Terrifié

Chapter Three [Encounter: Vulnerable]

Last Time:

He heard her running through the halls, running away from him. All he had done was hold her hand for a moment and ask her about a letter. He couldn't help it, he laughed. He laughed long as he bent and picked up the fallen quill, twirling it in his fingers like he wanted to twirl his little Mudblood. A new plaything.

Playing cat and mouse with little Hermione Granger might prove to be more interesting than he had already thought…

TBC

______________________________________________________________________________

Hermione ran blindly, she just had to get away from him, that powerful, invincible God. Another Don. Trembling with fright, she sank to the floor in a crumpled heap in an empty corridor. She lay there for what seemed like ages, then slowly began crawling in the direction of Gryffindor tower.

After a while of this, she dragged herself to her shaky legs and managed to stumble back to her dormitory, which was empty since everyone else was still at lunch. She collapsed onto her bed for a moment, before pulling herself up and heading to the hospital wing. She couldn't go to classes today.

She lay in the bed in the hospital, preparing herself for the barrage of questions as she heard the bell ring. Classes were out for the day. Harry and Ron would be here soon.

"Hermione!" Ron called, running over to her bed with Harry at his side.

"What happened? Are you ok?" Harry asked, touching her forehead in worry. Hermione smiled at the two.

"I'm fine guys, I just felt a bit… out of it. Not up to classes." The boys sighed with relief as one, and sat down on either edge of her narrow bed.

"We were worried but McGonagall wouldn't let us go find you!"

"That's too bad."

"She's such an old bag!"

"RON! Don't say such things!"

"Why not? it's the truth!"

"We-ell…"

"You know I'm right, I'm always right…"

"Pah! Hogswaddle!"

"Don't you hogswaddle me, Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived…"

Hermione relaxed back into her bed, content to be comforted by her friends bickering.

Safe.

______________________________________________________________________________

A week passed simply, with no more troubles and no more difficulties. Hermione was slowly growing into her confidence, as she did every year. Away from Don, she began to regain her boldness, her wit, her intelligence, although it took time. Of course, at Christmas, the whole cycle would begin again.

It was a sunny class of Care of Magical Creatures and Hermione was working with Harry. She skipped cheerfully over to Ron, who was trying to control some odd looking, slimy creature with electric prongs. She noticed Neville, who was looking at the ground, and took a deep breath.

"Hi Nev! How are you?" She asked, trying her best to sound like Lavender and Parvati, confident and friendly. Harry and Ron had told her that she had hurt Neville's feelings, and she was determined to make up for that. She saw Ron smile approvingly.

"Uh- I-I'm fine, H-Hermione," Neville stuttered, turning red.

"That's great! Still have your Rememberall?"

"Yeah. Um, I forgot it at Granny's, though."

"Oh." Hermione giggled slightly.

"Yeah." Neville said, smiling self-consciously.

Across the field, Malfoy sat on the paddock fence, arms folded across his chest (since he had perfect balance) and smirk firmly in place. Hermione was getting confident again. Like the Hermione who slapped him. But what happened at home that she was so frightened when she came back? And what was she frightened of? And what had been in that letter? He would have to find out.

______________________________________________________________________________

Later that day.

Hermione was watching Ron and Harry play a game of chess while she did her homework by the firelight in the Gryffindor common room. She giggled slightly as Ron won yet again and they started a new game. Someone tapped her on the shoulder and Hermione turned to see Neville, blushing as usual.

"Ehm, Hermione, could I talk to you… in private… for a second?"

"Uh, but I have to… do my homework…" Hermione said.

"Hermione, that homework isn't due for three weeks," Harry supplied.

Hermione blushed and stood up.

"I guess… I could t-talk to you Neville," She mumbled, and the look she gave Harry showed her anger. Harry smiled sweetly in reply. She followed Neville over to a deserted corner of the common room.

Harry and Ron are just over there, Hermione, he can't hurt you…

"Ehm, ah… Hermione, will you… ah, well, you see, um, go out with me?" Neville asked, looking at the floor and turning red.

Hermione's heart was pounding and she was feeling dazed.

When Neville looked up and put a hand on her shoulder, Hermione had to use every last inch of her self-control not to flinch away.

"Please?" Neville added hopefully, smiling.

Hermione's last drop of logic wasted away into nothing. His smile morphed into Don's smile.

If I say no, he'll hurt me… ohgodohgodohgodohgod…

"O-ok…" She stuttered, paling as he leant in and pecked her on the cheek before walking off to the boy's dormitories. Hermione rubbed a her cheek frantically, trying to get the mark off her, sure that there would be a bruise…

She ran upstairs and to the girl's dormitories as fast as possible, ignoring Harry and Ron's calls. She went into the bathroom, flicking on the light. Nothing. There was nothing there, no mark. She turned off the lights and made her way over to her bed, curling up with her clothes still on. It's Neville, not Don, it's Neville, not Don…

______________________________________________________________________________

Malfoy looked up from his breakfast and scanned the hall lazily, looking for his Mouse. She still wasn't here, and breakfast was half over. Wait… the door came open slowly and she crept in, not attracting any attention.

