FIFTY
Saturday, 6 December 1944
Draco had emerged from the Room of Requirement well after dinner on Saturday night. He didn't even bother stopping by the kitchens as he wasn't sure he would be able to keep anything down and he was uninterested in getting his strength back. He had just wanted to collapse in his bed and hopefully never wake up. Whether it was real or not, Hermione never came looking for him and he wondered if she had even made it to the village.
He paused outside the library, staring up at the massive doors. He had always been a natural Occlumens and had developed quite the talent for Legilimency under his aunt's tutelage. He had ready every book that he could get his hands on on the subject so that he could learn faster and endure his punishments for slipping up less. But the books never dove into other subjects of the mind, particularly the skills that Riddle had developed for projecting hallucinations. As far as he knew, it was just sifting through thoughts or keeping someone out.
Riddle would have had to learn it from somewhere and the Hogwarts library was a good a place as any to start. If he was lucky, he might even be able to find a way to determine what was real and what wasn't in his mind. Without a moment to overthink, he unlocked the doors with a wave of his wand and stepped inside.
He hadn't made it past three aisles before he heard something like a chair falling over followed by an all too familiar gasp and a slur of curses. He picked up his pace and turned the corner to the main gathering of tables in the center of the stacks. Hermione was picking up a chair and roughly shoving it back under a table, a scowl on her face. What really drew his attention was that the four tables surrounding her were covered in books. Each table was about three layers deep and every book was open. There was even another table littered with parchment, ink, and quills for her notes. Her hair was pulled back into a lazy bun and she was muttering under her breath as she bounced from table to table like a madwoman.
"Hermione?"
She nearly jumped out of her skin as she whirled around to see him. She placed a hand over her heart and swallowed hard before giving him a light smile. "What time is it?" she asked, turning to find the nearest window. She looked at him again, her face in a state of shock. "Oh gods, I missed Hogsmeade. I'm so sorry."
He only gave her a dazed nod and watched for any signs on guilt on her face. When she turned away again, he let his eyes flicker around the tables. "Kalista said you were on your way, but that you forgot something and came back to the castle."
She nodded and bent over the desk with her notes, scribbling something down. "I'm really sorry, Draco. I didn't mean to stand you up. I just had an epiphany and I-" She glanced nervously around at the tables, her cheeks turning red. "I got carried away."
"I see that."
"Just let me…" she trailed off as she made a few last notes and then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."
He held her gaze for a moment and then turned away, not really interested in learning just what she was sorry for. "It's late. We should head back to the dorms."
She nodded and he helped her clean up, taking mental notes about the books in front of him. There were an array of topics. Some of them were what drew him in here as they went over the capabilities of the mind. Most of them were about time travel and artifacts both dark and light in nature. Some were even on transcendence of magic from one generation to the next.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked as she sent the books back to their shelves with a flick of her wand.
"I'm on the right track," she said, holding out the last book for him to take. "I also found this. Read it tomorrow and we can start trying your Patronus lesson tomorrow night," she said, looking at him for only a split second before looking away.
"Hermione-"
"The sooner the better. We can use the Room of Requirement after dinner and we'll practice every night until-"
"Hermione, it's not going to work."
"You don't know that until you try," she said, packing up her notes.
"I do know that. You're not the only one that reads, you know. It's a complicated spell without Dark magic weighing on your core."
"I know that," she snapped. "But you could at least try."
He wanted to argue, but he wanted to get out of here as well. The longer he saw her standing before him in the same dress that had been bunched around her waist a few hours ago, the quicker his anger was returning. He was far too tired and depleted for a confrontation. "Fine. I'll read the bloody book. Can we go now?" he asked, snatching it from her hands.
She said nothing as she gathered her things and they walked side-by-side through the darkened castle towards the dungeons. They both paused at the split of the dorms, neither one of them making a move to bid the other goodnight. At last, she looked up at him, her eyes glassy and filled with guilt. He said nothing as his grip tightened on the book at his side and turned away, heading for his dorm without a word.
