A/N: I'm sorry this took so long to get out. My computer COMPLETELY crashed, and we had to re-download everything, all the way from Windows up to all of our little pointless programs that we love anyway. So I haven't been able to write for a couple of days, SORRY! But here is the next chapter. --billowing-cape introductory bow--
CHAPTER 17: Switching Sides
That night, Hermione wandered the halls aimlessly. Okay, three days. This won't be so bad. Classes start again the day after tomorrow, and that'll be day three. All I can hope for is that he comes back to me. Whispers followed her, speaking of the scene she had made that morning. By now, the whole school knew (it hadn't helped that it was a Hogsmeade-in-the-Hall weekend).
Hermione didn't care.
It was hard for her to imagine that she didn't care, but she truly didn't. As she had said, it simply didn't matter anymore. None of it mattered, so long as he was at her side. Which he will be, she promised herself. I'm sure of it. But she wasn't sure—she wasn't sure at all.
So passed the final weekend of her holiday, in a glum blur of whispers, betrayed glances, and heartbreak.
Monday dawned bright and frosty. Hermione slowly dressed and packed her bag, ignoring Lavender and Parvati's loudly whispered insults and obvious glares. She calmly walked down to breakfast, thinking, Fine, hate me. Because if he doesn't come back to me, you'll never get another chance.
"Ooh, I just can't believe the nerve of that girl," Pansy hissed at Draco's side. "She makes a scene as big as that and then dares to show her face around here still!" Hermione settled down at the very edge of her table, and he could see the malicious intent on the faces around her. Oh, Hermione. You should have let it be, he thought, his heart aching. The Dark Lord will not appreciate you for earning their hate. "Ooh, I just can't believe the nerve of that girl," Pansy hissed at Draco's side. "She makes a scene as big as that and then dares to show her face around here still!" Hermione settled down at the very edge of her table, and he could see the malicious intent on the faces around her., he thought, his heart aching.
But even thinking like this, he could not help knowing she had a point. We could be together openly. It would be painful, and we would be hated. We could make it though. But, Hermione, do you really want to be hated like that? "You poor thing, I can't believe she said that to you. Telling you she loved you…." Pansy clucked her tongue disapprovingly, then laughed. "Look, all her precious Gryffindors all hate her now. I don't think she'll ever regain herself in their eyes."
Suddenly, something in Draco's mind clicked. You already are hated by them, love. There's no way you could be hated more if we were together. And me…well, if I've got you, I can deal with it. Cocking his head, he realized that was probably what she had been thinking too, and he was the one who was slow on the uptake. He felt horribly stupid, and guilty for making her wait. "What was she talking about, anyway?" Pansy continued, taking a generous portion of scrambled eggs. Draco stood, but Parkinson kept talking, "You never did answer me last time I asked."
Draco slung his book bag over his shoulder and crossed the hall, ignoring the eyes that followed him.
Hermione looked up at Draco's arrival, a mixture of confusion and hope in her eyes. He put his fingertips under her chin, and she stood at his gentle touch, though he exerted no pressure. It seemed the whole school held its breath. Softly, he kissed her, and as one, the school gasped. Grinning, Draco took her hand and she snatched up her book bag with her free hand. Smiling, they hurried from the hall.
"Draco, I was afraid you wouldn't…" she whimpered.
He smiled back at her as he pulled her into an unused classroom. Their book bags made twin thumps as they fell to the floor, immediately ignored by the excited couple. Draco pushed Hermione's robe off her shoulders before picking her up and setting her on a dusty desk. "I'm sorry I took so long," he told her as he climbed up onto the desk to straddle her.
"Don't worry about it," she whispered as he began to cover her with kisses. Before long, she was fumbling in vain with the buttons of her blouse, as was Draco. Suddenly he drew back in frustration, and the buttons on her shirt exploded off in a patter of bouncing buttons. Draco looked embarrassed at the childish display of a lack of control, but Hermione just laughed and sat up on her elbows. "You owe me a new shirt," she pouted.
