Author's Note
Thanks for support!
They don't know about the things we do
They don't know about the "I love you"'s
But I bet you if they only knew (they don't know)
They would just be jealous of us,
They don't know about the up all nights
They don't know I've waited all my life
Just to find a love that feels this right
Baby they don't know about, they don't know about us
Hermione was on an ecstatic high for the next few days. Happiness just seemed to spurt from her and no matter the situation, she was always merry.
Some would say it was due to the holidays. Some would say she had too much firewhiskey. And then there were those like Blaise, Theo and Ginny who knew it was because of Draco.
She had refused to separate from the special bracelet he had gotten her since she laid eyes on it. It was the most heartwarming and thoughtful thing, she had cried right there in the streets of Hogsmeade.
It was a day before the students would be returning from the break and Hermione and Draco were sitting casually on the couch in their commons.
"How is your mother?" Hermione asked when Draco had finished returning a letter to his mother.
"She's good. She had depression after the war, you know, with the trials and all that, of course it was thanks to you and Potter, for me as well but she's better. I think Andromeda is a big help on that part." Draco sighed.
"It's good. You know that their relationship is rekindled." Hermione said as Draco draped an arm over her shoulders. "You know I don't regret that right?" Hermione asked at Draco's suddenly darkened mood.
"Yes Mya, I appreciate what you and...Potter did but I can't help but feel guilty." he replied watching the flickering fire.
Hermione sighed. "How many?"
"7 letters. 4 about how I betrayed the Dark lord, 2 on cursing my future and 1 very long one about you." Draco mumbled rubbing his forehead.
Hermione tried to remain poker face. How did these people know? She had suspected him receiving letters the days after Christmas when he spent hours in his room shredding paper and muttering under his breath.
"I called Harry." she finally said. He turned to look at her raising an eyebrow. "I called Harry to come and...get more insight on this case." she said avoiding meeting his eyes.
"Hermione!" Draco exclaimed. "Why? He can't do anymore. He's already busy enough looking for them and if he finds them then hooray, solves my problems too."
"Draco things are getting creepy, how do they know that I'm close to you? Or all these facts that they shouldn't know? Especially when we're in Hogwarts! It's not safe for us or the school." Hermione said softening her voice to hold his hand tight.
"When is he coming?" he asked sounding wary.
"Today in about 5 minutes." Hermione mumbled untangling herself from Draco and pacing. He groaned.
"Oh come on Draco. He will maintain a professional mode. I warned him about it and so has McGonagall. He has matured from his Hogwarts days and hopefully you have too." Hermione said crossing her arms. Hopefully he had matured at least.
"I am mature." he huffed leaning into the couch. Just then there came a knock on the portrait door. Hermione went to open it.
"Harry!" Hermione grinned hugging him tight that some of his coffee sloshed to the floor. "How are you? How's work? Are you alright? Are you resting?"
"I'm fine Hermione. Healthy as a horse." he assured walking in steadily.
Draco stood awkwardly in front of the fire. Hermione felt the urge to walk over to him and console him but from the stiffness then calmness of Harry, restrained herself.
But there was a part of her that hated lying to her best friend. It was ridiculous but then came the fact Harry may not take it well. But then again, he was not Ron.
Harry cleared his throat. "Malfoy." he greeted.
Draco nodded. "Potter." Then it was quiet. And uncomfortable quiet. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked over to sit on the couch.
"Are either of you going to sit? Or stand there like dolt heads?" Hermione asked impatiently as they finally sat on opposite couches. She watched as Draco began heading to her couch but noticed Harry's confused face before he faked getting another pillow and heading back to the couch.
"Well Malfoy, Hermione has told me about how much more serious this case has arisen to." Harry began talking with as much as professionalism as he could.
"Yes. Her-Granger has told told me she repeated my...case to you. Things have worsened I guess you could say. Just more threatening notes. I have tried tracing the letters to a location but they come out in a dead end." Draco explained.
"Well, aside the search parties the ministry is doing anyways, I have assigned a couple of aurors to research stores for parchment and quills coming from strange people. We are keeping an eye on all previous death eater locations in case they make a reappearance." Harry relayed from memory.
Draco nodded. "Is there any other subjects they discuss besides threats to you and your future?" Harry asked. Draco considerable stiffened and gulped. Hermione froze too and waited for him to respond.
"Yes." he finally breathed. "They...they threaten Hermione." Draco said looking away. Harry's eyes widened and his head whipped back and forth between Draco and Hermione.
"What? Why?" he asked narrowing his eyes. "Why would they target you?" he asked looking at Hermione now.
"I've built….a friendship with Draco. You know...with the head duties and all." Hermione said in a rush. Draco bit his lip.
