CHAPTER ONE: THE LIBRARY
HERMIONE POV
One week back at school and I'm already behind in my study schedule who knew that being head girl could set me back so much, Hermione mused brushing her now sleek hair out of her eyes, it had once been unruly but as it grew longer the weight turned the mass of curls into lustrous waves.
As she opened the door to the library it greeted her with an all too familiar creak. I suppose I'll just have to do some extra study at night time and revise my study schedule so that it fits my head girl duties into it too.
Sighing she entered the musty old room and was greeted with the smell of stained pages, ancient tomes and the wood fireplace which, although the early autumn weather was still somewhat warm, was still crackling merrily. Browsing through the aisles she gave Madame Prince an affectionate smile which the elderly woman returned. Turning back to her search Hermione began selecting books that would be suitable to use for the various essays that she wanted to accomplish this week. Once she had collected five or so books per subject, she settled herself down into one of the study booths in the back of the library. When she had her self set up for her study session she pulled out her day planner; she began to tick off the assignments which she needed to finish, on her manicured hand.
Ancient runes, transfiguration, charms, defense against the dark arts, care of magical creatures, history of magic, potions, astronomy, muggle studies, and herbology. She opened one of the many books and began to read, her honey colored eyes flicking over the words quickly. 'The goblin rebellion of 1962 began on July the 12th, the reason…'
What the hell is that? Hermione looked around for a moment; I swear I could feel someone's eyes on me. Rolling her eyes at her stupidity she began again 'the goblin rebel…'
What the hell is going on? Looking around once again she saw no one, I must be imagining things.
'The goblin rebellion of 1962….'
I'm not imagining things, Hermione began to pack up her things, perhaps I'll get my work done in the common room. One good thing about being head girl is that I don't have to put up with Harry and Ron's nagging.
Yeah but I have to put up with Draco ferret boy Malfoy.
Her internal discussion as to the pro's and con's of being head girl continued as she left the library, had she been paying more attention she may have noticed the grey eyed boy follow her out.
DRACO POV
Draco Malfoy, Slytherin sex god, Hogwarts hottest head boy, in one word perfection. Some people think he's cocky and arrogant and all but he's not. This is the story of how won the heart of his love and changed his life…
The scrunching of parchment could be heard through out the library as Draco screwed up yet another piece. Pulling out a clean sheet of parchment and started again…
He sat in his well furnished study, no one around to talk to, he doubted anyone cared. He was Draco Malfoy. He was nice, kind and generous, but due to misrepresentation he was loathed by all, all but one his love, his goddess. And she was all his.
Scrunch, the noise echoed through out the deserted library, well not completely deserted there was the librarian, who Draco thought was quite scary and threatening. Page after page of parchment was balled up and thrown into the blazing fire. Heaving a defeated sigh he began to pack away his pack away his things, the silence of the library was once again interrupted.
The creaking of the door rippled across the room. Draco looked up there she was, his goddess. He quickly changed his mind about leaving the library he slipped into the chair he was sitting on before she had arrived.
He could tell she was in her domain; she languidly strolled through the aisle picking up books now and then to see if they could help her purpose, never once did she seem lost or flustered.
He gulped as she approached the back of the library, her books levitating in her wake. Quickly turning so that he was concealed by the large overly stuffed armchair he had seated himself in.
After a few minutes he began to stare at her again, however as though feeling his eyes Hermione's head shot up. And so the game began. When Draco saw Hermione begin to leave, he silently followed her.
She lead him through the halls of Hogwarts towards their common room, Hermione had seemed unaware of his presence until she reached the portrait which lead into the heads common room.
NO POV
Hermione had noticed the presence behind her but assumed it to be some first year that was lost. She got the shock of her life when she turned around as the person stopped just behind her at the portrait.
"Malfoy?" she exclaimed incredulously "what the hell are you doing here?"
"Well I thought that would have been obvious granger," he stated with a smirk, "and people say that you're the smart one, weasel's idiocy has finally rubbed off on you eh? I'm not surprised the amount of time you spend with him and doing what may I ask? Snogging most likely" his face twisted into a sneer of disgust.
