I honestly don't even know why it took me so long to update this story. I apologize for keeping you all waiting, and thanks for sticking around with this nut who can't seem to get her life together. I hope you all enjoy this wonderful chapter.
TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND DETERIORATING MENTAL HEALTH
Daphne frantically shook her head, eyes wild and dead all at once.
"They're going to kill me, Granger…"
"Who? Tell me who, and I'll make sure they won't," Hermione said, pulling her up.
They both collapsed on the other side, Daphne a sobbing mess as she clutched Hermione's hand. She shook her head again, eyes connecting with Hermione's.
"I don't want to die, Granger," she suddenly confessed.
Hermione was quiet as she exhaled, briefly closing her eyes. She could see it in Daphne's eyes, the Slytherin was scared and desperate.
"I know," Hermione finally said.
Daphne leaned her head against the railing, inconsolable as Hermione held her hand.
"She tried to jump? Are you serious?"
Hermione shushed Ginny, looking over her shoulder at Daphne's resting figure before pulling the redhead out of the infirmary. As soon as Hermione had gotten Daphne the least bit under control, she'd taken the blonde girl straight to Madam Pomfrey. Against her better judgement, she listened to Daphne and didn't breathe a word to Madam Pomfrey about what really happened. Despite the nurse's protests, Hermione had stayed all night, body trembling with worry.
"Ginny…I know that we said we wouldn't go to Dumbledore, right now, but I feel like that's best," Hermione said.
The younger girl sighed, reluctantly nodding as she leaned against the wall.
"You should've seen her… She looked so…defeated. She'd already decided that she was dead, anyway, and wanted to take her death into her own hands. She's convinced that someone in this school is going to off her…"
Ginny gave Hermione a pointed look, one she did not get…at first. Hermione tilted her head, eyes wide.
"No…" she shook her head "…no, Ginny."
"Who else? Out of every student in this school, who has been spending a lot of time with You-Know-Who? Who has the family, the resources to pull such a thing off? You heard her! He was the first to take the mark, and he apparently took great enjoyment in his initiation," Ginny argued.
"We don't have all of the information! Are you forgetting that? We don't know the whole story. Hell, we don't even know who else in this school has the bloody mark. Just…hold off on the witch hunt, okay?"
"Why are you so adamant on defending him?"
Ginny stepped closer to Hermione, jaw clenched and eyes hard. Hermione resisted the urge to glare at her friend.
"…because, he may be a lot of things, Ginny, but…we're discussing murder, here. That's kind of a serious offense. Do you really think he's capable of that?"
Ginny suddenly sighed, looking away.
"Honestly, I don't know what to think anymore…"
Hermione released a breath that she didn't know she was holding.
"I get it, okay? Believe me, I am just as freaked out as you are. I'm not completely writing him off, just yet, but I want to make sure that she's alright first. One problem at a time," Hermione said.
Ginny nodded, releasing a breath.
"Okay. You stay here with her. I'm going to Dumbledore, right now."
Hermione looked up from her spot beside Daphne's side with wide eyes. Neither one of them said a word as he approached, gently setting the vase of flowers on her bedside table. Their last encounter was still fresh in her mind, the temptation she had felt to just forget everything and throw herself at him, still strong.
"What are you doing here?"
Blaise's dark eyes rested on his housemate before they finally settled on her.
"Even if we all hate each other deep down, us Purebloods do have to keep up the polite pretenses…" he gestured to the flowers "…simply paying my respects."
"You make it sound as if she's dead," Hermione whispered.
"She almost was…from what I've heard…"
Hermione said nothing, silently wondering just what everyone was saying about the Slytherin girl.
"Fortunately…you were there to save her. How lucky…"
He didn't sound as if it was very lucky, at all.
"Are you a Death Eater?"
Hermione gasped, eyes widening further as the words jumped out before she even had time to process them. Nonetheless, she stared at Blaise, waiting for his answer.
"You've seen my arm-."
"…and what exactly does that mean? A genius wouldn't put some form of identification on everyone he recruits. He'd be an idiot," she interrupted.
"Would you believe me if I told you the truth?"
Hermione bit her lip, her silence an answer. Blaise threw up his hands, frustrated.
"Why ask? Hmm? What's the point of asking if you've already convicted me?"
Hermione swallowed, throat becoming incredibly thick all of a sudden. Merlin's beard, when had she turned into such an emotional trollop?
"You're his best friend. I know you knew…"
Blaise didn't respond, simply settling on looking away.
"Tell me what I have to do to fix this?"
