Better - Chapter 19

"We must be able to do something for her. I cannot allow her to go to bed scared out of her mind every bloody night!"

"Weasley there is more to it than that. Don't you think if I could I would take this burden for her?!"

"Malfoy we would all love if you could take this burden for her."

Hermione closed her eyes. She had been listening to that since the moment that she woke up and it was starting to take a toll on her. All of them just continued to fight over the best course of action to take regarding her.

They never asked her though. They never asked her how she wanted to approach the situation or what her thoughts were on it. The lot of them just did as they saw fit which only pushed her agitation and feelings of helplessness further.

The snow was comforting in a way. Probably because it was freezing her body forcing a numbness upon her which she welcomed. It was easier not to feel since...well then she would only be left to her thoughts. She felt reticent and that was just not her. The Hermione Granger that everyone knew at Hogwarts was vivacious, smart, cunning, and opinionated. Never in a thousand years would anyone foresee her to be meek, submissive, and weak. Hermione Granger was not weak.

"That is going to stop right now," she said clearly in the air, but to only herself. None the less, she spoke with conviction and meant it with all of her heart. She was done being the Hermione that Alan had turned her into.

"Weasley are you done bitching yet so perhaps we can actually come up with a solution?" sneered Draco peering over the pages of Severus Snape's potion book. The potion was practically finished. All that was left was to add the unicorn hair and let it boil for the night. Then, of course, they had to add Alan's blood along with Hermione's.

"Malfoy must you continue to be an ass? Some of us actually want to help Hermione," snarled Ron making Draco clench his fists, ripping pieces of the parchment inside of the book. He slowly faced the red-haired man with a look of extreme distaste and frustration.

"Don't you ever say that again. I want to help Hermione more than anyone here considering I am actually with her, whether you want to believe it or not."

"Malfoy I swear that Hermione is–"

"Is in the room."

They faced the entrance of the dining room to see Hermione standing there covered from head to toe in heavy snow. Draco held back the urge to smile; again his angel looked like an angel. None the less, she was not in the happiest of moods making her look more like an archangel with a foul temperament.

"'Mione we were just–"

"I know what you were doing and I want all of you to stop it," she replied forcefully. Nearly everyone was caught off guard at her full-blooded approach. Ron was nearly ripping the hem of his shirt while Harry was kicking the foot of the table; both were nervous looking at Hermione complete with red eyes and heavy frown.

"Hermione we're just trying to help," said Ginny without any qualms in her voice, slightly quieter than usual.

"Did any of you think to ask me? Forgive me for being an egotistical narcissist for the moment, but was I not the smartest witch during our years at Hogwarts? Was I not the one who got us out of everything that we encountered?"

"I think we might have helped," replied Harry defensively.

"Yes, but would you have made it to the end without me? I do believe that I was responsible for saving our lives many a times." Hermione's tone alerted them that she was a force to be reckoned with and was not going to give into their defenses without a fight. Draco smiled as he took in the scene before him. That's my girl. That's the girl that caught my attention at Hogwarts.

"Maybe it's time that we use my brain to figure out what we'll do. Maybe it's time you include me on matters regarding me rather than deciding for me. I want to be the one who ends him and yet I feel like you all want to do it for me."

"Wait a second Hermione," said Draco as he rose from his seat to move closer to her. He was now on the defensive like Potter was only moments before. "If we could, we would take this burden for you just like you would if the situation were reversed. If this were happening to Potter or Weasley or Ginny, then you would want to take away the pain. You're that type of person. So please understand that we're just trying to help you."

"I know you are and don't for one second think that I'm not bloody grateful, but you all are taking it too damn far. Why not help me instead of doing it for me? I mean when it boils down to it, I'm the one that has to do it. I'm the one that has to own up to the mistakes that I've made." Hermione had never sounded more forthright since he had last seen her in their sixth year.

"Fine," said Draco coolly, "How do you want to approach this? Inform us Gryffindor Princess."

Ron was prepared to punch him in the back of his head, but Harry stopped him instantly. He saw the look on Draco's face alerting him, along with Ginny who was smiling brightly, that the comment was not an insult. On the contrary, he was merely stating that Hermione was finally back to the lioness that they all grew up to love.

