Chapter 8: Detention With Potter

"In case you two are curious about why you are here, you are here because you don't have the ability to act your age in a public place! You are here in detention for three hours; no ifs, ands, or buts! Am I understood?"

Draco knew that there was no way he could simply say that he was trying to defend Granger. Snape would write him off in a second. He knew exactly how Professor Snape felt about Hermione, the goody-two-shoes who knows the answer to everything. Snape would never let him live it down, and then rumors would turn into facts.

"I said, am I understood?"

Draco had never been yelled at by Snape in all the years he had been here. The Slytherin didn't care or anything, of course, but it was just a shock. Harry rolled his eyes but was instantly scolded.

"How dare you roll your eyes at me, Potter! You are in no position to be cocky about this! I imagine you are used to detention, though. It appears that you are unable to control your impulses."

Draco knew better than to smirk; that was one of the first people Professor Snape snapped his two cents at. He watched as the teacher exited the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Well, this is a fine mess you've gotten me into, Potter. I hope you're satisfied," Draco sneered.

"As a matter of fact, Malfoy, I am satisfied. What would make this even better would be if I weren't here with you."

Draco looked over at Harry, who sat a few seats away from him. "You wouldn't be if you had used your head before you hit her, you twat! I don't see what she sees in you!"

Harry sat back in his chair and glared at him. "She loves me still, regardless of what I did to her."

Draco scoffed and shook his head at the Gryffindor boy. "She loves you? Are you shitting me? She's fucking scared of you! The only reason she still tolerates you is because you have her wrapped around your bloody finger with your threats!"

He could see Harry's anger rising but he didn't care at this point. Hermione Granger was in the hospital wing because of Harry. Draco wanted nothing more than to put him there as well.

"What do you care what I do to her, Malfoy? You've never liked her kind. What exactly happened over this summer between you and her? Do I sense a fling?"

Draco wouldn't give him the satisfaction in answering the questions. Harry wasn't good enough to have his questions answered by Draco. As far as he was concerned, Harry was just a speck of dust that he had to sweep under the rug because it was too late, and he spread like the Plague.

"You couldn't sense anything with your head up your arse, Potter. Don't kid yourself, alright?"

Harry suddenly stood up, about to attack Draco, when he thought better of it. "Watch yourself, mate. You don't want to be expelled. It's amazing that you haven't been caught beating your girlfriend yet..."

"It's not that amazing in retrospect, Malfoy. All you have to do is scare her senseless with threats and things of that sort. A good slap here and there doesn't hurt either."

Draco shook his head in disbelief. This bastard was proud of what he did to Hermione. He had made her an object for his own sick pleasure, and acted like she deserved all this. What had happened when Hermione had started going out with Harry? What had Hermione done to make Harry start hurting her? It was usually him that stuck up when others were being hurt. The tables have turned, and in a dangerous aspect.

"I don't believe you, Potter. You're a twisted fuck who gets enjoyment out of others' pain. You don't deserve any woman to love to love you. You're pathetic..."

"I'm pathetic? Look at yourself, Malfoy! You're the one who cares only for his reputation! That's a sad way to live."

Draco tongued his teeth and then shook his head once again. He couldn't believe the shit that was coming out of his rival's mouth.

"That's not as sad as living a life of abuse and misery. If you don't break it off with her, then I can pretty much guarantee that you'll wake up in a casket."

Harry strutted over to him defiantly. "Tell me! Why the fuck do you care about Hermione so much? You never even gave a shit about her before!"

Draco walked over to him. "Call me crazy, Potter, but I don't like seeing girls get beat by their boyfriends! I could care less about the Mudblood, but you're not making that possible for me!"

Christ, listen to me; the lies that come out of my mouth. I could care less about her? She's all that I care about...

Harry seemed defeated and sat back down. The two didn't say another word to each other for the last two and a half hours. Draco could feel himself falling asleep when he heard the door of the classroom slam open. He quickly took his feet off the table and sat up straight.