Hovering over her, Draco nodded self-consciously. "Or I could just take yours," she suggested playfully. Grinning wolfishly, he stripped off his own robe and shirt, handing his shirt to her. Hermione looked startled that he'd actually taken her suggestion, and he didn't miss the appreciative glance at his body. A second later, his shirt was on the floor with their robes (and Hermione's buttons), and neither of the teenagers could be bothered about it.
After what seemed a very long time, they stopped their frenetic kissing. "We missed class," Draco whispered to Hermione, sitting up.
"I know," she mumbled, sitting up as well. She looked down at herself and blushed—her shirt and bra had come off sometime without her noticing. Before she could cover herself Draco did, wrapping his arms around her body to hold her close, and she shivered pleasantly at the touch of his skin on hers. "I was afraid you wouldn't come back to me, Draco," she whimpered.
Draco held her closer. "I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear, and the hairs on her neck rose at his breath.
"We should get to class," she grumbled, loathe to have him let her go. Draco sighed and nibbled on her ear a little before letting her go. He slid off of her, and then the desk and picked up his robe and her shirt. Hermione slipped off the table too, raising a cloud of dust and managed to get her bra back on before he engulfed her in his arms. His fingers traced a pattern on her back, and it took her a moment to realize that he was touching her scars from the Hungarian Horntail.
"Ugly, aren't they?" she grimaced, pulling his shirt on over them and turning to face him.
"Never," he told her before he kissed her. "They're a part of you, and you," he informed her, "Are never ugly." Hermione smiled, but then the look in his eyes turned to one of concerned embarrassment. "Ah…sorry about that," he said, bending down to brush the dust from the back of her skirt and shirt while she dealt with the front.
"Sorry about what?"
He turned his attention to his dusty shins. "About that hickey on your neck," he said nervously. "I wasn't paying attention."
Hermione put on her robe and perched on the edge of the desk, shrugging, "They all know what we were doing anyway." She waited for him to finish dusting himself off. When he did, she stood, only to find herself wrapped up in his arms once again. "Let's try this again, without you running away to get attacked by a dragon," he said, his eyes twinkling mischievously. But then he sobered, and looked down at her adoringly, "I love you."
Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I love you too," she smiled back to him.
The bell rang, and they both jumped. "Oh no," she groaned. "I have to get to Herbology." Giving Draco a quick kiss, she ran over to the door and grabbed her bag, handing him his before rushing out into the throng that filled the hallway. However, an odd hush surrounded her as people recognized her.
And then the whispers began.
Thinking of Draco, she smirked and pushed past the people who obstinately would not move out of her way, eventually being forced to draw her wand and look menacingly at everyone. Entering the greenhouses, she muttered an apology to Professor Sprout, whose look was contradictingly one of both approval and disapproval. "A night of detention for you," she told Hermione, who shrugged. A single night was completely worth it, she thought. I probably know the entire curriculum anyway.
That day, Hermione had at least a million insults thrown at her, and half as many hexes, only a small percentage of which actually managed to hit her in the crowded halls. It seemed amazing though that whenever a jinx stopped her from undoing it herself (like a full body-bind spell, for example), for some reason, Draco seemed to always be just around the corner to come to her rescue.
Hermione dragged herself into wakefulness with a groan. Draco had wanted to meet her in their room (well, it wasn't really theirs, but they spent so much time in it that it practically was), but she was just so tired that it was hard to stay awake. She snuggled her head into the pillow a little more, and sighed comfortably. If he doesn't get here soon, she thought drowsily, I'm not sure I'll be awake to greet him.
Draco opened the door quietly, guiltily aware that he was late. He hadn't meant to be late, but it seemed he'd run into a million teachers on the way. The fire was burning low in the hearth, and he walked over to it, slinging his robe over the armchair like Hermione's. Seeing that Hermione lay asleep on the couch, he held his laughter in check as he realized he'd forgotten to get another shirt. Then he smiled gently at her, seeing she still wore his. "Yeah, it's been a tiring day," he quietly agreed to her sleeping figure.
