Disclaimer: All characters belong to the one and only JK Rowling. Thank you for creating this amazing universe.
Draco Malfoy thought he would never be able to forget her screams. That piercing sound was ripping his heart apart. She was screaming, again and again... and again... She was being tortured right in front of his eyes. Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of their age. Intelligent, strong, determined, brave, loyal. Both unique and beautiful in her own way.
"Please... We didn't take anything!"
"LIAR! CRUCIO!"
A red light along with a scream pierced the air.
Hermione was shaking violetly, tears and blood pouring down her face. However, she wouldn't give up, not so easily. She lifted her head proudly, she was a Gryffindor after all.
He wanted to look away, he couldn't stand seeing her like that. He turned his face away only to feel a pair of amber eyes staring at him. His gaze inevitably met hers, and suddenly, he saw all these memories from the very beginning through her eyes.
First year
He couldn't understand. Why did he have to go to Hogwarts? Father had said Durmnstrang was better, but his mother had wanted him to be close to home.
Songs, happiness, laughs. He didn't feel like belonging here. It was better to be repressed, that's what his father had taught him.
"Hermione Granger!"
He watched as the bushy haired girl wore the sorting hat.
"Slytherin, slytherin", he hoped. He didn't know why, but he felt like she had something interesting, something out of the ordinary.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the sorting hat screamed.
A few minutes after her sorting, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were sitting beside her.
She looked so amazed by her surroundings that Draco was sure she was a muggleborn. He huffed and made a silent agreement with himself to stay away from her.
Second Year
News spread like wildfire at Hogwarts, that was a fact.
"Hermione Granger has been petrified!"
Everyone was talking about it, casting worried glances.
Draco eventually found out. At first, he didn't know how to feel. Should he be happy and laugh because another mudblood, according to his father, was out of the way? Or should he be worried about her?
"Worried about her?" he laughed silently but deep down, he couldn't help but feel even the slightest guilt about it.
Third Year
"YOU FOUL, LOATHSOME, EVIL LITTLE COCKROACH!"
Hermione was particularly screaming, walking towards him in an aggressive way, her eyes sparkling dangerously.
He had never seen her like this. If looks could kill, he would probably be dead.
She pointed her wand straight at his neck, just below his jaw. Why was he so scared of her?
"Hermione, no! He's not worth it!" Weasley said and for once in his life Draco agreed with him.
The girl lowered her wand. Draco laughed, he knew she couldn't hurt him. Or at least that was what he thought.
SMACK!
Hermione's punch connected with his nose. He didn't realize what had happened until he felt blood pouring down his face.
Yes, Draco Malfoy got punched in the face.
He finally understood what humiliation was really like. He couldn't face her. Noone had never stood up to him like this. The one and only thing that came into his mind was running away. He ran away because deep down, he knew he deserved the punch.
Fourth Year
The Yule Ball. Why was everyone awaiting for this day like it's something special?
Draco was used to having elegant parties packed of people back at home. However, he did anything but enjoy them. He just pretended to. With his father's stern look following him everywhere he didn't have a choice.
Taking Pansy Parkinson to the Yule Ball proved to be a huge mistake. She was clinging to him the whole time, bubbling about nonsense.
Draco thought the night was anything but special, until he spotted a girl wearing a lovely blue dress walking down the stairs. Her curly yet tamed brown hair were twisted up into an elegant knot. She was so beautiful that his eyes unconsciously drifted to her. She didn't demand for attention, but since someone laid his eyes on her he couldn't look away.
"Who is she?" that was all he thought.
The realization eventually hit him.
"Granger?" he muttered under his breath.
Even Draco couldn't find an insult to throw at her.
Hermione's bright smile drove him crazy, even though he wouldn't admit it. Unfortunately, her happiness wouldn't last for long.
"You ruined everything, Ron!" he heard her saying in a broken voice.
Weasley just grimaced and walked away. She was left alone sitting on the stairs, both sad and angry tears running down her face.