Tuesday, 9 December 1944
He had spent the majority of Sunday in his dorm reading the damn book on the Patronus charm. He only emerged for dinner where he joined Hermione at the end of the Slytherin table. Afterwards, they went to the Room of Requirement and proceeded to practice. They had done so the following night as well, and Tuesday was no different.
After countless hours, Draco was ready to either snap his wand or Hermione in half. Both of them were frustrating him beyond belief. "Come on, Draco. The memories have to be happy. I know you didn't have the greatest life when Voldemort returned, but what about before?"
"I've tried everything, Granger," he snapped back, reverting her to surname with his growing frustration.
"What have you thought about?" she asked.
"That's awfully personal."
"And losing my virginity to you wasn't?" she quipped, her arms folding over her chest.
He turned away from her as he carded a hand through his hair and began to pace. He had been using memories of his childhood; all of them before Hogwarts. Before her. He recalled the first time he had displayed magic and the rewards his parents had showered upon him. His first broom and the way he felt soaring through the air over the grounds at the Manor.
He knew what his problem was. It was that, for every bit as happy as those memories were, they really didn't compare to the ones he had created here with her. The past few days he had been in her presence he had shut his mind off of all things Hermione in effort to block out what he may or may not have imagined on Saturday.
"This was a waste of time."
"One more," she urged, reaching out to lay a hand on his forearm, her fingers splaying atop his mark beneath his sleeve. "Please?"
He huffed in annoyance and moved away from her touch. He took his stance and raised his hand in front of him. He closed his eyes and let himself dig deep. He sifted through his memories, searching for the one he knew would work above all others. He forced all the rest of his feelings away she he could concentrated on the way she looked that first night. With her hair looking like actual wildfire as she burned him to the core while she straddled his lap and gave himself to her. The way she called his name and drew him in, forever fusing themselves together.
He heard her gasp and when he opened his eyes there was a silvery stream protruding from the tip of his wand. It was translucent and watery, but it was there. It lasted for only a few seconds, but time seemed to stretch as his heart swelled with pride. He looked down at her when the light disappeared and found that her eyes were glassy with pride as well.
Before he knew it, he had drawn her to him, his lips descending over hers. She clung to him and matched his movements without hesitation. Her lips parted the moment his tongue slipped across the seam of her lips and they sighed in unison as their tasted one another, completely drunk on the happiness of his success.
She was the first to pull away, her cheek resting against his as they both panted for air. "I knew you could do it, Draco."
"I love you," he said, tightening his hold on her.
She tensed for a moment and then squeezed him back. "I love you too."
When he did pull away, the happiness of the moment had dissipated, giving way to the awkward tension that had settled over them since Saturday. "Who knew Light magic could be so draining?"
She cracked a small smile, but refused to meet his gaze. "We can try again tomorrow. You should get some rest," she said, moving to gather her things.
"We're not staying here?" he asked.
She hesitated before shaking her head. "No, I really want to look at a few more texts in the library. You go on to bed and I'll see you in the morning before breakfast."
He reached for her hand to pull her back, using his other hand to tilt up her chin and stare into her eyes. There were so many things swirling around in those chocolate depths; none of it discernable. "I'll go with you. You need rest too, so this way I'll ensure you don't fall asleep at the table."
She bit at her lip nervously, but acquiesced and led him out of the Room of Requirement and down the stairs to the library. It was after curfew, so neither of them spoke as he followed her from stack to stack as she searched for the right section. As time wore on, he could tell she was getting antsy and he saw her look over her shoulder with worry more than once. Just as he was getting ready to ask what had her so on edge, a figure came into view from the main aisle.
"Curfew started over an hour ago."
Draco turned his attention to Riddle as Hermione tried to hide the fact that she jumped. "This isn't the first time we've snuck out," he said curtly, his anger rising at the way Riddle's gaze flickered to him and then turned dangerously on Hermione. It didn't sit well with him to see the look that washed over her face; one equally split between fear and panic.