Hermione mumbled in her sleep, and Draco shrugged. "Oh, what the hell. Going back to our dormitories tonight would be close to suicide, anyway." Besides, I wouldn't want to wake her up, he thought, She looks so…peaceful there. Surprising, considering the hell she went through today at school. Glancing around, he saw an alarm clock sitting on the table. Shaking his head indulgently at the room, he set it for six in the morning and left it on the table before easing himself next to Hermione. She snuggled up to him in her sleep and he held her close.
"You don't have to be my secret anymore," he told her quietly. "It's hard to believe that I could have ever let you go." Kissing her cheek, he settled in next to her. "We won't have to ever be apart again, love."
But then he remembered that he was still the Dark Lord's creature, and that she was playing both sides of the table. So we will be apart, if only in that. But…maybe we don't have to be. I don't really agree with Dumbledore's cause, and just I still think muggles are just a waste of precious air. But I suppose Mudbloods aren't that bad. They're still wizards, at least.
Except…she's not just a Mudblood. She's my friend, my girlfriend, my…world, my everything! Who cares about her blood. There was a time when I would have, and a time when I did, but it really doesn't matter anymore. We love each other, and blood can't get in the way of that, at least not anymore.
No, not anymore. And it would be better if we were together. Always and forever and in everything. I can't let her go through that alone. No.
"If you're going down, love, then I am too." The promise was whispered in her ear, and, as if she could hear him through her sleep, her fingers curled around his hand. If you're going to be in danger of being caught double-dealing then so am I. I'm not going to let you do that alone. I'll protect you. I don't agree with Dumbledore, not exactly, but this isn't about him.
This is about Hermione. Maybe it always was.
A blanket appeared over the edge of the couch, and he pulled it down over the both of them before following Hermione into sleep.
An alarm blared somewhere. Hermione shifted, and an arm coiled around her more tightly. "Mmm…stay," a voice murmured in her ear. In her lethargic thoughts, it was hard to place it.
"Draco?" she whispered, not opening her eyes. The alarm stopped abruptly, and she squirmed closer to his warm body.
"Yes?" he asked, pulling her up next to him.
"When did you get here?"
He chuckled softly. "Last night. You were asleep, and I didn't want to wake you. That, and," he added, kissing her softly, "Going back to our dormitories last night would have been death anyway. I'm not sure the school is too happy with our decision."
"Fuck them," Hermione grumbled, finally opening her eyes. "I'm happy. And if they want to worry about our personal lives that much, that's their fault." Silence kissed their conversation for a moment before Hermione added, "Are you happy?"
Draco propped himself up on his elbow and examined her. Hermione bit her lip nervously, as if not daring to hope that he'd say yes but doing so anyway. Her hair was tousled with sleep, and her eyes looked at him longingly, and he could see that she loved him. Smiling, he leaned down and nuzzled her neck. "With you? I'm always happy," he truthfully reassured her.
"Good," she whispered. "I'm glad." Standing, she stretched and yawned, then eyed the couch speculatively. "Do you really have enough room to sleep on there with me?"
Draco looked at the couch too, then shrugged. "It's enough. I sleep on my side whether I'm with you or not, it doesn't matter if I'm a little bit squished. Anyway, I'm fine so long as you're comfortable."
"If you're sure," Hermione said dubiously.
"I am," Draco said.
"Next point: why aren't you wearing a shirt? Not that I mind," she amended quickly, "I'm just curious."
"Well…you're wearing my shirt, and I forgot to go and get another one before coming here. Speaking of shirts, do you want a new one, or just your other one with the buttons back on?"
"Oh, I can do it," Hermione said, feeling guilty at having Draco do it. "Or," she said, faking nonchalance, "I can just keep this one. Oh, and is this the one that you let me borrow at your Manor?"
"Yes," Draco said with a smirk as he sat up on the couch and stretched. "And fine. You can keep it. But I'll fix your blouse too. Shouldn't be too hard, I think. I'll get your shirt to you…sometime," he said with a yawn. "You ready to face the school yet?"
