Bittersweet

by cenagurl

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters… I own someone's heart though… -evil smile-

A/n: a whole bunch of thanks to all the reviewers who consistently gave me their comments, opinions, suggestions, and even just those plain and flattering compliments! I love you guys: D All of you are honored below…

xxxxxx

Chapter 7: Vows

"Oy, Hermione, wake up."

Ron glanced helplessly at Harry, who just shrugged in reply. "Why won't she wake up?" he asked irritably, nudging Hermione again on the shoulder but the girl didn't stir one bit.

"D'you think the git did something to her?" Ron asked Harry. Harry gave a brief glance at the slumbering boy on the chair. "With Malfoy, nothing is impossible," he responded.

Ron shook Hermione harder in the shoulder. "Hermione, it's late, you're going to miss your Transfiguration class!" he yelled on her ear, and Hermione suddenly jerked awake, her eyes wide and all traces of sleep gone. "Oh my God, have I forgotten to set the alarm? What time is it, my first class begins in---" she halted her panicked ranting when she caught sight of her two friends standing near the bed, wicked grins on their faces.

"I knew she'd respond to that," Ron said, and he and Harry exchanged another smile. Hermione glowered at them until they had sobered up. "And what are the two of you doing here?" she asked frostily.

"Hell, it's almost ten, Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. "And you didn't attend the meeting last night," Harry added, looking slightly guilty. "I was tired," Hermione answered in the same cold voice. "But weren't you also tired last night? So tired that you couldn't even answer the door when I knocked?"

Harry's eyes were downcast and Ron was shifting uncomfortably, unsure of where to look. "Hermione, about last night…" Harry began, slowly lifting his anxious green eyes to Hermione's cool brown ones. "I'm really sorry about that. I know we shouldn't have locked the door and left you with Malfoy,"

Hermione turned to look at Draco, whose six-foot form was cramped in a chair, eyes closed in deep slumber. "Speaking of Malfoy, I wish you would stop being so mean to him," she said, and Ron looked as though he didn't know whether to laugh or to wail while Harry's face was turning into a sickly shade of green.

"It's only been two days and you're already siding with him?" Ron spat out in disbelief. Hermione's calm exterior snapped. "Ron, are you just so thickheaded that you can't seem to realize that he isn't the same person we knew back in school?" she ground out, her brown eyes blazing with unsuppressed anger. "His memory is gone, and now he's revealing to us a new side of him. Why can't you guys give him a chance?"

Harry swallowed and rubbed his temples with his right hand. "Hermione… forgive me if I'm acting this way. I'm still not used to having Malfoy around, but as Ginny told me last night, I really can't avoid him forever," he said in a strained voice.

"There is no way on earth I am getting cozy with the bastard!" Ron said, crossing his arms on his chest, and shooting the sleeping boy a dirty look. Hermione sighed in exasperation.

"I am not telling you to be cozy with him, I just want you to stop throwing those mean looks when he's around and be civil," she told Ron. "I'll be civil when he's civil," he answered in a low mutter.

Hermione had to smile at what her friends said. She was pretty proud, actually, that she made Harry and Ron swear to be civil to Malfoy with just one argument. Harry saw her smile, and he quickly said, "We're not promising you anything, Hermione. If Malfoy does… something, we won't hesitate to hex him, or even put him under some curse,"

"Yeah, this doesn't mean we're going to be chums with him or anything," Ron growled, giving a shiver at the horrid idea. "I'm not asking you to be friends with him, because I know that would be impossible," Hermione said, untangling the sheets from her body as she eased herself from the bed. "All I'm asking of you is to stop being so mean to him,"

Harry let out a sigh, and Ron slowly nodded. Hermione, beaming widely, rushed over to her friends and engulfed them in a rib-cracking hug. "Thanks guys," she whispered, tears prickling at the corner of her eyes.

Harry and Ron gave her an affectionate squeeze. "Anytime, Hermione…" Harry whispered.

"Oh, hell!" Ron suddenly pulled away, looking aghast. "What is it, Ron?" Hermione asked worriedly, pulling away from their group hug. Harry was also looking at Ron anxiously.

"I'm supposed to pick Luna up at Diagon Alley! I'm so dead…" muttering, Ron disappeared with a cracking sound, while Harry and Hermione gawked at the spot where he stood a second ago.

