Chapter Eight

Draco followed Potter's every move after the incident in the classroom. He and Hermione also glared daggers at each other as they passed, which, Draco noticed, made Potter smirk to himself. Draco hated doing that to Hermione, but he and she both knew that even though they had actually started to like other—of course, neither would admit it—they still had to do what was necessary. That's the same reason why they couldn't get too close. They had to be able to leave each other when this was all over. There was no way he could become one of the "good guys," and Draco knew there was no way he could convince Hermione to turn. He knew what had to be done, but he didn't know if he could do it.

Stop it, Malfoy, he chided himself in his mind. You know you can't get attached to Granger…She's a bloody know-it-all Gryffindor Mudblood. Besides, Potter's right: She's just going to turn me over to Dumbledore when this is all over. That would be the right thing to do, and Granger always does the right thing.

Draco grimaced and scoffed to himself.

Potter stopped and turned to Draco. "What's up?" the new Slytherin leader asked.

Draco mentally shook himself out of his thoughts. "Huh?"

"You're acting like you just smelled something awful."

"It's just all these lowly creatures: They despise me," Draco lied smoothly, gesturing to the other students passing them in the hall.

"I know what you mean: I can't believe I used to stand up for them," Potter said as he pushed a first-year who had accidentally run into him.

The two Slytherins continued walking. "Malfoy."

"Yeah?"

"You aren't working with Hermione anymore, are you?"

"No. We both realized how intelligent you are and how impossible it would be to bring you down."

"Malfoy, you're not very good at flattery, so just drop it." Potter paused for a moment. "You do realize that the reason I allowed you back with us is because I understand your reasons for what you did, plus I knew you would realize your mistake. So, you aren't working with her anymore?"

"No," Draco answered shortly. "Why would I be?"

"Another reason I am letting you back is because you're going to do something for me to really prove that you are prepared to repair your mistake."

"What is it?"

The former Gryffindor looked over both shoulders, then leaned in closely to Draco. "I need you to work with her again."

Draco feigned disgust. "You want me to work with her again? Hell no. I sunk down to that level once. I don't want to do it again."

Potter stopped and pushed Draco against a wall. "You will do whatever I tell you to do, or I will turn you to Lord Voldemort as a traitor, and I am telling you to work with Hermione again."

"Why?" the blonde asked. He was thoroughly confused by Potter's request. What reason would he have for Draco working with Hermione?

"I have an idea to get 'Mione back."

"Why do you want her back? I mean, you aren't in the same House anymore; you aren't on the same side anymore. She even tried to get you expelled. So, why?"

"I love her, Malfoy. I'd do almost anything to get her back."

"If you love her so much why did you hurt her?"

"Love hurts, Malfoy," Potter replied as if it were obvious.

Draco sighed. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to get her back for me. Tell her—Tell her whatever you need to tell her. Hell, tell her that I'm back to the way I used to be. Whatever, I don't give a damn. I just want her back."

Draco looked him in the eyes. I guess I should humor him, he thought. He acted as if he were contemplating the idea. "If I tell her you've changed, you have to change—or at least act like you've changed back. Are you sure you want to do this?" Draco mentally crossed his fingers. He really did not like the idea of Potter trying to win Hermione back.

"Have you ever been in love before?" Potter asked harshly.

Draco just stared at him with a set jaw. I won't let you do anything to her, he vowed to himself.

Potter stepped back and lazily waved his hand. "Now, go do whatever it is you do to get with 'Mione," he said and walked away.


Draco paced the new classroom where he and Hermione had been meeting. He was fuming. He still couldn't believe what Potter had asked him to do. He was worried what Potter would do to her. He was actually scared. The Slytherin scoffed at that. A Malfoy scared. Father would hex me if he ever found out.

He waited impatiently for Hermione to get there. Draco looked out one of the windows at the setting sun. She was late, which was unusual for her. Maybe something happened. Maybe Crabbe and Goyle did something to her, or maybe Potter stopped her to "talk." Maybe all three of them stopped her and did something to her. Stop it, Malfoy. Calm down. Breathe. It's Hermione: She can take care of herself. Besides, she probably just got caught up with homework…But what if she didn't?

Draco's pulse quickened as he began to worry about her again. He continued his pacing around the room. Hurry up, 'Mione.

His head jerked around as he heard the clicking of a door handle being turned.

"Draco?" he heard Hermione's voice call from the open doorway.

"Thank, Merlin," he said with relief before he hurried to her.

Hermione had just closed the door when Draco grabbed her shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked in a worried voice.