"I definitely think that we should bring the potion with us so that upon me taking his blood, I can drink it right then and there."

"What? No, Hermione that's absurd. The potion will burn your throat and make your stomach churn...you'll be on the hop temporarily," replied Draco who was suddenly feeling that Hermione was taking her new found, or more like re-found, personality a bit too far.

"No I should take it then. Look at the big picture and think about everything that will happen. The closer that I am to him, the easier it will be for him to be in my mind. I mean we both know that he is a death eater so his powers are strong and evidently he's capable. The sooner that I have that potion in my system then the sooner I'm free to fight on my own will and terms."

Draco smirked at her before saying, "You have a point. I'll have a goblet size amount put in a vial to bring with us."

"Good," she spat sharply.

"Good," he returned just as brisk. They both exchanged quick smiles.

"Okay," broke in Ginny who felt that there was a bit too much tension for her taste, "We've got that all figured out, but we have more important matters to deal with such as how you both plan on getting in. I don't think you want to approach it like Hermione did the first time."

"Unlike the first time, I'm prepared now. I know the layout of the castle and I know what I'm up against. Besides, I'll have Draco with me. What I don't know, he does. We can work off of each other."

Draco smiled as he put his hand to her lower back and traced the outlining of her spine. Her small hand wrapped around and held his giving him a squeeze three times. Even in silence she was able to say 'I love you'.

"Back up?" asked Harry, always the cynic.

"Your wand will be at the ready. If and when we need you, we'll come back and you better be prepared to fight."

"We won't come back here," interjected Draco, "We'll go back to a more remote location where nobody will be harmed and the Weasley residence won't be made known. After this we still have to have Hermione stay here until I can get her out of here safely."

"Draco I–"

He pressed his finger to her lips and moved closer to her face, close enough that his breath was landing on the lower part of her face. He whispered, "Let me at least have the feeling that I'm taking care of you. I want that feeling because I love you. I need...I need to at least feel like I'm helping you in every way that I can. Don't take that away from me."

Hermione nodded at him before placing a chaste kiss to his lips. She turned back to her three friends and found them staring, all with different expressions; Ginny looked delighted, Harry seemed indifferent, while Ron looked irate. She decided that she probably needed to talk with all of them separately.

"Hey Gin do you want to go upstairs and have a little bit of girl time. I mean if we're going to do this then it will be my last night before all hell breaks loose."

"Sure. That sounds good."

"So how good is he in the sack?" asked Ginny who was brushing her long, elegant hair, throwing it up into a messy ponytail.

Hermione had the grace to blush as she uttered, "What are you talking about?"

"Oh please. I saw you when you came downstairs the other day. You were glowing and it was not because you had a good night sleep. More like good night of lacking sleep."

Hermione just smiled at her making Ginny burst into giggles. She sounded as though she was fifteen all over again.

"You have to tell me now! I mean from all the rumors that I heard back in school, well, let's just say that Draco had a reputation."

Hermione tilted her head and asked, "When did you start calling him Draco?"

"Since he started calling me Ginny. Now, focus here. How was he?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend as she pulled her legs onto Ginny's maroon sheets to get more comfortable. "He was...amazing. It was obvious that he was experienced and that only heightened everything. He knew every ideal like he was in my head. It was perfect and large." Hermione rotated her eyes in the opposite direction of Ginny as her skin turned so red that she could feel it changing colors. Ginny's mouth dropped.

"You hag. You got to see and feel the famous little Draco."

"Trust me, it wasn't little," quipped Hermione with a smirk.

"Are you trying to make me more jealous?"

"A little bit, but enough about that. I wanted to talk about other things."

"Such as?" asked Ginny who had put down her hair brush to join Hermione on the bed.

"You and me," replied Hermione softly.

Ginny shrugged as she said, "Well I'm sorry my dear, but I do not plan on participating in any sexual endeavors with you. I am a happily engaged witch." Ginny smiled as Hermione gave her the look before she said, "I'm kidding and I know you know."

"I know."

