Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no monies.
HG-DM HG-DM HG-DM
Chapter 2
Draco breathed a sigh of relief when the door shut to his compartment. He was alone and could finally relax. The summer had been hell for him. Not only was he branded with the dark mark but he had been initiated into the DeathEaters, not something he would wish on his worst enemies. He shuddered before forcing the nightmarish memories from his mind.
It was his sixth year and he wasn't sure how he would accomplish the tasks given to him. First the psychopathic bastard wanted him to fix the Vanishing Cabinet so he could let DeathEaters into the school. Then he expected Draco, a sixth year student, to kill one of the most powerful wizards in the wizarding world! Yeah, like that would ever happen! It was why Draco had given his mother an extra tight hug before getting on the train. He was sure he wouldn't see her again; there was no way he would be able to do what he had been told to do. The Vanishing Cabinet might be possible, maybe, but to kill Dumbledore…not bloody likely. What really sucked would be that he wouldn't be able to enjoy his last year of school; because he was convinced he would be dead before his seventh year could come around, due to needing to work on the blasted Cabinet!
The only thing that came to mind that would make this year anywhere close to bearable would be getting to see Granger on a regular basis; riling her up so he could see the fire in her eyes and watch her storm away. He always made sure no one saw him watching her walk away but he would, how could he not? She was beautiful and was growing into quite a curvy witch. Draco sighed and leaned back into the seat, his eyes were just closing when there was a knock on the compartment door.
"Granger" Draco said, surprised to see her standing there.
"Oh, sorry, didn't realize it was you, Malfoy." Hermione mumbled as she turned to walk away.
Draco studied her for a moment before making a snap decision to allow her into his sanctuary.
"Come in, Granger." He said as he turned to sit back down, stopping Hermione in her tracks.
"Wh-what?" was her intelligent reply.
Sighing deeply, Draco looked her over and waved her into the compartment. "I said, come in." keeping the snarky comment about her mastery of the Queen's English to himself. He noticed her eyes were red and puffy and her clothes were askew. He watched silently as she hesitated in the doorway before moving to sit on the opposite bench. Draco closed the door with a wave of his hand before closing his eyes. He was curious why she was so disheveled and upset but figured it would be a cold day in Hades before she would tell him.
Hermione sat on the other bench and stared out the window. She was a bit confused by Malfoy's behavior. Why was he being nice to her? Why would he allow her to invade his space? Where were his lackeys? Why hadn't he commented or made fun of her emotional state? As she studied him from the corner of her eye, she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. What had happened over the summer to cause them? Would he answer her if she asked any of these questions? Should she just sit quietly and be thankful he had allowed her in?
"You know, your brain is going to melt if you keep thinking so much?" Draco said as he cracked an eye open to look at her.
"Hurmpf! You can't really blame me, can you?" Hermione retorted, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I could blame you for a great many things, to which are you referring?" Draco smirked at her, loving how her eyes lit up with fire. It was better than the distant sadness and hurt that was there when she first came in.
"Ohhhh, I should've known you'd be a prat! Why did I even think you might have found some decency over the summer?" she barked out, crossing her arms over her chest.
Draco quirked a brow at her and let his smirk change into a genuine smile for a moment. "I have no idea, Granger. Why would you think that about me?"
"Because you let me in." Hermione murmured before slumping down into her seat.
Draco opened his eyes and took her in, really seeing her and was displeased to see her change in demeanor. He also noticed a few bruises starting to show on her wrists. Concern filled his expression when he started to put it all together.
"What happened, Granger?" Draco asked in a deadly calm voice. If someone had hurt her, he would make them pay. He may be a pureblooded prat and bully but even he would never intentionally harm a female.
"What?" Hermione looked at him as if he had grown a second head before seeing where he was looking. Self-consciously she pulled her robe sleeves down but knew it was too late. She turned her gaze back to the window and Draco figured she wouldn't share with him, of all people, what had happened but he really wanted to know. They still had several hours on the train and he would do his best to get the truth from her one way or another.
Hermione was torn; did she tell Malfoy what had happened? Did he really care? The look on his face and tone of his voice told her he did but that was impossible…wasn't it? Why would he care what happened to her? Although it would be nice to tell someone but would he use it against her? Embarrass her at the most opportune moment? Sighing in defeat, Hermione knew she wanted to tell someone, no, needed to tell someone. She briefly wondered if her friends would believe her or if they would take Ron's side? Whatever that was.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione kept her gaze watching the scenery go by as she spoke, "I don't know why I'm telling you this but…" Hermione looked over at Malfoy and started trembling, remembering what had happened.
"But?" Draco gently prodded her.
He was surprised she was willingly talking to him. If it was what he thought it was, then he would be her knight in tarnished armor. He would never be able to publicly take up for her or get revenge for her but he could be the tarnished suit of armor in the corner that no one paid any attention to. The knight that would see her honor restored and the guilty would never see it coming. Apparently, she wasn't sure if she should share or not. Before the Yule Ball, Draco most likely would have taken what had happened to her and teased her about it but not now, not when she was his only shining light. Now he would keep her secret and do what he could to right the wrong.