Wide eyed, Hermione shook her head and sat down on his lap. They wrapped their arms around each other, and she said, "No. I don't want to face them ever. To just see their faces…how much they hate us. I don't want that yet. Just hold me for a bit, and then we'll go together."
"Slytherin or Gryffindor?" Draco asked. When Hermione looked confused, he added, "To eat. We need to eat somewhere."
"Gryffindor will never accept you. And Slytherin will never accept me," she mulled it over.
But Draco cut into her thoughts with a small cough and a meaningful look. "There is one way the Slytherins would accept you…."
Hermione looked at Draco blankly. What the hell is he talking abou…oh. OH. "But—but my father…er…he wouldn't, I mean…" she stuttered, then stopped talking completely to gather her thoughts. "Voldemort wouldn't be very pleased about that. Not at all."
"Ah, but see, love, all we need is one person on our side," said Draco. Hermione wasn't sure she liked the look in his eyes. "One very influential person…"
"…So, you see why you have to keep everyone from hurting her. She has the Dark Lord's highest regard, being his daughter and all," Draco finished up with a significant look. "Why don't you go and tell everyone you approve," Draco said, with a lazy gesture of dismissal.
"And if I don't?" Pansy said menacingly.
"Then I'll have to kill you," Hermione spoke up. "You know too much as is, and this wasn't my idea. I have killed before," she said truthfully. Pansy gave her a dubious glance. "What, you want to try me, Parkinson? I could give you pain like you would never—" Draco cut her off by putting an arm around her waist.
"Prove it then," Pansy sneered. "Prove to me that she's the Dark Lord's daughter, and then I'll do it."
Hermione quelled her despair and kept her face calm and bored. "I tire of this," she said with a yawn. Pulling her wand, she disarmed Parkinson before she knew what was happening and then aimed it at her throat. "Look, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Either you go off and tell everyone that I'm okay and I'm going to be eating with the Slytherins, and that no personal harm is to come to me or Draco, or I kill you and Draco backs me up that it was all in self defense." There was a flicker of fear in Pansy's eyes.
"I would be honored to do so. After all, I am only here to serve your bidding," Draco said subserviently.
Hermione didn't even have to pretend to be annoyed at this, and shot him an annoyed look. "Thank you," she intoned dryly. "Now, Parkinson. Choose what's going to happen."
Looking bewildered, Pansy actually thought about her decision. "Fine then. I'll do it. But you owe me."
"We owe you nothing for the trouble you've caused us. Now leave," Hermione snarled. "Oh, and Parkinson," she added right before the Slytherin left, "If anyone hurts Draco or myself, we're blaming it on you." Her eyes narrowed to slits, "And we don't forgive easily, so do a good job of it. We'll be down in ten minutes."
The door closed with a diminutive click, and Hermione fell back on the desk. "I never said it would be easy," Draco reminded her as if reading her thoughts. He sat down next to her on the desk and pulled her up into his lap. "And she still doesn't completely believe what we told her." He laughed softly and kissed her neck, making her shiver. "If I hadn't seen you there, I'm not sure I'd believe it myself. Who'd have thought? Hermione Granger, good girl, perfect student, would end up a Death Eater?" His voice lowered to barely a whisper, and Hermione almost missed what he said next. "Although you're not all bad, are you? You're actually playing both sides of the table now, aren't you. When were you going to tell me about your little chat with Dumbledore?"
Panic coursed through Hermione's veins, and she stiffened on Draco's lap. He knows. How can he know! Merlin's beard, what am I supposed to do? Lie? I don't want to lie to him, I love him. Oh dear. I'm so dead. Draco sighed sadly. "I thought so. I didn't really want to believe it, but your reaction is proof enough." His head dropped on her shoulder. "Fine. See if you can get me a meeting with your precious Dumbledore. You're not doing this alone."
"Wh—what?" She stuttered, not believing what she was hearing.