When Pansy started flirting with Blaise, he grabbed the chance and walked towards her.
"Well, if it isn't Granger-"
"Go away, Malfoy"
She really wasn't in the mood to argue with him. He ignored her comment.
"It's not worth crying because of Weasel, you know"
Why did say that?
Hermione looked at him surprised. Draco was about to turn his back at her, ready to leave, but instead he let his eyes wander all over her.
"Not too bad for a mud- muggleborn"
The girl seemed to catch the well-hidden compliment behind these words. She noticed the change in his vocabulary and gave him a small smile.
"Not too bad for a ferret", she said, her tears long gone.
Draco chuckled, turned on his heel and left.
Fifth Year
The congested quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin finally arrived. All students gathered at the Great Hall, chatting and guessing which house would win.
Well, all students apart from two.
Draco was practicing for the game at the Quidditch Field. He couldn't risk losing from Harry Potter. Again. However, his teammates didn't seem to worry as much as him, they were still sitting along with the others at the Great Hall.
Stay focused Malfoy, stay focused.
That until he caught a glimpse of Hermione's trademark brown hair at the stands.
"HEY GRANGER! COMING TO SEE ME BEATING YOUR GOLDEN BOY?" he shouted.
Hermione closed her book with such frustration that even Draco could hear the sound.
The boy lowered himself until his broom was at the same height as Hermione.
"Harry is going to win as usual, Malfoy", she said, her face blushing furiously.
"Don't be so sure" he said smirking.
"Watching your practice, I am sure indeed"
Draco's pale cheeks tinked pink. Her tone, however, had something...teasing?
"Good luck, Malfoy. You'll need it"
Had she just wished him good luck? And had he just winked her?
Sixth Year
Everything changed that year. He had received the mark. His life would be predefined. It had always been.
He leaned on the bathroom sink, his once sleeked hair now a mess. His mind foggy, so many thoughts inside that it could explode. He looked at the person staring back at him in the mirror. He was a monster. That was all he would do for the rest of his life? Execute tasks for the Dark Lord?
He couldn't stand even his own self.His breath became hitched and his chest was rising up and down rapidly.
"Malfoy?"
He knew whose voice it was. It was so soft, so calm yet full of concern. Granger's voice.
"Go away Granger", he repeated her words back at the Yule Ball.
"Are you...are you okay Draco?"
She said his name. Draco. It sounded so pure in her lips. Like the person behind this name was someone good, someone worth caring for.
"Look at me"
He didn't want her to see him in such a weak state. However, when she put her small hands on each side of his face, he couldn't help but face her. How could a person like her worry about a person like him?
"Draco... Let me help you"
And then it was when he broke. Each shattered piece of his was full of emotions, so many emotions. He was tired of hiding them, it was pointless.
He put his hands atop of hers, squeezing them softy. He slowly sunk them both to the floor.
Hermione stroked his hair gently, as if he were a little child. And Draco cried in the crook of her neck. They didn't know how long they had stayed in that position. It seemed like an eternity.
"I don't want to be like them, I don't want to", he choked.
"The mark doesn't define you, Draco. You're more than this, so much more", he heard Hermione whispering.
And then he kissed her. He felt Hermione gasp against his lips, but she eventually kissed him back. It was so pure, so true, yet seemed like a dream. A dream that could help them escape from the raging reality.
After a while, Draco abruptly pulled back. What had he just done?
"Noone can help me...Hermione", he said before leaving her alone in the bathroom.
End of sixth year
Thick clouds gathered in the morning sky, making the atmosphere even more melancholic.
Draco held his suitcase tightly. Noone was in the corridors expect for him. It was too early, after all. However, steps could be heard and suddenly, Granger was in front of him.
"What are you doing here that early?" he asked, trying to keep his gaze fixed on the sky.
"I could ask the same for you"
A pregnant silence fell.
"I asked you first", Draco said still looking at the sky.
