I'm not going to put an authors note at the end, because I think the ending is more effective without it there. :-) (don't peek! Hehe). I just wanted to thank you all for all of your support, your reviews inspired me to keep going, and I can't even begin to tell you how many times I wanted to quit. So thank you all, my wonderful, wonderful reviewers, you guys are the best!
And… once again ultimate thanks to Cherbi161, the best beta ever, you have fixed my stories, inspired my stories, and even on occasion compelled me with virtual snacks to write my stories. Without you… this would be trash. Thank you so much.
:GIANT BEAR HUG OF DOOM: hehehe.
Please be on the lookout for more stories from me and Cherbi161. There may in fact be a sequel to this story at some much later date (co-written by my awesome beta!), and as stated before I have a one-shot in my head as well as a Ron/Hermione fic, both of which I have started. Cherbi161 has her two stories going, and I heard SHE has a one-shot as well, not to mention those five or six co-written stories we're talkin' about :-D:-D:-D So put us on your author alert lists, and be prepared to have you mind blown with coolness!
And here it is you guys! I hope you like it. :-) (p.s. don't hurt me :-D)
Harry paused as he walked down the dimly lit hallway. He looked quickly over his shoulder, but saw nothing. Harry was on his way to study with Hermione that evening, and for the last few minutes of his walk there he had been hearing strange noises behind him. It wasn't an abnormal occurrence to hear strange noises while at Hogwarts, however the fact that they stopped whenever he did was enough to raise his suspicions. It was either Peeves out to play a trick on him, or someone up to something more serious.
Harry let his hand close around the handle of his wand, prepared to pull it out should it prove necessary. He continued to walk towards Hermione's dorm room, but listened extra carefully, and stepped extra quietly. He heard it again, a shuffling noise, very similar to the noise that two clumsy people make when they are trying to be quiet. It immediately clicked in Harry's mind that Crabbe and Goyle were after him again.
To make them think he was still unaware of their presence, he continued walking, and waited for their footsteps to draw closer. After a few moments, his pursuers became careless, and he heard one of them trip over their robes. There was a loud crash and a yelp, and Harry spun around, wand at the ready, pointing it at Crabbe, who was standing, shocked, next to a fallen Goyle.
Harry couldn't help but laugh at the sight before him. Goyle was tangled up in his robes, and his face was bright red from the exertion of trying to push himself back to his feet. Crabbe took an uncertain step forward, as if to attack Harry, but he seemed unsure of his ability to do so without his friend's help.
"Petrificus Totalus," Harry muttered, flicking his wand casually. Crabbe froze up and fell to the ground next to his equally frozen friend. "You two get back to bed now, its getting late. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with the prefects for being out so late."
Harry arrived at Hermione's room soon after this incident, having left Crabbe and Goyle where they had fallen. He didn't care if they got in trouble, he was rather hoping they would. Hermione let him into her room, and he couldn't help but notice that she looked much happier than he had seen her in the past few days.
"Harry, it's about time you got here," Hermione said, smiling brightly at him. She stepped aside so he could enter, and motioned him over to the couch. "I've got my books and parchment all ready so we can work on our essays."
"Before we start studying, there's something I need to tell you about," Harry said, looking at her warily.
Hermione's eyes widened as Harry told her the story. "Well, I'm glad you're not hurt," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly.
"What's the matter, Hermione?" Harry asked in concern. He had known the news would disturb her, but he hadn't expected it to have this much of an effect, especially since he hadn't been hurt. Hermione began to cry, and she buried herself in Harry's chest.
"I've made a terrible mistake, Harry," she sobbed, squeezing him tightly. "I thought he cared about me, I can't believe I fell for his lies!"
"Hermione, what did you do?" Harry asked, alarmed. Hermione couldn't answer, she was crying too much. She looked up at Harry, her eyes brimming with tears. Harry understood immediately, and pulled Hermione into a hug again, sighing.
Harry had known something was going on between Hermione and Draco, but he had hoped it would never get this serious. No matter what happened, Harry didn't think he would ever be able to trust Draco, and this was his proof. It was too bad that Hermione had to learn the hard way. He hated seeing her cry like this.
It was several minutes before Hermione calmed down enough to have an intelligible conversation. "I guess we don't need that Veritaserum," she said with a forced laugh. Harry smiled at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Harry… I'm so sorry about all of this."
"It's not your fault, Hermione," Harry said, stroking her hair gently. "You couldn't have known he'd betray you like this."
Hermione looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. Harry laughed. "Ok, well maybe you should have known," he said gently. "But look, everyone makes mistakes, and we all know Draco is extremely persuasive. The only thing we can do now is tell Dumbledore about the love potion and get Ron back to normal. Why don't you rest a bit, and I'll go take care of this?"
After Harry left, Hermione lay curled up on her bed, trying not to cry. She heard a soft knock at her door, and looked up to see Draco at her bedroom door, holding a bouquet of flowers and smiling widely. His smile faded when he saw her tearstained face.
"What's the matter, love?" he asked in concern, putting the flowers on her dresser and walking towards her. Hermione jumped up and away from him so quickly that she slammed into the wall. She slumped back to the bed, whimpering in pain. Draco hurried over to her, but she continued to pull away from him.
"Don't touch me!" Hermione cried, horrified at the thought of his touch. "Don't you ever touch me again, you disgust me!"
"Hermione, what's wrong with you?" Draco asked, truly confused.
"You used me," Hermione said, fighting back tears. "You used me, you told me your feelings had changed, but you only did it as part of your plan. Well congratulations, Draco Malfoy, your plan has succeeded. You ruined my fucking life!"