"What I do with Ron is none of your business Malfoy, your probably just jealous anyways. I haven't seen pansy hanging off you lately what's happened? she realize you're a prick?" venomous malice laced her every word.
"Me, jealous!" he let out a laugh and wiped invisible tears of mirth from his eyes, "I don't have any reason to be envious of the Weasel; he's poor, ugly and has no breeding."
"MALFOY," Hermione snarled, "go away." Her voice no longer the chiming bells that he had once thought them to be instead they had lowered a few levels in pitch.
"Make me mudblood." He almost shivered as he used that name, it was his fathers belief that muggleborns were a lower life not his, but Draco had to keep up appearances until his father was gone.
"Rictusempra" Hermione drawled monotonously and her left Malfoy in the corridor.
CHAPTER TWO: BREAKFAST AND A FAVOR
Breakfast the next day was as it usually was, Harry and Ron were writing out their potions homework at the last minute and Hermione had buried herself within a book, only stopping her reading when the boys asked her to check their work.
"Done," Ron exclaimed, through a mouth full of what Hermione could only assume was the egg and toast he had been stuffing in his mouth only a moment before.
"Ron! That's disgusting, swallow first" Hermione said wiping the flecks of egg off her book "you should know better than to eat and speak at the same time." She returned to her reading only to be interrupted once again by Ron's 'quick wit'.
"Oh yeah well at least I eat! You haven't touched your food you just keep reading, it's as if you think if you stop you'll die." Hermione rolled her eyes at this remark but did not look up again.
Harry, who had remained silent through out the course of their 'discussion', as he normally did, finally decided to comment.
"He's right you know 'mione, I never see you eat anymore your always reading, it scares me." He swiped at the egg yolk dripping down his chin.
"I can take care of myself! I am a big girl I don't need your help, why are you two keeping tabs on what I eat anyways? It's not like it's your business," she hissed closing her book with a snap, "I'm going to go and get a decent seat in potions, I'll see you later." And with that she stood abruptly and began to stalk out of the hall, ignoring Harry's attempts to call her back.
"Mione you know what we meant we were just worried! Mione!" Harry sighed in defeat and looked to Ron who simply shrugged and piled some more bacon onto his plate.
Draco who had seen the display between the trio was quite pleased, potty and the weasel had given him the perfect opportunity to get to know Hermione better, but before he put it to work he had to speak to his uncle…
End of chapter two
…
(Bet you thought I was going to leave you there)
Draco stalked toward the teachers table glaring as he passed the hufflepuff's.
"Hey uncle Sev" he said as he approached the head table.
"I've told you Draco I am not your uncle and you are not to address me that way whilst we are in a public place" Severus shot Draco a warning look and then motioned for Draco to follow him out the hall.
Draco nodded and followed behind his 'uncle' glaring half heartedly at the younger years as he passed them. Once outside of the great hall Severus turned towards the dungeons, only to be stopped by Dracos hand on his black teaching robes
"It's not that important." He said quietly, at the puzzled look upon Sevs' face. His uncle sneered at the boy as a 1st year passed by.
"everything, Draco, deserves a certain amount of privacy, and every conversation we have is never classified as 'that important' I am no fool and I am not going to be made one by a conversation had within a hallway, follow me" Draco nodded knowing that once again his uncle was right.
Upon reaching his office Severus spoke the password. Sweeping into his study he placed silencing charm upon the room. "There now what was it you wished to speak to me about Draco?" Snapes voice was much kinder than it had been before.
"I want to ask you a favor uncle Sev" Draco said quite calmly, his uncle groaned.
"Not again, what is it now?" he asked with a slight laugh.
"Well you see there's this girl and I want to get to know her a bit better and I thought that maybe..." he was cut off.
"you thought maybe I could pair you up in potions and then you would get to 'study' with her," Sev sighed as Draco nodded, "pretty soon Draco your going to have to come up with better ways of getting to know girls." Draco scoffed at this. "Alright who the hell has your fascination this time? It cant be Parkinson she's already willing to sleep with you anyways… so… who?"
"Hermione granger" Draco said softly his voice barely a whisper. Severus heard him loud and clear.
"Oh no, no, no, no, I refuse Minerva will have my head! I refuse I cannot believe that you thought of her other than as potters friend, I am not going to help you there." At his words Draco hung his head.