"I've missed you. These last few years without you have been hell considering I was stuck here with a bunch of boys. Guys are great, but I could have used some estrogen to help me out. I mean I can talk with my brothers and I can tell Harry anything, but certain things are just better to talk with you about. It would have been nice to have you here."

Ginny's words were meant to make Hermione feel better, to tell her that she was missed not only for the person she was but the friend that she found in her. However, her words only ignited feelings of sorrow in Hermione.

"Ginny...I plan on leaving with Draco once this over with. I don't know how long and I know–"

"And I know that you'll write me. I know that Draco won't keep you from contacting me. We'll be able to maintain this long distant relationship. Merlin Hermione, I might as well marry you."

Hermione smirked. "Are you proposing?"

"Would you accept?"

"Well Ginny you are a beautiful girl, but after being with Draco...I just don't think my body will ever feel the same. I don't think you can compare."

"I can't blame you there."

The two of them laughed together as though they were still back at Hogwarts and sharing secrets like the regular witches that they use to be.

Harry and Hermione had been walking in the snow for over ten minutes without either of them saying anything. She was not sure really how to approach Harry since he was the calm one of the bunch, but he had been acting strange for the last couple of days.

Finally after sloshing around the frosty snow in black boots for what seemed like forever, she opened up her mouth to speak. However, no words escaped.

Harry engulfed her into a fierce hug.

It took her a moment to gain her bearings for he had caught her so off guard. In spite of this, she wrapped her arms around him and stepped into him, hugging him back. Harry's scent was still the same from when he was a young boy; he smelled of fresh pine (like his broom) and leather (no doubt from his riding boots). It was a comfort smell which would always make her feel safe.

After their long hug, Harry pulled back and walked back towards the Burrow. Nothing else had to be said.

"Ron are you ever not thinking about your stomach?" Ron looked at Hermione indifferently as his fork met his mouth filling it with mashed potatoes concocted by none other than 'magical chef Molly Weasley'. Hermione could not blame him for being obsessed with food if it had been cooked by that woman. Had she not been dedicated to her family, she easily could have made it in the wizarding world as a baker.

Aside from the clinking of Ron's fork connecting with his oversized plate filled to the outer brim with delicious contents, there was no other noise. Again Hermione was forced to endure silence trying to discern the right things to say. Unlike Ginny and Harry, who both had grown to accept Draco, Ron still did not trust him entirely nor trust him with her.

"Ron I know you don't like Draco because of some of the things that he has done, but I think you need to get over it. I want you two to be friends."

Ron shook his head rolling his eyes. "What am I Hermione? Four?"

Hermione whipped around to stare at him incredulously. She had not expect him to be this way at all. Ron was looking down at his plate again, but she could tell that there was a tension mounting in him.

"Hermione does he love you?" he asked bluntly, eyes still on his plate. She nodded quickly not trusting her voice to answer.

"Do you love him?" She nodded again. "Then it's fine. As long as he's faithful to you and he makes you happy, then I don't have a problem with you being together."

She was impressed with his stand on the subject matter. He approached it in a mature fashion allowing her to take everything in step by step.

"However–"

Damn it! I knew it was too good to be true.

"Just because you are together is not going to change my feelings about him. Alright I know he is a changed man and that's great. I will try to be civil with the man that he has become, but I'm still going to hold a grudge against the Malfoy name that made my family's life a living hell. I'm afraid that being civil is the best that I can give you."

The clinking of utensils and plates resumed rending the conversation, in Ron's opinion, to be finished. Hermione did not find the end to be fitting with his last comment.

"What about me? What's your stand on me?"

Ron stopped eating. It appeared that he was actually giving full thought to the question, formulating the precise answer that he wanted to give. After a minute or so, he faced her.

"I'm not going to deny my feelings for you. After all of these years I still love you like I did back at Hogwarts. It killed me when I discovered that you were going to marry someone who wasn't me. Now it is killing me all over to know that your love is with somebody else. It's a shame since I have a feeling that I could have made you happy."

"Ron–"

"Let me finish. I'm not saying this to persuade you into anything or alter your opinion or to make you feel bad. I'm saying this because it's going to stay this way whether you like it or not. So I'll just have to say that Malfoy better know that if he ever hurts you, I'll hurt him."

