Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
OMG! You guys I'm sooooooo sorry that it took me this long to update again! I feel really bad! But school's been crazy and all that lame stuff! But to make up for it this is my longest chapter yet! 10 pages on Microsoft Word! I hope you enjoy. Some happy stuff in this chapter. On with the story.
The Game
Chapter 9: A Date? Or Two?
Christmas Day arrived and Hermione woke to a bundle of presents at the end of her bed. Excited, she jumped to the end of the bed and picked one up. There was the usual hand made sweater from the Weasley's. Ron and Harry had gotten her a couple of books. There were a couple of other presents that she opened as well. The last one at the bottom of the pile was a smaller package. She picked up the card and read it.
It read: 'To Hermione. Merry Christmas. Love, Draco.'
She smiled to herself, wondering what he could have gotten her. She quickly tore the wrapping off of it and revealed a black velvet box inside. She opened the box. Inside was a silver charm bracelet with one charm attached. It was a silver dragon with emeralds for eyes. She put it on and admired it.
Hermione quickly got dressed and made her way to the Common Room to see if she could find Draco. He had brought all his gifts to the Common Room to open them. He had a cup of hot coco on the table next to him. Hermione sat down next to him where he sat on the floor in front of the fire.
"Thank you for my gift!" She exclaimed, hugging him. "It's beautiful." She said, showing him the bracelet hanging from her wrist.
"You like it?" He asked and she nodded. "I'm glad. I was just about to open yours." He picked up a nicely wrapped gift. Hermione sat back and anticipated his reaction. He tore off the wrapping and held up a book. "Figures." He smirked at her.
"Well, look at the title first before you go smirking at me." She scolded.
He looked down and read, "The Dark Arts Outsmarted."
"I thought it would help you against your father." Hermione whispered, staring at the fire. Draco was thumbing through the pages.
"Yeah. Yeah, this actually might help! Thanks Hermione! It's really great." He said, turning to her and giving her a big hug. Surprised, Hermione hugged him back.
"You're welcome." She said.
Draco piled all of his presents together. "You want to go down and eat some breakfast?" He asked.
Hermione smiled. "Sure."
Down in the Dungeons, Severus Snape had also woken up to a few Christmas presents. He got the usual from Dumbledore and only a few others from different people. This year however there was one more. Curious, he picked it up. The card attached to it read, 'To: Professor Snape. Happy Christmas! Love, Hermione Granger.' His eyes widened. What could the Gryffindor student have possibly gotten him? He quickly opened it. Inside was a coffee mug. On it was man in black robes with a cauldron. It said, 'Coffee just isn't quite the same.'
Severus Snape smiled.
The rest of the winter break went by peacefully. Hermione talked with Draco a lot more and once she was feeling more like her old self again he began to tell her about his upcoming problem with his father. Draco couldn't ignore the fact that the end of the year was coming a lot quicker than he wanted it to. Soon he would have to face his father and the Dark Lord.
The first day back at school past in a blur. In Potions class, Hermione noticed that Professor Snape was using the coffee mug that she had gotten him. He no longer picked on her during class, but would just walk past her desk without a word.
Hermione saw Ron and Harry only in passing and waved to them. They smiled and waved back and continued on their way to their own class. She had been walking with Draco and he was curious about the relationship of the once 'Golden Trio.'
"Hermione?" He asked.
"Hmm?" She responded.
"Are you ever going to tell them?"
"Tell who what?" She asked.
"Tell Harry and Ron about what happened." Draco elaborated.
Hermione sighed. "Oh. Well, I don't know Draco. It's just so complicated. The night I had that fight with them, that fight, was what drove me to do what I did. How do I explain something like that to them? I've missed them, that's true, but I don't know if our friendship could ever be like it was."
"Then don't tell them that the fight made you do it. You didn't start because of that. You had been doing it way before then right?"
"Yeah, I guess I could do that."
"You do want them to be your friends again, don't you? You want it like it was before?" He asked.
"Yes, I do. They've been there for me since the beginning almost. It's so weird to not have them here for me now. At least you're here for me, Draco." Hermione smiled. Draco smiled back.
"Anytime."
They entered their Ancient Runes classroom and took their usual seats in the back. Before the class started Draco turned to Hermione.
"Hey, Hermione?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you want to go with me to Hogsmeade on Saturday?" He asked.
