Chapter Soundtrack - Black Balloon by The Kills
/
They'd timed the meetup during the Hogsmeade trip to minimise the chances of being interrupted.
Hermione had chosen the potions lab. It seemed fitting. It was in the dungeons, where the least amount of people tended to loiter. On top of that, most people were hunkered away in the library, sweating over essays at the moment. Slughorn had assigned a particularly tricky one on seasonal ingredients.
Luna and Tracey had both agreed to stand on lookout, after being informed the bare bones of what was happening. Luna always seemed content to tag along even with minimal information and Tracey seemed keen to be with Luna, so it all was sorted out.
The four of them couldn't be seen standing about in the hallway, or it might look suspicious. Instead, they were stationed one door over, in a storage room, about ten metres away. Draco had the TeleGalleon on hand.
Hermione had activated the second one and kept it in her pocket. That way, her friends would be privy to everything that was said.
They'd agreed they would rush in only when Hermione gave them the go. They needed to make sure they got incriminating info out of the poisoner before attacking him. Luna and Tracey would block the exits while Draco and Theo would go on the offensive.
It felt strange being back here.
It was here where it had all started for her and Draco.
If it hadn't been for Draco, who knows what could have happened to Hermione, in this very room.
She repressed a shudder.
Waiting was painful.
She sat at the table furthest from the door, watching it warily.
The torchlight cast long shadows on the walls that flickered and made her feel on edge.
She didn't dare talk to her friends. What if her nefarious visitor walked in while she was speaking into the Galleon in her pocket?
There was nothing for it. She had to just sit and wait in silence.
She wondered what the others were thinking.
Fifteen minutes past the agreed time and still no sign.
They'd agreed on waiting an hour over the assigned time. It seemed endless.
Hermione jumped violently as the heavy, brass door knob creaked.
Her whole body tensed. Her heart was racing. She knew her friends were nearby but she still felt scared. Most of all though, she felt angry.
This was it. She would come face to face with her stalker.
The doorknob turned and the door creaked open.
Hermione braced herself. Her hand was poised, ready to fly into her pocket and whip out her wand if she needed to. She ran through the duel briefing Draco had given her last night.
Deep breaths. Clear your mind. Stay calm.
Someone stepped inside the lab.
Hermione almost sighed with relief.
It was only Theo.
"Is everything all right?" Hermione asked, her whole body relaxing. She realised her shoulders were a little sore from sitting tensely for over forty-five minutes.
"Everything is fine."
Theo walked towards her with a measured step. He was observing her carefully.
Some instinct caused Hermione to slowly rise from her seat and take a step back.
Something was wrong.
Theo was acting strange. No swagger, no mischievous smirk, no kindness in his eyes.
He was staring straight at her, surveying her. Analysing her. It made her extremely uncomfortable.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, cursing her voice for trembling.
"This is the time you indicated on your invitation, is it not?"
Her blood ran cold, her worst fears confirmed.
Theo.
But how could it be?
This was his plan! She trusted him!
It didn't make any sense!
"Why?"
"'Why' what?"
"Why did you steal Astoria's love potions and sneak them in the lab? Why did you poison Cho? Why write me some cryptic letter with a Shakespeare quote from some disgusting book on love potions?" She burst out all at once.
Theo laughed. It wasn't his usual, snarky laugh. It was quiet. Ominous.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Hermione-" the casual way he used her first name made her skin crawl- "I can only attest to the last thing. Yes, I sent you a love letter. Because, yes, I am in love with you."
"You- You don't even know me!"
"Of course, I do. We've been studying together in the library for ages, have we not?"
"What was the last essay of mine that you corrected?"
Theo paused.
"Clever. I hope you can forgive me. I wasn't quite ready to reveal myself to you."
"It was you…Theo dreamt someone came to visit him last night, but it wasn't Binns doing a jig, it was you! You took some of his hair!"
"I don't think so. I most likely found a hair on the ground and tested it in a Polyjuice potion and it happened to belong to Theodore Nott. Foolhardy, yes, but not illegal."
Hermione was about to lose it. Was this his game? Show up disguised as someone she cared about and deny everything and just taunt her? She needed to get a memory of his confession for a pensieve or all this would be for nothing, but it was hard to think through her blind rage.
She needed to keep him talking, keep him busy and maybe she could get something useful out of it.
She prayed the others wouldn't barge in without her giving the order. She knew Draco was probably beside himself with anger and that thought alone forced Hermione to focus enough to stall a while more.
"Why this quote?"
"I thought it fitting to send a quote from the greatest Muggle poet to the greatest Muggleborn I'd ever met."
"How did you know he was Muggle?"
