A/N: So I am not at home as I start this chapter. I am at a Job place, as I need to find a job! Only I am waiting for a meeting. Thanks for the reviews.

DISCLAIMER: Refer to the before chapter, yeah?

Chapter Eight: Past Addiction

'What on earth was that?' thought Hermione as she walked in a daze to the Gryffindor stands, one hand touching her lips, 'He kissed me.'

She made her way up the stand steps and sat down beside Ginny still in a daze as the teams flew out onto the field with a roar of cheers. Ginny glanced at Hermione and frowned before nudging Harry beside her. Harry looked at Ginny questionably before noticing Hermione.

"Everything alright, Hermione?" asked Ginny with a frown, "Did you get knocked in the head or something?"

"What? Huh? Oh no… no… nothing like that," said Hermione as she looked up at Draco skimming through the sky and pulling off fancy loops, "Nothing like that at all."

"Then what is it?"

Hermione shook her head showing she wasn't in the mood to discuss it and pulled out her book to read, only even reading the book didn't interest her. Every time she tried to focus her eyes would glance up at the sky focusing on the Slytherin Captain. Hermione knew she saw him as a friend but she was certain she felt nothing else towards him, however the kiss had confused the hell out of her. In annoyance with her self she shut her book, shoved it into her bag and left the Quidditch stands with Ginny calling out to her before following.

HD

Draco watched from where he flew as Hermione turned her head away from him and left with the Weaselette chasing after her. He gave a sigh and pulled a sharp turn towards the ground as Madam Hooch blew her whistle for the match to start. He had no idea why he kissed Hermione. It was just a spur of the moment thing. He did see her as an attractive young woman with real ambitions. He enjoyed her company but was he only feeling those things simply because she had been helping him clean up his life and get things back on track?

"Now," said Madam Hooch as Draco and the Hufflepuff Captain faced each other, "As always I want a clean game. No dirty tricks from either team. Is that understood?"

Draco nodded, as did the Hufflepuff captain.

"Now shake hands… let's play."

Hooch threw the quaffle up into the air followed by the release of the snitch. Both teams flew up into the air with the beginning of the game. The announcer, some forth year student, began announcing each teams players and referencing past wins. Draco soared through the air watching his team maintain prominent possession of the quaffle. He had to keep his mind focused on the match and not on the sudden kiss with Hermione.

"Draco watch out!" yelled one of the chasers as a bludger flew at him.

Alarmed, Draco swerved only suffering a knock in the shoulder. It ached a bit but he pushed the pain behind him and focused on finding the golden snitch.

HD

"Will you just talk to me?" cried Ginny following Hermione around the lake, "I know something is seriously bugging you."

"It's funny," said Hermione after ten minutes of silence, "Ever since Charlie had some words with you three you all finally want to talk to me about my problems. But I wonder everyday that if Charlie hadn't spoken to you three if you would talk to me or keep up the whole 'oh Hermione doesn't need us but if we need her she will be there' act."

"I'm sorry! I didn't know I was doing that."

Hermione stopped walking and turned to Ginny, "You are meant to be my best friend. But everything has always been about you and it will always be about you. It will never be about anyone else. You saw your brother die and I know that is something no one should see. But I nearly died my self. I lost most of my blood. I have to live with the scar. I can't put my memory in a pensive because I only have to look at the scar to know what happened and just like that the memory will follow me. For months I lived on Clear Mind Day until I had to be taken off it."

"Why?"

Hermione licked her lips and shook her head, "No reason."

"Tell me. I want to know."

"It's something I would rather not speak about," replied Hermione crossing her arms over her chest.

"But I want to know Hermione. You have all these secrets that no one knows. First the attack and now this other one."

"We should get back to the match," said Hermione firmly quickly walking towards the Quidditch Stadium.

Ginny looked at Hermione's retreating back and gave a sigh, running a hand through her long red locks.

HD

Draco weaved through the player's as his eyes caught sight of the snitch whizzing it's way towards the Gryffindor stands. He flew lower causing the crowd to cry out and duck. He reached his hands out as Hermione appeared. She looked at the snitch and ducked suddenly as Draco caught it just above her, his hand brushing her hands over her head.

Suddenly a cry of happiness erupted from the Slytherin stands as the announcer informed everyone that Slytherin had won the match. Draco grinned and landed on the crowd as his team mates crowded around him cheering. Tonight's party was going to one to remember. Draco ordered everyone to the change rooms where they all began giving personal replays of way's they caught the quaffle, passed, scored, hit the bludger and Draco's terrific catch of the snitch.

"Who do we play in two weeks?" asked a Chaser.

"Gryffindor. They play Ravenclaw next week, so we will be going to see just what Potter has up his sleeve," said Draco as he changed into his jeans and a green button up shirt sleeved top.

