A Tale of A Forbidden Love

Chapter Seventeen

Harry Potter

--starjade--

Searching for Draco Malfoy

Walking to the breakfast table, she heard rumours flying around like arrows through the Great Hall and she felt herself flush hard at a few of them. Especially at the Slytherin table. Pansy Parkinson was staring at her with the most scariest death glare she had ever seen in her life and Hermione tried her best to ignore it.

As Hermione learned, from that informative walk through the tables, people had begun to think that SHE had something to do with Malfoy's sickness. Something to do with her mudblood origin-where they had gotten that idea, she had no clue, since it was quite preposterous-

But deep inside, she was worried. Deeply worried, because the look in Malfoy's eyes before he had the attack. It stuck in her mind, even as she searched the grounds for a sign of Malfoy, as she reported the real story to the Headmaster, even as she went to sleep, watching furtively at her window for a sign of the grey-eyed boy.

She didn't know why she even cared...but she did.

She reached the Gryffindor table and sat down, and Harry and Ron grinned at her.

" So finally got rid of Malfoy, huh?" Ron said through a mouthful of toast. " I knew you would be the one to do it!"

Harry laughed and shook his head. " What happened, Hermione? You rushed away so quickly; we've been dying for the real story! What happened to Malfoy? Did you do anything to him?"

Hermione flushed hard. Even her own friends were accusing of her of harming Malfoy! She opened her mouth to protest but then realized that the great hall had gone silent, and most of the students had their eyes on her.

Hermione's jaw fell open and she cried, " Get on with your breakfast, will you? I didn't do anything!"

Murmurs followed her statement and Hermione growled lowly, wrestling around in her book bag and taking out a huge text on arithmancy.

" Hermione-" Harry started but Hermione was too mad to listen to him.

"Can't you see I'm reading?" She snapped.

" Uh....I just wanted to point out...your reading it upside down....

" SHUT UP!"

-------------------------------

Hermione sat confused as she spooned the potion they had been making into a glass vial. Malfoy wasn't there even though he should be. Maybe he was in the infirmary, she tried to reassure herself. Pansy, who was (unfortunately) in her group as well, spit out, " What did you do to my Drakie?"

" Your Drakie?" Hermione snorted, disbelievingly.

Pansy flushed. " You bitch. You did something to him, I know it! He wouldn't' have danced with you, he wouldn't have had that weird attack-if it wasn't for you!"

Hermione glared at her. " Shut up."

" Why should I?" Pansy sneered. " You're just a filthy mudblood."

Her blood boiled and she was seeing red. She couldn't ignore it, not anymore. Turning her gaze to Pansy, she growled, " What did you say?"

Pansy smirked, her eyes alighting with a creepy triumph at raising a reaction in Hermione. " You heard me. Filthy. Mudblood. You made my Drakie disappeared and it's all you're fault-"

Disappear...

Disappear...

" He disappeared?" She gasped.

Pansy stared at her. " What the bloody hell did you think? He disappeared, and you - you did something-"

Suddenly, Hermione remembered the note.

Bloody hell....Hermione looked around herself frantically. What had happened to Draco? What was he asking her for? Help? Help for what?

She pushed Pansy aside and Pansy squeaked in anger as Hermione ran to Professor Snape.

" I need to go to the washroom," She panted.

Professor Snape scowled at her. " Typical Gryffindor-"

" Please, Professor!" Hermione nearly yelled.

Professor Snape's eyebrows rose but he nodded his consent she raced out into the hallway and down the corridor. She had to talk to Dumbledore-to someone-to-

To Drake.

Drake must've seen Malfoy running into the forbidden forest! She could probably get Drake to help her out....Hermione paused in the hallway, breathing loudly.

It would be her fault if something happened to Malfoy....she didn't know why she felt so responsible, but she did.

Rounding the corner fast, she didn't see Professor Dumbledore until it was too late and she crashed to the floor. Dumbledore, magnificently, didn't even fall and smiled at her with his twinkling eyes as she tried to get up as dignifiedly as possible.

" P-Professer, I'm so sorry-" Hermione panted out.

" It's quite all right, dear. I'm just wondering why you're out of class," Dumbledore rose his eyebrows and Hermione flushed. For a moment, she contemplated telling Dumbledore everything...about Draco, the note....but then she'd have to mention the dragon in the forest...the one she needed to see right now....

" I'm just going to the washroom," Hermione explained, her cheeks tinting at the lie she was saying to her headmaster.

Dumbledore smiled at her. " The washroom is that way," He said conversationally, pointing at the opposite direction.

Hermione looked behind her and then laughed, nervously. " Oh how silly of me....thank you, Professor. I'll just be on my way then." She said, her voice strangely high pitched.

" Alright then, Ms. Granger...remember though, I'm here if you need to tell me anything," Professor Dumbledore said, his eyes serious.

Hermione nodded. " I'll....remember that."