"Really? And you're both okay with this? After years of animosity between one another?" Harry demanded. Hermione kept a steady face and nodded firmly.
" And Hermione you didn't tell me they were threatening you too!" Harry all but yelled.
"Harry you were coming anyways and Draco would tell you about it all." Hermione tried her best to remain calm.
"Do you have any of the letters?" Harry asked a new anger in his eyes as he asked Draco as civilly as he could manage.
"I burned the rather….personal ones but I did keep a few." he muttered summoning them and handing them over. Harry read them and his eyes widened in horror before anger and rage.
"You-two need to be more careful! I advise you not to go out wandering alone and to keep under school surveillance. When you both graduate, if things get….worse, the ministry might be forced to offer you hidden protection. Of course hopefully by then they'll be caught." Harry went on as he ran a hand through his untameable hair. "I have to get going. I'll look deeper into this. Take care Hermione and be careful please. Malfoy, stay alive and keep as many letters as you can for the ministry." Harry said hugging Hermione quickly avoiding her eyes and nodding to Malfoy.
"Harry wait!" Hermione said running after him and slipping on something before crashing to the ground. Her eyes fluttered shut to some cries before all went black.
"Hermione? Hermione can you hear me? Wake up, please. Come on Mya." a voice whispered as a grip tightened on her fingers. Hermione slowly peeled her eyes open. She felt a pounding headache and felt groggy.
Draco was sitting at the edge of her bed holding her hand and looking relieved.
"How are you feeling?" he asked rubbing his thumb on her hand.
"Drained. And a pounding headache bloody hell what happened?" Hermione asked trying to get up but failing.
Draco gave a wry grin. "You chased after Potter and slipped on his blasted coffee before falling and hitting your head and getting a bloody concussion." he said lightly brushing the bandage on her head. Oh, so that's why.
"Is he still here?" she asked looking around. She spotted Harry looking exhausted and apologetic in a chair not far away. When he noticed her watching he jerked straight out and began rambling.
"I'm so sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to spill the stupid coffee. Are you okay?" he asked worried. Ginny was also there holding his hand and looking concerned.
"I'm fine Harry. It was my fault. I knocked the coffee down. It's stupid. After fighting death eaters and hunting horcruxes, I get a concussion from coffee." Hermione joked.
Draco scoffed. "It's not funny." he said pushing her down when she tried to rise.
Hermione stared into his wonderful gray eyes and he stared back.
Harry finally spoke. "Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on here? You two seem all chummy and Ginny knows and these two refused to tell me claiming I'd hear it better from you. So what the hell is going on?" Harry demanded looking annoyed. Hermione reluctantly pulled away from Draco's gaze and met Harry's furious and confused ones.
"Harry, I guess there's no hiding it now." she sighed looking at Ginny who looked sympathetically at her. Then Draco who looked amused and encouraging. "I'm going out with Draco."
Harry looked like he'd been slapped then patted on the head the slapped again. Anger rose followed by betrayal. Hermione winced. Then came accusation, doubt then confusion. "Why? No...is that why you notified me of his case? Why you were friends? But why Malfoy? I get we stood up for him court and all that because he's no death eater but Malfoy? The boy who teased you every day and was our arch enemy?" Harry asked incredulous. Draco swallowed hard.
"Your arch enemy Harry. Yes he was mean and yes he can be a git but that's why we stood up for him. He's no death eater. Can't you see he's being threatened by them? And it's Draco because I want it to be and he wants it to be. I'm telling you because you're one of my best friends but I won't listen to you ruin one of the only perfect relationships in my life." Hermione fumed.
Harry looked speechless. He eyed Draco as if studying him and then his eyes swiveled to Hermione and stared hard at her too.
"Well, I suppose I trust your judgement Hermione. And...I did see how he reacted to when you fell...and of course this has to stay a secret for both your safety….but doesn't mean I'll be besties with Malfoy….but I guess I trust your judgement at the end of the day and whatever makes you happy." Harry sighed.
Hermione grinned. "That's all I ask."
Just then Giurbin marched in claiming Draco and Ginny needed to return to class. Draco kissed her forehead before leaving with Ginny.
"I still can't believe you chose ferret." Harry said shaking his head. Hermione hit his arm.
"He's being civil and you ought to be too." Hermione scolded.
"I can tell he really loves you." Harry said quietly. Hermione looked up surprised. "When you fell, Malfoy leaped up and raced to you like you were some sort of anchor holding him to earth and he picked you up like he'd done it a million times," Harry explained and Hermione smiled at that. "And he rushed you to the hospital ward murmuring things to you. Then when Pomfrey got an explanation out of me and tended to you, Malfoy was there the entire time holding your hand and afterwards he didn't stop staring at you. It was rather alarming for me. I was stunned stupid. But Malfoy….Malfoy really likes you." Harry said with disbelief.
