This is dedicated to Ayla after I forgot to warn her about the last chapter, sorry sweetie! 3
So when I write this fic I'm normally listen to All I Need by Within Temptation and sometimes I listen to Keep Holding On either by glee or Avril Lavigne!
R&R please! 3
"Hermione, are you okay?"
"What happened?"
"Hermione, earth to Hermione!"
Everyone was speaking to me and I was trying to block them out. I had to see Professor McGonagall before I did anything else; I needed someone to help me come up with a lie, even if I had to get Malfoy to help. I numbly made my way to Professor McGonagall's office when I realised I didn't know what the password was. Oh well, if I had to sit here all day then I would, there was no way that meeting was going to be held in Hogsmede. About an hour passed with me just sitting outside her office, wondering where the hell she was and deducting points from first years whenever they ran past me before McGonagall finally came back to her office. I was shocked to see Arthur Weasley standing next to her.*
"Hey, Hermione. How's it going?" He asked smiling at me. I smiled back and shrugged my shoulders.
"Could be better." I said. I stood up and moved out of the way of the door. "Professor, I need to speak to you, if you don't mind." I told her. "After Mr Weasley, of course!" I added rather hastily.
"Oh no, no. You go first Hermione. It seems you have been waiting a lot longer to see the Head Mistress than I have." He smiled. I wondered for a moment how he'd been. He looked a little bit more tired than normal. Professor McGonagall muttered the password and ushered Mr Weasley and myself into her office and sat behind the large oak desk that once belonged to Dumbledore. I looked up to see his portrait, smiling in his sleep. I smiled to myself in the knowledge that even though the old headmaster was gone, he still watched over us.
"What was it you wished to talk about, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall asked as I sat one of the cushy arm chairs she sat in front of her desks for visitors.
"I was simply wondering if we could change the meeting place for the heads and prefects meeting tomorrow. I just think it would be more covenant to have it with in school grounds" I lied. She'd seen the paper so she probably had a good idea why I'd asked. She had a regrettable look on her face.
"I'm sorry, Miss Granger, but it's too late now to change the place, we wouldn't be able to tell everyone and inform the Thee Broom Sticks that we won't need there meeting space" I looked crestfallen. My face fell, what if he turned up. I sighed before speaking again.
"Professor, you do realise what-"
"I know why you wish to change location, Miss Granger and I fully understand but we just can't do it. Mr Malfoy will be there" she cut me off. I sighed and stood up.
"That was all, Professor. I'd better go, I've got homework," I smiled "It was nice seeing you again, Mr Weasley, say hello to the rest of the family?" I asked Mr Weasley.
"Yes, of course. See you at Christmas?"
"Perhaps" I smiled and left Professor McGonagall's office cursing silently under my breath.
The next day I woke early to the sound of rain. Suited my mood.
Despite the fact I knew Malfoy was going to be with me the entire time, seeing as he had been made Head boy shortly after school started due to Michael Corner not coming back after the summer, and there would be all the prefects, I was going to be fine, I knew that he would keep me safe if it was needed and with any luck it wouldn't be.
After dressing in my Hogwarts robes, I headed down the stairs to the Great Hall for breakfast. I'd carefully avoided everyone after yesterday and much to my dismay, Harry, Ron and Malfoy were all sitting around the table eating. As my mind continued to clear, I remembered that Malfoy and I had a meeting tonight. Same time, same place. Walking as slowly as I could without looking like an idiot, I made my way to the table, sitting opposite Malfoy.
"Morning, Boys" I said pulling a large pile of scrambled eggs towards and dishing them on to my plate. I grabbed two pieces of toast and proceeded to look out the window.
"Morning, Mione. How are you?" Ron asked tentatively, much the same way he did when he knew I was angry.
"Fine, you?" I replied, acting as though nothing happened.
"Good, good." Harry smiled at me over his pumpkin juice, smiling back, I started playing with my eggs, I was suddenly not very hungry.
