Tale of A Forbidden Love

Harry Potter

Chapter Thirteen

*starjade*

Dark Truths and Lies

" Hello, Granger," Draco said, his silver grey eyes glittering. Hermione clenched the sheets hard as she stared at the boy in shock.

" Wh-what are you doing here?" She choked out.

Draco shook his head. " I think you should know the answer to that."

Hermione shivered. What was he doing here? To torture her? To call her insane? She didn't know, but from his facial expression, it wasn't good.

Hermione looked around herself, looking for some way to escape.

Draco laughed, his laugh grating and petrifying. " What are you looking for, mudblood? Potty and Weasel? Well, I am sorry to say, but they won't be saving you this time, dear mudblood. Not this time."

" Malfoy, I don't know what you're doing, but if this is another prank of yours, let me remind you, we are not in first year anymore and this is quite immature-" Hermione babbled, trying not show how frightened she really was.

Draco's eyes shined. " Pranks? Dear, dear, I don't think you understand the severity of the situation! See, I'm here on a more...important notice. Care to hear?"

" Honestly, I'd rather not-" Hermione started, her voice shaking but Draco suddenly walked forward and grabbed her shoulders, painfully.

" Let me go, Malfoy!" Hermione gasped, her eyes wide with fright, pain filling her body as his fingers tightened.

Draco narrowed his eyes. " You are a filthy mudblood. OF course you'd ruin everything. You know that monster you saw?"

Hermione froze and he smirked. " What happened to you, Granger? Cat got your tongue?"

Hermione choked out, " He's not a monster-"

" He is a monster!" Draco hissed.

Hermione froze as he continued, " That monster is a dangerous creature. He isn't exactly on the good, or 'light' side. He is actually on close terms with the Lord himself, Voldemort."

" No!" Hermione hissed, but Draco was still talking.

" He is as dark as my father is, you filthy blooded witch!" Draco jeered.

Hermione trembled, backing away from Malfoy. " Get. Away. From. Me!!" Hermione yelled. " Or I'll scre-" Her voice was muffled as Draco ran to her and clamped his hand against her mouth.

" Shut up!" Draco growled. Hermione stared at him with wide, angry brown eyes and Draco paused for a moment and stared at her for a few seconds. Her eyes were really pretty.

He coughed and collected himself and said in a deadly voice, " If you speak one more word with that monster, you will be killed. If you go out and try to meet the monster, you will be killed. If you talk about this meeting, you will be killed. If you mention the monster again to ANYONE, to Potty, Weasel or that muggle loving Dumbledore, you will, and I repeat, WILL be killed."

Hermione stared at him in a mix of fear and apprehension in her eyes as he growled, " Got it?"

Hermione nodded, and Draco stared at her. Something changed in those silver grey eyes of his and Hermione stared at his eyes in surprise. His eyes were so familiar...and it hit a chord in her heart. She stared into those silvery depths and she suddenly felt aware of all the places he was touching her. His hand on her mouth, his face so close to hers, his arm around her neck-

Draco suddenly pulled away from her, wrenching his hand from his mouth, his eyes wide with an emotion she couldn't define. She watched him as he turned away from her, his shoulders shaking with an indeterminable feeling.

" Draco?" She asked, softly, her voice echoing in the silence of the room. " Who will kill me if I meet Drake again? Your father?"

He turned around, whirling with such ferocity that she was taken aback. His fists were clenched and his eyes had turned into a stormy grey that she was more familiar with instead of those intense silver ones.

" I will," Was his response as he turned and walked out of the infirmary, his cape swirling and his shoes clicking on the floor as the door slammed shut.

As soon as he had left, Hermione let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. What had just happened? And why was her heart beating so hard? And why had she called him Draco?

**********************

Hermione groaned, holding her books close to her chest as she walked down the hallways. People were stopping her, asking about this supposed 'monster' who had 'kidnapped' her.

Everyone was excited about this monster and many were threatening to call the ministry and tell them about the monster that had kidnapped Hermione. Hermione firmly said that no one could do that and tried, many, many times to pretend that she might have been dreaming the whole thing, but the idea was so popular that it couldn't die down.

She walked down the corridor, and her mind went to what Malfoy had said.

" That monster is a dangerous creature. He isn't exactly on the good, or 'light' side. He is actually on close terms with the Lord himself, Voldemort."

That couldn't be! Drake was so kind...well not really. He was a good listener at least...unless he was listening so he could sell out secrets on Harry. But no! Drake would've killed her by then, if he really was on good terms with You-Know-Who. He wouldn't have saved her from those monsters in the forest! He would never give her advice, or tell her to stop coming if he was on the dark side!

Hermione knew her emotions were getting in the way of her convictions, but she was absolutely sure that it was true. Deep in her heart, she knew that Drake was not on the bad side.

She hoped that they had not caught him yet. But how could she warn him?

Tonight.

Tonight she would go out, maybe for the last time. And tell him....that the whole school was after him. The whole truth.

