DISCLAIMER: Alas, I do not own Draco Malfoy...so I am forced to live in my little dream world...but one day...he will be mine...mwahahahahahahaha *evil laugh*  J/K

~*~Chapter Thirteen~*~

~*~Hermione POV~*~

It was now Friday and luckily I had still seen no sign of Eric.  Draco had kept a close eye on me all day, not that I minded of course.  He waited for me after English class, watching me and waiting patiently while I packed up my bag.  'Shit'  I dropped my notebook and my papers were all over the floor.  My klutzy self had gotten worse today with the thoughts of Eric in the back of my mind.  Draco had placed his books down and squatted down to help me.  As he reached over to hand me my papers, his hands brushed over my own.  I knew that there was no way I would be able to get through this without him.

"Thank you."

"No problem."  He placed his hands under my chin to pull my head up to look him in the eye.  "Hey...we're gonna get through this, okay?  You're not alone...I'm here."  He brushed my tears away with the pad of his thumb.  I didn't even realize that I had started crying.

"I know that and I appreciate it.  I just don't want to deal with this crap right now.  My life was just beginning to pull together and what happens??  HE comes back to screw it all up again!!"

"Hermione, listen to me.  You will get through this and he will not screw up your life...not if I have anything to do with it.  We will get through it together.  I will do everything in my power to protect you."

I reached my hand up and placed it on his cheek and our eyes locked.  "Thank you" I spoke in almost a whisper.  "Now let's get out of this classroom."  He placed his hands on the small of my back, making me feel so safe and protected.

"Do you want to go somewhere for lunch, Hermione, or what would you rather do?"

"I'd really like to just go back to my room...fix some mac-and-cheese...crank up some music."

"Oh...okay..."

"You can come up if you want.  Actually, I'd feel better if you did."

I grabbed his hand and we walked back to my dorm room.  I would feel much better if I was in the confines of my dorm room.  The chances of him finding me were much slimmer.  And I knew that with Draco I would be safe...I trusted him.

~*~Draco POV~*~

I watched her grab the boxes of Easy Mac and pour the noodles in two bowls then pour water in them.  Then she stuck them in this box and pressed a few buttons.  I was completely confused by this thing.  Apparently she noticed my confusion.

"Oh...that's a microwave.  It's just a machine that helps cook food."

"Wow!  Muggle devices are amazing!"

"Hahaha...yeah...I guess they are!  I guess I never think about things like that.  It's just all a part of everyday life for me."

The microwave made a beeping noise and Hermione went and pulled the two bowls out.  She finished fixing the mac-and-cheese and handed me one of the bowls.  We ate in silence.  She went to another device and pressed a few buttons, and soon music filled the air.  I recognized the music as Avril Lavigne, one of the muggle artists that I actually knew.  Hermione quickly finished eating and starting singing along to the music.  Obviously she had listened to this album many times because she knew every word to every song...it was amazing!  She sang as if she was releasing all her anger.  As much as I enjoyed listening to her singing, I couldn't take this anymore...staying inside, afraid to go out.

So I stood up and too her hands in mine.  "Come on...we're going out!"  I pulled her along behind me.  It was a beautiful sunny day, so we were going to take a walk around the soccer field.  "Sorry to be so forceful, but I couldn't take staying inside like that."

"No...it's okay.  I have to learn to stand up against my fears."

Suddenly another voice filled our conversation.  "And I see you have obviously gotten over your fear of guys."  I turned to see a guy around my age with short brown hair wearing baggy jeans and a vintage t-shirt.

Hermione turned with her eyes wide.  "Eric?"

"The one and only, babe.  Bet you didn't think you'd see me again, did ya?"

"Well...let's just say I was praying to GOD that I wouldn't ever see you again."

"C'mon now...don't be like that...you know you missed me girl."  This guy was seriously pushing his luck.  He tried grabbing Hermione's arm, but she instantly jerked away.

"NO, Eric!  I did NOT miss you!  Why can you not get that through your self-centered head?!"

"You know what?!?!  I should have never come here!!  I was going to forgive you and give you another chance, but you know what?!?!  You don't deserve another chance!!  You don't deserve to be with any man!!"

I was loosing my patience now.  Lucky for me, I brought my wand with me.  He was so involved with his little argument that he never saw what was coming.  "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!"  He stopped in his tracks.  Hermione turned to me obviously confused by what just happened.  I waved my wand in front of her face.

"Umm...can he still hear us?"

"Actually, yes he can.  Could you maybe step over there for a few minutes??  Give me just a second here."  She gave me a look almost like a warning and then stepped aside.

I walked up to Eric and stood right in front of him.  "Don't you ever talk to that girl like that ever again, or you will regret the day you were born!!  You don't even deserve her!!"  I poked my wand into the base of his throat.  "I will and can hex you until you feel like you'd rather be dead...and believe me...I can arrange that too!!  Just sod off and make sure that I never see your face again, you arrogant git!"

I walked back over to Hermione.  "What exactly did you do to him?"

"I just put him in a full-body bind and then yelled his face off."

"Draco, when he comes out of that, he'll know you're a wizard...you can't risk that for me...I won't let you!"

"Hermione Hermione...calm down...I'll just use a memory charm on him and change his memory of the situation.  It will be okay."

"Are you sure that will work?"

"Hermione...trust me...it will work."

We started to leave and I quickly used the memory charm to change his memory where he thought that we just had a big argument...of course leaving in the part where I told him that I could make his life miserable.  We quietly walked back to her room.  I knew that the words that Eric told her were beginning to sink in.  I could see the tears begin to form in her eyes.

"Do you want me to come in with you??"

"It really doesn't matter...does it?"

I was not about to leave her like this.  That git has left her feeling like she can never love again.  I would now make it my life's work to make sure that this girl will never get hurt anymore.  She deserved better than this!

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remember to read/review...thanx  ~*~surfngurl~*~