Dare You To Move: Chapter Four

By: Teenlaunch

a/n: Thanks for all the nice reviews everyone. I believe someone was very close if not dead on with an assumption about why Rane is important. But, this is not going to have a love triangle in it like many seem to believe. Anyway, any complaints, questions, or comments, just review please. Dare You To Move (just below) is courtesy of Switchfoot. Well, here's the fourth installment.

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

I dare you to lift yourself off the floor

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

Like today never happened

Today never happened before

Hermione walked onto the balcony slowly, making each step light but purposeful. Draco was sitting on the couch reading when she came out. He looked up and frowned. Hermione sat down at the other end of the couch and looked away from him. "Why do you take that?" Draco asked.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione glanced sideways at him.

"Why do you let him talk to you that way?"

"You were listening?" Hermione asked, turning to him shocked.

"I heard enough. Besides, I've heard your arguments with him before. The whole school has." Draco flipped him book closed and laid it down in front of him. "You don't need to take that from him. Besides, it only boosts his ego."

"I don't have a choice, do I? I have to take it, even if it does boost his ego. He's my best friend. What can I do? You're a Slytherin. There has to be something you can tell me to do."

"I don't know what you can do, Granger. You're the Know-It-All, not me. I do know, however, that what Potter really needs is something that will wake him up to reality, simple as that. He has to learn that when he says jump, everyone won't say 'how high?'! He's a control freak!"

"And you aren't?" Hermione snapped.

Draco shrugged. "That depends on the situation. Do you still have my wand?"

"What? Oh, yeah, here." Hermione took it from her pocket and handed it to him. "Um, I was wondering, why do you fight with Harry do much? I mean, every time I turn around, you two are going at it."

"Well, most of the time, he starts it. Usually, he just says something that sets me off. I've always been the brunt of many jokes around my house and around the school. I can't stand others poking fun at people who…don't really deserve it. He's got a big head and thinks everyone should bow down to him. I just want to deflate his ego a bit."

"That figures," Hermione sighed as she got up and walked away from him.

"What figures, Granger?" Draco asked. He stood up and walked over to her.

"Nothing!" Hermione snapped at him.

"Granger, you are so…stubborn! Just like you Gryffindors! You think you know how to solve everything and when you find you don't have an answer for something, you start taking it out on innocent bystanders!"

"Innocent?" Hermione screeched. "You are anything but innocent, Malfoy! Why am I even talking to you? This is ridiculous! I haven't had a decent conversation with you since I first laid eyes on you. Now, you're treating me…"

"Like an equal? If that's what you're thinking, you're becoming delusional. How did Potter and Weasley put up with you for so long? Have you always been so difficult?"

"Me? You're the one who's prejudiced! You're the one always flaunting your power and - and throwing out insults and beating everyone down!" Hermione whirled to face him, her face flushed.

"Shut up, Mudblood!"

Hermione's face paled. Her eyes began to fill with tears. "Don't you dare call me that again, Malfoy."

"I can call you whatever I want, Mudblood. You don't know anything about me. As for you, I don't think there's anything to know. You're really shallow. For all I know, this is just an act. You probably like getting beat up by Potter. Heck, you're probably yearning after him too."

"You don't know anything, Ferret-face! How could you possibly think anyone would like getting hit by their best friend and then start yearning after him? You're insane! I thought I could trust him." Hermione choked on her tears. "That's what figures. I thought he would be there when I needed him most, but he wasn't. Instead, I'm getting everything thrown back at me! I can't take it anymore! I told him the most harmful secret I have and he said 'oh, what about it?'. Now you're here and you don't care what happens to me either! Do you have any idea what's it's like to have a…a backstabber for a best friend? I guess that's impossible seeing as you have no friends, then again, I'm not sure I do anymore."

"Granger, you have no idea what you're talking about. I don't have friends because I don't let anyone get close to me anymore. I don't want to get attached. It sounds like you're the same. You're pushing everyone away now that there's a rift between you and Golden Boy."

"What are you saying, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, taking a step back. His eyes were flashing a hard steel color. Draco snarled at her and took a step toward her.

"You aren't the only one with problems, Granger. My life has ups and downs too. Right now, it seems both of us are in a rut."