"I looked into it. The quote itself is tremendous, isn't it? 'I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell. To die upon the hand I love so well.' He certainly had a way with words, for a Muggle. His whole body of work is truly extraordinary. Why do you suppose the author of Love Potions and their Many Uses put such a quote in this book?"
"As a warning," Hermione answered curtly, "Forcing someone to fall in love with you could be making a heaven out of hell, but ultimately, you would die upon that hand. That is to say, it would also destroy any chance you would have with that person to begin with."
"Interesting. And what of 'it is better to have loved and lost, then to never have loved at all?' Perhaps, knowing what it would feel like, even if it means never seeing that person again, could be better than not knowing at all. If this is what it means to die, I would die a happy man. I feel like this was how the author intended it."
"Why did you come here, if you're going to keep up this charade of innocence?" Hermione snapped.
Polyjuice Theo looked at her in contemplation, his finger tracing the edge of the table that separated them. It was uncanny to see this mystery person puppeteering her friend's body.
"Do you believe in love at first sight, Hermione?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"No."
"I didn't think I did either. But some people swear by it. Imagine this. You see someone from across the hall. You're drawn to them. You ask them out and they say yes. Fast forward ten years. You're married, with children and you love each other more than ever. Wouldn't that, then, qualify as love at first sight?"
Hermione didn't know what he was getting at, but she needed to play along if she wanted to wring any useful information out of him.
"Of course not. You can't love someone without knowing them."
"But how do you know? Love is a feeling. It can't be proven nor quantified. The definition varies from person to person. It's a personal experience. And, dare I say, a spiritual experience. We can be drawn to people who are wrong for us. But what of when we're drawn to the right person? Who's to say there isn't any instinctual attraction, an intuitive connection, a preternatural magnetism? Unless you can prove it doesn't exist, nothing prevents it from existing."
Hermione opened her mouth and then closed it. She very much wanted to disagree. Yet it was sort of like arguing with Luna. You couldn't really get on the same page with someone if you weren't even in the same book.
"I truly believe that the first time I saw you, I fell in love."
Hermione felt her skin crawl. False Theo continued.
"I've known for a while now, perhaps since the beginning, that I never had a chance with you. You are the smartest, most beautiful, most brilliant and courageous witch our age, if not in the last half century. How could I, an average wizard, ever compare?"
"You were always with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. And, while I loathed to admit it, they were extremely talented individuals themselves. I always assumed you would end up with one of them. How could I even dare approach you, when two superior suitors surrounded you and knew you better than I ever could."
"Then, the Yule ball came along, and to my surprise, you didn't go with Harry Potter, nor Ron Weasley. Instead, you chose an international Quidditch star. Once again, I was reminded how very, very far out of reach you were."
"I saw it all. Your loneliness. The way people underappreciated you. You were so much smarter, brighter than all of us. I wanted so badly for you to know that I, humble being that I was, thought the world of you. But I was a coward and admired you from afar. My whole life I had been told to stay hidden, stay out of the way. This rings true to this day and is the main reason why I hid from you for so long."
"Then, the war was upon us. It taught me that life is short. Precious. We must act now, or we would have lived a life of emptiness. But you weren't there. You had wisely chosen to abandon your last year at Hogwarts. I'd hoped you were safe. I hoped it every night. I'd missed my chance to finally talk to you, to tell you how I felt. But it didn't matter if it meant you were alive and safe."
"When I found out you had returned to Hogwarts for your final year, I can't begin to describe to you how happy I was. Finally, I could tell you how I felt. After so many years of waiting, cowering, pining."
"Imagine how dismayed I was. How devastated I was. You were back from the war, a heroine, a goddess, idolised, venerated. You were further away from me than ever. But still, I decided I would talk to you. I promised myself I wouldn't live in the shadows any longer. I wouldn't shy away from my feelings being known."
"I finally decided to approach you. I had planned it for weeks- no, years, really. I picked a day when you had your favourite classes - Arithmancy and Charms. I wanted everything to be in my favour. I found you in the Hall. You were already accosted by a group of admirers. You looked so beautiful, smiling and accepting their adoration with such modesty. I waited patiently for them to leave. It took awhile, but finally, finally, they were on their way. I approached you, I remember my heart was beating so fast. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I would finally talk to you. You would know I exist."
"And you…brushed me away. Like I was no one. But, of course you did. Because I was no one. How many more people had accosted you that week? Probably dozens if not hundreds. I was an ordinary, invisible person. Nothing spectacular about my looks, no achievements of note, no extraordinary charisma. My best talent was my downfall - staying hidden."
"Still, I didn't want to give up. I had waited so long for this moment. I gathered my courage. I asked you to the Halloween Ball. Once again, you shut me down. You didn't even really look at me. I felt like I'd been dismissed before even being acknowledged."