Hermione turned to face him. "Like as in a date?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
Hermione smiled again. "Sure, I'd love to."
"Great." Draco smiled.
Saturday came, and Hermione had yet to talk to Ron or Harry. She kept telling herself that she could just do it later. Always later. At any rate it was time for the trip to Hogsmeade. Draco and Hermione had walked down to the entrance of the school and waited as all of the students going arrived.
Hermione stared at anything but the people around her. What would people think of her going to Hogsmeade with Draco? Not that she really cared what they thought, but it was still something going through her mind. That, and she was just nervous to actually be going out on a date with him! She had known that she had some feelings towards him that had been growing since the beginning of the year. Her heart was beating fast and she had butterflies in her stomach. It was like she had never been on a date before.
Draco stood close to her, feeling her nervousness. He pulled her around to face him and took her face in his hands.
"Calm down Hermione. Forget about them. What they think doesn't matter. Now, today we're going to forget about our parents, our friends, school, and everything else. It's just going to be you and me doing normal teenager things and having a good time together at Hogsmeade. What do you say?" He asked.
She smiled slightly. Who knew that Draco Malfoy would know her so well he could read her like a book?
"Alright." She said.
"Good." He said.
All the students had arrived and they were off to Hogsmeade. Hermione had to admit that she was excited.
They walked around to different stores, just looking and talking. Draco let Hermione go into a bookstore and look around, and Hermione in turn went into the Quidditch store for Draco.
They had just come out of the joke store and were laughing at some of the things they saw in there, when Hermione suddenly stopped in front of a store window.
Draco turned back around. "What is it?" He asked her.
"Those." She said, pointing to what was displayed in the window.
Draco walked to stand next to her and looked at what had caught Hermione's eye.
It was a pair of shoes. But not just any pair. They were white satin spiked heels. From the ankle strap hung five strands of diamonds in an upside-down pyramid and a strand went across the toes.
"They're gorgeous." Hermione whispered.
"Do you want them?" Draco asked.
"Well, of course I do! What kind of question is that? But I couldn't possibly afford them. Draco! Those are real diamonds!" She exclaimed.
"I can afford them. Come on, I'll buy them for you." Draco said, grabbing hold of her hand.
"Oh, no, Draco! I couldn't possibly let you spend that much money on me!" Hermione exclaimed. "Besides if I got them I wouldn't have any where to wear them, or anything to wear with them!"
"No, I want to get them for you. You could wear them to the Valentine's ball." He offered.
"I don't think I'll be going. Besides I don't have a date." She said.
"Well, then, would you like to be my date?" Draco asked.
Hermione stopped and stared at him, suddenly very aware of her hand in his.
"Oh, okay. Sure. I would love to." She smiled.
"Okay then! How about we go buy those shoes then?" He said.
"Alright!" Hermione cried out, giddy as a little girl.
They entered the store together, still hand-in-hand. A woman came to them right away.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"Yes, could we get a pair of the shoes you have displayed in the window, in a size 7?" Draco asked.
"Certainly, sir. Please take a seat." The saleswoman said, and went to the back of the store to gather the shoes. Hermione and Draco sat.
"How did you know my shoe size?" Hermione asked, curious.
"I'm just good at these kind of things." Draco said. "After this I know the perfect place to get a dress to match. My treat too of course."
"Draco! The shoes are even too much! My parents did leave me some money. I'm not some poor orphan you know!"
"I know. I just feel like being generous. This doesn't happen that often, so I wouldn't pass it up if I were you." He said.
"Fine." Hermione gave in, but still, on the inside she was really excited.
The saleswoman returned with the shoes and Hermione tried them on.
"Oh, Draco! They're perfect! Thank you so much!" Hermione threw her arms around him and a big hug.
Draco hugged her back. "You're welcome."
Later that day, after they had gotten the shoes and a dress, they sat in the Three Broomsticks sipping on Butterbeer.
"Draco this has been really fun. And thank you so much for the shoes and the dress! I don't know how I can repay you!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Well, you're going with me to the Ball. That's enough for me. But if you really want to pay me back there is something that you could do that would be enough repayment." He said.
"Yeah? What?" She asked.
Draco looked at her very seriously. "You can talk to Harry and Ron."
Hermione stared at him and didn't say anything for a moment. "Seriously?"
"Totally."
"Oh, well, I suppose. I guess I should do it anyway."
