Chapter Four

Revelations

During break Hermione decided to take a walk around the grounds analyzing everything in silence. She had gone to the library earlier and unfortunately confirmed that even the strongest of love potions need to be retaken repeatedly to prolong the effects. She couldn't understand why he was acting so strangely towards her. She remembered what he had said about her not knowing what he was capable of and to keep her guard up. As a matter of fact, Harry and Ron had reminded her to do the same thing. She decided that if his plan was to cause her to fall hard for him and then destroy her emotionally in the end, she would do everything in her power to prevent it. How hard could it be? It's only Draco Malfoy!

She knew it was impossible to cut off all contact with him since they had their rounds to patrol every night, their prefect meetings, and classes. She wondered what would be more effective: treating him terribly or treating him like he was treating her. She remembered how her last insult caused him to kiss her and he seemed pleased when she struck him. Any meanness on her part seemed to increase his 'liking' of her so she realized it wasn't the best option. If she decided to lay the affection on thick, it may disgust him enough to cause him to give up but then upset Viktor if he found out. Either option could result in disaster so she decided to just go with her instincts at each individual moment. Hermione sighed at the wasted time she had just spent without coming to any truly effective conclusions.

She sat down near the beech tree and stared at the Forbidden Forest with a scowl. She crossed her arms as a chill in the air overcame her. "You look cold Granger." A deep voice said from behind and covered her with a thick green cloak. Hermione turned around and noticed a tall dark figure behind her.

"Blaise? What are you doing out here?" Hermione said as he sat next to her.

"Just getting away from the dungeons for a while. I think I've done enough studying to last me a life time." He said as he wrapped his arms around his knees.

"I know what you mean." Hermione said as she smiled. "So what on earth is going on around here? Not only do I have Draco Malfoy acting overly sweet to me, now I have Blaise Zabini sitting next to me talking politely."

Blaise shrugged and laughed. "Malfoy has been chasing your tail around a lot lately hasn't he? He's actually been talking about you quite a bit too. Driving Pansy and his other little fans crazy. They all think you've slipped him a love potion or something."

"Urgh! Why would I go and do something as stupid as that after our history of hating each other? Surely they don't believe that….Do they? Do you?" Hermione asked as she pulled his cloak tighter around her body as the wind picked up.

Blaise shook his head. "Naw, it doesn't sound like something you'd do seeing how you're with Krum and all. I just think Draco's finally grown up…..Or lost his mind. Which ever you prefer."

Hermione gave a serious look. "I don't prefer either if you want to know the truth. Actually, I do hope he has grown up. He deserves to have a normal life now and find out what it truly means to care for another person. I doubt his parents ever taught him anything about love or loss." Blaise raised his eyebrow with a smile. Hemione giggled and shook her head. "But I do hope he learns to care for someone who he was meant to be with. I think it's safe to say that I'm not that person. Too much history, too much hatred. Whatever's going on in his head right now will certainly wear off soon…..Don't you think Blaise?"

Blaise shrugged as he stood. "How would I know? It's not as if Draco is the most open bloke when it comes to that kind of stuff. At any rate, he is Draco Malfoy which means everyone should have their guard up when dealing with him. It's just a little known fact that everyone should heed. Even I keep one eye on him at all times. But I will say that you've somehow got his number…..If it's an act, he's doing a damn good job at it. I'm going inside."

Hermione grasped his extended hand and stood next to him. "Me too. It's getting a bit chilly." They walked back to the castle and talked about potions and transfiguration homework. As they reached the stone steps Hermione noticed Blaise stiffen and stop walking. "What's wrong?"

She looked up and saw Draco standing in the middle of the steps with a curious scowl. "You seem to be making new friends left and right Granger."

Hermione swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Yes I have. I never knew Blaise was such a studious person. Thank you for lending me your cloak Blaise. You're quite a gentleman."

She handed him back his cloak as he nodded confidently then turned his eyes to Draco who was walking down the steps. "What's on your mind Malfoy?"

Draco smiled. "I was just wondering what's going to happen to our poor Slytherin girls once all their men have turned soft."

Blaise laughed loudly. "Do you really care?"

Draco swatted the air. "Not really no. But I sure can't wait to hear the rumors spread once they hear about your brief encounter just now. At least the attention will shift to you instead of me. Unfortunately for you Granger, you'll still be in the spotlight for stealing another Slytherin's heart."

Hermione dropped her head and blushed. Blaise laughed again and placed a hand on Hermione's arm. "Nothing against you Granger…You're gorgeous but if I'm going to go after a Gryffindor, it's going to be that Weasley girl. I have a thing for red heads."

Hermione laughed as he successfully broke the tension. Draco reached the bottom of the stairs and grinned. "So does she."