"I'd picked up a book on love potions perhaps for wishful thinking. I'd never brew one of course," he said the latter very carefully. "Lo and behold, there was your name on the card. Was it destiny? A coincidence? I was compelled to write to you. I thought perhaps our common interest in literature might sway you."
"And it did. You wrote to me. A meeting place. It was more than anything I could ever hope for. A chance to tell you all the things I've carried with me for years."
"And so you see, Hermione, I came here today, to finally tell you. My feelings are strong and real. I've watched you, for a long, long time. I know things about you maybe you even don't. Like how you scrunch your nose when you read, or the way you roll your eyes when you're irritated. When you beam because a teacher praises you. I know all of it. And it will never be mine, because I am no one. Even now, I know that. But I suppose I would rather die upon the hand that I know so well, rather than live in emptiness. That is why I came here today."
Hermione was numb with horror.
"You're mad. Completely mad," was all she could think to answer.
"They do call it 'madly in love' for a reason, I believe."
She racked her brains trying to remember every person who had asked her out, but of course it was impossible and Polyjuice Theo knew it, or he wouldn't have told her anything.
The fact that she'd seen him, but still had no idea who he was made her want to throw up. He had always been there, hidden in plain sight, and she'd never known.
"Why did you sign it as Draco Malfoy?"
"Ahh. I'm quite embarrassed to say I didn't want my name discovered in such a book. Pride, I suppose. I wrote in the name of someone I didn't care much for. He is the most hated student in the school, after all."
Hermione paused.
Had they been wrong? Was the love poisoner and this fanatic two separate people? It was possible…
Something in Hermione's gut said otherwise. He was too composed. Too careful in the way he spoke.
He had written Draco's name in that book because he knew Draco had foiled his plan. The problem was how to prove it.
How long had they been talking? There couldn't be much time left until the Polyjuice wore off. If she could just see his real face-
"I think I should be off now. For what it's worth, I'm sorry Hermione. I'm sorry I had to tell you in this way. But now you know."
"You won't get away with this!" Hermione cried out impulsively.
He looked at her with an infuriating amount of pity.
"I really think it's best that I do. Would you risk your friends getting in trouble? Malfoy and Nott? I must say, your credibility has taken quite a hit since you've thrown in with them. How would it look if those two were implicated in attacking a poor, innocent, lovesick student? Because that is what I am and it's all I've claimed to be. Pining isn't a crime, Hermione. However, torturing and murdering Muggles is. If they get caught in any bad business, they aren't simply facing expulsion, are they? Their criminal cases will be reopened. I wonder, do you think they would let Malfoy and Nott off a second time? I hear there are quite a few members of the Wizengamot who wanted both of them in Azkaban…"
"They aren't murderers!" Hermione spat.
"Quite a lot of people think they are, though. And you aren't exactly unbiased anymore."
Hermione was shaking.
He had been careful with his words. He knew he had been walking into an ambush and he'd come prepared.
She had been so close to catching him. So close.
But he knew her. Knew she wouldn't risk her friends.
"This is goodbye, Hermione. I truly wish the best for you. Thank you for taking the time to hear me out. Perhaps one day we will all find our heaven."
He walked towards the door at an easy pace.
He'd played them all like a fiddle and would disappear back into the shadows.
His hand was on the doorknob.
"I think you're right!" Hermione burst out.
He turned slightly. She stared at him, squaring her shoulders. She would not show him any weakness.
"I always thought love potions were rubbish. That they should be illegal," she continued, "but perhaps you're right that they can be useful."
He faced her. She saw something flicker in his eyes. Hope?
"I don't think I would have ever given two thoughts to Draco Malfoy. But thanks to that love potion in the potions lab, I got to know him enough to fall in love with him. So maybe they do work sometimes after all."
If Hermione had any lingering doubts about fake Theo's guilt, the expression on his face resolved all of them.
His mouth turned downward in a grimace. His brow wrinkled while his eyes widened in disbelief.
"You love…"
"I'm in love with Draco Malfoy. He's my soulmate."
It was immensely satisfying to watch false Theo fall apart. She savoured this small victory.
"No!"
She knew what he was thinking.
He'd seen her date other people. Made peace with the thought that she didn't love him. That she would never love him.
But knowing he'd orchestrated her falling in love with someone else- and not just anyone else; the most hated person at Hogwarts- well, it would be an unbearable notion for anyone.
Perhaps he thought it could've been him in Draco's place.
Let him think that, Hermione thought nastily.
She hoped he would suffer long and hard over it.
With a swish of his robes and something that sounded close to a sob, he was gone.
She rushed out into the hallway but he'd already vanished. Drat. He was fast.
Luna, Tracey and Theo all tumbled out of the storage room.
Something bowled into Hermione, which turned out to be Tracey.
"Oh, Hermione, how awful! Are you okay?"