"Sleeping in detention, Malfoy?"

Draco craned his neck to see Professor Snape walking towards them in his somber manner. "No, sir. I wouldn't think of it..."

"Alright, Mr. Malfoy. You've done enough sucking up for one day. You two are free to go. Just one more thing, though," Snape eyed them as they began to stand up.

"What's that, sir?"

"You two had better count your blessings that neither of you were expelled! Now leave my sight!"

Draco and Harry both made their way to the door, eager to get out. As Draco started to head towards his dormitory, a thought crossed his mind.

Maybe I should see how Hermione is. She is my friend, after all.

He ascended the mahogany stairway and headed towards the hospital wing, keeping a look out for his fellow Slytherins. Draco had no idea what he would say if Warrington knew he was visiting Hermione in the Wing. The pictures on the walls watched him contently as he ascended the second flight of stairs to the floor that the Hospital Wing was on. Most of them were asleep, but some of them had human-like qualities, such as insomnia. Draco glanced at a painting of a man who appeared to be sitting in a rocking chair, reading a book by candlelight and sipping a cup of tea. He passed painting after painting until he reached the wing.

He could feel butterflies in his stomach as he walked in, searching for Hermione Granger.

"Excuse me, sir. Are you looking for someone?"

Draco quickly turned around to see Madam Pomfrey standing in front of him, holding a clipboard, her glasses on the brink of her nose.

"Is Hermione Granger still here?"

Madam Pomfrey smiled politely and motioned him to follow her over to the beds. Draco felt uneasy as he saw second years lying on the bed in casts, with Skele-Gro on the table next to them. Quidditch must have gotten the better of them.

"Can we have a moment alone?"

Madam Pomfrey smiled at him. "Of course, Mr. Malfoy. If you need anything, I'll be at my desk."

Draco sat on the space next to her and admired her in all her beauty. She had a bruise by her hairline and had a small, white bandage where she had been bleeding from.

I can't believe I'm fucking sitting next to her. I shouldn't care about Granger; she's a Mudblood and a Gryffindor. If anyone catches me here, then my reputation can be flushed down the drain. I shouldn't be here. This is wrong, unethical, and even improbable.

Draco was about to get up to leave but he felt a soft hand grab his arm. He looked down and saw a sleepy Hermione Granger smile gently at him.

"Hey, Draco."

He returned the smile and sat down again.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess. I could be better," Hermione replied, looking down at her hands. "I'm sorry that I got you in trouble, Draco."

"No, Hermione. Don't apologize; it wasn't your fault. I basically started it. I'm sorry that you got hurt."

Hermione shrugged slightly. "I got in the way, Draco. It was my fault, as always."

Draco felt so furious towards Harry for making her feel like everything was her fault. If Harry was angry, it was Hermione's fault, if she got hit, it was her fault.

"Don't say that, alright? It wasn't your fault. It was just Potter being the abusive asshole he's been for awhile. Tell me, what set him off to make him suddenly hurt you?"

Hermione was silent for several minutes before Draco started to believe that she hadn't heard him.

"He told me that he wanted to go out with me the end of our sixth year, so we went out and it started out okay. Then, he started ignoring me and basically treating me like the dirt on his shoes and I broke up with him. Harry didn't take that too well and then he threatened to kill me if I didn't go back to him. I got scared, and here I am."

Draco felt pieces of his heart chip off and land in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to kill that abusive bastard, and give him a taste of his own medicine. He wanted Harry to feel the pain that Hermione had felt for so long.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. You shouldn't have to go through this crap..."

Hermione shrugged again, as if this was nothing new to her.

"Can you please stay here until I fall asleep, Draco? I'm scared to be alone..."

His smile faded but he nodded. "Of course I will. I'm here; there's nothing to be scared of as long as I'm here."

Hermione slowly closed her eyes, dreaming of a better day.