Hermione glared at him. "How many more times do I have to tell you Malfoy? We're just friends. Besides, Ron is back together with Lavender. That should be enough proof for you so you can stop tormenting me."

"I'll never stop. It's what I do best. But I guess I can stop jinxing him if he's not after you anymore." Draco said casually.

"Thank you…And what about Harry?" Hermione said in a commanding voice.

"Not a chance. I enjoy that way too much. There's a little bit of history there if you recall. Besides, I'm not the only that's been jinxing him lately." Draco shifted his eyes at a fidgeting Blaise.

Blaise sighed with shame as Hermione scowled at him. "Well he's always all over her and it's just not right. I happen to think she's getting tired of him."

Hermione shook her head furiously. "Ginny will never tire of Harry. They were meant for each other….They're in love Blaise."

Blaise nodded. "I know, I know. Can't blame a bloke for trying though can you? There's plenty of redheads at this school. I'll just have to move on." Blaise hurried up the stairs leaving Hermione kicking the dirt with an awkward feeling.

Draco tugged at her sleeve. "Weren't you going inside?"

Hermione nodded and started up the stairs. She realized he wasn't following her and turned around finding him staring up at her with a satisfied expression. "What is it Malfoy?"

He chuckled and caught up with her. "Just enjoying the scenery. And the fact that you wondered why I didn't follow you."

She scoffed. "I wasn't. I just…Oh sod off!" She laughed as they walked through the oak doors together. They immediately heard people giggling to their right. They eventually realized it was Ron and Lavender snogging in the corner. Hermione smiled proudly at Draco. "I told you."

"So you did. It's time for dinner. Should we interrupt them?" Draco asked evilly.

"Goodness no! Let's just pretend we never saw them."

"Easy! I've already wiped the awful thought of Weasley getting it on with anyone from my mind." Draco said as they walked their separate ways.

The next morning Hermione nervously walked towards Hogsmeade alone. Harry and Ron had stayed back with their girlfriends but promised to meet up with her later. She hadn't seen Krum in a week now and the memory of their last encounter made her feel uneasy. As she entered Hogsmeade she immediately noticed his deep red robes standing near a lamp post. She forced a huge smile and ran up to him. He embraced her happily. "Viktor! I've missed you so much! It's been such a long week."

Viktor kissed her and held out her arms to inspect her. "You look too skeeny Hermioninny. You must eat vith me at vonce."

Hermione sighed. "Of course Viktor. I know just the place."

Hermione led him to the Three Broomsticks where he ordered nothing shy of a feast. Hermione was past the sensation of stuffed but Viktor demanded she continue eating. "You need to stay healthy Hermioninny. Voman in my country need to be how you say?….Plump before they bear children. Keep eating!"

Hermione choked on a carrot and began beating her chest. "Children? I mean…" She smiled sweetly. "Oh Viktor, you're always thinking of me aren't you? How soon were you thinking-"

"Right away! You do not need to feenish school. Voman don't need it in my country." Viktor said as he dug into a rib.

Hermione couldn't hide her shocked expression but whispered calmly. "Viktor darling, don't you think it's better if we wait until I've finished? I could-"

Viktor slammed his hand loudly on the table causing Hermione to drop her head down low. The restaurant was too loud and packed for too many people to notice his shouting. "Ve vill start immediately! Do you need persvuasion Hermioninny?"

Hermione shook her head with tears falling silently. Viktor looked around the restaurant and slowly wiped his mouth with a napkin. He noticed Draco sitting with his friends at a table far away with a curious expression. Viktor exchanged nods with them and stood. He grabbed Hermione's hand harshly and led her outside. They walked behind the restaurant and out of sight.

Draco sat back in his chair with a frown wondering what they had been fighting about. He had never noticed Hermione to appear so falsely happy. He also noticed how much she seemed to cower at Krum's words. Her mannerisms and expressions were familiar to him but he couldn't figure out why. He wondered if maybe she had told Krum about their kiss but then realized Krum wouldn't have nodded in such a friendly way to him if that was the case.

After about an hour, Draco left the Three Broomsticks alone and headed back to the castle. He noticed Hermione walking alone up ahead and jogged to catch up. "Have a good date with your boyfriend Granger?" He teased as he pat her on her shoulder.

Hermione whimpered and pulled away. She wiped away a few tears, smiled and spoke hoarsely. "Yes I did as a matter of fact. Viktor's just wonderful."

Draco looked at her closely with a baffled expression. Her eyes were swollen and she seemed to have a red marks on her neck. Draco had a flashback to his childhood and remembered seeing the same type of marks on his own Mother. Hermione's fake expression also reminded him of how his Mother would unsuccessfully try to pull that off. "Who's been cutting off your air supply Granger?" He demanded.

Hermione's jaw dropped in shock. "What on earth are you talking about?" She said as she hurried towards the castle.