She just hoped that he wouldn't be angry at her.

*********************

" Hermione, come on!" Ginny pleaded. " We have to go! All the good dress robes will be taken if we go tomorrow! Please?"

" Oh honestly!" Hermione shouted. " Is that all you care about?"

Ginny shut up at once and Hermione felt guilt seep over her. " Sorry Gin, it's just...I'm sort of in a bad mood right now."

Ginny looked her over. " Hermione, are you okay? Is it about the monst-"

" NO!" Hermione snapped. Ginny was taken aback and Hermione let out her breath.

" Look, Ginny, I'll go with you. Besides, I probably need new dress robes too."

" That means you're coming to the dance?" Ginny asked excitedly.

Hermione smiled wryly. " I'll be coming...solo."

Ginny looked crestfallen. " What do you mean? Has no one asked you yet?"

" That's part of the reason. There is also the reason that I don't feel like dating right now. Or going to the dance with someone of the opposite sex. For some reason, I'm getting tired of the opposite sex," Hermione said, her tone tired. She was thinking about Malfoy. How could he talk to her that way? And was what he said...true?

" Oh come on, Hermione! You know that's a lie! Your two best friends are part of the 'opposite sex' as you like to call it!" Ginny exclaimed.

Hermione grinned. "Well, I don't exactly count Ron and Harry part of the 'opposite sex'-"

" Excuse me?"

Hermione whirled around and winced as Harry and Ron loomed over her.

" Are you calling us girls?" Ron boomed.

" I think that's what she's calling us!" Harry growled.

" Oh....Harry, Ron....I didn't notice you two-" Hermione started.

" Well that's too bad, isn't it?" Harry asked, smiling evilly. Hermione cringed as they came closer. " That just means that we're going to have to punish you now...."

" No....don't tickle me....anything but that!" Hermione pleaded.

Ron asked, " How about doing our homework?"

Hermione stiffened and her McGonagall expression came onto her face. " Excuse me, boys, but I do think in Hogwarts we earn our marks and do our own work, or we will learn absolutely nothing-"

" Well we gave her the chance," Harry shrugged.

" I guess that means..." Ron started.

" NOOOOO!" Hermione screamed as they came at her. Why did they have to learn that she was horribly ticklish?

**************

" How about that one?"

" Too sparkly."

" That one!"

" Too revealing."

" Now that one-"

" Too colourful."

Ginny threw her bags down. " Oh come on, Hermione! You have to choose your dress robe! All of these are so beautiful but for some reason, none of them meet your fancy!"

Hermione groaned. " There all just so...I don't know the word for it. I just don't like any of the dress robes. Maybe its cause my heart isn't into it!"

" Fine!" Ginny huffed. She grabbed a dress robe out of the rack randomly and pushed it at Hermione.

" No way! This is just too much!" Hermione pulled the dress robe away from her with a sniff. The dress robe was ghastly. Emerald green long and Victorian style with a pointed waist and it was cut to reveal a cream coloured petticoat.

" This is something I would wear for Halloween!" Hermione huffed.

" Well then, you choose something!" Ginny screeched.

Hermione rolled her eyes. " Fine! I give up! I'll buy this!"

" Are you sure-"

" YES!"

She shoved the dress robe at the woman behind the desk who started to say, " This is a wonderful choice, great material, absolutely beautiful-"

" JUST GIVE IT TO ME ALREADY!" Hermione yelled.

The woman gave her a dirty look and rang the dress up. Hermione grabbed the bag after muttering, " Merlin, how long does the woman take!" Before rushing out of the dress shop.

The woman looked at Ginny who laughed nervously. " She's just under a lot of stress lately!" Ginny said, smiling apologetically. " You know, from being kidnapped from a potentially deathly monster and stuck with Malfoy for a major Potions assignment...."

The woman just stared at her as Ginny laughed uncertainly. " I'll just leave now."

Hermione was busy rushing off to the Three Broomsticks. She collapsed into one of the seats and took a hold of herself.

Why did she get so angry? She just blew up! She usually was quite calm and ordered...well, not really, but she was never like that! It was probably because she had to tell Drake tonight...that his secret was out. Because of her. Because she was so stupid. And a little part of her was also angry at the dance. She did actually care about the opposite sex, no matter how much she denied it.

She was so jealous of Harry and Ginny. They were so in love.....like the way she was once in love with Harry. She still had lingering attractions to Harry, but it was fading rapidly. Now she was jealous of the relationship the two had.

Could she ever be able to have such a relationship?

Unbidden, those silver eyes blinked at her from the back of her consciousness and she groaned. She really needed some butter beer.

Suddenly, someone slid in the booth in front of her.

" One butter beer please," A familiar voice said.

Hermione looked up slowly and met those icy cold grey eyes that she hated so much right now.

" Malfoy!" She spit out with malice. " What the hell are you doing here?"

Malfoy smirked at her as the waitress walked away with the order. " What do you think I'm doing?"