"Yes," she answered slowly with wide eyes.

"Merlin, I was worried," he muttered as he pulled her into a hug.

Hermione just froze. She had no idea how to handle the current situation. She hesitantly pat his back in awkward sympathy. "Malfoy, are you okay?"

Draco pulled back. "Of course I'm okay. I was just worried that—I thought maybe—" He cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly as if embarrassed, then he pulled himself up and pushed out his chest. "I just wasn't sure if I needed to go kick some Slytherin ass."

The witch raised her eyebrows skeptically at him. She chuckled and shook her head as she walked by and to a table. "Nice cover up," she commented sarcastically.

Draco sighed. "You're late, and Potter said something to me today, which made me think he may have been the reason why you were late," he said to her back.

Hermione stopped unpacking her bag. She smiled as she turned her head to look over her shoulder. "You were worried about me?"

Draco's eyes darted to the floor. "Well, not so much worried as concerned for my position," he said quickly. "I mean, if anything happened to you, the plan would fall apart, and Potter would never—"

Hermione turned to face him, and her slightly evil smile cut him off. "Admit it, Draco: You were worried about me." She slowly took a few steps and stopped directly in front of him. She had to lean her head back so she could see his face as she poked a finger at his chest. "Mr. I-Only-Care-About-Myself was worried about someone else: A Gryffindor, a Mudblood, of all people, too."

Draco grabbed her finger and looked down into her eyes. "Look, Granger, I wasn't worried about anyone. I was—"

Hermione's smile fled her lips as he stopped suddenly. "What?"

The Slytherin just stood there and kept looking into her eyes, those chocolate cream eyes. The color was so smooth, and the windows showed him everything she was thinking and feeling. He still couldn't get over how much he could learn about someone just by looking into her eyes. At that very moment, he knew the girl in front of him was scared. She was scared of him, of what he might do, and of what she might do, and at the same time, she was showing concern. What is she concerned about? She wasn't the one here alone. She wasn't—his thoughts flew from his mind. There was something different about her. He noticed it when she had first turned around. There was something new in the pools of her eyes. Something that seemed to draw him closer to her. Something that seemed to beg him to take her. He briefly let go of her finger to interlock his fingers with hers. With his other hand, he gently pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and combed his fingers through her soft curls. His fingers then barely touched the hairs on her arm as he slowly slid them down to her waist. His eyes followed the movement of his hand, avoiding her face. Draco pulled Hermione against him. He felt her body stiffen with an intake of breath just as she did in the closet what seemed an eternity ago. He waited until she let out a quivering breath and her body relaxed against his. His left hand let go of hers, and he used it to lift up her chin. Draco was hoping to see that look in her eyes again, but she had them closed. His fingers brushed against her cheek as if they were merely moving air. He pulled her closer, and he felt her rise onto her toes as he bent down. He took a deep breath taking in her naturally sweet scent before he locked his lips onto hers.

Draco pulled Hermione even closer as the kiss deepened. The room began to spin, and Draco got a rush of adrenaline from it. He pushed her against the table and lifted her so she was sitting on it. He held her to him and let everything he felt for her at that moment be known by his urgent kiss. He tried to communicate his care, his love, his fear, and his lust for her.

When they finally parted, they didn't move. The two stayed close together holding each other. Draco played with Hermione's hair, while she ran her fingers across his tight stomach.

"I was worried about you," he said softly into her ear.

"I know."

"I worry about you all the time."

"You don't have to."

"I can't help it…I didn't realize it until today when Potter…"

Hermione lifted up her head and looked into his grey eyes. "When Potter…What? What did he do?"

Draco turned away. "He wants you back, 'Mione. He says he loves you, and he told me to try and get you to go back to him. He told me he'd do almost anything, so—" Draco paused so he could take a deep breath. "He wants me to convince you he's changed back to the way he used to be."

"Well, I definitely know it's not true, so what is there to worry about?"

"He's going to try to convince you himself, as well. He's going to do things he used to do, and I'm worried you're going to fall for it."

Hermione slid off the table and walked by him. She began chewing a fingernail in thought.

"'Mione?"

She ignored him.

"'Mione?" Draco asked again.

"That's it. That's how we do it!" Hermione exclaimed as she hurried back to the table and began gathering her things.

"That's how we do what? Hermione! Tell me what's going on!"

"Now, Draco, you of all people should realize that I need to keep some mystery about me." The witch grinned as she quickly gave him a kiss before leaving the room.

Poor Draco just stood alone being bewildered.