"I suggest you head back to the dorms before I am forced to take points from my own house."
Draco reached for Hermione's hand and tugged after lacing their fingers together. "We were just leaving," he said, pulling Hermione through the stacks. When they reached the common room, he finally stopped and let go of her, looking over her from head-to-toe. He let his mind wander to the dark recesses of his mind, wondering if she hadn't been trying to get rid of him to meet up with Riddle at the library. Was that why he had been so angry to see them there?
"Goodnight," she said, dropping a hasty kiss on his cheek before disappearing down the corridor towards her dorm in a flash.
He grit his teeth and turned on his heel towards his own dorm. It was time to confront her; he just had to figure out the best way to go about it without lashing out.
Wednesday, 10 December 1944
Wednesday during their break after Transfiguration had set his need for action into formulating a plan. He had been staring at her across the space of the table and was thinking of asking her; just blurting out the question and seeing where it led them. Instead, he chose the least confrontational method and slipped into her mind. He took it slow and steady, not wanting to alert her to his presence.
He didn't have to poke around for too long before stumbling across a scene of her in the library. He wondered if she was currently thinking about this instance as it would explain why he had found it so quickly. It took him a moment to realize what it was that he was seeing and even less time for his anger to spike before she slammed up her mental defenses and shoved him out with an audible grunt.
They glared at one another from across the table, the same one he had seen Riddle bending her over in the glimpse of her memory. If he recalled correctly, she had been wearing the same outfit Monday night and wondered if she had snuck back out of the dorms after they returned from their late night teaching session in the Room of Requirement.
"What are you doing?" she asked, panic heavy in her voice.
"Testing a theory," he replied bitterly.
She continued to stare at him, her eyes calculating his mood, clearly wondering if he had seen anything. "Well I would prefer if you found another test subject," she said, shoving her things into her bag carelessly.
"Got something to hide?"
She stilled for just a second, but he saw it. She stood up, the scraping sound of her chair drawing attention from those around them. "I'm just tired of-" she stopped short and cast her eyes down. "I'll see you in Charms," she said, taking her leave.
When she was gone, he reached into his bag and tapped his fingers on the book he had taken from her; the one she hadn't used to communicate with him in a long time. He made up his mind then. He was going to use it to contact Riddle and have him meet somewhere under the guise he was Hermione. And since she was better at sneaking around than he had given her credit for, he had to figure out a way to keep her in her dorm.
The opportunity presented itself later that day in Potions. In needing a few additional ingredients, Draco found himself alone in the supply closet. From having helped Snape a time or two in here, he knew there were always a few vials of ready-made potions. He perused the shelf, glad to find them in the same spot, and snagged a Dreamless Sleep vial.
Feeling only slightly guilty for slipping it to her later that night in the common room under the guise of it being a glass of water, Draco carried her to her dorm when she began to nod off on the couch. He slipped inside her wards and laid her down on her bed. He brushed the hair out of her face and then traced the outline of her jaw with a knuckle.
"I have to know," he whispered.
He had only stayed a few moments longer before taking his leave and disappearing to his own dorm. When curfew approached, he took out her book and dipped his quill into the ink.
What time tonight? he wrote.
It wasn't long before the book began to warm and Riddle's response began to take shape on the page. Draco glanced at his own book, feeling a surge of anger as it remained blank and cool to the touch.
Library. Midnight.
Draco didn't bother to respond as he closed the books and stared at them, his heart sinking in his stomach as he waited for midnight.
Riddle didn't have patrol that night, but he never came back to the dorms anyway. Whatever it was he was doing, Draco didn't want to risk getting caught leaving and blowing his plan. He left the dorm right at midnight, figuring Riddle was already at the library in search of Hermione. Each step he took had time slowing more and more. He kept his wand in his hand knowing whatever the outcome, he was definitely going to need it at some point. He wasn't sure what he would say; he was just going to wing it when he got there.