Draco jumped in front of her and placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "Don't play dumb with me Granger! Someone's been choking you! Don't deny it!"

Hermione shook her head with a strained smile. "Oh, are you talking about these silly little marks?" She pointed to her neck.

"Those would be the ones Granger." Draco said stiffly.

Hermione closed her eyes and chuckled slowly. "It was funny really….Viktor and I went for a stroll and I uh slipped in the mud. He's always saying how clumsy I can be at times. I would have fallen but he caught me uh quite awkwardly but at least I didn't fall. He's really a gentleman you know. Always looking out for me….He's always there." Hermione watched Draco nervously as he pressed his lips together considering her words.

He stepped closely to her while nodding his head animatedly. "Okay…Okay. I think I see where this is going….And you're ankle? Your wrist? How about that shoulder? Do you have explanations for all those as well?"

Hermione spat back quickly. "Of course I do! That is to say, uh I twisted my ankle the day before school started when I tripped on the stairs at Viktor's mansion….And my wrist…I must have strained it when I fell-I mean tripped down the stairs….On the stairs."

Draco shook his head and raised his eyebrows. "Not buying it Granger. Try again….Wait let me try and sum it all up for you if I may. After you didn't do whatever it is he wanted, Krum jerked you by your wrist and pushed you down the stairs at his mansion causing both your wrist and ankle injury. Am I doing well so far?" He noticed Hermione trying to unsuccessfully form words with her shocked face. "I thought so. I'd venture to guess that he drug you out of the Three Broomsticks, pushed you up against a wall and choked you….Hence the sore shoulder and bruising neck. Did I leave anything out Granger?"

Hermione began to shake her head slowly with a dazed look. She smiled fakely and spoke in higher pitch than normal. "Where do you come up with such imaginative stories Malfoy? I'm sorry to say that you've got it all wrong."

Draco stepped close enough to kiss her but only whispered. "Do I Granger? Do I have it all wrong?"

Hermione tried to look away but he grasped her chin with his hand to sustain eye contact. She whispered back. "Viktor loves me."

"Well he's got a lousy way of showing it." Draco said with a hint of anger.

Hermione smacked his hand away and yelled. "What would you know about it Malfoy? You have no right to pry into my life like this! It's none of your business!"

Draco smiled in triumph. "What's none of my business exactly? The fact that Krum's turned you into his personal punching bag?"

"HOW DARE YOU!" Hermione turned around and faced the fence they were standing near with her arms crossed.

Draco became infuriated and shouted behind her. "What angers you more Granger? That I'm right? Or is the fact that out of all the people at this school I'm the one who caught on in one week's time? How long has it been like this anyway?" Hermione shook her head refusing to answer him. "Is he still in Hogsmeade? I'll ask him myself then."

Draco stomped back towards Hogsmeade but Hermione ran after him and placed her hands on his chest. "You mustn't." She pleaded.

Draco walked around her. "Why not? If I'm wrong then what's the big deal?"

Hermione stopped him again and looked desperately into his eyes. "Please Malfoy. You'll only make it worse. He's simply terrifying." Draco scoffed but Hermione continued to try and restrain him. "It isn't your place and you very well know it!"

"Well I'd leave it up to Potter and Weasley but it doesn't seem as if they've noticed that their best friend takes a good beating from her boyfriend on occasion."

Hermione gave a fierce look and removed her hands from him. "Don't go shooting blame at Ron and Harry about this. It's not their fault they haven't noticed. I happen to do a pretty good job at hiding it from them. They've both got other things going on in their lives. Besides, I wouldn't want them going against Viktor. He can be frightening when he wants to be."

Draco shot a look of disbelief. "Don't take this as a compliment towards them but I think you underestimate the both of them. Especially when you're in harms way. You trust them enough to take on Voldermort but not your silly little boyfriend? They'd kill him. You saw how crazy it made them to see me give you flowers. Imagine if they were told that your boyfriend chokes you for kicks."

"You wouldn't tell them! Please tell me you won't say anything Malfoy! I can handle Viktor! I just made a mistake today is all. I know better than to argue with him it's just-"

"Are you listening to yourself? What's happened to you Granger? The little bit I did know about you over these years wasn't that you weren't some sort of door mat with low self esteem. Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"Because I'm that girl Malfoy! I'm the girl who thinks she's the one. I'm that stupid girl who thinks she can run off happily into the sunset with him! At least I thought I could in the beginning! I thought I could change how aggressive he would become. I thought if I approached him more delicately that he wouldn't need to hurt me. I've spent my entire life learning things backwards and forwards! Surely I could learn how to bring out his softer side and put his jealousy and aggression to rest. But I can't! I've tried and I can't! It gets worse every time!" Hermione rubbed her neck absentmindedly and tried to sound cheerful. "He's usually more careful about the bruises. You usually can't see them. I think he's starting to lose control of his temper a bit."