Tracey had tears in her eyes.
"I'm fine. I'm sorry, all of you. We had him but…but it wasn't worth the risk and- where's Draco?"
Theo looked guiltily back at the room they'd just clamoured out of.
"Er…He wanted to go to you. But you're right. It was too risky. This potion arsehole was very careful not to incriminate himself. So we had to erm…subdue Draco. Thank Salazar we were three on one, or I dunno if we would have been able to keep him down."
Hermione peeked inside.
Draco's limbs were snapped to his sides in a neat Petrificus Totalus. They'd leaned him against the wall, like a board. He looked furious. Hermione would've laughed if the situation wasn't so serious.
"Gracious, Draco."
She released him with the counter spell and a split second later, he had her in his arms.
"If he'd done anything to you- if he'd touched you-"
"He didn't Draco, I'm fine. I think he'll leave us alone now. He just wanted closure before saying goodbye."
Hermione's voice came out muffled since Draco was crushing her to her chest.
"How sweet. The two of you really make a lovely couple," Luna said calmly, while Tracey wiped her eyes.
"That nutter took my hair!" Theo yelped in outrage, feeling the back of his head.
"It's scary to think he just vanished like that. He's still around and we'll never know!" Tracey exclaimed. Luna took her in her arms and pet her head.
"We'll protect you, Hermione. We'll all be keeping an eye out," Luna affirmed.
"And er…sorry. You would've gotten the bastard if it wasn't for…well, Draco and I…"
"Don't be sorry!" Hermione stomped her foot vehemently, "Neither of you deserve to be expelled! We'll get him another way. You're all too important to me."
Hermione felt her chest swell.
She'd felt so lost without Harry and Ron at the beginning.
But she'd done all right in the end.
She had friends who would stick up for her, someone that she loved, a group of people who accepted her for who she was and who she was with.
They all knew she loved Draco and they were all still here for her.
So they didn't catch the love poisoner this time.
Hermione wouldn't give up just yet.
She felt like she could do anything.
She wasn't alone.
/
Hermione was still reeling from coming face to face with her stalker.
She spent the night thinking things over. She tried again and again to remember anyone suspicious who might've come up to her. But try as she might, so many faces were a blur, and she was certain she'd forgotten a good third of them, if not more.
Hermione also considered her current social situation with her peers and how she was going to move forward with her now semi-official boyfriend.
She'd made a compromise in her head about her public relationship with Draco.
She knew he was doing it for her. He wasn't comfortable with it, but he understood that keeping it a secret weighed on her.
That being said, everyone in her close inner circle now knew about it. Technically even Ginny knew. Now that the secret was out amongst her friends, did she really need to shout it from the towers?
She wouldn't hide her love for Draco, but for his sake, she wouldn't flaunt it either.
She'd decided instead that needed a project to keep her mind off all the stress and confusion of recent events. Her homework was all finished, so that wouldn't do.
Tackling the duel wards with Padma seemed like the best, productive passtime.
Blaise, Theo, Draco and Neville had all been very open to her suggestions and improvements to the barriers. She'd done enough research that she felt confident in her proposals. The only person left to convince was Padma Patil.
Hermione hoped to catch Padma before Transfiguration for a quick word, though in the end, she spotted her in a corridor by the courtyard, talking with Susan. She'd brought all her notes, since it was easier than explaining everything and she figured they could look over them together.
As she approached she caught the end of one of their sentences.
"-I'd heard but honestly, I don't really care what she wants."
"Blaise mentioned it could be good for the duelling arena."
"Of course, but does she always need to butt in with a better solution? Does she think she's smarter than everyone?"
"Granger does come across that way, doesn't she?"
Hermione backed up behind a column. They were gossiping about her!
Naturally she eavesdropped.
"She almost can't help herself! I bet saving the world has gone to her head some. Did you hear her, Ron and Harry each got an Order of Merlin First Class hand-delivered by Shacklebolt? She's probably an even more unbearable Know-It-All now."
"Well, you don't have to take her advice if you don't want to. I suppose just let her say her piece and that's that."
"Those are my wards. Where does she get off on suddenly wanting to change them? Plus, she went behind my back and talked to all the lads about it first, so now I look like a right tosser if I don't go along with it."
"You won't look like a tosser."
"She's only doing this for her precious Nott, she doesn't give a damn about the duels themselves. The gall! She came to one duel with her Death Eater pals, and all of a sudden she thinks she knows how to run everything."
"Don't let it get to you, Pads. She's not worth getting all out of sorts over."
"Did you see the way she follows Nott everywhere? D'you think Potter and Weasley know? I'd bet they'd be fuming to know she turned on them so fast, with the very people they fought against. She's a filthy hypocrite if you ask me."
