CHAPTER ELEVEN

Scream Bloody Murder

When it was time to get up, Hermione and Draco acted normal. They acted as if they had never had done what they did. Hermione wasn't worried about it, and neither was Draco. They laughed about it, which was oddly strange, but they thought it was funny.

Hermione entered the common room, with a loathing Harry sitting on the couch and glaring at her. She sighed. She was truly sorry about not being on the pitch when the task took place, but she never thought Harry would act like this. Something told her that Harry was different, something was different, and this was all a misunderstanding.

"Hey Harry." Hermione greeted as if nothing at all happened. She talked like they were friends still.

"Er-" Harry growled, he couldn't even say anything to her.

"I think someone greeted you Potter!" Draco hissed as he entered the room and entwined his fingers with Hermione's.

Harry said nothing and Hermione sighed. She felt horrible, how could she be so mean as to not be by her friend's side when he wanted her to be? Harry, in the beginning, didn't even want to do the task, but he did anyways. He did an excellent job too.

"Hermione, I'll meet you at breakfast." Draco said and gave her a light kiss on the lips. "I need to have a talk with someone." He said, staring into Hermione's eyes.

"No Draco." She pleaded. "I don't want you to be involved." She pleaded more, but Draco was stubborn.

"No Hermione, you don't deserve this." He said, ignoring her comment. "I will meet you at breakfast." He said in an orderly tone. Hermione sighed.

"Alright, love you." She said, kissing him again and heading for the door.

"I love you too." He called after her, but she didn't even respond or stop walking, she just kept walking.

Draco was far from relaxed, he was pissed. Harry had treated Hermione rudely over something so pointless. This shouldn't even matter, they should still be friends, but knowing Harry… this wasn't going to end too soon. Draco was furious with him. He walked over to Harry and sat down hardly in the chair.

"What?" Harry asked. He acted like nothing happened.

"What is your problem Potter?" Draco asked, with a darkened tone in his voice.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked dumbly.

"Stop acting like nothing is wrong Potter! How dare you talk to Hermione like that!" Draco snipped, Harry looked to him.

"Me? ME? SHE IS THE ONE THAT DITCHED ME!" He yelled, and Draco was now happy that no one was in their rooms.

"SHE DITCHED YOU? I DITCHED YOU… I MADE HER LEAVE!" Draco blurted out. Harry gave Draco a deep, loathing, glare.

"What?" Harry asked astonished.

"She told me about this muggle instrument that she was going to show me… and I trailed her away from the pitch. I told her that she would be able to see you from the window, and I figured it wouldn't be that big of a problem if we watched from there." Draco was still flaring.

"YOU DIDN"T EVEN KNOW WHICH ONE OF THE ANIMALS I WAS!" Harry said, slashing away to get to the point.

"We did too… and it wasn't very impressive. I thought you would have something better." Draco said, trying to contain his laughter.

"Which one do you think I was?" Harry asked through gritted teeth.

"Then damn tiger cub. You did a really pour job at your Animagus Registering." Draco laughed.

"Thank you for proving my point." Harry smiled smugly.

"What do you mean proving your point?" Draco asked, he was still fuming with anger, and sat at the edge of his chair.

"I wasn't that 'damn tiger cub'" Harry snipped as he mocked Draco, and Draco looked at him, his anger dying down.

"What?" Draco asked, amazed. He had made the world's biggest mistake.

"That was that Hannah girl." Harry said, deeply staring into the fire.

"Then which one was you?" He asked. He was utterly amazed. He could have sworn that tiger was Harry.

"You would know that if you were down there." Harry said, slouching in the chair and loathing Draco more then possible.

"You weren't the seal because that was Blaise… that means you were…" Draco started giggling. "You were a swan?" he giggled more.

"NO! CHO CHANG WAS THE DAMN SWAN!" Harry said, getting to his feet.

"You were definitely not the deer." Draco pointed out and Harry gave him a hard, deep, dark, death glare. "You were?" Draco asked, astounded.

Harry didn't answer. He stormed off into his room and didn't talk to them at all. He missed five classes that day, but he didn't care. This whole thing was stupid, but it was the world to Harry. Hermione promised she would be there… but she neglected to show up, and it tore Harry to pieces.

Draco walked into the Great Hall, searching, and found what he was looking for. Hermione was tucked away behind a book while she gently bit small pieces off of toast and chewed slowly. He walked down, feeling even worse. He now knew what Hermione was feeling, and he didn't like it one bit.

He walked behind Hermione and then to the side of her. He was speechless as he took a seat on the bench next to her. She turned to him after biting into a fresh and ruby red apple. She chewed it slowly.

"How'd it go?" She wondered, judging by his face she figured it didn't go too well.

"Horrible." He mumbled. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry." She sighed and he shook his head.

"No, it's not your fault. I just finally found out what you feel like." He sighed. "I thought Harry was the tiger and he was the deer. Man do I feel stupid."

"It's alright." Hermione sighed and kissed him on the cheek. "He might cool down after we give him some time." She sighed.