"What's happening here?" Draco's groggy voice snapped Harry and Hermione back to reality. "Where am I? Who are you?" his last question was directed to Harry, who was looking at the door longingly. Harry gave him a very forced smile. "I'm Harry," he said. "Harry Potter."

Draco nodded, then glanced at Hermione with bright gray eyes. "Hermy?" he called out, and Hermione gave him a gentle smile. "Where's the bathroom? I need to piss," Draco said, and Harry snorted with laughter while Hermione blushed.

"O—over there," she pointed to the enamel-painted door beside the cabinet, and Draco stood up from the chair, giving a loud groan as he stretched his cramped muscles. He walked over to the bathroom, then closed the door behind him with a soft click.

"His brash mouth needs to be controlled," Harry commented, shaking his head with a soft chuckle. "Piss? He could have put that into better context," he gave Hermione a light tap on the shoulder before exiting the bedroom.

Hermione, however, was staring at the door in fascination. Draco remembered her name despite his condition… Smiling, she walked over to the cabinet and got her towel and some clothes. She brought out a towel for Draco as well, along with some of Harry's old garments.

A few minutes later Draco emerged from the bathroom, his blonde hair wet and pulled back from his freshly washed face. Hermione handed him his towel and the clothes as well. "Take your bath now," she ordered, and Draco nodded, taking the towel and the clothes from her.

Hermione sat on the chair and browsed over one of her books as she waited for Draco to finish his bath. She leaned idly on the backrest of the chair and opened the thick leather bound book, listlessly glancing at each page with dazed brown eyes.

She was almost at the middle of the book when she heard Draco's scream from the bathroom. Without thinking she threw the book and ran over to the bathroom--- the door wasn't locked and when she entered, she saw Draco cowering near the bathtub, looking deeply frightened, naked save for the towel wrapped on his torso.

"What's wrong?" she asked in panic, rushing over to him. Draco turned his gray eyes to her worried brown ones, his face paler than the usual. "T—There are scars on my b—back…" he stuttered out.

Hermione understood why he was acting that way. "Yes, you have those… is that why you got scared?" she asked softly, and Draco gave a small nod. "Where have I gotten those?" he asked.

Hermione bit her lip. She didn't know where he got those scars, but she had the feeling that Lucius had something to do with it. But she didn't have the heart to tell him that she had the suspicion his own father did that to him though.

"From an accident," she finally blurted out after a moment's silence. Hermione was relieved when she saw Draco look as though he believed her.

"Now that I've looked at myself in the mirror, I finally know how ugly I am," he suddenly said, completely startling Hermione. Her brown-eyed gaze fell on his face, and she gave him a thorough gaze that made Draco squirm shyly.

"You're not ugly," she said a few minutes later, her eyes still on him. "In fact, now that I've gotten a closer look at you, I must say that you are fairly handsome," she confessed, a light blush staining her cheeks. She reached out to touch an errant lock that hung on his forehead, still wet from the shower while he continued to stare at her.

"But my back…" Draco started, biting his lower lip. "Your scars don't make you one bit ugly, Draco." Hermione whispered, her hand falling to his cheek. "It makes you what you are, and it's no reason for you to feel inferior,"

Draco gave her a small smile, and squeezed her hand that lay on his cheek with his own warm one. "Thank you, Mione," he said, his sincere tone warming Hermione's heart.

"Go change into some clothes now, I'll just take a shower," she told him, and he went back to the bedroom to change while she gathered her towel and took a shower. Thirty minutes later she came out, wearing a pale blue shirt and a cotton white skirt that reached her knees. Draco was standing before the shelf, poring over some books, wearing Harry's old red shirt a pair of baggy jeans that seemed to be an original property of Dudley Dursley, Harry's bullying obese cousin.

Hermione thought he looked nice despite the oldness of the outfit. "Hey," she called out, and Draco gave her a friendly grin. "I want to eat, Mione," he said, his hand going to his stomach.

"I do too, so let's go downstairs!" Hermione answered, and the two of them went downstairs and headed straight to the kitchen. Only Mrs. Weasley and Tonks were there, however.