"No one was asking you," Hermiome fumed, stomping out from behind the column. She'd heard more than enough.
Padma whipped around in shock and had the grace to look mildly sheepish. Hermione couldn't care less.
"Here, read them or chuck them in the bin for all I care."
She shoved her notes into Padma's arms.
"And for your information," Hermione added, unable to stop herself, "I do care about the duels. Neville told me all about them and he convinced me it's a wonderful idea. But by all means, ignore my expertise to suit your bloody ego! I don't care!"
"Oh please, who're you trying to talk to about ego?" Padma retorted loudly. "You have the biggest ego of the lot! Prancing about with people who tried to kill us a year ago! The same people who killed Lavender!"
"They're not at all the same and you know it!"
"Spare me, traitor! Go toddle after Nott, like you seem so eager to do!"
They were both on the cusp of shouting. Some students paused in their tracks to watch, sniggering.
Hermione sneered at Padma.
"At least I'm not blinded by my principles! Don't pretend you haven't been following Nott around either!"
"I beg your pardon?"
"He told us you visited him in the Hospital Wing. Several times actually! Awfully generous of you, considering he's so supposedly evil!"
"I-"
Padma scrunched Hermione's papers in her fists.
"I was there on duel business!"
Padma turned to Susan. Susan pretended to observe the brick path, clearly not wanting to be involved, but still curious about the drama.
Padma huffed and turned back to Hermione.
"I'm not like you! I won't betray my friends and family! You can have Nott!"
"Oh for Pete's sake, I'm not interested in Nott like that!"
"Oh, of course! You just happen to show up at his duel and freak out when he gets attacked!"
"I'm not-"
"She isn't with Nott," a cold voice said behind Hermione.
Hermione knew that voice. The only voice that could make her heart stop. She didn't dare look to see who it was because it couldn't be. It couldn't-
"She's with me."
Hermione felt light-headed. Was this actually happening? Was she dreaming?
A few onlookers gasped. Padma looked like she'd just seen a Basilisk. Susan's mouth was open. Neither girl said a word.
Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked down. An emerald ring glimmered up at her.
She slowly raised her gaze.
Draco's eyes captured hers.
His face was far too close. Padma and Susan were still gaping like fish out of water.
He tilted her chin up.
His face was getting closer. Everyone was watching.
He softly kissed her, there, in the corridor, for all eyes to see.
Her knees buckled.
Of course he caught her. He was always there to catch her.
"Shall we head off?" He asked quietly, as if it were only the two of them.
All she could do was nod. He pulled her up and offered her his arm. She took it mechanically and followed, in a daze. Her face felt like it was burning.
She didn't even offer one last glance to Padma and Susan. A couple of people backed away from them bewilderedly, letting Draco and Hermione pass.
"What's your next class? I'll walk you," Draco suggested.
It felt so good to hold onto him. Hermione didn't even notice the dozens of students gaping as they walked down the hall.
She's with me.
Hermione replayed the words in her mind, feeling both giddy and uncomprehending.
It took Hermione a beat to come down from her shock.
"What was that about? I thought you wanted us to stay secret?" Hermione burst out.
"I agreed to let it out in the open, didn't I?" he drawled awfully casually, considering he just revealed their union to the whole school.
"Yes, well, I didn't expect it to happen so suddenly!"
Draco slightly pursed his lips.
"I don't fancy people gossiping about you and other blokes. They may as well gossip about the truth."
"You came to my defence because you were jealous?"
Draco looked down at her, his gaze on fire.
"You're mine, Hermione."
Her knees wobbled and he had to clutch her arm firmly so she didn't collapse a second time.
"You're not taking me to class," she said softly.
"Oh?"
"You're going to take me to the nearest empty room to fuck me silly,"
His expression immediately darkened.
Incidentally, the nearest empty room turned out to be an old, abandoned pantry.
Draco sat Hermione up on a barrel and fucked her silly, just like she'd asked.
It was exhilarating and worth being late to Transfigurations.
It took until supper for word to properly spread.
When she, Draco and Theo went to the Great Hall to nick some roast, everyone was pointing and muttering.
They quickly escaped to their usual abandoned classroom, followed by Luna and Tracey, where they all ate and chatted and laughed at the look on some faces.
It stopped being funny the following day.
A second year she'd never met came up to her crying, yelling about how she'd wanted to be just like Hermione and had looked up to her, and how could Hermione throw her future away for someone like Malfoy? Didn't she know what he'd done?
A couple of Ravenclaws roughly shoved her as she was exiting a class.
A group of Hufflepuffs openly pointed at her, making lewd gestures.
Gryffindors ignored her, as if they'd all sealed some sort of pact to pretend she didn't exist.