"I hope so." That was all Draco could say.

Hermione kept her head on Draco's shoulder as she saw Ron walk down the Great Hall and position himself across from Draco. Hermione didn't even say anything, just took another bite of her apple and read her book. She kept her head on Draco's shoulder as Draco began to chow down on breakfast.

"Hey guys." Ron said, rather out of breath.

"Hey." Hermione said right before taking another bite. She swallowed. "What happened?" she wondered.

Ron had bruises along his cheeks, and was breathing deeply. His clothes were drenched in a thick, black substance that smelled of fresh ink. Ron's arms were bleeding slightly from the little dents in his arms. Hermione looked horrified. Ron wasn't angry, mad, pissed, or anything... he was scared.

"Harry…" He said nervously.

"Figures," Draco snorted.

"He attacked me when I asked him why he wasn't here." Ron said shivering. "I've gotten five books thrown at me, two quills stabbed into me, ink thrown at me, and a lamp broken on my foot… what the hell did you do to him?" Ron asked, paranoid as always.

"Nothing." Hermione said simply. She took another bite.

"He's mad because we ditched him yesterday when he was doing the task." Draco sighed and took a bite of toast.

"I would be mad too… Didn't you promise you would be there?" Ron asked, grabbing a slice of toast and chewing quickly on it. Draco sighed.

"Yup." Hermione said simply again, as if nothing was going on. Hermione closed her book and picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet. She sighed.

"And you act like it's nothing?" Ron asked, astounded.

"Yup." Hermione repeated. Ron was getting the hint she wasn't even listening. "Tisk tisk... Four died in Nocturne Alley this morning by an attack." She sighed as she skimmed through the prophet.

"That's horrible!" Ron said loudly.

"I know… four dead, that's a real shame." She sighed.

"That's not what I was talking about!" Ron snipped. How could she be doing this?

"What are you talking about Ronald?" Hermione asked as she took another bite out of her apple.

"I'm talking about Harry! You broke a promise to him, didn't apologize for it, and don't even care about it." Ron shook his head in disbelief. "No wonder he's acting like he is." Ron sighed.

"Maybe you can talk some sense into him." Hermione said, still skimming the prophet. "He's over the top. He didn't have to freak out like that." Hermione pointed out.

"Hel-lo! Are you even Hermione? Harry was counting on you… I wouldn't be surprised if he hated you forever." Ron shook his head. "I'm not saying a word." He said stubbornly again.

"Look, we were watching from the window." Draco said, getting frustrated.

"It still isn't that same… where were you two? Snogging in the hallway?" Ron asked and Hermione blushed.

Draco was speechless. He didn't even want to answer. Snogging wasn't all they were doing, but he kept his mouth shut. Luckily, Ron hadn't asked for an answer. Supposedly he was joking, good thing too.

Hermione had finished her apple totally when she stood up and grabbed her bag that was filled with books, quills, parchment, and ink. Draco stood up with her and smiled. He gave her a small kiss on the lips and smiled.

"Are you ready to go to Potions?" He asked and she nodded.

They said their goodbyes to Ron and proceeded to the dungeons. They weren't surprised at all when they noticed Harry wasn't there. Harry planned on not leaving at all unless it was for food. He wouldn't go to dinner; he would go to the kitchens when no one was there if he was hungry.

Snape walked through the almost full class room. He had his normal, evil, grin upon his face. He walked down the rows, lurking around the student's shoulders, and reading their papers. He eyed the table in the corner where Ron sat alone. Snape walked over with a furious grin on him.

"Weasley, where is Potter?" he spoke loud and coldly.

"I don't know sir." Was all Ron could say, Hermione had raised her hand.

"Miss. Granger, do you know where he is?" Snape asked coldly. Draco could feel Hermione's grasp tighten around his hand under the table.

"He's sick sir." Hermione said, quivering. She lied to him, but she didn't want Harry in trouble for skipping.

"Well Miss Granger, make sure he sees to a three foot long parchment on the power of a moonstone." He sneered and Hermione nodded. In her mind she was crossing between two thoughts: 'haha Harry' and 'I'm sorry.'

"Yes Sir." That was all Hermione could say.

Professor Snape continued to lurk his greasy haired head over the shoulders of random students. He was sneering an evil sneer, when he saw Hermione and Draco's hands together. He felt like he was going to be sick.

'Slytherin and Gryffindor... pure-blood and mudblood... it's disgusting' he said evilly in his head.

Snape had started taking a liking to the houses but something in that head of his was a desire for evil to strike. His curtain of greasy, black hair would move as he turned sharply ever time he heard only a little noise.

"Wanna go somewhere tonight?" Draco whispered to Hermione as he began writing down the materials for their potion.

"Where?" Hermione asked, and she wasn't sure. She trusted him, obviously, but something told her that if she went something would go wrong. She made sure to keep eye contact with her paper so it didn't look suspicious.

"Quidditch Pitch." He spoke simply. Hermione turned to him sharply.