"Morning Hermione!" Tonks said energetically, popping a croissant in her mouth. "And a good morning to you too, dear cousin Draco!" she added when she saw Draco staring at her with curiosity.

"Cousin?" Draco echoed as he sat down. "What's your name then? I don't believe we've met before, although in fact, I can't seem to recall anything…" he said, his brows meeting together, and Tonks gave him a huge smile. "Very well. I'm Nymphadora Tonks, but you can call me Tonks but NEVER, I repeat, NEVER, call me Nymphadora alright? You're my cousin because aunt Narcissa and my mum are sort of distance cousins. I think you understand," the pink-haired girl said in a single breath, her hand extended towards her cousin.

"I'm Draco," the boy said with a smile, shaking Tonks' hand firmly. "I know, and it's nice to meet you, dear cousin," Tonks answered cheerfully. "Would you like some?" she offered the bag of croissants to Draco and Hermione. "I just brought this at the muggle bakery near the Leaky Cauldron, and I must say they do a superb work in baking these yummy pastries!"

The two of them of them practically gobbled every croissant in sight, and when their plates were wiped clean, both were patting their stomachs contentedly.

"I love croissants," Draco said with relish, and Tonks laughed. "Alright, I'll buy you some more when I get back from work," she promised, and Draco thanked her.

"Work? What kind of work do you do?" he asked inquisitively. "I'm a full time auror now," Tonks said proudly. "Moody's always telling me I don't take my job seriously, but do I look like someone who would just make fun of her own job?" as she said this, a few drops of orange juice dribbled down the front of her bright green shirt and a few strands of her now shoulder-length pink hair fell on her eyes.

Draco smiled. He was beginning to like his cousin.

"What about Harry? Is he still here?" asked Hermione. "He just left," Tonks answered, standing up. "I have to go now, duty starts in an hour. See you later!" giving them a big wave and a sweet smile, Tonks took off, whistling a Weird Sisters tune under her breath as she left the room.

Just as Hermione and Draco were about to stand up, Molly dried the last of the dishes and turned to face them. "Hermione, dear, Severus wanted me to tell you that there would be a meeting of the professors in Hogwarts at one o'clock today," The rotund woman said as she took off her apron.

Hermione glanced over at Draco worriedly. Where would she leave him while she's at the meeting? Molly was busy with the household chores. Ron was out. Harry was at work. She would have to go through hell first before she'd let Fred and George handle Draco (If ever they were there). Ginny…

"Alright, thanks, Mrs. Weasley!" Hermione said, grabbing Draco's hand and dragging him upstairs, then rummaging through each room for her redheaded friend. She found her in Harry's room, sitting near the windowsill, her eyes trained outside unblinkingly.

"Ginny?" Hermione called out gently, and Ginny's head swiveled to her direction in surprise. The redhead hastily dashed the wetness from her eyes, but it was already too late. "What happened, Ginny?" Hermione asked, rushing over to her friend. Draco stood right behind her.

Ginny shook her head violently, feigning a smile. "N---nothing's wrong," she stammered out, her voice coming out quivery and tearful. Hermione sighed, and gazed into Ginny's troubled brown eyes. "Ginny, you can tell me anything, you know that," Hermione said soothingly, and Ginny bit her lip, glancing over Hermione's shoulder. That's when Hermione remembered that Draco was just behind her.

"You won't have to worry about Draco hearing anything," Hermione promised. "He can be trusted, right, Draco?" she glanced briefly over at Draco, whose blonde head bobbed up and down in agreement.

"I promise I won't blab," Draco said, raising his right hand as a sign of his vow. Ginny stared at him for a moment, then at Hermione, who just gave her a sheepish smile. "Okay…" she finally answered.

Taking a deep breath, Ginny started. "It's… it's about Harry," Hermione gave her look that told her to go on. "Hermione, he's… he won't talk to me…" as Ginny said this, a lone tear rolled down her cheek, and she gave a hollow laugh. "I'm so pathetic, aren't I? Just because he won't speak to me this morning, I'm already crying like a baby,"

Hermione patted Ginny's arm consolingly. "Do you have any idea why he won't speak to you?" she asked, and Ginny shook her head. "After I sort of defended Malfoy last night, he wouldn't speak to me any longer… I tried talking to him before he set off to work, but he just glared at me then left," the redhead said.