Hermione never got a chance to say anything else. Ron had already picked up his plate and left the room.

Draco was throwing snowballs at a distant tree hitting the solid bark every time. Thick steam was coming out in puffs from his mouth in light of the cold weather encompassing the surrounding area of the burrow. He chucked the last snowball before slipping on the slick contents below his feet and falling down hard. He heard light laughter behind him.

"I see that you find my pain and humiliation humorous," he hissed not looking behind him.

"If you could have seen what I saw then you would have laughed too," she replied easily. Draco smirked as she sat down next to him allowing him to wrap his arms around her. He leaned over to kiss her neck, but was met by a thick black scarf. She chuckled again.

"I'm just a little off today. Perhaps it's from going so long without you. In fact I think I went nearly half a day without seeing you. I won't deny that it was difficult, but I faced it." She laughed at his mocking tone noting that his blond hair looked glorious encased in snow.

"I missed you too."

"So how did everything go? I mean are Potter, Weasley, and Ginny taking to everything? I know they're worried."

"They're worried, but they have a right to be. I like you calling Ginny by her first name. Why you doing it?" she asked with a smile.

"Unlike Potter and Weasley, I never really had a problem with her. Plus she has been pretty helpful in dealing with those two and keeping them from killing me. They're always going to hate me."

"They shouldn't since–"

"Don't worry Angel. The feeling is very much mutual and I am not going to change. I'll be amicable when I have to be and I only do that for you."

Hermione shook her head knowing that it was pointless to argue further. Draco and her boys would never see eye to eye. Blast Hogwarts for placing us all in a different house and turning us against each other. All it really did was sort us into cliques.

"Can I ask you a question Angel?"

"You know you can."

"Do you...well do you regret everything happening with Alan?" She faced him meeting his blue eyes which looked almost entwined with pain. A battle was fighting in him informing her that he was not finished. He still had something else to say.

I will not speak until he finally says the last thing he wants to.

"Call me selfish, but in a way I'm almost grateful that it did. It's what led you to me," he whispered looking away from her. "Please don't hate me for that."

Hermione felt a tinge of hatred, but of course it was directed at Alan. He had done this to her. He had broken her spirit while taking her body all the while. None the less, the situation did lead her to Draco. She smiled at that thought.

Slowly, gently, she lifted up his chin to force their eyes to meet again. Her lips met his briefly in a sensual kiss before she leaned into his neck breathing him in.

"I can't say that wasting five years of my life is something that makes me happy. The trade off though, of gaining you in my life, that makes it all seem worth it. I would do it again without question."

Draco Malfoy smiled brighter than he had in nearly three years.

"Besides, in the end, what leaves you broken makes you better." Draco squeezed her even tighter as he kissed the top of her head.

Worries and fears had been building up in him since they began to prepare for the task they would face the next day, but he pushed them out. He'd worry tomorrow, but tonight he would focus on kissing Hermione.

A/N: Alright well now you know that the next chapter will revolve around them going into the castle and GASP! facing Alan! Oh that will be so much fun. At least though they got their lioness back. That was the point of this chapter.

I hope you guys all participate in the challenge that I posted before this chapter. Even if you are not a regular reviewer, but still read my story, please participate. I want a lot of options when it comes to choosing. So far I have received many ideas and I'm loving them. Never the less, I want more!! The challenge will be open until next weekend. Then I'll make my final decision. Thanks to everyone who has submitted an idea!

"Better" is another song by the band Plumb. I actually used one of the lines in the chapter since it fit well with it (So I do not own that particular line since it obviously belongs to the band Plumb). The lines that I based the chapter off of were, "I don't want to care and I don't want to hate and I don't want to see you fall to far away, all because of fear. Cause when you're afraid you lash out the blame and you say all the things that you never meant to say, and try to break me. But in the end what leaves you broken, in the end makes you better (the line I used)."

Read and Review!! If you can read it, then you can review it.

Iris is the work of fanfiction. The characters belong to J.K. Rowling, but the featured story is mine.