Title: Dreams
Summary: Hermione is having strange dreams lately. Foul dreams of Lucius and Voldemort torturing her, but in the darkness shines a light. A light that is called Draco Malfoy. They're just dreams, aren't they? But then why does Draco need her help?
Disclaimer: I just own the plot.
Setting: Book 4 & 5? Didn't happen. Voldemort hasn't become corporeal and started his great war. Let's just say things were postponed. They're now all in their sixth year, and because Voldemort didn't become corporeal, Sirius is still alive, and that means Harry will be slightly different as well.
Draco looked at her for the first time. Really looked at her. It made her feel uncomfortable, and she casted her eyes downwards to avoid his intense stare. It almost seemed like he tried to look right through her, into her very soul. She felt goosebumps starting to appear on her arms.
"What do you need my help for?"
Her voice sounded soft, a bit shaking. She mentally cursed herself for feeling this way. When Draco looked at her she felt naked. Like he could see every thing she thought or wanted. It scared her. What if he really could see right through her? What if he could uncover all the little secrets she tried so hard to hide?
But Draco didn't seem to be interested in that. He was too busy trying to find the solution to his own problems.
"Contrary to what you may think Granger, I have no interest whatsoever in becoming a death-eater. I don't want to bet on the wrong horse as they say. If you ask me, Voldemort is a lost cause. He will never again be as powerful as he was. If only my father would see that..."
He sighed, averting his eyes.
"So you don't want to be a death-eater. Well I'm sure that's great but what do I have to do with that?"
He sighed again, a bit frustrated this time.
"A bit daft Granger? There is only one way to avoid becoming a death-eater, as you should know..."
His voice drawled.
"Befriend a mudblood. But it can't be just any mudblood. It has to be someone who is equal to me in some way. And, as much as I hate to admit it, you are rather smart for a muggleborn."
Hermione laughed out loud, the sound of it being reverberated by the tiled walls of the bathroom. Draco, who had been expecting anything but this, cockily pulled up one eyebrow.
"What?"
He demanded to know.
"You can't just be friends because some book says you have to. It doesn't work that way. And honestly...you're not as smart as I thought you were if you think I'll even consider being friends with someone who calls me a mudblood all the time."
"Look...Granger"
"Or calls me by my last name"
She calmly stated, noticing how frustrated he seemed to get.
"We have to be friends. There is no other way! You need to help me find a solution. Only together shall you find. It said so in the book!"
Hermione stood up, stretching her cold body.
"The only thing we "have to" is to get to class..."
As she was about to open the door his voice startled her. It wasn't so much how he spoke, rather what he said. He spoke her name.
"Hermione..."
The pleading tone needed no further addition.
"I'll think about it."
The following days there seemed to originate a truce between them. They didn't speak, but their looks lacked the hatred there had always existed. He refrained of calling her mudblood and she stopped raging about his stupid air of superiority to her friends.
Hermione stared at the ceiling. She still wasn't sure what to do. Should she give Draco a chance? Was he worth that risk?
She had to admit, the idea of befriending a wizard as smart as her seemed appealing. Think of all the great things they could achieve together! Wouldn't it be a shame, as much as it was a danger, if he became a death-eater?
She felt how sleep was overtaking her and decided she would think about it more the next morning.
"Bring me the mudblood"
Her heart stopped beating for a few seconds. This wasn't supposed to be happening! She was supposed to help Draco!
Draco.
Where was he? Would he be safe? Would he have escaped? She should have told him! Maybe then...
Lucius picked her up by her hair like she didn't weigh a thing. She tried hard not to cry. Whatever there was going to happen, she wouldn't show them her weakness.
When the Dark Lords' cold finger slid alongside her neck, she couldn't suppress a shudder.
"She isn't ready yet...she is still too weak."
"Should we crucio her some more oh Dark One?"
Lucius' voice sounded eager.
"Yes...get the boy. She will be his first victim."
Draco. They were talking about Draco, her foggy brain registered. So it had happened. He had become a death-eater. If only she had told him sooner! Why couldn't she have realised it before?
She felt his hand stroking her cheek.
"Hello"
His voice whispered, but it didn't sound as cold and cruel as his fathers' voice had sounded. His thumb slid across her lips while his eyes caught hers.
"Trust me"
He whispered softly.
"Trust me like I trust you. Things will be alright."
She did. She trusted him. But she couldn't tell him, so she just nodded a little. He smiled a bit, pressing his lips lightly to her forehead before stepping back and pointing his wand at her.
Review please!