"This week. Before next weekend I want you to have talked with them." He told her.
"Okay, I'll do it." She said.
"Good. You ready to go?" He asked.
"Yeah, I think I am."
"Alright." He stood up and gathered the bags that contained her things. Then they left the Three Broomsticks and headed back towards the school. They didn't say anything, but Draco's hand slowly made its way into Hermione's. She gave his hand a squeeze and they walked the rest of the way holding hands.
It was Monday evening after dinner. Hermione found herself making the journey up to the Gryffindor tower. She didn't feel ready to confront Ron and Harry, but she knew she had to. And she had promised Draco that she would do it before the week was over. Better to just get it over with.
After giving the Fat Lady the password she quietly entered the Gryffindor Common Room and looked around. There were only a few students there including Harry who was sitting on the couch in front of the fire. He looked up as she entered and smiled.
Hermione made her way over to the couch and stood in front of him.
"Hello Harry." She said, quietly.
"Hi Hermione. What brings you to the Gryffindor Common Room?" He asked, curious. She hadn't really come to the Common Room in the past few months.
"Well, I need to talk with you and Ron. Is he here?" She asked.
"No," Harry said. "He has detention with Professor Snape tonight."
"Oh." Hermione said.
"You could talk with me." Harry offered.
"Yeah, I suppose. That just means I'll have to say this twice though. It won't be easy." She said. "Can we go somewhere a little more private?"
"Sure, Hermione. Is everything okay?" He asked, standing up.
"Um, yeah, I just have to tell you guys something." She said, nervously.
Together they left the Common Room and walked through the halls of Hogwarts in silence. They finally found a quiet hallway with an empty classroom and entered it. Harry sat down at one of the desks while Hermione nervously walked about the front of the room.
After another few moments of silence had passed Harry finally spoke up. "Hermione? You're making me nervous. What is this about?"
She stopped walking. Then she turned and looked him straight in the eye. "I have to tell you guys. About what happened to me. Or really, what I did to myself. Harry I—well last summer… it started last summer. I was so sad, Harry, so depressed. You have to understand that."
"Hermione, now you're just scaring me. What happened?" Harry asked, anxiously.
Hermione didn't say anything right away. She turned her head away from him. Then she reached down to her left sleeve and pulled it up. She held her arm out to him so that he could see all of the white scars that stood out on her otherwise perfect flesh. She heard him gasp and she looked up to meet his eyes. His green eyes were wide and unbelieving.
"Oh, Hermione…" He whispered, as he reached out a hand to her arm.
She quickly rolled her sleeve back down. "One day when we were cleaning at Headquarters, I found this knife. For a day or two it just sat in my room. I would look at it and then put it away. Then one day, I took it out to look at it and it found its way to my wrist. It started out slowly and it hurt at first, but then I got used to the pain. I started to crave it. It only got worse. When we got back to school I continued to cut. Then one day I lost control. It was like it wasn't me that was cutting myself anymore. When I was doing it, it was like I was on the outside watching someone cutting me. Over and over until the amount of blood I lost and the pain finally registered in my brain. I didn't know what to do. So, I went to the last person I thought I would have gone to. I went to Professor Snape." Harry's eyes widened. "That's not the end of it. Once I had gotten to his office I showed him my wrist and then I fainted on him. He took me to the Hospital Wing and Madam Pomfrey healed me. When I woke up, Draco Malfoy was sitting by my bed. He had been given the job of keeping my wand and watching me so that I wouldn't cut anymore." She stopped there, not knowing if she should continue or let Harry say something.
He didn't for a moment. Then he looked back to her. "And did he help?"
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, for awhile. Then at the beginning of the winter holidays I had a relapse. It had been so hard and I really tried to get better. Everyone thought I was better. That's why Draco had gotten a little slack in helping me get better. I mean I don't blame him or anything. He was the one who has helped me the most to get back to my normal self. I'm doing a lot better now Harry. So much better."
Harry stood up and when to her. He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm glad. I'm glad you told me this Hermione." He felt her nodded her head and hugged her tighter. "I saw you at Hogsmeade with Malfoy. You looked really happy. Now I know I don't like him, but I can see that he has helped you and I haven't seen you smile like that in so long, so I'll try to except him, if only for your sake."
"Thanks, Harry. That means a lot to me. I don't really know what is going to happen between me and Draco, but we have gotten a lot closer since the beginning of the year. He's needed me just as much as I've needed him." Hermione said.
