When Enemies Collide by Kuls
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the setting in this story. I do however own the plot.
I promise to write more often than I was! Really, I promise. : )
mrs. skywalker: Sorry but i'm not going to change it. I wanted to make sure that Hermione knew about his abuse. And I know someone being abused wouldn't be that open about it. Thanks for the suggestion though!
Read and review!
Chapter 5: When Walls are Broken Down
Draco didn't know why but he felt like he had to avoid Hermione but he did. He felt like he said things that he shouldn't have. 'Maybe she does care about what happens to me. Ugh, what am I saying? She hates me!' he thought over and over. Draco was so confused over what had happened, he just decided being away from her was the best thing for him right now.
Every time she was sitting in the common room, Draco would get to his room as quickly as possible and stay there until she left. It was almost as if he was scared of being near her.
Hermione had noticed this difference in Draco's attitude. Frankly, she was relieved that he had given up on making fun of her and just overall annoying her to no end. But even if she was relieved, she was still worried about what was so wrong with him. Hermione still despised him for all the years of torture he put her through but she couldn't help being worried. Partly because she didn't completely understand everything he told her and about his life. She didn't know what happened with his home life. For all she knew, he could be beaten to near death every time he made a simple mistake. Hermione could see that Lucius could, and would, be that mean and not even give a second glance toward his son.
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Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table one day, contemplating over what she should do next with her situation with Draco, when Harry and Ron came to join her for supper.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, happy to see some familiar faces, as they sat down.
"Hey, 'Mione," Harry replied.
Ron mumbled something incoherent with his mouth already full of food. Typical Ron.
As they started to talk about basically nothing, Lavender Brown came to sit next to Ron. She slid her arm under Ron's to hug it and sat there, listening to the conversation.
Hermione abruptly stopped in mid sentence staring at Ron and Lavender, who acted like nothing was wrong. "When did this come about?" she asked.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. We're dating now," Ron informed, joyfully. Lavender just smiled lovingly at Ron.
"I see. And you plan to take good care of him? Everyone knows he needs it," Hermione asked Ron's new girlfriend.
"Of course," she said with a giggle. Ron made a hurt face and Hermione smiled.
"So, 'Mione, how are things in your dorm? How insufferable is the Ferret?" Harry asked her.
"Ugh, terrible! It's more horrible than before when we didn't live together! He's always saying mean things to me," Hermione finished with a sigh. She didn't even think of telling them about Draco's meeting with his father. Even if she had, she wouldn't have told them. It was just too personal and she respected his privacy even if he was a git to her.
"We get the point. Let's go Ron," Harry instructed as they both got up the find the culprit.
"No!" Hermione stood up and grabbed Harry's arm over the table.
"What's wrong? You don't want us to hurt the little ferret boy?" Harry asked, confused at why she would stop them.
"I…don't want anyone to get hurt," Hermione replied, satisfied with her reasoning. She really didn't want them to go beat Draco up because for one thing, he would beat them up, and for another, Draco didn't really do anything to her yesterday besides refuse her sympathy. She was just mad at him for doing that but couldn't tell her friends that was why.
"Fine. If that's what you want." Inside, Harry and Ron were both wondering, 'Why on earth would she want us to stop? She never has before.'
Hermione finished up her dinner and headed back to her common room to get some studying in before she went to bed. As she walked in through the portrait hole, she found no one was there. She got her books out of her room and sat down on the couch facing the fire, preparing to study.
Just then, Draco entered the room, silently. He walked over to where she sat and looked down at her. Noticing his presence, she looked back up at him.
"I want to talk to you about something," he told her, preparing for her to yell at him and run away but she didn't.
"What's wrong?" she asked as he took a seat next to her on the couch.
"I just wanted to say sorry being mean to you and slamming the door in your face when all you were trying to do was help," he said, his look softening.
"Oh…that's alright. It's not like we've been the best of friends through the years," Hermione said with a smile.
"Well, that's good. What are you working on here?"
"Just studying for my Transfiguration Newt," she replied like there was nothing wrong with that.
"But…that's in June," he said looking at her like she sprouted a second head.
"You can never be too prepared," she said as the flipped the page and scanned the contents.
"A typical bookworm answer," he teased with a smirk.
"Hey!" She slapped his arm playfully, "I'm not a bookworm."
"Whatever you say."
There was a long silence which was broken when Draco spoke.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," she replied.
"Why do you always try to be the best in everything?"
She was a little taken aback by his question. "Well, I guess it's because my parents always wanted what's best for me and I just wanted to make them proud of me. I don't want them to feel like they have failed at bringing me up correctly. I also just don't like it when someone knows more about something than I do." She set her book down on the table and looked right at Draco. "It's also partly because I was given this experience of coming here and I'm not going to waste it. I learn as much as I can before I get out of here because afterwards, you're all on your own. You have to rely on yourself and what you have learned here."
"Oh, I always thought you just wanted to be better than everyone else. To show us up or something."
"Not so much, but you're only just behind me on your grades. Why is it that you're so smart?"
"Father. He wouldn't have it if I was anything less than perfect."
"Well, tell me about your father. I mean, I know he's mean and all but isn't there a softer side to him?" Hermione asked.
"Not really. He wasn't always like this. When I was young he used to play with me and teach me things, like a real father," he said sadly. "But now he's all discipline. He has such high standards that I don't even know if they're humanly possible to reach them. All I wanted to do was make him proud of me and spend time with him but these days he has no time for me. I'm afraid to know but I think if he treats me the way he does, he might treat my mother even worse. I don't even understand why she married him. I suppose he had a heart once but it's definitely long gone by now," he went on rambling to himself. Hermione listened intently, taking in everything.
"But even about my family problems. I want to know more about the mysterious bookworm," he teased with a smirk.
"I told you, I am not a bookworm!" she said with another playful slap.
Hermione and Draco went on like this, talking about everything that came to mind, opening up to each other. Draco looked over, out the window, and saw a tiny sliver of light on the horizon. This made him check his watch.
"Wow, it's already morning," he said, showing her his watch.
Hermione freaked out. "We need to get some sleep!" she exclaimed, gathering her stuff hurriedly.
"Don't worry. Today is Saturday. We can sleep in," he said, grabbing her arm which was going 100 miles per hour, trying to pick everything up.
"Phew!" she said. "I forgot what day it was. I thought we had classes." She felt the grip around her chest lessen as she remembered this. She sank back down into the couch, relaxing.
"Well… I'll see you when you get up." Draco left without another word.
Hermione stood there, gathering her things again. "Good night, Draco," she whispered softly to herself.
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Draco fell onto his bed. Why was he so happy from talking to his rival? He had no clue but he didn't regret it. She made him feel happy, the happiest he's been in a long time. "Good night, Hermione," he whispered into the night before he drifted off to sleep.
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-Kuls
