Hey Y'all!
I know it's been a while since I've updated this story but I'm feeling really inspired to write right now so I finally got this done! this chapter has been on my mind for a while and I just couldn't figure out how to make Draco's character believable so I just said "frick it" and wrote with out that mindset so Draco might be a bit OOC but I still think he's written well.
This is unbeta'd so all mistakes are mine.
Also as a result of my urge to write, I have written an entire Horror movie plot in like two hours last night so I'm really excited about that!
Hope y'all enjoy!
Granger was silent as Draco guided her to their next class, Care of Magical creatures. The Weasel had been annoyingly silent the whole day, not once coming to Potter's defense like everyone expected, instead he would glare at the back of Granger's head as she speculated about the Golden Boy's disappearance. So his explosion in the hallway, while unexpected, was seemingly inevitable to him. Yet he could tell that the outburst had hurt Granger immensely.
Draco Malfoy, while he held himself higher than others, was no fool in reading others emotions. He had to learn it with his father and mother, knowing when to play the upstart and when to play the dedicated son. "You're rather quiet."
"Well you're rather cold." Granger snapped back, but the words lacked the usual bite.
"Hmm, I suppose that's true. But that's not why you're quiet." Stepping in front of her, he stared her down, knowing that the Gryffindor wouldn't hesitate to rise to the bait.
"You haven't been exactly chatty either. I believe this is the longest you've gone without calling me a mudblood." She spat the name as she pushed past him, and Draco had to admit it hurt. Of course he had been a terrible git to her since she got to Hogwarts, something that in his first and second years could be excused by his rather sheltered upbringing. But something had changed in their second year, when he found out that his father had given the diary to the littlest weasel. No matter what he believed about his pure blood status, the unnecessary killing of anyone was enough to turn his stomach. Since then, he had been trying to change although his success depended on who one asked.
"Iwouldliketoofferanapologyforthat." He said quickly, hoping the girl would've missed it but without luck. The brown haired girl stopped and turned back around slowly, clearly unsure about this turn of events.
"What?"
"Don't make me say it again Granger, it hurt too much the first time." He droned.
"I find it hard to believe that you're apologizing, especially now of all times."
"I guess I deserve that," He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, messing up the normally perfectly gelled visage. "But I want you to know that I have decided to stop following my father's example." Granger pursed her lips in thought but didn't interrupt him. "I realized back at the end of second year that something was wrong with what he was telling me. Muggle borns weren't really corrupting us, you were just given a blessing at birth. It's taking me a long time to actually go through with the change because Potter has always been there as your protector, a light for you to rally behind. And now that he's gone, he isn't there to protect everyone."
"Is that why you turned in your Inquisitor badge?" Of course she'd bring that back up.
"Yes, and the fact that the witch is completely mental. Did you know she talks to her pictures?" Hermione gave him a look, and for a moment he forgot about how different her upbringing was and that pictures move. "No, I mean she has stationary pictures, one of the minister and she talks to it, as if the picture gives her her powers and not the actual minister."
"That would explain a lot. No doubt the real Minister would be appalled at least a few of her educational decrees." Their laughs settled into an awkward silence, Hermione could tell that Draco wanted to say something but knew the blond well enough that he would speak when he wanted to.
As they continued to Hagrid's hut, Draco thought about the recent happenings in the castle. Of course, one had to be constantly vigilant (a reminder from their Death Eater teacher the year before) in a place filled with as much magic as Hogwarts, but all of the excitement the last few years have been a rather large distraction from it's beauty. Yet Draco had noticed the differences as Umbridge's magic entered the building. The hallways were quiter, not nearly as much gossip flittered off the walls, the staircases moved slower, and even Peeves had taken a dower mood with his pranks, not quite able to muster his full amounts of jovial laughter when he was spotted fleeing his latest disaster. It was like the woman had put a damper on the castle, and Draco hated it.
However he did notice the castle come alive where ever Potter was. Like Hogwarts was placing bets that the boy who had been saving it year after year would pull through once again. Heck that was probably why the Trio wouldn't notice the sour mood of the castle because they were always around Potter.
"Do you think he's still in Hogwarts?" His voice was soft, no longer reverbating through the hallways as they stepped into the courtyard. Granger sighed and spared a look back up at the castle.
"I don't think there would be another place for her to hide him."
"Her?" It took Draco a moment to catch up with that statement. "You think Umbitch is stashing Potter somewhere?"
"Yes." The girls voice was filled with so much conviction and pain that Draco would have been a fool not to believe her. Or at least be reasonably swayed to listen to her explanation. "Harry would never leave Hogwarts, not on his own. He's not terribly fond of the muggle world." Draco could tell there was more to that but the venom in Granger's whole body told him that now would not be the best time to ask about it. "So the only reason he wouldn't be showing up would be if someone was preventing him from it. And as she's the only one capable of that kind of magic," there was a pointed look at himself, which Draco almost protested before figuring Potter would probably have escaped anything that he or the other Slytherins might have done to him due to some unknown source of luck that seemed to follow the teen around, "it's only reasonable to assume that it was her."
"Only reasonable."
A raised eyebrow was all he received in response.
Care of Magical Creatures wasn't quite as boisterous as Hagrid normally taught, the news that Potter had disappeared had greatly disturbed the half-giant. Weasley also didn't show up until the students had made their way back to the castle. Draco immediately noticed the badge on the boys chest, the same one he had worn since the creation of the Inquisitorial squad, and waas barely able to wipe the lock of astonishment off his face before Weasley noticed.
In an effort to prove that he was trying to change, Draco had partnered with Granger during class, also in part because his own housemates were upset with him for giving up the badge, making him the only Slytherin without it. He didn't mind too much, it showed that he was the only Slytherin with brain cells. But still, he couldn't deny the pang of hurt when his house shut him out.