"There's nothing to fix. You honestly think that the three of us could ever work? Never mind the way you went about it, which I still haven't forgiven you for, but you actually think that's possible? You're out of your mind…"
"How so? People do it all the time," was his reply.
"Yeah, and I'm willing to bet that those people don't have the kind of history the three of us have. Let's say I do forgive you, or at the very least, give you another chance to make this right… What about Draco? Hmm? Are you forgetting that he's made my schooling here hell or that ever since he found out about us he's made me feel worse than I've ever felt in my life?"
Blaise didn't respond.
"It's…sweet and all that he's finally realizing what that thing in his chest is and that I'm making him feel this way, but…" Hermione shook her head "…He doesn't deserve me. He's done nothing to make me believe that he does. Hell, the weeks leading up to…that night, he was still the same asshole he always is."
Blaise heaved a sigh.
"This…is new to him, Hermione. I'm not going to speak for him, but he really likes you…" Hermione looked away "…He regrets treating you like that."
"…and yet you're the one telling me these things instead of him."
"Hermione-."
"He has the mark, Blaise! He's been spending time with Voldemort, he was the first to take the mark, he took great enjoyment in his initiation, and-."
Hermione cut herself off as she realized what she was saying. She'd gotten so heated that she didn't even realize she was standing now, staring at Blaise with wide eyes as the words spilled out. Blaise stared at her, head tilted and eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"How do you know all of that?"
She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.
"It…doesn't matter."
Blaise stared at her for a long time before his eyes landed on Daphne. Hermione swallowed as his eyes cut back to her, the intensity in them scaring her.
"It's pretty convenient that you happened to be with her when she tried to throw herself off of the tower."
"I went up there to think. You and your sidekick have thrown me for a loop these past few weeks, and I just wanted to clear my head for a while. Convenient isn't the word I'd use…"
"Why was she trying to kill herself?"
"I don't know."
Blaise slowly lifted his head upright, eyes boring into her own before he ran them over her frame at an agonizing pace. His eyes met hers again, and his lips parted in surprise, an amused smirk on his lips as he raised his eyebrows.
"Heh. You're lying," he said, tilting his head to the side, assessing her.
Hermione sat back down, opting to ignore him. She looked away, fixing Daphne's pillows as he walked around the bed, approaching her.
"You know something. You know why she did it," he accused.
"I don't. Even if I did, it's none of your business. She…," Hermione trailed off, eyes lifting to stare at the wall.
A cold chill passed over her, and her hands halted their movements on Daphne's pillow.
As far as Madam Pomfrey knew, Daphne had too much to drink and almost took an accidental tumble to her death. She'd only just told Ginny the truth forty minutes ago. Ginny was the only other person who knew what really happened.
She tensed, eyebrows furrowing as she slowly looked over her shoulder at him.
"How did you know she tried to kill herself?"
A small smirk graced his lips, hands shoved into his pockets as he looked down his nose at Daphne.
"Everyone knows about Daphne's mental health…or lack thereof. Let's just say, this isn't the first time something like this has happened…" he turned to smile at her, something she was sure was supposed to be reassuring "…it wasn't that hard to guess the truth."
It was believable, yes, so why didn't she believe him?
"What? You think I'm lying?"
Hermione looked up at him, really looked at him, and for the first time…she didn't know the answer.
Hermione took great satisfaction in the grunt that left Draco's lips as he landed on his back for the third time in the past hour. They only had two more days to prepare, and she was proud of herself for staying so focused this time…despite the current dilemma that was her life. She looked past Draco and smiled at her friends, throwing them a wink as they gave her a thumbs up.
Upon learning that she was practicing with Draco again today, Ron and Harry decided to use their free time to tag along and watch. She was sure that Ron was simply curious while Harry wanted to keep an eye on Draco, no doubt. She guessed that their presence had something to do with her focus, and she was glad for it. The last time that she and Draco practiced was still fresh in her mind, making her face heat up all over again.
Her eyes were on them as Draco stood, annoyance marring his features as he glanced over his shoulder at the dunce duo. He had to admit that being knocked onto his back again and again by Hermione was…exhilarating, but he would have much preferred it if her sidekicks weren't around. He clutched his wand tightly in his hand.
Hermione stumbled back in shock as a spell landed at her feet, and she glared up at Draco.
"Pay attention. We've got two days left. You've got all the time in the world to grin at your lackeys like a bumbling idiot," he snapped, brushing himself off.
Hermione frowned, offended by that statement.
"Take your own advice. I'm not the one constantly getting knocked onto my back," she threw back, a smile gracing her lips.