"Maybe he was just in a bad mood," Hermione predicted wisely, but Ginny was still looking doubtful. "Maybe he's tired of me always hanging around him…" Ginny whispered, her eyes shutting close. "God, I wish I wasn't so annoying--- he's probably too irritated with my loud mouth, or maybe he's starting to realize that I still have feelings for him!"

The redhead stood up, her hands covering her face. "That's it! He knows I still fancy him! Oh God…" muttering a string of curses under her breath, Ginny sat back, her hands going up to her hair, which she tugged at helplessly.

Hermione sighed, and pried Ginny's hands away from her poor hair. "Ginny, I'm telling you, he's just in a bad mood," she said firmly, and Ginny looked at her with confused eyes. "But Hermione…"

"Stop thinking about it," Hermione told her in a stern voice. "I'll ask Harry about it later, so stop fretting,"

Ginny cheered up considerably. "Just ask him, okay? But don't tell him I told you, just tell him you noticed," the redhead said hopefully, and Hermione nodded. "Anyway, Ginny, I have a favor to ask of you…"

Ginny glanced at her with raised brows. "Yes? What is it?" she asked.

"Well… there's a meeting of the Hogwarts professors this afternoon, and I need someone to watch over Draco…" Hermione began, and Ginny stared at her open-mouthed. "You want me to baby-sit him?" she asked in disbelief, just as Draco yelled in a deeply offended voice, "Hey, I don't need anyone watching over me! I'm a big kid now!"

"No, what I meant was… well, Draco needs company while I'm away, and I want you to be with him, Ginny," Hermione pleaded to the redhead, who looked ready to jump at the window at the idea of spending the afternoon with Draco. "Please Ginny?"

Ginny was silent for five minutes. Finally, heaving a sigh, she said, "Alright, I'll keep him company while you're away," and Hermione beamed at her.

Draco was glaring at Hermione. "I don't need company, thank you very much," he huffed out, his arms crossed stubbornly on his chest. "I can do quite well on my own,"

Hermione shook her head at him. "No, Draco, Ginny will keep an eye on you, alright? Be good while I'm gone,"

"But Hermione…" Draco started.

The blonde-haired boy went rigid when Hermione gave a squeal and pulled him to her, engulfing him in a big hug. "You said my name!" Hermione said happily. "You said it completely!"

Draco quickly relaxed in her arms and gave her an affectionate squeeze. "I did, didn't I?" he said proudly, and Hermione nodded. "Hermione," he repeated, making Hermione smile with pleasure.

"Yes," she replied softly. "Hermione…"

Ginny was gawking at the scene before her. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, hugging each other? She had to blink several times to assure herself that she wasn't in any sort of trance.

And now that she's taken a closer look at him, he didn't seem to be so bad. In fact, he sounded kind of sweet when he called Hermione by her first name.

"… but she doesn't like me," Ginny heard Draco say to Hermione in a worried tone as he gave her a side glance. "Of course I like you," Ginny said quickly. "So you're spending your afternoon with me, like it or not,"

Draco shot Hermione a pleading look. "Can't I go with you, Hermione?" he asked.

"No," Hermione said firmly, and Draco gave a sad sigh. "Promise you'll come back as fast as you can?" he asked, and she nodded.

"Be nice to Ginny okay? Have a nice afternoon, then." With that, Hermione glanced at her wrist watch, which read 12:03. "I'm going," she said, giving Draco and Ginny a small wave, then turning around to leave the room.

She was stopped, however, when Draco yanked her by the arm. He whirled her about to face him, and when she did, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Have a safe trip," he told her softly, and Hermione, cheeks flustered and eyes somewhat dazed, nodded.

Ginny almost gasped when she saw Draco kiss Hermione on the cheek. What was happening to them?

When Hermione left, Draco sighed, then turned to stare out the window, a mix of sadness and wistfulness crossing his features.

"So, what would you like to do?" Ginny asked Draco, whose eyes were still trained on the window. He glanced at her with a grim smile. "I know you're sad too, Ginny. We can just mope the whole afternoon, which is fine with me,"

"You're sad because Hermione left?" Ginny asked incredulously, and Draco nodded.