"I can't help it Sev, she's just in my head I need you to help just this one last time I promise I wont need your help ever again," he knew his pleading would not get him anywhere so he raised his head cocked it to the side raising one eyebrow whilst saying, "I never knew you were afraid of McGonagall" smirking he knew he had his uncle trapped.
"FINE! You'll be her partner for the rest of the year but if you do something stupid I swear that it'll be you I kill, right after Minerva kills me"
Severus shook his head, "now you need to get to class."
"See ya there uncle Sev" Draco said with a wink, he turned and left the room heading towards the potions class room humming happily.
CHAPTER THREE: A POTIONS CLASS & A TRIP TO THE INFIRMARY
Hermione granger sat at her desk in the dungeon class room fuming. Who the hell did they think they were? She was the responsible one and yet here they were bloody telling her what to eat and when she should read. Her mental rant was cut short as the door slammed open and Harry and Ron jogged into the class room late as usual, not that it mattered professor Snape had not yet made an appearance. They spied her, sitting by herself in the middle of the room, reading her potions text book, and seated them selves beside her attempting to get her to talk.
"Hey mione," Ron said clearly oblivious to the fact that she was ignoring them. Harry being the bright spark that he was decided that now was the best time to shut Ron up. He stomped on what he thought was Ron's foot extremely hard, just as Hermione stood up and twisted around there was a loud snap.
Hermione yelped as Harry's foot crushed her own, her ankle no longer holding her she sat once again in her chair. "HARRY POTTER YOU ARE A COMPLETE IDIOT. Why the hell did you stand on my foot?" Harry looked sheepish as Hermione stood and limped towards the door, she was positive that Harry had broken at least one of her toes and that her ankle was at the very least twisted. It was then that professor Snape decided to grace the class with his presence.
"Where pray tell are you going miss granger?" he sneered at her.
"To the infirmary sir" she said tartly, glaring defiantly at him.
"Is that so, and why are you going to the infirmary?" Snape hissed maliciously he glance around the room, only really taking notice of one student that seemed overly eager to tell him something. Draco having seen the entire thing was attempting to get his uncles attention.
"My foot has been crushed sir and my ankles twisted" her voice irritated.
"And who or what crushed your foot miss granger?" he asked his eyes back on her sneer in place.
"Harry crushed my foot professor now could I please go to the infirmary" her voice needy and eyes glistening with tears of pain, she had been standing on her sore foot too long.
"yes alright miss granger but Mr. Malfoy will be accompanying you, should you need any help," with that he side stepped Hermione and stalked towards the middle of the room, his eyes gleaming with happiness, ready to give potter punishment.
Draco thanked Merlin for his uncle as he walked next to Hermione no bad comments had yet come from his mouth.
Hermione's ankle was becoming increasingly painful but she had not made any indication to Malfoy that she needed help, that was the last thing she needed actually it would just be another reason for him to tease her, though he hadn't said anything mean to her… yet. She stopped briefly leaning against the stone wall of the corridor for support, the tears she had tried to conceal before leaking out of her eyes.
Draco noticed Hermione stopped and turned to her, becoming increasingly worried when he saw tears coming from her eyes.
"granger… are you ok?" she nodded her head and began to walk once again, only to collapse two meters away from Malfoy, "no your not, come on I'll carry you." He kneeled down and picked her up in his arms. She was extremely light and skinny her robs hung loosely around her.
"Its fine Malfoy I can walk." She wriggled in his arms trying to free herself.
"Hermione…" he said warningly. This caused Hermione to stop moving and look at him shocked.
"What did you call me?" she asked purely flabbergasted. Draco gulped, he'd slipped and now there would be hell to pay. Think quick think quick why did you have to say her name?
"erm well you see I uh… you were hurt and well I thought it would stop you from wriggling around in my arms and we're head boy and girl so I kinda thought that we could at least be civilized to each other." What a great lie and I good or am I good.
"Oh" the rest of the walk to the infirmary was quite. Hermione wincing in pain when Draco accidentally bumped her ankle.
When they entered the infirmary they were greeted by madam Pomfrey bustling around them ordering Draco to put her on one of the beds and for them both to wait there. This left them with an awkward silence which neither head knew how to break.