Everyone had whispered about her before, but now, they didn't even bother to lower their voices. She heard them call her all the names under the sun, Malfoy's slag being one of the tamer options.
Hermione knew this was the path she'd chosen. She knew it was going to be hard.
And it was.
How quickly they were willing to turn on her. She'd been a heroine to them at the start of term. Now, they elicited such pleasure in tearing her down.
They thought they knew her, because she was in the public eye. But no one truly knew her. No one except her friends, the people whom she trusted, who still studied and ate and walked with her.
And none of them judged her. In fact, all of them were happy for her.
Well, almost all of them.
"Granger!"
Hermione jumped, on her way to supper.
She fished her wand out, pointing it straight at Daphne Greengrass.
Daphne didn't seem to notice.
"You think you're so smart, don't you? You find him interesting? A new, fun little project? Is converting Malfoy into a House Elf-loving, soft weakling amusing to you?"
"Don't come closer or I'll stun you!"
"Ha! As if I'd want to get near your filth! He's with Astoria! The contracts are going to be signed and there's nothing you can do about it!"
"He doesn't believe in that anymore!"
"I see. So you're going to brainwash him against his family, his friends and his values! You want him all to yourself! Does it get your knickers wet, imagining flouncing about in his big, rich Mansion? You're nothing but a leech!"
Hermione could feel tears of anger welling in her eyes, but she choked them back. She'd be damned if Daphne Greengrass was going to see her cry.
"I don't care what you think! Draco can decide what he wants for himself!"
"Draco is vulnerable! He's been through hell! He needs someone from his circle! He needs to be looked after, and know that his estate is in good hands. Someone he can trust! You-!"
Daphne took a menacing step towards Hermione. Hermione jerked her wand up, but Daphne didn't need physical violence. She was set on using her words to cut.
"You will never make him happy! You're just an ugly Mudblood who happened to be there when he was at his lowest! He'll come to his senses and throw you out like the trash you are! Mark my words, you will not take Astoria away from him!"
She stormed off, leaving Hermione alone with her wand still up.
The word 'Mudblood' seemed to strike her physically. She hadn't heard it since the war. She could almost feel the letters on her scar tingle and Hermione had to make a conscious effort to push all her bad memories at bay.
/
That evening, Draco, Theo, Luna and Tracey met in the dungeons and trained for Defence Against the Dark Arts.
It was the first time Hermione got to see Draco in action.
He was glorious. He beat everyone easily and only Theo managed to get him to break a sweat.
She was able to forget about her shite day as she focused on getting her Expelliarmus out as quickly as possible.
They turned it into a game, sneaking and running around the dungeon rooms, trying to catch each other off guard.
It felt so good to laugh.
She didn't mention Daphne to anyone.
She knew Draco didn't want to see her upset over this. She knew how much pain it brought him, when she suffered because of their relationship.
She focused on being present with them all, on appreciating that, despite everything, she had them to cheer her up.
/
The next day, the Howlers started coming in.
Hermione didn't spend too much time in the Great Hall anymore, so her post was usually delivered to her dormitory bed.
She spent the morning listening to some witch named Cornetta screech about how Hermione was horrible for joining the Death Eaters while the other girls in the dorm snickered at her. Ginny left without a word.
Joining the Death Eaters? What on earth?
It was at breakfast in their classroom haunt that Theo showed her the copy of Witch Weekly. An old photo of hers was headlining the cover along with a ragged-looking picture of Draco at his trial.
Hermione Granger : Dating a Death Eater?
Naturally it was written by Rita Skeeter and the article was as scathing and exaggerated as Hermione had ever known Rita to be. No doubt Rita still relished knocking Hermione down a peg.
"How is this…news? How did she even find out so soon?"
"People talk, write home to their folks, word gets around fast," Theo answered lightly.
Draco barely touched his bacon. He was expressionless but Hermione knew he probably wasn't taking this too well.
"It's pathetic that they have nothing better to talk about. It'll all die down soon enough anyway," Hermione said confidently.
Theo nodded approvingly though Draco remained silent.
Throughout the day, more copies of Witch Weekly were spotted circulating around.
Unease was rising.
The only consolation that day was when Neville joined them for another study session. Blaise was also present, though Daphne predictably was not.
"So you don't think I've gone off my rocker?" Hermione whispered to Neville as he sat next to her.
Neville gave Draco a glance.
"No. I know you, Hermione. You wouldn't waste your time with anyone who doesn't value you."
She made a note to buy Neville the biggest basket of plants at their next Hogsmeade visit.
Neville reported a record amount of duels scheduled in the upcoming weeks. Theo was going to be in two.
"Is that safe?" Tracey asked nervously.
Theo shrugged.
The following day, Hermione started receiving letters from familiar names.
Molly's letter was probably the most heartbreaking.
