The Game Chapter 7: Addicted, a harry potter fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!

I'm so sorry this took so long to get out! I've been really busy this past week! I'll try to get the next chapter out in a week. Okay, um, so a lot of stuff happening in this chapter. I hope it's not too all over the plan or whatever. I just hope you like it.

The Game

Chapter 7: Addicted

Draco had Hermione by the hand and was dragging her into the Great Hall towards the Gryffindor table. In all his worry about her not cutting herself again he had forgotten to make sure that she was eating properly. It was dinnertime and there were quite a few students already eating. Some of them had turned to look at the scene.

Draco pointed to the empty seat across from Ron and Harry. Hermione had been on friendly terms with them since her talk with Harry, but it was more like they were just acquaintances.

"You will sit down and eat something! I'll be watching from the Slytherin table, so you had better eat." Draco commanded.

Hermione pulled her arm from his grip and sat down. "Okay, okay! Geez, Draco."

He turned to the two boys watching with amusement in their eyes. "You two are to make sure that she eats a decent meal!"

They laughed. "See, Hermione, we aren't the only ones!"

"Right then." Draco said, and left.

Hermione turned to get some food only to find that Harry and Ron had already piled her plate with food. "I can't possibly eat all of this you guys!" She exclaimed.

"Well, put some sort of dent into it and we'll be pleased." Ron said.

She sighed. "Fine." She picked up her fork and went to get a knife to cut the steak with, but found that she had no knife. Draco had swiped it when she wasn't looking.

"Anything wrong with your food, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"No, I have no knife to cut the steak with though." She said.

"Well, there's one next to you." He said, pointing.

The seat next to her was empty. She stared at the knife. It had seemed like an eternity since she had held a knife. Maybe she shouldn't. But what was the harm? She was just using it to cut her food. No big deal right? She glanced at the Slytherin table. Draco had been distracted for a moment and was looking away. Her hand reached out and grasped the handle. She picked it up and looked at it. It gleamed at hear: sharp, pointed.

"Hermione. It's just a knife. You look like you've never seen one before." Ron said, snapping her out of her trance.

Her eyes shot up to him, wide. She had the look of a deer caught in the headlights. Then her head snapped over to where Draco was.

He saw the knife in her hand and stood up and made his way over to her.

Stopping next to her he held out his hand. "Let me have that, Hermione. You know you're not supposed to have those."

She lowered her eyes and gave it to him. "How am I supposed to cut my steak?"

"Have one of those two do it." He pointed to Harry and Ron again. "Or I'll do it for you if you'd like."

"Alright, I'll get someone to do it for me."

Draco turned to Harry and Ron. "She's not allowed to use these, understand?"

Confused, they just nodded.

"Good." Draco said.

"How much longer, Draco?" Hermione whispered.

"I don't know."

"I'm not hungry anymore." Hermione said, pushing her plate away.

"Just eat a little bit for me. Please?" Draco begged.

She nodded. "I'll try."

"Thank you."

Hermione picked up her fork and tried to eat. She found that some of its taste had returned, but not fully. When she had convinced Ron and Harry that she had eaten enough of the food on her plate to "put some sort of dent into it" she left the Great Hall and went back to her room.

She tried to work on some homework, but her mind really wasn't into it. She couldn't concentrate. Things were just moving so fast and she couldn't keep up with it all. She was up, she was down, she never really knew what kind of mood she would be in when she woke up. Sometimes she would wake feeling okay, but something would happen and she would find herself in this dark hole again.

She was glad that Draco was there to comfort her. She found it so ironic that it was him she ended up turning to in her time of need. She was at the point that she really needed him in her everyday life. She would wake up thinking about him and fall asleep thinking about him.

And there he was again, slipping into her thoughts. She scolded herself. She was supposed to be doing her homework! But even then she knew she wouldn't get much further on it. She went to her c.d. player and picked out a c.d.: Kelly Clarkson. She skipped forward to track number six and hit play.

At the same moment Draco had just gotten back from dinner and was entering the Common Room. He heard the music and stopped to listen to it. Hermione was singing full out along with the song.

It's like you're a drug
It's like you're a demon I can't face down
It's like I'm stuck
It's like I'm running from you all the time
And I know I let you have all the power
It's like the only company I seek is misery all around
It's like you're a leech
Sucking the life from me
It's like I can't breathe
Without you inside of me
And I know I let you have all the power
And I realize I'm never gonna quit you over time

Draco made his way upstairs when he found that he didn't recognize the song. The words struck him though and he wanted to see Hermione.

It's like I can't breathe
It's like I can't see anything
Nothing but you
I'm addicted to you
It's like I can't think
Without you interrupting me

Draco opened the door to Hermione's room and leaned against the doorframe. She stopped singing when she noticed him. They stared at each other for a moment before Draco said, "Don't stop."