"So um…"
"Yeah"
They both laughed at their conversational skills as the nurse inspected Hermione's ankle and toes.
"Well it would seem miss granger that you have broken all five of your toes and twisted your ankle, if you don't mind me asking, how did this happen?" the nurse handed Hermione a vial full of a yellow liquid and a purple and orange spotted pill. Hermione downed them both and shuddered, one was sickly sweet and the other tasted of a mix of vinegar and an unknown substance.
"Well Harry stomped on my foot quite hard as I was standing up" Hermione shrugged.
"Well that's about all that I can do for you so you both can go back to your class. The nurse then turned to a third year hufflepuff and began to poke him in the stomach with her wand.
when hermione and Draco got back to the potions lab the class was filing out towards their next class, hermione grabbed her things and began to head out but was called back by snape.
"miss granger, you and mister Malfoy will be partners for the rest of the year, the notes on your first assignment are here," he gestured towards the two pieces of parchment on the desk infront of him. Hermione took the parchment and left silently, leaving a pleased Draco and a curious Snape…
"What happened Draco? Did you get your little witch?" Snape sneered.
"Oh cut the act Sev and no I didn't get her but I got to hold her for a while at least" this got the older man interested, he quirked an eyebrow and pulled back his hair. He had long ago learnt that if he pulled it back into a pony tail at the base of his neck it didn't annoy him quite so much, and he also had a new found fondness for his hair washing it every day so that it looked neat and clean, this had caused a few of the older girls to glance at him more than once a day. Yes it was true the evil Snape had begun to go soft, smiling at his younger students and wearing muggle clothes on the weekend, it was all thanks to his nephew and the lack of Voldemort within his life.
Draco, seeing his uncles interest in how he had come to have the Gryffindor in his arms, proceeded to explain exactly what had happened on their little trip to the infirmary
CHAPTER FOUR: SPECIAL PEOPLE AND BLOOD
Outside the class room Harry and Ron were waiting both still angry at Snape. When they saw hermione exit the room they walked towards her, Harry's eyes flashed with betrayal.
"why did you say it was me mione?" harry snapped as they began walking to transfigurations.
"because it was you harry," Hermione stated simply.
"yeah but you could have said it was the mal-ferret" ron said in a low tone.
"and why would I do that? he'd get into trouble when he did nothing," hermione asked quite annoyed at the way they were acting.
"yeah but now I'm in trouble and Malfoy deserved to get in trouble." Hissed harry
"why? He didn't do anything, if anyone deserved to get into trouble it was you I cannot believe you want him into trouble when he's undeserving of it you were the one who crushed my foot and twisted my ankle which is fine now thanks for asking. You can't expect people to shield you harry I'm not going to." She kept walking though somewhat slower than before. Harry's eyes flashed with pain annoyance and anger.
"I have not been shielded! You think you know everything well you don't I've been through more than you will ever go through. You've had a perfect life and you think you can stand there saying I was shielded" harry's voice was low and deadly, but hermione wasn't going to let him get away with speaking to her like that. Perfect life yeah you have no idea what I've been through harry.
"you honestly think I have a perfect life harry?" harry nodded "okay then lets see, you think you are gods gift to the world because you have a scar, no parents, because you were 'mistreated' by your uncle and aunt, you think your some kind of god because you've face near death more than once well harry, I guess I must be special too" harry scoffed at this.
"you, special, yeah right. you have a perfect life."
"I was raped harry, raped by my dad whilst my mum watched more than once, I've attempted to commit suicide, I have scars, I've been beaten every summer since I started here because my parents hate the fact I'm a witch, I live in a castle where I have to look at a person who tries to hurt me just because they think I'm lower than them, and I've faced voldemort on my own before without you and ron there," tears were freely falling down her face "so don't you dare try to tell me I have a perfect life."
"mione he didn't mean it…" ron stepped towards her in an attempt to hug her, hermione flinched and backed away.
"mione I didn't know I'm so sorry…" harry looked at her with regret.
"well now you know potter" she ran, hermione ran towards the heads common room ignoring everyone and everything on her way there she need to get away from them all, she needed release. She shouted the password at the portrait and bolted through to her room putting up locking (Colloportus) and silencing spells.