Hermione was actually a brilliant witch, if a bit too concerned with what the books say, so interacting with the creature of the class wasn't her strong suit. Draco had tried to show her that she needed to read the creature and not the chapter, but the girl simply couldn't grasp it. They'd have to work on that.
"Hermione! What are you doing with Malfoy?" the red head's temper blew at the sight of his friend with his hated enemy, or at least thats how Draco wished to see himself in comparison to the Weasel. He might not agree with his father on muggle borns, but the Weasley's have a lot of nerve acting entitled as they do, except the twins and the two oldest. They actually realized that they needed to work in this world to make a reputation for themselves. The rest of the red headed family however, they tended to name drop like no tomorrow, which only got worse when Harry became friends with Ron.
"Malfoy was my partner in class Ron." She pulled him closer to lower her voice. "He agrees with me that Harry didn't just leave Hogwarts."
"He's a slytherin! They're known for cunning and undermining people!" Pushing Granger behind him, he stood up to the blond, a much more impressive feat since he grew in the last few years so that he stood over Draco. "I bet you're just trying to found out where he went so that you can turn him in yourself!"
"If you are so concerned about Potter, why would you join a group whose trying to hunt him!" Granger released a small gasp as she placed the badge on her friends chest.
"You joined the Inquisitorial Squad?" the soft words penetrated the two males argument. Weasley turned shyly to face his friend who had backed away from him at the revelation.
"I thought it was a good idea!"
"What? Joining forces with the woman who made Harry's life a living hell?" Tears pooled in her eyes and Draco felt the strange need to comfort the girl, to pull her away from Weasley. "You know what she did to him! You told him you wanted the woman out of the school!"
"I know what I said." Ron growled. Lunging forward he grabbed Granger by the arms pulling her closer despite her struggles. "I said that so that you would see that I care! God, it has been so infuriating watching the two of you, sending each other worried glances. And walking in on you two the other night! How could you betray me like that, my own friends?"
"Betray you? But we never-"
"Four years Hermione! It's been four years and you never noticed me, never once held me like you did him. And when I asked you to the Yule Ball, you denied me! For Krum! A guy you knew for maybe a month and you went with him over one of your best friends!"
Draco wasn't exactly sure where this out burst was coming from. None of Hermione romantic choices were even close to the subject of Harry disappearing. And as much as the red head was known for his fiery temper, it generally wasn't as sporadic as this one. Glancing at the brunette, he noticed that she was crying now, and her arms were probably bruising beneath Weasel's hands.
"Now you've gone and run to Malfoy! What, all the other rich boys left you so you run for that greasy git? Have you forgotten the years he's been tormenting us, hell, he's been calling you a bloody mudblood since-"
"MR. WEASLEY!" All three of them had turned at the sound of the strict Scottish voice. Professor McGonagal had stormed into the court yard, where admittedly a rather large crowd had gathered to watch the argument. And to think earlier Draco had considered himself rather good at acknowledging his surroundings. "What in the name of Merlin do you think you are doing?"
Weasley barely seemed to notice the professor's entrance however as he was still shaking Granger harshly, the reprimand simply made him lower his voice. Draco finally stepped in, the shock of Weasel's behavior had finally been broken, like a spell had been in place until McGonagal had broken it.
Pulling Granger away, he hid the girl behind him as Ron turned his attention on him, fortunately the transfiguration teacher had stepped in at that point, leading the exploding teen away with an over the shoulder remark to take Granger to the hospital wing for a Calming Drought.
Turning his attention back to the trembling girl behind him, Draco was shocked when he felt her arms wrap around him drawing him into a hug. Unsure of what to do he awkwardly placed his hands around her shoulders, to unpracticed to really know how to give a hug.
A few minutes later, the girls sobs tampered down. Granger pulled away slightly, leaving enough room between them to wipe her eyes.
Looking over the Gryffindor, Draco noticed that her uniform sleeve had ripped as a result of Weasley's rough grip.
"Thank you Draco."
The broken voice startled him. "Of course Granger, but if I may ask, why are you thanking me?"
"For letting me hug you. And ruin your robes." there was a small smirk with that statement.
"No harm done." He cast a simple freshening charm on himself, inwardly proud that he could earn a chuckle from the girl. "Now lets get you to the Hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey should really look at your arms."
He began walking hoping Granger would follow him but a few steps later he realized that she hadn't moved.
"Granger?" he turned to find the brunette staring with vacant eyes, however the tears that had freshly dried had poured back over. Suddenly her eyes rolled back in hher head and she would've hit the ground had Draco not lunged for her, glad he hadn't gotten that far as he caught her from falling to the stones. "Granger, hey, hey, wake up." he softly patted her cheek, ignoring the pain of a scraped knee in the process. "Granger come on, Hermione!" He yelled as the smaller teen jerked in his arms before knifejacking up wards, his reflexes the only thing saving him from adding a broken nose to his list of injuries.
"Granger what was that about?" Hermione was panting harshly, hand on her chest while the other had grasped for his hand, and because she was obviously going through something he was going to allow it.
"She's hurting him!" she gasped, eyes wild and Draco had to hold her as she tried to stand on uncoordinated limbs.
"Who?"
"Umbridge! She has him!" Draco was sure that if he wasn't just thrown through an emotional roller coaster trying to make sure that Granger wouldn't bash her head in on the stones that he would have made the connection before the name fell in a sob from Granger's lips.
"Harry."
I so enjoy my cliff hangers in this story cause they're actually good!
Sooo I know that the end doesn't make too much sense but it well as soon as the next chapter, when ever it is finished is up!
Please leave a review! I love to read them!