"Starting to lose control? He's beating you Granger! Why are you still bloody with him?" Draco screamed as he began to pace.

Hermione cried out. "I don't have a choice! He says he'll kill me and my parents if I leave him! He's not even going to let me stay at Hogwarts any longer. I have to leave and finally give him what he's been after."

"I can't believe out of all the girls in this school, you're the one who turns out to be the one taking abuse. And what else could he be after? Hasn't he taken enough from you?" Draco leaned against the fence and propped his head back.

Hermione cleared her throat. "I'd rather not say. It's sort of private."

Draco looked up and sneered. "What's more private than what we've just been screaming about? Oh….You mean, you haven't…."

Hermione shook her head as she blushed. Draco stepped closely to her. "After all he's put you through, how on earth have you prevented that?"

Hermione looked away. "I can't let him take that from me too. I just can't. I think that's another reason why he's so angry all the time. Whenever were alone together and I remind him that I want to wait until we're married….That's when he gets quite unpleasant. But I know I'll think of something. I always do. That is not how I want to remember my first time…"

Draco lifted her head with his hand. "Then don't let him do it. I still see that cleverly stubborn girl in their somewhere. She won't let him take it." He kissed Hermione's tear strewn cheek and gestured for her to walk.

The walked slowly towards the castle but then Hermione stopped him again. "How did-how did you know?"

Draco shook his head. "My Mother. You looked and acted just like her back there. I've seen it a hundred times and heard all the excuses. I can smell it from a mile away. I didn't do anything to help her other than tell her to leave him…I knew deep down she never would. But once he died what does she go and do? She finds herself another death eater that just loves throwing his women around like little rag dolls. I just don't understand it. Orchideous."

He handed her a bouquet of tulips which she happily accepted. "Thank you."

He spoke arrogantly. "I told you that you'd eventually accept them. I know everything!"

Hermione laughed and hit him playfully. She sniffed and then spoke seriously. "You won't say anything will you Malfoy?"

Draco shook his head angrily. "I can't promise anything! You're right though, it's not my place but if I see or hear anything I don't like….There will be hell to pay. I won't stand aside and just let it happen again. But I will give you time to handle it yourself."

Hermione smiled down at the bouquet. "And the revenge?"

Draco stopped quickly. "How could I possibly carry out anything knowing you've already been through much worse? There's no fun in being out done. I'll just have to forget about it….For now." He smiled evilly at her.

"You're really very sweet Malfoy." Hermione said without looking at him. "Goodness knows I never thought I'd ever say those words in this lifetime."

"And you better not let anyone hear you repeat them. I have my reputation to protect after all." They laughed together and parted ways at the oak doors.

As they walked up to the seventh floor later that night, Draco was obviously uncomfortable. "What is it?" Hermione asked as they walked together.

"Nothing, I've just had a few hours to take it all in and I've realized something. You need to end it with him immediately." Draco said sternly.

"What? I can't! I've already told you what he'll do to my parents." Hermione said furiously.

Draco shook his head with a smug look. "You don't actually believe that do you Granger? He'd get caught and he knows it. It's just a threat. All men like him do it just to scare girls like you. It obviously works. Trust me, once you tell Potter and Weasley he'll be taken care of. You'll have nothing to worry about."

"I'm not ready."

"What exactly are you waiting for? You want him to actually break something before you take it seriously? You're not going to be able to hold out on him forever you know. He'll take it when he wants. He's just biding his time."

"What makes you think you know so much?" She shouted angrily.

Draco stopped and pointed at himself. "How do you think I came to be? Trust me he'll take it when he wants."

Hermione walked away swiftly and yelled back at him. "I don't need you or anyone else! I can take care of myself!"

Draco kicked over a rubbish bin. "FINE!"

Hermione left the seventh floor without him. She went up to her dormitory and decided to write to Viktor.

Darling Viktor,

I wanted to apologize for my inexcusable behavior in Hogsmeade today. Sometimes I forget my place. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? I would like to see you again tomorrow. I'm ready to discuss our future.

Love always,

Hermione

Not twenty minutes passed when she received her reply.

Hermione,

I knew you would see things my way. Of course I will meet you tomorrow at 10:00am near the lamp post.

Devoted always,

Viktor

Hermione crumpled up the letter and layed out a turtle neck for the next day. She inspected her injuries and hoped that the purple marks on her neck wouldn't turn black and blue like her wrist and ankle had. She felt terrible for shouting at Draco but knew that she had to get out of this on her own. It wasn't necessary for anyone else to be put in harms way. As she fell asleep she dreamed of Draco kissing her softly in a field of tulips.