"I don't understand. You aren't making any sense."

"Life is like a roller coaster." Hermione raised an eyebrow, surprised he knew what a roller coaster was. Draco went on, not seeming to realize what he had said. "It's full of hills. Some hills are small while some are like mountains. It's like they're impossible to get over them. Then, you realize you're missing something, and once you figure out what you need, there's no stopping you. You realize the only way to conquer those hills is by trusting in God and believing in yourself. You seem to need help in the latter. I don't think you need help in trusting in God."

"You missed something you know…Malfoy," Hermione mumbled.

"What?" Draco snapped.

"Everyone needs someone to stand by them. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on and someone," Hermione felt tears starting to run down her face again, "Someone to help them carry their load. I don't have either. At least you have your little girlfriend, Pansy."

Draco's face contorted into a look of total disbelief. "Are you insane? She'd never want to hear my problems. I would not, for that matter, ever want her to hear my problems. She's one of them." Draco muttered the last bit under his breath.

"She's one of your problems? Really?"

"Really."

"Tell me about it."

Draco opened his mouth, but seemed to think better of it. "I thought you were angry with me, not that it's unusual or that I don't like aggravating you."

Hermione shrugged, but her face darkened slightly. "Are you going to tell me?"

"I don't think so, Granger."

"Why not?"

"For one, I'm Draco Malfoy and you are a Mudblood." Hermione growled at the foul name. Draco smirked at her. "You know what, I'll make a deal with you."

Hermione looked at him suspiciously. "Go on."

"Until you tell me what's wrong with you, I won't tell you what's wrong with me."

"I hope you mean besides the fact that you're a Slytherin and a Malfoy." Draco snarled at her witty remark. Hermione smiled. "So, you're proposing a sort of contest to see which of us can last longest, am I right?"

"More or less."

"Alright. It sounds good to me, but how do I know you'll tell me?"

"You don't."

"Miss Granger," Professor Snape snapped. "Must you sleep through my class? Couldn't you have rested during Transfiguration?"

Hermione smiled sheepishly. "Um, I did sir. I'm sorry, Sir."

"I warned you, Miss Granger, and I shouldn't have given you that. I will see you Saturday night for your detention."

"But, Sir!" Hermione pleaded.

"No buts, Miss Granger. Saturday at seven sharp. Now, divide into pairs, and Miss Granger, I want you to work with Mr. Malfoy."

Hermione groaned. Draco walked over and sat down. "Awful morning to you, Granger. Shall we get started?"

"Knock it off, Malfoy. Pleasantries have never been your strong point." Draco rolled his eyes at her witty remark.

Hermione started to sort through her ingredients. Draco followed her movement out of the corner of his eye. He snapped to his senses and took the root she handed him to chop up into pieces. Hermione watched him out of the corner of her eye. His eyes had a glazed look to them. She shook her head and looked down at the root he was chopping. It occurred to Hermione that the knife seemed to be moving closer and closer to his hand. A split-second before Draco brought the knife down for another slice, Hermione caught his hand. He looked at her in surprise. "What are you doing, Granger?" he asked in apparent confusion.

"Stopping you from slicing off you thumb. One second more and you would have sliced something off your left hand." Hermione chided him, somewhat playfully, a small smile playing around her mouth.

"Huh?" Draco looked down at his hand saw that the knife was indeed only centimeters above his thumb. "Thanks, uh…you can let go anytime, you know."

Hermione blushed and dropped his hand. "Sorry," she whispered. Draco shrugged. Hermione gave a small 'humph' at this and went back to work.

Not even twenty minutes later, Hermione added the root Draco had been cutting. She saw Draco absentmindedly lift the bowl of crushed beetles and slowly tip it so that the contents slid precariously close to the lip of the bowl. Hermione's hand shot out in spite of herself to cup around the bowl, her hand closing over the bowl and the tips of Draco's fingers. "Wha-"

"You could have blown us into pieces, Malfoy. You can't put the powdered beetles in before the drop of salamander blood. You should know that."

"I…I didn't notice." Draco looked down.

"Please pay more attention next time." Hermione looked him over quickly. He seemed to be paler than usual. "Do you want me to finish this up?" she offered gently.