"Apparently Potter has a good line up this year."

"Yeah. The two Weasley's are back. The Weaselette is one hell of a chaser."

"That Thomas boy is on the team this year. Same with the Finnigan."

"Our team is ten times better then Potter's," snapped Draco, "Training will be twice as long though. Better to be prepared then sorry."

"Draco, that mudblood is waiting for you," called out the Beater who had greeted Hermione and her friends earlier.

Draco stood from putting his shoes on and slammed the guy against the wall, "Never refer to her in those terms again. Is that understood?"

The guy nodded and Draco let him go before exiting the change rooms to face the awkwardness.

HD

Hermione gave Draco a small smile as he walked over to her. Draco managed to smile back but didn't know what to do after that. Smile again maybe?

"Good win," said Hermione suddenly, "That catch was one in a million."

"Yeah… yeah… so… so do you want to head to the party now?"

Hermione nodded with a small smile, "Pansy and Millicent have already gone."

"Oh I see."

The pair started walking beside each other in silence. It was extremely awkward. More awkward then Draco had imagined it would be throughout the match. He gave his shoulder a rub with his hand and a little shrug to ease the ache.

"So… do your friends know you are coming?" asked Draco not knowing what else to say.

"Yeah I think so. I kind of got into a sort of argument with Ginny by the lake. So no doubt she is analysing the fight with Harry and Ron."

"What was it over?"

"Something in my past."

"Something you would rather not discuss yet or never?"

"Never would be nice but one day I will have to face what happened."

The topic dropped as they reached the party that was hidden behind tall trees. A crowd of Slytherin's were talking, drinking, eating, or dancing to the loud music that Hermione couldn't find a source too. She was pulled away from Draco by Pansy and Millicent, leaving him standing by him self until a few of his teammates joined him.

"Mate, here! Have a butterbeer!" cried one shoving him an already opened bottle.

Draco gave the drink a sniff to make sure it wasn't spiked with anything but it smelt normal enough and after a sip it tasted the same as an ordinary butterbeer.

"Dude, Romilda Vane is here," said another teammate, "And she is asking for you. If you don't shag her I damn well will!"

"Then go shag her," said Draco with a wave of his hand, "I'm not interested."

"Nah! You want the Granger. Man, you have taste. She is fine looking in those jeans… they show her ass of perfectly and that top shows those curves perfectly."

Draco looked over at Hermione who was talking and laughing with Pansy and Millicent. He was surprised at how she seemed to click with those two. Pansy understood Hermione and so did Millicent. It was a real friendship forming.

"I found you!"

Draco looked behind him to see Romilda smiling at him seductively, "What do you want?"

"Oh, so that is how it is. A few shags and not even a 'hi Romilda'?"

"I'm confused. You are talking and you still have your clothes on… what is the catch?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

Draco rolled his eyes as Romilda sauntered off. He took a long sip of his drink before finding someone else to chat with.

HD

Hermione glanced at her watch and saw it was nearing one in the morning. The party had ended for an hour at dinner before starting again at eight. Pansy and Millicent had gone to get a glass of pumpkin juice and were bringing one back for Hermione.

Hermione looked around for Draco in a worry. She had seen him a few times all night and he seemed fine. He'd made her dance with him a few times before going off to joke around with some mates, but now she hadn't seen him for over an hour.

"Here you are," said Millicent handing Hermione her drink.

"Thanks. Have either of you seen Draco?"

"Not since he last made you dance with him," said Pansy, "I thought that was odd. He normally never dances with people when he is sober."

Hermione looked at the two worriedly. It was all coming together. The dancing, the outrageous conversations with his mates. Draco was not being Draco.

"We need to find him," said Hermione standing up, "Something isn't right."

Hermione dropped her drink and began weaving her way through the crowds and asking people if they had seen Draco at all.

"Have you seen Draco?" asked Hermione to one of his teammates.

"Yeah. Romilda Vane was leading him to those trees near Hagrid's Hut."

Hermione pushed her way through to Pansy and Millicent and relayed the news. The three ran towards Hagrid's Hut. A giggle escaped the bushes, which Hermione blasted away with her wand startling a half naked Romilda and Draco who was buckling up his pants looking utterly guilty with himself.

"Right," said Hermione, as Draco looked at her – completely sober, "Brilliant catch."

Hermione turned and stormed towards the castle followed by Pansy and Millicent, after Millicent shoved Romilda into a pile of Hippogriff turd.

HD

"What the fuck did you give me?" ordered Draco glaring down at Romilda as he buttoned his shirt up, "Answer me!"