It asked if she was all right, if she needed any help. It suggested many other Weasley relatives and family friends who had sons about Hermione's age. It implored her to think of her future, her well-being.
Hermione tossed the letter in the fire.
She hadn't heard from either Harry, nor Ron.
/
Hermione moved around the hallways less and less by herself.
She noticed people hulking around corners, leering at her, twirling their wands menacingly in their hands.
She tried not to pay them any mind.
Her paranoia was growing.
Her friends could sense it, too. Draco accompanied her as much as he could, usually with a combination of Theo, Luna, Tracey and Neville.
As much as she appreciated her friends' protection it was only a matter of time before she'd be caught alone.
The time came in the girl's washroom.
As she was rinsing her hands, a group of girls burst through the doors and stopped short when they saw her.
"Well, well, well, look who it is. Death Eater-fucker herself."
Hermione could feel her hands shake as she turned off the faucet and began to reach for her wand.
"Hold her down!"
They were four to one. Hermione didn't have a chance.
Three of them pinned her against the sink while another tossed her wand under a bathroom stall.
"Stop! Stop it! I haven't done anything to y-"
"Silencio!"
Hermione's screams and pleads fell silent. Her pupils twitched as she glanced around at each of her attackers.
One of the girls, a mean-looking brown haired one, stepped forward.
"We thought you were so brave and brilliant, taking on You-Know-Who. But all it took was one Death Eater cock to convince you otherwise. You're one of them now. No, you're worse. Because people actually believed in you. Hold her down."
Hermione tried to yell, scream for help. Tears were silently trickling down her cheeks.
The girl slashed her wand down and Hermione felt like someone had just punched her in the gut. She sagged while the other girls laughed.
Two more blows landed, another to the stomach and one across her face. She shut her eyes. She didn't want to know when they were coming. She just wanted it to be over.
Suddenly she was silently laughing. Laughing as a hundred little fingers roved over her body.
A tickling jinx!
It was pure torment, being forced to laugh as they struck her with magic. She writhed, her body collapsing to the floor. She took her knees in her arms, silently sobbing and laughing, wishing it would stop. She could almost hear Bellatrix cackling in her head, the smell of singed flesh, silently screaming, screaming-
"What is going on?" Someone yelled.
The horrible tickling finally stopped. Hermione was wheezing. She could barely catch her breath. Her voice sounded broken and far too loud.
"McGonagall is coming. You lot were making so much noise, someone alerted her."
"Whatever. We're done here."
Hermione barely registered what was happening. The sounds of footsteps. A door closing.
Then, careful hands were on her. Rubbing her back.
"Shhhh, shh, it's fine, they're gone,"
Hermione sobbed until there was nothing left. Then, she just lay there.
After another moment, the hands grasped her shoulders, bringing her to a sitting position.
"Here."
A glass of water was conjured and offered to her.
Hermione took it, though her hand shook hard. She went to raise it to her lips but something stopped her.
"No!"
She threw it across the room and it shattered. She broke into a fresh wave of sobs.
"C-can't drink it…C-can't drink anything…P-poison…"
"Oh please. We have our differences, certainly, but I wouldn't poison you."
Hermione took deep, gasping breaths until she had control over herself.
Padma offered her a tissue and her wand back.
"Is McGonagall r-really coming?"
"No. I only said that so they'd scarper."
"Th-thanks."
Hermione blew her nose loudly.
"I'm f-fine now. You don't have to stay here."
Padma sighed.
"No one deserves what just happened. Those girls are clearly looking for blood and you're just an easy target. I will say that I told you so, though. This is what happens when you hang around Death Eater scum."
"D-Draco isn't the problem. It's everyone else!"
"It's a problem because no one wants to see the people they love and admire throw in with anyone who's hurt them. It just so happens Malfoy has hurt this entire school and everyone knows the both of you. You really know how to pick them. You had to go for the one bloke here who's got the brand and who betrayed Hogwarts."
"He makes me happy. Since I've been back, he's made everything better. I thought if we were public, maybe…Maybe everyone could eventually see that too."
"You're lying to yourself. The cuts run too deep. Do yourself a favour and dump him. You'll get all your friends and admirers back. How would you feel if you found out your best friend started dating someone who used to hang around crazies who tortured people you loved? Who killed people you loved?"
Hermione inhaled through her nose, trying to regain her sense of self.
"You're wrong. If this has taught me anything, it's that people who matter will be willing to listen and see for themselves. Anyone who's ever said a bad thing about Draco hasn't taken the time to get to know who he is now. It's all people on the outside looking in, judging, wanting reasons to get out their anger, their hurt. I used to be angry and hurt and scared. I still am. But Draco makes it better. I'm not giving him up. He's important to me."
Padma was quiet, tugging at a loose thread on her skirt.
