Notes: It seems my muse is trying to come back to me…Yay! Keep your fingers crossed that she comes back full force. :) Here's another chapter, hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it. Thanks for checking my story out, now on with the show…
Disclaimer: I do not own anything and make no monies writing this.
HG-DM HG-DM HG-DM
Chapter 4
After the Sorting Ceremony and Welcoming Feast, Hermione helped to guide the first years to the Tower and settle them in. Harry waited until her duties were done before he pulled Hermione out of the Tower and into an abandoned classroom.
"Harry?" Hermione queried, curious to why he had chosen to pull her into the classroom instead of talking where they were, in the Tower.
"What's going on Hermione?" Harry's voice and expression were full of concern. "Ron returned but you didn't. Where'd you go? What happened? Please tell me."
"Oh, Harry. What did Ronald say?" Hermione asked, wanting to know what she had to work with before saying anything to her best friend, pretty sure he knew nothing.
"He was sullen and only said that the two of you had a row. I'm pretty sure I saw a hand print on his cheek for a moment." Harry told her.
"I see. Well, your eyes weren't playing tricks on you; he did have a hand print on his cheek, my hand print." Hermione explained.
When Harry only cocked a brow at her and tilted his head, she continued, "Okay, let me start at the beginning."
When Harry tilted his head, she continued, "A little first year had asked for my assistance in finding her friends, they had gotten separated and she was too shy to knock on the compartment doors to find them. I helped her and was turning to join you in our compartment when Ron grabbed my arm and dragged me into the luggage car. He…" Hermione started strong but her voice lowered to barely a whisper. Even after telling Draco about what had happened, it was hard to tell Harry.
"He what, Hermione?" Harry demanded, not liking where this conversation was going and his posture stiffen at the thoughts running through his mind.
Hermione looked into his eyes and with a sad sigh continued, "He tried to force himself on me. He told me that if I could be on the arm of Victor Krum then I must be a willing harlot. Honestly, Harry, I have no idea where he got the idea that Victor was anything but a gentleman towards me. I was fourteen for Merlin's sake! Anyway, when I told him I wasn't interested in him that way and tried to leave, he grabbed my wrists and pinned me to the wall." Hermione paused when she saw Harry's look darken.
As she watched the emotions flow over his face, she took his hand and squeezed it. "After telling him that I wasn't interested in him in that way, he squeezed my wrists harder and tried to kiss me. When I turned my face, protesting his actions, Ron tried to press his body into mine. So, I did the only thing I could, I kneed him in the groin and then slapped him when he let go of me and moved away. I told him I wanted nothing to do with him until he learned how to treat a witch and left." She finished.
"I was worried about you when you didn't return with him, now I know why! He won't get away with this Hermione!" Harry informed her through gritted teeth.
"Leave it, Harry. He hasn't even looked at me since then and, honestly, I don't want to give him a reason to look at me or seek me out. If you confront him, he'll think I ran to you and may cause even more trouble. If you leave it alone then maybe he'll leave me alone." Hermione said.
Harry looked at her and could see she was sincere. "For now, Hermione, for now. If he so much as looks at you wrong, I'll have more than words for him, this I promise you!" Harry informed her.
"Fair enough, Harry. Thank you." Hermione responded before hugging him tightly.
Harry hugged her back and then grinned at her.
"What?" Hermione asked, suspicious of the sudden change in attitude.
"Something's different about you." Harry told her, still grinning like a loon.
"What do you mean something's different about me?" Hermione asked, a bit of apprehension in her voice.
"Just that. From the time you boarded the train to now, something has changed. What is it?" Harry inquired.
Hermione studied him intensely for a time before she made up her mind. Silencing the room and locking the door, she took Harry's wand from him and when he looked at her with concern and confusion, she gave him a small smile.
"I want you to hear me out and not go off half-cocked." Hermione explained.
"O-okay, what's this about 'Mione?" Harry slowly asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.
"Well, something did happen on the train, after Ron that is." Hermione hedged, hoping she wasn't making a mistake by telling Harry but he seemed alright; well, as alright as he could be considering his life and what she had just shared with him.