"A lust drug. You act completely high and out of it with the one you want. Only it was going wrong. You were dancing with her all night and then laughing stupidly with your mates until you would see her and then you'd go running over to her begging her to dance with you. I wanted you, so I made you follow me promising that Hermione would be waiting. Then we had sex. Once you have sex the drug wears off instantly."

Draco cursed out loud and ran a hand through his hair in frustration, "Look at what you have done! My friends were talking to me! I was respected again and now you have completely ruined it with your pathetic jealousy! Hermione hates me and so do my friends! Congratulations Vane. Enjoy your prize."

Draco turned and ran towards the castle in hopes of explaining everything to Hermione and that she would believe him. He took the known short cuts to avoid the Professor's and stopped outside the portrait that was showing inside their common room. He watched Hermione sit on the lounge alone with his bottle of Clear Mind Day. She was turning it over in her hands before placing it on the table and staring at it before standing and shaking her head.

"Slythindor," said Draco.

He walked up the steps silently keeping his eyes on the ground. He had no idea how he was about to explain the truth to Hermione, or if she would even believe him. He finally looked up to see her entering her room. He ran over and stopped the door from slamming shut. Pushing it open he entered her tidy room as she sat on the bed keeping her eyes focused on the ground.

"I was drugged," said Draco, "By Romilda Vane. It was a lust drug only it backfired on her until she lured me away."

Hermione took a deep breath and picked up a feather quill she had on her bedside table, "Lust drug. It makes the drugged person act totally out of it with the one they want. It wears off after the drugged person has sex in any form whether it be masturbation or with a total stranger."

"Do you believe me? I was dancing Hermione and I never dance! I was dancing with you, acting completely out of it with you. I never touched any drugs and I only drank butterbeer."

Hermione looked at Draco, "But you had sex. A lust drug doesn't force you to have sex with anyone. You may have been out of it Draco but you still had control over your sexual actions."

"I know… I know… I can't explain that away with some excuse. I guess my hormones got the better of me. I can't remember it completely… just you finding me getting dressed and looking… you looked heart broken."

Hermione looked away and shrugged, "I wasn't heart broken."

"Then why were you looking at my Clear Mind Day potion?"

Hermione stood up and walked over to her wardrobe. She pulled out her pyjamas and turned to Draco, "I'm going to shower and go to bed. Maybe you should send a love letter to Romilda and go to bed your self."

Hermione walked past Draco with him hot on her heels.

"Dammit Hermione! I am sorry! I am sorry I screwed Vane! I never intended too and I never wanted to screw her! I wanted to wait until I met someone I wanted to share that experience with!"

Hermione said nothing and walked into the bathroom shutting the door behind her. Draco gave an angry sigh and punched the wooden doorway frame before entering his room and slamming the door behind him.

HD

Hermione showered and walked into the common room. She saw the vial and walked over to it and picked it up. Her old companion when the days were hard. It was the weakest form of the potion and wouldn't do Hermione any justice.

"What am I doing?" whispered Hermione clutching the vial in her hand tightly.

Her life was falling apart around her and she couldn't stop it. Ever since she spoke about her attack it all came up again. The pieces of the puzzle were shifting into places they weren't meant to be. And feelings were forming and overwhelming her.

She dropped the vial and looked down at the broken pieces in shock as the blue liquid sunk into the mat.

"Oh Merlin," cried Hermione looking around for her wand as Draco's bedroom door opened. She turned to him and shook her head, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean too break it. I shouldn't have touched it. I should be staying away from it."

Hermione felt Draco's hands on her shoulder's as he led her over to the lounge away from the mess and made her sit down before he used his wand to clean up the mess.

"I can get more tomorrow," he said softly sitting down beside her, "But maybe you should explain to me what is going on."

"I don't have an Aunt who works with people addicted to drugs," said Hermione, "I know what addictions are like."

"How?"

"You can take Clear Mind Day at its weakest form because it won't affect you because you were addicted to stronger drugs… I used to take Clear Mind Day to not think about what happened. But I became dependant on it and soon the weak form had no affect on me so I was prescribed the second strongest form. It worked but again it stopped working until I was on the strongest form imaginable. I was taking a spoonful every two hours… I was an addict and it was getting worse. I was searching for something stronger and Lupin picked up on it and took me to his place where he and Tonks helped me get past my addiction. But with everything going on old needs are coming back to me and it terrifies me."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want to talk about it. I hate what I became, which is why I knew I had to help you."

Draco sighed and looked at Hermione in amazement, "You are amazing. I'm really beginning to understand you."

Hermione shrugged, "There is this whole side of me I got to know that I never want to meet again. Everyone thinks I am so innocent, don't they?"

"You are. In your own way you still are innocent."