Hermione let out a strangled noise. " Can you leave me alone? You said your say already! I don't need any more of it! I don't need you telling me that Dr-the monster is on the dark side! He isn't! So just stop it already!"

Malfoy just shook his head and in a wry voice, said, " With those brains, Granger, I would think you would've already figured it out yet. You're near it, of course. Always, you're near to the truth. But you never realize it when its staring you in the face."

Hermione gaped at him, not realizing that was the closest he had come to a true compliment. " So you came and sat with me to say pure bullshit?"

Malfoy tutted. " What words, dear Granger! But what can you expect from a mudblood? Not much, I suppose."

" Malfoy, get away from me," Hermione said through clenched teeth. " I'm already having a bad day and I really do not need you to make it worse for me!"

Suddenly, those grey eyes seemed to change and a shade, closer to silver than grey, came over them. "Don't go back there tonight."

Hermione stopped, startled. " Wha-"

" Don't go back! I know you're going to go back and talk to this monster, but I warn you now, for the sake of your mudblood ass, don't go back."

Rather insulted at the mention of her behind, she sputtered, " And who are you to tell me what to do and what not to do? I still don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about half the time."

" That monster will kill you tonight," Malfoy said, his voice solemn. " He will kill you if you come near him. He is under direct orders. I'm not warning you to 'save' you or whatever Potty's job is. I want the pleasure of killing you myself. So don't go."

He reached out with his hand and touched her cheek for what was one millisecond, but felt like hours. She stared into those silver eyes, those familiar ones and felt her heart begin to ache, so deep that she couldn't even think. The warmth of his hand and the feel of his skin touching hers-

He pulled away and Hermione felt as if she had lost something important and could hardly catch Malfoy's low voice as he muttered, "He will kill you."

Hermione wanted to shout something back at him. He won't kill me! He isn't like that! He's my friend....but something made her freeze up and not say a word as Malfoy slid out of the booth and walk away. Draco Malfoy was serious.

Dead serious.

**************

Why was she doing this again?

Hermione was once again, back in that same cloak, creeping down the familiar route to the Forbidden Forest.

After Malfoy's words, she couldn't sleep. She absolutely needed to see Drake. She needed to ask him if he really was in connections with the Dark Lord. If he really was going to kill her tonight. She had her wand in her pocket, so if anything bad did happen-

Hermione tried to relax. Since when did she start to trust Malfoy?? He probably learned a bit more about manipulating people and wanted to scare her for no reason.

Then how did he know there was a dragon or monster, whatever he thought, in the forest? How did he know that the dragon was capable of human thought, speech and intelligence? How did he know any of that?

She needed to see Drake. Just one look into those silver eyes of his and she'd know the truth.

She walked out into the brisk cold air and hurried across the Hogwarts grounds. The password had changed on one of the secret entrances so she had to use a rare, highly advanced spell to figure out the password. Dumbledore was taking extra precautions.

She felt guilty about doing all of this. What if she was caught? Suspended? Expelled? Even worse, given failing marks in all her subjects?? She didn't think she could take that! But the urge to see Drake was, god forbid, even stronger than the worries about failing Hogwarts.

She walked fast down the pathways, still trying to keep silent , as to not wake up any of the other creatures in the forest. She really did not need any trouble right about now.

Finally, she reached the clearing and just as she was about to burst through it, she remembered Malfoy's words.

That monster will kill you tonight. He will kill you if you come near him.

Trying to control her rapid breathing, Hermione crouched near some bushes outside the clearing, peaking out of the bushes.

There was Drake, as he was every night, curled up, his body moving up and down. Those silver eyes of his were closed tightly and Hermione watched him sleep for a few moments, entranced.

Finally, she broke out of it and looked around for any clues. No dark marks. Nothing out of the ordinary. No proof that this dragon actually was part of the dark side.

Relief was flooding through her like a wave. Drake wouldn't kill her! Hermione shook her head, abashed. How could she even think such a thing?

Smiling, she walked out into the clearing, soft footed. She went down on her knees as soon as she came near the dragon.

" Drake?" Hermione whispered. " Drake, wake up! I've got the silliest story about this boy in my school, Malfoy, he said you were-"

His eye opened and before she could even blink, he was up on his hind legs, wings flapping angrily in the air and a huge roar filling the forest, huge puffs of fire shooting from his mouth.

Then again, maybe Malfoy was right.

a/n: Hey, everyone! So how do ya lyke dis part of da story? I think it aight, a bit confusin, maybe. Thank ya all for all those reviews! I lub dem so much! lol, it's tru, my story line iz strange....but ah, I lyke stories dat aren't lyke everyone else's.

Ha, I tried readin da fifth HP book and I've gotten to page 100, and itz bin three weeks. I heard of dis ten year old who finished dat whole big ass book in one day! Rather makes me feel a bit pathetic, lol!

Aight, ppl, see ya latez, AND REVIEW!

*starjade*