In my thoughts
In my dreams
You've taken over me

After hesitating for only a second Hermione began to sing again.

It's like I'm not me
It's like I'm not me

It's like I'm lost
It's like I'm giving up slowly
It's like you're a ghost that's haunting me
Leave me alone
And I know these voices in my head
Are mine alone
And I know I'll never change my ways
If I don't give you up now

Draco moved towards Hermione and offered a hand. She took it and he moved her hands to his shoulders and his to her waist and they started to dance. Hermione continued to sing for Draco as they danced.

It's like I can't breathe
It's like I can't see anything
Nothing but you
I'm addicted to you
It's like I can't think
Without you interrupting me
In my thoughts
In my dreams
You've taken over me
It's like I'm not me
It's like I'm not me

I'm hooked on you
I need a fix
I can't take it
Just one more hit
I promise I can deal with it
I'll handle it, quit it
Just one more time
Then that's it
Just a little bit more to get me through this
I'm hooked on you
I need a fix
I can't take it
Just one more hit
I promise I can deal with it
I'll handle it, quit it
Just one more time
Then that's it
Just a little bit more to get me through this

At that moment Hermione looked up at Draco, everything she felt was there in her eyes telling him everything emotion. They begged for help. They begged for comfort. They begged for love.

The song ended and Hermione and Draco stayed where they were. Hermione was too exhausted to move and Draco didn't want to let her go.

"You sing beautifully, Hermione." Draco whispered. She smiled, softly, and laid her head against his chest.

There was one week left before the Christmas break. The students of Hogwarts grew more and more antsy as the last day approached. Hermione and Draco had been spending lots of time together. Hermione was finally eating again and the taste of food was getting more and more enjoyable. She would have thought that she was getting better if it weren't for the fact that she still craved to hold a knife again and to feel the stinging pain from its cut.

Everyday Draco tried to make Hermione smile at least once. He would only get the small ones from her though and they never reached her eyes. He was happy, at least, with the improvement of her eating habits.

Ron and Harry would be going back to the Burrow over the break and had extended the invitation to Hermione, but she said she just wanted to stay at Hogwarts. Draco would be staying at the school as well and she knew she would enjoy her holiday much more with him.

On the last Monday before the break, Hermione sat in Potions class, working hard on her potion. Professor Snape had continued to ignore her, which was perfectly all right with her. Ever since the incident, though, he hardly ever though of anything else. He had to know why she had come to him.

In the last few minutes of class he made his way over to her desk.

"Ms. Granger, will you please stay after class?" Snape asked, quietly so only she could hear.

Confused, Hermione just nodded. She waited at her desk while the other students left.

"Are you coming, Hermione?" Draco asked.

"Snape asked for me to stay after class." She said.

"Alright, I'll have your wand with me in Runes." Draco said, before leaving.

"Okay, thanks." She watched as he left the room.

"My office, if you please, Ms. Granger." Snape said, and headed through the door of his office. She followed. "Have a seat."

Hermione sat down as Snape took a seat behind his desk.

"Sir? I'm really confused. Have I done something wrong?" Hermione asked.

"Surely you can't have forgotten that it was me you came to that night." He said, bluntly, and she nodded. "I was just curious as to why you chose to come to me. If you're willing to talk about it that is. This is very out of character for me, but something like this has never happened to me and I just have to know why. Of all people, Ms. Granger, you chose me. I'm willing to bet that I'm your least favorite teacher."

Hermione thought on it for a moment before finally replying. "Well, I don't know really. Maybe that is why I came to you. I couldn't go to Ron or Harry. They sort of pushed me over the edge to make me do it. And I couldn't to Dumbledore and have him disappointed with me. I thought that if I came to you I'd get what I needed to hear. For you to yell at me and look at me the way you usually do. You know, something normal. Because nothing is normal anymore. It just felt right to come to you."

Snape nodded his head. "I suppose that makes sense. Well, I hope it doesn't happen again, Ms. Granger, but, and I must be out of my mind for saying this, I am here if you ever need to talk with someone or anything like that." He moved uncomfortably in his chair. This was all very awkward for him.

Hermione couldn't help but give a little smile. "Thanks, Professor. That means a lot. I should probably get to class now though."

"Oh, yes, of course. Here, I'll just write you a pass real quick." He scribbled something down on a sheet of paper and handed it her. "Here you are."

"Thank you." Hermione said, taking the note, and ran off to her next class.

Alright! Um, what do you think! Next chapter will be Christmas Break chapter! Lol! Hermione takes a step backwards in her road to recovery. Until next time, review!