He found Riddle at the back of the library near one of the larger windows that overlooked the grounds. Even from his stance behind him, he could see the hut in the distance, covered in show. He caught Riddle's reflection in the window and he smirked as he turned to face Draco.
"So you figured out the book."
"How long?" he bit out, his fingers tightening on the handle of his wand at his side.
"Does she know that you stole from her?"
"Answer the fucking question, Riddle."
He took a step towards Draco, his eyes darkening. "Physically? Since the night before your attempt to murder me."
He thought back to the day he had seen her emerge from the dorms and told her she had looked like shit. The way her eyes had sunken in and her body trembled with nervous energy. They had gone to the infirmary and then she had been more needy than usual. All of it had been warning signs. All of which had gone ignored.
"What did you do to her?" he asked, stepping forward, his wand raised slightly.
"She offered herself to me," he replied, his smirk broadening. "She came to me willingly, just as I told you she would in the end."
"She wouldn't-"
"But she did," Riddle interrupted. "You have held her back time and time again. She has true potential, Draco, something that would be squandered with the likes of you. I would not expect you to understand, being a Pureblood, but by my side, I will make sure the world knows exactly what she is capable of. She will be a beacon for Halfbloods-"
"Halfbloods?"
The word was out of his mouth before he could stop himself. His mind was racing, taking in everything Riddle was saying. From the sound of it, she and Riddle had been going behind his back nearly all this time. Suddenly, the parts of her nightmare he had witnessed seemed more like memories after all. His anger got the best of him and he gave a sharp laugh.
"You think she was so afraid of you and everything you've done because she was a Halfblood?"
He could see the words sinking in as the smirk on Riddle's face began to disappear. Had he not just had confirmed Draco's worst fears; that Hermione hadn't been coerced into being with Riddle. That she had gone to him on her own accord. Had cheated behind his back and lied right to his face about it.
"Guess she's a better liar than we both thought," he hissed through clenched teeth.
"She has never lied to me."
Draco snorted, his lip curling in a sneer. "So she told you she's a filthy little Mudblood?"
His stomach rolled as the slur slipped out of his mouth with entirely too much ease. The gut wrenching betrayal sent bile up his throat and his anger turned it to ash in his mouth. All of it overpowered the regret from the words having left his mouth at all.
Despite the emotions, he was prepared when Riddle's presence tore into his mind. His shields were up; his door locked, latched, and sealed shut tight. For the first time since coming here, he wasn't going to cower or run away. This was the confrontation he had come for. This was the moment his aunt had prepared him for; what he had trained and practiced for.
Riddle advanced, applying more and more pressure on his mind. Sweat trickled down his brow and soaked through the back of his shirt, but he refused to break. Even as his body began to tremble and the force of Riddle's mind pushed him to his knees, Riddle never got past his barriers. Through clenched teeth, Draco pushed back with as much energy and magic he could muster. He continued to push, even as his mind felt as though it were being cleaved in two. He refused to stop until he successfully pushed Riddle from his mind.
When he did, he pitched forward, catching himself on his hands and gasping through the nausea to catch his breath. Knowing he wasn't out of danger yet, he tightened his hold on his wand and pushed himself up. It took him a moment to realize that Riddle was gone. When it processed, he gave into his body's demand for rest and collapsed against a table.
He knew that regardless of whatever happened, he had done the worst thing imaginable by outing her blood status. He knew that if Riddle had acted like this upon being told, he would definitely hurt Hermione. Riddle had said she had gone to him willingly. He had seen enough from her own mind and with his own two eyes to believe it. She knew what she was doing; that she was playing with fire.
As Draco sat there in the dark of the library, recovering from the exertion of keeping Riddle from his mind, he decided that this was her mess.
And just like that, Hermione Granger was no longer his problem.
If she wanted the Dark Lord, he wouldn't stand in her way.