Hermione smiled. "I really like him too."
"Are you sure about this?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded surely.
"Thank you for being understanding. And don't tell anyone." Hermione said.
"I have to go. Of course Hermione. I am still watching him though. And if I had said otherwise, you wouldn't have listened anyways." Harry smiled hugging her lightly.
Hermione smiled back. "And you're completely sure?" Harry asked again.
Hermione nodded again. "I may have my doubts about a lot of things….but Draco….I think I've always been positive about Draco."
After two nights and three days of being kept in the hospital ward, Draco was finally allowed to escort Hermione out and back to their dorms. She had insisted all her classwork/homework be brought to her so she wouldn't lag behind.
"There is one article of classwork I couldn't bring to you." Draco said as he placed Hermione on the couch.
"What?" she asked worried.
"The third challenge. Giurbin wouldn't postpone." Draco said sitting next to her. She groaned and closed her eyes.
"Who won?" she asked dreading the feeling of an incomplete.
"Blaise and Longbottom." Draco chuckled. "They had to make a complicated potion under 45 minutes which is nearly impossible and you should have seen Blaise as he barked instructions out at Longbottom. Blaise was running like a madman determined to win and catch up with us. He's rather competitive. They failed the potion but were the only team to submit one and work "together"." Draco laughed.
Hermione felt irritated that Giurbin wouldn't postpone. "We could have won."
"Yes we could have. But I think watching Blaise was quite hilarious." Draco chortled. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"McGonagall visited me during my stay." Hermione said when Draco stopped laughing. "She told me about how each house is allowed to have a New Year's Eve party." Hermione said turning to look at Draco.
"She told me too. And all we have to do is make sure each pair of prefects are aware of the rules." Draco's grin suddenly turned mischievous. "And we….get our own party...alone." he said kissing her jaw.
She smiled slightly. "Perfect time to review for the new year! You know, our couple's New Year's resolution should be daily study sessions together….perhaps 2 hours a day...double on weekends…" she trailed off before she was silenced by a forceful and demanding kiss from Draco.
She liked that she could make Draco as desperate and needing as this. Longing was written in the way he kissed. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
He stood abruptly and lifted her up by the waist to match his height and his tongue prodded her lips. She opened willingly and a low moan escaped Draco.
A wall was suddenly slamming into Hermione's back. Her legs wrapped themselves around Draco's waist. His arms locked on either side of her head against the wall, careful to avoid disturbing Hermione's bandages.
Their tongues always tended to battle one another for dominance. She supposed it was the competitiveness they both held and even when kissing, it didn't let up.
Draco pressed his body close and it was Hermione's turn to moan. Her hands gripped his hair as she pressed her lips against his.
There came a knock on the door as they broke apart.
"Bloody prefect meeting." Draco muttered under his breath.
It was New Year's Eve and classes ended half day. Hermione had just finished lunch and was heading over for the beginning of the Gryffindor New Year's party with Ginny. This year it was being thrown by Ginny, Dean and Seamus.
Gryffindor's always managed to throw wicked parties that lasted long into the night.
A pale hand grabbed Hermione as she and Ginny took a shortcut.
"I'll give you two a minute." Ginny smirked when Draco walked out of the shadows. "But she's mine for the evening." she warned.
A smile tugged at the corner of Draco's lips. "Whatever you say Mrs. Potter."
Ginny turned a violent shade of red before stalking off.
"You could be nicer." Hermione chided as Draco snaked his arms around her waist.
"I could." Draco said thoughtfully. "But it's an improvement in itself." he reminded.
She sighed. "It is. Is there something you needed?" she asked.
"Do I have to want something to say hello to my girlfriend?" he asked raising an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes. His face split into a smirk. "Okay. Fine. Can you come to the Slytherin party at 11?"
"Why?" she asked wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"So we can have our midnight kiss." he said as if this were obvious.
"And why can't we have "our midnight kiss" that you think you're getting in our dorms?" she retorted.
"Because there's this awesome secret view that leads from the Slytherin dorms to a tower with wicked views for Hogwarts fireworks." Draco said with his signature smirk.
Interest piqued in Hermione's mind. She contemplated accepting and she could see Draco knew it would persuade her, the fact of not knowing.
"But the Slytherin dorms are partway in the Black Lake." Hermione persisted.
Draco smiled tucking hair behind her ear. "Do you trust me?" he asked softly.
She nodded without hesitation. "There is a secret passage that leads to a secluded tower. Please, come, 11 o'clock." he said with a gentle tone.