"What? Why would I want to go on the Quidditch Pitch?" She asked, astounded.

"Shhh..." Draco warned as he saw Snape look up.

"TEN POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!" Snape yelled as Hermione turned her gaze back to her paper.

"Sorry..." Draco whispered when he saw Snape's head lower.

"It's alright." She said silently. "So why would I want to go to the Quidditch Pitch?" She repeated, but this time much, much quieter.

"Well," he smiled devilishly "I have a surprise for you." He had a surprise, and was hoping she reacted to it well. Hermione felt like her heart had skipped a beat.

"You didn't have to get or do anything for me Draco... I love you, and I don't need anything more to complete my love." She whispered, and he smiled widely.

"I'd kiss you if we weren't being stalked." Draco said and they both silently laughed.

After the day had gone by, Hermione had slipped a piece of paper under Harry's door. It had a list off all the homework that was due tomorrow. Hermione was walking with Draco and they were going to the meeting that he asked Hermione to attend. She was freaked out.

"Draco, what is this about?" she asked. She was starting to get paranoid that he was leading her into danger.

"You'll see, now come on..." He said, tugging her forearm hardly so she was dragged onto the pitch.

"Alright... we are here, now what?" Hermione asked, looking around and realizing nothing was different.

"We are teaching... wait here." He said as he walked inside the tent on the far end of the pitch.

"Teaching? TEACHING WHAT?" She yelled after him, but he didn't answer back.

Draco walked out minutes later. Hermione knew exactly what he was teaching now. She looked at him, her face full with horror. She took steps backwards, she wanted to run... run far away and never return.

"No way in hell Draco!" Hermione said, still backing away. "I am not doing this!" She said stubbornly.

"Do you trust me?" He asked,

"Yes, but-" he cut her off.

"Do you love me?" He asked and she sighed.

"Yes, but that has nothing to do with my fear of heights!" She said. Draco carried the broom closer to her.

"If you love me, you'll fly." He spoke only seriousness.

"That's not fair Draco! That's not fair at all!" Hermione said seriously. "Don't make me do this Draco, please?" She begged and Draco shook his head.

"I need you to rid your fears. I want you to not be afraid of anything." Draco said. He moved closer to her and she took another step back.

"You can not make me do this Draco, I will not do it. You know how terrified I am, and you will only make it worse." She said. She was confused. She didn't know whether to cry, scream, or just be angry.

"Hermione, I need you to do this. If you do this, it would prove so much." Draco insisted. Hermione took another step back.

"Draco I love you, but I will not be made the bad guy here. You are making it sound like its bad that I have a fear... and it's not bad." She retorted. She spoke lightly, trying to reduce her anger to as minimum as possible.

"Hermione, you once told my father that fearing a name, only increases the fear of the thing itself. Why is this any different? You fear flying, but you have never tried Hermione... please try? Do it for me?" He begged. Hermione wanted but to run.

Hermione felt her heart pump harder. She couldn't do this, she couldn't. There was no way that she would even get on a broom and go anywhere. Nothing would change her mind at all. She was going to stay here, and that's that.

She was a two feet on the ground person, and was never going to change. She would swear on her life that she would never risk anything by removing her feet from the ground. She was scared, terrified, and he was pushing. He was pushing harder then ever, and she couldn't do it.

"Draco, this is a recipe for disaster!" She pleaded. "I could be scared for life, and it's bad enough that I have to stand in those high Quidditch stands!" She exclaimed.

"But you seem to feel fine with them now, after you got use to them, that is." He spoke and Hermione took a step forward.

"Because I have my feet on something and it makes me feel like I'm safe." She didn't even know what to say anymore. She wanted to scream, she wanted to run, and she wanted to leave so badly that it began to hurt.

Draco said nothing, he was only trying to help, and she knew that. She was grateful, but it was a different story. A horror of many injuries and problems happened with being too high. She just could not handle it.

She took a step forward, so she was right in front of Draco. She hugged him closely, whispering to him, and he appeared to be happy. She didn't notice, of course, because she wasn't looking directly at him.

"Draco, I'm sorry." She clung to him. She didn't even notice what was currently happening.

"It's alright, just don't look down." Draco comforted. She felt the wind at her feet and opened her eyes. And there it was. She screamed.

She screamed Bloody Murder.

Author's Note:

I realize I haven't updated this story in a really, REALLY long time. I was hoping to get more reviews on this, but sadly I haven't. I want to thank you all who read this and tell you that your reviews mean the world to me. My friends tell me constantly that I am a good writer, and I should try writing a book, or something casual in saying that I should help others with their stories. Well I disagree. I don't like how I write and all, but it's my reviewers that keep me writing. If it wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't be on fanfiction anymore. I just wanted to tell you that, and good luck with your chapters and stories in the future.

One more thing: Always remember that a dream can only start if you believe it can.

Airalynn

JewelBlossom: Thank you so much for congratulating me on my successful surgery, you are the greatest! Never let anyone tell you different –wink wink-

UPDATED: (FRIDAY) APRIL 22, 2005