She unlocked her trunk reaching through the masses of books searching for her blade, her hand ran over the leather bag in the bottom of her trunk and she quickly pulled it out, untying the cords she withdrew the knife, sighing at the mere sight of it.
She quickly walked into the bathroom that was joined to both her and Dracos room, she locked the door she had entered and sat on the bench her arm over the sink. She cut and cut until her arm was opened up enough to let the blood pour into the sink, she traced all the scars on her arms before slashing them. She smiled as the blood covered blade dropped from her hand onto the bathroom floor, she picked it up and began to cut her other wrist the handle of the knife was becoming slippery and her arms were dripping the red blood, she smiled and walked towards her room unlocking and opening the door. She got through the thresh hold before feeling consciousness slip away.
CHAPTER FIVE:
Walking into the common room Draco could tell something was amiss, the portrait left open, Hermione's bag thrown across the room shrugging he walked towards his room needing his books for his next class.
He had seen potter and Weasley standing around the entrance hall looking like the morons they were but thought nothing of it. it wasn't until he entered his room that he remembered hearing Hermiones shouts as he walked through the corridors leading away from the dungeons. He swiftly dropped the books he had been holding and walked towards the door, he opened his door and notice for the first time hermiones door closed, crossing the common room towards her door he knocked.
Geting no reply he began to worry it was not like hermione to be careless with the common rooms portrait nor was it like her to ignore some one calling upon her. Muttering a few choice words Draco drew out his wand.
"Alohomora"
jiggling the doors rusty handle he sighed in resignation. Of course she'd use a strong locking spell.
Breathing deeply he search his mind for a spell that would help. Wingardium Leviosa, no, Waddiwasi, no, Tarantallegra, no, Stupefy, no, Sonorus, no, Scourgify, no, Riddickulus, no, Rictusempra, no, Reparo, no, Relashio, no, the Reductor Curse, YES!
Mutteriong the curse he watched in triumph as the wood of the door exploded. Stepping through what was formerly the doorway he gasped at what he saw. A blood covered Hermione granger lying on the floor.
Draco ran to her, checking her pulse. Thinking quickly he ran towards the fire place grabbing a hand full of floo powder on the way throwing it into the flames and shouting.
"professor snapes quarters"
sneezing as he pushed his head into the emerald flames.
"uncle sev!"
professor snape had not been expecting a floo call, so it was quite a shock when he heard his nephews calls from within the fireplace.
"uncle sev!" Draco repeated quiet hysterical, "please help she's going to die! You cant let her die, help! Come quickly." And with that his the potions masters fireplace was once again void of Draco malfoys head.
Breathing deeply a quite perplexed severus grabbed his potions satchel and walked swiftly into the empty fireplace throwing a pinch of grey powder he said clearly "heads common room" and with a swirl of green flames.
Stepping out of the fireplace sererus was pulled quickly by Draco who was visibly shaken. Tearing his arm out of his nephews grip he stopped the boy.
"what is going on, who is hurt Draco."
Draco shook his head pulled his uncle into the head girls' room, quivering as he saw Hermione's bloodied form. The professor immediately stepping into action taking his satchel off he set it down beside the mess of a girl. Mumbling to himself he set to work snatching vial upon vial out of his bag pouring each one down the girls throat.
"get madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore now Draco. I cannot save her by myself." Severus snapped at an empty room. Looking up from his work he saw Draco standing in the common room pacing as though waiting for some one. Quite quickly the fireplace burned with a jade blaze before two figures stepped out and were lead into the room.
"what have you given her so far professor?" madam Pomfrey asked hurriedly her eyes still wide with shock.
"just general healing spells I didn't want to give her a blood replenishing one until we cleaned her up and we knew how much blood she's lost," he said briskly.
"okay well lets see shall we. Scourgify" immediately Hermione was cleaned off.
"she needs to go to the infirmary" Severuswhispered to the medi-witch.
"she can't be moved we'll have to put her into her own bed and take care ofher there," the mediwitch looked worried, she had no idea if they'd be able to help this poor soul, "help me move her".
So Hermione was moved and there she lay unconcious her comforter coving half ofher body. This left a worried Draco to go to class.