When Hermione's eyes dropped to the study the floor and she mumbled her words, Draco rose and sat next to her, startling her in the process.
"Listen Granger…Hermione, I promise I won't make fun of you. I won't tell a soul what happened if you wish me not to." Draco told her while locking eyes with her. The surprise in her look almost made him laugh. He wasn't sure why he moved next to her or used her first name but it seemed right. For the first time in too long, Draco was doing what he felt was right and it felt good.
"Y-you called me Hermione." Hermione stammered.
"It is your name. Would you rather I called you Granger?" Draco cocked a brow at her.
"N-no, it's…I just wasn't expecting it is all." Hermione replied. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing, "It was Ron." Was all she would say.
Draco gritted his teeth and clenched his fist before asking, "What did the weasel do, Hermione?"
Hermione tried to look away from Draco's intense gaze but he put a finger under her chin and pulled her face back towards him.
"Hermione?"
"He…he tried to…" Hermione started but couldn't finish. She was still trying to deal with her supposed best friend and boyfriend of a few months trying to force himself on her.
"He tried to…what, Hermione?" Draco prodded, breathing through his nose to keep his anger under control until she clarified what the red-headed menace tried to do. If it was what Draco thought it was, the arsehole would find out what pain was all about, Malfoy style.
"He tried to force himself on me." Hermione finished, just above a whisper.
"And you told him no?" Draco asked, he had to make sure.
Hermione's head flew up and her eyes snapped to his full of fire, "Of course I did! Go ahead, Malfoy! Go ahead and laugh! I know you're dying to!"
Draco stared at her but instead of laughing as she expected, he cupped her face, "Why would I do that, Hermione? What he did was wrong and deplorable. Why would I laugh?"
"Because it's what you do. I just gave you a perfect reason to." Hermione responded, her shoulders shaking as she held back her tears.
Draco decided to continue to do what felt right and draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. "This is not a laughing matter, Hermione. The weasel should never have touched you without your express permission."
It took Hermione a moment to realize what had happened and where her head was at. When she pulled away, she looked into his eyes and saw sincere concern with a bit of anger in the background.
"Why do you care, Draco?" Hermione asked, not realizing she had used his name.
"Because no woman should be ignored when she says no. No is no. I may be a bully and a spoiled brat but I would never force myself on a witch. There are some lines to never cross, Hermione." Draco told her.
"Um, not to seem rude or anything, but why are you being so nice to me?" Hermione asked, her voice a bit shaky from her emotions.
Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair before answering her, "I've never hated you, you know?" At her dubious look, he chuckled and continued, "I've never really cared for blood status but had to play my part. I was expected to give those "below" me hell. It was beaten into me since I could remember the "rules". But…I have been jealous of the friendships you have, the fact you beat me in every class save one and…" this time it was his turn to fade off.
"And…" Hermione gently prodded. The whole situation seemed so surreal to her. Here she was pouring her heart out to her mortal enemy only to find out that the animosity wasn't her blood after all. It was jealousy over what she had, who would have thought it? But what else was he hesitant to admit to being jealous over?
"And…your family. I've heard snippets of conversations where you were speaking fondly and lovingly about your parents. It is something I know nothing of." Draco finished in a quiet voice.
Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder at hearing the last revelation. Wow! She never really thought of Draco's home life. She couldn't imagine not growing up in a loving home. What was his like to be so jealous of hers? Then her eyes fluttered closed when Draco started caressing her arm before they popped open with the realization. When she raised her eyes to look at his, she saw nothing but honesty in them. It took her breath away.
When Hermione turned her head up to look in his eyes, Draco's breath caught; he saw surprise and shock in her eyes but he also caught a glimpse of concern as well. After staring in her eyes for a few minutes, Draco lowered his head slowly, giving her time to stop him if she wanted considering what had happened to bring her into his compartment in the first place. But she didn't and he closed his eyes just before his lips brushed hers. It was a gentle kiss, one full of exploration and sweetness until her lips parted. Draco took the time to explore every inch of her mouth, to learn her taste. When he pulled away, ending the kiss, his head was spinning. She tasted even better than he imagined and when in bloody hell had Hermione Granger learned to kiss like that?!
Hermione was shocked when Draco's lips touched hers. Oh, she had noticed his head lowering to hers but wasn't sure what to think of it. Was he pulling her leg or was he really going to kiss her? Well, she got her answer and was blown away. The wizard knew how to kiss! Merlin! She had parted her lips to see what he would do and he did just what she wanted him to, deepen the kiss. Oh Merlin! How was she supposed to handle this situation? He was her sworn enemy, was being the operative word! How could they remain enemies now, were they even supposed to? Oh boy!