"You going to help me with transfiguration tonight, Granger" Malfoy asked,
"If I'm up to it." The owls were starting to entire the hall, one of the carrying Ronald's Prophet. I was dreading the thought that there would be more news
"Want to read?" Ron asked through a mouthful of food, handing me the paper. There was another picture of him on the front and I shook my head mutely. I looked up at the top table where I saw Professor McGonagall looking at me with worry in her eyes
"Meeting starts in ten. We better be going. Coming Granger?" I heard Malfoy ask, I nodded and told the boys I'd see them later and headed out the door after Malfoy.
"You okay?" He asked when we reached the doors into the courtyard.
"Fine" I lied, looking up at him, he looked a little tired but still strangely handsome. I smiled at people as they walked past and saw some Slytherin's whispering at me and Malfoy and I shrunk back into myself, putting my head down and looking ashamed. Did they know what had happened? How many people knew?
"Hey Ginny, are you coming to the meeting. Everyone is supposed to be there." I said when I saw the flame haired witch with Luna. Both Luna and Ginny had been made prefects, Mrs Weasley was so proud of her! And I was totally proud of Luna, it'd been a real confidence boost for her.
"Of course! Mind if we walk with you?" Luna asked.
"No" Malfoy smiled at the younger girl and we walked in silence until we got to the Hogs Head where we were meeting the other prefects.
Ginny, Dean, Pansy, Blasie Zabini, Hannah Abbot, Zacharis Smith, Luna and Pavarti were the eight prefects that roamed the corridors at night and helped Malfoy and myself with anything that we needed help with.
"Hello everyone!" I said cheerfully when I saw them all waiting for us. They had done anything and everything we had asked them to do; even Pansy who we all knew still hated me and was madly in love with Malfoy.
After a quick 'Hello' and a quick discussion on how things had been for the prefects, instructions about students that needed to leave for Christmas and handing out a new list of things that Filch has banned I got on to a much more interesting topic that put a smile on the face of every female in the room.
"Professor McGonagall has given Malfoy and myself permission to have an end of year dance. Open to anyone from grade 4 up unless invited and there will be speeches made, thank yous and a special dinner to say good bye to the seventh years. What does everyone think?" I asked, all the girls looked excited and the boys were shrugging and nodding, Dean said it'd be fun and everyone else agreed.
"So, we'll meet in a fortnight's time to discuss anything that may need to be discussed. If you need anything in the meantime don't hesitate to ask me or Granger" and with that everyone left. I stacked up a few papers and put them Malfoy's bag, and handed it to him.
"That went well" He smiled at me, I gave a small smile in return.
"Besides all the dirty looks from Pansy, yes." I agreed, it had gone a lot better than the last time when Pansy had called me a dis-organised Mudblood whore, but that was common place.
"I still don't know why she hates you so much" Malfoy said opening the door for me.
"Thanks, It's because I'm a Mud-" I'd turned to look outside the door and saw Him leaning against the shop opposite, one foot resting on the wall behind him, arms folded across his chest and staring intently at the door. He looked up at the sound of my voice and stared at the place where I was rooted to the spot. He winked at me before turning on the spot and disaperating. I'd frozen, I couldn't breathe properly, my heart was hammering against my ribs, and I couldn't feel.
"Granger? What's wrong?" Malfoy asked looking over my head. I tried to control my breathing before speaking.
"I saw … I saw Him"
"What?" Malfoy asked in disbelief.
"He was leaning against that building" I muttered, I felt a shiver run down my spine, maybe I'd imagined it... I hoped I'd imagined it. Draco gave me a little nudge and I left the door way realising I'd blocked the door for some elderly witches.
We walked out of Hogsmede together in silence; about five minutes before we got to the Hogwarts, Draco stopped me.
"What is it?" I asked, looking up at him.
"I thought I saw something moving" He told me pointing at the trees surrounding the castle I was so desperate to get back to.
"I don't see anything…" I muttered a little annoyed that we were still standing in the cold when there was someone out there that I would rather not bump into. I waited for him to say something and it was then I realised his hand had grabbed mine to stop me. I listened out for something as we stood still for a couple of minutes but heard only the birds. Malfoy moved about three feet away from me, searching behind some trees, I started moving towards the castle, I didn't care how long he wasted, I wanted to get out of the cold and back to safety. I'd only taken about two or three steps when I felt something on my shoulder. I didn't turn around instantly instead I stood totally still, not saying a word and not breathing.