She trusted Draco. And if he wanted to show her this, then she would go. "How do I get in?" she finally asked.
"I'll meet you outside the entrance at 11 and if anyone asks, I'm bringing you in to cover up some Heads stuff." Draco replied as Ginny returned impatiently.
She nodded as Ginny towed her away.
The Gryffindor party was loud. That was one of the two ways to describe it. It was insanely loud and absolutely crazy.
Ginny had snuck in Wizard Weasley Wheezes, courtesy of her brother against Hermione's say.
Seamus had smuggled butterbeer and rumours were firewhiskey into the dorms.
Music blasted and Hermione spent her time meeting all her friends and talking. However, her eyes kept drifting to the clock and despite her previous doubts, she was anticipating 11.
When it was 10:50, Hermione curtly exited the commons and made her way towards the dungeons.
Merlin, if she got caught, she would kill Draco Malfoy.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Draco waiting with a smile at the entrance.
"Gryffindors drive you mad?" he asked throwing an arm around her shoulders.
"No but Merlin they are loud." Hermione said rubbing her ears.
"Well I can't promise Slytherin's are any quieter." Draco laughed as he opened the dorm door. Hermione groaned softly as they entered.
Eyes turned towards them and narrowed at her and accusation thrown at Draco.
"Will you stop gawking and return to your damn party? I have heads business with Granger." Draco snapped and they immediately returned to their previous activities. If she thought Gryffindors were bad, Slytherin's were criminals. There was no doubt firewhiskey in people's hands, people dancing drunk and people doing the most intimately disturbing things publicly. It was like a club within the dorm. The lake gave the dorm the typical Slytherin green glow. People parted for Draco as they walked by.
Wow, Draco had authority. She saw Blaise wink over some people's shoulders. Theo wolf whistled and she knew it was directed at them.
Hermione blushed furiously as Draco led them up the boy's staircase.
"Can't you do this in your own dorms?" Flint sneered when Draco walked in on him and some Slytherin girl making out. Flint was simply shirtless. She noticed Draco moved slightly in front of Hermione almost as if defensively and to hide her view of this horrendous scene.
"30 points from Slytherin for your actions and 20 for talking back. And for your information, I didn't want to leave the party so soon." Draco said his eyes flaring furiously.
"Fine. Wouldn't want to be anywhere near a mudblood and mudblood lover." Flint seethed dragging the girl elsewhere.
"Watch your mouth Flint! That's another 20 points." Draco yelled.
Once they were alone, Hermione placed a hand on Draco's arm.
"Thank you." she said softly. "But I don't think you want to antagonize Flint."
"I don't care at the moment." Draco said calming himself. "Come on." he said pulling her along.
They made their way to the end of the dormitory and to a chipped and broken wall. She watched in amazement as Draco muttered a password under his breath and the wall parted revealing another staircase ascending higher.
They climbed the many many steps that finally ended with a rickety door at the top. Draco opened the door and they walked through.
Hermione felt shock fill her as she took in the view. They were at the top of a tower that had a spectacular view of the entire castle. It showed the large quidditch pitch and then the magnificent lightly drizzled snow filled, Hogwarts grounds and the thin layer of ice over the Black Lake right below them. The Forbidden Forest was shadowing the lake gently and the moon was up high.
"This is...how did you find this place?" Hermione asked in awe.
"I stumbled upon it when I wanted refuge in 6th year." he replied quietly. Hermione's hand subconsciously found Draco's and squeezed it.
"Good find." she whispered turning to look at him. He was looking at her deeply.
He smiled lightly. "Can you find the constellation Draco?"
Hermione gazed up at the sky. She studied it for a while scanning it for the familiar figure. She smiled and directed his face in the right direction. "Right there and here." she said squeezing his hand again. He squeezed back.
"You're getting better at it." he remarked wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Practice makes perfect." she responded leaning against Draco. "We're alone?" she asked knowing he understood the meaning of her question.
He nodded. "No one knows about this except me."
"How can you be sure?" she asked worriedly.
"I came up with the password." he smiled.
"How many people know about it?"
"Just you and me." he said turning her to face him. "You and me, me and you. That's it."
She smiled wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his chest. If it was cheesy, oh well, she liked that it just the two of them. Their place.
Ironic though. They found their place after a massive war, where they were on opposite sides yet they found each other. Now, they're so different but they've discovered themselves together. And this place, was another one of their little secrets.
His eyes met hers, gray to brown. Her heart fluttered as she leaned forward and kissed him soundly.
Fireworks exploded behind them but Hermione could only see, hear and feel Draco.
Author's Note
This story is about halfway done :)
Things are happy now...but things get dark later on and in the sequel Hideaway which should be out soon.
Thanks for support.
Reviews?