Professor Dumbledore smiled and walked away. Hermione watched him for a while, before sprinting down the hallway, towards the direction of her secret route to the Forbidden Forest. All the while, the only thoughts that remained in her head was about Draco...and the fact that she was skipping Potions and she was probably missing a valuable lesson.

-------------------------------

He sat hunched there, wincing from the sunlight rays that broke through the leaves that made a canopy above him. Never before had he ever hated sunlight, dawn, the sunrise-he hated it with a loathing.

Draco Malfoy was no longer a human boy....he was a dragon.

The silver dragon whose secret correspondence with Hermione Granger caused more complications to arise in his ideals, his loyalty to his father, his morals. His heart...

He was permanently a dragon.

Angrily, he let out a blast of fire that turned a tree into a blazing trunk of smoke and burnt leaves. Fury flooded through him. His father had died...there was no longer a cure for his curse....the maker of his curse was dead!! And he was permanently a dragon.

There was many times in his life where he thought about killing his father. After his first meeting with Voldemort, after the more painful moments of his life-but he never did. He could have, his heart was cold enough-but he didn't. Because his father held the one key to his curse. He was the only one who could cure him of it....and if he died, Draco was permanently a dragon.

He smashed a clawed hand to the ground, watching the ground crack. Permanently! Permanently meant...no more Hogwarts. No more magic, no more quidditch, no more picking on the Wonder Trio-it was all gone for him.

He wondered how Hogwarts had taken his disappearance. Pansy must have been angry, he thought amusedly. His thoughts turned to Granger, her bright brown eyes...he remembered how he had shamefully asked for help from the mudblood...and how he had almost changed into his dragon from in front of her eyes.

That was too close...way too close....

He wondered if she cared if he was gone...he wondered if the damned mudblood even noticed....

" DRAKE!"

Startled, he opened an eye and saw the same girl of his thoughts come racing through the brush, her frizzy hair a mess, her eyes wild. " Drake!!" she cried.

" In the flesh," He mumbled, trying not to let on his surprise. If he wasn't wrong....it was school hours....and she was coming to meet him?

" Draco....Draco Malfoy..." She choked out.

Draco's other eye opened. What? Why was she saying his name? Did she....find out??

" What? What about Malfoy?" Draco asked, desperately.

" He-He disappeared! Here, in the forest!" Hermione gasped out, falling to her knees in her exhaustion. Draco stared at her in disbelief. Hermione ran all the way out here, probably skipping class (he inwardly crowed, the goody two shoes has fallen!) just to ask him about...himself?

This was too much for him. " What?" He asked, his deep voice taking on a confused credence.

" Draco Malfoy...the boy I hated, the boy who caused so much pain for Harry, Ron and I? Remember? He has blond hair and grey eyes....and yesterday, he was dancing with me, asking for my help....and then all of a sudden, he started twitching and then he ran out the doors into the forbidden forest. Then I saw this note..."

Draco lifted his head. " A note?"

" Yes. It said, You're too late. He's dead. More will join him if you don't agree." Hermione peered at him and Draco stared at the ground. Even though he had known it already, it came to a surprise to him that Hermione knew too.

" Drake..." She whispered. Draco looked up and blinked hard, shock filling his veins at the tears in her eyes. Hermione was crying? Why the hell was she crying?

" Drake, help me. I need to help Malfoy. He's in trouble, I know he is! I didn't know whom else to turn to. You must know this forest inside and out! Please help me find him!" She pleaded, the tears falling from her eyes and running down her cheeks.

Draco could not speak. Hell, the mudblood had taken away his ability to speak a word. She...was crying FOR him. Not because of him. FOR him. It was such a new experience that it was taking a long time for him to believe it. The years he had taunted her, broke down her friends, insulted everyone she loved and everything she was.....it had come down to this. Even still, when he would smirk and insult her in class.....here she was, crying for him.

Worrying about him.

God....what was this mudblood doing to him?

" Drake? Drake??" She was asking and he tried to concentrate on her again.

" No!!" He shouted. Hermione jerked her head up, surprised at his tone of voice. " This boy....did he not insult you? Did he not taunt you? Did he not cause you pain for all of your years at Hogwarts?"

Hermione looked as someone had slapped her. " Y-Yes, but-"

" Then he is not worthy! He should die out there, killed by any monster that comes past! He does not deserve to be saved!" Draco shouted. His voice lowered to a hiss. " Is that not what you want? To see your enemy dead?"

" NO!" Hermione yelled. Draco looked at her as she got to her feet. " No! I do not want him dead! It is true that he has done all of this to me....and I still harbour dislike towards him, but something....something in the way he asked me for help yesterday....something in those eyes draws me to him....just like the way your eyes draw me to you."

She turned red all of a sudden and Draco tilted his head, confused. Gryffindor emotions....how useless they were.

But somehow he couldn't say no. He wanted to .....he wanted to say no, for there was no point in this search party......but he couldn't , not to her hopeful brown eyes.

