Chapter Six

A Tale of A Forbidden Love

Harry Potter

~starjade~

~ Secrets In Deep Danger~

Hermione felt her heart drop and her blood run cold. She stared into those green eyes and tried not to run away. The familiar heart pounding , the warmth that tingled down her spine inched it's way back into her body , but something caused it to...weaken.

Harry repeated , " Where were you going , just now?"

Hermione quickly covered , " What were you doing down here? I think you need your sleep , its quite late."

Harry's eyebrows narrowed. " I was studying for the test tomorrow. We had Quidditch practice and I didn't have a chance to study...Where were you going?"

Hermione opened her mouth and then shut it. " Uh...down.....down to the..."

Her throat was blocked up and she could feel a voice at the back of her head whisper , your keeping a secret from your best friends! Tell him now! He's your best friend! Tell him!

Harry rose an eyebrow. " Down where?" His eyes held a confused look in them and a judging glint in those emerald depths. Hermione knew Harry was quite brighter than Ron, and often knew when she was lying.

Hermione swallowed and forced herself to choke out , " I'm going down to the kitchens...have a little talk with the house elfs."

Hermione looked up , a little hesitantly , wondering if Harry would buy it. Surprisingly , his eyes lost the clouds that covered them and he smiled.

" I hope your not bringing back SPEW , Hermione! I don't think they'll be very happy!"

Hermione's shoulders relaxed with relief. " Oh no. I just wanted to see Dobby again , have a talk with Winky and all the others."

Harry grinned. " How about I come along? We might have to take the Invisible Cloak. How were you going to get there without being seen?"

Hermione's eyes widened. " Your.....Your coming along?"

Harry nodded , happily. " Is there something wrong?"

Hermione quickly replied, " Absolutely not , I just thought , you might want to finish your studying...."

Harry looked back at his school books with distaste. " Ah , I need a break. Lets go!"

Harry grabbed her wrist and Hermione reluctantly followed. She wondered why she didn't feel that electrical shock that always occurred whenever he touched her...and she also wondered why her heart felt like it was sinking....at the thought of not meeting her dragon.

~~~~~******~~~~

" You guys left for the Kitchens without informing ME??" Ron snapped , his eyes narrowed.

Harry laughed. " Oh come on , Ron , I could hear you snoring in the common room! I know from experience what its like waking you up!"

Ron glared. " Well , you could've tried..."

Harry snorted. " And get punched in the face? I'll refuse that offer.."

Hermione giggled , trying to remain focused on the conversation. After the Kitchen's visit , Hermione knew there was no possible way she could meet the dragon. So , she reluctantly went to bed , her head full of resentment.

Why did Harry have to come?


Ron remarked, " Hermione , you didn't eat anything! Look at that good food going to waste!"

Hermione pushed her plate away. " I just don't feel hungry. I'll see you guys at Potions, alright? I'll be at the Library."

Ron shook his head as Hermione left. " That Library is like her second home... I wonder what she'd do without books..."

Harry watched her back as she left. Something was off about Hermione...and he was determined to find out.

~~~~*******~~~~~

" Malfoy , you put the nettles AFTER the unicorn hairs! AFTER!" Hermione snapped , chopping up liver, while keeping an eye on what Malfoy was doing and what Pansy wasn't doing.

Malfoy sneered at her , " Why don't you just shut your mouth , filthy mudblood? No one wants to hear your opinion."

Hermione hissed, " You'll be wanting it after we fail this project! Pansy! Cut up the flobberworm intestines."

Pansy stayed where she was , twirling her hair and rubbing her foot against Malfoy's leg.

" Pansy!" Hermione shouted, frustrated.

Pansy huffed and glared at Hermione. " What do you want, Gryffindor filth?"

Hermione felt like screaming. She had never been in such an unworkable situation. Finally, she shut up , and did her work and Pansy's. She didn't have any time for any arguing.

As she was chopping up the intestines , Malfoy remarked quietly , " I heard quite a nasty rumour about you , dear mudblood."

Hermione stiffened and didn't reply. What was the point? He'd just go on and on....he'd never stop. Hermione tried not to listen to him as he continued in his drawling voice.

Malfoy smirked and his eyes studied her expression , lazily. " You've been in your own romance triangle , haven't you? With that crush of yours , who wouldn't? He's perfect for you...brave , famous , smart...yet he fell for that flame haired gryffindor."

Hermione heard a roaring sound in her head and she whipped around to the blond haired boy who smiled evilly at her. Her heart seemed to freeze , before pounding , harder than before as the blood drained from her face.

" Wh-What did you just say?" Hermione sputtered , her heart thumping.

Malfoy spread his arms wide and spoke loudly , " Hey , I'm just the messenger! Why are you turning against me for?"

Hermione yelped, " Where did you hear that rumour , Malfoy? ANSWER ME!"

Malfoy grinned. " Oh , I can't tell you that...Unless I repeat it...just one more time."

Hermione opened her mouth to retort but then grew aware that the whole class was listening. Their eyes were on the two of them and Snape just sat back in his chair, not moving a finger.

" Malfoy...y-you shut your dirty mouth!" Hermione choked out , turning back to her flobberworms.

Malfoy leaned close to Hermione and whispered , " I know you love him , dear Mudblood. I'm sure you need him to love you back. But he doesn't fall for loser mudbloods...he goes for purebloods...even as muggle loving as they are."