Ginny surveyed Draco with shrewd brown eyes, looking for any sign of insincerity, but found none. "You fancy Hermione, don't you?" she demanded, pointing an accusing finger at him.

A faint flush crept up Draco's pale cheeks. "No, I…" he started, making Ginny grin like a Cheshire cat. "Aha! So you do fancy her!" she said triumphantly, and Draco opened and closed his mouth, no words coming out from his mouth.

"I—I can't fancy her," Draco stammered. "I just m—met her…"

"But that doesn't mean you can't fancy her," Ginny countered with a mischievous grin.

"I—I just think she—she's nice, and sweet, and caring…"

"And that means you fancy her!"

Draco was scowling now. "No I don't. What about you? Do you fancy Harry because he's nice, sweet and caring?"

It was Ginny's turn to blush. "Yes," she answered truthfully.

"If he's nice, sweet and caring, then why won't he talk to you? Why did he make you cry?" Draco asked, a single blonde brow raised questioningly.

"He was in a bad mood," Ginny answered defensively.

"Hermione would never be in a bad mood with me," Draco said in such a sure voice that Ginny couldn't help but smile.

"I don't think she would, unless she sees you being mean to any house elf," she said, managing to keep a straight face. Draco looked interested at what she said. "I remember last night… she got mad because I mentioned something about the house elves…"

Ginny nodded in understanding. "Hermione really is quite sensitive when it comes to the house elves," she said. "And that's what makes her heart more pure, in my opinion. She really cares a great deal about everyone, up to an extent that sometimes she can't do the same to herself anymore,"

"I'll take care of her." Draco vowed in a soft voice, and Ginny's liking for him increased even more. "Do you know that Hermione's parents are dead now?" she asked, and Draco shook his head, looking surprised.

"They were murdered by Voldemort, and at the age of seventeen Hermione had to fend for herself. She's had quite a hard time the past year, but I must say we've all tried to help her heal her wounds… but Hermione isn't strong enough yet. She may always be smiling and laughing, but we know, almost nightly she cries herself to sleep. She thinks herself responsible for her parents' death, because she was really Voldemort's target,"

A look of deep sympathy crossed Draco's features. "I never knew…" he whispered.

"I'm telling you this because I want you to help heal Hermione's wounds," Ginny said softly. "I have the feeling you'd be able to help her,"

Draco gave Ginny a small smile. "I swear I'll take care of her," he said, and Ginny nodded.

"You know what, Draco? You may be an arrogant git sometimes, but I have to admit I'm beginning to like you."

Draco smiled. "That makes two of us then."

xxxxxx

Luna Lovegood tapped her foot impatiently on the bricked floor, twirling a stray strand of blonde hair around her finger. She surveyed the crowded street of Diagon Alley, but still there was no sign of the tall, freckled redhead who promised to fetch her.

"Ronald Weasley, you are so dead…"

xxxxxx

Run…

She ran as fast as her bare feet could carry her, no longer feeling the sharp and painful edges of the rocks she stepped on, nor the biting wind that whipped at her almost unclothed body.

She didn't stop running until she was sure she was beyond his reach, his wrath…

After what seemed like hours, her body could no longer take the exhaustion, and the ache from her bruises and wounds were burning her to oblivion. She couldn't take it anymore.

Dropping on her knees, she fell forward into a pitch of blackness.

xxxxxx

A/n: Longest chappie I've ever made! I hope you liked this one…

Thanks to: moonlightwitch (I like your username lol), Danish Pastry 28, prin69, Demonstar, kaichai, CareBearErin, God'sGirl88, palindrom, jiberish, Shadowy Corner (thanks for all the helpful comments!), mrs. skywalker, Lady Knight 1512, curlyqntx, Asaake, mysteriouscharm, Giver-Of-Hope, The Maniac Sisters, kazemar-kaemi, Weaselbee, IcEPriNceSS, samanthaaa, perfectlyfakereality, Incarnation, Sparkle85, Boonzie, Kelso the Great, southernsweetdevil, xoKaSsIeox, HRInuyashaFan16, Anigen, PadfootObssesed329, Fan-Of-HP, JammyD, Sadistic-Nightmares, Akalei, TNLSG, amrawo (my very first reviewer!)