeling he knew too well.

"Remus, I'm sorry."

"No, no don't apologize, Hermione. It's quite all right." Remus said unemotionally, his eyes looking anywhere but at Hermione.

"Remus," Hermioe walked over to Remus and stood in front of him. "We just could never be together, no matter how hard we tried. No matter how hard we wanted to be with one another, there just isn't a way."

Remus looked back at Hermione, a forlorn look on his face. "I know that Hermione. Believe me, I have thought about it many times." He sighed. "I also believe that you belong with someone who will treat you the way that you should be treated, someone who will love you and care for you, someone you can be with in public, and not have to hide in the shadows. You belong with Draco Malfoy."

Hermione was surprised that Remus was actually telling her that she belonged with Draco. For the first time, Hermione regreted what she had said to Remus only minutes before. "Remus, I'm sorry,"

Holding up a hand, Remus shook his head. "No, no really, it is quite all right. You are right, we could never be together. I just need to get that through this thick skull of mine." Remus tapped on his head with a smile.

"I never wanted to hurt you." Hermione said softly. "I never imagined that I would fall as deep in love as I did with you, but reality hit me, and I realized that I cannot possibly be with you, and Draco as well."

Remus nodded, his hands in his pockets. "I understand, Hermione. I truely do." He sighed. "It's just that sometimes, I tend to turn my back on reality, not even realizing how caught up I can get in things. This situation is a fine example."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Hermione slowly inhaled in the stale smell of the basement, her tearstained eyes locking with Snapes, his face twisted in confusion.

"What in Merlin's beard is going on?" Snape asked, looking bewildered and stunned.

Remus shook his head. "We were just having a simple conversation, Serveus. It's really nothing to worry about." He replied, trying to make the conversation seem brighter than it really was.

Hermione nodded in agreement. "Really, I mean, can't a teacher and a student have a simple conversation?"

Snape slowly nodded his head, his eyes fixed on the two, not completely believing what Remus and Hermione were saying. "In my day, simple conversations consisted of talking about the weather, or possibly or studies, never about loving one another." Snape slightly tipped his head to the side. "Are you implying that you love one another?"

Remus looked at Hermione and smiled. "Of course not, Serveus. Where would you get that silly idea?"

Snape lowered his eyebrows. "Don't play with me, Remus. I want to know what is going on between you. That is an order."

"Professor, honestly, do you actually think that Professor Lupin and I would ever engage in some sort of relationship?" Hermione said with a grin.

"I know that there is something going on between you two." Snape pointed his finger at Hermione, and then at Remus. "Mark my word, I will find out about it sometime."

Remus let out a small chuckle. "You do that, Serveus, you do that."

Author's Note: Hey there! o0o I wonder what will happen when Hermione confronts Draco about what has happened? Will she go back to Draco...or Remus? Hmmmm...I guess that you will find out in the next chapter. I'm not sure when I am going to end this, possibly the 10th chapter, so be prepared for the end. No worries, I will write yet another story! Knowing my obsession with Draco Malfoy, it will more than likely be yet another Draco/Hermione fic. I would really like to write a Lily/James fic also. That will be new for me. Well, thanks to everyone that has reviewed! Love ya all!

Love

Jess