"What do you mean 'what'? I've made my decision. I'm not leaving you. Sure, I don't agree with him on…well, I almost don't agree with him about any of his principles. And if this was about him versus the Dark Lord, I'd follow the Dark Lord straight away. But this isn't about that. This is about you, and I'm not going to let you go through this alone."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears, and she squeezed his hand. "I love you," she whispered to him. He tilted his head on her shoulder to look at her more, and then pulled himself up higher to kiss her.
"I know you do," he told her wearily. "And I love you too. We should get to breakfast now, though. I hope that git Parkinson has done her job well. I'd rather not battle off people during breakfast."
"Yeah, especially since we had to sneak to the kitchens for food all yesterday." Hermione stood and stretched before realizing she still held Pansy's wand. Tucking both wands away in her robe, she and Draco picked up their book bags and got ready to leave. Pausing in front of the door, each took a steadying breath, and then they clasped hands before going out to face the school.
Breakfast was an odd affair. All of the house tables looked up on their arrival, and they walked bravely across the whole room to the Slytherin table, where they sat down somewhere in the middle, and Hermione was squished between a confused Crabbe and Draco. Silence had graced their walk, but now that they were seated, the hall broke out into a buzz of speculative conversation.
Remembering Parkinson's wand, Hermione pulled it out and passed it to her across the table. "Forgot to give it back," she muttered, then pretended to be completely immersed in the toast she was eating while really keeping an eye on the rest of the diners. Her nerves were on end, just waiting for someone to throw a spell at her or Draco. However, she need not have worried about breakfast. The professors, too, were on guard, and no spells were thrown.
Hermione should have been more worried about their exit into the hall. The other three houses were angrier than ever that she had gone to eat with the Slytherins, thinking it a betrayal of the highest level. By the end of the day, Draco and Hermione had each been sent to the Hospital Wing several times. The worst part, for Hermione, had been her free period, because she couldn't even find peace in the library, and was hit with three spells in there, two she'd been able to end, and one she had to go to the Hospital Wing for.
The only good time of the day was when she finally went to Professor McGonagall and asked to speak to Dumbledore. Draco was with her, and the strict woman gave them a pitying look, quickly saying, "All right then. Let's go see if he has time for you now."
They were led up the revolving staircase and back to the office where Hermione had been not long ago. She gave the Headmaster a tired look, and then said, "That thing we talked about a few days ago?" she asked. When Dumbedore nodded, she pressed on, "Draco wants to do that too."
Dumbedore sighed and rubbed his temples. "Okay then. You both have to be taught Occlumency, though. Otherwise the consequences will be terrible." Hermione and Draco were silent, not knowing what to say.
Coming to a decision, Dumbledore sighed again and said, "Be in my office at 8 PM Mondays and Wednesdays for your lessons. I will see you two tomorrow, then," he said.
Not liking how quick their dismissal had been, Hermione murmured, "Thank you, Professor," and walked out, Draco on her heels.
"I don't think he likes that there were two Death Eaters in the school that he didn't know about," she mumbled to Draco on their way down the stair. He shook his head. "Or maybe he just doesn't like that he now has to give us private lessons," she mused.
"Maybe," Draco agreed, pulling his wand as they left the safety of the stairs and went back into the hall. They went as quickly as they could to the Room of Requirement, what seemed to be their only haven recently. Hermione locked the door behind them with a complicated charm and they curled up on the couch together.
Before long, both were fast asleep. After all, it had been a trying day.
Tonight is all about "We miss you"
—Fall Out Boy "Homesick At Spacecamp"
PLEASE READ THIS: The end of summer is here. I start school on Monday, and am sad to say that that means that this story will probaby end up with really slow updates from now on. I'll try to update at least once a week, but I'm going to have homework to do, waterpolo to play/practice, and friends/family to hang out with. But I'll try to get on the computer and type as often as I can and will do my best to update as much as possible. I love you all, my readers, and I hope that you'll continue reading this story even though the summer is now over.