"Hello Beautiful." A voice whispered, I spun round to see Him standing behind me, smirking. I let out a blood curdling scream, dropped to my knees and put my hands over my face, collecting the tears that fell. Malfoy ran towards me, dropping to his knees, he attempted to put his hand on my shoulder but I pulled away.
"What? What happened? Who was it?" Malfoy rushed his questions, making them sound like one long word.
"I… how did he…" I rubbed at my eyes and stood up, rubbing at my lower arms and wrists. Shit what was going on. How did he get this close to the castle without anyone seeing?
"It was him, wasn't it?" Malfoy asked, I nodded. "Come on, we need to get you back to the castle, get you something for your shock. Madam Pomfrey –"
"There is really no need for that. I'm fine…" I muttered, it was barely audible because I spoke so quietly, rubbing my hand up and down my arm, trying to block out the cold.
"Oh for, fucks sake, Granger. Don't give me that bull shit!" He grabbed my arm and started dragging me back to the castle, I tried pulling away but his grip was too strong. Silent tears were falling down my cheeks.
"And what do you propose we do when we get there, huh?" I asked as I dug my heels into the ground in an attempt to get him to stop. He did.
"I'm going to take you to Madame Pomfrey to get a tonic for your nerves and some dreamless sleep potion and get McGonagall so you can tell her what's going on! Understood?" It didn't sound like a question and the rain was starting to fall now. I wanted to get inside and do something to take my mind of this, not talk to people about it.
"I already told you, I'm not talking to her! I'm going to help Ginny with some homework in the library and then go to bed." I still trusted McGonagall a little bit but I couldn't trust her to the full extent after the stunt she'd pulled with Malfoy
"What about tonight?" He asked, stopping to stare at me
"I'm not coming"
It was half six and I was making my way back to the room, well aware I was half an hour late. I didn't care, it was all he deserved. Okay, that's not true. He's been very helpful the last few days.
It was dark in the corridors and the wind was howling outside, scaring me half to death and making me jump every few feet, so much for Gryffindor courage. My shoes were making a loud clicking noise against the hard wood floor, as I made my way to the door. I didn't even bother to knock, I just opened the door, my eyes searching the room before I stepped over the thresh hold. I couldn't see Malfoy but I stepped into the room anyway. There were candle lit all around the room casting strange shadows against the walls.
"I thought you weren't coming" Came a voice from the chair with its back to the door. No wonder I couldn't see him.
"Neither did I" I said making my way to my seat, my body making a soft thud against the leather.
"What changed?" He looked worried. There were lines in his brow and a mixture of confusion and hurt in his eyes. Hurt? I thought.
"I didn't want to be alone" I said quietly.
"Sorry, say that again?" He asked. Clearly he hadn't heard me or he was being a smartass.
"I said that I didn't want to be alone. Any company is better than none right now" I repeated a little louder, looking at him but unable to catch his eyes.
"But you wouldn't be alone. Weren't you with Potter and Weasley?" He asked
"No. I was in the library, towards the back, all by myself. I didn't want anyone to see me that way" I mumbled, wringing my hands together.
"See you what way, Granger?" He looked concerned again and this time it was a mixture of concern and fear in my eyes.
"Crying, rocking backwards and forwards on the spot, mumbling things" Why was I telling him this?
"What things?"
"I'm sorry, I hate you, if you're going to do it, do it right…" I trailed of, wishing I could stop the prickling in my eyes that meant the flood was about to begin.
"Do what right?"
"Kill me"
SO what do you guys think? Please R&R! I want to know that someone is still reading.
I know all my chapters are short! I've been trying to fix that and at this rate nothing but I promise the next one will be longer! It's the last chapter before the Christmas holidays and there are a lot of things Hermione has to work out. Also, major thing with Ron MIGHT be coming your way! It's undecided as of late!