"You know," Hermione began tentatively, "Nott is a good person. He's become one of my closest friends here. Like a brother almost. I think you'd both get along."
"Why does he do it?" Padma suddenly asked.
"Do what?"
Padma looked up. She looked stricken.
"I've been part of the duelling arena since the beginning. He's duelled the most out of anyone by far. Thirty-six times to be exact and won all of them. Why? He's never gloated. Never asked for anything. He never seems to take pleasure out of any of it. He doesn't have to accept them; most people don't. So why does he do it?"
"Well…"
Hermione thought for a moment.
"He's never told me specifically, so you'd have to ask him yourself to get his point of view, but I've speculated about it. I have a feeling it's the only way he knows how to atone for his father."
"Atone?"
"Nott hates his father. Wants him to rot in Azkaban actually - his words. He knows the pain his father has caused. Nott can't offer apologies - they would only seem empty and disingenuine. I think the only way he can make up for any of it, is to give people the chance to vent their frustrations on him. That's what the arena is all about, isn't it?"
"But he…he never loses…"
"Why would he? Letting people win would be an insult to their pain and an insult to duelling. He offers people the chance to get their anger out. If they can't beat him, at least they've done something. Fighting is better than sitting around feeling powerless. Let me ask you this: has Nott ever been challenged by the same person twice?"
"No…"
"People get closure. They may still hate him, but they also respect him. They learn to accept that, in life, there are some things you cannot change. All you can do is try your best."
"I didn't want to respect him. When he showed up the first time, I wanted him to lose. And the second, and third time. But he kept coming back and the more he won, the less I hated him. There was something about him…some kind of quiet acceptance. He never seemed like he really chose to duel, even if he agreed to every challenge. He had an obligation to. He was fulfilling some sort of duty. One day I realised I… admired him. Maybe more than that."
Padma sniffled, taking a moment before continuing.
"My sister is everything to me. When she's happy, I'm happy. When she's sad, I'm sad. When Lavender died- no, was murdered - Parvati was devastated. She was out of sorts for so long and so was I. Nott and Malfoy- they were on the side that did that. They allowed people like Lavender to be killed. How could I even consider someone who- that is to say, it would reopen old wounds all over again. Parvati would be so angry with me if she knew- knew what I was feeling…"
A tear streaked down Padma's face.
"I'm sorry I said those things about you. The reality is, I envy you. It's very resilient of you, to stand by Malfoy despite how hard it's been. I just- I can't do that. I can't risk losing my sister. Whatever these feelings I'm having for Nott need to be squashed, because there's no way I could handle hurting Parvati."
Hermione rested her hand on Padma's arm.
"Nott didn't kill Lavender," Hermione said softly, "Greyback did. He was a real monster. Nott is as much a victim as we were. He was forced into something he hated and trapped in the thick of it. As for your sister, I'm sure above all else, she wants you to be happy, just like how you want her to be happy."
Padma hastily swiped away at another tear.
"I read the notes on the wards you gave me. I think they're solid ideas. I'm going to work on integrating them as soon as possible. I'd like you to help me, if you still want to."
Hermione beamed. Padma smiled back.
"Of course I still want to! Thank you, Padma. For helping me and for…for talking to me. It really means a lot."
"Let me heal that bruise on your face. I'm going to report those girls. I don't know their names but I can give my memory to McGonagall for her Pensieve and she'll probably have no trouble catching them."
That evening, Hermione joined Draco in their Room home.
He looked tired. She knew she did as well.
They lay on the bed and held each other while he stroked her hair.
"I know it's been hard for you," he murmured. He sounded neutral, but she knew his Occlumency tricks only too well now. She knew it was eating him up inside.
"It has, I'm not going to lie. But there's been some…surprisingly nice outcomes. I feel closer than ever to the people who've stuck by me. I feel fortunate to have such good friends. I would've never met Nott, nor Blaise if it wasn't for you. I've also realised that what we have- how I feel about you- it's strong isn't it?"
"I recall you did mention we were soulmates,"
Draco teased, but she sensed his contentment.
"I said that mostly to make the poisoner angry. But if I were to believe in soulmates, I feel certain you would be mine. We made it through. Every challenge, every hurdle, we communicated and figured things out and I love you more now than I ever did."
"I didn't dare hope I would ever find someone like you. I didn't think I could ever be happy again nor deserved to be. And then you came along and, despite how much I hated myself, I wanted you. I wanted you more than I wanted to punish myself. You made me want to wake up each day. You made me want to be the best person I could be. I want you forever, Hermione. I love you more than anything."
Hermione felt her eyes well with tears.
Their lives hadn't even really begun, yet she couldn't wait to spend hers with Draco.
She kissed him and he kissed her and magic seemed to crackle in the air.