Draco smirked.
"…and what a pity that is. It is one of your better angles, after all…"
Hermione gasped, eyes widening just before she flicked her wand, irritation rising when he easily blocked it.
"Don't get sloppy, now," he mocked.
"Sloppy? Me? Yet…you're the one who's always behind me in marks. That's why you never could please daddy, right?"
She watched as his jaw ticked, eyes hardening. She hit a nerve.
"Don't get sloppy, now," she sweetly sneered.
Harry and Ron watched, transfixed as Draco and Hermione threw spells back and forth. Harry was having flashbacks from 2nd year, noting that this duel far surpassed that. As much as anyone hated to admit it, Draco was second best to Hermione for a reason. He was a talented wizard, and talent wasn't something that could be bought. His shoulders eased with the loss of tension, acknowledging that maybe he didn't have anything to worry about with the upcoming duels. Hermione seemed to be holding her own.
"Diffindo!"
Draco did not dodge that one, and he hissed as a large portion of his shirt was slashed, the spell grazing his skin, a decent sized cut appearing. Hermione gasped, eyes widening as she took a step forward, apologetic.
"I'm sorry, I… It just kind of came out. I was expecting you to-."
"If you wanted to get me naked again, all you had to do was ask," Draco laughed.
Hermione scoffed, biting her tongue as she glared at him.
"Don't flatter yourself. It was an accident," she said.
Draco rolled his eyes, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"If you say so," he chuckled.
"It was! I-."
"Aguamenti."
Hermione shrieked as a rather large wave of water knocked her to the ground. She coughed, pushing her soaked hair away from her face as she jumped to her feet.
"Oops," Draco shrugged.
"You did that on purpose," she shrieked, dripping.
Draco chuckled, bringing his thumb up to brush along his bottom lip as he gazed at her.
"You look better when you're wet…"
Hermione flushed, jaw clenching before storming past him.
"We're done for the day."
Her movements were halted when his hand shot out to gently grip her arm, turning her around to face him. She leaned back to look up at him. He glanced over her shoulder at her friends who were watching them with caution and decided against stepping closer.
"It was a joke, Hermione."
"Is that what everything is to you? One big joke?"
Draco suddenly looked unsure, taking a step back, looking away.
"Of course not," he scoffed.
"You could've fooled me. You treat me like a joke. You treat my feelings like a joke…"
Draco's eyes met hers again, a frown settling over his features.
"That's not true," he whispered.
Hermione pursed her lips, looking at him through icy eyes.
"If you say so," she mocked, throwing his own words back at him for the second time that day.
She took a step back, deciding that she'd put up with all that she possibly could from Draco for the time being. He was upon her in two strides, spinning her around just like their first training session, lips descending over her own.
"Oi!"
Her eyes widened in shock, heart thudding beneath her chest. The kiss was short, but dominating nonetheless as he forced her to bend backwards, taking complete control over her mouth. He pulled away from her before she had time to react, staring up at him in shock.
"You're not a joke to me," he said, just before her friends finally reached them.
She felt herself being yanked back, still too shocked to say anything as Harry shoved Draco away, eyes blazing.
"What the hell, Malfoy? What the bloody hell do you think you're playing at?"
Draco grinned, a soft laugh leaving his sinful lips.
"I was just messing around, Potter. Lighten up…"
"You ever touch her like that again, and I'll…"
Harry trailed off as Draco stepped towards him, his face only inches away from Harry's, a dark countenance suddenly taking over. A shadow passed over his eyes, the color of storm clouds, as he glared at her best friend, violent promises swirling within their depths.
"You'll what?"
Harry didn't respond, swallowing, glaring at the Slytherin. A devilish smirk danced along Draco's lips, top lip curling up into a sneer.
"Come on, Harry Potter. Tell me what you are going to do if I touch her like that again," he purred.
"I'll kill you," Harry spat.
Draco smiled, briefly glancing at her.
"You'll kill me? For what? For making your best friend feel like the woman she is?"
"Harry, stop," Hermione finally said as Harry started towards him again.
"How do you know she didn't want me to touch her like that?"
"Malfoy, that's enough…"
"She didn't," Harry said, venom dripping from every word.
Draco smirked again, head tilted.
"How do you know? Did you ask her?"
Ron began to drag her away, calling for Harry to do the same.
Harry's hand clenched around his wand, fire in his eyes as his chest heaved. Draco straightened up, hands clasped behind his back, eyes looking down his nose at Harry.
"You should stick to what you're best at, boy wonder, because intimidation isn't it," he sneered.
Let me know what you think!