Draco's POV
Hermione screamed out from behind Draco.
"NO!!!!!!!!!!" Draco threw his arms up to cover his face, anticipating the final deadly blow. Thoughts raced through his mind, scenes from his life unfolded before his eyes. He knew he could never survive it, but better him than Hermione. He opened his eyes, he had to face his own death watching to the very end. The flash of green light sped toward him, ever getting nearer and nearer. He steadied himself, ready to face the light. It came within ten feet of the boy when from his left side a beam of pure white light erupted. It collided mid air with the killing curse. An explosion of white and green lit up the grounds like fireworks.
A scream of, "Bloody hell!" reached his ears as yet another beam shot off. It went straight at his father. Lucius stared wide eyed at the impending curse. He raised his own wand and with a flick and a pop, he was gone. The beam traveled on, striking a tree that had stood behind the death eater. The tree went up in flames and in a matter of seconds nothing remained but a pile of ash. Draco lowered his arms and turned around, wand ever ready. Standing to their right, stood a man in gleaming white robes, his wise eyes watching angrily at the spot where Mr. Malfoy Senior had previously occupied. Professor Dumbledore turned to the two shaken up teens.
"Are you alright, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger?" Draco and Hermione nodded while she fell back into Draco's arms. "I think you two need to follow me." Dumbledore turned to the castle, his robes billowing behind him. Draco slowly led a trembling Hermione after him. Dumbledore turned back and looked at the two, as if weighing some heavy option. He paused outside his office but one more glance back at his students made him continue on. They stopped outside the Head dorms. The headmaster spoke the password and they all three entered. Dumbledore walked over to the large chair beside the fireplace, which already had a blaring fire going in it. Draco led Hermione over to the couch and sat down with her still in his arms. Dumbledore looked solemnly up at Draco before speaking.
"I don't know how your father managed to apparate so closely to the school, but I do know one thing, no student will be allowed out of this building until we find out." Draco shook his head. Hermione only stared, wide eyed, at the headmaster.
"How, how did you know to be there?" Draco asked, not bothering to hide the tremor in his voice. Dumbledore only smiled and looked at the boy, a knowing expression on his face. Draco dismissed the professor's lack of answer with his next question. "What do we do now?"
"Well, we will improve the wards and place guards at the entrances. I already have people searching for your father, Mr. Malfoy, but I'll find some way to send more. I almost had him with that spell, if only I had acted soon." Dumbledore shook his head. "There is nothing more we can do now. Let me know immediately if you hear from him. Or if anything, well, odd happens." A distant look crossed the old man's face, a wise look. "But, for now, Mr. Malfoy, try to get a good nights sleep." He turned and walked out of the dorm. Draco leaned back against the couch, exhausted. Hermione leaned her head on his chest, still shaking with fear. Draco felt a single tear fall unto his shirt where his robes had come open. Her stroked her hair with one hand.
"It's going to be just fine, Hermione." She settled herself down farther into him, as if seeking shelter from the world. With his free hand he began gently running his hand down the length of her back in continuous circles, pressing lightly into her.
"Draco," she whispered, barely audible.
"Yes?" he quietly replied.
"Why did you, step in front of me? He would have killed you." Draco continued to stroke her.
"I would rather him kill me than you." She looked up at him questioningly. "I could never live with myself if I knew I had let my Hermione die." She settled herself farther into him after he said that.
"Since when am I yours?" she asked, wistfulness in her eyes.
"I just assumed, I mean if you don't want to be I understand." Draco cast his gaze over to the fireplace. He felt his heart fall again, he shouldn't have tried to claim her. She would never be his. As his saddening thoughts overtook him he felt a hand reach up and gently caress his face.
"Of course I want to be." Draco felt his previously fallen heart soar through the clouds. He lowered his face to hers and kissed her for the second time that night, this time without interruptions. Together they fell asleep on the couch, wrapped tightly in each other's arms.
Hermione's POV
Hermione awoke to find herself in Draco's arms. She sighed contently and snuggled deeper into her new boy friend, her dragon. Draco opened his eyes at the sudden movement. He smiled down at Hermione.
"Good morning." he said as he brought his hand up to smooth down some of her hair.
"Morning." she sleepily replied. Hermione closed her eyes, willing this moment to stay the same forever.