" Alright, you foolish human girl. All right."

And he couldn't hide the smile in his eyes as she began to cheer and raced up to him, hugging him around his neck. Even though he wanted to.

-------------------------------

" Draco Malfoy is missing."

Hermione flinched at the words, said in such a cold and matter of fact voice that guilt ran through her veins like ice water.

There was no surprise at the dinner tables, but Hermione could feel people turning to look at her. She turned red as Professor Snape kept speaking.

" We do not want any of you to worry, for we will find him. If any of you have information about where he is, or anything that will help us, please come forward," Professor Snape said icily and Hermione looked downwards, her fingers clenching on the table.

For Drake.....For Malfoy....she can't come forward...not just yet...

" Search parties have been sent out and Draco Malfoy will be found. And any of those who may have a hand in his disappearance and have not come forward....you will be punished. Severely. That is all."

It was straining Hermione's control to have to listen to these words and not obey them. She could see from Harry and Ron's faces that they were worried about her, but what could she do? She had to keep quiet....just until she found Draco...

" Hermione?" She heard Harry say hesitantly and her head shot up from the golden plate that she was staring hard at.

" Y-Yes?" She answered, her voice shaking.

Harry peered at her, concernedly. " Do you know anything?" He said in a low voice. " About Malfoy's disappearance?"

Hermione bit her lip, trying not to let the pain of keeping everything a secret show. " No....I know as much as you do."

Ron looked at her suspiciously. " Hermione, don't keep anything from us. We can help you."

Hermione knew she couldn't take this any longer and got up abruptly. " I'm not hungry. I'm going to sleep. Good night."

With that, she walked out of the hall, Ron and Harry's surprised eyes following her out of the room.

Hermione broke into a run as she walked out of the hall, running down the familiar route outside to the Forbidden Forest and towards Drake. They were going to start searching for Draco....and maybe even figure out what was going on with him...and why he needed her help.

-------------------------------

" I'm supposed to get ONTOP of you?" Hermione asked incredulously.

Drake stared at her, and Hermione could read the message in his eyes. You're pathetic...Hermione glared as he went down on his haunches and tilted his head, studying her. " We've done this before, oh bushy-haired one. Just get on top of me, hold on-"

" HOLD ON WHERE?" Hermione exploded. " You're scales???"

Drake sighed, exasperatedly. " Then how else will this work??"

Hermione stared at the ground, sullenly. " I-"

Drake was silent for a second, before he snorted, a puff of smoke rising in the air. " HA! Are you telling me, you're afraid to fly?"

Hermione swelled up, her cheeks blowing up angrily. " I am NOT afraid to fly! I quite enjoy it-"

" Then got on my back-"

" -just because I will not risk my life for such foolish things-"

" FINE! Don't! Then I'll leave!" Drake finally barked, getting up on his feet to leave. Hermione gaped at him before squeaking in protest.

" Noo! Don't! We have to find Malfoy!"

Drake glared down at her. " That does not concern me, foolish girl."

Hermione pouted, her eyes glued to the ground. " Fine! Get down here, I'm getting on you're back."

Snorting this time in triumph, Drake settled down once more and Hermione struggled onto his back, slipping on his smooth scales. As his powerful muscles began to move, Hermione squeaked and tried to grab him around his neck as his wings spread out to their immense width and he began to sweep the air, rising upwards. Closing her eyes tightly, trying not to concentrate on the fact that she could indeed fall, she felt him rise high in the air.

" You can open you're eyes now," Drake said, his voice rumbling through his body. Hermione felt it and she smiled, slightly.

" Thank you, Drake. You don't know how much this means to me," Hermione smiled widely.

Drake was silent for a while as they flew over the forests, their eyes searching through a well made detector that Hermione had spelled up which let them see through trees and find someone that was human.

" So you are saying this boy means something to you," Drake said after a few minutes.

Hermione jerked, surprised at the unexpected statement. " Well....I'm not sure. I don't really like him, his personality stinks. He certainly is on my bad side....but I'm not going to leave anyone in the forest in danger. I can't do that..."

And his grey eyes, a voice said at the back of her mind. His eyes and the way they twinkle. The way he asked you for help, the way his face changes when he's not wearing that smirk and is being semi-nice for once....

He made her feel tingly. Like Drake did. Drake's silver eyes brought shivers down her spine, his words always making her think, his whole presence....it did something to her. She didn't know what...

And she was afraid of what it might be when she found out.

a/n: Dun another chapter!! Sry for the lateness of it!! (if lateness is a word...hell, it is!! wut wut!!) tell me what u guys thought of this chapter aight? and yes, drake and draco do have things that are different in their personalities... a lot of people have this, i sometimes feel this way too. when you feel like you're two people, even though you're one person. I guess it's the same thing with Draco, his other side is Drake and even though the two aren't that different, there are certain qualities that distinguish the differences between the both of them.

annnnnyways, review, aight?

see ya latez,

starjade