She sat down between the Wonder boys, across from Longbottom, who smiled at her. Hermione flinched as she stared at her food and slowly working on the heap of pancakes that Weasley had piled on her plate. She was only on the second one when she turned slightly green and pushed the plate away.

Malfoy laughed, ignoring the stares from his housemates. Silly mouse. Can't you even eat a pancake, or are you afraid of them too?

He watched as she looked around the hall, her eyes falling on him, then going back to her plate. She studied it for the rest of breakfast, when Weasley and Potter pulled her up, making jokes that she smiled weakly at.

He sat up straighter as Longbottom walked over to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug. He watched her face as it appeared over the boy's shoulder. Scared, guilty. Didn't anybody notice?

Malfoy scowled and got up, walking over to the four.

"Hello, Potty, Weasel." He drawled, bored behind his mask of contempt. The usual act.

"Go away, Malfoy." Longbottom said, putting an arm possessively around Hermione. She squirmed anxiously. Malfoy caught her eyes and smirked.

"Can't you see your own girlfriend is afraid of you, Longbottom?" He asked, turning the word 'girlfriend' into derision.

Longbottom looked confused at Hermione, who was glaring at Malfoy. Her lip quivered slightly as she finally managed to get the boy's arm from around her.

"That's not true." Ron said calmly, smiling reassuringly at Neville. "Right Hermione?"

Hermione didn't answer. There was a long silence.

"Right, Hermione?" Malfoy said, still holding Mouse's eyes. She swallowed.

"R-right." She whispered furiously, looking down as Malfoy smiled triumphantly.

Poor little Mouse. Always trapped. He stalked off towards his next class, cocky as always, leaving three Gryffindors glaring at him with the purest of hatred, and another with only confusion and fear.

______________________________________________________________________________

Hermione explained, for the fifth time, why the potion was so potent. Ginny simply stared at her blankly. They sat in a secluded corner of the Hogwarts library, at a table stacked high with books.

"Hermione, I just don't get it! And I need to go to the bathroom!" Ginny cried, frustrated.

"But Ginny! You just went a few…"

"What are you suggesting?"

"Nothing. God, just go. But get back here fast." Hermione gave up. Ginny was hopeless. Ginny disappeared behind the bookshelves and Hermione stood, ready to go talk to Madam Pince. It was hard to admit even to herself, but she was a little scared, even though it was just the library. Her haven. Why should she be scared in her haven?

"Hello, Mouse." A cold voice that she was beginning to get used to whispered into her ear. She jumped forward, falling off her chair and scrambling up to face him.

"Malfoy…" She whispered, partly in derision, partly in awe. He smirked.

"That's my name, don't wear it out." He said, sitting down in her vacated seat and rooting through her bag.

"What are you doing?" She hissed, looking around nervously.

"Getting that letter from Uncle Donny-boy." He said, glancing up and smiling devilishly at her, wanting to see her expression.

She was torn between the fear and the need to keep him from the letter. She took a step nearer to him, putting a hand on the table, a hand that was shaking a little.

"Don't… please," She added as an afterthought.

"It's just a letter. You don't have anything to hide, do you?"

She shook her head and he continued through her bag until he found the letter. He pulled it out with a flourish and she took another step towards him. Her hand reached out hesitantly and closed around the letter, but he simply slid it from her loose fingers and stood up. He took the letter out and began unfolding it. She was taking baby steps toward him, as though she was meeting resistance.

"No, please give it back!" She said, her voice a little stronger. He spared her a sharp glance before holding the letter slightly above his head, anticipating her trying to snatch it.

"Dear Mione," He read aloud, quite enjoying himself at this point. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to get at the letter, but it was no use. He was taller than she anyway, but he had his arm almost fully outstretched upwards now. "How are you? I miss you, as I'm sure you miss me."

He glanced down at Hermione, who was looking very pale and half-heartedly grabbing at the letter, her arm not even straightening.

"Our nights together were nice, as were our days. I enjoy you so much. Must go now, Cindy is on the phone. Love, Don."

Draco frowned, it seemed like a perfectly normal, uncle-like letter to him, except there was an undercurrent of perviness. Well, probably not perviness, he reasoned, why would Uncle Don have a reason to be pervy? Just an underlying current of… creepiness? Ill-intent?

He handed the letter to Hermione, who looked stricken.

"That was positively boring, Granger. Don't see why you got all worked up about it. Are you going out with Longbottom, then?" He asked nonchalantly, sitting down in the chair again.

"Y-yes," Hermione said, blushing and looking at the floor.

"I wish you wouldn't stutter so much. It's annoying," He said, for no other reason than to be mean and condescending.

"Ok."

Draco stood again, looking down at her, suddenly interested again. She stared up at him, seeming particularly naïve, gullible… particularly vulnerable. And he wanted to…

He bent his head a little and brushed his lips against hers, almost gently, chastely… almost. It surprised him that she didn't pull away, didn't fight. Her eyes were wide open and staring into his, and he could sense her swaying slightly. Experimentally he touched her lips slightly with his tongue, and was surprised to feel her mouth open obediently, submissively, with no sign of confusion as to what he wanted.

He pulled away, and stared at her briefly, before walking off. He didn't bother with a smirk or a good-bye. He didn't look back at her as he walked away.

He was too confused.

TBC

______________________________________________________________________________