"You're going to have to get off of me, we have classes and I doubt they would appreciate me attending with you hanging off of me. All though I'm sure everyone's expression would be quite amusing." Hermione groaned and pushed herself closer to him. Draco sighed and carefully put both arms underneath the stubborn Gryffindor. He picked her up and then, unceremoniously dropped her to the floor. Hermione's eyes flew open as she felt herself hit the floor with a loud "thunk." She angry looked up at the Slytherin as he looked down, clearly satisfied with himself and laughed. "You might want to do something with that mop you call hair. It's all over the place." He laughed again. Hermione quickly brought her hand to her hazelnut hair. As she ran her fingers through it, they caught on small knots that had tied themselves there. She stood up in a huff and turned to march into her room. She got to her doorway when she suddenly turned back to Draco.
"What are we going to do?" Draco looked at her and then with a shrug of his shoulders simply stated,
"We might as well come out with it. My father already knows since he caught us together and I'm sure he will go straight to Crabbe and Goyle Sr. who will go straight to their sons. It will be all over school with those two idiots running their mouths. I'd rather be the one to announce it than let them have the satisfactory of thinking they know more than they really do." Hermione nodded her head.
"I just hope Ron and Harry take it well. They certainly didn't like the fact that you had kissed me that once."
"Yea, I can only imagine their reactions when they learn I'll be doing it every chance I get." Draco smirked at Hermione. Hermione blushed and looked down.
"Yea, well, I don't want to be late for breakfast." She turned and fled to her room to prepare for the day.
They met up in their common room and apprehensively looked at one another. Draco walked over to her and gently kissed her. Hermione pushed him back, "We have to get breakfast and I don't want to look like I've just gotten snogged."
"At least they would know the truth." Draco taunted as he leaned in again. Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door.
"Come on." They headed down the hallway, receiving weird looks from everyone they passed. They stood outside the doors to the Great Hall, hand in hand. Hermione looked up at Draco, anxiety clear on her face.
"So am I going to be forced to deal with the horrid Gryffindors' presence this morning?"
"Well, I'm sure not sitting at your table to be mocked by all the muggle hating gits."
"Funny, I seem to remember being called that before." Draco smirked.
"Oh, shut up and come on." Hermione pushed aside the door and they both took a step in. All eyes turned to Hermione and Draco, silence wrapped around them. Hermione looked around, the Gryffindors stared at her as if she had lost her mind, the Slytherins looked as if they had seen the pits of hell themselves. The Ravenclaws all seemed shocked and the Hufflepuffs all had their mouths hanging open. Professor McGonagall had one eyebrow raised in surprise while Snape sat and looked as scornful as ever. Tonks had a mix of happiness to see Hermione and total disgust at what stood by her side. Dumbledore's smiled increased more than she had seen it in a long time and the twinkle in his eyes was brighter than ever. They slowly made their way over to the Gryffindor table, everyone's gaze followed the headboy and girl. They neared Harry and Ron. Ron glared daggers at Draco and Harry seemed more shocked and confused than angry. She sat down, followed by Draco.
"Hey guys." She tried, a worried look on her face. Harry finally closed his mouth and then opened it again to say,
"Why is he here?"
"He, wanted to sit by me?"
"What are you not telling me, Mione?" Harry glanced at Draco scornfully.
"Guys, meet Draco, my new boyfriend." Hermione blushed as they looked at her like she had lost her mind.
"Hermione! It's one thing to let him kiss you, it's a totally different thing to allow him claim to you."
"Yea, how could you, Mione?" Ron yelled out.
"You guys said you would try and accept him or have you already forgotten? I really like him and I think he really likes me!" Draco smirked.
"You're just upset that I took your little girlfriend away from you."
"Draco, you are not helping!" Harry shook his head.
"Alright, Mione. I'm doing this for you, not him." he glared at Draco. "Just keep him away from me and we will be fine."
"Thanks, Harry. I'm sure you two can get to be friends." Draco smiled evilly at Harry who in return sneered back.
"I wouldn't push it, Herm." Harry shot Ron a surprised look. She never let anyone call her that, not even them, without hexing them to oblivion. Hermione just looked to Draco and sighed. They ate their breakfast in near silence and hurried off to their classes for the day. The day passed uneventfully. In every class there was talk of Hermione and Draco, heads turned when they walked into the classrooms. Rumors spread such as that Draco poisoned Hermione to fall in love with him or that Hermione had finally gone off the deep end. They chose to ignore the rumors, if the idiots wanted to believe them then that was their problem, they knew the truth and that was all that mattered, for now.
The day passed and they headed back to their common room. Hermione and Draco led the way followed by Harry, Ron and Ginny. They stopped outside the portrait marking the Head dorms.
"I guess I'll see you all tomorrow then." Hermione waved to her friends. Before they could reply Draco had swept her into his arms and leaned her back. He pushed his lips onto hers. He playfully bit at her, begging her to play back. He let out a slight groan as she fulfilled his wish. He pushed her back against the wall, one hand running through her now smooth hair. A loud cough came from behind Draco. Hermione pushed him away to look at her very uncomfortable friends.