Hermione managed a small smile before looking at the clock, "We should get to bed. It's really late… and… and I forgive you for what happened. Just don't let it happen again. Promise?"

"I promise," said Draco honestly.

Hermione smiled and both stood. As Draco turned to leave Hermione grabbed him and hugged him tightly surprising him. He hugged her back before she stepped back a bit and lightly kissed him on the cheek. Hermione turned and headed to her room, with Draco managing to walk to his a few seconds later.

HD

"Did you work everything out?"

Hermione spun around startled before Pansy and Millicent stepped out of the shadows the next morning.

"Oh you scared me. We did. Romilda used a lust drug on him."

"Little whore," snarled Millicent, "I should go smash her pretty little head into something less pretty."

"As much as I am sure people would love to see that, as Head Girl I can't allow it. However, we can give her a scare."

"How?" frowned Pansy.

"Just a letter saying 'I know what you did last summer'. She has had that many conquests I am sure she has a few she wants no one to know about."

"How about, ' I know what you did last summer and it disgusts me'?" offered Pansy.

"I like it. And we should use a school owl so she knows someone in school knows. She will want find out who and make sure they don't tell."

"I'll send it," said Millicent, "Pansy should write it because she would recognise your handwriting, Hermione."

Hermione nodded and the three headed into a nearby classroom to write it. Once it was written Millicent left to send it while Hermione and Pansy headed to the Great Hall not caring who saw them walking together. The whole school already knew of the friendship anyway, so it didn't matter.

"I'll see you later," said Pansy, leaving Hermione at the Gryffindor table.

Hermione went and sat down beside Ron who gave her an annoyed look. Hermione sighed and turned to him with a look of annoyance on her own face.

"What?" asked Ron.

"Just showing you what it feels like to get that look every morning," replied Hermione coolly as the owls flew in with the morning post. Hermione had a letter of her own stating her detention was that night at 8pm with Professor Slughorn. Hermione put the letter away as Romilda received hers.

Millicent slipped into the hall quickly and sat down with Pansy to watch Romilda, as Hermione was doing discreetly.

The look on her face was of pure fear as she glanced around the hall. Hermione picked up the paper to read, as Pansy and Millicent started talking as they put food onto their plates. The three watched as Romilda stood and ran from the hall clutching the letter to her tightly.

"Does Romilda Vane have any shocking secrets any of you might know?" asked Hermione casually to Harry, Ron and Ginny.

"She brags about not being a virgin since she got some job over the summer," said Ginny with a shrug, "I don't know what it is though."

"Why do you want to know?" asked Harry.

"Oh she was asking everyone what their secrets were last night but she never discussed her own."

"So you did go to that party last night?" asked Ron.

"Yes I did. My friends wanted me to go."

"Who Malfoy?"

"And Pansy and Millicent. It might shock you, but I can make friends outside of Gryffindor."

"But did you have to make them come from Slytherin?"

Hermione stood up in annoyance, "Why is it that you can never be happy about anything I do?"

"I'm just saying that you could've picked better people."

Hermione looked at Ron with tears rolling down her face as she shook her head, "I can't do it anymore. I can't be friends with you if you just won't accept me for who I am and what I do. What happened to the caring friends I once had? None of you worried about me until Charlie spoke to you. None of you noticed me go off the rails over the holidays because none of you cared about anything else but what you wanted to matter when I was right in front of you all crying out for help. I give up. I can't do it anymore."

Hermione turned and ran from the Hall with everyone watching as she ended up in Draco's arms who looked at her startled before wrapping his arms around her, with Pansy and Millicent quickly following out to make sure Hermione was okay.

"Brilliant," sighed Harry dropping his slice of toast, "Brilliant."

"It wasn't my fault!" cried Ron.

"No. It was all our faults. She's right. We didn't take any notice of anyone but ourselves," sighed Ginny.

"We were at war," pointed out Harry.

"I know. But after the war we all got caught up in what we were doing."

"I helped her mourn."

"Mourn Harry, but none of us asked how else she was doing. We asked how each other were doing but not Hermione. She was pushed out of the group. Think about it. You were worried about me and I for you because of what we are to each other. You and Ron are best mates and Ron and I are family. Hermione didn't fit into any of that… we shoved her out into the cold and it was wrong. And now she has found friendship that she needs with Parkinson, Bulstrode and Malfoy."

"I reckon there is more with her and Malfoy that she s letting on," muttered Ron.

"So what if there is," sighed Ginny standing up, "I'm going to apologise and try and salvage the friendship before it is too late. Any of you coming?"

"Yeah," said Harry standing up, "Ron?"

Ron didn't reply and focused on his bacon not watching his sister and Harry go find Hermione.

A/N: There you go. Please review.

Until next time…

Love yas!

Love Coz!