Hermione gave in.
"Memorizing the castle. I'll miss it", she replied simply.
Draco's brows knotted together expressing confusion. Hermione saw his grimace.
"I won't return for the seventh year"
Draco finally turned to look at her.
"Ah I see. It's Potter isn't it? He's scared and wants to run away-"
"Don't you dare talk like that about Harry!"
Somehow she had managed to back him up against the wall. They were barely inches apart. Hermione blushed crimson, but refused to break the eye contact.
All of a sudden, Draco grabbed her by the shoulders, and put one hand on each side of the wall where he had been pinned seconds ago.
His motion was a desperate one, indicating the phrase "don't go". He could see the harmony in her eyes, both the fire and the sun. A unique sparkle he had seen in no other gaze.
Without warning, he captured his lips with hers in a passionate kiss. He ran his fingers through the wild combs of her hair, bringing her closer to him, while Hermione threw her hands around his neck. That kiss was different from their first one. It reflected their hidden feelings, setting them free.
"When all this shit is over, I'll find you. And then, I'm going to tell you all the things I can't right now", he said, leaning his forehead against hers.
"Promise me that you'll be careful", she said out of breath, lost in the silver heaven of his eyes.
"Promise me that you won't be caught. I know it's a secret little mission or something like this. You're the only hope of these two idiots"
The brunette cracked a small smile.
"I'll miss you, you know", she whispered, her lips inches away from his.
Draco carefully studied her features, tucking a brown curl behind her ear.
"I'll miss you too, Granger", he said. "More than you'll ever know". His voice was barely a whisper, but it was loud enough for her to hear it. It was meant just for her, after all.
Hermione Granger was in loss of words for the first time in her entire life. A few minutes later, the corridor was packed with students. She watched the platinum-haired boy disappear into the crowd, wondering if she would see him again.
The realization hit him. He had fallen in love with Hermione Granger. He had been in love with her all these years, yet his selfish ego wouldn't let him admit it.
He saw Hermione's form twisting on the floor, her body couldn't bear so much pain.
"Let's see if that will loosen your tongue, girl!" Bellatrix laughed evilly.
She threw herself on the young witch, holding a small yet sharp silver knife. Hermione had no more tears, they could not describe the pain she was going through.
Draco looked at his mother and noticed she had been looking at him as well. He realized that he was holding his wand so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
Hermione's screams died out.
Did she kill her? No, please no...
The sight he came across with would scar him for the rest of his life. Hermione Granger's numb body lying on the floor, helplessly bleeding.
What is curved on her arm?
Mudblood. The red, angry letters stared back at him. But Hermione didn't do so. Her eyes were empty, showing the utmost kind of pain.
Damn, where is Potter and Weasley?
As to answer his question, Pettigrew burst into the room.
"They escaped!"
"THEY WHAT?" Bellatrix shouted. She turned into a complete psychopath, murmuring about how the Dark Lord would not be pleased at all.
Draco, on the other hand, had made his decision. That night in the bathroom, Hermione had saved his life without even knowing it. Without her, he would have been driven insane. Now he was going to save her. He looked one last time at his parents. His mother shook her head acknowledgedly.
How had she understood him?
"A mother always knows", Narcissa whispered.
More determined than ever, Draco jumped in front of Hermione.
"STUPEFY!" he shouted, aiming his wand at Bellatrix. The witch was immediately sent flying backwards.
Draco held Hermione close to him, while trying to apparate. He knew the wards couldn't be broken, but right now a miracle was his only hope.
"Somewhere safe, somewhere safe...", he repeated these words through his mind.
And suddenly, a loud bang could be heard, taking both teenagers away from Malfoy Manor.
"The wards are broken", Lucius stated, a slight tone of amusement in his tone. He secretly felt proud of his son. He felt proud that Draco wouldn't become the person he was.
I was planning to make it a one-shot but I changed my mind. Chapter 2 coming soon! I always appreciate reviews, so please leave one!