"Hermione, listen to me, we talked about this," Draco said, soothingly. "The plan ended before it was even finished, I couldn't do it, I… I love you." He surprised himself by saying it, but knew it was true as soon as the words came out.
"Don't you lie to me!" Hermione shouted, throwing a pillow at him. "I know you had Crabbe and Goyle attack Harry earlier tonight, you can't deny it! Now get the hell out of my room, I don't want to hear any more of your bullshit!"
Draco was shocked. He knew he hadn't sent them after Harry, but he also knew that Hermione would never believe otherwise, at least not at the moment. He sighed and left her alone, his heart tearing in two as he heard her break into sobs again.
Draco returned to his room, and paced the living room for several minutes. His father was on his way and would arrive at any moment. Draco knew Pansy had been right when she said that his father would have something horrible in store for Hermione, and he had to find some way to keep Hermione safe, which would be more difficult now that Hermione thought he had shagged her as part of the plan.
He stopped pacing in front of his desk. He realized what he would have to do, and much as he disliked the idea, he knew he had no choice. It would hurt Hermione, of course, but not nearly as much as his father would. He sat down at his desk and began to write.
It wasn't long after Draco had left that Hermione heard a noise by her window. She wiped her eyes quickly, looked out the window and was greeted by Harry and Ron, on their broomsticks. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the sight of her two best friends. She opened her window and stepped aside so they could come in.
"Actually, I'm just going to let you two talk for a bit," Harry said with a wink, as he hovered outside her window. "See you guys later."
Ron smiled at Hermione as Harry flew away. She smiled back, and rushed into his arms. He held her close, breathing in her scent, and sighing as he realized what Pansy's actions had caused him to lose. He knew he could never be with Hermione now, not after she had suffered so much from Draco. She had too much to deal with at the moment, and it hurt him the most to realize that if he had acted sooner, they could have been together.
Hermione looked up into his eyes and was relieved to find understanding, sympathy, and comfort there. She snuggled up against him again, and tried not to cry. As he held her, she heard yet another noise from the window, and glanced over to see an owl there with a letter attached to its leg. She pulled herself gently from Ron's arms and went to take the letter. As she opened it, she immediately recognized Draco's handwriting.
Dearest Hermione,
I know none of this makes sense at the moment, but I hope you will understand. I did not send Crabbe and Goyle after Harry. Pansy cornered me with some Veritaserum the day you and I expressed our love for each other. She had me tell her my true feelings, and as a result must have decided it was necessary to harm Harry in order to turn you against me. I am sorry for everything I have put you through.
At any moment my father will arrive, and if he were to discover my true feelings for you, there is no telling what sort of pain he would put you through. To protect you from him, I have only one choice which may at first seem impulsive, but believe me I have thought it through carefully. It is the only thing that can save us both.
I have the knowledge and power to perform a very difficult spell. It is a spell which will keep my love for you hidden from everyone, including myself, until the situation is right, and our love can be out in the open. This spell will not lessen my feelings for you, though it will seem as if I truly loathe you.
I am sorry I have to do this, but you can see there is no other choice. Please believe me when I say I love you. I look forward to seeing you under the right circumstances.
Love,
Draco
"Oh my God," Hermione gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "Ron, I have to go! I have to stop him!"
Ron, who had been reading over her shoulder, agreed, and shoved her towards the door. Hermione smiled at him, and left her bedroom to find Draco through the tunnel.
As soon as she entered the room, she knew she was too late. Draco looked up at her from his position on the couch with the utmost disdain.
"Oh good, mudblood, you're just in time," he drawled, gesturing to Lucius, who was standing nearby. "I was just telling my father about how much of a filthy whore you are, and what a terrible shag you are."
"Indeed," Lucius said doubtfully, glancing at Hermione. "Draco, I heard a different story from Pansy. How do you explain that?"
"Pansy and I have been arguing lately about our plan against Hermione and her little friends," Draco said. "Creative differences, I suppose you might say. Anything Pansy had to say to you was most likely a result of these differences. I assure you, father that I could never be in love with someone as unworthy and wretched as this mudblood."
"Very well," Lucius said, eyeing his son, as if sizing him up. "Then you will be prepared for me to administer the test?"
"Of course," Draco agreed, nodding. Hermione glanced between the two of them, caught between the horror of the situation and her pain at the things Draco was saying. For a moment, father and son were completely motionless, staring into each others eyes, and Hermione wondered what was going on. Lucius broke eye contact first and smiled.
"I am satisfied," he said, and left without another word.
"Draco," Hermione said, looking at Draco, eyes full of emotion. Her gaze was returned by Draco's cold, unfeeling stare, and she had to stifle a sob. She knew he had done this for them, but it was so hard for her to accept it. It hurt her the most to know that she had made such a terrible mistake by accusing Draco of sleeping with her as part of the plan. She had turned something beautiful into a horrible mess, and didn't know how to fix it.
Hermione turned to leave, knowing it was hopeless, but was stopped by Draco placing a hand gently on her cheek. She turned to face him in shock, and for a brief, shining moment she saw all the love he had for her reflected in his eyes. It was gone almost as soon as it had come, but still it was a moment.
"Get out," Draco said hatefully, returning to his charmed hateful state.
Hermione obeyed instantly and returned to her room, her mind swimming with thoughts. She had caught a glimpse of the raw emotion he felt for her, and she recalled the words he had written in his letter: "It is a spell which will keep my love for you hidden from everyone, including myself, until the situation is right". She began to consider what possible situations would have to be arranged for the "time to be right".
Only three words echoed through her mind… Lucius… Malfoy… dead.