Malfoy turned back to the class and shouted, " Granger , don't run away from the truth! Just tell him you have a crush on him...or I will!"

" Who? Who is it?" Pansy shrieked.

Hermione's eyes widened. " No!"

Malfoy smirked. " Should I say it?"

Pansy nodded and Hermione's eyes filled with tears. Hermione couldn't believe it. The only people she ever told about her crush was the dragon...so how could he know?

Hermione grabbed her book bag and her cloak and stormed out of the classroom , hearing the laughter of the Slytherins and even louder of Malfoy. She could hear Ron shouting and Snape snapping but her ears seemed to deafen as her steps became weaker and less determined.

Finally, she slumped to the floor , tears running down her cheeks.

She couldn't stand it if Harry knew...if he knew of her crush...knew how much she had pined for him. She couldn't stand it!

She wouldn't have friends anymore...they would distance from her...they wouldn't talk to her...

Tears coursed silently down her cheeks and she wrapped her arms around her legs. Her secret now lay in Malfoy's hands.

~~~~~~****~~~~~~

Ron shouted , " That's it! I'm going to beat the crap out of him!"

Hermione looked up from her charms assignment and smiled at her two friends , her smile a bit wobbly.

" Oh , hey guys..." she aid , trying to keep her tone steady.

Harry glared , his eyes dangerous. " All we need is your permission and we'll beat that ferret into a pulp!"

Hermione leapt to her feet. " What do you mean?"

Ron shouted , exasperated , " That dirty , low life Slytherin made you cry!! I'm going to make sure he never sees the light of day..."

Harry nodded and turned towards Hermione. Hermione shook her head slowly.

" I'm not going to let you guys get into trouble because of me." Hermione stated.

Ron sputtered. " But-"

Hermione gazed at them both, her expression firm and definite. " Malfoy always harasses us , that doesn't mean we have to stoop to his level. Just ignore him , like I'm doing."

Harry interjected , " But he said something really personal about you in class..."

Hermione turned red. " Oh yeah..."

Ron's eyes turned curious. " What he said wasn't...true , was it?"

Hermione felt a blush creep on her neck , flushing her face a cherry red. " You know , I have a lot of studying to do , you guys should be studying also , our potion's assignment is due next week , I bet you haven't even started , well , bye , I have to go!!"

She raced off , hearing Ron shout after her. She didn't want them to have any suspicions about her crush. Better to run...

The hours passed , as Hermione worked diligently on her homework. Finally , the hour came. She grabbed her cloak , and crept down the hallway , hoping Harry wouldn't pop out of no where , as he had done before.

Finally , she burst out into the cold outside , and felt the air hit against her face as she took a gulp of the refreshing air. Then she set out towards the forbidden forest.

Hermione's feet traveled over the dried leaves , crunching in the silence of the night. She just needed to tell someone , something...anything! She couldn't keep it in any longer.

Finally , she burst into the clearing and collapsed. The dragon stood at the opposite end of the clearing , his eyes watching her.

" Drake? Drake , is that you?" she whispered.

The dragon rustled his wings, the scales clicking against each other as they resettled on his back. He then came closer to her , settling in his usual sleeping position.

Hermione didn't wait for an answer and let her heart talk. " I'm so....scared. This person at my school...he's my worst enemy. I hate him so much...I can't stand it. He hates me, mostly because I'm a mudblood and I beat him at in test scores. But today....today he almost revealed who my crush is! Now he holds my secret...and, Drake , I can't stand it if Harry finds out. He'll hate me...I'll have no friends...."

Tears fell down her cheeks and she looked up into the dragon's cold silver eyes.

" Drake , I don't know what to do. What should I do?"

The dragon was silent. He didn't say a word. Hermione felt the cold wind bite into her skin but she didn't pay any attention. She kept her eyes on those silver orbs and finally , the dragon opened it's mouth , releasing a puff of smoke.

" What do you think of this boy....Harry?"

Hermione scrunched her nose in concentration. " Harry? I'm not sure anymore. I used to have such a strong crush on him...I was sure it was love. But now...I just don't feel the same way anymore..."

The dragon's eyes seemed surprised. " You don't?"

Hermione shook her head. " Nope....I think I'm over Harry now.."

The dragon shifted. " And what about the boy...you hate so much?"

Hermione looked at the dragon." Malfoy?"

The dragon looked uncomfortable. " Yes...him."

Hermione looked at the moon , her eyes troubled. " Malfoy...is a jerk. He doesn't know anything about life. He might be aware of all the dangers , all the risks and all the darkness life holds...but he knows nothing about happiness , love , friendship...that's why I think he's so cold and mean. I'm so angry at him, that I feel like I could hit him over and over and over...but...there are times that I think he has the potential...to change."

The dragon was silent and the silence enveloped them like a warm blanket. Hermione didn't feel as if it was an awkward silence, but more like a companionable silence.

As the moon began to dim and the stars began to fade , Hermione rose. " I'd better go. I'm sorry about not coming yesterday. Harry caught me leaving. But....I just want to thank you. For listening to me..."

The dragon looked at her surprised as she walked away from the clearing , her cloak flapping out behind her. The dragon held clear confusion in his eyes, and then looked to the sky. Then he lifted his wings...and took flight.

a/n: How you liking it so far? I love all the suggestions and reviews. Thank you sooo much , pleease review again , aight? I love you all! REVIEW! and more suggestions!

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