"Well, whatever does happen, I just hope that you're happy and that you'll be okay. If you ever feel like doing anything like this again," He said, touching her arm. "Know that I'll be here for you. I don't want you to go through something like that ever again."
Hermione smiled. "Oh, Harry, I've missed you. And Ron too. I wish he were here, so I didn't have to go through this twice. It's been so hard to not have you guys around."
Harry was again silent for a while as a thought passed through his mind. "Hermione, why did you feel that you had to distance yourself from me and Ron?"
Hermione looked up at him and then looked away. "Please don't ask me that, Harry." She whispered.
"Hermione?" Harry whispered. "When was it that you lost control and had to go to the Hospital Wing? When did that happen?"
A tear slid down Hermione's face. She didn't want to have to tell him that. She finally had one of her best friends back. She didn't want to have that detail between them. She wanted to keep it from him so he wouldn't hurt. She shook her head. "Please don't make me answer that." She begged.
Harry took Hermione by the shoulders and looked at her hard. "Hermione, you can tell me. I can take it. I want to know. I need to know."
A sob escaped Hermione's lips. "It—it happened the night I had that fight with you and Ron." She said, as she started to cry.
"Oh, Merlin, Hermione." Harry said, and pulled her into a hug again. She wrapped her arms around him and cried.
"It wasn't your fault, Harry." She said, into his chest. "Or Ron's. It was just a bad day. A really bad day added onto all of the other bad days. I just couldn't take it anymore. Please don't think that you guys were responsible for what I did."
"No, no, of course not. It just makes me mad at myself for not being a better friend. If I had been a true friend I would have seen that you in more pain than you let on. You were right in cutting us off from you. We weren't doing our jobs as your friends. But we'll be here for you now 'Mione. Won't we Ron?" Harry asked the redhead who had just opened the door.
Hermione turned around. "Ron."
"Hi guys. I heard talking coming from in here, so I decided to check it out. Did I miss something?" Ron asked, looking from Harry to Hermione. Upon seeing Hermione's face and the tears that stained it he entered the room. "Is everything all right Hermione?"
"Oh, Ron." She cried, and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. "I wanted to tell you and Harry everything! But I could only find Harry. You were in detention, but I can tell you now. I'm tired of not having you guys in my life. I want you to be my friends again."
"We'll always be your friends 'Mione." Ron said. "What is it that you wanted to tell me?"
"I—Ron, last summer I started cutting myself." She said, getting straight to the point. It was getting easier to talk about it.
"What?" Ron asked.
Hermione rolled her sleeve back up to show him her scars. "The night I had that fight with you and Harry, well it had been a really bad day and I lost control. I went too far. I had to go to see Madame Pomfrey. She healed me, but I was still vulnerable. Draco was given the responsibility of helping me get better. That's why I had to cut myself off from you and Harry for a while. Not because you were to blame for it. You aren't. I just need time to heal and get better. I'm better now, Ron. And I don't know how much longer I can keep myself away from you and Harry. I need you guys. I've missed you both so much. I don't want to keep you away anymore."
"Oh, my God, Hermione. Why did you never tell us? All summer you did this? And we were so blind that we couldn't see. I'm so sorry, Hermione. Harry was right; we weren't doing our jobs as your friends. Can you ever forgive us?"
"Of course, Ron. I already have." Hermione said, through the tears falling down from her eyes. She kept one arm around Ron and held out the other one to Harry. He came over and she hugged the two boys. They held her, just like they had at the train station. And she cried again, but this time for a different reason. She had her best friends back. And she was better. Everything was better.
They stayed like that for some time before the broke apart.
"Do you guys want to come hang out in my Common Room?" Hermione asked. "It's pretty early and I'm sure we've got a lot to catch up on."
The two boys smiled. "Sure, that would be great!" Harry said.
"Alright," Hermione said. "Let's go."
And they did have a lot to catch up on. When they entered the Head's Common Room, Draco peeked his head out into the Common Room. He smiled when he saw that Hermione was once again with her best friends.
Whew! Next chapter I'll add some dialogue between the 'Golden Trio' in the Common Room, but I just felt that this was a good place to end it. I can't promise anything, but will try really hard to update sooner! We're nearing the end, but there are still a few chapters left in this. I really don't know. I'm kind of writing it as I go now. Until the next chapter then. Go review!