"What happened? Why are you being so hesitant to tell me?" Harry asked.
"Well, it's not exactly a what as it is a who." Hermione clarified.
"So you met someone?" at her nod, Harry continued, "Someone you're not sure I'll be happy about? Unsure enough to take my wand." Hermione could only nod.
"Well, that's a very short list, 'Mione. Really, the only ones I would be unhappy about are mostly in Slytherin. The top ones to come to mind would be ….Zabini…Nott…Malfoy." Harry watched her closely as he listed off the names.
"MALFOY!" Harry yelled. Well, now he understood why she had taken his wand and she was wise to do so! Oh, she had so much explaining to it wasn't even funny!
"No, 'Mione, please tell me it's not Malfoy!" Harry demanded.
Hermione cringed when Harry yelled and was grateful she had cast a silencing charm before she hinted at what she wanted to tell him.
"He's not who you think he is Harry. Please, let me explain first?" Hermione pleaded.
"Fine, but if I don't like what you say then he and I will have words!" Harry told her.
Hermione sighed before she started telling Harry about the train ride. She made sure to not leave any detail out, even telling about the snogging and cuddling. Harry needed to see that Draco had changed and she was taking a chance on him for the right reasons and that Draco had been upfront with her about becoming a DeathEater and his missions. "You can't tell anyone about Draco! I mean it, Harry, no one! He's trusting my judgment where you are concerned. Please, Harry. No one can know."
Harry studied her, noting the sincerity in her eyes and conviction in her voice. Her body language was confident as well. Giving what she shared some considerable thought, he asked, "How can you be so sure Hermione? He could have been playing you!" He really needed to hear her thoughts on this. Depending on what she said would decide what he would do.
"You would understand if you had seen him, Harry. His reaction to what Ron had said and done was concern and anger instead of laughter, snide comments or snarky remarks. His touch was genuine and caring, Harry. He's not the same wizard he was. Getting branded and, I'm sure, being inducted has left their marks on him. Please, before you confront him or judge him, please watch him first. I mean it, Harry. Don't use that stupid map; use your own eyes to see through his charade. You'll see, he's changed and it's only an act. Please, Harry." Hermione
"Fine, for you, I'll just watch him and not tell a soul. BUT, if I don't like what I see, I WILL confront him! I will not have someone like him getting close to you only to have it turn out that he is out to harm you! You're my best friend, Hermione, and I'll have no one taking advantage of your kind soul." Harry told her as he stared into her eyes so she could see his conviction. No one messed with her! She was the only one Harry could truly count on and if she needed his protection, she would have it, asked for or not!
"Thank you. You'll see I'm right, Harry. Remember, absolutely no one can know about our relationship or what Draco has been tasked to do. I mean it, Harry, tell not a soul!" Hermione stated, "Besides, when have you ever known me to fall for anyone's tricks? The twins have even stopped trying to get anything by me anymore!" Hermione said with a smirk.
Harry frowned at her words before a grin spread across his face as an idea took root, worrying Hermione. "What are you thinking, Harry?"
"I'm thinking that the twins should be told what their prat of a brother tried to do." Harry shared.
"No! I don't want anyone else to know, Harry!" Hermione quickly shot down the idea.
"Oh, but they do need to know. They'd be able to prank his sorry arse into next year and no one will think anything of it! It's perfect!" Harry bounced on the balls of his feet as the thought took root.
"Well, since you put it that way…" Hermione trailed off as an equally large grin stretched her lips wide. "But, wait, how will they do that when they're no longer in school?"
"Leave that to them, I'm sure they'll figure out a way. I know Fred and George will want to take a pound of flesh from his hide for you. They like you, Hermione; you're a second sister to them." Harry informed her.
"Fine." Hermione conceded, secretly happy to have the twins take revenge for her, although she was fairly certain that a certain Slytherin would also be taking a pound of flesh from Ron, discretely of course.
With everything settled, at least for now, the two best friends made their way to the Tower and joined in with their dorm mates in telling about their summers and starting a new year.