"I said I could put up with him but that's just torture." Hermione blushed and turned to glare angrily at Draco whom looked at Harry and Ron with a satisfied smirk on his face. Hermione waved good bye to her friends again and hurried through the opening. Draco casually followed behind her.
"Draco! How could you?"
"Aw, come on. Don't say you didn't like it." He smiled at her. "And the reaction from your 'friends' was hilarious." He threw his bags on the floor and sprawled out on the couch, his potions book in hand. Hermione threw her stuff down on the desk and they both got to work on their assignments. The night drew on with the only interruptions being a loud sigh or groan from one or the other when they got stuck on a problem or the triumphant slamming of a book closed when they completed the work. Hermione was the first one finished, followed closely by Draco. They said their good nights and departed into their separate bedrooms. Night closed in around them as they slowly drifted off into slumber.
Draco's POV
Draco closed his eyes and let the darkness take him away in sleep. As his breathing slowed his dreams took a new shape.
Swirls of mist erupted from around his feet. The mixing gray and
black and green crept up his legs, temporarily immobilizing him.
He kept the panic down, as all Malfoys had been taught at a very
early age. He took in his surroundings. All around him stood tall
looming trees, swaying with the slight breeze of the night. Owls
hooted from their perches amongst the branches, wolves called out
into the night baying at the full moon glowing above him. Clouds
swirled across its pale yellow surface, giving the night an eerie feel
to it. Voices carried on the wind. He slowly crept toward them, not
making any sound. He seemed to walk above the ground for he laid
his feet upon sticks that normally would have woken the woods with
a loud crack, made no break at his touch. He stepped out into a
clearing, holding perhaps twenty or so men all clothed in black. He
searched the faces of the dark men. He recognized most, including
his father. Draco's face grew dark as he continued to know the men.
There stood Crabbe and Goyle's fathers along with many other of
the Slytherin blood. All stood in a circle, staring at something or
someone in the middle. Draco edged closer fully aware that none
noticed him. The Dark Lord stood over a man, not young but
certainly not old. Voldemort's eyes glowed red and the fire within
showed through clearly. Draco watched, sickened as his father bowed
and kissed the hems of his robes. His father stood and resumed his
place in the circle of Deatheaters. Draco looked at the man, also
cloaked in black, at the Dark One's feet. The man raised his head,
looking in Draco's direction. Fear struck him as he thought he would
be un-covered. Draco gasped. His potion professor and godfather was
the man. He looked at Draco, but changed his view quickly and looked
to the trees around him, as if seeing more than just him.
"You have failed to bring me the Mudblood Granger yet again, Severus."
Voldemort's voice rang out through the forest. He raised his wand and
cried out, "Crucio!" The curse hit Snape, sending him backwards a few
feet. He laid there and withered in pain as the Dark Lord placed it on
him four more times before allowing the meeting to end. Draco looked
back to his right into the woods. Hermione's face looked back at him,
fear stricken. Draco gasped as he was thrust back out of the darkness.
Draco awoke in a cold sweat. He pulled back the covers of his bed and quickly ran out into the common room.
Hermione's POV
Hermione was thrust awake. She sat up straight in bed, sweat dripping off her. She had to find Draco. She ran out into the common room. Draco stood at the edge of the couch, waiting for her. She ran over to him and he engulfed her into a tight hug.
"So it was you." she whispered. Draco nodded his head. "We have to tell Dumbledore, what if these are like Harry's dreams?"
"I can't believe you go to that old maniac, but for once I agree." Draco released her and walked over to the portrait. He turned around and looked expectantly at Hermione. "Come on." Hermione smiled.
"As much as I'm sure the female population here at Hogwarts would appreciate it, I'm sure the rest of them and me included would like it if you put some clothes on first." Draco looked down and took notice of his silver boxers with the inlaid dragon on the waist band. Draco 'accio'ed' a robe from his closet. They headed down the hallway and entered Dumbledore's office. There in the seats sat Harry and Ron, also in their night clothes.
AN hey again! i managed to get it done before i said i would! yay!!! i hope ya like it. its shorter than last chap but i just had to leave ya with another cliffie! hehe ;) thanks to everyone who reviewed to chap 8! im starting a new email thingy where if ya want ill email you the summary of my upcoming chapter. Just leave a note in your review saying you want to be added to my list! Thanks to Andrea for that suggestion! Also thanks to lizzie for beta reading this chap for me!!! Thanks to all of you for reading my story and please review!!!