"No. That's alright. I think stirring won't take much after the last couple things are added. Do you think I am capable, Miss Know-It-All?" Draco flashed Hermione his trademark smirk.

Hermione sighed. "I honestly don't know. If you keep gazing into space like you have been, I don't think you'll be able to walk out of here."

Draco shook his head and looked at their hands. Hermione did as well. She quickly let go of the bowl. Draco's face grew smug. Hermione turned away from him to finish the potion.

When they were finally finished, Hermione started doodling absently. She quickly grew bored and started to simply watch her peers as many of them struggled with their potion, which Snape had just told them was a powerful painkiller, which would explain the many herbs they had used. Eventually, she sat back and stared at the ceiling. She jumped when a small groan came from beside her. She looked over at Draco. He was leaning back against the wall. His knees were drawn tightly to his chest and his arms were resting on his knees where his head was buried deeply into his robes. Draco was shaking slightly. He raised his head a couple inches until his forehead was resting on his clasped hands. Hermione gasped when she saw a shimmering substance roll over one of his fingers. Draco shook his head and looked up at her. "What?" he snapped.

"Nothing," Hermione murmured. She looked away. She didn't notice that Snape was watching her exchange with Draco, but she did catch Harry's eye. He frowned and, although he still wasn't on good terms with Hermione, he nodded toward Draco. She knew he couldn't pass up an opportunity to get some dirt on Draco. Hermione shrugged and turned back to her doodling.

Hermione yawned and put down her book. It was Wednesday night and she was in the Founders' study. She walked to the side of the study, where it was eerily dark and most likely not usually inhabited. She walked along for a couple minutes, watching the rows upon rows of books glide by her. She stopped walking when she heard a distinct ripping sound from just ahead of her where she could see a faint light glowing. Hermione walked down the row of books just behind the glowing light. She took out a couple books and peered anxiously through the hole she had made.

Hermione found she was looking at someone who was sitting in an armchair that was partially bathed in the light from a fire. A sudden flare threw the person's face into sharp relief and Hermione realized it was Draco. He was watching the fire lick hungrily at what remained of a letter.

Draco shook his head. "Saturday," Draco whispered to himself. "It's already time for it again, and it's Saturday." Hermione bit her lip as a tear ran down his cheek. He swiped at it and scowled. "What would Granger or Slytherin say if they caught you this torn up, Draco? You can do this. No more tears. You've put up with it this long. You can surely put up with it again."

Hermione quietly replaced the books on the shelf and left the study. When she reached the Gryffindor common room she found Ron sitting in one of the overstuffed armchairs by the fire. His face was red and there was a long gash above his eye. "Ron!" Hermione rushed over to him. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Ron groaned. "One moment Harry's looking for the Marauder's Map, next he's chucking things at me, telling him to help him find it, cause it's disappeared. I think he believes one of us took it."

"What? Why would he think that?"

"Hermione, use your head! We're the only ones that know about it. What's gotten into you?" Ron put his hand to his head where he was still bleeding. "I didn't know he liked that map so much."

There were thundering footsteps and Harry charged down the stairs. Hermione suddenly noticed that Seamus, Dean, and Neville were also downstairs, all looking very ruffled and on edge now that Harry had appeared. "Hermione!" Harry croaked. All the boys flinched and recoiled in fear. Neville let out a terrified squeak. "Where is it?"

"What? You think I have it?"

"I know you can get into the boys' dorm and you know what's missing because you have it!" Harry scowled at her.

"Harry," Ron began, "Mate-"

"Stay out of it, Ron. I know you took it, Hermione. You wanted to make sure I didn't see you with him again!"

"See me with whom?"

"The Slytherin, Hermione. The one I despise. Now, I want it back."

"What Slytherin?" Ron asked curiously.

"I was talking with Malfoy about the project we had due, Ron. Harry, I don't have it. I promise!"

"A lot of good that does me."

"I don't have it!"

"Whatever! This is ridiculous!"

"You're ridiculous, Harry."

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. -Isaiah 50:10

Thanks for reading! Any questions, comments, thoughts, or rebuttals, just review!

Teenlaunch